they didn't know who JMC or Ned was!!

[We_are_Stevo]

.

Thing is, the Americans have the opportunity to stay 'in the game' due to the fact everything is so big in the USA compared to here in the UK (which is actually smaller than the smallest State in the USA...) hence why the Brit's, apart from Peaty, just drift off into obscurity.

I had no idea the UK was so small. I would have guessed there were counties there bigger than Rhode Island or Delaware (1955 sq. mi).

Rhode Island:
- Area Ranked 50th in the U.S.
- Total 1,214 sq mi (3,140 km2)
- Width 37 miles (60 km)
- Length 48 miles (77 km)
- % water 13.9%
- Latitude 41° 09' N to 42° 01' N
- Longitude 71° 07' W to 71° 53' W
- Population (Ranked 43rd in the U.S. ) Total - 1,051,302 (2011 est)[3]
- Density 1006/sq mi (388/km2)
- Ranked 2nd in the U.S.

To give you some perspective, Greater London is 607 sq. mi. (about half the size of Rhode Island).

Have to admit I was expecting 'Hawaii' because Rhode Island is to States what Liechtenstein is to Counries (yes, I know Andorra, Vatican City and Monaco are much smaller but I didn't want to take the p*ss too much! ).

Okay, so every day's a learning day; there are actually 22 States that are smaller than England!

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Re: .

...regards the comment about his results, well my opinion is that he died before he could attain his best results, i have no doubt he would have become a world champion.

I wasn't being unkind; I had to Google him because I couldn't remember the exact circumstances of his lack of achievement and I didn't want to make an uninformed 'inflammatory' statement...

...reading his own Fathers' words from his website the words 'indifferent,' 'disappointing' and 'disastrous' proliferate; unfortunately, like most Brit's, he was a big fish in a little pond and if he had continued to underachieve the way he was prior to his untimely demise he would most likely have been dropped by his Team. There is no room for sentiment in professional sport!

It's the same with any form of motorsport; Promotors and sponsors dictate there have to be a certain number of competitors from certain Countries to satisfy the demands of the viewing audience, hence the 'also rans...'

 

[LeeDevelopment]

Thing is, the Americans have the opportunity to stay 'in the game' due to the fact everything is so big in the USA compared to here in the UK (which is actually smaller than the smallest State in the USA...) hence why the Brit's, apart from Peaty, just drift off into obscurity.

Unless I've mis-read this statement I disagree.....

Tracey Moseley is one of the best athletes the WC circuit has ever seen.
The Athertons are another prime example.
Danny Hart has gone from WC rookie to World Champ within what, two seasons?
Scott Beaumont is still ripping up the 4-cross, as is Fionn Griffiths and Dan Atherton should be back in there this year too.
To add Marc Beaumont, Ruaridh Cunningham, Josh Bryceland, Manon Carpenter and loads more besides......

The thing here is, if it wasn't for JMC's determination to get to the States off his own bat, paying his own way back in the days when he rode for Hardisty, well I feel the UK would be a bit further behind. He paved the way for all the other athletes on the World Cup circuit and I take my hat off to him for doing it. He's both an icon and a pioneer of the sport, god only knows how far he could have gone as he was just 'so' talented on a bike. We owe a great debt to JMC.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Guess we'll never know though huh?

You read his own website and he was on his way to a 'crash and burn' scenario at the time; wouldn't have been the first Brit to try to conquer America on a wave of hysterical popularity only to come home with his tail between his legs, and won't be the last...

...it's what the Brit's are best known for :?

Let's face it, there weren't many better than Dave Hemming a few years earlier and look what became of that Golden Boy!

 

[jonnyboy666]

Let's face it, there weren't many better than Dave Hemming a few years earlier and look what became of that Golden Boy!

steve, having met you i know your decent bloke and i know you don't mean to cause offence but i think you are abit at the moment. with regard to comments about JMC i think it's a bit naughty to speak ill of the dead especially on this website where his name is almost spoken with reverence, regardless of your opinion.

that said, the comment quoted above confuses me, do you know Dave? i do, he's a top bloke and one of the most enthusiastic people i have ever met and he's still racing today (literally! he's doing the first road race of the season in Portland Oregon now)

my advice would be to calm it down on the negative response or opinions on threads.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

They're not negative comments, I liked the guy myself as much as anyone, but it pays to be realistic; in his own Fathers' words he wasn't living up to expectations and just because he died tragically young doesn't mean he could walk on water...

...it was his 'devil-may-care' attitude combined with a natural talent most of us couldn't even dream of (and his rakish good looks of course, if he'd looked like a complete nob no-one would have ever heard of him!) that made him so popular with a certain demographic (don't forget he wasn't universally popular) within the sport.

As for Dave Hemming, didn't he leave the UK under something of a cloud only to pop up in the US as a 'motivational speaker' or something, trading on his past glories?

Unfortunately the UK doesn't have the money to nuture/support its own talent in any sport, least of all those that get ripped the p*ss out of for inclusion in the Olympics!

ANYWAY: perhaps this is another of those topics that is okay over a pint down the pub but doesn't come across too well in the glare of a public forum?? It may sound as though I'm putting JMC down but I'm actually not...

 

[Bean Head]

[/quote]

A bit off topic now, but...

Never realised JMC used to run his brakes the wrong way round. Was that due to a BMX background?

Rob

 

[longun]

A bit off topic now, but...

Never realised JMC used to run his brakes the wrong way round. Was that due to a BMX background?

Rob[/quote]

nah,just cool, like me lol


lets get back on topic, the point being these cyclist do not the big names that have changed, influenced and structured our beloved sport. lets not forget how many people know endless reams of bullshit football, cricket tennis etc history and continually priase their efforts. to work for a company with a world champ cyclist as part of your team and not know of him is poor imho, i research endless fact and info regarding building etc to apreciate where i am now.

ride free

 

[jonnyboy666]

As for Dave Hemming, didn't he leave the UK under something of a cloud only to pop up in the US as a 'motivational speaker' or something, trading on his past glories?

No he didn't, he worked for Atb sales for a long time (Marin/Wyhte) then went and worked for Cannondale then went back to Atb sales as the Norco rep, all of this time he was training as a tri-athelete, he competed in some Iron man events where he met his now wife who was american. he left England to live with her where he continued to work for Marin and Norco bikes aswel as pushing UK brands in the US, then he and his wife set up their own business and he continues to race today.

he now works for Pivot bikes aswel as running his own company with his wife.

might i please ask that you don't comment further on this thread, when you defend your opinion you seem to dig a deeper hole for yourself and upset the (my) apple cart.

 

[LeeDevelopment]

he now works for Pivot bikes aswel as running his own company with his wife.

And he has some beautiful dogs too