Rider: Eddy Merckx

As we draw to the end of the Christmas countdown we see that Eddy Merckx was the most victorious cyclist ever with 333 road victories during his career. There is little to say about Eddy Merckx as his palmares are complete barring one race which was Paris-Tours. Fellow Belgian Noel Vantyghem said famously, “Between us, Merckx and I have won everything there is to win, I won Paris-Tours he won the rest.”  Eddy Merckx even has his own joke, I quote from the cyclopedia:

” The tale is told that after the death of a cyclist who tried to beat Merckx for years but was constanty fustrated the pro went to Heaven and was greeted by St Peter. The saint put him in a race on the smoothest velodrome he had ever seen and on the finest Italian frame. All the greats before him where on the start line but he knew he would win. As the line approached, however he felt a wheel coming past, glanced up and saw the face of the cannibal, disconsolate he went to St Peter and said, ‘Eddy isn’t dead yet, what’s he doing here?’
St Peter repiled gravely, ‘That wasn’t Merckx it was god, he likes to pretend he’s Merckx.‘ “

Rapha Festive 500 : Day 2 Mordialloc

Day two of the festive 500 meant for a nice easy ride down Beach Rd enjoying the foggy, humid and warm conditions. Despite the overhead cloud and fog cover there wasn’t a drop of rain and there were plenty of riders out and about this morning enjoying Christmas Eve. Beach Rd is a paticularly good E1 ride as it is for the most part flat and you have plently of options for coffee stops along the way and if you are so inclined which I wasn’t this morning there is the Rickett’s Point climb where you can test your legs.

After yesterdays ride up to the Devil’s Elbow my legs were a tad sore so I just used the ride to roll them over and head towards the 500km. Now after two days of the Festive 500 my total km count is at 134km with 336km to do over the remaining week. Next week I’ve got planned Kinglake, 1/20, Blackrock, Park Orchards and Mt Eliza which will give me 530km. Tomorrow though is a recovery day and for Christmas day my only exercise will be swimming. Merry Christmas all and I hope you all get many great cycling items for Christmas, maybe a Camelbak Podium?

Here is the evidence of my ride this morning http://app.strava.com/rides/2852529. Important to note in the last picture the poor sock height, if you see any other sock height victims make sure to help them change their ways. In this case I have tried so far unsuccessfully.