[CR]Velo Sport Bicycle Convention

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:54:48 -0800
From: "cnighbor" <cnighbor@pacbell.net>
To: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Organization: Pacific Bell Internet Services
Subject: [CR]Velo Sport Bicycle Convention

Velo Sport Bicycle Convention The event was well attended and I enjoyed listening to Peter talk about bicycling and bicycle racing and how small a group did racing in the 50's. I started bicycling on thin tired bicycles in 1951. my balloon tire bike was stolen in Detroit so my dad just my chance took me to one of the two bicycle stores that was into light weight bicycles and racing. I got a new English Rudge one speed flip flop rear hub. The store was owned by Mike Walden who was into the bicycle racing in Detroit. I hung out at his store. Went for organized bicycle rides on Wednesday nites an Sunday days when we riding 50 to 60 miles was the norm. But some how even though many in the group were racers and talked about it it went in one of my ears and out the other. Then listening to Peter today brought back those days. I would ride ten miles to the start

of the ride. Do the ride. Then ride back. Mike and I were the only to do

that. The rest had their wife's pick them up at turn around spot. Women ride. Your kidding. Then I would ride home. It never occurred to me what

a small group was doing this. Eric Heiden spoke about sport medicine along with a Italian sports doctor he works with. Very knowledgeable seeing the Italian doctors worked with European Professional Bicycle Teams. I included a profile on

Eric I found on the web. "Eric Heiden: Exchanging blades and wheels for a scalpel

Eric Heiden had two successful athletic careers as a Olympic speed skater and professional cyclist. Now, he's thriving as an orthopedic surgeon.

By James Raia

When his schedule permits, Eric Heiden can leave the back yard of his Sacramento, Calif. home and within seconds have a vast recreation area at his disposal.

Perhaps he’ll ride his mountain bike on the dirt trail of the American River Parkway or run miles along the Jedediah Smith National Recreational trail. In warmer weather, he’s been known to swim in the American River with his dogs frolicking at his side.

But there isn’t as much time as Heiden would like

these days for his passion for the outdoors.

Twenty years after after he arguably became the greatest athlete in Winter Olympic history, Heiden’s third

career as an orthopedic surgeon and sports team physician dominate his time.

With little fanfare or recognition, the now 43-year-old Heiden has for the past few years joined several UC Davis Medical Center colleagues who serve as the team physicians for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA and the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA. Heiden’s fondness to work with sports teams has also expanded to hockey as the team physician for

severl international junior teams.

“It’s good to get away sometimes, and I really like hockey,” says the understated Heiden about the sport he played as a boy in Wisconsin. “It takes a real time commitment. And it does for basketball, too. But I like working with athletes.”

Heiden’s current career is his third, dating to his domination of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. He and has sister Beth both competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics, too, both with unspectacular results. But four years later, after he had won three World Championships, Heiden won all five Winter Olympic speedskating events, all in record time. He also won the 1980 Sullivan Award, as the country’s best amateur athlete.

Like other speedskaters, Heiden then made the switch to cycling. He didn’t win many races in his seven professional cycling seasons, but he surprised the field with his Corestates USPro road title in 1985. The next season, he was

on first U.S team (7-Eleven) that competed in the Tour de France. But he crashed on the famed L’Alpe d’Huez mountain stage, suffered a concussion and withdrew.

A year later, after receiving permission to leave

Stanford Medical School for a weekend, Heiden rode in his last race, a criterium in Dallas.

“I’d flatted and was working my way to the pit for repairs,” he recalls.

“But I hit a cement planter, crashed and fell into a bed of flowers. That was that, I ended my career by landing in a flower bed.”

As an assistant team physician with the Sacramento Kings, Heiden doesn’t attend all of the team’s games. But he has had his share of responsibilities.

He’s performed surgery on NBA players Danny Manning and Charles Barkley. As the Monarchs’ head team physician, he’s operated on U.S. Olympians Yolanda Griffith and Ruthie Bolton-Holifield.

“I talked to a lot of people about who should do this (reconstructive knee surgery),” says Bolton-Holifield. “But I was comfortable with him. He’s an athlete himself, so

he has a feel for what I was going through.”

Heiden enjoys sports medicine, a specialty he began as as an assistant team physician for his former cycling teams. But athletes can also prove difficult.

“A lot times, you’ve really have to stress the importance of recovery to athletes,” Heiden explains. They make

their living with their bodies, and I understand that. But a lot of times, they want to get back to their sports too soon. They sometimes see the short-term, and don’t realize their careers could be over if they don’t take the proper time.”

Now married to the former Karen Drews, who’s also

a physician and marathon runner, Heiden maintains his fitness

by sometimes cycling to work. Despite retiring from professional sports in 1987, Heiden still feels he could compete.

“If I were physically willing, I think I would have the strength to compete,” he explains. “But you have to dedicate yourself to that lifestyle. I don’t know if I could do that - mentally or psychologically. I think I’ve pretty much burned out that way."

Since 1984, Heiden has periodically served as a television analyst for several networks during the Winter Olympics. With his sister, Beth, the former Olympic skater and national road champion, he’s actively involved with Special Olympics.

In the skating and cycling world, his accomplishments have not been forgotten. Last year, he traveled to Europe and received several millennium honors. He received a Skater of the Century designation in Holland, where he is still recognized and revered at the world’s most famous speedskating oval in Heerenveen. Heiden was also named to the century’s 100 top athlete list by several organizations and publications. He has also been selected for enshrinement in the Cycling Hall of Fame.

Yet, Heiden is largely unrecognized from his athletic past or his current occupation in Sacramento. He attends basketball games and performs his medical duties largely unnoticed.

Occasionally, when a patient realizes or is told they’re under the medical care of a five-time Olympic gold medalist

and a former professional cyclist, they ask to see one of his medals.

With little fanfare, Heiden obliges and then returns to his responsibilities.

copyright 2001 by James Raia" Charles Nighbor Walnut Creek, CA