Bagels, Base, and Beer
Former pro racer Joe Parkin once told a complaining fellow racer how he could drop those last pounds. “You want to lose weight? I’ll tell you how to lose weight. Get up in the morning and eat a bagel, go ride 100 miles real slow, come home, drink a dark beer, and go to bed.”
That sounds like a plan to me.
And just who is Joe Parkin?
Parkin’s career began with a whim, a duffel bag, and a bike joining him on a flight to Belgium, where he quickly found himself courted by professional cycling teams. His planned three-month trip to Europe turned into seven years of high-level road racing. Parkin then returned to United States, and he rode for the Coors Light Cycling Team until switching to mountain bikes and spending the next three years competing internationally for Diamondback Racing and Barracuda Bicycles. All told, Parkin is a veteran of more than 1,000 bicycle races, with highlights including representing the United States at the World Road Championships, World Cyclocross Championships, and the World Mountainbike Championships. (source)
The voice of experience…
- 1988: Eurotop Keuken-Multifax (Bel)
- 1989: Humo-TW Rock-Bottecchia (Bel)
- 1990: IOC-Tulip Computers-ADR (Bel)
- 1991: Tulip Computers-Koga Miyata (Bel)
- 1992: Scott-BiKyle (USA)
- 1993: Scott-BiKyle (USA)
- 1994: Coors Light (USA)
Joe Papp wrote:
Thanks for the Joe Parkin blurb. I remember seeing him race in 1992 on Scott-BiKyle with Matt Eaton at a tough 2-day race in Cincinatti. I believe that Greg Strock was also there, representing Banesto’s amateur squad.
Posted on 20-Jan-07 at 9:52 am | Permalink
Peter wrote:
I always admired Parkin’s story. I wish I had had the gumption to head over to Belgium with a bike and suitcase when I was younger.
Posted on 21-Jan-07 at 7:12 pm | Permalink
Carol Tidwell wrote:
Would love to know how to get in touch with Joe Parkin . .. . I knew him when I was just a gangly 2nd grader in Memphis, TN. He was the cutest boy in the 2nd grade class and all of us little girls used to chase him round and round the swing set during recess. I occasionally run into one of my fellow Joey (as he was known then) Parkin chasers, Jennifer Brown, and we like to think that we helped him develop those strong cycling legs by chasing him around!!!!!!
True Story!
Posted on 30-Aug-07 at 10:18 am | Permalink
bikesgonewild wrote:
…didn’t know mr. parkin but as far as the beer advice, i do know this…ric van looy, one of the great belgian classic & one day event riders had a ‘night before the race’ routine in which he’d down maybe a dozen rich, thick, dark, belgian brews & be fine, ready & able the next morning, for the days go…
…talk about carbo loading…the man’s palmares’ speak for themselves…and maybe belgian breweries…
Posted on 15-Sep-07 at 7:53 pm | Permalink
Stevil wrote:
The best mullet in elite cycling.
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 5:26 pm | Permalink
pietro wrote:
Stevil-
Thanks for stopping by…and thanks for posting Parkin’s photo from his Coors Light days. Words cannot do justice to that lid. WOW!
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 9:32 am | Permalink