Earlier this afternoon a jovial rotund customer strolled into the shop in search of a puncture repair kit for his sons bike. As we chatted briefly about the weather and whatever else, he remarked ‘Did ya see yer man Barney Wiggles in the paper smoking a fag there today ?. ‘Tis fair gas to see the fittest man in the world sittin there smokin away. I’m a silk cut man meself so I showed it to the misses an told her not to be gettin on to me over my twenty a day or I’ll throw on the spandex an tear off around the neighbourhood on the young fellas bike.’ and off he went on his merry way .
Barney Wiggles, or Bradley Wiggins as he is more commonly known was photographed earlier this week sitting outside a Restraunt in Mallorca smoking a cigarette and the pictures were published in the Daily Mail and The Sun newspapers aswell as making it global within hours online.
Many people admire Wiggins’ down to earth, shoot from the hip style. Many also feel that he should be entitled to his privacy and should be entitled to do whatever he likes on his own time. Many see no harm in him smoking a cigarette. Many may not always be right.
Wiggins is paid millions to be a professional cyclist. Like it or not success in the sporting arena is accompanied by a degree of responsibility. He is held up as a role model for millions. He is the current Tour de France and Olympic Time Trial Champion. He is odds on to be the BBC Sports personality of the year. Like it or not what he does in his spare time matters.
Over the years we have had parents come into the shop willing to spend more than they could afford on high end road bikes for their teenage sons. More than once I have had a father tell me that if he can keep the young fella cycling for a few more years it will keep him away from the drink and smoking and whatever else until he reaches an age where he will hopefully have enough sense to not go near them of his own mind.
I can remember as a teenager being able to use ‘I’m a cyclist’ as a valid reason to not fall in with the smoking or drinking crowd without feeling weak or chicken shit. Being a cyclist actually garnered a degree of respect from the ‘cool’ crowd. There was nothing soft about cycling with tv images of Sean Kelly in Paris Roubaix being the reference point. And Sean Kelly did not ever smoke or even drink during the racing season so I wasn’t going to smoke or drink either. He was a role model parents were happy for their kids to follow.
Is Bradley Wiggins a role model for kids today ?
Barry
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Great post. My partner, who cycled from the year dot (bought his bike out of his paper round money because he was late for school doing the paper rounds on foot) never smoked. Did karate in his teens and was totally fitness orientated, only started drinking when he went to Australia in his twenties. I never smoked – but for totally different reasons. (My parents did and it stunk/made me feel sick).
But to see an iconic cyclist like that smoking is such a bad message. Looks a bit like Marlborough man. BW did great in TdF and at the Olympics. But if he wants to have a fag, maybe better to do it in his hotel room or villa.
And will he last as long as the lovely Sean/
As “Sir” Charles Barkley” said Parents are role models not sports people.
Don’t duck responsibility.
He has weaknesses and very little responsibility towards the public or fans regardless of what He wins.
Hey guys,
hang on a minute. This guy has shouldered the weight of his nation for many years at this stage. This year obviously being the highest point. I can only imagine the amount of pressure he had to deal with. Everyone loved him a week ago (well, love him or hate him, what he achieved was pretty impressive) He’s had his well documented breakdowns, binges etc.Now silly season in the journo world, the scramble is on for a story. Was it wrong for barrack Obama to down a pint on national TV? Anyone who saw Usain Bolts fly on the wall documentary would have seen the man party till dawn, (this seems to add to the mans attraction to the masses), From what I know this story didnt go beyond the mail and the sun and the likes. I havnt read an article on it on any paper, only just saw these pictures. The only evidence I can see is that he stood outside a bar/restaurant and had a cigarette. Maybe parents and role models should be more concerned with keeping their kids away from publications like those mentioned above and keep the price of them in their pockets. Im not a huge fan of mr. Wiggles, give him a break, kids are well able and smart enough to make up their own minds, If these pictures are their only exposure to smoking im a happy man. the best thing we can do is not feed off the shit stirred up by the tabloids.
Well written all the same barry, keep up the good work.
A bit less harm done with a “Silk Cut” when compared to EPO, HGH, Transfusions or whatever else we cyclists are know to tinkle with now and again. I can live with these headlines compared to those of the past 20 years. Anyway, its nothing more than you would see at “An End of Season” cyclists bash, but yeah, oul Barney Wiggles should have a bit more cop on to say the least.
I’ll take Barney Wiggles over Lance Livestrong any day of the week !!!