It wasn't perhaps the most
unanimously positive endorsement of his career but Tyler Hamilton could hardly
bear any ill will towards the lady who welcomed the shamed former cyclist to the
stage at the American School in London last week.
After all, this was a prestigious school whose mission is to encourage students to "develop integrity and strength of character by learning to make good choices and by taking responsibility for their actions".
The teacher controlling the Q&A session alongside the school's head boy was also wary of slipping on any potential banana skins. "It is controversial for us to have you up on this stage and we're putting ourselves on the line," he said. "Can you see how your cheating invalidates the message of our school and what we stand for?"
Hamilton – looking tanned and rather boyish with his ragged boscage of wavy hair in stark contrast to the slick, almost shiny, grey suit and smart blue shirt covering his still slender frame – was entirely understanding of the concerns outlined.
"I respect people who can't forgive me and won't listen to what I have to say. You guys can ask any tough questions you like and I deserve them," he said in front of an auditorium of roughly 200 high school pupils, parents, teachers, members of the public and one cycling reporter.
"I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in high school. These kids can learn from me. If I can change one kid's life then I'm pleased I came."
Well, he certainly did change one grown kid's life when approaching Saddles in the foyer ahead of the talk and complimenting him on his Ragpicker vintage cycling cap.
"Nice hat. How you doing? You coming to the talk?" he asked before hands were shaken and names exchanged. It broke the ice nicely – and meant Saddles had a way in after the session to pose a question or two of his own.
To be honest, most of the questioning was rather soft and made Oprah Winfrey look like the Spanish Inquisition – but this wasn't exactly an audience of specialists and only some of them had read Hamilton's book, The Secret Race, co-edited with Daniel Coyle.
Early on during the Q&A the school's head boy asked Hamilton what had been the most difficult aspect about coming out with the truth surrounding what he described as the "dark days".
"The hardest part was telling my parents the truth in 2010 having lied to them ever since 1997."
It was a poignant answer, but one which made this blogger think of something doing the viral rounds at the time: a note left from a father for his son on the fridge door.A chapeltraingown, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.
"Nate," the note-cum-internet-hit said, "I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me. The only thing I need you to plan is to bring home OJ and bread after class. We are out, like you now. I've known you were gay since you were six, I've loved you since you were born. Dad. p.s. your mom and I think you and Mike make a cute couple."
Something tells Saddles that Hamilton's parents knew a long time before 2010 about his training methods. If the syringes, fridges full of blood and shirts stained red weren't enough, then they may have had a hunch around about the time the whole 'false twin' theory came into play.
(Although had they left him a note on the fridge it probably wouldn't have requested extra OJ – for obvious reasons.)
"I wish I'd stood up in '97 and said no when the first red testosterone pill was held out to me by a doctor wearing a fly fishing jacket filled with pharmaceuticals," said Hamilton, like an LA screen-writer effortlessly seaming the plot of The Matrix to an episode of Deadliest Catch.
"If I had known what would have happened I would have been on the first plane back to Boston," he added.
Although blessed (or perhaps hindered?) with a constant grin bordering on a childish smirk, Hamilton came across as genuinely contrite. The critics will say that he's had enough practice – after all, he's rivalling Tony Blair on the lecture circuit right now in the wake of his no-holds-barred confessional – but Hamilton nevertheless came over as an honest, humble and decent guy keen to put things right.
"I have two bits of advice for the young people in the crowd," he said. "First: take time with the decisions you make.This is the third weddinggown I have owned . Second: If you make the wrong choice then right it as quickly as possible."
When pressed on whether or not he would have come clean had he not been forced, Hamilton, to his credit, did not reply wholly in the affirmative.
"I hope so. I would like to think that as I got older and more mature I would have," he said before adding: "But I couldn't say for sure.Compare Supra shoes price and read beachweddingdresses reviews before you buy. I had many opportunities to tell the truth. I waited until the last minute when I was fully backed up in the corner."
Now 42 and working as a private cycling trainer back home in Colorado, Hamilton said he was happy to be away from the pressures of the professional peloton and the general rat race that can affect students as much as Wall Street execs.
"I'm kind of enjoying just being mediocre," he said, prompting laughs from the crowd. "I'm 30 pounds heavier now than when I was a cyclist," he added, prompting gasps (he is still a slight guy). "I'm a jogger, not a runner. I'm enjoying being average.Long and slim-fitting, the chiffonbridesmaiddress is equally appropriate for strolling a city street or hiking a snowy trail."
Being average is certainly something you wouldn't hear his former boss Lance Armstrong boasting about – and certainly something Hamilton in his capo days wouldn't have admitted to. Back then, he was all about pushing things further and never being content with the status quo.
"At CSC one of Danish guys coined the term 'positive dissatisfaction'. I used that term so many times but it was the root of all the problems.Has anyone brought a arminycling?"
After all, this was a prestigious school whose mission is to encourage students to "develop integrity and strength of character by learning to make good choices and by taking responsibility for their actions".
The teacher controlling the Q&A session alongside the school's head boy was also wary of slipping on any potential banana skins. "It is controversial for us to have you up on this stage and we're putting ourselves on the line," he said. "Can you see how your cheating invalidates the message of our school and what we stand for?"
Hamilton – looking tanned and rather boyish with his ragged boscage of wavy hair in stark contrast to the slick, almost shiny, grey suit and smart blue shirt covering his still slender frame – was entirely understanding of the concerns outlined.
"I respect people who can't forgive me and won't listen to what I have to say. You guys can ask any tough questions you like and I deserve them," he said in front of an auditorium of roughly 200 high school pupils, parents, teachers, members of the public and one cycling reporter.
"I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in high school. These kids can learn from me. If I can change one kid's life then I'm pleased I came."
Well, he certainly did change one grown kid's life when approaching Saddles in the foyer ahead of the talk and complimenting him on his Ragpicker vintage cycling cap.
"Nice hat. How you doing? You coming to the talk?" he asked before hands were shaken and names exchanged. It broke the ice nicely – and meant Saddles had a way in after the session to pose a question or two of his own.
To be honest, most of the questioning was rather soft and made Oprah Winfrey look like the Spanish Inquisition – but this wasn't exactly an audience of specialists and only some of them had read Hamilton's book, The Secret Race, co-edited with Daniel Coyle.
Early on during the Q&A the school's head boy asked Hamilton what had been the most difficult aspect about coming out with the truth surrounding what he described as the "dark days".
"The hardest part was telling my parents the truth in 2010 having lied to them ever since 1997."
It was a poignant answer, but one which made this blogger think of something doing the viral rounds at the time: a note left from a father for his son on the fridge door.A chapeltraingown, often called a seat, is one of three contact points on an upright bicycle, the others being the pedals and the handlebars.
"Nate," the note-cum-internet-hit said, "I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me. The only thing I need you to plan is to bring home OJ and bread after class. We are out, like you now. I've known you were gay since you were six, I've loved you since you were born. Dad. p.s. your mom and I think you and Mike make a cute couple."
Something tells Saddles that Hamilton's parents knew a long time before 2010 about his training methods. If the syringes, fridges full of blood and shirts stained red weren't enough, then they may have had a hunch around about the time the whole 'false twin' theory came into play.
(Although had they left him a note on the fridge it probably wouldn't have requested extra OJ – for obvious reasons.)
"I wish I'd stood up in '97 and said no when the first red testosterone pill was held out to me by a doctor wearing a fly fishing jacket filled with pharmaceuticals," said Hamilton, like an LA screen-writer effortlessly seaming the plot of The Matrix to an episode of Deadliest Catch.
"If I had known what would have happened I would have been on the first plane back to Boston," he added.
Although blessed (or perhaps hindered?) with a constant grin bordering on a childish smirk, Hamilton came across as genuinely contrite. The critics will say that he's had enough practice – after all, he's rivalling Tony Blair on the lecture circuit right now in the wake of his no-holds-barred confessional – but Hamilton nevertheless came over as an honest, humble and decent guy keen to put things right.
"I have two bits of advice for the young people in the crowd," he said. "First: take time with the decisions you make.This is the third weddinggown I have owned . Second: If you make the wrong choice then right it as quickly as possible."
When pressed on whether or not he would have come clean had he not been forced, Hamilton, to his credit, did not reply wholly in the affirmative.
"I hope so. I would like to think that as I got older and more mature I would have," he said before adding: "But I couldn't say for sure.Compare Supra shoes price and read beachweddingdresses reviews before you buy. I had many opportunities to tell the truth. I waited until the last minute when I was fully backed up in the corner."
Now 42 and working as a private cycling trainer back home in Colorado, Hamilton said he was happy to be away from the pressures of the professional peloton and the general rat race that can affect students as much as Wall Street execs.
"I'm kind of enjoying just being mediocre," he said, prompting laughs from the crowd. "I'm 30 pounds heavier now than when I was a cyclist," he added, prompting gasps (he is still a slight guy). "I'm a jogger, not a runner. I'm enjoying being average.Long and slim-fitting, the chiffonbridesmaiddress is equally appropriate for strolling a city street or hiking a snowy trail."
Being average is certainly something you wouldn't hear his former boss Lance Armstrong boasting about – and certainly something Hamilton in his capo days wouldn't have admitted to. Back then, he was all about pushing things further and never being content with the status quo.
"At CSC one of Danish guys coined the term 'positive dissatisfaction'. I used that term so many times but it was the root of all the problems.Has anyone brought a arminycling?"
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