Kimberly Menozzi, Author
Follow me!
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Novels
  • Bio
  • Order Books
  • Contact
  • Reviews
  • Works in Progress
  • Interviews

Thursday Thirteen: Thirteen Photos Which Inspired 27 Stages

25/4/2013

26 Comments

 
Picture
Ciao a tutti! Hi, everybody! Thanks for dropping by for this week's Thursday Thirteen. Since I'm very busy, preparing for my trip to the US next week and wrapping up all the work on 27 Stages, I thought I'd share a few pics which have inspired me throughout the long slog from start to finish.

So, yeah, it's a blog of cyclist photos. *clears throat*

Anyhoo... Please, allow me to present to you

Thirteen Photos Which Inspired 27 Stages!

Picture
A rider cleans off post-race in the famous Paris-Roubaix velodrome shower hall.
Picture
Post-crash recovery.
Picture
Philippe Gilbert's legs after winning a stage of the Vuelta a Espana.
Picture
I'm endlessly amazed at how closely they can ride together in the group.
Picture
A peek inside a team bus during the Giro d'Italia. The "crash pad" for Alta VeloCidad's bus is based on this shot and a few other team buses I've found online.
Picture
This is *literally* the moment where the story started taking shape in my head. As I watched Cancellara receive the maillot jaune, I was speaking to my husband on the phone (he was in Italy, I was in the US). When the camera panned out and showed Cancellara on the podium, I said, without thinking, "I want to lick his legs." My husband didn't miss a beat and said "If you can catch him, go right ahead." That moment, combined with the team politics on display by the Astana riders (specifically Contador and Armstrong) led to the creation of 27 Stages.
Picture
Fabian Cancellara's legs as he stands atop the Paris-Roubaix podium after winning the race in 2010.
Picture
This is one of my all-time favorite photos, and even now, looking at it makes me want to write a story for it.
Picture
There is a scene in 27 Stages which was written before I saw this photo, but which mentions a photo Abby takes over her shoulder without even looking, after sensing someone is watching her. When she looks at it later, she finds Federico was in the crowd after all. This is *literally* the sort of image I imagined her capturing.
Picture
Riding in the rain isn't just wet, but cold, too. No wonder they all look so miserable, eh?
Picture
In my next life, I want to come back as a fly so I can spy on the boys in the bus.
Picture
This year's Milan-Sanremo race proved that there is nothing - absolutely *nothing* - I can write which will ever compete with real life. But I will keep trying.
Picture
Cancellara falls to the ground after winning this year's Paris-Roubaix by a bike length.
And there you have them: Thirteen Photos Which Inspired 27 Stages.




Of course, there were many, many more photos than this to inspire me since 2009. I simply can't share them all, though.
















Which is a bit of a shame, really.






















And I know I owe you at least one more pic, so...






















I hope this will do.
Picture
Gilberto Simoni. Cyclist.
26 Comments
Anthony North link
25/4/2013 08:54:51 am

Great pics. Oh ... and nice trainers at the end :-)

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 10:24:57 am

Thanks, Anthony - I know it's silly, but I really do like the design of cycling shoes. :)

Reply
Jennifer Leeland link
25/4/2013 09:22:12 am

Awesome pictures! I can't wait for this one.

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 10:26:27 am

Honestly, Jennifer - it *won't* be long, now. In fact, it should be a matter of...days! :D

Reply
Mia Celeste link
25/4/2013 09:45:22 am

Wow, bikers have nice looking legs. Lots of muscles.


http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2013/04/inspired-by-remarkable-unusual-and-true.html

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 10:27:59 am

You got that right! ;) I guess I'm a "leg girl" - and luckily, I married an amateur cyclist. :D

Reply
Paige Tyler link
25/4/2013 10:24:10 am

Great pics! Nice eye candy, too!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 11:21:44 am

Thanks, Paige! I thought so, too. :)

Reply
Alice Audrey link
25/4/2013 10:31:25 am

Wow, look at the legs on these guys.

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 11:23:39 am

I know, right? I spend a lot of time looking, too - believe me. Heh.

Reply
Heather L link
25/4/2013 12:18:48 pm

It's amazing the conditions serious cyclists are willing to ride in. I hate walking in rain and snow, forget trying to ride a bike in it!

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 02:13:32 pm

This year was particularly amazing, really. The cold and snow has refused to budge, and the Northern Classics all had unusual riding conditions - snow, fog, sleet - you name it, they've had to ride through it. Madness!

Reply
Adelle Laudan link
25/4/2013 02:36:54 pm

I love your husbands' sense of humor. Gotta luv him :)
Great photos. Happy T13!

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 03:38:47 pm

LOL! When he's on top of things, he's hilarious, that's all I can say. ;)

I'm glad you liked the photos, too. :) Happy TT to you!

Reply
Colleen link
25/4/2013 04:29:35 pm

I'm guessing you are a leg woman! Is that a doll in #3 to the right?

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
25/4/2013 05:16:18 pm

I am, indeed. ;)

And if you mean the figure in the pink shirt, that is indeed a stuffed toy: it's the mascot of the Giro d'Italia, Girbecco the stambecco (an Italian mountain goat). He's awarded to the overall leader of the race after each stage - just as a toy lion is given to the overall leader of the Tour de France. Cute, eh? :)

Reply
CountryDew link
25/4/2013 06:20:24 pm

I think my husband would kill me if I ever told him I wanted to do something to some other guy's body part... greatly enjoyed the parting gift.

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
26/4/2013 02:12:49 am

See? Just goes to show how lucky I am - my hubby gets the joke! :D Besides, he knows the reality of the situation: he's the only man for me. :)

Reply
Shelley Munro link
26/4/2013 03:44:17 am

I can see why you get inspired by the world of cycling.

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
16/10/2013 06:50:56 am

;) I know, right?

Reply
The Gal Herself link
26/4/2013 10:20:46 pm

What intense photos! I know that your subject is cycling, but some of the photos put me in mind of the Boston marathoners. I hope you enjoy your trip home to the US, and wish you nothing but success with your book!

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
16/10/2013 06:53:30 am

Thanks, hon - There is definitely the same intensity in some of the shots, I think.

And thank you for the good wishes! :)

Reply
bus slovenia link
16/10/2013 05:21:02 am

i like very much cycling.i am really impressed by seeing your photos

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
16/10/2013 06:50:27 am

I just wish I'd taken them myself. LOL! Thanks for dropping by and commenting. :)

Reply
Midge
17/1/2014 04:24:52 am

Apologies for being late to this. We tweet sometimes, but I don't always make the links with blogs. However, now I have made it here I can tell I'll probably be back.

Those thirteen photos do a great job of summing up why pro cycling appeals. I am also amazed by exactly how they can do what they do, day after day, in all conditions; they truly are superb athletes (for the most part). While I enjoy the Grand Tours, the Classics have taken my heart, with the cobbled versions my favourites of all. So yes, I'm always going to appreciate Roubaix and Fabian photos.

From a purely fan girl standpoint...
LEGS - oh yes
TEAM BUS fascination - tick
THAT PHOTO of Fabian and Matti - gorgeous (two of my favourites right there).
It's just such a lovely image and one of my all time favourites too, just something about it. You should definitely write that story.

Thanks, and I'll be back I'm sure

Reply
Kimberly Menozzi link
17/1/2014 06:23:06 am

I couldn't have said it better myself! I sure hope to see you around here again, too - I'll be posting more regularly in the future. I promise! ;)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Kimberly Menozzi

    Author. Happily Married. Survivor of life with two deranged kitties.

    Please note: Thanks to an increase in spam comments, I'll be approving the comments before they post. Sorry!

    Archives

    April 2022
    October 2020
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009

    Categories

    All
    150th
    15th
    2010
    2012
    27 Stages
    About Me
    Alternate Rialto
    Amazon
    Anniversary
    Ask Me
    Ask Me If I\\
    Ask Me If I'm Happy
    Ask Me If I\'m Happy
    Audio Interview
    Blog
    Blog Hop
    Bologna
    Book After Book
    Book Covers
    Books
    Books I Love
    Busy
    Buy
    Cameron Chapman
    Catch Up
    Catchupe6eedff5b6
    Celebration
    Characters
    Charcoal
    Charity
    Chris Hollis
    Christmas Lights
    Christmas Presents
    Contest
    Coppi
    Cover Art
    Cover Design
    Critique
    Cute
    Cycling
    Cyclists
    Dead Men
    Debut Novel
    Depression
    Diiarts
    Doctor Who
    Donations
    Doodlebug
    Earthquake Relief
    Ebook
    E Book
    E-book
    Emilia Romagna
    Emilia-Romagna
    Evil Unltd
    Excerpts
    Excited
    Excitement
    Eyecandy
    Fabian Cancellara
    Factoids
    Falco
    Family
    Fiction
    Filtered Light
    FREE
    Friday
    Funfacts
    Gift Idea
    Gift Suggestions
    Giro D
    Giro D'Italia
    Giveaway
    Goodreads
    Good Stuff
    Grammar
    Guest
    Guest Blog
    Guest Blogging
    Guest Blogs
    Guest Post
    Happiness
    Happy
    Hawt
    Heikki Heitala
    Holiday
    Hotties
    Inspiration
    Inspiriation
    International Women
    International Women's Day
    Interview
    Italian Life
    Italy
    John Lennon
    Kimberly
    Kimberly Menozzi
    Kindle Books
    Kitty
    Language
    Launch
    Leopard Trek
    Life
    Ljubljana Witch
    London
    Loss
    Love Story
    Martin Riley
    Menozzi
    Misconceptions
    Misused Words
    Nell Dixon
    New Release
    Novel
    Novella
    Novels
    November
    November 2010
    NSFW(?)
    Oli Johns
    Other Sites
    Otherworld Diner
    Packing
    Photography
    Photos
    Plans
    Process
    Professional Cycling
    Profoundly Shallow
    Promotion
    Published
    Purchase
    Purchases
    Random
    Random Thoughts
    Reading
    Re-cap
    Red Cross
    Reggio Emilia
    Remembering
    Research
    Review
    Reviews
    Richard Pierce
    Ridiculous
    Rip
    Road Cycling
    Robert Stermscheg
    Sad
    SAD?
    Samuele Bersani
    Sarah E Melville
    Self-censorship
    Sexy
    Simon Forward
    Smashwords
    Stage Three
    Story Excerpts
    Story Ideas
    Summer
    T13
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    The Next Big Thing
    Think Geek
    Thoughts
    Thursday 13
    Thursday Thirteen
    Time Trial Championships
    To Be Read
    Tragic
    Travel
    Trivia
    Tulagi Hotel
    Twitter
    Uk
    Venice
    Visits
    Weather
    Wip
    Women
    Women's Fiction Writers
    Wordless
    Wordless Wednesday
    Work In Progress
    Wouter Weylandt
    Wow
    Write On Wednesday
    Write On Wednesdays
    Writing
    Writing Process
    Yums

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.