Latest news with #Hindes
The National
a day ago
- Sport
- The National
David Smith: Hindes' journey reminds me of the beauty of starting over
Born in Germany to a British father and German mother, Hindes originally competed for Germany before switching allegiance to Team GB in 2010. He was spotted for his explosive potential and quickly folded into the elite British Cycling setup. What followed was a decorated career filled with world titles and Olympic dominance. For over a decade, he trained in a tightly controlled environment geared around milliseconds and focused gains. And now, he's chosen to throw himself into something wildly different: the Lakesman half Ironman. The Lakesman, for those who don't know, is one of the UK's most challenging Iron-distance triathlons. It's a 1.2 mile swim in the chilly waters of Derwentwater, followed by a 56 mile bike ride across the undulating roads of Cumbria, and then capped off with a 13.1 mile run. This isn't just a test of fitness, it's a test of patience, mental grit, and resilience over an entire day. Unlike track cycling, where you go full gas for under a minute, Ironman is about controlled suffering over hours upon hours. You can't blast your way through it, you have to learn to manage pain, nutrition, mindset, and pacing. What makes Hindes' participation even more remarkable is that he was never a swimmer. In fact, when he first started training for the event, he was essentially learning from scratch. I've had the pleasure of chatting to him over the past few months and following his journey online, and the transformation has been nothing short of inspiring. Watching a man who once measured his performance in tenths of a second now grind out long swims and hour long brick sessions shows a humility and determination that many former elite athletes struggle to rediscover in retirement. This isn't just about personal challenge for Hindes. He's doing it to raise funds for the Tour de 4, a cancer charity challenge launched in support of his close friend and teammate Sir Chris Hoy, who revealed last year that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The camaraderie between Hoy and Hindes runs deep. They weren't just teammates - they were brothers in arms during one of British Cycling's most dominant eras. Hoy was the elder statesman, Hindes the young prodigy. For Hindes, this isn't just an endurance race it's a tribute. There's something quietly poetic about an Olympic sprinter, trained for maximum output over minimum time, embracing one of the world's longest single-day races. It speaks to a broader truth about elite athletes: the fire never really goes out. They may step away from the sport that defined them, but that need to push themselves, to explore the edges of discomfort and commitment, never leaves. Hindes could have chosen to fade into quiet retirement. Instead, he's on a journey of reinvention with sights set on a full Ironman. And while Ironman finish lines aren't lined with quite as many flashing cameras or Union Jacks, I'd argue that this kind of feat might even demand more. No one is there to hand you a gold medal at the end. You do it for your own reasons, your own sense of purpose. For Hindes, its purpose laced with memory, friendship, and cause. Watching him prepare has also reminded me of the beauty of starting over. How rare it is to see someone who once operated at the very top of one domain be willing to become a beginner again in another. I've seen him grinding through freezing swims, awkward runs, and brutal bike sessions always with humility, humour, and that same edge that once earned him Olympic glory. So, if you're anywhere near Keswick on Sunday, keep an eye out for Hindes. He may not come out the water first, and he may not break the marathon record, but make no mistake, one of the most talented athletes this country has ever produced will be giving it absolutely everything. Not for a medal. But for meaning. Go well, Philip. And know that a whole community of Olympians, cyclists, triathletes, and fans are behind you every step, pedal, and stroke of the way as you both raise money for our mate Chris' Tour de Four and your own personal goal of becoming an Ironman.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
David Smith: Hindes' journey reminds me of the beauty of starting over
Born in Germany to a British father and German mother, Hindes originally competed for Germany before switching allegiance to Team GB in 2010. He was spotted for his explosive potential and quickly folded into the elite British Cycling setup. What followed was a decorated career filled with world titles and Olympic dominance. For over a decade, he trained in a tightly controlled environment geared around milliseconds and focused gains. And now, he's chosen to throw himself into something wildly different: the Lakesman half Ironman. The Lakesman, for those who don't know, is one of the UK's most challenging Iron-distance triathlons. It's a 1.2 mile swim in the chilly waters of Derwentwater, followed by a 56 mile bike ride across the undulating roads of Cumbria, and then capped off with a 13.1 mile run. This isn't just a test of fitness, it's a test of patience, mental grit, and resilience over an entire day. Unlike track cycling, where you go full gas for under a minute, Ironman is about controlled suffering over hours upon hours. You can't blast your way through it, you have to learn to manage pain, nutrition, mindset, and pacing. What makes Hindes' participation even more remarkable is that he was never a swimmer. In fact, when he first started training for the event, he was essentially learning from scratch. I've had the pleasure of chatting to him over the past few months and following his journey online, and the transformation has been nothing short of inspiring. Watching a man who once measured his performance in tenths of a second now grind out long swims and hour long brick sessions shows a humility and determination that many former elite athletes struggle to rediscover in retirement. This isn't just about personal challenge for Hindes. He's doing it to raise funds for the Tour de 4, a cancer charity challenge launched in support of his close friend and teammate Sir Chris Hoy, who revealed last year that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The camaraderie between Hoy and Hindes runs deep. They weren't just teammates - they were brothers in arms during one of British Cycling's most dominant eras. Hoy was the elder statesman, Hindes the young prodigy. For Hindes, this isn't just an endurance race it's a tribute. There's something quietly poetic about an Olympic sprinter, trained for maximum output over minimum time, embracing one of the world's longest single-day races. It speaks to a broader truth about elite athletes: the fire never really goes out. They may step away from the sport that defined them, but that need to push themselves, to explore the edges of discomfort and commitment, never leaves. Hindes could have chosen to fade into quiet retirement. Instead, he's on a journey of reinvention with sights set on a full Ironman. And while Ironman finish lines aren't lined with quite as many flashing cameras or Union Jacks, I'd argue that this kind of feat might even demand more. No one is there to hand you a gold medal at the end. You do it for your own reasons, your own sense of purpose. For Hindes, its purpose laced with memory, friendship, and cause. Watching him prepare has also reminded me of the beauty of starting over. How rare it is to see someone who once operated at the very top of one domain be willing to become a beginner again in another. I've seen him grinding through freezing swims, awkward runs, and brutal bike sessions always with humility, humour, and that same edge that once earned him Olympic glory. So, if you're anywhere near Keswick on Sunday, keep an eye out for Hindes. He may not come out the water first, and he may not break the marathon record, but make no mistake, one of the most talented athletes this country has ever produced will be giving it absolutely everything. Not for a medal. But for meaning. Go well, Philip. And know that a whole community of Olympians, cyclists, triathletes, and fans are behind you every step, pedal, and stroke of the way as you both raise money for our mate Chris' Tour de Four and your own personal goal of becoming an Ironman.
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Learn a few laundry secrets from the baseball pros — the clubhouse staffers who wash MLB uniforms
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — From the pinstripes of New York all the way to the Dodger blues of Los Angeles, there is a strong connection among the clubhouse staffers who wash the dirt-caked, hard-worn uniforms of the major leagues. Just like the players who wear the jerseys. 'The clubhouse community is really close,' says Riley Halpin, 29, a clubhouse attendant for the San Francisco Giants. 'There's not a guy in the league I don't think that I can't call with a laundry question that won't answer it,' says Kiere Bulls, a home clubhouse manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. On the eve of another season — as players throw their spring training apparel into hampers on wheels in Arizona and Florida — here is a closer look how laundry is done in the major leagues, along with a few tips for your own dirty uniforms — and other items — at home: Dirt is worse than grass stains TEAM: Chicago White Sox LAUNDERER: Rob Warren, clubhouse manager TIP: Dirt on uniforms is more difficult to get out than grass stains. When it comes to the biggest laundry challenges, he preaches patience. 'We'll throw it in, and then usually check it again,' he says. 'We'll run it through once and then after that first load is when we kind of do the scrubbing and spraying.' QUOTABLE: 'So we'll get the first load started within 15, 20 minutes after the end of a game,' Warren says. 'Basically as soon as we have enough to start a load, we'll start a load. Things will change that time. Sometimes a win is quicker or shorter, or you know, getaway day, hopefully quicker.' First, soak it TEAM: Cleveland Guardians LAUNDERER: Sam Hindes, home clubhouse supervisor TIP: Soaking is important. When it comes to tough stains, sometimes they let the uniforms soak overnight in a mixture of detergent and other products. 'Then a big thing that works is a lot of people don't know that pressure, like not necessarily a pressure washer, but the higher the pressure on the water, the better it gets stains out,' he says. 'I never really knew that until I started doing the uniforms.' QUOTABLE: Hindes says position players usually have the dirtiest uniforms — one in particular. 'José Ramírez is one that you always know is going to come back that night and it's going to need some work on it,' Hindes says. 'He has pine tar on his jersey and he's always out there, he's a grinder. He steals bases. He's always diving all over the place. He plays his heart out.' Let that 'pretreat' sit for a bit TEAM: New York Yankees LAUNDERER: Lou Cucuzza Jr., director of clubhouse operations LAUNDRY TIP: It's all about 'pretreating' and letting the pretreat treatment soak in for a while. 'So if you've got something dirty and you're pretreating it, don't throw it right into the machine because that pretreat's just going to get washed away. You want that pretreat really to soak up that stain and separate the fibers of the uniform or apparel, whatever you're wearing.' QUOTABLE: The clay that surrounds the field differs around the majors, presenting a unique challenge 'So we could come off the road or I'll get a team off the road that played, let's say, in Baltimore. They have a tough clay or Boston, their clay is very different than the clay at Yankee Stadium,' Cucuzza says. 'The clay at Yankee Stadium, I have no problem getting visiting uniforms clean. It's really quick. Sometimes I'll get a team, maybe from Baltimore, and it's like, wow, that's a tough red clay. It's a little hard getting out so it may have to go through two washes to get it out.' Make sure you're using the right solutions TEAM: Philadelphia Phillies LAUNDERER: Sean Bowers, home clubhouse assistant TIP: Using the right chemicals is crucial. Some of the laundry chemicals in big league clubhouses aren't widely available, but Bowers says he likes Goof Off for pine tar stains and detergents with protein release for dirt-related issues. QUOTABLE: 'When the field gets painted, getting the paint out is really tough. Just a regular grass stain I can get out fairly easily. But the paint, especially around opening day or after there's concerts and where the stage was, they have to take care of that part of the field. Those outfielders, it's really difficult to get that out.' Spray, spray and spray again TEAM: Pittsburgh Pirates LAUNDERER: Kiere Bulls, home clubhouse manager TIP: For uniforms (and, presumably, anything else) caked with dirt, Bulls recommends spraying off as much of it as possible before it even goes into the laundry. He has some chemicals that he uses at the ballpark, but he likes OxiClean and Shout for dirt predicaments at home. QUOTABLE: 'There's a lot of times that if a player's real, real bad that it may have to get washed three times just to get the stains out. But the uniforms are hung dry. ... They don't go in the dryer. They just get washed and hung right outside the lockers.' If at first you don't succeed ... TEAM: San Francisco Giants LAUNDERER: Riley Halpin, clubhouse attendant TIP: Halpin says washing uniforms is 'a trial-and-error process' much of the time. 'Obviously when it comes to the at-home kind of washing, you don't have these top-of-the-line chemicals that professional teams have,' he says. 'So I would say just do a little bit of research. ... Find out what the top kind of brands people are using at the Walmarts and stuff like that. And go with it.' QUOTABLE: Halpin says he gets to the ballpark around noon for a typical night game and leaves around 1 a.m. 'It's long days. But it's kind of what you sign up for, you know, with this job. And it's super cool just to obviously get to do what we get to do. So we all put up with it.'
The Independent
19-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Learn a few laundry secrets from the baseball pros — the clubhouse staffers who wash MLB uniforms
From the pinstripes of New York all the way to the Dodger blues of Los Angeles, there is a strong connection among the clubhouse staffers who wash the dirt-caked, hard-worn uniforms of the major leagues. Just like the players who wear the jerseys. 'The clubhouse community is really close,' says Riley Halpin, 29, a clubhouse attendant for the San Francisco Giants. 'There's not a guy in the league I don't think that I can't call with a laundry question that won't answer it,' says Kiere Bulls, a home clubhouse manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. On the eve of another season — as players throw their spring training apparel into hampers on wheels in Arizona and Florida — here is a closer look how laundry is done in the major leagues, along with a few tips for your own dirty uniforms — and other items — at home: Dirt is worse than grass stains TEAM: Chicago White Sox LAUNDERER: Rob Warren, clubhouse manager TIP: Dirt on uniforms is more difficult to get out than grass stains. When it comes to the biggest laundry challenges, he preaches patience. 'We'll throw it in, and then usually check it again,' he says. 'We'll run it through once and then after that first load is when we kind of do the scrubbing and spraying.' QUOTABLE: 'So we'll get the first load started within 15, 20 minutes after the end of a game,' Warren says. 'Basically as soon as we have enough to start a load, we'll start a load. Things will change that time. Sometimes a win is quicker or shorter, or you know, getaway day, hopefully quicker.' First, soak it TEAM: Cleveland Guardians LAUNDERER: Sam Hindes, home clubhouse supervisor TIP: Soaking is important. When it comes to tough stains, sometimes they let the uniforms soak overnight in a mixture of detergent and other products. "Then a big thing that works is a lot of people don't know that pressure, like not necessarily a pressure washer, but the higher the pressure on the water, the better it gets stains out,' he says. 'I never really knew that until I started doing the uniforms.' QUOTABLE: Hindes says position players usually have the dirtiest uniforms — one in particular. 'José Ramírez is one that you always know is going to come back that night and it's going to need some work on it,' Hindes says. 'He has pine tar on his jersey and he's always out there, he's a grinder. He steals bases. He's always diving all over the place. He plays his heart out.' Let that 'pretreat' sit for a bit TEAM: New York Yankees LAUNDERER: Lou Cucuzza Jr., director of clubhouse operations LAUNDRY TIP: It's all about 'pretreating' and letting the pretreat treatment soak in for a while. 'So if you've got something dirty and you're pretreating it, don't throw it right into the machine because that pretreat's just going to get washed away. You want that pretreat really to soak up that stain and separate the fibers of the uniform or apparel, whatever you're wearing.' QUOTABLE: The clay that surrounds the field differs around the majors, presenting a unique challenge 'So we could come off the road or I'll get a team off the road that played, let's say, in Baltimore. They have a tough clay or Boston, their clay is very different than the clay at Yankee Stadium,' Cucuzza says. 'The clay at Yankee Stadium, I have no problem getting visiting uniforms clean. It's really quick. Sometimes I'll get a team, maybe from Baltimore, and it's like, wow, that's a tough red clay. It's a little hard getting out so it may have to go through two washes to get it out.' Make sure you're using the right solutions TEAM: Philadelphia Phillies LAUNDERER: Sean Bowers, home clubhouse assistant TIP: Using the right chemicals is crucial. Some of the laundry chemicals in big league clubhouses aren't widely available, but Bowers says he likes Goof Off for pine tar stains and detergents with protein release for dirt-related issues. QUOTABLE: 'When the field gets painted, getting the paint out is really tough. Just a regular grass stain I can get out fairly easily. But the paint, especially around opening day or after there's concerts and where the stage was, they have to take care of that part of the field. Those outfielders, it's really difficult to get that out.' Spray, spray and spray again TEAM: Pittsburgh Pirates LAUNDERER: Kiere Bulls, home clubhouse manager TIP: For uniforms (and, presumably, anything else) caked with dirt, Bulls recommends spraying off as much of it as possible before it even goes into the laundry. He has some chemicals that he uses at the ballpark, but he likes OxiClean and Shout for dirt predicaments at home. QUOTABLE: 'There's a lot of times that if a player's real, real bad that it may have to get washed three times just to get the stains out. But the uniforms are hung dry. ... They don't go in the dryer. They just get washed and hung right outside the lockers.' If at first you don't succeed ... TEAM: San Francisco Giants LAUNDERER: Riley Halpin, clubhouse attendant TIP: Halpin says washing uniforms is 'a trial-and-error process' much of the time. 'Obviously when it comes to the at-home kind of washing, you don't have these top-of-the-line chemicals that professional teams have,' he says. 'So I would say just do a little bit of research. ... Find out what the top kind of brands people are using at the Walmarts and stuff like that. And go with it.' QUOTABLE: Halpin says he gets to the ballpark around noon for a typical night game and leaves around 1 a.m. 'It's long days. But it's kind of what you sign up for, you know, with this job. And it's super cool just to obviously get to do what we get to do. So we all put up with it.' ___
