Floyd Landis: Living the dream behind the car wash

on February 2, 2010 - 29 Comments
Featured, Interviews

Landis is youngest "Quiet Please" sign holder ever PHOTO: T Love

Since my last conversation with Floyd Landis his luck has turned around. With a record setting time trial victory in the Tour of the Bahamas, Landis has been offered a lucrative job. Not content with just working, Landis has also taken a group of young cyclists under his wing and is guiding them in the fine art of cycling. As you can see, life at the Landis shack is looking up.

Browne Eye: How were you lucky enough to get a job as a golf marshal?
Floyd Landis: Well I was lucky enough to run into a guy who works for the Quiet Sign Holders Union and he is also a cyclist so I was allowed in without doing time as a sign holder for car washes and things like that on the sidewalk. Ordinarily you would have to do several years as a sign twirler so I’m the youngest Quiet Sign Holder in history.

Browne Eye: What are some of the skills required to be a golf marshal?
Landis: It takes tremendous focus and an ability to project an aura of authority. Many former Quiet Sign Holders have gone on to be such things as managers at fast food establishments and RadioShacks.

Browne Eye: Is it as much a cougar magnet as it is rumored?
Landis: You know there is some wild life around Torrey Pines because it’s on the beach but the bigger danger is dolphins, they are sexual predators. I’ve personally never had a run in with a cougar.

Browne Eye: Do you have to wash a lot of golf balls?
Landis: No, that’s an entirely different union, the Ball Shiners Union, and they don’t get along with the Quiet Sign guys.

Browne Eye: Tell us about your shack behind the car wash.
Landis: It’s quite nice. Now that I’ve got an income I’ve been able to get a home equity loan and I’m going to head over to Home Depot to get a new roof/tarp before it starts raining again. The cardboard just doesn’t hold up when it gets wet.

Landis and a young man behind the car wash PHOTO: T Love

Browne Eye: What are some of the perks of living behind a car wash?
Landis: A lot of times people will put a stack of quarters on the ledge where you pay for the car wash and they’ll forget some of them when they leave or not notice you taking them while they are washing the car. Also, there are often half smoked cigarette butts on the ground so that saves me quite a bit of cash.

Browne Eye: The U-23 Garmin riders probably have all the fundamentals of training down. What else can you show them? Are you demonstrating proper wheelie technique?
Landis: I really don’t know much about that. I just give them a place to stay and ride with them now and then. Usually if they have questions I suggest a book by Chris Carmichael or something of that nature or just tell them to quit.

Browne Eye: Is it legal for you to have that many young boys staying with you at your shack?
Landis: Probably not, I don’t have a building permit for the upgrades I’m doing so the whole thing is not exactly legal.

Browne Eye: What’s the vibe like staying with you at the shack? Do you make them do things for you?
Landis: We have lots of boom boxes and shitty Chinese made remote control cars and transistors and shit like that so there is never a dull moment as long as you are one of those nut jobs that are into that sort of nonsense. Also we have lots of rechargeable batteries.

Is Landis dreaming of Rock Racing? PHOTO: T Love

Browne Eye: What’s your daily training regiment since your victory in the time trial in the Tour of the Bahamas?
Landis: Since then I’ve started my sign holding career so my training has been less intense. I’ve found that my arms get tired if I ride too much.

Browne Eye: Now that it looks like Rock Racing has a Mexican racing license will you be racing for Rock?
Landis: What?

Browne Eye: What book is on your nightstand right now?
Landis: Well, I use an upside down Folgers coffee can as a nightstand and it has car wash tokens and a bottle of Johnny Walker on it. I had to burn the book a few nights ago for heat and I can’t remember what it was. I think it was a heart rate monitor user manual but I can’t remember. It could have been We Might as Well Marry a Hooker. Either way I never read it.

Landis never turns his back on dolphins

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29 Responses to “Floyd Landis: Living the dream behind the car wash”

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  1. Gerardo Parker
    March 2, 2010 at 9:29 am

    Fuck, Floyd, I love you man.

    Reply
  2. Martha Sharp
    February 6, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Neil, you and Floyd are HILARIOUS!!!!

    Reply
  3. azcycledad
    February 5, 2010 at 9:37 am

    I used to work in a car wash. Met my wife there (we’re divorced now). Read Camrmichael’s book and quitting sounds reasonable. Mexican riders rock – if you’re a Mexican. Don’t know about that radio control car thing with a bunch of boys, I used to be a junior coach and that could be to distracting from serious X-box time. Wow, with all his atributes, FL is even MORE my hero. You can pass me anytime up Redlands Blvd.

    Reply
  4. Mike DeGraaf
    February 4, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    Funny. Very Funny.

    Reply
  5. TDouglas
    February 3, 2010 at 4:10 am

    “This whole thing” just makes me smile.

    so I am going ice fishing tomorrow…..

    Reply
  6. strbuk
    February 2, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Wait just a freakin’ minute, WHAT about the sewer cat rescue program? I hear PETA is interested in giving Floyd a REAL job. (snuggies thrown in no charge)

    str

    Reply
  7. deskjockey
    February 2, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Neil — what’s the definition of win? One lap in a two lap race? According to the official results, Floyd didn’t come close to winning, but placed 14th: http://www.floridacycling.com/Results/dynamic.asp?mylaps=type,run,runid,1395330

    Reply
  8. jumboiowan jumboiowan
    February 2, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    @neilroad #1 quote “..if they have questions I suggest a book by Chris Carmichael or something of that nature or just tell them to quit.”
    via Twitoaster

    Reply
  9. neilroad neilroad
    February 2, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    In another exclusive interview I talk with Floyd Landis & discuss life behind the car wash. A compelling read http://neilbrowne.com/2010/02/floyd-land...
    via Twitoaster

    Reply
  10. TDouglas
    February 2, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    I also heard Landis is starting a beach cruiser racing team? does anyone have any info about this new sport?

    Reply
    • a money
      February 2, 2010 at 7:29 pm

      it is true that there will soon be a beach cruiser cycling team…I happen to be close to a source who will also race for the team. Details can not be released at this time because of negotiations with sponsors. The one rider hopes a winery will step up with a proposal. Drinking while training and riding is an important aspect of this new team and the sport in general.
      I can also tell you that the team looks strong and will hire some surprising, yet promising riders, even if they are only 18 and don’t know much about much.
      TLove as you can see is indeed talented and will be hired as a full time photographer for the team, as he’s exceptionally skilled at shooting while riding and also finds other interesting things to photograph…you should see one of his greatest shots named, “Hat People”.
      I thought the article was written incredibly well and gives you some real insight as to what Senor Landis’ (no he’s not Mexican, but speaks Spanish well…his real talent is sign language though, hence the frequent use of his middle finger) life is like at the moment.
      One clarification though…I’ve seen the living arrangement at the car wash, and it’s not that bad.

      Reply
  11. TDouglas
    February 2, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    Wow this is really a fascinating article.

    I heard he also works at a car wash in the san diego area? is it the same car wash that he lives behind?

    those photograhs are very interesting is TLove a photographer from the cycling world? Does he work for your website?

    another website reported today that the ROCK team needs to hire “a bunch of mexican riders for the new team” is floyd mexican? He does not look mexican? but I live in canada so we dont see many mexicans so i dont know.

    you are a good reporter

    Reply
  12. Dean
    February 2, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    Be forewarned ya’ll……those are not Dolphins……..they are Pirates!!

    Reply
  13. Pan
    February 2, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Kinda funny , mostly sad.

    Reply
  14. strbuk
    February 2, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    PS, have you been talking to Joe Papp? :-)

    str

    Reply
  15. strbuk
    February 2, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    Neil, the interview is, as always, insightful, hard hitting, and explosive. I knew you would be the one to get to the bottom of the “Floydian Mystery”. But what the fuck is this about Dolphins????

    str

    Reply
  16. Dean
    February 2, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    Fabulous Interview Neil I concur instant classic. BTW I wanna paint a custom frame for Floyd!! Seriously hook me up check out this job I just did for Ortlieb!
    http://gallery.me.com/dean_snyder#100257

    Reply
    • MavicMoto
      February 4, 2010 at 1:46 pm

      Nice work Deano!
      That motif for Ortlieb could work well on a bike. To hell with all the Nascar graphics which are so trendy now.
      And Floyd would clearly be the man to rock it….

      He is the poster child for In-your-face. And the patron saint of Fuck It.

      Reply

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