Max Riffner

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Touching The Floor

I love secret languages, or rather, terms used on the inside of any profession/lifestyle that seem inpenetrable from the outside. I finished reading Lance Armstrong’s War today, and there were all sorts of neat terms like “touching the floor,” which is basically when a rider crashes. I also love all the wrestling books I read recently which had a very large secret language that was mostly based on carnival worker lingo.

Back to the book, Lance Armstrong’s War is about Armstrong’s 2004 season culminating in his sixth Tour de France win. It doesn’t make him out to be a hero or a villain, so if you are looking for dirt or proof of sainthood, I’d pass. It just presents the facts that are known and gets fascinatingly in-depth into the world of professional cycling. Like I said, I dig the professional vernacular the most.

Any cool phrases or terms in your profession?

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