WHAT'S NEW
Comments - The Ostentatious Use of Private Aviation
January 14, 2010
And with riches you can do things like: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/01/news/armstrong-pledges-250000-to-haiti_102373
- Jim, SF
January 11, 2010
Careful where you point that long finger of derision--I've seen photos of Brendan mixing with the Hincapies of the world, befriending the famous, making connections. It's only a dude being chronicled getting on with the business of living.
- Jim, SF
January 11, 2010
As the "blogger of obfuscation" you refer to above, I can only offer this in my defense. Do you know Tom? Didn't think so... Well, I do. Nuff said.
-Burke
- Burke , SL,UT
January 10, 2010
Looks like CC is getting a taste of it's own medicine. If you're against Lance then you are Lance hater - you basically said that earlier. This is proof if you say even the slightest thing bad about Lance, the church of LA comes at you.
- tom, DC
January 09, 2010
Lance is a genius. He's got a TV channel (Versus), a foundation (Livestrong), Twitter and legions of people dependent on him for their paycheck promoting his commercial ventures. It's a modern media juggernaut (amazing feat for an American Bike racer) and as great an athlete as he is the whole Lance show surrounding his business does get to be a bit nauseating.
- Hank , Miami
January 08, 2010
Lance has always been very divisize- he was a jerk when he showed up at the Tour d Toona as an amateur and still is one...
- frenchy, nyc
January 07, 2010
@ Stephen......Dude, we've moved! The Ferrari belongs to an "antiques" dealer at our old Cantrell location. Just a Porsche in our new one.
- Car Guy, in the basement
January 07, 2010
Re: the Atlantic article, in the words of Jay-Z himself: "If you grew up with holes in your zapatos/you start celebrating the minute you're getting dough."
This article isn't stereotyping anyone, it's just saying that things are what they are. People in different socioeconomic groups view wealth from a different perspective. I think one of the most important but overlooked attributes of the purchases made by the newly rich is liquidity. If you grew up poor, you know things can go from aces to crap pretty quickly. It's easier to get fast cash from, say, a platinum chain than it is to cash out stocks or sell that yacht. These people aren't taking anything for granted. Some call this reverence for liquidity tacky, I call it wily. One could say not having to worry about liquidity is a sign of truly entrenched wealth, but I think there's blessed few people in this day and age that can be so comfortable.
- Fran, SA TX
January 07, 2010
Speaking of nouveau riche is the Ferrari in the CC parking lot yours?? I've been told it is a blue F430
- Stephen, BFE
January 07, 2010
Great point about Lance. Next we should look at the 'nouveau' upper-middle-class and blogging about your first tailiored shirt. Title it, "Ostentatious Use of Private (and tedious) Revelations."
- BC, SO
January 06, 2010
I follow lance and chris lieto (2nd at ironman) on twitter. It's more entertaining reading Chris' Twits because he is trying hard to be like Lance.
- bill, nor cal
January 06, 2010
Dear sir or madam:
You are a pathetic, jealous wretch. I very happy that I can unsub this blog with the click of a button.
- Yo Daddy, Uranus
January 06, 2010
I have been following cycling for about 4 years now, so I have to wonder if Lance was always such a divisive figure. With so many "haters" and "lovers" I have to wonder why he provokes such passion, be it anti or pro. Personally, there are things I like about him, and others that I don't. I follow him because he is part of cycling and I find certain parts of his life interesting. How many of us have people in our lives who have unappealing traits but manage to capture our interest and friendship. Why when someone becomes a public figure by way of their success do we suddenly think that unless they are perfect in all respects, they are horrible in all respects? IMO, many of those who profess to hate him because he (in their view) cheated to succeed, in truth, are only certain he doped because they hate him for other reasons.
- Josh, NY
January 05, 2010
I believe tyler! BAHA funny sh*t! gotta get me some of that just for the cyclo-political incorrectness...
- mitch, newcastle, AUS
January 05, 2010
One newish blog to check out is Pave (http://pavepavepave.blogspot.com/). Great commentary and analysis on the pro scene and all things dealing with pave by a former Assistant DS turned school teacher... Not to mention some of the sweetest looking kits out there!!
- EcoSteve, Philadelphia
January 05, 2010
What an uninformed post. Utilizing General Aviation (the industry term for private and corporate aircraft) isn't "conspicuous consumption". No one parks their jets in their drive way. Please post better next time.
- Ray, Savannah
January 05, 2010
Kind of wonder if the Atlantic article was published on 4/1, but it's not worth the trouble to check..
- Frank, Windsor, ON
January 05, 2010
To all Lance fans: I own a Faggin that used to belong to his current wife. Anyone wanna buy it?
- Blake, Denver
January 05, 2010
Hated that "excellent" Atlantic Monthly article. It was full of false statements and only serves to promote racial stereotypes. The author should have consulted sociologists and psychologists instead of economists, as consumption is more a product of psychology, regardless of whether it is conspicuous or inconspicuous and regardless of class or peer group. The entire premise of the article is ridiculous.
- Charles, New York
January 05, 2010
Poor, poor Lance. Just minding his own business (by broadcasting his every f-ing move every 5 seconds on Twitter, or so I'm told), and now he has to put up with this.
Good thing he has so many brave souls to stand up for him against the unfair comments of this blog. He's such an unfortunate, misunderstood, humble, downtrodden fellow, just trying to make an honest living, who needs you to defend his honor for him.
I'm sure he really, really appreciates your support. I know I would.
- Jay Pee, Port Arthur
January 05, 2010
Check out Domestique as well, some interesting stuff on there sometimes.
http://domestique.cc/
- Robert, Georgetown
January 05, 2010
Whether you like "Lance Armstrong" or not, you cannot deny his talent & the positive publicity he has brought to the sport of Cycling. I think too many times we (the public) put these guys up on a pedestal only to be shocked later on (ie. Tiger Woods, Phelps, etc). Lance has been tested time & time again without coming out (+). I have a lot of respect for that. Although I don't know Lance personally, I feel he is a competitive person by nature & that's what drives him. This coming TDF is gonna be one to really watch! I can't wait! May the best cyclist WIN!
- Clearnce, Pennsylvania
January 05, 2010
It's easy to complain about any of the drivel on twitter, cable, etc. Good news, it's also easy to change the channel.
- Al, Houston
January 05, 2010
Lance might make a lot of money but he also gives a lot to charity, he is a positive and enthusiastic person. Why not pick on Ulrich, he was the biggest doper of them all.
- Edward, Boca Raton
January 05, 2010
Yada Yada Yada, Lance, Yada Yada - give me a break. The mans a legend and an awesome athlete - if he wasn't so involved in fund raising for cancer I might agree he's an out of control rich athlete like so many other douches. Sorry though, he's a family man, albeit a rich one who has a genuine desire to help people with his fame. I probably wouldn't like him on a personal level but I can't dislike him as a public personality.
- Steve, Tucson, AZ
January 05, 2010
Hahaha, whiney Lance fans are so entertaining.
- Tom, Townsville
January 05, 2010
must be nice to have lost all fertility to testicle cancer and still have 4 children.
- charlie, austin
January 04, 2010
I'm with Simon. Whit Yost's Pave blog is one of my favorites. I loved his Tour coverage.
- Matt, Philadelphia
January 04, 2010
Could it be that “The $100,000 person in Alabama does more visible consumption than the $100,000 person in Massachusetts" because the cost of living in MA is significantly higher?
- A., Fairview
January 04, 2010
By "an incessant thrusting of luxury in our face" you might mean "the consequence of my not pressing the unfollow button".
- J, Centerville
January 04, 2010
A family photo in Hawaii is not ostentatious. That doesn't mean you can't read it that way if you choose to.
Sniping, from what I've otherwise seen as a reasonably level-headed source, might be effective marketing. That doesn't mean everyone will read it that way.
- Bob, Riverside
January 04, 2010
I think you've misconstrued what Armstrong does with his twitter account. He really seems to offer a glance into his private life, sharing photos that would normally only be seen by family members and close friends. Coincidentally, his life is one filled with luxuries most cannot realistically hope to enjoy (and of which you seem to be jealous). In other photos (http://twitpic.com/thvbm), he clearly doesn't seem to be feeling the need to impress anyone. The lavish private life one can glimpse into through his twitter doesn't scream nouveau riche like driving a Ferrari (http://twitpic.com/ghhac). In fact, it seems like you failed to fully read the "Inconspicuous Consumption" article to which you linked. I imagine the morning of his family's Hawaii trip, Lance stormed into the living room while the family was peacefully sitting in front of the fire. Everyone sat motionless, they could tell he had been drinking again and everyone knows not to look in his direction when he's loaded. "Pack yo' shit: we's going to Hawaii, people ain't be respectin'", he screamed- threatened, even. The kids wept in silence. They wanted something mundane, and wondered in unison, "why can't we go to Nebraska? Or maybe Minnesota? I'm so tired of having to flaunt world champion and seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's wealth" (Lance Armstrong forces his children to appreciate his palmares by subjecting them to nonstop video footage of his biggest wins and also by tattooing his list of victories on their genit -- oh, wait, no -- I'm guessing he went to Hawaii for many reasons, none of which was to inspire envy in others. When his family posed for the picture on the tarmac, just having alighted from the plane, they weren't sad to be in a tropical paradise and I don't think it was because he screamed, "LET'S GET A PHOTO WITH THE FUCKING JET IN THE BACKGROUND". Lance is both faster and wealthier than you, but he has been this way for a long time and I seriously doubt he feels any need to underscore those facts.
Finally, I think it is funny that an earlier commenter calls Lance a cheat but fails to decry the video of Ullrich, especially the last few seconds where he is shown ousting the time of Bjarne Riis in a TT.
- Grayson, Chapel Hill
January 04, 2010
Der Kaiser = Tony Martin (He will soon be a Grand Tour Contender)
- Will, Boulder
January 04, 2010
Love the rant. If people don't like it, they can skip reading it and they can vote with their wallet and shop elsewhere. The best part is that you guys take risks and are not afraid to speak out on what you see. Yes, you could turn people off and loose thier money, but that is why what you say is even better, no PC here. It is not journalism, it is not business, it is honest conversation. Hats off. Nothing wrong with taking a look at the biggest name in the sport who takes great control of his image seriously. I know, I am a hater.
Zirbel, good guy, blah blah blah. What about all the people that said Floyd taking testo. would not have helped him? These guys taking dope have thrown common sense out the window and are practicing vodoo medicine on themselves all for that brass ring.
Keep up the insider gossip and keep throwing rocks. Many things in our industry and many people in bike shops accept how things are and never question or have any solutions. It is good to shake it up.
- Fausto, NJ
January 04, 2010
@D, Colorado - Again, so what? How, in any way, shape, or form, does that effect you?
- AD, Ohio
January 04, 2010
Dude, Wow if twitpicks of a vacation and a mention of a good meal is indictment of the noveau riche then we are all in trouble. Close down your facebook and get Amish. by the way nice hearing about your tennis match at hincapie's retreat!
P
- Patrick, Chicago
January 04, 2010
You MUST mention Wigley's Sky team interview on your next what's new... I mean it's great but it's a bit shallow all the same. Yeah sure Ian Curtis might be a fascinating artist, I saw him live, something Wiggo probably has wet dreams about (he would be sorely bored I assure you, the sound being so terrible). I love the Smiths and grew up on them also but... I dunno... it's like a bad case of Pitchforks Top Ten Things to kill for 2010 (Retro UK curated old school epic...).
I'm sure he will understand that Nathalie Curtis thinks her father was a prick one too many times. Having fantasies about good ol rick and roll is like a bad parody for me, much like seeing a jaguar as a team car and being vain about it... weird.
Looks to me like Sky is the new Garmin x 100 Worth a thought.
- John, Leeds
January 04, 2010
I think you're being too hard on LA. I suppose you also think twitpics of his kids antagonizes the childless? How about twitpics of his (many custom) bikes? Hell, how about twitpics of his quads?
- Dean, San Francisco
January 04, 2010
No offense, poor or not, Lance has always been a prick and a cheat. Spot on.
- D, Colorado
January 04, 2010
No offense but... who cares if Lance is rich and likes to twitter twatter about it? I stopped following him about 3 twitpics after I started. *shrug* The guy gets people on bikes (which gets you and other bike shops more business) so I'm not complaining.
- AD, Ohio
January 04, 2010
Hello its me over at La Gazzetta Della Bici here. Since you are talking about good blogs I just wanted to mention one of my favorites, its someone who was the first to promote my blog over with you in the good old USA. PAVE by Whit Yost has got to be up there as one of my all time favorite blogs. I read everything this blog has to offer and have even been reading the cyclo-cross articles and I hate cyclo-cross. I just wanted to give it a bit of a shout out as it deserves to be up there with one of the best. check it out at http://pavepavepave.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your time
Simon
La Gazzetta
- Simon, London
January 04, 2010
Also of note in the video, Richard Virenque as the first guy to have a signature shoe in white. Those Carnacs were fresh, and years ahead of their time.
- Josh, Oakland, CA
January 04, 2010
I would bet that the "What's News" articals drive many to the CC site. In fact I would bet that they have the numbers sitting in front of them now. Besides it is some of the best commentary the can be found in the cycling world. What follows is a cut and paste from Wikpedia...See if this clears up what core business is all about.The core business of an organization is an idealized construct intended to express that organization's "main" or "essential" activity. If CC is here to sell their products online they have to get to the site. Core business process means that a firm's success depends not only on how well each department performs its work, but also on how well the company manage to coordinate departmental activities to conduct the core business process, which is;
1. The market-sensing process Meaning all activities in gather marketing intelligence and acting on the information.
2. The new-offering realization process Covering all activities in research, development and launching new quality offerings quickly and within budget.
3. The customer acquisition process all the activities defining the target market and prospecting for new customers
4. The customer relationship management process all the activities covering building deeper understanding, relationships and offerings to individual customers.
5. The fulfillment management process all the activities in receiving and approving orders, shipping out on time and collecting payment.
To be successful, a firm needs to look for competitive advantages beyond its own operations. The firm needs to look at the competitiveness value chain of suppliers, distributors and customers.
- J5, Detroit
January 04, 2010
Great line- "Both were doping to beat bike shop dudes"
When one puts in context who the competition was that they were up against it makes you wonder what they were thinking and reeks of delusion.
Great post.
- Frenchy, NYC
January 04, 2010
I’m all for making fun of dumb doping cases but I’m not ready to heap shame on Zirbel yet. Blatantly calling him out as a doper is reactionary in this case, unless the author knows what Zirbel is really taking. If he doesn’t it’s plain bad journalism, even if it is funny. DHEA would not be a performance enhancer for a 31 year old. It’s not a masking agent, as far as I know, and it’s available over the counter in all sorts of supplements as innocuous as “vitamins” and “energy drinks”. As we’ve seen in cases such as Moningers, supplements aren’t always only what’s on the label. Millions of dollars are paid, every single year, by companies who falsify their supplement claims. These range from false advertising to spiking herbal remedies with actual drugs to simple sloppy manufacturing, such as not thoroughly cleaning the vats between batches. The big companies make enough money that they don’t mind taking the odd multi-millior dollar slap on the wrist.
So far this looks like the Moninger case and he was clearly innocent. Enforcing bans under those circumstances hurt the sport more than help it because it enforces the idea that athletes can “get screwed”. If the anti-doping agencies ever want to get everyone on board in agreement they’ve got to use some rational in their rules and judgments.
- steve, slc, ut
January 04, 2010
Have to like the CC product line and style, but since when is editorial commentary part of your core business?
- Bob, Riverside
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