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Comments - The Race With The Candy Center
May 30, 2010
Bet, the final fall of Lance Armstrong costs the fight against cancer about $100 million a year. Let's go get the bastard.
- Robert, Milton, Ontario
May 28, 2010
P, nicely said - shit is going to hit the fan, and soon. The statement issued by Garmin today was pretty clear from my point of view - you are clean now to be riding with us, if you know anything from the past, speak up and be forthright about what you know or you will no longer be a member of this team. Matt White, JV, VDV, DZ and anyone else associated with the former Postal team will have to participate- potential Federal fraud and racketeering charges and accessory to charges are way more serious than anything WADA, the UCI or USADA could ever punish you with. 2 year doping suspension vs xx years in a Federal pen?
Bruneel, Weisel, Armstrong et al. must be quaking in their boots right now.
This may just finally help break the stupid Omerta of the peleton and help the final act of the clean up of this beautiful sport play itself out once and for all. Let's put the past to rest and close those chapters.
Whatever anyone thinks of Floyd (I personally think he is scum) they should not let the bigger picture evade them.
- Michael, Vancouver, BC
May 27, 2010
BQ - i am a big CC supporter and a fan of your blog. Let me make one humble suggestion. Don't downplay the recent allegaitions made by Landis. Those allegations by Floyd could get very ugly if the Feds put Big George and others on the stand. I don't know what Floyd has, but I DO know that GH and others have no interest in perjuring themselves. I hope this "blows over" but i am afraid it won't. Just make sure you are on the right side.
- P, around
May 26, 2010
Being situated in Arkansas, you may not be familiar with Canada's love of "hockey." Crashed Ice is (very remotely) related to hockey, and as such must be a good thing. Crashed Ice competitions were taking place all over Europe AND the USA years before it came to Canada, where a sponsor isn't even needed for it. There's probably enough people in the stands with construction and/or icemaking experience to build one for the price of a trip to Home Depot. Besides, how many "downhill skaters" have tested positive for EPO, CERA, HGH....? (Maybe Floyd could point out a couple.)
PS: Ryder Hesjedal "sharpens his elbows" before every race.
- Ronin, Vancouver, eh
May 26, 2010
Could anything in the cycling world be more 'high school popularity contest' than worrying about looking "PRO"?
- Chris, Brooklyn
May 26, 2010
Coop, Relax. You probably talk too much when you ride. No cyclist likes noise or wind. You create both. Shh. And go ride somewhere else. That would be cool.
- Frank , Jeff City
May 25, 2010
Fronting... CP used to sell MX Leaders (my dream bike) and up until very recently Pegoretti. I'm just hoping CP will return to real cycling... and I think you just resent being slow.
- Coop, Passing Fronting
May 25, 2010
question - did you actually speak with anyone running the ProTour races, or are you just posturing as you always do for added effect at situations that rarely warrant it?
They have a 5 year contract, for which they needed to provide financial guarantees. The city of Quebec itself is paying a substantial sum to get this event happening. The mayor of QC is a bit of a blowhard, but he can never be accused of not being forward thinking and stepping up to the plate to increase the city's international exposure and reputation.
not to mention that Arseneault is the official broadcaster of both the Canadian AND European feeds. The races are scheduled so that they occur during euro Prime Time TV. You think that advertising won't rake in a few bucks?
- nacho libre, sans-cashville
May 25, 2010
Coop - if you'd rather be on a round steel tubed, possibly single speed frame, "passing everybody", wtf are you doing on this site?
- fronting, ny
May 25, 2010
Would the style jury care to weigh in on running a Power Tap on a bike with 10 speed downtube shifters?
- Todd , Los Angeles
May 25, 2010
Re: "guests" in the TT, a $1500 donation to charity (Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer, presumably) could get anyone a shot at the course - even Dr. Brent Kay (http://flic.kr/p/84YQKn). Trek, Cannondale, and Specialized paid up and gave their slots to Chris Lieto, Chrissie Wellington, and Chris McCormack.
- Josh, Oakland, California
May 25, 2010
"gas station in Bartlett, Ohio ..."
Actually, it is Snickers (followed closely by Twix) as the preferred fuel around here (<30 km to Bartlett).
(you won't find any toe warmers on any of us)
- Kenyon, Belpre OH
May 25, 2010
Apparently toe covers are PRO -- at least, more pro than any one of us will ever be.
- Brian, Cambridge
May 25, 2010
Isn't the whole PRO thing ironic, a nod back to your fourteen year old self who really wanted anything PRO (Corsa Record, TVT 92, Rolls saddle, Benotto Cellotape...) from a cynical present? That and Ricco's just a joke.
- Matthew, Kippax
May 25, 2010
I'm with you on the toe covers, but Blance Lincoln? Really? Please check into her work on Health Care Reform, Wall Street Reform, and her cozy ties to supporters in banking.
Please don't give America another corporate shill because you don't like the lottery. I don't like Indian gaming here in Cali, but we have other issues that are much more pressing.
- Bob, Berkeley
May 25, 2010
I am SO happy Levi didnt win the Tour of Cali. Over the moon about it, but really, can we all pool our money together as readers here to fund a domestic team to win it? Otherwise it'll be a bore fest every year.
Oh and Philly's soda tax didnt pass, but thats another issue
- Hung Low, Killadelphia
May 24, 2010
Wtf? How did this blog get to the point of criticizing a guy for wearing toe warmers? Is that what cycling is about? I for one relish flying up that stretch right before the base of Caddy in the big ring, no helmet, passing bunch of homos on their Trek Pinarello BMC Look deep dish carbon Di2 titanium railed gore carbon weaved nano tech crostata holders on my regular old bike. TTing with a round tubed, steel frame, with one gear is where it's at. If you can't win with that then all of that extra carp will only make you look dumber while losing. (http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/graeme-obree-bidding-for-hour-record-again-21712)
While I'm at it, this whole notion of PRO has poser written all over it (http://www.rapha.cc/baxter). So don't be a poser. Just get on your f*cking bikes and ride!
- Coop, Right in front of you.
May 24, 2010
Re Lance et al.: I agree with some of your points, in particular Lance's relevance. However, there a bunch of names mentioned by Landis that may race for years to come (barring a perjury conviction). Most importantly, if in fact the UCI cut deals for cash, it's hard to see how the sport maintains any credibility going forward without a shakeup in its governance. For those that say "they're all doping etc," consider that some riders have ethics, even if only a minority. Doesn't the sport and its fans owe it to them to be able to compete on a level playing field?
- Josh, NY
May 24, 2010
I work at a bike shop that carries Rapha. The rep visited to show off their new stuff. He told us he loved us, we told him we loved him back, and at the end of it all I casually mentioned that I ride at the track all the time and wished Rapha made a skinsuit. He snaps his fingers, points at me and asks, "Are you a medium?" Two weeks later a team-issue-only Rapha Condor skinsuit arrives in the mail and into my heart. Is it permissible to do a tt workout wearing Rapha? Now it is.
- Adam, Vancouver
May 24, 2010
How about firing the rider AND the D.S. if anyone on the team gets a positive? Once again great piece dude.
- Jim, Troy,NY
May 24, 2010
You should dislike a tax on soda because we don't need Big Daddy putting a price on everything we do in the name of moralizing but really to make ever more money from us. Which is a bigger disincentive - getting fat or paying a penny an ounce? What's next? There's a world of things that 30-40% of us don't like - shall we tax them all in the name of the collective? And when thin people (cyclists) pay the tax on soda, what good is that doing? Does paying the tax absolve anyone of their obesity? No, stop the money grab and put responsibility back where it belongs - on each of us.
- Dobbin, Horse Country
May 24, 2010
A "worrisome state of affairs" notwithstanding, the Crashed Ice video was awesome.
So was the final day of the AToC.
- Lee, California
May 24, 2010
I thought Craig Lewis' breakthrough performance was at Lombardia in '08 when he finished 11th in the sprint for 4th...or when he got 6th and 7th at Tour of Ireland...or when he was 7th at l'Avenir
He can't keep having "breakthrough" performances and he just needs to actually breakthrough and win something and not have all of these "almosts". While it is okay to praise guys for doing well and giving their all for the team like Craig does most of the time, there comes a point where top 10's are not enough should not be praised as "breakthrough" performances. He is a great domestique and should be praised for that but I thought he would have picked up some tactical nuances from his team, which is the 2nd most winning team this year.
- CK, Zinzinnati
May 24, 2010
Tour of California. If anyone finds sports television without hyperbole ("The Fourth Grand Tour"), please let me know - in exchange I won't hold you accountable for trotting out tired views on the superficiality of southern California. All I took from this year's race was that it was a promising sign of things to come. For the first time, the race footage showed off the California I know. For all the irritating plugs about HD, SD footage of this year's remarkable Giro is a disservice.
- Mychal, Oakland
May 24, 2010
Most important paper in the world? Did Murdoch pick up a internet based premium cycling accessories retailer, too? Some newspapers report on things that don't just flash by on internet tickers, you know.
- Joe, Portland
May 24, 2010
Ironic that the new product window next to this post has a Radioshack item. Will we ever fully know the truth? The consistent thread is that a lot of riders either did doping throughout their careers or tried it sporadically. Can't imagine the pressure when you are getting dropped and your contract is at stake. The USPS team is looking more and more "Postal". Lance had to know what was going on. He is just hanging on for dear life so he can make is run for Governor in the near future.
- G, portland
May 24, 2010
I dunno about you, but there's something really satisfying about stopping at the gas station in Bartlett, Ohio (intersection of 555 and 550) while out doing a solid 70-miler and consuming junk food such as a bag of Funyuns and bottle of Mt. Dew. The salt of the Funyuns and the syrupy sweetness of the Dew really helps with the last 20 mile push. The Zero bars there are always really tasty, despite the slight layer of dust on 'em. I guess folks down there prefer Snickers.
- Zach Thomas, Chicago/Cincinnati
May 24, 2010
Another great post, provacative etc.
1. They are all on something. Get over it. The sport never was nor will it ever be free of stuff to make the pain more bearable, the recovery quicker etc. If that makes it farce for some, then so be it. Until the pace of the group is demonstrably slower, you will always know they have something in the system.
2. I agree 100% about ToC, but shouldn't we support a domestic Tour? If not the readers of these posts, then who will?
- Steve, Miami
May 24, 2010
Interesting post. Interesting how the comments on the Landis affair (part deux) echo Stapleton's: Lance is not cycling anymore, new generation is in, etc... Like hedging your bets before a fall. And why do we not know if blood doping is still "de rigueur" in the peloton? Because testing is largely ineffectual and has been for years (see a cosmo link on that issue also) -- so it is not an unhealthy obsession with the past, rather it is a state of affairs brought on by a complacent press and UCI lackadaisical about testing and enforcement (but eager to take money from the riders it tests: conflict of interest anyone?) . Btw, in French only a person can be "au courant" (in the know).
- Oliver , Carrboro
May 24, 2010
Geez, why hate toecovers? After buying (from CC) several different shoe covers that worked horribly with Shimano road cleats (after asking specifically for ones that did), I use $11 Performance neoprene toe covers and a pair of wool socks for all but the coldest days, and then a pair of winter road shoes when it it gets below freezing.
- Jake, Washington, DC
May 24, 2010
We honeymooned in the old city of QC and the whole time we were there I kept thinking "holy shit, you could have a brutally hard and breathtakingly beautiful bike race here." I hope they get their funding.
- AH, Indy
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