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Letters to Cyclingnews - July 10, 2008Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless you specify in the message. Please email your correspondence to letters@cyclingnews.com. Stefan Schumacher Stefan Schumacher #1Tom Boonen gets caught with cocaine on him and they won't let him ride the Tour de France, but Stefan Schumacher gets busted with amphetamines in his blood a few months ago but he's cleared to race? And this is how they're cleaning things up? Laurent Pernot Wednesday, July 9, 2008 Stefan Schumacher #2Why would the Astana team not be invited to the Tour because of their tarnished doping image and Stefan Schumacher be allowed? Here's a headline from earlier this year about Schumacher... “Traces of amphetamine found in Schumacher's blood - By Susan Westemeyer Tuesday, January 8, 2008 “German Stefan Schumacher of Team Gerolsteiner, who finished third in the World Championships and winner of last year's Amstel Gold has now admitted that traces of amphetamines were found in his system after an auto accident in October.” Richard Peotto Tuesday, July 08, 2008 LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI #1Once again a Greg LeMond headline that doesn't make any sense and helps nobody out. Who keeps giving this guy a microphone? He tells us he wants to be part of a governing body over cycling? Be very afraid of a guy who doesn't seem to have anything good to say about any body except himself. His comments are consistently bitter and angry that somehow cycling went on without him. How arrogant and idiotic to also suggest that cycling can only happen successfully in Europe. One of the wonderful things about the sport is its ability to adapt and its unrivaled popularity. As a groundbreaking United States of American cyclist LeMond helped pave the way for that to happen, yet he can't appreciate his role in the big picture for wanting to be the only hero. Suzanne E. Szucs Wednesday, July 9, 2008 LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI #2Dear Greg Shut up...please! No one really cares what you think or say anymore. You used to be a hero of mine, and of most cyclists, but now you come across as a bitter, spiteful, hateful, paranoid person. I know you are saying outlandish things to whomever in the media that will speak to you in an effort to keep your name in print and stay relevant. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you stopped being relevant in 1995. No one cares about your opinions, ideas or rumour-filled innuendo. Be a good chap and just be quiet. Be graceful, like Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Lance Armstrong and the myriad other former professionals who choose not involve themselves in the quagmire that professional cycling is pulling out of. You have zero idea of what is really going on in the peloton, therefore you should not comment. Your divisive comments and nature just aren't helping. Mark Merrill Wednesday, July 9, 2008 LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI #3Greg LeMond thinks the UCI is corrupt and he wants to be part of a new governing organization. Of course who would be better qualified to lead a new governing body than an impartial person such as himself? If anyone harbored doubts about his self serving behavior before, this is the whipped cream on the cake. A cycling federation lead by ASO, ungoverned by a stable set of rules where any team can be excluded by bias of management will not lead to fairness in the sport or an environment where teams can flourish without fear of exclusion or penalties based upon prejudicial whim. Greg did his job well for ASO/LNDD when he showed up at the Landis trial as professional slanderer. Given ASO's undeniable reputation, I am confident he will be welcomed as an asset to their future efforts. Gordon Gross Wednesday, July 9, 2008 Excellent article - ASO v's UCI #1I gave up reading anything to do with ASO and the UCI several months ago as the constant ‘defence of the sport’ propaganda thrown out by both sides always masked the issues that everyone knows are at stake – power and money! However, a quick glance at the opening paragraph of Greg Johnson’s article prompted me to read the full text. I’ve got to credit Greg with an article that is, without doubt, the best piece of independent objective analysis on the problems at the top of the cycling ‘foodchain’. Yet, despite someone actually spelling out where this is going, I just don’t think the UCI/ASO are capable of backing down from their positions. I think we’re in for another few years of political bickering and distraction from the ’leaders’ of world cycling before they actually do the deed and cut a deal. Save the Pro Tour? In the format the UCI first envisaged? Only with divine intervention. In any format at all? The teams/sponsors will decide that by the start of next season. The more important question is ‘how to save the sport from itself’. Kieran Walsh Friday, July 4, 2008 Excellent article - ASO v's UCI #2Cyclingnews, Greg Johnson's article about the ASO vs UCI war and his parallels to the motor racing world was in short phenomenal. That one article painted the picture very clearly to the war of power in which the UCI wants to rule and organize. ASO does seem to have the upper hand and has positioned itself well and is very good at what it does. Thanks for the great article. Hopefully a truce can be made sometime soon so the fans can rejoice and enjoy our beautiful sport without the struggle between these two and reach a far greater audience and grow into the future. Gary Casella Friday, July 4, 2008 Insulting commentMan, whoever on your Tour de France staff typed "the time trial is slow this year, maybe the tour is finally clean", really has their head up their ass. Wind, place the best manager (with the best preparations and strategy) and staff not allowed in, many top riders in the same spot, etc. Your comments and implications, this morning are an insult to those who work, prepare, and race clean and fast, both in the past and present. Dave Meyer Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Romain FeilluStage 4, Romain Feillu, 169th place, five minutes back. Flat embarrassing. The Frenchman pulls on yellow Monday, he calls it a career and retires on Tuesday. The Badger should have slapped him upside the head yesterday instead of shaking his hand! Alan Schiff Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Pure climbers are they a thing of the past?Dear Cycling News, I arrived in Paris on the last day of the Tour de France in 1998. I saw Marco Pantani swoosh by and I have watched each and every day/second of the Tour since. I miss Pantani, he was a pure climber capable of great escapes. Do we have any pure climbers left in the field today? Am I in left field, or have cyclist gotten larger in the post Pantani era? A dear friend, and avid spectator, hypothesizes that this is the result of steroid use. Is that possible? I have to admit, some of the general classification favourites look a bit bulky in comparison to the greats of the past. Ideas? Scott Morrison Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Evans and shoe coversHi, I've noticed now in several time trials that Cadel Evans never seems to wear shoe covers. Given that they have been said to save a few seconds over the course of time trials (and knowing how close he's been to winning some critical ones), it seems like Cadel would do everything to eek out as much benefit as possible. Any explanation as to why he doesn't wear them? Brian Bilich Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Evans to wear number one in Tour #1Followers of the tour will know that the bib numbers are allocated in teams, with the designated leader usually being the first of the nine riders. To suggest that the number one should not be used would mean the first number would be 11. It is also usually the practice for the previous winner to wear yellow for the prologue (first stage?), so obviously it was not worn this year as there is no defending champion. It is ludicrous to suggest that the allocation of number one is "a slap in the face to Contador”. The "right" thing for Cadel to do is wear the number he is allocated. Warwick Overton Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Evans to wear number one in Tour #2Gary, Cadel Evans would/should wear #11 - Contador would wear number one, and his eight team-mates would wear number two-nine. Amos Meyers Friday, July 4, 2008 Evans to wear number one in Tour #3Gary, I’m not trying to single you out here, but as with Bill Kinkead’s letter, to liken the behaviour of a sporting events organiser (or a judicial panel for sport) is plainly wrong. To do so not only overstates your case to the point of ridiculousness but also effectively trivialises the behaviour and attitudes of the Nazis. I will take it that in both cases the reference was merely there to emphasise a point, and that neither of you actually believe it to be true, but there are better, smarter, more fitting ways to argue your case(s). Please make the effort to lift the standards, and to keep the debate sporting. Evil has no place here. Matt Williams Saturday, July 5, 2008 Djamolidine AbdoujaparovGreat story, fills in some blanks yet leaves intact the shroud of mystery surrounding one of cycling's true characters. Thanks for that. Very apt that Kelly Beard mentioned the '95 Tour du Pont in regards to Abdu. From his many highlights, it's also my favorite memory of watching the man race. On that day’s stage a friend and I had served as marshals in the departure city of Greenville, SC. For the next several hours we drove like madmen through the mountains to catch the race on the road. We settled on a mountain pass and waited for the race to come by. Finally two riders crested the summit, riding silently together. Clark Sheehan, check. And...no…Yes! Djamolidine Abdoujaparov. Most of us on the hillside at that moment were too surprised by the sight of the peculiar duo to actually vocalize any encouragement! Sheehan noted during his post-win interview that day (he was a smart one to drop Abdu before the finish, no?) that they rode together in silence the entire day, neither being able to speak the others' language. Ward Crittendon Monday, July 7, 2008 Experience with UST Mountain TiresRegarding John Leake's problems with UST, I have resorted to using multiple coats of contact cement [solvent based] on the bead area of the tire and installing the tire [and tube] when the last coat is still almost wet. If I have to repair a tube on the trail I only disengage one bead and/or pump to a higher pressure. I can't say it's a foolproof solution or give you any minimum pressure you could get away with, but it so far it's letting me run the pressures I like. Putting glue on the rim as well may be even better, but multiple coats on the bead seems to work well enough and is a lot less messy. Get the stuff in the can with the brush on the lid. It seems as though the manufacturers could help this situation by putting a layer of rubber over the bead instead of just the fabric which has a low coefficient of friction, but there may be some constraints due to the manufacturing process. There's also a heavy duty rubber cement called Pliobond which might work better but I haven't tried it yet. Good luck. John Park Monday, July 07, 2008 Boycott le Tour and OlympicsDear CyclingNews.com As an avid tour watcher since 1989, I am sitting out watching or even looking for any news on this one. How they can disallow last year’s winner and 3rd place riders from competing when neither have had a positive dope test? The Olympic Games are yet another one. Given China’s abysmal human rights record of persecution, no thanks. I cannot understand why any athlete would want to compete there. An example of how our athletes’ are not allowed to share their faith is they can only bring along their own bible (no more for distribution) and must keep it in their room. So, this July and August, I look forward to spending more time with my family and perhaps getting our eight year-old to learn to ride her bike. Keep France and China in your prayers and I’ll see you on the road. Roland Hermann Monday, July 7, 2008 Astana and the TourI have watched the Tour de France for 10 years, yet this year to me it seams empty. My husband introduced me to the Tour the year before Lance Armstrong won his first Tour. I became a firm fan of his and followed all his wins. In 2006 I watched in the hope of finding another hero, another Lance, no one appeared. Then in 2007 Discovery gave me a new hero in the shape of Alberto Contador. ASO and its decision to leave out Astana, as far as I am concerned, is petty and underhanded. Astana team is under new management and the two riders involved in the scandal were sacked. You only have to watch Astana race this year to see they are the best and deserved to be in the tour. T Mobile, I mean team High Road, or should I say Team Columbia is racing the Tour as is Robobank. Have any riders in Astana served a ban? I don't think so. Are there riders in the tour that have served a ban? Yes I think so. Where is the Justice? I cannot watch the Tour this year on principal, roll on the Vuelta a Espana if ASO don't put their heave hand in it. Congratulations on the Giro d'Italia Alberto. Sammy Evans Sunday, July 6, 2008 Riders stuck in the middleSo the is a small symbolic thing that the riders in the Tour de France can do to show they have some control and an opinion. First Fabian Cancellara should not wear his UCI World Champion kit in the Tour time trials, along with all the newly crowned national champions. The UCI provides legitimacy to a world title, but the others like Alejandro Valverde could make a very small, but symbolic impact on the race. Jim Leone Saturday, July 5, 2008 Oval bars #1With all due respect to Mr Nicol's 15 years of experience, it appears that his financial stake in the component market is clouding his technical judgment. At 40kph, the difference in drag between 15cm lengths of 26mm and 31.8mm tube is about seven grams, or a little under 0.03 percent of the total rider drag. At 50kph, that savings drops to five grams, or 0.01 percent of the total rider drag. One can speculate about the resulting time savings, but unless you can ride a one hour time trial without scratching your nose it's going to be lost in the noise. While I don't doubt that Oval Concepts is committed to combining Power + Comfort + Aerodynamics, their most famous study to date on the subject concerned the JetStream fork. After issuing a press release claiming that an extensive study by Dr. Mark Drela of MIT validated Oval's split blade design, Dr. Drela posted to rec.bicycles.tech explaining how Oval obtained the results of his calculations and how they were done on a different split blade design than the one Oval uses. While Mr. Nicol attributes the change to larger clamps to sloppy Italian manufacturing (I thought Oval had Italian flair?) the reality is that manufacturing tolerances apply to everyone. No matter how precise your equipment is, if you use it to make two clamp sizes, the larger one will be closer to round. A rounder clamp places less stress on the bar, which is critical for safety and reliability, particularly as handlebar weights continue to drop. A well made 26.0 clamp may be rounder than a poorly made 31.8, but the small clamp will never be the best you can do. I am confused by the reference to these same un-named companies marketing their MTB standard for road use. Mountain and road bike manufacturers have both pretty much settled on 1 1/8" as the standard steerer tube diameter. If Mr. Nicol is concerned about the number of stems my local shop has to keep in inventory, why does he want them to carry 1 1/8":26.0 for road bikes and 1 1/8':31.8 for mountain bikes? I agree that standards are important, but Mr. Nicol's repeated use of speculation and misrepresentation of technical facts to try to convince us that his standard is the right one clearly show his financial motives. Name Withheld Friday, July 04, 2008 Oval bars #2I'm all for standardization of component sizes, for all of the reasons stated with regard to stocking and availability of parts. However, the arguments regarding the aerodynamic advantages and disadvantages of the various clamp sizes really becomes moot if this is standardized, does it not? If everyone is riding the same size, then there should be no differences, or am I missing some really subtle point here? The point made regarding fit being the most important part, I also whole heartedly agree with, but I fail to see how the clamp diameter has much affect on this. It's still possible to achieve proper fit, regardless of which standard would be adopted...isn't it? I don't really favor one standard over the other personally, I just do believe standardization, in this case is a good thing for the reasons stated beforehand. I just wish they would quit screwing around with the bottom brackets. Compared to that, the handlebar standard is a non-issue when it comes to inventories. Todd Doherty Friday, July 04, 2008 Landis decision #1Sat July 5, 2008 Hi The e-mail you published referred to the piece "Landis Loses Final Appeal" of 6/30/08 and was sent before you published the exceptionally detailed article "CAS Delivers Final Blow" on 7/1/08. Sal Garcia Saturday, July 5, 2008 Landis decision #2Um, what exactly was wrong with the article? You never defined what made it a "piss-poor-piece". It looked fine to me for what it was -- a synopsis of the decision. If you want an opinion piece then give your two cents worth here. Jay Wagner Friday, July 4, 2008 Landis decision #3There were a few angry letters regarding ASO, doping, and the Floyd Landis appeal, and I would like to respond quickly, in point form. -The cycling world does not assume someone is "guilty until proven innocent". Riders are presumed innocent until they fail a doping test, and then are assumed guilty. -To suggest Landis was "framed" by ASO, yet provide no evidence, is irresponsible. To not explain why/how ASO would frame Landis instead of Lance Armstrong, when they were apparently out "to get" Armstrong, is completely illogical. -Please keep in mind that the competence of the LNDD lab was not on trial, the only question was whether Landis cheated or not. -Mr. Garcia in Seattle criticized Cyclingnews.com for a "piss-poor-piece" about Landis, yet his only apparent complaint is that the article reported the facts, and the facts did not favour Landis. The opinion expressed by Cyclingnews.com that there is relief now that the final chapter is closed, is certainly one held by most. Let's stop talking about the 2006 Tour de France, and look forward to the 2008 edition. I'm personally cheering for Oscar Peirero! Rob Found Thursday, July 3, 2008 Recent letters pagesLetters 2008
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