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Letters to Cyclingnews - September 4, 2008
Here'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.
BMX....That's all?
Olympic mountain biking
Cadel stays with Silence-Lotto?
Head tube logos at Olympic Games
Fabio Baldato's premature retirement
Does doping work?
Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey
Team Australia helmets
British track team's Olympic Games medals
Pro cycling sponsorship
BMX....That's all?
In Regards to Timothy Shame’s letter,
As both a road and mountain biker, I believe that Timothy Shame needs to diversify his view of cycling. Track, though nail-biting and exciting, ISN’T the only cycling discipline out there which athletes can compete in at the highest level.
BMX is not merely adults on kids’ bikes riding down a ramp with ‘kiddie’ gears (or gear, mate!). BMX is a power sport which requires loads of skill, guts and speed. Just because it is a sport that requires the riders to cycle in circles for minutes, ride on the boards, or wear skinsuits, doesn’t detract from the legitimacy of the sport!
Are the 50m ‘sprint’ swim events any less important for the fact that they’re over in 30 seconds?
Timothy, I challenge you to step outside the square. Jump on a BMX, XC or DH MTB, and have a go of something that falls outside the narrow vision allowed by your blinkers!
Anna Beck
Sydney, Australia
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BMX....That's all #2
Shame on you Timothy Shame,
As a track cyclist, you will surely know that Jamie Staff, Jason Kenny, and Shanaze Readeall came into the GB track squad through BMX. All now have World Championship stripes and / or Olympic gold sprint medals. Must be a little bit of talent there, surely?
For a cyclist in one discipline to knock another is depressingly familiar. It may not be your cup of tea but don't demean yourself and display your ignorance.
I'm not a BMXer either but it takes talent and dedication to succeed - just as it does in any other part of the sport. It's also brought some highly talented athletes into best track squad in the world - who knows if they'd have made it through another route.
Huw Watkins
London, UK
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BMX....That's all? #3
In response to Timothy Shame, I was also gutted that the Kilo was dropped in favour of the BMX racing. I didn't know much about BMX racing other than what I had seen in films like ET and BMX Bandits a long time ago. But as with a lot of Olympic sports, I was thrilled and entertained by it, just as I was with Taekwondo, gymnastics, and the open water swim, and was found wanting to see more of it. Yes they are large people on small bikes, but that is how the sport is. If the BMX were bigger it would be a) a mountain bike, and b) too difficult to handle on the tight undulating circuit. The size fits. It just so happens that the size fits kids too - what a great way to get them into the sport. They don't have to wait until they "grow" into something.
As for the rider bragging that he has more power than Cavendish and Hoy, can you prove he doesn't? As a track cyclist, you must surely be aware that Chris Hoy cut his teeth in BMX racing; Jamie Staff (another track gold medallist) raced for a long time in the BMX world, and that Shanaze Reade is also a world champion on the track. I take it from this that they have to be powerful people, and skilled bike handlers to boot.
Victory in 35 seconds? Well, I guess that would be a long day for Usain Bolt and co.
Keep it in the games. Maybe introduce a 50 lap version. And bring back the Kilo.
PS - perhaps Track cycling got zero coverage in the US because your prime time TV channels are only focussing on sports that the US have a chance in rather than the Olympics at large?
Regards
Andy Carter
Woking, Surrey, UK
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BMX....That's all? #4
Timothy
BMXR’s not athletes?? Are you kidding me? As a track rider, I’m sure you have pretty good power in a sprint, as do all BMXers, that’s all it is, one long sprint, but I’ll give you 6 months of BMX practice and you would be hard pressed to keep your front wheel anywhere close to the back wheel of a 14 year old novice BMXR. You thought they were doing 50 laps? Try doing 3 laps back to back to back!
You would be lucky to make it back to the start gate. You must not know a lot about BMX as the starting hill the Olympics used was not the typical start hill BMXR’s use, that hill was strictly for bling, the standard start hill is usually 5-7 feet high. BMX is a cycling discipline, like it or not, be happy any cycling made it to TV period. How much more swimming and diving could we have had crammed down our throat?!
Rich Rozzi
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BMX... That’s all? #5
Woah there Tim!
Yes, it is unfortunate that the Kilo was excluded from the games. This was a judgement call by the UCI, and it was made with the purpose of expanding cycling's image on the world stage. Would I have rather watched a blisteringly fast kilo than a BMX race? YES.
But to say that the sport is "kiddie"; well that is simply crossing the line. As much as I hate to admit it, those guys do churn more power than road or track cyclists. As proof that trackies aren't god's gift to sport, the world record for power output was set by a downhiller.
Hmmm... Here's another one: One of my racing friends transferred from BMX to road just last year. After a few months of racing, he joined me in the P 1-2s. Needless to say, he is one of the most talented U23 racers in California. And where did he get his power from? Riding a "kiddie" bike down a ramp.
These guys are real athletes. Yes, they may race for 30 seconds. But given all the qualifying rounds, and the amazing numbers they put up, it’s really fun to watch.
Oh, sorry Mr. Track Lord, one more question for your mighty brain to ponder. How long does a match sprint take?
Zach Williams
Berkeley, CA
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BMX... That’s all? #6
If you believe that BMX riders are not real athletes and have no power, go out to the closest track near where you live, and give it a shot. Ask Jamie Staff (Gold Medal track cyclist) what his opinion is on BMX, you might be surprised to hear his answer. Or ask Shanaze Reade how difficult she feels Track is, she only one a world championship her first time on a track bike, that takes a lot of skill though.
Kris Lundgren
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Olympic mountain biking
Does XC mountain bike racing appear boring on TV? I thought the Olympics race did. Unfortunately we didn't have a good broadcaster here in Australia - they were more interested in showing the umpteenth repeat of my nation winning gold medals, but do I blame them?
XC mountain bike racing can look lame on TV. All the technical elements that make the sport so exciting to ride are flattened by the camera. Try filming your own local mtb loop and you will find what you know is steep, scary or technical looks mundane on TV. Watching Julian Absalon et al stomping on the pedals was weird - it just didn’t look that steep!
We should sell ourselves better - helmet cameras, cables cameras etc make much better TV. Just look at the season’s mtb movie to see how exciting riding can look on film.
With the threat to remove cycling from the Olympics we should be doing all we can to make ourselves interesting and exciting.
I hope our sport tries harder for the London Olympic Games; otherwise I am sure my local broadcaster will be no doubt be showing anything but XC mtb racing.
Regards
Richard Bull
Sydney, Australia
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Cadel stays with Silence-Lotto?
Forgive my ignorance, but how do team mates help a rider win the tour in a mountain stage? Recent winners have shown us exactly that. CSC used their triple threat to attack consistently and create confusion as to who was the rider to mark really was. While Discovery used to set the pace and get rid of all other riders.
What support has Cadel ever had? Horner? Popovych? Both great riders and Horner, in my view, rode above himself to be in that select group of 10 at the top of mountains in 2007, but couldn't influence the race.
I think the days of 9 guys sitting on the front and dropping one by one as the pace lifts are gone. We are back to the good old days of a small group of the best climbers being formed and attacks launched out of it.
Ideally your team needs to be able to attack (potentially win) and chase down attacks. Cadel has never had this support and he has an amazing palmares with one little gap so why has he stayed with Silence-Lotto?
Karl
London, UK
Friday, August 29, 2008
Head tube logos at Olympic Games
I was wondering what the story is re the head tube logos at the Olympics being taped over, is this because no advertising is permitted?, if so it makes no sense as the down tube logos were unobscured. Any info would be interesting.
Jason
Friday, August 29, 2008
Fabio Baldato's premature retirement
It really is bad news that Fabio Baldato has to retire following his recent crash at the ENECO Tour. I have had the pleasure of seeing him in action on many an occasion usually in the classics of Northern Europe in April. His two second places in the Ronde stick out in my mind more than anything and I hope he and the Lampre team will maybe reconsider their position about ending the career now and will allow time to heal before training hard through the winter enabling him to bow out in style on the pave of Flanders in 2009. That would be cool!
He has been a phenomenal cyclist and his contribution to the sport over an 18 year pro career has been significant. I just know the Belgian fans would love to see him one more time and would give him a very special Duvel fuelled send off!
Hoping this can become a reality.
Andy Hill
Friday, August 29, 2008
Does doping work?
"Many banned substances on the WADA list are probably useless;" so states an article in the 1 August issue of Science (Does Doping Work? on page 627). The article goes on to say that most listed drugs are based on anecdotal evidence, not placebo-controlled trials.
Some of the listed compounds work (steroids), some don't have any effect, and some are detrimental to performance. Even a WADA official concedes the science behind the list is pretty weak. So a cyclist may be risking his career by using a listed drug that has no back-up evidence demonstrating it enhances performance.
Ian Whalley
Palm Springs, USA
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey
I don’t think Cadel Evans deserves to be bagged, but does he deserve to be adored?
Probably not…. Great if he wins, and fantastic and well deserved; but they way in which it happens just doesn't inspire. Maybe it should but it doesn't. I can congratulate Cadel and wish him well but as a rider I can't love him. I think we also need to remember that cycling is traditionally a very European sport, and history shows it’s the riders with Panache that win all the fans.
Greg LeMond and Indurain were also criticised for they way in which they won the Tour, but the difference being is they won, and against some very stiff competition at the time. If Cadel does win a couple of tours riding this way (to his abilities) the respect will come, God knows he deserves that.
Greg Reynolds
Sydney, Australia
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey #2
Cory - I'm pretty sure LeMond did race in yellow, I've a clear memory of seeing a photo of him climbing Alpe d'Huez (I think) on Hinault's wheel, whilst wearing yellow, I guess during the year of his first win.
David Milner
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey #3
Cory Thompson's memory has not served! LeMond did in fact wear yellow in 1990, as he took the GC lead after the TT on the penultimate stage - the French had learned their lesson after 1989. Perhaps Thompson was thinking of Jan Janssen's victory in 1968; he took the lead for the first time on the second half of a split stage on the final day (also a TT.) Janssen in particular suffered some criticism as an uninspiring rider, much as Cadel Evans has.
Phil Koop
Toronto, Canada
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Team Australia helmets
Australia has had compulsory helmets for ample time to see if this policy has worked.
Why have we not seen a drop in the statistics trend of head injuries compared to overall injuries? That's what the chart should show if the policy was good.
Why has the Australian model been used successfully in other countries to rebut proposals to introduce helmet legislation?
Comparing numbers of cyclists before & after legislation showed a large drop in the cycling population. Although I can't 'prove' it to you, logic dictates that a smaller cyclist population means motorists see them less frequently and thereby become less aware to look out for them.
I wore a helmet when commuting for years before legislation, to visibly distinguish myself as a serious road user. From a purely selfish perspective, the law took away my benefit, and simultaneously my choice to go bare head when I deemed the risk acceptable. There is risk in taking a shower - our lives are full of assessing our circumstance and accepting or balking at the risks.
I've just resumed cycle commuting two months after a 30kph collision that broke my collarbone, but didn't scratch my lid. Motorist was a really nice guy, just forgot that there was a bike lane and that a bike may actually be using it.
Michael Playfair
Adelaide, Australia
Thursday, August 28, 2008
British track team's Olympic Games medals
Hey what about the road gold and silver?
Undoubtedly the A.I.S. was a role-model and target for British Cycling; 15 years ago the UK was a sad also-ran. Before Chris Boardman's win in Barcelona the G.B. team was grim and I'm pretty sure Peter Keen and Dave Brailsford will admit that 'The Aussies' had a part to play in how the U.K. improved. The A.I.S. is a superb set-up, however it has also been held up as a model of what good funding could do, so you can't blame the 'poms' for doing the same thing by chucking money at the problem.
The G.B. squad has invited all to emulate and try to beat them, in a similar way to how you Aussies do things. There will always be 'trade secrets' but there is lots to learn from other teams and perhaps the A.I.S. can now learn from British Cycling. The Brits are there as a target - staying at the top is cyclical and never easy but I'm sure the G.B. squad will have a good stab at it.
The vast majority of the G.B. back-room staff and coaches are home-grown. Admittedly Shane Sutton is Australian and is a great asset to the team but don't forget he is partly a product of the G.B. system- as a coach he's 'grown-up' with and been an integral part the program. Besides, to quote Shane "I'm a Welshman now!" Shane is a great character and if I were Australian I'd be proud of him as I'm proud of what he's done for the riders under his guidance.
I agree Rick, based on population size/results, Australians have achieved far beyond what you would expect but perhaps G.B. is finally starting to get the results they should have all these years, give them time.
The U.K. has a dynamic and professional team of riders and support staff, they are well funded because they have watched, planned, implemented, innovated and performed, they just did their job and 'came up with the goods'. The track success is a good result, but Road, MTB and BMX are the next tick-boxes on the list and if I know Dave Brailsford they'll do it too!
All this success is changing awareness and interest by the general public in the U.K. and other sports - hopefully it will bring in new talent to and increase the popularity of cycling - that can't be a bad thing. I wish them well.
The boot is currently on the other foot, the UK is doing a good well and some other nations are griping just like the whinging poms; ironic.
Igam Ogam
France
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Pro cycling sponsorship
The obvious answers is that the teams that got sponsors (Slipstream, Columbia, Scott) are American and/or got American sponsorship while CSC (a Danish team) got a Danish sponsor (Saxo Bank). On the other hand, Gerolsteiner is a German team and the whole cycling atmosphere there is very negative due to all the positive doping results in the last few years and the suspension of Ullrich.
Crédit Agricole is a French company and presumably no French sponsor could be found either. Scott, however, will no longer sponsor the yellow team next year, so it’s to be determined if American Beef will take over sole sponsorship or if they’ll be able to find a replacement second sponsor. Thus, whether sponsorship is easy to find depends on where the team is from and what the attitude towards cycling in that country is. Obviously the mood about cycling is still good in the US.
And yes, Saunier Duval pulled out because of the positive doping test of Riccardo Riccò and suspension of Leonardo Piepoli.
Matt
Virginia, USA
Friday, August 29, 2008
Recent letters pages
Letters 2008
- September 4: BMX....That's all?, Olympic mountain biking, Cadel stays with Silence-Lotto?, Head tube logos at Olympic Games, Fabio Baldato's premature retirement, Does doping work?, Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey, Team Australia helmets, British track team's Olympic Games medals Pro cycling sponsorship
- August 29: BMX, Carlos Sastre, NRC Calendar, U-23 Championship road race fiasco, Therapeutic use exemptions - please explain, Phil Liggett encounter, John Fahey and Jacques Rogge on doping, Aussie Allan Davis?, Pro cycling sponsorship
- August 28: US cyclists and masks, Cadel, Cadel Evans and the Beige jersey, Levi Leipheimer’s Bike, Doping, Team Australia helmets, Lance and the doping debate, British Olympic track medals, BMX....That's all?
- August 22: Spanish federation questions Leipheimer's bronze, Hushovd's Look, Cadel's Injury, NRC Calendar, Phil Liggett encounter, British Olympic track medals, Therapeutic Use Exemptions - please explain, Truvativ HammerSchmidt, Carlos Sastre, Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey
- August 21: Levi Leipheimers Bike, John Fahey and Jacques Rogge on doping, Cycling out of the Olympics, Team Australia helmets, Scott-American Beef excluded from Vuelta, Doping & money, U-23 National Championship RR fiasco, US Cyclists and masks, World Road race championships national quotas
- August 19: Therapeutic Use Exemptions - please explain, Carlos Sastre, Riccò confesses to using EPO, Lance and the doping debate, Cadel Evans and the Beige Jersey, Bring back bonus seconds to liven le Tour, Crank Length formula, Thank you, Confused
- August 14: Cycling out of the Olympics, U-23 Championship Road Race Fiasco, Phil Liggett encounter, WADA chief John Fahey, Moreno, John Fahey and Jacques Rogge on doping, Beijing Road Race, World Road race championships national quotas, Scott-American Beef excluded from Vuelta, US Cyclists and masks, Team Australia helmets
- August 7: Riccò confesses to using EPO, Carlos Sastre, Contador, A question for Susan Westemeyer, Confused, Lance and the doping debate, Accountability and cycling teams, Crank length formula, Bring back bonus seconds to liven le Tour, Yet another...Manual Beltran, ASO, doping and Astana
- July 31: A bike by any other name, Accountability and cycling teams, Andy Schleck "killing moves", Anti-doping chief calls Tour tests a success?, ASO, doping and Astana, Bad blood, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Carlos Sastre, Bring back bonus seconds to liven le Tour, Canadian eh! Ryder Hesjedal, Cleaning up cycling, a suggestion, Confused, Crank Length Formula
- July 25: Confused, Consistency please, Damages paid, Dave Russell passes away, David Miller on Riccò, Do you believe?, Doping, ASO vs UCI, what is going on?, Evans to wear number one in Tour, How does Andy Schleck "kill all the moves"?
- July 24: Gerrans, One question & two predictions about the Tour, A bike by any other name, ASO, doping and Astana, Beating a dead horse, but..., Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Cascade Cycling Classic accident, Cleaning up cycling, a suggestion
- July 17 - Edition 2: The effect of time bonuses, Cascade Cycling Classic accident, Confused, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Alison Starnes diary, Is McQuaid interested in Cycling at all?, More involvement needed from CPA, Teams ditch UCI, Yet another...Manual Beltran, LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI, Dave Russell passes away
- July 17 - Edition 1: Tour mountain cats, Is Pereiro getting a bum wrap?, Popovych! Where the bloody hell are you?, Evans' team-mates, Evans to wear number one in Tour, Poor quality of competition, Tour climbs, What if…, Riccó uses outdated bike in ITT, Fabian Wegmann's electronic Dura Ace problems?, Hushovd's Look, Stage 10 coverage was a treat!, Tour de France accident, EPO is back on the menu boys!, Consistency, please
- July 15: Tour de France: Stage 3 - The Badger is back!, Thor Hushovd's Look, Riccó uses outdated bike in ITT, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Astana and the Tour, Romain Feillu, Cascade Cycling Classic accident, LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI, Tour de France accident, We Might As Well Win Review, Evans shoe covers, Pure climbers, Why on earth Danielson?, Historical information, Stefan Schumacher loses yellow, Sylvain Chavanel, Yet another...Manual Beltran, Stage 10 coverage was a treat!
- July 10: Stefan Schumacher, LeMond: Cycling doesn't need UCI, Excellent article - ASO v's UCI, Insulting comment, Romain Feillu, Pure climbers are they a thing of the past?, Evans and shoe covers, Evans to wear number one in Tour, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Experience with UST Mountain Tires, Boycott le Tour and Olympics, Astana and the Tour, Riders stuck in the middle, Oval bars, Landis decision
- July 4: WADA, Inconsistent Lab Analysis, and Landis, Rabobank and the Tour, ASO and past Tour winners, Landis decision, Teenager mauled by bear in Anchorage, Evans to wear number one in Tour, Experience with UST Mountain Tires, iPods while riding, Erik Zabel, Oval bars, ASO's hidden agenda, Joe Magnani, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Giro, ASO's world domination, Ban Boonen?, A Hollow Tour Victory
- June 26: ASO's hidden agenda, ASO's world domination, Ban Boonen?, Gilberto Simoni, Giro d'Italia, iPods while riding, Oval bars, Tour without minimum bike weight rule?, What about Friere
- June 19: ASO and the Vuelta, ASO's world domination, Ban Boonen?, Ban Boonen? Beware the inquisition, Boonen, Boonen vs. Petacchi, Boonen's Tour exclusion, Giro d'Italia, iPods while riding, Oval bars, Road rage incident, Tom Boonen exclusion from Tour de Suisse
- June 13: Tom Boonen and his nose, Apologies from Montreal, Chantal's Philly win, Gilberto Simoni, Boring first week of Grand Tours?, Giro d'Italia, iPods while riding, ASO and the Vuelta, Road rage incident, Astana chain choice
- June 5: Apologies from Montreal, Astana chain choice, Bennati and race radios, Race radio?, Gilberto Simoni, Giro winner, Good result in road rage court case, Helmets in the Giro, Lemond vs. Armstrong, Millar, No, no, you can't take that away from them, Oval bars, Review error, Ricardo Riccò, Road rage incident
- May 29: Bennati and race radios, Helmets in the Giro, Review error, LeMond vs. Armstrong, Losing something in the translation, Millar, Petacchi, Race radio?, Road rage incident, Weight work on the bike
- May 23: Road rage incident, How much will it take?, Paralysed cyclist, Fausto Exparza, David Millar, Basso gets a contract, Weight work, CAS and Petacchi, Shortest TdF, Petacchi & Piepoli
- May 15: Sydney road rage incident, Steegmans lashes out at UCI, Steve Hogg's article, World Cup #3 XC, Where is Chris Horner, Slipstream, Astana and Le Tour, Giro stage 5!, US time trial Champion?, Basso gets a contract, Race radios, CAS ruling on Petacchi, Hamilton's integrity? Dude!, Weight work
- May 8: Race radio?, Ridiculous ruling, What a farce!, CAS ruling on Petacchi, Basso gets a contract, Hamilton's integrity? Dude!, French riders had to give up their jerseys?,
- May 1: Race radio?, Basso gets a contract, Advise needed for Alpe D'Huez, LeMond vs. Armstrong, Bottles, Scars of war, ProTour in Russia! China? Ahem... America?, LeMond's 1989 TdF, Mayo?, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris, Have any French riders had to give up their jerseys?
- April 25: Just shut up and ride, ProTour in Russia! China? Ahem...America?, Bottles, LeMond's 1989 TdF, New format for the Vuelta? , Scars of war, LeMond v. Armstrong, No tour for Astana #1, Rock Racing rip off #1, Advise needed for Alpe D'Huez, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris
- April 18: Just shut up and ride, USA Track Cycling, Paris-Roubaix, Little Indy 500 - Women's Race Article, Stuart O'Grady Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris-Roubaix, What's happening to road tubeless?, Thanks Cyclingnews, Bottles, Just think?, Tour of Georgia - Lame, Colavita, No tour for Astana, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Suggestions for the little bullies, Rock Racing rip off, LeMond Vs. Trek
- April 10: Suggestions for the little bullies, Pat McQuaid, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Just think, Trek vs. LeMond, Rock Racing rip off, Homepage overhaul, Some praise, USA track cycling, Team car order just the first gamble, Come on Greg & Lance, LeMond vs. Armstrong
- April 3: Pat McQuaid, April fools, Carbon Wrap-It System, Sylvain Chavanel, Astana vs. Rabobank vs. Slipstream Chipotle, Cadel Evans, Clever tactics by McQuaid expose ASO, Colavita, Let VDB ride?, Race radios, Rock Racing rip off
- March 27: Riccardo's manner of professionalism, Rock Racing rip off, Chavanel's Paris - Nice shoes, Cadel Evans, Cadel Evans at Paris - Nice, Let VDB ride?, ASO vs. Astana, ASO vs. UCI help me with my memory, Astana vs. Rabobank vs. Slipstream Chipotle, Police kill cyclists,"PRO"cycling teams
- March 20:"Pro"Cycling Teams, AIGCP does have a choice, ASO vs UCI help me with my memory, ASO vs. Astana, Chavanel's Paris - Nice shoes, Kevin van Impe's doping control, Cadel Evans at Paris - Nice, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto, and the ToCA, Paris - Nice: What it could have been, Police kill cyclists, The Astana affair, UCI hypocrisy
- March 13:"Pro"Cycling Teams, ASO vs. Astana, ASO vs. UCI, ASOh well, UCI'll see you later, Cycling fans must let their voices be heard, Denounce ASO's actions for what they are, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto, and the ToCA, Knife between the ribs?, Paris Nice, Police kill cyclists, British track sprinters' helmets?, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, The Astana affair, The real ASO problem, Tour and ASO, UCI - very bad poker players, UCI hypocrisy.
- March 6: Zirbel and the"ride of his life", British track sprinters' helmets, Hamilton, Operacion Puerto and the ToCA, Three grand tours or five monuments?, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, Pro cycling is dead, Paris - Nice, Knife between the ribs?, Doping and the Tour, Astana, the ASO and the UCI, ASO vs. Astana, The Astana affair, ASO vs. UCI vs. AIGCP vs. the non existent riders, The real ASO problem, Denounce ASO's actions for what they are, Sponsorship code of ethics, Where are the other ProTour teams?, ProTour vs. ASO
- February 28: ASO vs. Astana, Passion and sponsorship, Crash or crash through, Pro cycling is dead, Why we must have the ProTour, Rock Racing and Michael Ball, ToC and Rock, The hidden message behind banning Astana, ASO is killing cycling, ASO could be right, The real ASO problem, UCI - draw a line in the sand, ASO has lost the plot, The Astana affair, Astana and ASO/RCS, the Astana decision, Operacion Puerto, Old rider classification
- February 15: Doping controls, Tour of California moving up!, Why I love the Tour of California, Operation Puerto, Astana rejected by ASO, Boycott ASO, ASO - stop the madness, Tour de France, ASO is wrong to exclude Astana, Astana, ASO, and the NFL, Tour de Farce, The hidden message behind banning Astana, Astana exclusion, ASO is killing cycling, Astana out of Tour, ASO has lost the plot
- February 8: Lampre doping controls, Grand Tour Monopoly?, Giro selections, Slipstream Qatar, Allan Davis, Sheldon Brown, Dick Pound to head CAS?, Find out who's leaking lab results, Rock racing
- February 1: UCI vs. Grand Tour war, Best wishes to Anna, The incident, Rock racing & Starbucks, Rock racing Rocks, Rock racing, Landis in NUE, Lance is the best of all time, Sinkewitz logic, Astana for 08 Tour?
- January 25: Rock racing, Time to draw a line in the sand, ASO vs. UCI ProTour, UCI vs. Grand Tour war spills over to European federations, Readers' poll stage races 2007, Cyclist of the year, Team High Road's black kit, Lance is the best of all time, Landis in NUE, Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 18: Cadel Evans - returns to training, Cyclist of the Year, DOPING - time to draw a line in the sand, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, Lance is the best of all time, Readers poll: best stage races 2007, Rock racing, Speaking about Lance, Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 11: Armstrong on Landis, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, Ivan Basso - why no tough questions?, Reader Poll, Rock & burn racing, Speaking about Lance, Sydor's consistency, The 'Bruyneel philosophy', Toyota-United abusing USAC team rules?
- January 5: Great day for cycling, Sydor's consistency, Hincapie in T-Mobile kit, CA awards misses national series, Thank you, Ivan Basso - why no tough questions?, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Helmets belong on heads, Armstrong on Landis, Will there be a Tour of Missouri?, Roberto Heras, Speaking about Lance, Mayo's B Sample
Letters 2007
- December 27: CA awards misses national series, Armstrong on Landis, Vinokourov's sentence, Vinokourov, Cadel Evans - returns to training, Mayo's B sample to get B test
- December 14: Sydor's consistency, George Hincapie, Helmet straps must be cinched a bit too tight, Will there soon be a sample"C"test?, ProTour, Vino's joke of a suspension, Mafioso McQuaid, Obee and Health Net, Mayo's B sample to get B test, Campagnolo offers its own 'red' shifter, T-Mobile's withdrawal a blow to Jaksche
- December 6: Tschüss T-Mobile, Anquetil, Mayo's B sample to get B test, T-Mobile drop out, Obee and Health Net, Stefano Zanini
- November 30: Anquetil,Mayo's B sample to get B test, Stefano Zanini, Rider's passport, Betting, Jonathan Page, Wake up!!, T-Mobile drop out, Bike design originality
- November 23: Remembering Jacques Anquetil, Done looking back, Mayo's B sample to get B test, Cross crank, Rider's passport, Blood passports and humanity, Fothen's comments on Bettini, Nathan O'Neill , Sinkewitz, Rasmussen blood values, Sponsorship strangeness, Dick Pound better understood, Bike design originality,
- November 16: Nathan O'Neill, Rasmussen blood values, The Crocodile Trophy, Sinkewitz, Drug testing procedures, Rider's passport, The drug issue, Bike design originality , Sponsorship strangeness, Selfishness will ruin cycling
- November 9: The Crocodile Trophy, A little bit of bias here?, Rider's passport, Kasheckin, Positive tests, Drug testing procedures, Marco Pinotti: Engineering a new path, Bike design originality
- November 2: What does this mean?, Le Tour 08, Mayo's B sample, Bike design originality, Trimble, UCI says Mayo case not closed, Drug testing procedures ... and false positives, Kashechkin: controls violate human rights, Drug testing procedures, Mayo, UCI, Kashechkin, et al... Great, now it's coming from both ends, Positive tests, Why even bother with B samples then?, Mayo's positive EPO test, Falling barriers
- October 26: Rider passports & Cadel Evans, Drug testing procedures ... and false positives, Iban Mayo's false positive, Iban Mayo and Landis, Armstrong on Landis, Mayo's B sample, UCI turns Mayo's case into a debaucle, Great...now they hand pick the results, No justice for Mayo, UCI says Mayo case not closed, Bike design originality, 2006 Tour de France, A bad week for cycling, A fitting end to the season
- October 19: 2006 Grand Tour trifecta!, 2006 Tour de France, A fitting end to the season, Armstrong on Landis, Bike design originality, doping in cycling, Doping numbers, Paris-Tours testing mishap, UCI and the lack of testing!, Vino's other Tour stage win, The absolute best?
- October 12: Armstrong on Landis, Bike design originality, Cycling drama, Doping is unfair; but so is discrimination, It’s not doping that's..., Landis case - everyone's a loser, Length and cost of the Landis case, R & R, The Landis decision, Tour of America
- October 5: Cycle drama, It's not doping that's"killing"the sport, Why is VAM a benchmark, Tour of America, The Landis decision, DYNEPO, Worlds, Rock & Republic's CEO Michael Ball, Please explain, Giuseppe Guerini, FICP
- September 28: Tour of America, World champion zany-ness, The Landis decision, ASO v UCI, McQuaid vs ASO vs the riders, Please explain, Why is VAM a benchmark, Giuseppe Guerini, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, ProTour and Le Tour, Where is the due process
- September 21: Astana's future and Bruyneel, Bruyneel's afterlife, Floyd Landis decision, Why is VAM a benchmark, Lifetime bans, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, Ungrateful Levi, Spanish cycling, Where is the due process
- September 14: Astana & Bruyneel, Cycling vs. soccer, Cycling will survive, Floyd Landis decision, LeMond's comments, Menchov felt betrayed by Rasmussen, Ungrateful Levi, Why is VAM a benchmark?
- September 7: Cycling vs. soccer, Floyd Landis decision, UCI, ASO, LeMond, et al who cares? Riders, Lawyers in the Landis case, LeMond's comments, Riders taking the fall?, US Postal/Discovery R.I.P.
