Letters to Cyclingnews - January 7, 2005

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. Each week's best letter gets our 'letter of the week' award. We look for for letters that contain strong, well-presented opinions; humour; useful information or unusual levels of sheer helpfulness. Please email your correspondence to letters@cyclingnews.com. Recent letters Death of Dmitri Neliubin Der Kaiser’s goals Rider of the Year Best bikes for heavy riders Who's Greater? Come on now! Virenque "most charismatic"? Downhilling Downhill time trial Trendy cyclists No flat tyres Spring classics trip advice Bettini's trainer

Letter of the week The very bright Cateye SL-LD100 safety light is on its way to Mark. Death of Dmitri Neliubin I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dmitri Neliubin. I remember him racing in the USA during the Tour de Trump in 1989. He was a member of the very strong Soviet Amateur Lokosphinx Team coached by Alexander Kusnetsov. Dmitri showed his champion calibre defending the race leader jersey worn by his teammate, Viatchslav Bobrik. Dmitri and the other Lokosphinx riders did not win the Tour de Trump that year, but they raised the quality of the racing and deserved their place next to some of the top pros of the time. As a representative of the team's primary sponsor in that race, I had the chance to see Dmitri up close and ride with him and the team on a couple of occasions before the race. He was a gentleman and I am very sorry that we have lost him. My sympathy goes out to his family and close friends. Mark Hopkins Newark, Delaware Monday, January 3, 2005 Respond to this letter

Der Kaiser’s goals

I have read some of the Ullrich interview, and it strikes me as rather a defeatist attitude to say he is going to beat Armstrong this year. What happens if the man only finishes sixth and Ullrich does beat him, meaning he only comes fifth. If you were setting goals for the coming season surely you say winning the Tour, a gold medal in the Worlds and cleaning up at the Commonwealth Games. Aussie riders such as Cadel, Stuey O’Grady or Mick Rogers are in this boat and look at the way they perform. Need we say more?

Ian M Smith
Tuesday, January 4, 2005

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Rider of the Year

Lance Armstrong as Rider of the Year? Wouldn't Rider of the Month be more appropriate?

We haven't seen Lance race since the end of July. And he didn't ride in any of the Classics, Giro, Vuelta, World Championships or Olympics!!

L Kaiser
USA
Wednesday, January 5, 2005

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Best bikes for heavy riders

I am a 6 foot 3 inch rider who rides mostly road and commuting. I weigh between 225 and 250 depending on the year and how many miles I get in up here in Canada. I want to buy a pair of aero wheels that are fast, but tough enough to train on. I can't afford a pair of wheels that sit in the garage. What are some of the options for high quality wheels that can handle a heavy rider? I train mostly for time trials but I also train on hills, so I don't want heavy tank wheels if I can avoid it. Most bike shops I've talked to were dealers for one brand or another and seemed very biased to their products. Have you heard of heavy riders using Mavic or Zipp Clydesdales, or any similar wheel sets with success? Thanks for sharing your wisdom with a big rider with dreams of going faster.

Dennis Svenson
Wednesday, January 5, 2005

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Who's Greater? Come on now!

I am writing this to Eddy Merckx. Eddy you were recently quoted as saying that Lance Armstrong is better than you. Come on now! Lance, while a great rider and a legend in his own right cannot hold a candle to you. Lance has dominated the Tour in a manner never seen before but that is all he has dominated. You, my friend, were the all conquering great. Let's look at the facts:

Lance Armstrong's significant wins:

6 Tours De France
1 World Road Championship
1 GP des Nations
2 Dauphine Libere
1 Tour of Switzerland
1 Olympic Time Trial Bronze Medal
1 Fleche Wallone
1 Classica San Sebastien
Tour of Georgia

That's about it. Take away the Tour and it doesn't look like much, does it?

Eddy Merckx’s significant wins:

5 Tours de France
5 Tours of Italy
4 World Road Championships
7 Milan-San Remo Classics
5 Liege-Bastogne-Liege Classics
3 Paris-Roubaix Classics
3 Fleche Wallone
1 Tour of Spain
2 Tours of Belgium
2 Tours of Lombardy
1 Tour of Switzerland
32 International Classics
17 6 days-trials
World Hour Record (1972)

Not to mention that he is one of only two people ever to win cycling's ‘Triple Crown’ (Tour de France, Giro and World Championship all in the same year - Stephen Roche is the other).

Even without his five Tours de France he still looks like one of the best of all time. With the five Tours, well come on now!

I know that I may have missed a few of Lance's other wins, but how can anyone say Lance even holds a candle to Eddy? Different eras or not, Eddy dominated cycling like no one else ever has or ever will again. It is like those that compare Tiger Woods to Jack Nicholas; there is no comparison in either case. Until both Lance and Tiger put up a significant number of extra major wins you cannot compare. The greats are still the greats!

Lance is great, just not in Eddy's league!

Scott Wilcox
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, January 05, 2005

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Virenque "most charismatic"?

Do my eyes deceive me? In your "Legends of Cycling" feature, you call Richard Virenque the "most charismatic" cyclist? Well, Richard is a handsome guy, but as long as Mario Cipollini lives and breathes, Richard Virenque is NOT the most charismatic.

Lee Sigelman
Tuesday, January 4, 2005

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The comment about Richard Virenque's charisma came from one of our readers, who thought Richard Virenque was the most charismatic rider they could think of. It's not necessarily the opinion of the team here at Cyclingnews. - Ed

Downhilling

Could someone explain the difference between downhill racing on a bike as opposed to skis, other than wheels versus boards? Why all the fuss? And as far as danger, you should check out the sport that has skiers picking their own route down snow dusted cliffs, being judged not only on speed but on the risk factor of the route taken! Pushing to find the limits of the human spirit, mind and body has always been a challenge to those who are gifted, and a thrill to the fan who wishes they were so blessed. The minute we give up the search for the outer limits we will become as Panda bears browsing on bamboo. God bless the athletes, artists, scientists and engineers who dare to break the rules set by the mediocre.

Susan Moore
Seattle, Washington
Thursday, January 6, 2005

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Downhill time trial

Stephen Roche won a downhill time trial in the Giro d'Italia en route to his 1987 victory, although in typical flamboyant Roche style he spoke out against it later. To quote a news report from the May 24, 1987 issue of the "The Irish Emigrant":

"On Friday Stephen Roche won the 8 kilometre downhill time trial in the Tour of Italy. Afterwards he said that it was madness to ask cyclists to compete in such events. Three riders have died in Italy this year on downhill time trials." (http://www.emigrant.ie/article.asp?iCategoryID=200&iArticleID=4049)

However I have not heard of any such events at professional level since. Some time trials include significant downhills, but their effect is minimised when set against the relatively short time spent on them and the dangers involved. I guess the real problem of downhill only time trials is that there is little other opportunity in which to make up for time lost, increasing risk.

Nick Kopp
Delft, Netherlands
Monday, January 3, 2005

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Trendy cyclists

When I was quite young, I loved all the high tech gadgets that were coming out (bullhorn bars, hidden cables, bladed spokes, and those big, long aero helmets). But there was no greater satisfaction in my career than beating a top European pro on his super expensive track bike while on my training road bike (a Cannondale, yes, the one with the super-thick downtube). He was so mad, so humiliated…I realized I beat him with my legs, not my wallet. And my road bike had brakes, loose cables, even a water bottle. His big-ticket bike and arrogance gave me even more incentive to smoke him in front of his friends.

Timothy Shame
USA
Monday, January 3, 2005

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No flat tyres #1

This is in regards to Brian's letter about when to change his Specialized all-condition tires. I put about 4000 miles (about 6500 KM) over a year and never saw any appreciable tread wear with ZERO flats. I finally replaced them when I noticed the sidewalls starting to deteriorate.

Also, I've used Spin Skins (a kevlar tire liner) with a wide variety of tires and never had a flat - I started using them when I was commuting and getting a flat a week. They add a minimum of weight, but are a royal pain in the @#$ to install, and expensive, but work like nothing else.

Jim Church
Pacific Northwest, USA
Sunday, January 2, 2005

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No flat tyres #2

I also put the Specialized Armadillo tires on my road bike, and have not had a single flat for more than 15,000 miles. I have 700 x 23's, which I keep at 120-125 psi. The down side is that they are relatively heavy and extremely sluggish. When I first put them on the bike, it felt like I was riding on a flat tire because they were so unresponsive. I recommend them for winter recreational riding because of the puncture resistance, but I plan to put something lighter on in the summer.

Steve Brehl
New York
Monday, January 03, 2005

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No flat tyres #3

Here’s the word - Panaracer Paselas with Tourguard are the goods. I used an MTB version on my old courier hack for two years with no real puncture problems to speak of. They roll fast, they're light (265g folding tyres, an unheard of weight for MTB tyres) and they stick like sh*t to a blanket. Go and get 'em if you can find 'em

Karl Butler
Tuesday, January 4, 2005

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Spring classics trip advice

This guy and his offer are not to be ignored! I had the pleasure (?) of riding the Koppenberg a few years back and without a local to guide you around it was a bit difficult to find. If you have never been to or ridden in Flanders, GO! It's beautiful and the roads are generally good. Plus, you never know who you may end riding with, I mean, trying to keep up with!

Pete Lester
Wednesday, January 5, 2005

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Bettini's trainer #1

Hi Rusty,

Looks like a Velodyne trainer. http://www.velodynesports.com/

Torsten
Sunday, January 2, 2005

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Bettini's trainer #2

I believe it is the Avantronic II. You can use your own bike on it and it's also used in the exercise physiology and biomechanics Laboratory of Kuleuven, the place where the quick-step riders are testing.

Kris Vromans
Wednesday, January 5, 2005

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• January 3: Spring classics trip advice, Big Bear ends downhilling, Armstrong and Simeoni, Holding teams accountable, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, Bettini's trainer, No flat tyres

Letters 2004

• December 24 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Business and cycling, Big Bear ends downhilling, Off-bike weight gain, No flat tires, Armstrong and Simeoni
• December 17 letters - Business and cycling, Tom versus Axel , Big Bear ends downhilling, Shane Perkins, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark Webber interview, Armstrong and Simeoni, Injured and missing it: an update, Clyde Sefton
• December 10 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Big Bear ends downhilling, Floyd's choices?, Merckx, fit and trim, Pound must go, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Punishment: Vandenbroucke vs Hamilton, Prosthetic hip, Armstrong and Simeoni, Dave Fuentes, Homeopathy, Jeremy Yates, TDF coverage for Australia, Weight limits and maintenance, Mark Webber interview
• December 3 letters - Domestiques vs Lieutenants, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Dave Fuentes, Santa vs Hairy Guy, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark French and homeopathy, Shane Perkins, Jeremy Yates, Weight limits and maintenance, UCI regulations, Armstrong and Simeoni, Prosthetic hip
• November 26 letters - Mark French and homeopathy, Two big guns in one team, Tyler Hamilton case, Bartoli's retirement, Dave Fuentes, Shane Perkins, Merckx and Armstrong, Training like Lance, Lance Armstrong, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Phonak gets what it deserves, Armstrong and Simeoni, Bike weight, Spouseless riders, Mary McConneloug, Adam Craig, Mark Webber interview, Santa vs Hairy Guy
• November 19 letters - Tyler Hamilton case, Phonak gets what it deserves, Are you there Mr Coates?, Bike Weight, Merckx and Maertens make up, Heart troubles, Where to find cycling spouses, Mark Webber interview, Lance Armstrong, Where's Greg?, What ever happened to..., Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, Still Laughing
• November 12 letters - Why Armstrong will ride the 2005 Tour, Scott Sunderland, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, Where to find cycling spouses, Lance on Italian selection, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Tour 2005 team time trial, What ever happened to..., Love and a yellow bike
• November 5 letters - Love and a yellow bike, Tour 2005, Where to find cycling spouses, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Simeoni, Tour of Southland, Construction technique for veloway, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Rahsaan Bahati
• October 29 letters - Armstrong and Simeoni, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Tour 2005, Lance to Tour Down Under?, Davis on Lance, Bike Shows, 2004 Cycling Spouse of the Year, Cycling and hip replacement, Doping - Enough drama!, Doping redefined, Injured and missing it, Heart troubles, Interbike, l'Etape du Tour registration, Whatever happened to...
• October 22 letters - 2004 Cycling Spouse of the Year, Doping , Floyd Landis, Armstrong and Tour 2005, Interbike, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, The new blood test, Injured and missing it, What ever happened to..., World time trial champion, Cycling and hip replacement, $125,000 criterium in Charlotte
• October 15 letters - Is the Pro Tour a good idea?, Cycling is bigger than doping, Doping, Floyd Landis, Museeuw is too nice to be guilty, Pound must go, Armstrong and Simeoni, Blood doping, Peers and Planckaert, Doping and nationality, The new blood test, Tyler Hamilton, World Championships, World Time Trial Champion, Erik Zabel Interview
• October 8 letters - Pound must go, USA World's Team Selection, World Championships, Armstrong and Simeoni, Filip Meirhaeghe, Say it ain't so, Dario!, Baby names, Blood doping, The new blood test, World Time Trial Champion, Tyler Hamilton, Doping and nationality, Erik Zabel Interview
• October 1 letters - Baby names, World Time Trial Champion, USA worlds selection, Tyler Hamilton, The new blood test, Rider of the Year, Tyler, USPS and Bruyneel, Alternative criterium formats
• Letters Index – The complete index to every letters page on cyclingnews.com