Letters to Cyclingnews - March 17, 2006

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Floyd Landis

Yes, it would be hard to find a better man in the peloton than Floyd Landis. I am originally from Lancaster, Pa. and to know the transformation Floyd made is quite a story. He is my favourite rider, not because he is from PA but for how he succeeded in this sport, through hard work, sacrifice and because he is firstly a family man, and secondly an athlete.

He is the kind of athlete I want my son to follow. But all the hard work and sacrifice is now paying off and it couldn't happen to a better man. Also in my opinion the reason Lance wanted Floyd around is that Floyd fascinated him in his ability, and was one of the few riders who Lance could measure his fitness against.

I hope all that nonsense Lance initiated on Floyd for leaving is over and Lance should support him in his success and help him in any way for the TDF. I for one will never forget Lance pointing to the clock at Brasstown-Bald last year, rubbing 'salt in the wound'. I instantly lost a lot of respect for Lance, and gained even more for Floyd on the way he handled it. Discovery had a TDF team there, whereas Phonak had more of a sprinter’s team. I think Danielson can repeat, but if Floyd wants to take it, he will!

Thom Heffner

Harpers-Ferry, WV
Tuesday, March 14, 2006

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The next Lance

Who is the next Lance? That question seems to be popping up too much.

The fact is that there will never be another Lance just like there was never another Merckx, Hinault or LeMond.

But does anyone remember when we all sat around nodding our heads at the idea that Jan Ullrich would probably win five straight Tours? We don't look all that prophetic now do we? And yet Jan has been hanging in there since his Tour win in '97.

The beauty and truth of bicycle racing is that the next Grand Tour winner won't be anything like the last winner.

Why don't we stop asking "who will be the next Lance" and start enjoying the next winner whoever he is and however he does it?

Thomas Kunich
Monday, March 13, 2006

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The race I'm watching

Steve O'Dell’s letter makes a very good argument for Zabel changing his racing style into a mould similar to Laurent Jalabert. However, when Jaja had his crash he was just reaching his physical peak as a rider. That is why he was able to win races like Classica San Sebastian and the Vuelta. Erik Zabel on the other hand, had his physical peak in 2001. Now, at the age of 35 he simply no longer has the physical ability to beat other sprinters who are 5-10 years younger than him. That is why having him serve as Petacchi's lead out man makes the most sense for Milram. What's bad about having the fastest sprinter in the world be guided to the line by the smartest sprinter in the world?

Matthew Emerson Weintraub
Sunday, March 12, 2006

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EPO test and credibility

I am upset with WADA and the way that the drug tests are approved and accepted. But we do have to admit that WADA and the UCI are and will always be in a no-win position.

If they don't bring out drug detection tests as fast as possible they're going to be criticized as supporting a culture of doping.

If they rush the tests there will always be a chance that justice is being thwarted and honest men are being convicted on probability instead of fact.

Myself, I prefer the idea that only proven tests be used but surely the idea that being too slow on developing drug tests only breeds more drug use has some merit. As fans we need to cultivate the idea that cheating one way or another will always be present. On one of the internet sites there was a picture of a pro rider holding onto the support vehicle in order to finish inside the limit on a bad day. That was cheating as well and I'll bet most people would have been willing to look the other way as indeed the officials did.

We need to do everything we can to prevent drugs from controlling the sport but we cannot let the fear of drugs control the sport either.

Tom Kunich
Monday, March 13, 2006

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Blood doping detection and altitude training

The simulation index described is the so-called OFF-model developed for the Sydney Games of 2000. This model has been shown to be specific for previous blood doping.

While previous altitude training/residence can show a similar pattern it has never been shown to be as dramatic as blood doping. Indeed the supposed increase in blood production from altitude exposure has been far from conclusive and the increase in blood levels these days is regarded as being a false increase. This has been shown to be due to increased diuresis (increased urine production) as a consequence of low Oxygen environments. This increased urine production in effect means that the body loses fluid and therefore falsely increases blood values. No one has been able to prove that there has been a real increase in red blood cell mass during or following altitude exposure (artificial or natural exposure).

In fact one Spanish cyclist claimed that altitude camps were 'fronts' for EPO doping perpetuating the myth that living/training at altitude increased blood production. In any case whatever increases in blood cells have been found in actual altitude studies, they are small in comparison to what one sees when doping with EPO or blood transfusions. In addition the level of reticulocytes which has been shown to be stable or at best slightly reduced after altitude exposure, have never been shown to drop to levels that are consistent with previous blood doping.

In fact there is no known medical condition which mimics the effect to the extent that blood doping does. Because the body normally adjusts its blood making system a day or two after altitude exposure, the haemoglobin is back to 'normal' because the effects of diuresis has stopped and therefore the reticulocytes and EPO levels are also back to normal. In other words any original increase is false so when the increased urine production and fluid loss stops everything goes back to normal very quickly.

In the case of blood doping where the increase in red blood cell is real, the body’s reaction is to stop producing blood cells altogether and therefore the EPO and reticulocyte levels go through the floor so to speak. The resulting OFF-model score stands heads and shoulders above what any OFF-model score would be as a consequence of altitude exposure.

For any interested readers actual references are available on request that show that the consequences of blood doping and altitude exposure are distinctly different in the context of the Simulation Index (or OFF-model).

And as far as sporting organisations/federations/anti-doping agencies having a 'vested' interest in the tests they fund for research/development and implementation, what is the alternative? Who would pay for it, who would develop the test and how would it be defended is a question relevant for any group involved. You cannot therefore criticise the USADA and WADA in the case of Tyler Hamilton because any other organisation involved could be, and probably would have also been equally criticised for having a vested interest.

Perhaps athletes themselves should set up their own anti-doping research and testing program. But then again they could be accused also of having a vested interest right! And would they really prosecute 'one of their own'?

The argument of 'vested' interests is unsustainable.

Robin Parisotto
Tuesday, March 14, 2006

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Electronic shifting

I don't have a view on the merits or otherwise of electronic shifting, although personally I think it'll take a long time to catch on (and when someone says "I've got a flat" you'll have to think twice before offering them your pump). But I do have a view on the aesthetic issue.

The external battery is butt ugly but surely it wouldn't be too hard to drop it into (i.e., so it sits inside) the seat tube. Drilling a couple of holes - one for power out to the front mech and the other so you can plug your bike in at night to recharge your battery - into the seat tube wall should be all that's required to make the whole thing look neat and tidy, or at least neater and tidier than presently. You could then also buy (lighter) "short range" batteries and "long range" batteries. In the short term this is a solution for the pros (who can afford to start drilling holes into their frames) but if the idea is to get the system to the public you would have to get frame manufacturers on board to drill their seat tubes to a particular standard.

Brendan Moylan

London
Tuesday, March 14, 2006

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Electronic Dura Ace

I remember the Mavic Zap system several years ago. It seemed like nobody bought it because there were no benefits over Shimano STI, which is easy to use and obviated the cost and reliability issues of electric/electronic gadgetry. The market will sort out whether people want to use electronic Dura Ace or not (my guess is not, unless it could be combined with a HRM or cadence meter to auto-shift to maintain optimal output - hey, this might actually be a good idea if it didn't sound so slave-to-the-machine.)

As for the previous poster's comment about keeping the bike human-powered for the sake of purity, a modern road bike and cyclist is hardly free of electronics when you count the computer, GPS unit, HRM, power meter, lights, radios, etc. I'm old-world philosophy in many ways, but I really enjoy a lot of the training benefits and entertainment value of my HRM and computer and would be loathe giving them up. Others, of course, are free to do so.

J.H. Edmund Lee
Monday, March 13, 2006

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Electronic Dura Ace #2

Based on Mr Finch's clear line of demarcation (no external/artificial power sources), we'd all have to give up our HRMs, power meters, and cycle computers (all use batteries, of course) as well. I personally don't think electronic shifting is ever going to be light/reliable/simple enough to warrant use in racing, but let's let it sink or swim on its merits. Plus I'd like to keep my other electronic gadgets, thank you.

Alex Parker

Framingham, MA, USA
Monday, March 13, 2006

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Discovery’s American riders

The Discovery Squad is good, they were excellent in the past but as a racer who has struggled in the American ranks it is tough to root for them. They all seem like hired goons for the now retired Lance. Why should we route for Americas one Pro-tour team to win when we are rallying for guys with names like Yaroslav Popovych and Paolo. This is America's team and there are a total of three americans on the team, the domestics are not even American. Every other team has a large percent of the back up roles being from their own country. So when Lorenzo Bernucci wins stage six of the tour he as an Italian wins for an Italian squad. It is unfair to American racers that we are not playing back-up roles on the American squad; instead they have chosen Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Fumiyuki Beppu. Truly nothing has changed since Lemond's time if you’re not the absolute top and can ride as number one on a team such as Floyd or Levi, or at best a top guy like Bobby Julich or Chris Horner. You have no chance of riding the Pro Tour otherwise.

If you blast every race and win the criterium national championship you will get a back seat on an over budgeted slow moving French squad. Come July I will be cheering for Floyd, Levi, Bobby, Flying Dave Z and Chris Horner and maybe Jonathan McCarty or Tyler Farrar to make it in the decisive break in some race this year because we know if George or Tom can't win on Discovery we're cheering for names we can't pronounce.

Gerrerd Abrams

Chicago Il
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

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Petacchi - Shiva

Hey,

In relation to the caption from Tirreno-Adriatico stage 7 – a very erudite caption indeed! And he is also wearing his underwear outside his shorts - Super Ale-jet!

John Andrews

Singapore
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2006

• February 24: Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton and Roberto Heras, Sanctions for doping, Drug testing, Doping, Culture of denial, Tour 2006, Ullrich and the 2006 tour, T-Mobile, Ullrich and Godefroot, Davitamon-Lotto outfits, Pantani
• February 17: Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton's decision, Culture of denial, Drug testing, Pantani, Support for Mark French, Heras' positive doping results, EPO, Bergman, Sanctions for doping, Ben Kersten, Hour record, Davitamon circus clowns, Team CSC at Solvang, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Confused about doping
• February 10: Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Too early to call the Tour, AIS crash verdict, Punishment for the death of Amy Gillett, Women's cycling, Support for Mark French, Michael Rassmussen, More Kilo and 500m TT argument, Liberty Seguros at Tour Down Under, Hour record, Sanctions for doping
• February 3: International teams, Liberty Seguros at Tour Down Under, Anti-doping tactics, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Too early to call the Tour, Tour of California, Phonak training camp feature, Aussie national champs, More Kilo and 500m TT argument, McQuaid and the UCI, Australian championships, Support for Mark French, Sanctions for doping, Women's cycling, Team strip
• January 24: Future of Spanish cycling, Australian championships, Aussie national champs - a deserved winner, Aussie nationals, World champion kit, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, With Lance gone, Some observations on Oz, PCA suing Dick Pound, International teams
• January 17: EGO Mania, Basso: seeing double, Aussie nationals, Australian championships, Russell Mockridge, PCA suing Dick Pound, USA cycling, World champion kit, The future, Some observations on Oz
• January 6: The Tour hypocrisy, Pat McQuaid, McQuaid, Bart Wellens, Urine testing, Dope so you can
• January 3: That damn Lance, Bart Wellens, Cyclists in South Australia, EGO Mania, King Pound, Urine testing for rEPO, The Tour hypocrisy, Dope so you can, Give McQuaid a chance, Elimination Tour de France

Letters 2005

• December 23: McQuaid and the UCI, Cyclists in South Australia, Bart Wellens, That Damn Lance, Patrice Clerc Interview, Don't accuse every top athlete, Dope so you can, Sanctions for doping - episode 99, Allan Butler tribute
• December 16: An embarrassment of riches, The chickens have come home to roost, McQuaid and the UCI, UCI vs Grand Tour organisers, At least they have something in common, Back to the seventies, Basso at Giro 2006, Cycling is best at what it does, Dope so you can, Cycling one dimensional, Don't accuse every top athlete, Heras and drugs, Where are all of Heras' supporters?, Dick Pound, Chasing an inevitable high, SF Grand Prix
• December 9: Basso at Giro 2006, Heras EPO test procedure, The Heras case, Where are all of Heras' supporters?, Heras and drugs, Do you have to ask why?, Dope so you can, Global doping, The burden of proof, Chasing an inevitable high, EPO, Colorado State Patrol, SFGP - Bring it back!
• December 2: Heras EPO test procedure, Heras - three times lucky, The Heras case, Another profile in disappointment, SFGP - Bring it back!, San Francisco Grand Prix, San Francisco GP, Tyler Hamilton, Chasing an inevitable high, Circumstantial evidence, The burden of proof, Global Doping, Graeme Obree, Moron or marketing genius, Exciting again
• November 25: San Francisco GP, San Fran Grand Prix, San Fran GP, San Francisco city supervisor responds, A tale of two cities, Tyler Hamilton - UCI leaks, Wire in the blood part II, Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton wait time, Heras - three times lucky?, What is the UCI doing?, Exciting again, Le Tour will live on without Armstrong, Moron or marketing genius, A modest proposal, Weekend club racing world championships
• November 18: Heras - three times lucky?, What is the UCI doing?, Exciting again, 2006 Tour de France, Positive urine EPO tests, Le Tour will live on without Armstrong, LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, Tour of Southland, Schlimmer response, Exercise-induced asthma
• November 11: LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, Exciting again, Le Tour will live on without Armstrong, Armstrong, the TdF, etc, The 2006 Tour de France and Lance, Lance, Le Tour and Ethics, Armstrong snub at Tour presentation, Pro wrestling and cycling, Swimming and Cycling, What TdF?, Fair justice, Another doping letter, Where has common sense gone?, Technology in cycling, Schlimmer
• November 4: LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, The 2006 Tour de France and Lance, Le Tour de malcontent, Tour de France 2006, What TdF?, Le Tour wounded, Gossip ruins cycling, EPO, Exercise-induced asthma, Dick Pound and soccer, Tour of US, Tour of California, Swimming and Cycling
• October 28: Le Tour de Malcontent, LeBlanc's Tour snub of Armstrong, Caution needed, TdF 2006, Has cycling become a honky tonk sport?, Tristan Hoffman, UN effort to fight doping in sport, UCI ProTour, Cam Jennings, Exercise-induced asthma, Chris Sheppard is a class act, Why?, Crocodile Trophy - worlds' toughest race?
• October 14: Infallible doping tests?, Get on with your life, Doping. What else?, Pound versus Armstrong, Hamilton, etc, L'Equipe forgot - or not, John Lieswyn, Eddy Merckx
• October 7: John Lieswyn, Bravo, Lieswyn, 1999 Tour de France urine samples, Allan Butler, Tyler Hamilton, Doping versus biomechanical enhancements, Doping control, McQuaid's image, Comment on Chris Horner at Zuri Metzgete, Scientific proof, Thank goodness Moreno lost, What has happened to American Cycling?, Pound versus Armstrong, Hamilton, etc, French bias
• September 30: Petacchi and McEwen's reactions, Ale-Jet, Ale-Jet blasts his critics..., Petacchi's class, Petacchi, Bravo, Lieswyn, French bias, Tom Danielson, What has happened to American Cycling?, Quote of the year, At the heart of the matter, Lance's EPO tests, Doping control, On Pound and the like, Pound Ill informed, Verbruggen is wrong, Doping and apparel
• September 23: A quick thanks, Australian worlds team, Go Mick!, Infighting, Pound Ill informed, WADA mess, Heras and the Giro, Verbruggen is wrong, Chris Sheppard busted for EPO, Explaining increases in performance, Quote of the year, Vuelta rest day observations
• September 16: Vuelta rest day observations, Australian worlds team, Explaining the increases in performance, Debate settled, doping lives on, Samuel Sanchez, Scientific proof, The perfect crime, Another topic please, CYCLINGnews.com, Doping, Illegal motivation, Illegal motivation - another possibility, Lance and the Tour de France, Drug use, Alternate Universe, WADA, Chris Sheppard busted for EPO, Just Do It
• September 9: The debate rages, Bad for cycling, Lance and the Tour de France, EPO Testing and Haematocrit, Doping, Illegal motivation, Lance the Man, Armstrong and doping, Question for Dick Pound..., Land of the Free, home of the Brave, Lance, I have a better idea, Where are the results?, Armstrong's Tour comeback, Don't make that mistake, Lance, Response to the test
• September 2: Lance Armstrong, all-American boy, Doping, Claude Droussent lies, L'Equipe credibility, Lance versus Jan, Jan versus Lance, Cold fusion and Lance, The perfect crime, EPO and the Wink Wink Standard, Germany owed four yellow jerseys?, Lance, cycling and cancer, Lance issues, The whole Lance doping issue, Neither defense nor attack, The test, Land of the Free, home of the Brave, Armstong couldn't come clean, Summarising the Lance situation, Lance's tests, Keep an open mind, Lance and doping, Check results before you wreck yourself, Seeing is believing, L'Equipe and ASO, and Lance, Lance and EPO, Aussie perspective on the upcoming worlds, A rave rather than a rant
• August 26: Lance and LeBlanc, Lance versus France, Can of worms story, The Test, Benoit Salmon wins the 1999 Tour, The perfect crime, Armstrong tests positive, L'Equipe and ASO, Lance rubbish, Lance and the French yellow press, Armstrong, EPO and WADA, Lance Downgrading Armstrong victories, Lance doping garbage, Lance versus Jan, Doping, Six stages to win the 99 tour, EPO test under scrutiny, Lance irony, Lance as a spokesman, Cyclists and politicians, Verbruggen's campaign to elect his successor, John Lieswyn, Can of worms, Americans in Paris
• August 19: Ned Overend, Guidi positive, What is going on at Phonak?, Ullrich's riding style, How about credibility from both sides?, Lieswyn's gesture
• August 12: Pro Tour 2006, Credibility from both sides?, Zabel leaves T-Mobile, Chris Horner, Ullrich's riding style, Well done Wayne!, Armstrong and class, Possible correlations
• August 5: Zabel leaves T-Mobile, Thanks from a survivor, Bicycle safety, Message for Chris Horner, Perspective, Discovery in ninth, Tech, Armstrong and class, The King of July!, Heras through rose colored glasses, Possible correlations
• July 29: Perspective, France and Lance's Legacy, Armstrong and class, Best Wishes to Louise, Levi's Diary, Heras through rose colored glasses, The King of July, Here we go again!, Treat Lance like the others, Tech, Lance Armstrong's time trial equation, Life begins at 30
• July 22: McEwen - villain to superhero, Underdogs and overdogs at the Tour, Big George, George Hincape, Hincapie's stage win, Cadel's Tour memory, What the fans would love to see, Is Godefroot really NOT the man?, A true classic, Phonak's poor sportsmanship, Phonak double standards, My new hero, Discovery Channel tactics, Lance Infomercial?, Treat Lance like the others, TdF sprint finishes, Leaky Gas?, Little black box
• July 15: The best seat in the house, Joseba Beloki, Message for Chris Horner, Treat Lance like the others, Lance Infomercial?, McEwen defense, Rail lines in the TdF, Ruse Discovered?, Discovery's unanimous breakdown, IS Jan really the man?, Cycling socks, Patrick Lefevre quit your whining, Armstrong and class, Leaky Gas?, TdF sprint finishes, Who is in charge of the UCI?, Tires and slippery roads, Response to the Vowels of Cycling, Little black box
• July 8: McEwen defends himself, Tires and slippery roads, Random test on Lance Armstrong, French Government dope controls, The Pro Tour and Grand Tours, Tour de France's early finish?, Here we go again!, Thank you, Ed Kriege, Lance Infomercial?, No, the other Merckx!, The Vowels of Cycling, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, Armstrong and class
• July 1: No, the other Merckx!, Armstrong's pre-Tour communiqués, The Vowels of Cycling, Figures of merit - TdF tipping, Lance Infomercial?, Daily Terror, Sydney article, Why Michael Rogers will be awesome with T-Mobile, I love it!, MTB news, Twins
• June 24: Sydney article, Hit and run on cyclists - Australia's new blood sport?, Another fatal hit and run on Australian cyclists, How can Ullrich win the Tour?, Drop Verbruggen, The second American, When the Tour heads up, Droppin' the Kilo!, Kilo or no go, What is Michael Rogers thinking?, Rogers to T-Mobile, For the love of god don't do it Mick!, The first yellow jersey, Horner Impressive, Leave T-Mobile/Fassa Bortolo, renew your career!, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse, Bobby Julich, Daily Terror, Hell on Wheels review
• June 17: Droppin' the Kilo!, Killing the kilo and 500, The kilo, Axing the Kilo?, The track Time Trials, The first yellow jersey, Armstrong and Class, The year of the comeback, Horner's stage win at the Tour de Suisse
• June 10: The year of the comeback, An open letter to Cadel Evans, How Ullrich can win the Tour, USPRO/Liberty, Lance, the Tour and the Giro, Lance and the Tour, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Armstrong and Class, Ivan's training ride, Giro comments
• June 3: Giro comments, Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Ivan Basso, Ivan's training ride, Discovering the future, Jose Rujano, Savoldelli vs Simoni, How Ullrich can win the Tour, Eddy Merckx Interview, Johan Bruyneel, Show us your discards Godefroot!, Improving Pro Tour Team Rankings, Lance and the Tour, Armstrong and class
• May 27: Giro excitement vs Tour blah, Great Giro!, Double or nothing..., Colle delle Finestre and a Cipo farewell, Joseba Beloki, Ivan's training ride, Hell on Wheels, Matt Wittig, How Ullrich can win the Tour, UCI fines, Armstrong and class, Eddy Merckx Interview, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, You have let us down Paolo
• May 20: Colle delle Finestre tactics, Rogues, It just keeps happening, Davis Phinney, Joseba Beloki, Australia - number one, You have let us down Paolo, Bettini/Cooke, What's up with pro cyclists these days?, Cipo, Cipo, Cipo, A question about team names, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!
• May 13: Hit and run, Bettini vs Cooke, Bettini's Illegal sprint, You have let us down Paolo, Giro, Bettini/Cooke, Cookie's crumble, Bjarne's right: There's only one Jens Voigt!, Jens Voigt and the blind, South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, It just keeps happening, Liberty Seguros, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!, Australia - number one, Irresistible in July, UCI weight rule
• May 6: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 29: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 22: Lance Armstrong's retirement, W is for Witchhunt, Tyler's mishandling defense, Not for real, is it?, Bad Science, Blood testing issues, Hamilton - finally a decision, Regarding the Tyler Hamilton decision, Tyler Hamilton, Satisfying Verdict for Hamilton Case, How do dopers live with themselves?, Hamilton's case, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton, Hamilton verdict and a call for outside expertise, Tyler Hamilton saga..., Tour de France preview...2006!, Klöden comments, Tour de France Training, The New Dynamic Duo, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono, Random Musings
• April 15: Glenn Wilkinson, USADA and Hamilton, Bergman; so sad, ProTour leader's jersey, That's a Jersey?, Too many chiefs?, Track World Championships, What do you think?
• April 8: The New Dynamic Duo, Boonen's Hairdo, Viral infections and antibiotics, George Hincapie, What do you think?, Track World Championships, VDB?, A little bit more about blood doping, Blood testing issues
• April 1: Well done Ale-jet, Eyes of tigers..., Viral infections and antibiotics, Let's talk about cycling…, What's worth talking about in cycling?, First Ride of the season, The New Dynamic Duo, Blood testing issues, Sydney Thousand, UCI Pro Tour Grand Theft, not Grand Tour
• March 18: The Forgotten Hero!, Way to go Bobby, Bobby J, Lance has lost the ‘Eye of the tiger’, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, With all Due Respect, All this Lance Talk..., Is Lance getting soft?
• March 11: Blood testing issues and Hamilton, Cycling on TV, In Defence of UCI president Hein Verbruggen, Defending the Pro Tour?, Is Lance getting soft?, Lance has lost the "eye of the tiger"
• March 4: In Defence of the Pro-Tour, Grand Tours back down...for now, Armstrong and Simeoni,Help - what’s on the TV?, Cycling on TV, Lance Defends His Title!, Hamilton movie role downplayed, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, I really don't know when it happened
• February 25: Lance Defends His Title!, Build it and tear it down?, Build, dismantle and donate!, Lance's Hour Record attempt, I really don't know when it happened, Can't get enough!, Dream on
• February 18: Build it and tear it down?, Remember Marco, One Reason I Love Cycling, The ongoing Hour Record Saga, Lance’s Hour Record attempt, Can't get enough!
• February 11: One Reason I Love Cycling, Francisco Cuevas, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Can't get enough!, Greatest of all time
• February 4: F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can't get enough!, Help, Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 28: "I am the greatest of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004 RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 21: Professional Cyclists, Der Kaiser's Goals, Jan Ullrich's problem = Lance, Rider of the Year, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Help, Lance vs. Eddy
• January 14: Der Kaiser's goals, Help, Foreign stage races, Lance vs. Eddy, Tour '05, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Quick Step helmets
• January 7: 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
• 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
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