Doping, doping, doping

All the bloggers and twits are chattering away about this and this regarding Floyd Landis and his doping.

Seems funny, I'm still in the middle of reading his book, and now I'm not sure what parts to really believe about any of it. I never doubted that he doped, but now his allegations about others, and how he got his drugs sounds like when I was a kid on the playground and someone was caught for doing something and they trying to bring everyone else into it.

I'm not surprised by his allegations against Mr. Fancypants, but I am surprised by the allegations against Captain America who it seems (at least in the book) he was pretty close to.

I do hope that this will help with investigations and cleans up the sport.

Ride of Silence - Too negative?

So, as a cyclist, I want more people out on the roads riding their bikes. I'm always saddened to hear about an accident involving a cyclist, especially a death. So the Ride of Silence made sense to me to remember those that were killed riding their bikes on the road.

But then I read this article that raises the point that it may be sending the wrong message. The positive vs. negative and what will encourage more people to ride. It's almost the same argument for and against bike paths, lanes and trails vs. better roads for all users. (ahem: rumble strips?)

I don't really know what the answers to these are, what do you think?

Yehuda Moon | Ride of Silence

Ride of Silence

Link to Ride of Silence.

Ride safe.

Almanzo results, every year to current

2012 Results

Hot, dry, dusty and windy.

Almanzo 100 Finishers:

1 - 5:56:30 Rettig Dirk 1st Male
2 - 5:56:40 Koeneman Brian 2nd Male
3 - 5:56:42 Wentz Steve 3rd Male
4 - 5:58:05 Stanford Ian
5 - 5:59:00 Oien Peter
6 - 5:59:20 Gillihan Todd
7 - 5:59:25 Bell Jim
8 - 5:59:40 Keys Brad
9 - 6:04:15 Bianchi Keith
10 - 6:05:05 Krumrich Paul
11 - 6:05:35 Horkey Ryan
12 - 6:10:00 O'Brien Devin
13 - 6:13:15 Rinkleff Franz
14 - 6:13:30 Ziemer Dave
15 - 6:17:35 Krobakken Taylor
16 - 6:27:05 Johnson Mike
17 - 6:27:15 Thompson John
18 - 6:30:55 Tweed Evan
19 - 6:31:25 Lindberg Andy
20 - 6:32:15 Beveridge Sam
21 - 6:40:35 Fuhrmann Brian
22 - 6:40:40 Schad Charlie
23 - 6:40:45 Olson Trevor
24 - 6:40:55 Zabrowski Jack
25 - 6:42:00 Hippen Scott

Almanzo 100, 2010 - Victory or Disappointment

There is a video embedded in this post that you may not be able to view. Click through to the blog to watch it.

This is a really long post. So I'll give you a short version here. You can continue reading to get my whole story, but I completely understand if you dont. I didn't bonk, but I didn't finish anywhere near where I wanted to. The leaders came in at 5:15, while I limped in at 6:46. My legs were not there for it. Keep reading for the full report, pictures, video and map.

Champions Day

Almanzo says today, the Friday before the Almanzo 100 race, is to be known as Champions Day.

So to everyone, especially anyone heading to Spring Valley tomorrow, have a great Champions Day.

If you could only read my mind

I wouldn't have to post this blog…

It would save a bunch of time. But I suppose I have nothing better to do. Right? I mean other then attempt being even more awesomer. Not that it's even possible.

Anyhow, there's this event on Saturday that I'm attending. It should be a good time. 400 or so bicycle riders hoping to roll over 100 or so miles of southeast Minnesotas gravel roads.

Some people will ride it. I hope to race it. My tactics are… … … Don't get - Mmm… Dropped! [in case you didn't realize, you're supposed to read/hear that the way the Beastie Boys rap it]

But seriously, I'm gonna toe the line up front and ride with the lead group for as long as I can. Simple as pie.

Bike still needs to be set up though. I need to swap pedals with the SPD-like ones I use on the fixed gear, as well as mount the 700x30c Kenda Kwick cyclo-cross tires I got early in the spring. They are a pretty tight fit, so it's a good thing it looks like dry weather. Other then that I gotta pack water, food, tools then lube my chain and I'm ready.

Team Toms Shoes - represent! It's too bad the jerseys aren't ready for this race. Looks like I'll have to find another way to represent for them.

Tour of California now open | Velofight

So maybe you don't care about the Giro of the Italy's. No big deal. I understand that. Well now you can get your redneck on and pick a team for a USA grand tour *ahem*. Velofight in the Tour of the California's is open to pick. The only thing that sucks is that Radioshack seems pretty stacked (imagine Mr. FancyPants as your super-domestiqe), only one Schleck on the roster, and to many riders are considered stars. Makes picking a team tough.

Remember if your looking to join a Velofight group, join FAKAWOT!

Chasing Legends Trailer - World Premiere May 15th

Hopefully the movie lives up to the hype. I'm looking forward to it.

Blood Sweat + Gears

Just finished watching this movie following Garmin getting into the Tour de France. It's a really good flick to add to your netflix.

Wish I was home

There is a video embedded in this post that you may not be able to view. Click through to the blog to watch it.

enjoying a day at the beach with my fam and friends. Even better was when I packed the car with the cooler and stuff, headed out on the bike, and met mio bellissimo moglie and i miei bambini at the beach. Those were great.

Anyway, great new Jack Johnson video.

Velofight: Giro d'Italia now open

Hey now! Get your picks together for the Giro. Who's gonna get the maglia rosa? What teams gonna win the team competition. Hope you do well. My picks for most of the spring classics didn't do that great. Maybe I'll do better at grand tours. Maybe.

96% of cyclists fear the rear

96% of cyclists fear the rear
Originally uploaded by richardmasoner

while only 30% of accidents are from the rear. And yet even I will ride with a rear flasher and not a headlight during some dawn rides.

Monday came and went. I feel better.

There is a video embedded in this post that you may not be able to view. Click through to the blog to watch it.

Hot Chip rocks! Love their tracks, and this video is great.

Weekends are for rockin!

Get ready Friday! Cause I'm gonna melt your face off!

Busy as a bee!

Work - work - work. And it gets in the way of riding and blogging. Errr...

On the other hand, I am so thankful that I am able to work and have a great job.

Talk to ya later!

No Phone Zone

I've been a bit harsh of Oprah in the past. But I think she's really trying to use her voice to create better change in our society.

Today I took the pledge to not text while driving. I think you should too. Let's all pay attention to driving when driving.

Chasing Legends

The Tour de France. The biggest and most exciting sporting event in the world. It's really amazing watching/reading about the athletes and what they go thru to finish, much less win the 23 day stage race.

I've kept up with the Tour every year for about 20+ years. Now, I'm not fanatical, I don't know the winners of each one, who attacked when, or what non-racing drama happened in any particular race. But I enjoy each race for what it is.

I try not to let the doping scandals get me down too much. It's happened, it's going to happen, but it really hasn't taken away the amount of effort, drive, commitment and perseverance that I love about the race.

Gripped Films is currently working on a movie following team Columbia (currently the winningest team in pro cycling), set to release in May in time for the Tour of California and Almanzo100. Check out the latest trailer below.

Bike Pure promo video

I'm not really into the wristband thing, but they also have bottles, headset spacers and socks to help spread their message. Vist the Bike Pure store here.

Cyclocosm How the race was won -L.B.L.

Original here. Very good points on the race. And the cycling press.

Sorta retro Schwinn TV ad

Schwinn...

Hm, I have nothing against Schwinn, other then that if you think you're buying a Schwinn from the same company that your parents got your old Apple Crate from, you are mistaken. But that's really no big deal. Lots of companies have come and gone, switched owners, filed bankruptcy and all the like. At least they still make bikes.

So below is an ad that supposedly is running on TV. The great thing about it is that they are doing it right. Yeah it's Schwinn branded and gives a retro vibe so we recall our childhood. But also it's selling us on the feelings of riding a bike. Spin those pedals and ring that bell. Who can not smile and feel good doing this?



Good job Schwinn. Originally found on Urban Velo.

Getting soft

Well hopefully not really. But missing a bunch of days training leading up to a race 3 weeks away is not really ideal.

The weekend was a cold, wet, rainy one, that also had some other commitments. So no ride then.

Then I missed the group ride today. It was my own fault. I reacted to a situation that didn't need to be and possibly missed a day to really build speed work and race intensity.

If I focus, and God willing, I can still make the best of this week. Anything I do after Sunday is to maintain fittness or taper to race day. So maybe I can pull off going on the Wednesday group ride to make up for today. But that still means a bit more hump bustin' this week. I'll try to get in a couple hour tomorrow with a couple intervals mixed in. May have to do the same on Thursday, active recovery on Friday, and an early morning long ride Saturday and Sunday. That should bring me into a week or so of maintenence, and then a mini taper to race day.

That's sorta the plan anyway. Remember, gotta go with the flow. Loosey-goosey!

Open letter from Vino

just to update, looks like Vino's not feelin' the love.

While reading the press comments regarding my last victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege I was deeply saddened. I don’t understand this persecution against me.

I can’t do anything against the doubts hanging over me since the 2007 case, but I reject all the accusations brought against me today, without any evidence. Since my return in August, I have always been honest with the press, I responded to all requests for interviews, I have hidden nothing.

Ironically, my victory in Liège seems to revive old jealousies for which I am not responsible. The media comments contrast with the hundreds of congratulatory messages from fans that I keep getting on my website and my Facebook page. I don’t understand this discrepancy.

As if I had to be forbidden of success on my bike to leave everyone with a clear conscience. In which sport are we allowed to be at the start of a competition without the right to win?

I love cycling, it gave me everything and I want to give it good things in return. I paid two years on suspension for the dark years of my career. If I repeated that I didn’t want to talk about it, it’s only for the sake of my sport. I don’t think cycling needs to reconsider all these dirty stories to move forward. This is my personal vision of this problem, everybody is not obliged to share it. Obviously my attitude that I consider the most correct and most respectful way possible is one more time misinterpreted. I'm sorry.

Again, I have nothing to hide. Since my come back I have been the subject of more than 30 doping tests, all negatives, including 21 in the context of the Adams. This allows me to validate my biological passport and therefore to run. In Tenerife, where I had my recent training before the Tour of Trentino that arose the indignation of some journalists, I was subject to two unannounced blood and urine tests in two weeks. I can’t do more than what the sport regulations ask me, to prove my honesty.

Today, I only wish to be respected as I respect everyone, my colleagues in the peloton as the journalists. I don’t want to be the only and too easy target for all the ills of cycling. Alexandre Vinokourov

This was taken from Velonation. Make what you want of it. I still don't know what to think.

Doping, win for Vino, suspensions and guilt

Photo from CyclingNews.com

I was pretty suprised that Alexandre Vinokourov (riding for Astana) won Sunday's Liège - Bastogne - Liège. The last of the spring classics on the calendar. I knew he was racing, and I knew he was on form from his win at Giro del Trentino. But I just didn't think he could have pulled off a win against such a strong field.

Regardless, he won. And it seems that it is causing some distress with fans of bike racing around the world.

Count from one to ten. That's how long it would take Gunnar Soroos to outsprint you... Fourty seven times.

Vino, served a 2 year suspension from pro racing for failing a doping control test following a win in the first time trial in the 2007 Tour de France, suggesting that he received blood transfusions for performance gain.

Now, he never admitted wrong doing, but he also didn't seem to fight the claims. He served his suspension.

He is considered a doper. And I don't doubt that he cheated. So when people see his win on Sunday, they see a cheat winning. But here's the thing, is he still a cheat because he cheated in the past? I'm not saying to not question his cleanliness, but I am wondering if we should be so focused and upset because a rider who served a suspension won.

It seems almost every week there is news of another rider testing postive for some sort of cheating. I don't think that that is going away soon. And just like fines for unsportsmanlike behavior, once the punishment is paid, shuldn't the rider be able to continue to race if he chooses to? (Considering he can get on a team)

If the punishment isn't strong enough, then maybe the rules need to be changed to reflect that, but untill they are, he's not breaking any rule by racing.

On the other hand, I want to know the riders that are winning, are real champions. I don't want to think a rider may be on the podium because he has chemicals in, or is using someone elses blood.

Of course it comes down to the fact that, if a rider wins by artificial means, it not only takes away from his win, it takes away from my own (rather small) accomplishments. Doesn't it? Cycling isn't that hard, just take some EPO. Training and commitment isn't important. Just purchase a victory.

Really I don't know where this little rant is going, or what point I'm making, but it's a tough nut to crack when you think about it. Should I be happy that a doper won? Should I not care? Should I be happy that a rider served his suspension and is now clean, as he claims? What other riders are cheats?

I really don't know. I do know that I want the sport to be clean, and that I want the winners of every race to win honestly.

Because of this I support Bike Pure, and Dopers Suck. I know for myself, at my level, I am racing as ethically as possible. Does that make sense? What about you? Are you racing clean?

It is better to give than to receive. This is especially true of an attack from Gunnar Soroos.

Don't we all like watching the train wrecks? Tool - Vicarious

I know I can be just as guilty. "10,000 Days" Album by Tool

Very cool video about the lost art of hand painting ads on the sides of buildings

I'm at awe of the brotherhood and mentorship these guys have for each other.