Wednesday’s Mailbag: The Post; The Bracelet; The Bike
Photo: AFP (file photo)
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Now there’s an idea
Dear VeloNews,
Regarding theNew York Post’s article about Armstrong being a traitor: Isthis the same idiot who came up with the concept of naming french fries”freedom” fries?Give me a break. Maybe now they will petition OLN to cut the TourDe France from programming, or request it be labeled Tour of Freedom forU.S. broadcast.Ryan Walter
Sacramento, CaliforniaThe paragon of journalism
Dear Velo,
Thanks for the link to the NY Post article on Lance. What ahoot!I never realized what a fine publication the Post was, and Ilook forward to learning more from them– such as, which potential Olympiccities Jacko, Elvis, and
Batboy are leaning towards.My admiration surged out in the form of a quick letter to their editor,praising their quick detection of this latest threat to America’s supremacy.I look for bike sales to skyrocket now that their vast readership has beenexposed to a form of wheeled transportation other than NASCAR.Kerry Hardy
Rockland, MaineMore than a one-trick pony
Dear VeloNews,
A few comments regarding Joe Robbins recent letter:”Personally, I think Lance still has a lot to prove.”
Yeah- cause winning more Tour de France’s in history after having metastaticcancer really doesn’t show much ability, toughness or character.”I think he needs to show that he’s more then a one-race rider.”
Right- because his place in history is not secure yet…what he reallyneeds is a Vuelta win.”Maybe he just needs to show that he cares about the sport, that he’sunselfish and wants to give something back to the sport that has givenhim so much.”Selfish- yeah, that’s Lance- raising millions of dollars for cancercare, paying untold numbers of visits to hospitals to provide inspirationto cancer patients and establishing a charitable (which, I believe is theprecise opposite of selfish) foundation in his own name. Hey Joe-when’s the last time you visited sick kids in the hospital? Justcause you’re a grumpy curmudgeon doesn’t mean you can’t try and brightensomeone’s day.”To me, Lance is just a great rider for three weeks out of a year. Bigdeal.”
Actually, he is the best rider ever for the most important three weeksin cycling every year and has been for the last six years. Most wouldagree that qualifies as a pretty big deal. Joe, you might not like LanceArmstrong, but he’s one of the best riders ever and, more importantly,has done more good works outside his sport than any athlete ever.He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone.James Park
Seattle, Washington
Why the diff?
Dear Editors,
Regarding “Freiretakes over ProTour lead,” I recently realized something ironic aboutthe ProTour that nobody has mentioned before (at least that I have seen). The ProTour was supposed to level the playing field and make all ProTourteams ride all the major races. However, isn’t it interesting thatthe Tour de France has higher points available than the other grand tours?I wonder why that is. It doesn’t seem consistent with the ProTour’sobjectives. The TdF still stands above all other races as the mostimportant and prestigious and the ProTour clearly promotes that idea.Chris Nelson
Mill Valley, CaliforniaYellow bracelets – the last word
Dear Velo,
While there has been a wildfire spread of yellow bracelets as a fashionaccessory, there are those of us who wear them *in spite of* that fact.
I wear mine because my Aunt had cancer. My Lieutenant at the Fire Dept.I volunteer at recently passed away due to a very rapid progression ofhis cancer. I have other friends that are dealing with cancer. I wear mybracelet for them.
J.D Kimple
Central Ohio
Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah!
Told ya so, told ya so!
Editor,
Some time last fall, when the Discovery team was thinking of signingAxel Merckx to the team, I wrote in a letter wondering if Discovery channelwould be riding Eddy Merckx bicycles this year. You posted my letter, andsome guy wrote back that Axel Merckx had ridden non-Eddy Merckx bicyclesbefore he was with Domo and then Lotto.
At the time all there was to do was wait and see. After looking at thepictures from Paris-Nice, it looks as though Axel decided not to convinceDavitamon-Lotto to ride Eddy Merckx bicycles, but is just riding one forhimself instead.To that dork in Iowa, who dismissed my notion that Axel would only ridehis fathers bicycles. Boo Yaa!Bret Martin
Oakland, California
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.