Wisconsin and Michael Barry rock, Kohl and Cavendish do not

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Wisconsin mountain biking rocks!

Editor,

RE: coverage of the WORS series.

Hello, as an avid cyclist here in the Midwest, as well as an appreciative subscriber to VeloNews, I was very pleased to read your coverage of the WORS mountain bike series.

I have ridden and raced around the country, and Don Edberg and his dedicated crew run as good a series as you will find in terms of organization, course variety and difficulty, fan accessibility and community involvement.

It is the largest registered racer series in the U.S., highly competitive (The top pros travel to Europe and routinely beat some of America’s best at Chequamegon and The Iceman Cometh) while still remaining accessible and friendly. We are lucky to have it, and I look forward to your continued coverage of the deserving people who volunteer and compete for WORS.

David Compton,
Wisconsin

Editor’s Note: Thanks, David, and to the other Wisconsin riders who have written. I haven’t been to a WORS event yet, but I appreciate that the organizers help us gather results and other information on a timely basis so we can report on the events here (Hint, hint, other offroad race organizers).

Kohl’s tell-all — a step

Editor,

Re: Bernard Kohl’s recent comments.

Although Kohl’s recent admission of guilt is a step in the right direction this doping business is absolutely disheartening. I love racing at the amateur level and hope to turn pro in the coming years. But whats the point if I just have to dope when I get there? I started racing because I love riding my bike, not to poison my body and mind with artifical substances and fake results. Do the drugs also help them sleep at night, I hope so.

Shane Buysse,
San Diego, California

Kohl article raises concerns

Editor,

Refreshingly honest article that unfortunately proves that you don’t have to fail drug tests to be cheating: Of all the things he took, only the third-generation EPO showed-up.

The UCI needs to shape up on this .

Dave Hodgson,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Suspect team doctors

Editor,

This was a very interesting admission by Bernard Kohl. When they came out with the biological passport it went through my mind that the cyclist could use this as a way of beating the system.

When teams started hiring doctor consultants with the sole purpose of creating a way to detect dopers, within the team, I thought to myself that the good teams will actually use it for this purpose, but the bad teams would use this as a front.

I’m not sure if I believe Kohl when he says the team had nothing to do with it. I think perhaps he is saving the team and making himself appear open, like David Millar did, maybe to come back as the hero and perhaps for the same team.

All I have to do now it try to make myself not care.

Ron Jawanda,
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Airlines and HGH

Editor,

Re: the Explainer on EPO-Boost and Google ads.

This reminds me of when I wrote multiple mails to several airline magazines, American Shooter, and several outdoors magazines, complaining that they were carrying ads for HGH (Human Growth Hormone), the morality thereof, etc.

Two out of maybe 10 responded. One said ‘hey, we don’t screen our ads for anything but legality” and the other said ‘it’s advertising that subsidizes your magazine.’ Most simply ignored the complaint. All still carry the ads.

Kinda makes you want to hold a press conference on how “Airlines Support Illegal Drugs.”

Dave Parish,
Houston, Texas

Katusha and Hinault

Editor,

You know, the Katusha idea (of requiring riders to pay the team if they are caught doping) ain’t bad! Maybe a bit too steep a figure, but I kinda like it.

It says to the riders, “You say you are clean, then you shouldn’t object to putting your money where your mouth is.”

As for Steegmans, McEwen & De Haus, I guess they really don’t want to ride this year and my be signaling their plans to retire. If you say you are clean and then protest when asked to stand by what you say, what message does that send?

I for one wouldn’t hire any of them if they took that stance. Cycling is working hard to clean up its image and can’t afford to have people with that attitude representing it!

Re: Bernard Hinault’s recent comments.

“The Badger” has never been known for his dislike of shoe leather, but if you cut through his acidic delivery he does have a few points:

He is not alone in his dislike of race radios — Many don’t like them and I for one think they take a lot out of the “race.” His point about reading maps and studying weather reports is a good one. From what I hear many of the riders in the peloton rely on the radio to tell them what is ahead and where the dangers are rather than acquainting themselves with the course.

Also, the tour is supposed to be hard! It has risen to be the pinnacle of stage racing and the man on the top step should be the best stage racer of the season!

As for his other rants, consider that he is “The Badger”!

Bill Levey,
Reisterstown, Maryland

A new nickname proposed

Editor,

I just read the excerpts from the interview with the always-outspoken Bernard Hinault. Maybe it’s time we quit calling him the badger and start calling him simply l’ane. (That’s French for jackass.)

James Pixton,
Alameda, California

It was illegal!

Editor,

Re: Tom Boonen’s cocaine use.

I don’t think this has anyting to do with being a role model or it not being a non-performing drug.

The fact is that cocaine is an illegal substance! This should be punishable by the law and by his employer. If I was taking any type of illegal substance, I would get fired and face criminal charges.

I believe this should apply to everyone whether you are a cyclist, plumber, or police officer. This is not his first offense but his second; it’s time to pay the piper, my friend.

Victor Aponte,
Heidelberg, Germany

Barry and Papa Hemingway

Re: Michael Barry’s journals

Mr. Barry reminds me that Ernest Hemingway loved to ride a fast bicycle, but rarely wrote about cycling. He said it was too difficult to express the essence…

Mr. Barry has no such limitations. Finest writing of the essence I can
imagine.

His sense of rhythm and his acute clarity of vision make my heart sing.

Irving Fey
Bothell, Washington

Editor’s Note: Thanks Irving, we will pass your note on to Michael. By the way, in A Moveable Feast, Hemingway wrote: “I have started many stories about bicycle racing, but have never written one that is as good as the races are both on the indoor and outdoor track and on the roads.”

More on Michael

Editor,

We always enjoy reading anything by Michael Barry and his diary during the Giro had been fantastic. 

He’s a writer who seems to really convey what its like to be hard worker in a grand tour. And yes, we like him because he’s Canadian too. 

Great work Michael, on the bike and on the diary!

Kenneth Bragg
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Cavendish views

Editor,

Re: May 26 Mailbag.

It’s refreshing to see other views on Wonder Boy, AKA Cavendish, and his aversion to going uphill.

If he wants the green jersey, I hope someone has told him he will have to ride stages where the gain in elevation may be almost as lofty as his ego.

Suffering and getting spit off the back? Grinding it out day after day and no glory? Welcome to the reality of your sport, young man for most of the pro riders.

Honor your fellow riders and your livelihood by showing the respect it takes to finish a grand tour, and not just a stage for your own grandeur. I give it 50-50 for you to man up.

Pat O’Brien,
Easton,Maryland

A different take on Cavendish

Editor,

Sprinters are there to win races, so unless the green jersey is at hand, most of them are simply dead weight in the mountains. They do no favors for themselves, the team, or the fans by sticking around, unless the green jersey is in reach.

Andrew Champion,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Menchov’s mechanic

Editor,

Wow… The finishing moments of the final stage of this year’s Giro saw one of the most amazing feats of super human effort I have ever been privileged to witness. Lightening fast reflexes, laser like focus, god given natural talent, years and years and years of practice… All culminating in one of the most exciting moments ever in cycling history.

Oh, and Menchov wasn’t all that bad either…

Was I the only one that was completely blown away by how quickly his mechanic came out of a still moving car, removed a spare bike from the roof of said still moving car, ran forward, helped his rider mount and pushed him off away to victory? Check the tape. That guy deserves a standing ovation of his own.

While Menchov was screaming in victory to the crowds in Rome, his Super Mechanic was quietly gathering up the crashed bike and walking it in to the team bus. Left behind by the Director and his driver, no celebratory hugs were given or received in front of the world wide press. No podium girl kisses. No popping flashes… Just a trailer full of wet bikes to clean and prepare for the next race.

I for one was blown away. Congratulations to Menchov, his team, his sponsors and last, but certainly not least, to his amazing support staff.

Bravo boys…

Barry Anderson,
Phoenix, Arizona

Editor’s Note: You weren’t the only one to notice the mechanic’s super human performance. The boys at VeloNews.tv interviewed the mechanic in the new VeloCenter video posted today.

Racer trash

Editor,

While watching the Giro on Universal, I couldn’t help but notice how many times they mentioned how beautiful the country was. Seeing the images, I couldn’t help but notice it myself. But after showing a beautiful countryside, or a historic Italian Villa, they would zoom in on a racer throwing garbage on the side of the road.

I remember a few years back, The Discovery team went with a green theme. They announced a plan to be carbon neutral throughout the Tour De France. It was admirable, yet there was still a lot of garbage thrown on the side of
the road by the “Green Train.”

As I regularly race in the middle of a cat 4 pack and see racers throw their used gel packets on the side of the road, it is embarrassing to me. So many people say what a great, environmentally friendly sport cycling is. As I ride around some of my favorite local rides and see discarded bike tubes and energy food wrappers, I can’t help but think that on some levels, it is a major contributor to the mess.

How about getting the pro peloton to preview the stages of the Tour de France on foot, in orange vest, with garbage bags?

Seth Bradley,
Sandy, Utah

FILED UNDER: Mailbag