Tour de Gone, Zirbel’s troubles and those darn comments

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• Keep it short. And remember that we reserve the right to edit for grammar, length and clarity.
• Include your full name, hometown and state or nation.
• Send it to webletters@insideinc.com.

A new year’s wish
Editors,
I was sorely disappointed to learn that the Tour de Georgia has been cancelled for yet another year.  I really loved that race and while we have the Tour of California to satisfy west coast fans, I wonder if those of us in the central and eastern U.S. have the best race available. I wish we could find a way to resurrect the ToG, even if it comes at the expense of the Tour of Missouri.

I enjoyed some of the ToM, but day-after-day of rolling hills is nothing compared to finishes at Brasstown Bald.
Eliot Morgan
Atlanta, Georgia

Could things go better with Coke?
Editors,
How about everyone in the world write,call,email,twitter … Coca Cola in Atlanta and tell them that they should sponsor the Tour of Georgia!

Coke has been in Georgia since it was first bottled 100 years ago.
Marcia Ledford
Kearneysville, West Virginia

Say it ain’t so, Tom
Dear VeloNews,
I was heartbroken to read that Tom Zirbel tested positive for drugs at this year’s national championships.

I hope and pray that the B sample comes back negative or that he can at least show it was a mistake. I’ve followed Tom’s progress over the years and it would be a huge disappointment to learn that he’s just another dope fiend. Frankly, at this point, I’d be ready to give up on cycling and start watching professional wrestling. At least those guys don’t deny that they’re doped to the gills.

What happens if he is convicted of a doping violation? Will that cancel out his spectacular performance at worlds?
Kristen Johnson
Davis, California

Dear Kristen, it’s always hard to predict how a review panel will act in a case like this. Zirbel says his positive may have come from a contaminated supplement and he’s working to assemble evidence to support that claim. While WADA rules generally treat doping violations a “strict liability” offenses, recent CODE revisions do allow accidental ingestion of some substances to be treated differently. Nonetheless, even if Zirbel were to get a reduced penalty, it’s likely that his worlds results would be scrubbed, given that the world championships took place after the date of the alleged offense. – Editor

Is it really news?
Velo,
Regarding Davide Rebellin, denial of doping allegations should no longer qualify as news.
Brian Trudell
Burbank, California

Oh my aching back
Dear Velo,
I am a 45-year-old cyclist. I have been riding all my life. I have had my share of accidents and injuries. In addition I have worked through back pain and stiffness with stretching and exercise.

I gust got back from the Doc with my MRI results and was diagnosed with the following: Moderate disc changes L2-L3 through L4-L5 contributing to moderate central and formal stenosis, worse at L4-L5. Right Para-central disc extrusion at L2-L3 with cranial migration and central stenosis. Part of this is aging and another trauma from cycling I am told. I can strengthen core and perhaps surgery options I have yet to understand but the overwhelming consensus is that I am headed to a life of pain management regardless.

As I contemplate all my recovery options I ask Is this an issue among aging cyclists and do you know of any who have recovered to enjoy a life of cycling. I intend to continue cycling even if it means flipping my stem to a riser stem to my road bike.

Can you recommend any reading that might be specific to cycling and the aging back? I am sure there have been peloton guys who have put in far more miles than me who are over the hill and hurting etc.

Regards,
Chris Donahugh

Dear Readers, feel free to send your advice to WebLetters@CompetitorGroup.com. We’ll forward them to Chris. – Editor

Commenting on comments
Hello,
As a mail subscriber I like to read my story and then, if and when possible, discuss the magazine with my shop co-workers or friends. However, the online article comment section is quite, annoying. Sure, it eliminates some email, but the people writing that nonsense I can do without. Some of the stupid things people say and reply to, comment on and express are just … well, dumb. Add me to your list of people who can live without commentary from various people of little to no intelligence.

About the BETA, I like it so far. It just different then the old site, the old site worked fine. Zinn finally gets a break from all his emailing. Not so sure I like the direction Competitor is taking this whole thing, but I have a few months to decide if Dirtrag and Decline/Road are more attuned to what I want.

Thanks though for letting me share my thoughts,

Joe Schliesman
Selah, Washington

Yes, Joe, we’ve received conflicting views on the value of the comments section. We’re of mixed minds about it. Those of us who like the feature get something of a kick from them. Those on staff who don’t like them have gotten into the habit of stopping at the end of the story. We are still reviewing a number of aspects of the new site and expect to see some changes as we get the site up and running when the season resumes. – Editor

FILED UNDER: Mailbag