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Letters to Cyclingnews - December 3, 2004
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Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless you specify in the message. Each week's best letter gets our 'letter of the week' award. We look for for letters that contain strong, well-presented opinions; humour; useful information or unusual levels of sheer helpfulness. Please email your correspondence to letters@cyclingnews.com. Recent letters Domestiques vs Lieutenants |
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Domestiques vs LieutenantsGeorge Hincapie is a lieutenant and Floyd Landis was a lieutenant. Tyler Hamilton, Roberto Heras, Kevin Livingston, Viatcheslav Ekimov, all of these guys have been referred to as Lance Armstrong's lieutenants, several of them at the same time. No other organization, not even the mafia, has a higher ratio of lieutenants than a pro bike squad. I feel like Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride upon listening to Vizzini express, "Inconceivable!" "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Over the last couple years the de facto term for a domestique seems to have become lieutenant. I understand the spin on this. Domestique translates to domestic worker which translates to housekeeper, personal care provider, nanny, aid to the elderly, sick or disabled. Not that there's anything wrong with that. So now we are calling domestiques lieutenants. Domestique might not seem an apt description of a bike racer, but should everyone be a lieutenant when there are so many other ranks around? I'd like to suggest some alternatives. The Navy alone has seven ranks of admirals, plus many more ranks:
But even if we were to stick with lieutenants there are several variations:
I will give cycling writers credit, however, because a web search for "Lance Armstrong lieutenants" revealed these distinctions:
and my favorite:
Personally, I prefer the Mafia analogy what with its cachet, prestige, method of enforcing discipline, omerta and all.
You may wonder, of what level expertise do I speak? How do I know such things? Simple enough, I'm married and have a family. My wife is capo de tutti capi. My four year old son and two year old daughter are capo bastone. Toes, the family dog, is consigliere. When I get home from my nine to five lifer job I pickup the consigliere's poop in the back yard, I help with supper, I give my kids baths. Before bedtime I play with them. I am Mrs. Nesbitt at capo Lucy's tea parties. To capo Jack, who is also any of various superheroes, I am Syndrome who must be defeated. After my kids fall asleep I do a couple loads of laundry. I may seem domestique-like, but don't call me that, see? Tom Benson (not my real name), Sgarrista |
Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI #1
For those who "know" Tyler is guilty, skip this letter. For me, I see some issues with WADA and the UCI that make me wonder what's going on. They're failing the "smell test".
If the test is solid, Tyler's guilty (as is Santiago Perez). However... it is a new test (con). Seems strange Tyler had been warned since May about anomalous test results and continued to dope? (con). A majority of cyclists seem to lie when caught (pro). Tyler didn't suddenly ride better this year, like Rumsas a few years back (con). Everyone knows all cyclists dope (pro). Academically and medically qualified people have raised solid doubts about the test development methodology (con). Two team members test positive for blood doping (pro and con, conspiracy or common mode failure). Apparently Tyler is not allowed to see test results and supporting information (con). The full test protocol is "secret" and hasn't been peer reviewed (con). Dick Pound and WADA and the UCI have positioned themselves as advocates for conviction rather than welcoming scrutiny and study (con). An awful lot of cyclists are supportive of Tyler's character (con). Dick Pound is a known blowhard (con).
All I'd like to read is that the main actors in this play (WADA and UCI and the Aussie scientists) place every emphasis on making sure the test is valid for Tyler and Santiago. In addition to what else I've read, the following from the UCI's decision to drop Phonak from the Pro Tour confirms that the bureaucracy winning is more important than the truth. Apparently, vigorously defending yourself is itself a crime.
o these tests have been approved by the World Antidoping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC);
o the riders Tyler Hamilton and Santiago Perez contested the charge of doping;
o the Phonak team has not dismissed these riders;
o it [Phonak] has cast doubt on the reliability of tests developed by the laboratories in Lausanne and Athens;
o it [Phonak] has set up an experts committee to evaluate these tests.
For those who "know" Tyler is guilty, you win! Tyler's being punished as if he IS guilty. In the meantime, be magnanimous and let the man have access to whatever material or protocol he wants and let his people and the scientific community peer review the results. Apparently an obvious thing like letting Tyler's team test his blood themselves according to the protocol has not been permitted. I'm no expert, but there shouldn't be anything to hide and maybe a lot to learn.
Darrel Stickler
USA
Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI #2
An open letter to Tyler Hamilton
Tyler - I have no idea if you are guilty or not of blood doping. As a fan of yours I would hope that you are clean but given the history of riders vehemently asserting their innocence, only to come back later and admit they were cheating, makes your denials less believable.
Your recent statement was a start toward clearing up some of the confusion surrounding the freezing of your "B" sample, etc. You say you will sic "exhaust every last penny you have clearing your name". How come we haven't seen more action in that regard?.
Lie detector tests may not be admissible in court but for the vast majority of people they are very accurate when administered properly. How about taking one from an expert with neutral witnesses then reporting the results. Better yet, combine the standard lie detector test with an even newer technology. If you pass both those, the tide of public, and perhaps legal and administrative, opinion will swing so fast your way that you won't believe it.
The new test I am talking about is a functional MRI, or fMRI. It turns out that when people lie they use different parts of the brain. The tests are a bit expensive and are just beginning to be thought of for this purpose, but would go a long way toward convincing people.
An independent blood test right now comparing the results to the previous tests would also be helpful.
Jeff Lawson
Virginia Beach, USA
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI #3
I am aghast at how the UCI has operated during the allegations against Tyler Hamilton. You will not find me disputing the need for cycling to police itself in terms of doping or other inappropriate enhancements to performance. If Tyler Hamilton has used those methods, he deserves punishment. I do not believe he has done so, but, unlike the UCI, I am willing to be shown that I am wrong.
In contrast, the UCI's system does not allow those accused to scrutinize the methods used and the purported evidence before handing down devastating consequences. And it punishes those, such as Phonak and its management, that have the audacity to challenge the emperor. That alone will guarantee that eventually an innocent rider will be wrongly punished. It appears that the UCI believes that it cannot make a mistake. Its refusal or inability to see the injustice in how it has proceeded is a greater threat to the integrity of professional cycling than the anti-doping principles it justifiably wants to uphold.
I encourage the UCI to reflect on how it has handled this case and to take steps to put fairness and due process back into the handling of accusations. It needs to provide Hamilton's blood samples for independent testing. It needs to open up its processes and its methods so that Hamilton can have the tools at hand to defend himself. Short of that, UCI will be no better than the myriad of other organizations in history plagued by the fallacy of infallibility.
Mark Turner
Homer, Alaska, USA
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI #4
Is there a lawyer in the house? I read with some incredulity the UCI's reasoning in its rejection of Phonak's application for a Pro Tour license. "Though it is not in itself contentious for a team to defend its riders when they are involved in a doping affair, at least while their guilt has not been established, the attitude of this team, which has tried to cast doubt on the validity of the tests which revealed the suspected doping in order to provide its defence, is quite another thing," the UCI declared.
How, exactly, does one defend one's innocence without challenging the evidence presented by the prosecution? The basic right to cross-examine a witness is founded on just this point.
In any fair legal proceeding, what gets introduced as evidence is either stipulated by both sides, or is introduced by one and challenged by the other. It's not just innocence or guilt that a jury or judge decides, but also what counts as evidence.
Phonak's challenge to the scientific merit of the test was not an indictment of all drug testing, but rather an attack on one form of testing that had never been introduced to the sport at all.
Whether the tests were accurate or not, whether Hamilton and Perez doped or not, Phonak should not be penalized for challenging evidence in its own defense.
Jack Beaudoin
Bowdoinham, ME, USA
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI #5
I am very excited about the Pro Tour. However, in creating the Pro Tour, the UCI has chosen to scapegoat one of the best teams in order to appear tougher on doping in professional cycling. Phonak has done nothing wrong in regard to the three doping incidents within its team. All three were immediately suspended and to be fired in the event that they were guilty. Camenzind and Hamilton have been fired with Perez to follow. The UCI, IOC, WADA, etc have not provided Perez, Hamilton, and Phonak with the information they need to defend themselves over a controversial blood test.
If the blood test is legit why has the UCI/WADA not provided the riders and Phonak with details of the test? Something smells fishy to me, but regardless one can hardly blame Phonak from wanting to "know" that their riders are guilty. Phonak invested a lot of money in cycling and can hardly be blamed for not wanting to illegitimately lose its team leaders. What of the other teams that have had doping controversies and didn't immediately fire its riders; why haven't they been fired?
If the creation of the Pro Tour was designed to improve the sponsorship situation for the top teams by improved coverage at the top races, how can destroying one of the top teams be beneficial? The exclusion of Phonak strikes me as something that will alienate potential sponsors. Who would want to sponsor a top pro cycling team if at the UCI's whim if it can be excluded from the top races (the reason why a top sponsor would be sponsoring a top team) over controversy surround some of its riders.
Nathan Wallace
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Dave Fuentes #1
Eric -- I agree with you 100%!
I have know Dave for many years and have watched him come through the ranks from Speed Gel to Sierra Nevada Pro's. During these years, there has always been doubt passing through the air concerning Dave's training habits or the lack there of, and his huge winning streaks that at times astound many as they all were wondering how they bust butt and he still seems to keep winning and winning but no training schedules to speak of.
In respect to 'cherry-picking' the local Pro/1/2 races... That I totally agree upon and the Feds need to look closer at what UCI does to doping riders. People like you and the readers of these letters, should demand that USCF ban any rider from competition that is under doping investigation. Do I hear a Yea?
Bob Dixon
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Dave Fuentes #2
Under USCF rules riders who are appealing a suspension are allowed to continue racing while the appeal process is underway. While I agree with Erik Sperling that it would be ideal to suspend riders who are caught doping within a few days the reality is it takes time to work through a fair appeals process. The question is how can the current system be changed to provide a fair situation to the riders accused of using drugs and the people the accused competes against while going through the appeals process.
While not a perfect solution, a step in the right direction would be to have any prizes won by a rider facing suspension be paid into an escrow account. If the rider wins their appeal then they get all the money that has be won during the appeals process. If they lose their appeal then they forfeit the money. The question then becomes what to do with any money forfeited by a rider who loses an appeal? It would probably be an administrative nightmare to try and track down all the riders who would have earned prize money if the appealing rider hadn't been in the race. Maybe the forfeited money could be put into a fund to paid for additional drug tests? Maybe the money could go to support junior programs. At least the money wouldn't go to the rider who got caught using drugs.
Casey Kerrigan
Oakland, CA, USA
Friday, November 26, 2004
Santa vs Hairy Guy
Steve: Oh man, don't get me started on the Lung Trainer Guy. Is it just me, or do you get the sense that Lung Trainer Guy spends his time hanging out in bars and betting people that he can smoke a Marlboro down to the filter with just one drag?
Greg Taylor
USA
Monday, November 29, 2004
Why are cyclists so trendy? #1
Cycling driven by "pure science?" PLEASE! I don't have a lot of time to write, but just off the top of my head, does that mean the focus on weight savings are based on "pure" science, not what the sponsor wants to sell? I will bet that if the sponsor didn't think it would somehow contribute to the bottom line, they wouldn't do it -- at least not very often. You pay a fortune for some part that weighs 2 or 3 ounces less than the part it replaced. What does that do for the average cyclist? He or she could pee before the ride and save more weight. Speaking of legs -- shaved legs based on pure science? How about measuring seat for/aft position using KOPS. Based on science? Really? Where is the (valid) scientific research? Helmets. You know ones that have 27.35 vents as opposed to one with 27.349 vents? Sucks cool air through the hole in your head.
I agree the trends are not initially based on personal preference. (Until you read and swallow the marketing hype.) Pretty soon we'll all have to buy a carbon bike with a one pound frame whether we want it or not. Gee, I will bet carbon bikes are so common now not because manufacturers can make a bigger profit on them, but because of science. And of course, the cyclist who is 15 pounds overweight will decide he needs this new light frame so he can go faster. Why I even saw cycling gloves with carbon fiber in them in a cycling catalog a week or so ago. Not a trend. Tested. Results peer reviewed. It's all science.
David Hufford
Tokyo, Japan
Friday, November 26, 2004
Why are cyclists so trendy? #2
Yeah, it's true that cyclists aren't going to win any awards for fashion -- Fassa riders excepted. Those are some slick uniforms. That said, cyclists ARE trendy. Just look at the acres of page-space devoted to reviewing, analyzing, and ranking every miniscule development in tubing, gearing, shifting, sweat-wicking, aerodynamics, pedal design, nutrient replacement, et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum... Performance-through-technology is an obsession bordering on a fetish for many riders. Sort of pathetic when you pause to remember that, for all but elite racers, the biggest leaps in performance can be bought for the low, low price of harder training. As a friend puts it, it's a hell of a lot cheaper to lose a pound of yourself than a pound of bike.
Tim Heffernan
Brooklyn, USA
Monday, November 29, 2004
Why are cyclists so trendy? #3
In Response to Steve O'Dell's letter respectfully I must disagree. Cyclists are the trendiest people that I've ever met.
First I must take issue with Mr. O'Dell's statement that cycling fans aren't as trendy other enthusiasts/fans. Anyone who has ever watched a race in Europe knows different. What about the 1/2 million fans on Alp d'Huez this year? What about the Orange Fans, or the 'Devil?' How about the people running alongside the racers on just about every col wearing just about nothing or thousands others painted up along the route? Just watch the coverage on TV and you will see otherwise.
I have worked in the industry for the last 6 years and sadly I have come to realize that most 'technology' these days is plain and simple marketing. Take a look at all of the carbon from Interbike this year. I am not saying that there isn't a place for carbon in cycling, but there have been some silly 'advancements' in the past several years. Cyclists have to have the latest of everything, from sunglasses to saddles. Take a look at the hoard of last years stuff on eBay and you will see that indeed cyclists have to have the latest in everything. The cycling industry is in the midst of another weight war, and the sooner we get out of it and back to making real products the better off we will be. Take the fork market for example, where everyone is rushing to make the lightest fork possible without any regard to ride characteristics. Most carbon forks now don't ride as well as the old steel forks of yesterday, and I miss the days when a frame could be counted on for several years and not one season.
Face it cyclists are trendy and this alone has kept the industry thriving for the last few years.
Jason Musgrave
Michigan, USA
Monday, November 29, 2004
Why are cyclists so trendy? #4
Man, have you ever watched a cycling race? Cycling fans are probably some of the most enthusiastic, dedicated (bordering psychotic) fans on earth (maybe a tier down from soccer fans, though). They run around not just with their bodies painted, but half the time they're stark naked. They wait on the side of a mountain for days, to see riders pass, for what, 30 or 40 seconds?
Second, so if science has been so vital, why hasn't cycling got exponentially faster? Heck, there are a ton of races that have gotten shorter, and racers are so focus on certain races, or parts of the season that racing speeds should be considerably faster then 20 years ago. Like I said before, Gred LeMond still has the fastest time trial speed on his 7 speed steel rig. Not even Lance or Jan has beaten it, even with all their technology!
Third, cycling falls prey to the same marketing ploys as other sports, that's the way it is. I would say that at least one-third to one-half of the equipment out there is hype, not based on real science. One example is the Campgonolo Record group, which is hundreds of dollars more then Chorus or even Centaur. Does it make you go faster, no! Does it look cooler, yes! Do I own a Campy Record group, Yes (that's why I can say this and not get burned at the stake!). This is just one of a thousand examples!
Finally, I agree with you on the last point - blood, sweat, and speed... rocks!
Jason Kilmer
USA
Monday, November 29, 2004
Mark French and homeopathy
Mr. Brian Johnson tells us that "Homeopathic drugs are a fraud, a delusion and a waste of money". I too believed that scientific reasoning proved that these materials couldn't possibly be of any use.
However, there is a homeopathic preparation that is used to lessen a person's sensitivity to poison oak reactions.
While young I used to be pretty much immune to poison oak but as I aged I progressive became more sensitive to it. My reactions were mostly just the itch and red lump variety but eventually it got to the point where I only needed to be down wind from the plant before I'd get the rash.
Taking this homeopathic preparation, as the label describes, made me almost completely immune to the poison oak again. Now I don't find this homeopathic medicine very often and so over the years I've been able to see the results of years without the preparation and years with it. I noted that taking it seems to leave me with a reasonable immunity to poison oak for a couple of years at a time.
Logical or not the stuff works.
I don't believe that you could make a case that this is in any way a psychosomatic reaction of some sort so that leaves me with the impression that while some homeopathic preparations may not work, others most certainly do.
What that has to do with medicines used by training cyclists I have no idea. But I would hesitate to tell someone that what they're doing is useless without actual testing of each item.
Thomas H. Kunich
San Leandro, CA USA
Monday, November 29, 2004
Shane Perkins #1
Mr Farquharson seems to treat all doping cases on a level field. What we must remember before persecuting our athletes, is that inadvertent doping does occur. Shane Perkins tested positive after the keirin, yet not after the sprint. Is it not possible he is telling the truth?
If Shane Perkins is lying, then hang him up to dry, but first let's give him a chance to tell his story. Mark French implicated innocent riders, tarnished reputations, and threw our sport into turmoil, how can you put Shane Perkins in the same category?
Also, if Mr Farquharson wants to blame the staff and management for athletes' decisions and actions, he should open his eyes. Staff are there to help and support, not to stalk and baby sit the athletes. Get a clue mate.
Name withheld
Sydney, Australia
Monday, November 29, 2004
Shane Perkins #2
In response to Ian Farquharson's letter about Shane Perkins, I just feel I have to respond. First let me say that I'm not condoning drug-taking in sport - if people are cheating, then boot them out. End of story. But we have to be fair and examine the whole case. It's easy to jump on the "drug cheat" bandwagon and condemn someone for life. I feel in this case Shane has genuinely broken the rules accidentally, his suspension has been reduced accordingly, and he has taken it on the chin.
In Australia (I can't speak for anywhere else) we have a drug hotline that we can ring before we take ANY product/drug/supplement, and they will give us a ruling on whether or not we can use the particular product. Shane was using a nasal inhaler (I don't know if I can say the brand, but lets just say that we have probably all used it either on ourselves or had it rubbed on our chests as kids), that was checked and found to be legal in Australia. However the EXACT same product purchased (and manufactured) in the USA uses a slightly different ingredient, namely methamphetamine, which is not in the Australian version. Yes, you could say Shane should have checked this and/or known or been advised better than to use one purchased overseas. Obviously he didn't, and is paying the price accordingly. But please lets not begin labeling him a "drug cheat" because he had trace amounts of a banned substance from an accidental usage, that were gone two days later in any case.
And I heard this from an Australian Sports Drug Administration tester, so this is not idle peloton banter or rumour mill stuff, it's the real deal. Shane should be congratulated on the way he seems to be handling the whole thing - we haven't heard any excuses (other than the truth) from him.
Simon van der Aa
Tasmania, Australia
Friday, November 26, 2004
Jeremy Yates
Not a day or so after one of your other correspondents (re Dave Fuentes) wrote about being beaten buy a penalised dope taker and Jeremy Yates wins at Taupo. What a crying disgrace to the sport, NZ and the organisers.
John Andrews
Singapore / Perth
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Weight limits and maintenance
With all this talk of going too light, would it be possible to move to internal hubs or some other way of decreasing drag and maintenance? This might even be good for pros who race in bad weather and have to deal with mud and crud interfering with their bikes.
Alexander Turnbull
USA
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Cyclingnews tech editor John Stevenson replies:
A clean, lubricated derailleur-geared bike transmission is substantially more efficient than a planetary-geared internal hub, which is why internal-gear hubs have fallen out of favour in the last few decades for everything except utility bikes. The most promising remaining place for bikes to lose drag is b improving aerodynamics, though that is also somewhat limited by UCI regs.
UCI regulations
I am hoping to ride the Masters World Championships in Edmonton next year. I find it rather ridiculous that I have to buy a saddle with a shorter nose instead of my Brooks in order to comply with the UCI regs on saddle set back. From the centre of the bottom bracket to the nose of the saddle, the requirement is 5 cm. with my Brooks it is 2.5 cm. With a fizik Chrono I meet the setback distance because the saddle is shorter by 2.5cm! I thought the UCI regs was to keep the costs down. Good thinking on fizik's part to put the Chrono on the market for us time trialers to be legal and still get the best out of our riding positions. But I find it annoying that I have to lay out another 100+ dollars to compete with riders of my age.
Anthony Osborne
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Armstrong and Simeoni
Lots of deals are made in the peloton. If Simeoni doesn't want to be relegated by the pack, he should train harder and ride Armstrong off his wheel! What do you want, political correctness cops in the peloton? An interesting thought, but I doubt they could keep up!
Bryan Funsten
Ketchum, Idaho, USA
Friday, November 26, 2004
Prosthetic hip
Please help! I am a cat 2 road cyclist and have recently developed severe arthritis in my hip (originally from a car accident years ago). I need a hip replacement as conservative therapies have failed and I would like to keep competing. I read letters to Cyclingnews some time ago and remember that there were quite a few cyclists doing well and riding with prosthetic hips. I now need to know which materials these hips were made out of as I am getting different opinions from hip specialists. Most have said that the ceramic hips were the best while some have advocated hip resurfacing and titanium hips. Please let me know what has worked for you and any complications you might have had.
Thanks so much!
badhipcyclist
Friday, November 26, 2004
Recent letters pages
Letters 2004
- 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
- October 29 letters - Armstrong and Simeoni, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Tour 2005, Lance to Tour Down Under?, Davis on Lance, Bike Shows, 2004 Cycling Spouse of the Year, Cycling and hip replacement, Doping - Enough drama!, Doping redefined, Injured and missing it, Heart troubles, Interbike, l'Etape du Tour registration, Whatever happened to...
- October 22 letters - 2004 Cycling Spouse of the Year, Doping , Floyd Landis, Armstrong and Tour 2005, Interbike, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, The new blood test, Injured and missing it, What ever happened to..., World time trial champion, Cycling and hip replacement, $125,000 criterium in Charlotte
- October 15 letters - Is the Pro Tour a good idea?, Cycling is bigger than doping, Doping, Floyd Landis, Museeuw is too nice to be guilty, Pound must go, Armstrong and Simeoni, Blood doping, Peers and Planckaert, Doping and nationality, The new blood test, Tyler Hamilton, World Championships, World Time Trial Champion, Erik Zabel Interview
- October 8 letters - Pound must go, USA World's Team Selection, World Championships, Armstrong and Simeoni, Filip Meirhaeghe, Say it ain't so, Dario!, Baby names, Blood doping, The new blood test, World Time Trial Champion, Tyler Hamilton, Doping and nationality, Erik Zabel Interview
- October 1 letters - Baby names, World Time Trial Champion, USA worlds selection, Tyler Hamilton, The new blood test, Rider of the Year, Tyler, USPS and Bruyneel, Alternative criterium formats
- September 24 letters - Tyler Hamilton, The new blood test, Thomas Aberg, Tyler, USPS and Bruyneel, Rider of the Year, Senor Ochoa, True ambassadors of the sport, Tour de France, American style, Cycling and hip replacement
- September 17 letters - Alto de Monachil, Tour, technology, predictability, La Vuelta is the race!, Tyler, USPS and Bruyneel, Frank, Trent Klasna retires, True ambassadors of the sport, Tour de France, How good is VAM, Super Mario, Alternative criterium formats, Axel, Eddy and the Olympics, Rider of the Year, The coming of the 3 kg bicycle?
- September 10 letters - Olympic Madison lemon wedges, Axel, Eddy and the Olympics, The coming of the 3 kg bicycle? Rider of the Year, Tour de France, Rider wages, Alternative criterium formats, Chris Horner, Judith Arndt, John Coates
- September 3 letters - Posties at the Vuelta, Rider of the Year, Tour de France, Chris Horner, Scott Sunderland, What is going on in Belgian track cycling?, John Coates , Judith Arndt, Criterium in Charlotte, Embrace technology, Rider wages
- August 27 letters - Olympic road races, Kudos, Medals, John Coates must go!, $125,000 Criterium in Charlotte, Judith Arndt, Death wobbles, Pedaling furiously, Rewriting history, IAAF getting tough?, Rider Wages, Tour de France, UCI Bike Weight Restrictions, Mactier's reaction, Yiddish Cycling Terms
- August 20 letters - Rewriting history, Arndt should have been relegated, Crowds at the Olympic road races, Olympic road races, Racing with a concussion?, Sponsors and Olympics, Hamilton, Julich & CSC, True ambassadors of the sport, Death wobbles, There are other races, CSC tactics, Shmenges, The debate begins, Tour de France, UCI Bike Weight Restrictions, Pedaling furiously
- August 13 letters - Bush vs. Kerry, Brits at the track, Nicholas Roche, Olympics and Lance, UCI Bike Weight Restrictions, Pedaling furiously, Armstrong vs the hour, Armstrong vs Simeoni, David Millar, Greg LeMond's comments, No romance in France, The debate begins, The power of a team, The Tour 2004
- August 6 letters - John Coates must go!, Witch hunting in the 21st century, Greg LeMond's comments, Bush vs. Kerry, David Millar, Adam Bergman
- August 6 Tour letters - If you had told me before the Tour..., Looking to the future, The Tour 2004, The power of a team, The debate begins, Fan behavior, The anti-Lance attitude at Tour 2004, TdF blood bath, No romance in France, Italian investigators, I hope to see the Giro at last, CSC tactics, Armstrong vs Simeoni, Armstrong vs Klöden, A Legend
- July 30 Tour letters - The Tour 2004, The Debate Begins, Armstrong vs Simeoni, Italian investigators, Ullrich and T-Mobile, Fan behaviour, The supporting actors, The power of a team, The anti-Lance attitude at Tour 2004: A French view, TdF blood bath, TdF 2004 ITT profile, Tour Favourites, Most inspiring ride of the Tour, Postal for la Vuelta? Poor prize money, LAF Bands CSC tactics, A Legend
- July 30 letters - Adam Bergman, Greg LeMond's comments, Drugs in cycling, Doping reporting, David Millar, Museeuw and getting doored
- July 23 Tour letters - Most inspiring ride of the Tour, Fan behaviour, Le Grand Bornard, The power of a team, Scott's diary, Sandbagging, A sad day for Hamilton, CSC tactics, Rabobank tactics, Mountains, TdF blood bath, Ullrich and T-Mobile, LAF Bands, Virenque's nationalism, Robbie McEwen and sprinters
- July 23 letters - Greg LeMond's comments, Christophe Brandt, Drugs in cycling, McConneloug's Omission, Local Report of the Year, David Millar, Museeuw and getting doored, Hardie articles
- July 16 Tour letters - The TdF saved my life, A sad day for Hamilton, T-Mobile's choices, LAF Bands, Mario Cipollini vs. Jaan Kirsipuu, Playing by the rules of the game, Robbie McEwen and sprinters, Ullrich v. Riis, Stage 3, Stage 4 TTT, Stage 5 - 12 minutes?
- July 16 letters - Greg LeMond's comments, Drugs in cycling, Museeuw and getting doored, Human evolution and cycling, David Millar, The French affair, Why thank Lance?, Canadian TV
- July 9 letters - Drugs in cycling, David Millar, Cadel Evans, John Lieswyn, Human evolution and cycling, Museeuw and traffic, Canadian TV
- July 9 Tour letters - Stage 5 - 12 minutes?, Stage 4 - The team time trial & those rules..., Stage 3 - Should the leaders have waited?, Jan Ullrich / Lance Armstrong
- July 2 letters - Tour de France: Result already known, Stive Vermaut, Disappointment, David Millar, Cadel Evans, Open letter to the World and Canadian TV Executives, Human evolution and cycling, The Mark French affair, Drugs in cycling, TdF heroes, Tour Contenders, Museeuw & traffic, Jan Ullrich / Lance Armstrong, The battle for the commentary podium, Green jersey dog fight, Why thank Lance?
- Letters Index – The complete index to every letters page on cyclingnews.com
