Letters to Cyclingnews - February 4, 2005

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 F-One - Come down to earth Lance! Armstrong and the Hour Armstrong and Simeoni Can't get enough! Help Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?

Letter of the week The very bright Cateye SL-LD100 safety light is on it's way to David. F-One - Come down to earth Lance! Oh dear! Lance has this dreadful habit of saying and doing the ‘wrong’ thing! This latest daft idea of building a special velodrome to do the hour record is just plain embarrassing. Do it in Manchester. Beat Boardman on home ground. It may then mean something to a greater number of people. Graeme Obree, another great, used the outdoor track at Meadowbank, Edinburgh, in Scotland to break the British hour record on the way to preparing for an attack on the World hour. No hype, no bull, just did it. If you have ever seen this wooden track - it is so bumpy and in such poor condition. Heavens! One of the straights is slightly uphill and usually ridden into the prevailing wind! Come on, Lance! In this day of gross over-exploitation by the marketing men to make another dollar, do yourself a favour - stop all this hype and come down to earth. Be remembered as a true champ! David Norwich. Fountainhall, Scotland Friday, January 28, 2005 Respond to this letter

F-One - Come down to earth Lance! #2

For a rider like Armstrong, when considering the Hour Record, I think the question to answer is: "What will capture the imagination of the sporting public?" And, "What will leave a lasting legacy?" The answer is clearly not the retro-record, but the ultimate record.
Why are American Football players now typically wearing pads designed for 8 year olds? Because they want to go as fast as they can by being as light as possible. We want the ultimate distance, the ultimate speed, the best possible technology, the best conditions to yield the most distance that Lance can possibly obtain. I assure you that I hold Mr. Boardman in the highest possible regard for his professionalism, sportsmanship and for both his records, but I cannot envision Lance in Manchester. However, I would like to see him attempt both records, the retro and ultimate.

Mark R. Kerlin

Washington, DC
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Armstrong and the Hour

Can Lance Armstrong beat 49.4 km, and will he try it at altitude? A temporary cover at the Colorado velodrome is on the possibilities list. For Lance, satisfying his critics may be the most difficult part of it all. He will need to do an estimated 420 watts for an hour. This is for the 1972 style bike. Boardman set the record but only made one attempt at sea level before retiring with chronic illness. Had he been healthy, he may have broken the 50 mark. This type of effort and training cannot be done between major races. It requires complete dedication and can lower endurance on the road. I doubt anyone will try to beat Boardman's 56.3 record, simply because the UCI will not allow the superman position.

Had Indurain used that position at altitude, he would have cracked 60 km, and no one has ever come close to Indurain's wattage (some estimates put his ride at between 475-500 watts). Not many riders have even been capable of breaking 400 watts. Perhaps Ullrich could put in an attempt in Columbia - Armstrong could use the extra motivation. Don't miss this event!

Timothy Shame

USA
Monday, January 31, 2005

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Armstrong and Simeoni

While I agree that the Italian court’s ultimate decision was a good reason for Armstrong to distance himself from Ferrari, his chasing-down of Simeoni was echoed by Eddy Merckx as something that he would have done himself. Why? It's simple.

Simeoni didn't only testify that Ferrari instructed him on how to use EPO, but after winning a stage in the Vuelta he got off his bike and proclaimed that he was the only clean rider in the peloton. Does that seem like a good thing to do for a sport that has been struggling since 1998 to show how clean it is?

The only clean rider? Probably not. My speculation is that Simeoni told Ferrari he wanted to dominate cycling and Ferrari probably told him that he'd have to take EPO.

Dan Carrington
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Armstrong and Simeoni #2

I am an Armstrong fan. I also agree with all points of your letter. But LA is human and makes mistakes, just like the rest of us. He showed his petty side when he chased down Simeoni, but just because he spoke out to protect a friend doesn't mean he is a drug user.

I have never competed in cycling (I train for fitness only), and never used performance enhancing drugs, but if LA used EPO several years ago when he was going for his first TDF, then how was he able to continue dominating the TDF for six straight years, all while passing every test they throw at him? Is it really that easy to plan when to take the drug and not be caught?

Todd Tuengel

Los Angeles
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Can't get enough!

I agree; there's no such thing as enough racing coverage on the tube. I am really saddened that OLN has cut back so far on their coverage of cycling - there was a time when you could catch Classics during the week and great day-by-day coverage of the Tour. Then they went so far as to cover all three major tours! I was in heaven.

Now though, sadly, it's pretty much just the tour. We did get the Giro last year but no Vuelta – ‘boo.’ I hope that competitive cycling starts to be understood as more than just the races Mr. Armstrong does here in the states. Unfortunately, I expect the interest here in the US to fade fast after Big Tex retires, just like it did after Lemond left the sport.

We'll see. I know that I will always be watching and riding!

Pete Lester
Thursday, January 27, 2005

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Help

In response to Ross’ letter - I think that they have to show the stories behind the athletes for many reasons, but first because the average viewer doesn't know a whole lot about the athletes they are watching.
If you only get to see an athlete once or twice per year, the viewer needs to get a picture of the athlete, aside of physical attributes, as well as what their motivations are (in cycling and IM, it sure as heck isn't the money). Second, they try to capture the feeling of the athletes and spectators who are at the event. I think the internal pain and struggle that most of the athletes go through are quite accurately depicted in the broadcasts.

Matt Reynolds

Toronto, Canada
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Help #2

I think the answer to Ross’ question is fairly simple: very few Americans are athletes, so they don't ‘get it’ when TV programming focuses on athletic pursuits. And IronMan is probably the most obvious example, as you've pointed out. The TV networks don't even have a technical staff capable of determining that, when filming a cyclist or runner, you may want to get their feet into the frame. We end up with torso shots most of the time.

In a country dominated by obesity it's no wonder that stock car racing is becoming the most popular "sport". After all, the guy just sits in the car and turns the wheel! Even the fat boys on the couch can imagine themselves doing that. They sure can't imagine themselves riding Alpe D'Huez. Watching a true athletic competition makes them feel bad. So the producers focus on those personal stories intended to portray the notion that ‘you too can do this.’

I race multisport for the USA - 11 world championship teams so far. So I do
know something of this.

Raymond Martin
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Help #3

Regarding the letter as to why American TV fills a sporting event with the personal stories of triumph over tragedy against all odds, the answer is simple: ratings.

It's an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, to gather in more viewers than just the pure technical fans. Marginal viewers, and stereotypically, women, are drawn to the personal stories of overcoming immense odds to achieve something great. Unfortunately, it gets out of hand when they try to concoct a compelling story for every participant. And they do it every time.

Steve Grim
Tuesday, February 1, 2005

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Greatest of all time

That was the greatest letter of all time. I actually felt it. It made me think of who I emulate as I climb that hill, and I suddenly understood that the person I think of is my cycling hero and they are the greatest because I imagine I'm that person. They make me go harder and longer and faster!

It could be the 27-year-old woman that blows by me on the club ride or it could be the 67-year-old guy that never gives up or it could be Lance. One of them always keeps me going as I ride! Who is the greatest of all time? The one that keeps me going! Great letter! Thanks for putting it into perspective!

Liz

Los Angeles.
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Eddy is King, but who is second best?

Based on Palmares, you can make an argument that several guys are better than Lance Armstrong. The problem is everyone wants to compare apples and oranges. Since the mid-to-late 1990's, we have moved into a new era in cycling. It does not seem appropriate to compare the way guys raced in the 50's, 60's and 70's to the new era. First, it has become a big money sport, with people specializing in specific races to make their fortune. Second, the level of performance has risen, and the number of guys performing at that level has risen. Nobody from the previous eras could come into this era - even at their best - and do what they did in their own era. There’s just too much competition now to do that.

Todd Tuengel

Los Angeles
Friday, January 28, 2005

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Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• January 28: "I am the greatest of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004 RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 21: Professional Cyclists, Der Kaiser's Goals, Jan Ullrich's problem = Lance, Rider of the Year, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Help, Lance vs. Eddy
• January 14: Der Kaiser's goals, Help, Foreign stage races, Lance vs. Eddy, Tour '05, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Quick Step helmets
• January 7: Death of Dmitri Neliubin, Der Kaiser’s goals, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Who's Greater? Come on now!, Virenque "most charismatic"?, Downhilling, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, No flat tyres, Spring classics trip advice, Bettini's trainer
• January 3: Spring classics trip advice, Big Bear ends downhilling, Armstrong and Simeoni, Holding teams accountable, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, Bettini's trainer, No flat tyres

Letters 2004

• December 24 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Business and cycling, Big Bear ends downhilling, Off-bike weight gain, No flat tires, Armstrong and Simeoni
• December 17 letters - Business and cycling, Tom versus Axel , Big Bear ends downhilling, Shane Perkins, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark Webber interview, Armstrong and Simeoni, Injured and missing it: an update, Clyde Sefton
• December 10 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Big Bear ends downhilling, Floyd's choices?, Merckx, fit and trim, Pound must go, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Punishment: Vandenbroucke vs Hamilton, Prosthetic hip, Armstrong and Simeoni, Dave Fuentes, Homeopathy, Jeremy Yates, TDF coverage for Australia, Weight limits and maintenance, Mark Webber interview
• December 3 letters - Domestiques vs Lieutenants, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Dave Fuentes, Santa vs Hairy Guy, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark French and homeopathy, Shane Perkins, Jeremy Yates, Weight limits and maintenance, UCI regulations, Armstrong and Simeoni, Prosthetic hip
• 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
• Letters Index – The complete index to every letters page on cyclingnews.com