Cycling's Popularity is Cyclical

Posted by Rich on Monday, May 12, 2008 to Cycling in the News

The first (ever) statue of a cyclist in the USA will be dedicated in Worcester, MA. on Wednesday, May 21.  Read about it and the significance of this event and the man it honors.

www.majortaylorassociation.org (go to website and check out events)

www.telegram.com (go to website and perform search on Major Taylor)

Timing is everything, and the bicycle is coming back! 

Carpe Diem!

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Le Grand Geste (or The Big Joke?)

Posted by Rich on Monday, February 25, 2008 to Pro Tour

Imagining ourselves in the position that the organizers of the Tour de France are in regarding the doping scandals and the validity of this great event, it is understandable that they want to DO SOMETHING!  According to ingrained French thought process, this means making "the grand gesture" - "le grande geste". Here is how that works in the world of  pro bike racing - French style:

Since pro cycling's continuous string of doping scandals has chased the organizers of the world's greatest bike race to the very brink of losing status as one of sport's greatest events, the enormity of this threat must be countered with symbolism and gesture - the French equivalent of strategically conceived, targeted action.  Therefore, ProTour Team Astana, with a new "boss", new tour GC riders, but with none of the riders who disgraced the team in '07, has been refused entry in the '08 TDF.  With what is arguably the strongest Grand Tour roster in pro cycling. including Johan Bruhneel and his entourage of expert directors, and two of the top three podium finishers from TDF '07, the stark fact that none (zip, nada, zero) of these guys has been convicted of any doping violation is of little consequence, since the real issue here isn't guilt or innocence, but the need to flex muxcle.  If the gesture can't be meaningful, then at least make it BIG!

A non-French-thinking adult might wonder whether this move is tantamount to pouring fresh fuel on the same fire that we are all praying will finally burn itself out.  Mon Dieu, does picking  zis scab make zee wound heal? If you and I were running their grand show and we were concerned that doping scandals were causing the legiticimacy of our event to be doubted, would we conclude that our event's legitimacy would be restored if we banned the best team in the sport from participating - after they fired their guilty parties and hired new people?  Incroyable, Monsieur!  One presumes that Spock isn't the only half-Vulcan who finds this highly illogical (?). OK, TDF folks, we get it loud and clear - it is your enterprise to run as you see fit!  But we mere cycling fans are left wondering that there are probably ten far better ways of legitimizing the TDFas the world's greatest sporting evet; all involve catching cheaters, but none involve banning champions who didn't cheat!

It could be worse.  We must suppose that when you rule over your domain as the great riders and staff of Team Astana have, and you must deal with the French, then any outcome where you can shake your head in dismay without it rolling to the floor could be deemed successful.  Living to fight another day is no mean feat in this case.  

The French: Surely they gesture!

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Former Steroid User Begins New Cycling Life

Posted by Rich on Thursday, February 14, 2008 to Community

The last  remenants of our 3-hour Sunday "hills" training ride rounded a curve and closed in on the former steroid user.  I could easily recognize the rider's form from a distance, even from behind. "Get out of the road - roads are for cars!", I joked, as we checked our six for traffic before we swept past her.  She didn't even look back as she instantly rejoined with some clever come-back.

Steroid use was many years behind her.  It had been necessary to keep up with her peers whose lungs were better able to transfer oxygen and remove waste gasses from her bloodstream. It had been a simple matter of staying with her pack and not being dropped.  Others in her group took their drugs for their particular medical shortcomings - in fact, almost everyone did it - including my father.

We caught up to dad around the next corner. I mock-scolded him, "You're dropping mom again!" 

He gave a few hard pedal strokes and shot ahead of us, then removed his feet from the pedals and stretched his legs out to the sides like a 6-year-old showing-off on his new BMX ride.  "Im a year-round rider", he explained to my training partner as we pulled along side him.  His insulin injection requirements have been lowered since he bagan riding regularly, probably because his body is now producing just a tad more of its own.

Two day before, my sister had joined me for her first road ride in clipless pedals.  She is winning tennis matches now that her leg muscles are strong enough to keep her floating kneecap in psoition. Steady doses of mountain biking was her perscription. Marin county, dudes. Road WHAT? To be expected, I suppose.

Cycling heals. 

50+ and formerly 2-packs-a-day, mid-seventies with diabetes, mid-seventies with 50% lung capacity, late forties with a chronically displaced patella - two generations of aging middle-class former couch potatoes healing themselves on their bikes.  Only one of us understands Bob Roll's humor, but that is OK.

 

 

 

 

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STILL not safe to go into the shower!!!

Posted by Rich on Thursday, February 14, 2008 to Masters

Just when you thought it was finally safe...

As a relatively new amateur athlete/masters racer trying to compete against former Pros and Cat 1's who somehow forgot to get slower, I figured that (surely) by now all the former superstars were either "in" or "out" of our  hyper-competitive masters bike racing scene.  With Paul Curley, Randy Rusk, Mark Hagen, Tom Officer, Chip Berezney, Dzimitri Bubin, etc, etc, etc, we're like little fish on our upstream training swim when one of these predators glides effortlessly by, all teeth and menace.  YIKES!

But wait, it is getting worse - MUCH WORSE!

Your worst nightmare:  Chainsaw Massacre IX?, Jaws VIII?, Psycho III?...

...Eric Heiden II!

According to Masters Athlete Magazine (formerly Geezerjock), Orthopedist/ Olympic speed skating multiple gold medalist/former Pro bike racer/underachiever/Dr. Erich Heiden is contemplating joining us lucky devils in the M50+ bracket for some easy spins around the ol' race course on his bicycle.  Word has it that the tree trunks that had been grafted in place of his legs have been replaced by more "normal" looking appendages.  No word yet as to whether he plans to race with one lung tied behind his back.

First to win five gold medals for the USA in a single Olympic Games, first to set four Olympic records and one World record in a single Olympiad, first speed skater to get the James E. Sullivan Award, first U.S. Pro champion bike racer, this Heiden fellow says that his athletic achievements are secondary in importance to his completion of his studies in orthopedics.  So remember that when he beats our tired butts, this was not his MAIN achievement!  I'm sure it will be much less painful for us knowing that we don't have to take tests for board certification as a orthopedist right after we straggle actoss the finish line!  GEEEEZZZ!

The good news:  Heiden lives and trains in Utah, so we don't have to see the same distant view of his forward-inclined, seated posterior in every New England race we enter.  Nope, the good doctor has chosen the National Senior Games as his goal. Take a barrel of fish, add one big shark, secure cover tightly, stand back!

E-mial to coach:  Cross-off National Senior Games on "A" list of personal goals, thanks.

 

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Who shapes our cycling future?

Posted by Rich on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 to Community

Who shapes your cycling future?  Valid question? Yup! Easy answer? Nooooo!

I have heard from locals that we can't make significant changes in the way we use bikes to travel throughout our area. I have heard the excuse that "it is easy" for cyclists in places where roads are new and wide and used year-round for cycling (like San Diego) to get nice, safe bike lanes incorporated in their road system, but for our region we face more challenges.  This is true, but in places as traffic-congested and inhospitible as Chicago and Marin County, cyclists are getting their share of funding and government attention and cooperation.

The common denominator for these regional cycling success stories isn't balmy climate or "blank-slate" road system options - it is teamwork on the part of all parts of the cycling community.  The first step is for each of us to see ourselves as members of ths community.

Here is a weblink that you might find useful if you would like to see what can be accomplished. 

http://www.marinbike.org/Index.shtml

 

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Get GEEZER JOCK Magazine

Posted by Rich on Sunday, December 17, 2006 to Books

Masters Riders:

Need a gift idea (something you would like to GET, of course!)?

GEEZER JOCK Magazine is dedicated to Masters athletes. Last issue had a featore about cycling - the growth and success of our sport among Masters age men and women. (NORBA and USAC together grew about 8% in Masters rider categories last year - WOW!)

Also has good training tips and articles, and puts our sport in perspective among all the other sports that Masters atheletes are making successful.

INSPIRING!

Go online and get the mag. 

Rich F.

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MVC Junior atop Lance Armstrong Series

Posted by Rich on Monday, July 18, 2005 to Race Report, Juniors

Winning the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series (LAJORS) Nicole Reinhart Memorial Stage Race on July 16-17 in Trexlortown, PA. put Mystic Velo Club Junior Men’s 11-12 rider Paul Lynch in first place in the LAJORS national rankings for stage races.

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