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Wednesday's Mailbag: Charity; noise; role models

Published: Jan. 9, 2008

The Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have read in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.


A reader's question
Dear Velo,
Are there any cycling-related charities that need used but functional cycling clothing? I would imagine that there are cyclists in Third World countries that could use our retired team clothes from previous seasons.
Regards,
Kirk Port
Raleigh, North Carolina

Background noise?
Dear Editors,
Why are all race announcers so annoying? You go to a bike race and what do you get? Some guy yelling into a PA system:

"WOW!!!! WHAT A GRRRRREAT DISPLAY OF POWERRRRRRRR!!!"

"HE IS PUTTING DOWN THE HURT TO THE OTHERSSSS!!!!!!!!"

It seems that nearly every race I have gone to has the same way of addressing the crowd.

What's the deal with these guys — did they lose their jobs at the strip club?
Jeff Shantz
Reno, Nevada

Saving Mayo
Dear Velo,
I just wanted to say “bravo” to the Spanish federation for refusing to “re-test” the "B" sample that yielded an inconclusive result.

I don’t necessarily believe that Iban Mayo is innocent; it’s just that the UCI appears willing to do anything and everything to secure a suspension once an “A” sample is positive for some performance enhancing drug.

It’s time that the zealots recognize the difference between prosecution of doping charges and persecution of those who are accused of doping.
Philip W. Moore, Jr.
Frisco, Texas

An oversight?
Dear Velo,
It is hard for me to believe the future of American pro cycling is in the hands of someone who talks about participating in international competition but doesn't have the awareness to apply for Continental Professional status. (see "Ball signs Sevilla, invites Landis to camp")

Hiring riders who are desperate to salvage the last few years of a career marred by doping does not have longevity. Hamilton, et al., have certainly done great things but they are not the future of the sport.

Undermining and running off one of the most experienced directors available speaks more loudly than Ball himself. Andreu seemed like the perfect person to make up for what Ball lacks. Developing riders with ProTour aspirations on Rock Racing should probably keep in touch with other programs that know what they are doing, Slipstream, BMC Racing, etc. The future of American pro cycling needs more than just money.
Trevor Nydam
Denver, Colorado

Give credit (and attention) where it's due
VeloNews,
As a longtime VeloNews.com reader and magazine subscriber, it's interesting to me that you cover the day-to-day movements of a drama team like Rock Racing. Yet, when a team, as fresh as Team Type 1, comes into the picture (actually racing for a cause not just for the ego of the company owner), not one peep is made.

I first heard of Team Type 1 when my wife was racing in a half-Ironman to raise money for a friend with leukemia. One of the ladies on the team had a daughter with juvenile diabetes and asked if I was aware of this group of cyclists giving kids a positive outlook on a disease that they would have to live with for the rest of their lives. They inspire kids to not let juvenile diabetes keep them down; but also manage it so they can live a healthy and active lives.

When we heard that her other daughter was also diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes; we contacted Phil of Team Type 1 to ask if there was anything he could do. Not only did he send the family a bunch of schwag, he also recommended a cutting-edge conference at Vanderbilt that the family could attend to get the latest insights into treatment options.

This is the type of coverage the sport needs, not drama and ego-stroking. It takes all types to make the world go round; and it would be nice to see the positive side represented as well.
Tyler Grahovec
Atlanta, Georgia

More Michael
Dear Velo,
Thanks for reporting on Michael Ball and his Rock Racing team. The more I learn about him, the more I like the guy.
Scott Grimshaw
Marcellus, New York

An idea to get us through the writers' strike?
Dear Editor:
Why aren't Michael Ball's adventures with the Rock Racing cycling team being made into a wonderfully engaging reality TV show?

Obviously, the cable networks are dropping the ball (sorry) on this one. Versus? A&E? Any of the ESPNs? Hell, Cycling.tv or VeloNews.com could even do a webcast/video on demand.

The team's training camp starts on January 18. Someone film the damn thing. We'll watch it.
Brent Kametz
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

HED's in the right place
Dear VeloNews,
Just a brief opinion regarding Rock Racing's fallout with the rest of the sponsors and suppliers (HED, Scott, etc). Given the current climate in pro cycling, I can totally understand some manufacturers' reticence to supply Rock Racing - especially given the issues with hiring Oscar Sevilla and Tyler Hamilton, and the ties with Floyd Landis.

Mr. Ball has the monetary resources to do as he pleases, and he has stated that others don't want to become "partners" and are just in for the money. And while he can be extremely successful as a clothing
brand mogul, he needs to understand that the stakes are higher for others involved.

If this all goes belly up, Mr. Ball can see his team fold and go back to his core business - and continue making tons of money. If Scott and HED products (for example) are portrayed in a bad light through
scandals, mismanagement (such as registering as a continental team and losing access to top-level events) and negative press, what do they have left? It's not that they can easily shift to other businesses.

I'd like to see him develop "lighter, better wheels" and other equipment, though. I think it'll take more than deep pockets, though.
Rodrigo Diaz
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


The Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have read in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.