The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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A breath of fresh air
Dear Velo,
I read Megan's letter with great interest (see "Jonesin' for a ride"in Wednesday'sMailbag), because I had to deal with the same thing years ago, untilour employer finally eliminated all smoking from the premises. I would suggesthooking up the American Lung Association, they've done some great workhere in the state of Maine.We have an annual fund raiser in June, that entails a three-day rideacross the state. It raises awareness as well as a lot of money, not tomention it’s a great time. Megan come on up and join us this summer.Good luck with your fight. No one should have to put upwith that crap!!!Jim Burns
Rumford MaineLUNG POWER!
Editor,
I too started to question this practice of allowing unhealthy peoplethe right to take more time off from being productive in the work place.I simply started taking my own "fresh air" breaks. I worked second shift,so I would time it so I could go out back and watch the sunset as I walked.The exercise and peace combined to refresh me for the rest of my shift.When confronted about my breaks I explained that I didn't smoke but I wasaddicted to breathing air that wasn't stale and polluted with the aromaof my work environment. They laughed, and assumed I would quit after that.But I continued until it became an accepted part of my work routine, citingthe fairness of equal treatment for all employees. Other non-smokers joinedin and it became part of the accepted practice at our work place. Somewalked, some just sat around, I even started to bring in my BMX bike tohit some loading docks in the area. You can take a stand.Roderick Vesper
Cincinnati, OhioThose little teams deserve credit, too
Dear VeloNews,
Congratulations to Rebecca Much for her latest accomplishment! (see"VeloNewsFeature: T-Mobile's newest recruit has Much to offer") Congratulationsalso should go to XXX Racing, which received a small mention but I'm guessingplayed a large role in getting her on the podium in Italy.Although the smaller teams around the country, such as XXX, Athletesby Design and Endeavor, don't get the same amount of visibility as, say,Tyler's blood, it is really good to hear a mention of a smaller team havinga role in a big, big way and getting some press for it. Although doping,slamming on Dick Pound and infringing on the rights of downhillers maybe much more sexy topics in the mid-winter doldrums, it is this collectionof smaller teams that really make racing what it is in the U.S. Cheersto all involved!Very sincerely,
James P. Moorhead
Chicago, IllinoisThe Olympics are over, Mr. Pound
Editor,
I find it amazing that we are even still discussing Tyler Hamilton'sgold medal (see "VeloNewsInterview: WADA's Dick Pound"). Technicality or not, the test wasa failure from the start. If Pound knew that the test was faulty, why instituteit in the first place? This brand new blood doping test was touted as thebest new thing in the deterrence of doping in cycling. How can Pound nowbe saying that the system needs to be fixed...its brand new!If the supposed experts in the lab can confuse something as simple asfreeze one and refrigerate the other, who's to say they didn't put Ullrich’s,Julich's, or even Bettini's blood in that vial instead of Tyler's? Incidentand the Vuelta aside, even as arguable as that is too, the controversyof the Olympics needs to be over. This stupidity is unnecessarily overshadowingthe amazing achievements of Bettini, Julich, Dede Barry, and all of theother athletes who competed.Pound, stop trying to cover an egregious mistake on WADA's part andface the facts.You should stop talking. Period.Christopher R. Chesebro
Madison, New JerseyPound unleashed
Dear VeloNews,
Thank you for that long and excellent interview. I don't get the sameimpression of Mr. Pound from his brief media interviews. He is quite knowledgeableand no one will be accusing him of being un-informed. I don't always agreewith him, but I have a bit more respect for him than I did before, andcan see why the heads of the racing organizations don't like him.

Even if everything he does is not great, he is still bringing sportinto the next century, and helping the sports world to regain some semblanceof respect. Do you think he will be allowed to proceed?

Thanks,
John Williams
Wofford Heights, CaliforniaHey thanks
Velo,
Thank you very much for the informative article on Pound.Lee Scott
Obihiro, JapanFinds hope with Pound
Editor,
I read your website daily and I must say that the Dick Pound interviewwas one of the most interesting articles I have read in ages. I am a longtime cycling enthusiast and after learning about the bright lights of Hamiltonand Museeuw, I had pretty much given up hope for any kind of solution.It may take a while for professional sport federations to have the cojones to get on board but Dick Pound and WADA are at least trying to do something about it.Colin Bellwood
Vancouver, British ColumbiaWe're not tired of dope stories
Dear Velo,
Excellent interview! Thank you for doing it and making it availableto us. A lot of recreational cyclists are interested in the dopingissue and are not 'tired' of reading about it. I believe that doping absolutelythreatens sport and if we fail to come to grips with it, sport will befundamentally changed and for the worse.
Thanks again.Doug Pierce
North Carolina

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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.