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Thursday's Mailbag: Clinger on film - and your reactions
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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.
Say 'cheese'
Editor:
Here's the man, David Clinger, riding on a sunny day in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Shane V. Luncinski
(pictured next to Clinger in photo No. 2)
Canoga Park, California
That’s it? Big deal
Editor:
Boy, am I ever disappointed. Judging from the deafening geshrei over Mr. Clinger's tattoo, I was sure that nothing less than Freddy Krueger incarnate was again on the haunt. That's it? Big deal. I see much, much worse at the gym.
While Clinger may now resemble a member of The Jim Rose Circus sideshow, he was brought on board because of his abilities as a cyclist. Webcor, instead of embracing modernity and forward thinking in the 21st century has fallen back into that pit of Victorian corporate narrow-mindedness that keeps tight-assed shareholders/sponsors smug and safe.
Michael Nathanson
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Worse than he thought
Editor:
My original thought was a small tattoo on just a small part of his face. This is far worse than I think anyone can imagine. I guess it looks worse with the helmet and sunglasses off. Maybe it looks good with them on.
Trevor Rockwell
Decorah, Iowa
But the colors work
Editor:
Obviously, the dude has a unique identity crisis going on. But the tattoo colors work with the Webcor kit.
Chuck Scarpelli
Santa Rosa, California
Water won’t fix it
Editor:
What was he thinking? Those things don't wash off in the rain.
Daniel Hatton
Monte Vista, Colorado
Not bad enough to justify a sacking
Editor:
I must say the tattoo is not as bad as all that. Definitely not so bad as to warrant firing him unless he gets it removed. Weird, yes, but distasteful or horrific; not even close.
Patrick Gormley
Baltimore, Maryland
Head down a few psi?
Editor:
What was he thinking? Wait - he wasn't. Quick, somebody blow in his ear and give him a refill.
Jeff Rice
Everett, Washington
Stupid, yet American
Editor:
About as stupid as I expected, but hey, this is America, he can do that if he wants.
David Jones
Sharpsburg, Georgia
Let the man have his show
Editor:
Every athlete is entitled to a “game face” and the ball players certainly put on their act with scruffy beards and scowls and face paint and big tobacco spitballs and so forth for their big show, so if David Clinger wants to line up like that, well, it is his race to run and his show to put on.
Making him remove his tattoo makes as much sense as telling Lance to start working on a mullet.
Robb Chastain
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
It’s not how he looks, but what he says
Editor:
I am not a fan of tattoos but it is each person's decision just as it is each employer's decision whom he hires. I think he looks pretty silly but I thought his comments were interesting especially as he works/rides for Webcor Builders:
"I have a lot of respect for the Polynesian lifestyle and culture," he (Clinger) said. "They are very peaceful and welcoming, and I admire the way they protect their land, the way they use it and they don't just lay concrete over it. They live in modest homes. I've always been interested in their lifestyle."
As someone who represents builders, it seems he may want to watch what he says more than what he carves into his face.
Dave Nissen
Cincinnati, Ohio
Over the line
Editor:
The tattoo is a personal choice. The photo of him riding down the center of a double yellow line into a blind up hill turn – that's stupid.
Todd Wieringa
Southern Indiana
Good luck to him
Editor:
Not so terrible. With a helmet and sunglasses it'll just look like he's been riding for while on the cobbles in the north of France. No worse than that famous picture of Hincapie covered in mud. Women'll probably go for it.
Ahh, America, land of the free, home of the brave – and the occasional wacky bike rider.
Good luck to you, Clinger. I hope you tear them up out on the road out of spite this year.
Jack Tolbert
Madrid, Spain
Don’t tread on me – oops, too late
Editor:
Are those marks from Michelin or Goodyear tires?
John Olsa
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wise crack
Editor:
This is why I don't let my kids do crack anymore.
Rob Nygren
Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
Enough already
Editor:
Leave it be. You guys are turning into "Access Hollywood" on wheels. Stick to racing.
Mark Hagen
Natick, Massachusetts
Actually, we like to think of ourselves as “Oprah” on wheels. But still, Mark makes a valid point. And since we received many more e-mails on this topic than we could stuff into a dozen servers, this will be our final collection of correspondence regarding Clinger’s tattoo – unless you figure out a way to make yours apply to Neal Rogers' latest column on rights versus responsibilities. Thanks for playing. – Editor
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.
