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Wednesday's mailbag: Hats off to Basso; Policing our own; Extraordinary solutions?

Published: Dec. 7, 2005

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.

Go for it Ivan!
Dear Editor
I want to voice my support for Ivan Basso in hisquest for the Giro/Tour double. I think it is refreshing to see thatsomeone still has the guts to go for the big prize. Sure, winning the Tourwould be great for Basso, and by going for the win in Italy he is definatelyrisking his chances at the Tour.  However, winning both theGiro and the Tour would be a much greater feat.If anyone today has the ability to pull off the double it would haveto be Basso, and my hats off to him for answering that call.
Willem Heydendael
Albany, New YorkGood law enforcement begins at home
Editor,
The recent letters and comments about cyclists policing themselveshit home with me. In my 15+ years of riding in groups I have seen lawyers,cops, bankers and other so-called pillars of society on my group ridesblow through stop signs and ride like idiots in traffic.Before we can expect the gendarmes to take us seriously, we have tobitch slap our pals who want to pretend they are somehow above the law.
Trent Knight
Rapid City South DakotaDon't give them a reason
Dear Velo,
I agree with the overall sentiments of KhalilJ. Spencer in his recent e-mail. When I looked at some of the photosfor the rides, I see people riding three- and four-abreast, some peopleriding by themselves down the middle of the right lane, etc. Thisis one reason why I do not like to ride with bike clubs in the Buffaloarea, as I see the same type of behavior here. We as bike ridersare supposed to follow the same rules of the rode as automobiles.When we are filling the right hand lane for miles at a time, it is difficultfor automobiles to safely get past us. Remember that some people do notneed much provocation for road rage!
John Koch
Tonawanda, New YorkFollow-up from Rossow
Dear Editor
Thank you for printing myletter. Would there be any way to print a plea for anyone thatwitnessed this accident to contact me at 719/439-3499 or crossow@adelphia.net?I have been in the cycling industry for more than 20 years, from full-timeracer to manager of a five-store chain of bike shops. Even if I never findthe guy that hit me, it has been great to see the industry helping me outon this one.
Sincerely,
Chris Rossow
Colorado Springs, ColoradoOne more doping letter
Dear Editor,
Why not try Extraordinary Rendition for all those involved in the cycling'sdoping mess? Let’s just get everybody together, Verbruggen, Pound, McQuiad,Heras, De Clerq, Musseeuw, Hamilton, Virenque, Armstrong, Hondo, and everyoneelse.Take them all to Poland on a secret plane and let the Prez, Dick Cheneyand the "Boys" work them over and use a bit of the "Dark Side" on them.By the time all was said and done I believe cycling could be reformed andbecome a bastion of Freedom and Democracy.Or how about a no-holds-barred, pay-per-view Tag Team match on the Outdoor Life Network?
Kermit Gilbert
Lafayette, ColoradoYou’re right! We like option No. 2. It would be nice to see somecycling-related content on OLN, again. Meanwhile, let’s make this the lastdoping letter for a while, okay? We’ll resume the flood upon news of thenext positive, which, if history is a guide, will probably be in a dayor two. – 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.