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Monday's Mailbag: Armstrong uncorked; `crossers with class

Published: Dec. 12, 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.

It's all about the kids
Dear Editor,
Good for Lance, in the closing remarks of his interviewwith John Wilcockson, promoting bicycle racing for juniors.He knows what stimulated his interest in competitive sports, what weneed more of, and what is good for kids. Everywhere I turn in the sportof running there is some 10K or fun run or even a marathon staged in supportof a high school cross country team, art supplies for the schools, or someother benefit. In many of the events a one mile or two mile kids fun runis featured, because the little folks derive much from pinning on a racenumber and participating. I have to admit to getting a little misty watchingthe tykes coming across the line, wondering if a dad or mentor in my lifehad taken the time to take me to one of those, I might have followed adifferent path.The older I get the more I realize how important these little thingsare, because a single experience can be a powerful force in motivatinga youngster. Lance knows it as much as anyone does.Bicycling needs the same level of opportunity as there is in say running.Dirt track racing on one speeds in the film Breaking Away, BMX racing forkids, bicycle rodeos and safety training, they offer competitive and funenvironments which could spawn the career of our next sports champion orperhaps our next business leader. At the very least they will spawn a fewmore bicycle enthusiasts and commuters.High tech is not as important as just doing it. Cycling clubs can participateat the kid level with a huge impact. With Lance there as an icon, it canonly help the sport.
David Kamp
Corvallis, OregonInterviews in the bunker
Editor,Hostility to a free press.Interviews granted only to favored reporters.A tight, impenetrable coterie of insiders.Tortured rationalizations of past actions.And a with-me-or-against-me mentality.Is Lance Armstrong channeling Dick Cheney?
Bob Tamburri
Chaplin, ConnecticutThe LAF had its reasons
Editor,
StevenL. Sheffield's letter expresses deserved frustration that one charitywould take down another. However, LAF has no choice in this matter becausethey are not allowed to selectively enforce their trademark. Mr. Sheffield,being located in Salt Lake City should have heard about the "Festival ofTrees" fundraiser at the children's hospital serving notice that a smalltown holding their own "Festival of Trees" was infringing on their trademarkas well. It's the same story.Sadly, if LAF did not require BMEF to stop a similar-sounding bike-charity-relatedname, they would have little power going after less deserving copycats.
Jeremy Browne
San Jose, CaliforniaThe ProTour sucks; Long live the Pro Tours!
Editor,
Now that the the GrandTours decided the Pro Tour sucks, it's time for McQuaid and thePro Tour to just go away and let the riders and teams do what they wantto do; just race.All this political crap is taking the fun out of what is suppose tobe a fun sport. This will let some of the classic races that left off thePro Tour circuit come back. If you ask the average spectator at any ofthe events during the year if they care about the Pro Tour or even theUCI they will probably say no. All they want to do is go out and watchsome talented cyclists, especially their local heroes, race through theirtown. It's a time for reliving past memories and tales, about kids seeingthe cyclists speed by and saying they want to do the same, about the townfolk getting together and just have some fun.The UCI has gotten too big and too money hungry. I realize it takesmoney to run the races and support teams and court sponsors to put up evenmore money. Everything is money driven to the extreme and it's taking awayfrom what the riders really want to do ; race; and what the fans reallywant to do ; participate by coming out and cheering the riders on.
Bernd Krause
Maine, New York
 
Bravo to the tours
Editor,
To the Three Amigos...(aka: Vuelta, TdF, Giro) I have to applaud thecourage and creativity of the leaders of the three grand tours. Their draftletter outlines some real positive changes and takes the initiative andinstigates some real forethought and leadership.  Even the littlethings like the language that teams will receive the right (not obligation)to participate in their events and their creativity in bringing back theTop Team Prize / Award (or whatever it is called..) for the team that performsthe best in the all three grand tours (and put some $$ behind it too).And how about them teeth in addressing doping? If only one rideris caught doping, the whole team is penalized. Talk about peer pressureand putting the whole organization on alert. In my humble opinion it lookslike a very balanced approach.
 
Now can we please get them all on TV (even if it has to be pay-per-view)here in the states?
Patrick Buono
Dallas TexasKatie RULES!
Editors,
All those who have been crying about being disillusioned with the sportdue to all the drug scandals and controversy here is a suggestion for you.If you're looking for a new hero to inspire you look no further than KatieCompton. Maybe the first time you heard the name or saw her picturewas last year when she totally shocked everyone by winning the elite women'snational title but Katie has been kicking butt on two wheels for quitesome time now.Personally, what I find most remarkable of all is that she has devotedher incredible talent to the pursuit of glory with her Paralympic blindtandem partner Karissa Whitsell. Katie has piloted their tandem rocketto numerous Olympic and World championship medals (gold, silver and bronze),as well as World and Olympic records. There is no better example of hertalent and determination than how she dealt with the way she was forcedto start this year's race due to UCI regulations.She started way back in the field but immediately left everyone in thedust (or mud) and never looked back. Katie I see a hat trick in your futureand by the way you are certainly a hero who I would gladly point out tomy two young daughters for inspiration!
Rod Quiros
Suffern, New York
 
These folks all have class
Editors,
Holy cow, if only all racers could win and lose with the grace of thewinners and runners-up at the U.S.Cyclo-cross National Championships. In case anyone missed the article,maybe they just aren’t into ‘cross, please give the December 10th write-upa good read. Ever since I got involved with ‘cross two years ago, I knewit was different than my other cycling pursuits.The winners and losers at Nationals showed us all how it should be done.Food poisoning, incidental contact, bad luck, bad legs, they all seemedto handle it with great sportsmanship. And check out those race conditions!
 Adam Switzer
 Richmond, Virginia

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.