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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Millar’s welcome; what about Hamilton?
Editor:
I'm excited about David Millar's return to cycling. His honesty was impressive and he's earned this opportunity to ride again. I'm curious about Tyler Hamilton. Were he to admit at this point that he did indeed dope, what would his chances be of finding a team that would sign him? Do you think he'd be able to succeed again in spite of his long-standing denials?

Claudia Garren
Asheville, North Carolina

Claudia, we’re not certain that Millar deserves any medals for honesty. From the rarified heights of an 800,000-euro salary, Millar publicly called accuser Philippe Gaumont a "nutter" and "lunatic," and repeatedly denied the use of performance-enhancing EPO until the French cops found empty vials of Eprex in his house and put him in the hard chair under the bright lights. Then he got religion real fast. Still, once he’s served his time, all is forgiven, no? As to Hamilton, his case remains open, with a hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport scheduled on Tuesday. — Editor

How does Millar get hired on suspension?
Editor:
It seems a little odd that David Millar – who (last time I checked) is still serving a two-year suspension for cheating – can sign with a team and enjoy the benefits of being part of the team, as noted in your article about Saunier Duval’s planned wind-tunnel testing (see Friday's EuroFile: "Saunier Duval to chase Tour of California with some wind-tunnel tests"). How is it that someone serving a suspension from racing can be hired and paid by the team? Even if he is not getting cash, I bet the team is paying for his airfare, accommodations and the wind-tunnel tests.

Mike Pearson
Sacramento, California

Mike, we have referred your question to the Inside Communications Inc. legal team. They bill out at $300 per hour, which will be added to the cost of your subscription to the magazine. That’s the good news. The bad news is, they all went out and bought yachts after reading your letter. — Editor

Letter writer is both right and wrong
Editor:
Nicole Kemmerer makes a good point and makes it well: Road safety and the encouragement of fellow riders help foster a lasting relationship with the sport (see Friday’s Mailbag: "True cycling heroes"). We've all had too many beer bottles chucked at us. Riders like me have been dropped by the more capable too often. But even Lance Armstrong has had his share of on-road encounters with F-150's. He's from Texas, remember? It's part of The Life. Sorry to disagree, Nicole: Lance has helped our sport more than any lobbyist or cycling club. We're Americans. We have an insatiable appetite for winning. Greg LeMond, Andy Hampsten, Davis Phinney, John Howard, and all the others who blazed the trail must get their props as well (remember '89!) but Lance is The Man for all the right reasons. The '04 commercial in which the little kids on BMX bikes chase him through the streets tells the story: We need our big heroes, and he's it. He is the biggest reason many people will throw a leg over the top tube of a road bike. I've been riding since 1972 and every Tour ride brought a tear to my eye. Allez, Lance. You did it, man. We love ya. David Parmelee
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Less worship for heroes, more for racing, please
Editor:
Instead of hero worship (something another cycling publication seems intent on getting everyone to do) let's "worship" a well-fought race and look at the results beyond just the high-profile winner or the top three. Terry Wittenberg
Dripping Springs, Texas

Covering up can’t hurt, may help
Editor:
I, too, learned the "covered legs below 70 degrees" mantra years ago from my cycling mentors (see "Ask the Doctor: Skin care, heat balm and keeping covered"). I also recall hearing a good friend with an athletic-training degree telling me how much flexibility is lost per degree of temperature loss by a muscle. As a muscle loses flexibility, additional stress must be placed on the connective tissues. Based on this, I surmised that covering my legs was a small price to pay for keeping my knees intact.

I’m not an expert in physiology, but it seems like you could be "quite comfortable" while tearing the guts out of your joints in the same way that you could be quite dehydrated before you feel thirsty. My 47-year-old knees are holding up pretty well so far, and while I can’t prove that keeping them covered in the cold is the reason, I doubt that it has hurt them any.

Stan Bonis
Newmarket, New Hampshire

Another early Tour pick
Editor:
If you want a wild card this year, look out for Alexandre Vinokourov. I think the man may have something to prove.

Bill Jackson
Ridgeland, Mississippi

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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.