It's already for naught. Who the hell would want to win this year?

I'm done watching. I'll just ride my own bike.

The thing is... I know this has been a largely ignored problem for years and now they're trying to clean it up. We should be glad they are finding the cheaters and punishing them severely. The thing is... Even if they get the winner of the TdF right this year, the memories are ruined (for me, at least).

The greatest stages were lies. Vino, holding his hands over his head on the podium after the Albi time trial and the epic stage 15 in the Pyrénées. Rasmussen crossing the line in triumph on the Col d'Aubisque yesterday. All those days where the liars wore yellow and the clean racers were denied the chance to make their own history.

These liars have stolen some of the greatest memories of the Tour de France.

The other thing that kills me is thinking back to the interviews. Listening to Levi (who I truly believe is clean) saying about yesterday's stage "Rasmussen was so strong... I gave it everything... you could see that Rasmussen was gonna dump us... he rode smart... and barring a time trial like he had a couple years ago he's gonna win the tour."

If I were Levi I'd be so pissed.

Vive le Tour (anyway).
J

It really is a sad thing that in cycling, the home run derby in baseball and the other sports that have been tainted by doping/steroid issues---you have to wonder if those great performances you see are "real"----are the home runs of Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire and others real?? Was the performance of Floyd Landis last year real? Were seven years of wins by Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France real? Is the incredible work of Alberto Contador this year for real?

It's too bad that all of these things are now in question---the powers that be in sports (all sports) have got to decide---they will have a zero tolerance standard regarding doping/steroid use, etc.--and are going to root it out--or we just have to accept that sporting performances are simply entertainment and are basically staged events like "reality television"---


It's all just kind of sad!!! Sigh!!!!

It really is a sad thing that in cycling, the home run derby in baseball and the other sports that have been tainted by doping/steroid issues---you have to wonder if those great performances you see are "real"----are the home runs of Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire and others real?? Was the performance of Floyd Landis last year real? Were seven years of wins by Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France real? Is the incredible work of Alberto Contador this year for real?

It's too bad that all of these things are now in question---the powers that be in sports (all sports) have got to decide---they will have a zero tolerance standard regarding doping/steroid use, etc.--and are going to root it out--or we just have to accept that sporting performances are simply entertainment and are basically staged events like "reality television"---


It's all just kind of sad!!! Sigh!!!!

It is sad.

I think Phil Liggett said it best today when Al Trautwig mentioned that this may be cycling's darkest hour. Phil says in a few years, we may find that this is in fact cycling's finest hour....the cleanup.

Two choices:

1. Steady on busting everyone who is shown to be cheating
2. Legalize all doping so it can be a level playing field

I, personally, am starting to think that Lance's chances of winning this year are improving rapidly!

Bahahahaha.....

right on.
J

What is it about me that has to believe that three seconds will become important tomorrow........

Unfortunately I'm not going to be around a television tomorrow. Can't wait to hear how it all goes down.

Go Contador!

Vive le Tour!

I worked from home today, and while I ate a snack skipped to the end and watched.... almost in spite of myself. Contador, too, is implicated in the Spanish dope-fest, and I just don't know if this year matters a bit. Vive le tour propre!

Ok, the Tour's over. Maybe next year will be less scandalous... 'til then...

Anyway, I just have to tell ya: I'm tired. I tried running yesterday and ending up going less than 3 miles. I went to ride today and did only 20. Both events were slooooooow. I think I need some Wheaties!

How is everyone else doing out there?

I believe in Contador. (I also reserve the right to take that back). Way to go Al!

Things are good on my end. Just got back from a weekend trip in which I took three consecutive days off the bike for the first time since early March. Feels goooooooood. Looking forward to hitting it again tomorrow though.

Hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable summer on two wheels!
J

I am not a big bike rider--but I am doing the Morning Glory ride in just a few hours here in Cincy---hope some other Apples are out there---

Have a good ride!

Yesterday was an interesting ride for me. Rode 80 miles with a different group. They are very big, very competitive and very fast. We had a double paceline of about 40 cyclists going for most of the day (before the faster riders were turned loose at about the 40 mile mark). Took me quite awhile to get somewhat comfortable in that big paceline. You have to be extremely vigilant/attentive. We even had a descent of about 35mph together. Not the place for the faint of heart. At the end of the day my group had averaged 19+mph for the ride. Quite the adventure.

Hope you're all still getting in safe and exciting miles!
J

edit because I realized I spelled descent wrong... and that bugs me.

Sounds interesting John, indeed! If a bit sketchy... but good experience, eh?

I rode almost 40 yesterday with some good friends, all solid riders. Pretty hilly in spots, but a known course, and we averaged 18+. SO stinking hot, though.

Today, the girlie and I did 30-ish, slower though (she's been off the bike for 2 weeks), and again SUPER hot. When we finished we went and ran a couple of miles... right at Noon, so that felt nice and cool. Ahem.

But a great weekend! Now, I'm sipping a beer, guilt-free.

Ride on!

It was a very cool experience Troy. I could've written a lot more about it, but 1. I figured it wasn't a big deal, 2. I'm lazy.

Woke up at 6am to do a ride with a couple friends, but it was storming. Rained all day. Back at it tomorrow!

Btw, my LeMond has been out of commission for over two weeks (broken rear rim). Fortunately I have the backup bike. Not the same, but I'll take it! That LeMond is gonna feel so good when I get it put back together....

Well....my energy level has been unusually low since I got back from a week's vacation, and while away I shifted from my usual "night shift" life to a "day shift" life, and the result is that I've not been getting what rest I need. Besides that, I know I need to mix up my workout a bit. And, what better way to start that off than by inviting an old friend to go out salt-water fishing...a little sport fishing?

Left the house at 5:15 AM today after getting up at 4:30 (again, switching up my day/nights cycle...oh well...I do love fishing!) and drove 1.5 hours to the party boat. Looked like a really nice day, some lingering night clouds, a nice breeze, about 82 degrees, and...ah, that sweet, salt air! We all had coffees to go in the car, and once aboard, we ate our take-along bagels with cream cheese. Lines outfitted with squid, bloodworms and minnows and a little extra weight on the lines because of the slight chop in the water...and everybody on party boat was eager to catch some flounder, bluefish, and/or croaker. We went out to the big red lighthouse and at about 20 feet from it I caught a small (keeper) bluefish that was about 14" long. Our captain took us to the next spot, and we were all noticing the chop in the water was now, um, rolling waves, and we had a steady 25 mph wind going for the rest of the trip.

The waves came and the boat rocked, and the whitecap out there just meant that there were more waves coming. And come, they did, in 5 foot waves too. One after another. We pulled out lines in, moved to new spots as it was hard to keep the lines on the bottom. More waves. And more waves. A flounder here and there but more croakers and a few more bluefish.

Meanwhile....I got dizzy....and seasick for the 1st time since I was 9 years old. Then I spent the majority of the rest of the trip keeping a good eye on the horizon, looking at Fortescue and Gandy's Beach, NJ from the mouth of the Delaware River. Towards the end of the trip, somebody hooked a 3-foot in circumference sea-turtle's shell and the line had to be cut. I've never seen that happen fishing! Good thing the turtle hadn't gone after the bait.

Next time I think I'll go crabbing ....ah, but there's nothing like the adventure of a salt-water fishing trip! Besides, where else but Fortescue do the friendly townsfolk thank you for your patronage by posting a sign by the road going out that says, "Thank you for feeding our bugs!"

(We lucked out...no greenheads today!)

My (sandbaggin') girlie and I went out for a ride today with a pretty zippy group, and after announcing she was gonna get dropped she held on to average close to 20mph over 25 rolling-hilly miles.

See, now... that's just what love is all about.



Edited to add: did I mention it was ALSO 100 friggin' degrees out??

Whoa.... Troy, you better watch out. You'll be suckin' her wheel all the time soon enough!

Had a rough one last night... here's the journal entry...



Still feeling a bit "off". Took tonight and tomorrow off.

Oh, I'm just now getting to where she's following me at all.... I met her whilst buying my first bike, and she'd been riding for years prior. She's been pulling me up until this year.




Good call, on that and the SAG. I've had that same feeling while running in the past, I think it's just the body doing whatever... could be fighting off something, or too hot, or maybe you ate something funny, etc. You'll be back out in no time.

Rode 30 today at a moderate pace, and just wasn't into it. It's SO stinking hot and sticky out around here. Doing 60 tomorrow, slowish pace over hilly course. Maybe I'll feel better then.

John - you get normal again?

Define "normal".

I dunno. Haven't gotten back in the saddle. I'm gonna try a short easy ride this afternoon/evening I hope. Have been off the bike since Monday night when the dizziness happened. That's the most I've missed since March. It's killing me, but I just haven't been ready to get back out.

Hope you have a great 60 tomorrow, man.
J

You can't go wrong playing it safe. You've been logging monster miles anyway, the rest may do you some good in other ways.... and it's not like you're gonna lose your Mojo in a week.



Thanks.

First, dude, I will NEVER lose my mojo. But you're right on. The rest has been good. I got out today with a buddy (who had not been out in two weeks) for 22 hilly (but very easy) miles. No dizziness (and I pushed on a couple hills to be sure). Felt great.

That's right... Mr. Mojo is BACK.

Let us know how the ride goes Troy.
J

Awesome! I was pretty sure it wasn't anything permanent, ya know, your Royal Mojo-ness.



It was SO easy. It could have been the distance, or the pace, or maybe just the fact that when I woke up at 5:30am, my girlie and I were both like, "let's go back to sleep."

Um, I'll make it up the miles week!

(to pretty much all of that)

Well this just sucks. I had two big ride events planned for this season and have been busting my arse to be ready for them. The first was DALMAC (400+ miles in five days) from Lansing to the UP. The second was CFC, a gut wrenching climbfest of two 120+ mile days with 10,000ft. of climbing each day in Ohio.

About a month ago I bailed out of DALMAC due to the finances being tight and the amount of time I'd be away from work and stuff. Fine.

Today I get an e-mail which basically says "CFC is canceled this year". Mind you, this event has been put on without fail for over 25 years.

I must not be livin' right.

Daggum.
Out.
J

That sucks, man. You know, you oughta just get a handful of your buds and go ride it anyway!

Man, my motivation is in the tank. Only a few rides in the last couple weeks. Granted, I had my "dizzy spell" and Vacation Bible School every night last week. Was going to ride today, but rain has been falling (thankfully) for over 24 hours now and it's not supposed to stop for another 24.

Hopefully soon.

J

Hey, I'm feeling your pain. I was finally able to get out last night and get some photos of a fireworks show put on for opening weekend. Man, it was great, sitting up on the roof, a somewhat cool evening with a really nice breeze, no bugs and a lovely show. There's just something about the balm that a hobby/love puts over us.

Send some of that rain south would you?

Hoping for you.

Cher

Balm, indeed, Cher.

And I'll try to get that rain to you...
J

We rode 35 today and were just draaaaaaaaaaaaagging. It was a good ride, but every pedal stroke hurt.

Who else is getting out there???

Glad you got out Troy. I've had a few of those rides this year too! Still feels good to get out (when it's over).

Man, I've been such a slacker this month. All year long I've been around 7-800 miles per month. Gonna be lucky to do 300 this month. Had the perfect opportunity to do a nice 100-150 this morning with some friends and perfect weather, but just didn't go. I'm hoping I'm just in the middle of a serious recovery month from the high mileage. Thing is, there is not that much good weather left this year.

PERFECT day I tell you..... PERFECT.

Daggum.
Out,
J

Yeah, but that's ok. You shouldn't do the guilt thing... you'll get back out when you feel like getting back out. If you're training for an event that's one thing... if you're just logging miles then it shouldn't feel like going to work. Do your thing, man.

I rode last night for just under an hour, which is to say I stopped before I intended... but I hammered pretty hard (by my standards anyway). I was pooped when it was over. I wouldn't say it was a good ride, though... I should have gone another 5 miles or so for completeness. Head wasn't in it, though I was quite pleased with the pace since I was riding alone (approaching 20mph avg).

Tonight I rode maybe 20 miles, much slower. Head wasn't in it again. I was with a slow group, if it can be called that (mostly people riding within sight of each other). Hills were fine, but the flats were completely lackluster. I just had no mojo.

These two rides after Sunday's draaaaaaaaaaaaaagging outing.

What the hell is going on this week?

Probably the same thing that's been going on with me the last couple weeks. Good news is that I'm comin' around this week.

Stay with it bro.
J

140 miles today.
Out.
J

Oh. My. GAWD.

Dude! GREAT job!

Got another e-mail last night... CFC is ON baby! Someone sacked up and took the reins for this thing and it's gonna happen. It's gonna be a no frills (no shirts or patches) thing this time, but it's going to be epic! The new director says that there's going to be more climbing in this year's event than in previous years. In other words, it's going to be a complete sufferfest. 225 miles in two days with over 21,000 feet of climbing.

*tear*

I'm so happy.

Out.
J

Gettin' ready for CFC y'all.

Got in 121 today. Woot!

How's everyone doing? Julie? Dre? You still gettin' out Troy?

Can you believe it's already September?

I am gettin' out... but not like you're gettin' out. I mean... 121 miles? Who the HELL has time for that? I rode 30, and it imposed on my day! I mean... GREAT job! But I just don't get how you pull it off.

But keep on keepin' on!

Ok, bro.... the jig is up. For starters, I woke up at 6:00am, got dressed, loaded up the LeMond, left the house at 6:45am, drove to Ann Arbor in time for the sunrise ride, started riding at 7:07am, got back to Ann Arbor at 3pm. Home by 3:30pm. Still had time to give the dog a bath and some other lame stuff.

Last week, however, was a completely different story. Rode in to AA from the house and didn't get back until 6:30pm. Definitely FUBARed my Saturday that time. But that was the 140 ride.

The good news is that I think I'm done with the training centuries+ until after CFC. And I'm gonna get me some real nice bike shorts. My bum is sore.

Glad you're keepin' on myman. It's totally worth getting out as much as you can. Even when that's not much.

Out.
J

Hmmm? What? Who? Me?

Yeah, ok, so 2 years ago this week I started my MBA program. Essentially its the same time I quit riding with any regularity. I rode in March a few times, but the summer session really kicked my butt. 45-50 hours of work, 30+ hours of school. Oh, did I mention I also planned, scheduled and organized a mini-concert tour for a French jazz/metal fusion band? They just left last week. They day after they left, my new semester started.

BUT...I think now that I'm not currently doing band management along with work and school, I can plan a little time to try to get out there. There's apparently a new group ride on Sundays that is better for slackers like me, so I may check it out in a few weeks.

Until then, I make no promises, but the bike stays polished!

You know, my MBA program had a bad effect on my cycling too, intermittently. It's tough. Keep getting out when you can, though, or run or do aerobics or whatever, because exercise + stress = sanity.

Thanks. It wasn't just the MBA program, but that certainly caused some pain. Working, going to school, and trying to start a business has eaten up all of my free time.

But, I'm putting together a plan now, and I hope to fit something in now that the business rush has slowed down a little. I think I pretty much hit the ceiling of stress this summer with all that going on. I'm definitely taking next summer off before I start the second degree. I plan to ride a TON then! In the mean time, I'll fit in whatever little stuff I can to try to make the spring transition a bit easier.

Not to worry....I'm not giving up yet!

After doing a really hard hill workout (25 miles of 100+ft per mile climbing, 30 miles total) Friday, I'm officially in "taper" mode until CFC (9/29-30). Feels gooooooooooooood. Still went out and did a flat 35 tonight though.

I think the bike is ready. Put the compact crank on and the 12/27 cassette. I should be good to go for those hills. We'll see.

Hope you all are still getting some miles in.
J

Good luck, John! I bet you'll have a great time.



Sheesh, not at all since last week. Work & life keep intervening. Tomorrow, though!

It's official. Landis has been stripped.

Harumph.

But ya know... they're all doping. Whatever.

Wow. Just got back from CFC and it was a HOOT! Don't wanna take all kinds of space here, so if anyone wants to read about it, check the blog.

Saturday - 117 miles, 11,800 feet of climbing
Sunday - 101 miles, 10,000 feet of climbing



Epic.
Out.
J
p.s. Hope you all are getting some rides in as the fall weather approaches!

That's amazing, John. Sounds like a (really challenging, painful) blast!

I've been riding very lightly. Ran both days last weekend instead, and very minorly sprained my ankle. Gonna ride today and see how it does...

Thanks Troy. It was all of that and more. Hope you have a good, pain free and safe ride tonight. I'm gonna try to spin some of the poison from the weekend out of these legs tonight...
J