Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Twin Six

 The "I'm Green With Envy" Edition of the FN&V:

This past week Twin Six introduced another new color for its Standard Rando v2 frame set. This time it comes in a green they call "Grasshopper". Very appropriate as it is currently grasshopper season in the upper Mid-West!

I just posted about my "Saffron" colored Twin Six Standard Rando v2 yesterday. Love the bike! This was my dedicated single speed gravel bike until I got the Limited Edition GRX group and then had to build  up the Honeman Flyer to replace it with. Now it is my geared classic looking gravel grinder. 

I love this green color! The original Standard Rando was also green and I owned one until I sold it because the original had QR axles and everything was going to through axle standard. I was without a T-6 bike until the new v2 Rando emerged in 2020. I liked the original green T-6 Rando, but that was a darker hue than this one and I like this hue better. But I already have a yellow one, so....

The Standard Rando v2 will not win any lightweight awards nor does it have fancy internal cable routing or anything "aero". It is that stalwart, durable, reliable frame set that rides the way it should and can take anything you throw at it. (Within reason, of course) All that with a stellar price and classic good looks. Recommended. (I get nothing for saying that. It is how I feel about the bike. Take that for what it is worth to you.)

Guitar Ted Podcast Covers CORE4 & More:

The latest "Guitar Ted Podcast" is pretty good, if I do say so myself. I interviewed Morgan Osgood, who I interviewed last year when she was just dipping her toes into the gravel scene. (Learning From A Beginner) This time she shares her CORE4 experience and what she has learned since her last event. (LINK)

Then I tried to interview N.Y. Roll about his experience at CORE4, but it all went sideways. Hey! I tried! He and I ended up gabbing about how motivations for racing are vastly different between the Pro and everyone else doing gravel and how that informs events and whatnot. 

Anyway, give it a listen if you dare! (You might get offended, just a warning!)

I'll try to get someone on to give us a look at gravel history from a first hand perspective on one of the next upcoming episodes, so stay tuned for that.

Storm Clouds Of Doping Gathering On The Horizon?

As professional gravel racing develops and becomes more lucrative, I am hearing more rumblings concerning doping in gravel racing. 

It stands to reason that since most gravel events have no organization overseeing the enforcement of fair play in regards to doping the blood, or for detecting the use of illegal human performance drugs, that it might be happening out there now. 

This started to become an issue several years ago, according to one Pro racer that gave me a heads up under the conditions of anonymity. Now I am hearing that people in the competitive end of gravel racing are suggesting that it might be happening as well. 

Is there an unfair advantage, which some racers are enjoying, which is fueled by chemical enhancements that are forbidden? Is there blood doping going on, such as we have heard about in Pro road cycling? The undercurrent amongst many would suggest that - yes - it is happening. 

And as for myself, I believe it. People are prone to cheating in events with zero financial gain and hardly any notoriety regionally or nationally. Several instances of age group category cheating have surfaced at road events and criteriums across the nation. So, why would gravel cycling, at least at the "pointy end", not be included in this form of cheating as well? Certainly there is monetary and career motivations for doing so. Other forms of gaining an unfair competitive advantage are most likely happening also, especially in the ultra-long distance events which most event organizers let run with little to no oversight because of the lack of resources to do so. 

This is a sticky wicket, isn't it? No one wants to have shade thrown their way in regard to having people think they may have "cheated" in some way, especially if they know they haven't. Event directors may bristle at the thought of someone thinking they haven't covered all their bases with regard to cheating. However; it is highly probable that some gravel racers are not on the up-and-up when it comes to "racing clean" and taking advantage of "grey areas" in the rules, or cheating when oversight is not present from the event organizers. 

What to do? I imagine USAC/UCI would love to step in and provide their turnkey solutions to cheating, but this would certainly come at a "cost", both in freedom to run events as seen fit and monetarily. So what then? I believe if the events in question offer thousands of dollars in prizing they might consider investing some of their monetary resources in enforcement of internationally recognized doping controls and in having better oversight in regard to how racers execute their race in the ultra-long distance events. Or....

Just let it all be the "Wild, Wild West" and see what happens. The current course is such and will lead to problems in the future. How each event wants to deal with this is certainly their business, and I'm "just a guy" out here "yelling at the clouds", perhaps. But knowing what I know about human behavior in competitive events, I would be very cautious about considering keeping things as they are now with regard to doping and cheating. That's just me..... 

unPAved Of The Susquehanna River Valley:

My friend in PA, Dave Pryor, is one of the principals running the unPAved gravel event out in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He wanted me to let you all know that registration is open now for the unPAved of the Susquehanna River Valley October 11th - 13th event. 

Featuring a scenic course with multiple distance options and even an overnight bikepacking option, this event is a unique event in gravel. The "race" is a part of it, but instead of a full-course timed competition, unPAved has timed segments and the rest of the course can be done at your leisure. Want to stop and get a photo of that beautiful overlook? You can, or not. Only the timed sections are competitive, so you can tailor your experience to how you want the ride to go. 

When you finish you can get a local treat to savor called a "Whoopie Pie". Now I always thought this was a commercial treat like a Hostess cake or something, or maybe one of those convenience store treats I've seen, but I was wrong. Thanks to a video Dave sent (HERE) I now understand that a Whoopie Pie is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch treat which unPAved has handmade for their finish line prizing. 

So, anyway, if I could, I would go to this event. You should consider it. Recommended by Guitar Ted Productions as a good time. 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Have a great Labor Day Weekend (USA) and ride those bicycles!

The State Of The Gravel Scene- A Mid-Year Perspective

Will big pay-days and Pro level riding be the undoing of the gravel scene?

 On Wednesday, August 11th, another perennial winner, this time a Pro rider in the cyclo-cross ranks, was handed a four year suspension "for a banned anabolic agent in 2020", according to may media outlets. This particular rider was an annual US champion and threat at many World Cup events for years. 

The communal let-down on social media was palpable. One media pundit likened the news to receiving a brutal uppercut punch. Others were disheartened, while some expressed anger, but the disillusioned masses came out of the woodwork, once again. 

"Once again." How many times has this sort of thing happened? Athlete gets cycling glory, has a storied run at the top, then we come to find out that some- maybe all of it- was fueled by chemicals and blood doping. Things not allowed for reasons of safety and 'fairness', whatever that means these days.....

I gave up on Pro road racing when Floyd Landis got kicked out of the Tour de France. He wasn't the last person to get dinged with a suspension, and neither will this latest individual be the last. People long for 'clean' and 'fair' Pro level entertainment at races, but it will never happen. Too much at stake there to take any risk being the clean racer that got beaten. 

Anyway....

Gravel riding and racing doesn't seem to have this issue, yet. It will if the "big time' events get organized into a series, or if the UCI/USAC gets in there. Why? Because the stakes will be high enough that cheating at the molecular level will be worth the risks. Sponsorships and money will hang in the balance for those wily enough to evade the dope detectives, and when they do, yeah..... When they do not evade detection? The sport will die a death. This is why I don't feel that those who love where the gravel scene came from should support anything that smacks of 'big time racing'.  

Monday I am interviewing the RD for the "Dirt Bag" gravel event in central Minnesota. His name is Greg Knoll. The Dirt Bag is one of the old school gravel events that typify why gravel grinding got to where it is today. Started in 2009 by Ben Doom, and then taken over four years or so later by the late John Egbers, the Dirt Bag was your basic nuts and bolts type of event grown from the grassroots. It featured a morning coffee, a nice 100-ish mile route with an aid station stocked with cookies, followed at the finish by some hot chili, or some other soup made by Susan Egbers, John Egber's wife. Like so many other home-grown gravel events, the Dirt Bag has a flavor unique to the Dirt Bag, and the event is well regarded by those who rode in it. 

John Egbers alluded to his fears of what may become of the gravel scene in a Dirt Bag blog post back in 2015: "Also changing fast, the numbers of riders and events are encouraging for the future growth of this aspect of bicycling. In the back of some minds though is the concern that we will go "mainstream" and lose our soul. Hmmmm... how to keep it real?"

A year later he addressed those fears and concerns in a rare soliloquy for the Dirt Bag blog, which typically was all about information and that was all. Here is what he wrote which I find rather poignant and applicable for today in 2021: 

" I have a concern about these things (gravel events) becoming too big and at some point needing a governing body. Many of our events have started out like garage bands driven by the energy and pure enthusiasm of their creator. That spirit moved more people to participate and in turn multiplied to what we are seeing today, hundreds of riders arriving at start lines located on the edge of some Starbuck-less town racing through a countryside inhabited by farm dogs and pick up trucks. And we love it! We must resist corporatization but we should also not be exclusive..............

 We can be kind of a big deal without taking ourselves too seriously. All it takes is to continue to be there for our fellow gravelers when a hand, innertube, gelpack or encouragement is needed. It's not all about first, it's about finishing and sometimes it takes a village."

I could not have said it better myself. 

Unfortunately we lost John Egbers in a cycling vs car crash when a driver hit John with his car from behind on an open stretch of road in Kansas during the Trans Am Bike Race in 2018. I am sorry I never had the chance to meet John. I am quite certain I would have liked him. 

Now Greg Knoll has taken up the reins of the Dirt Bag and does so with John Egbers' legacy in mind. I'll be really interested to chat with Greg. People like Ben, John, and Greg are what made, and what make gravel grinding what it is today. It wasn't because of the 'big events'. It was literally hundreds of these smaller events that put gravel cycling on the map. These are the events that will keep gravel cycling from becoming a disappointment, a laughing stock, and a byword amongst the people, as Pro level racing has become and likely will be in the future.  

The State Of The Gravel Scene- A Mid-Year Perspective

Will big pay-days and Pro level riding be the undoing of the gravel scene?

 On Wednesday, August 11th, another perennial winner, this time a Pro rider in the cyclo-cross ranks, was handed a four year suspension "for a banned anabolic agent in 2020", according to may media outlets. This particular rider was an annual US champion and threat at many World Cup events for years. 

The communal let-down on social media was palpable. One media pundit likened the news to receiving a brutal uppercut punch. Others were disheartened, while some expressed anger, but the disillusioned masses came out of the woodwork, once again. 

"Once again." How many times has this sort of thing happened? Athlete gets cycling glory, has a storied run at the top, then we come to find out that some- maybe all of it- was fueled by chemicals and blood doping. Things not allowed for reasons of safety and 'fairness', whatever that means these days.....

I gave up on Pro road racing when Floyd Landis got kicked out of the Tour de France. He wasn't the last person to get dinged with a suspension, and neither will this latest individual be the last. People long for 'clean' and 'fair' Pro level entertainment at races, but it will never happen. Too much at stake there to take any risk being the clean racer that got beaten. 

Anyway....

Gravel riding and racing doesn't seem to have this issue, yet. It will if the "big time' events get organized into a series, or if the UCI/USAC gets in there. Why? Because the stakes will be high enough that cheating at the molecular level will be worth the risks. Sponsorships and money will hang in the balance for those wily enough to evade the dope detectives, and when they do, yeah..... When they do not evade detection? The sport will die a death. This is why I don't feel that those who love where the gravel scene came from should support anything that smacks of 'big time racing'.  

Monday I am interviewing the RD for the "Dirt Bag" gravel event in central Minnesota. His name is Greg Knoll. The Dirt Bag is one of the old school gravel events that typify why gravel grinding got to where it is today. Started in 2009 by Ben Doom, and then taken over four years or so later by the late John Egbers, the Dirt Bag was your basic nuts and bolts type of event grown from the grassroots. It featured a morning coffee, a nice 100-ish mile route with an aid station stocked with cookies, followed at the finish by some hot chili, or some other soup made by Susan Egbers, John Egber's wife. Like so many other home-grown gravel events, the Dirt Bag has a flavor unique to the Dirt Bag, and the event is well regarded by those who rode in it. 

John Egbers alluded to his fears of what may become of the gravel scene in a Dirt Bag blog post back in 2015: "Also changing fast, the numbers of riders and events are encouraging for the future growth of this aspect of bicycling. In the back of some minds though is the concern that we will go "mainstream" and lose our soul. Hmmmm... how to keep it real?"

A year later he addressed those fears and concerns in a rare soliloquy for the Dirt Bag blog, which typically was all about information and that was all. Here is what he wrote which I find rather poignant and applicable for today in 2021: 

" I have a concern about these things (gravel events) becoming too big and at some point needing a governing body. Many of our events have started out like garage bands driven by the energy and pure enthusiasm of their creator. That spirit moved more people to participate and in turn multiplied to what we are seeing today, hundreds of riders arriving at start lines located on the edge of some Starbuck-less town racing through a countryside inhabited by farm dogs and pick up trucks. And we love it! We must resist corporatization but we should also not be exclusive..............

 We can be kind of a big deal without taking ourselves too seriously. All it takes is to continue to be there for our fellow gravelers when a hand, innertube, gelpack or encouragement is needed. It's not all about first, it's about finishing and sometimes it takes a village."

I could not have said it better myself. 

Unfortunately we lost John Egbers in a cycling vs car crash when a driver hit John with his car from behind on an open stretch of road in Kansas during the Trans Am Bike Race in 2018. I am sorry I never had the chance to meet John. I am quite certain I would have liked him. 

Now Greg Knoll has taken up the reins of the Dirt Bag and does so with John Egbers' legacy in mind. I'll be really interested to chat with Greg. People like Ben, John, and Greg are what made, and what make gravel grinding what it is today. It wasn't because of the 'big events'. It was literally hundreds of these smaller events that put gravel cycling on the map. These are the events that will keep gravel cycling from becoming a disappointment, a laughing stock, and a byword amongst the people, as Pro level racing has become and likely will be in the future.  

Friday News And Views

Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra:

Well, this weekend is the annual Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra. First of all, good luck to all who are participating. Especially my old coworker and Trans Iowa co-founder, Jeff Kerkove, who is signed up to ride in this thing.

This event is star-crossed for me. I want to go, but every year something else coincides with this that keeps me from attending, either as a participant or as a spectator. This year my son has a football game, and for obvious reasons, family takes precedence over seeing old friends, but that doesn't make that any easier to bear. Last year I forget what it was that kept me from going, but I remember the year before it was the Fargo Reunion Ride which took precedence over Spotted Horse.

Anyway..... I will miss seeing everyone there and I wish you all the best. Maybe one of these days I'll make it to a Spotted Horse! But that said, hopefully this predicted rain won't affect the event too negatively, and also, I hope everyone stays safe!

Tell me they are good for gravel- Okay. Just don't say "gravel specific", please!

It's Getting Silly- This "Gravel Specific" Thing: 

Look........I get it. The bicycling marketplace is suffering. Sales are, at best, flat. The only categories showing growth, if you care to know, are e-bikes (mopeds-motorcycles.....whatever) and gravel bikes. I still think the adoption of "gravel" for these bicycles is short-sighted, but again........whatever.

The point is, this "gravel" deal is one of the bright spots in cycling. So, you know......everyone wants a piece of the action. In that vein, a new cyc;ing helmet was introduced Thursday, which shall remain nameless, which was touted as being "gravel specific". The media outlet which presented us with this farcical idea did its usual job of writing up a story and in the middle of its presentation it questioned what it was that made the helmet gravel specific, answering themselves by saying they didn't know, but maybe it was due to the useless visor attached to the helmet's browline.

See, this is marketing gone awry. I don't mind if a company says, "Hey! Look at this! It might work well for gravel riding!". Okay. That's good. That's fine with me. But when you tell me a saddle is "twenty-niner specific", as fizik did at one time, or that a stupid piece of plastic masquerading as a "visor" makes an otherwise roadie helmet "gravel specific", well you are on very thin ice there. Not buying it.

Titanium May Not Be Forever: 

But Silca says it can be guaranteed for 25 years in a bottle cage form. Yep! Introducing the "Sicuro" titanium bottle cage for $70.00.

Seventy bucks! It had better last for 25 years! That's a lot of dough, especially when you can get what is arguably the best cage in the business, made from titanium, in a King Cage for around $50.00 retail. But......you can move this one around in different mounting positions. Yep! Comparable to the Morse Cage by Wolf Tooth (made by King Cage) at the same price as this Sicuro cage. That said, Wolf Tooth doesn't have a 25 year guarantee.

The bottom line here is that you could outfit an entire bike with three plastic cages, or injection molded cages, for less, so it depends upon your viewpoint. Titanium is definitely durable. Like Silca says, ".....feel free to slam your bottles home with abandon and mount it under the downtube on your gravel rig in the knowledge that it will provide a "Sicuro" hold."

So clever there! Anyway, you'll have to decide whether or not titanium bottle cages are worth it, or if stainless steel is "good enough" (you can get that Wolf Tooth cage for $25.00 when it is in stock), or if none of this nonsense is making sense to you and you'd rather save a bunch of money and use injection molded cages. Twenty five years is a looooong time, so unless you plan on moving the Sicuro cage from bike to bike, you may not ever get the full benefit of the guarantee. Then again, you've got to wonder if Silca would even bother to warranty a 24 year old titanium bottle cage, or even if they would be around to honor that in 25 years. Hard to say......

Floyd's of Leadville to sponsor a Pro Continental Team?

In The "No- I'm Not Making This Up" File:

Pro road cycling still suffers from the stigma of doping, 20 years after the modern day breakout of the big doping crisis in the sport. Many have had their names drug through the mud, have been cast  from their lofty places in the sport, and have lost everything due to doping to gain an advantage on the field. One of these characters, Floyd Landis, announced that he was going to take what was left over from a lawsuit settlement which he was engaged in with the deposed cyclist, Lance Armstrong, and spend it on starting a continental Pro road race team. (Details here)

In an irony of ironies, a former doper is starting a team, in a sport hurting from doping allegations to this day, with money he got from a lawsuit against another doper, and will be sponsored by his own company which sells marijuana based hemp and CBD products. So dope! 

Man, the story just seems tailor made for a comedic routine. I'm sure the jokes are already flying! But, many in the media are trying to look beyond the obvious silliness here because any news of growth in the realm of road cycling is rare these days. That shows you how desperate these times are for cycling. 

Teravail offerings in skinwall.

 Teravail Debuts New Tire Offerings:

Lots of newsy stuff today and here is a bit more from QBP tire brand, Teravail. They have introduced some new variants in there tire model line up.

The two 650B offerings are interesting in that they cover two popular sizes and they are the tread that Teravail has designated as one of their gravel specific offerings. This is big because of all of the new bikes coming out with 650B compatibility. The smaller size should even slot in on bikes which have narrower clearances.  

The 29 X 2.8 Coronado is interesting for the 29+ freaks that want a great looking skinwall option. Of course, you can get blackwall versions, but why would you? Skinwalls till Winter! ha! Anyway, a great option for 29+ bikes. I doubt it will fit the back of many 29"ers. 

Then the Rampart is a tire I am not familiar with, but a 38mm offering is a good size which isn't covered by many companies. It also would be a better choice for some cyclo cross bikes where a 40+mm tire isn't allowing for any mud clearances or just plain won't fit. 

Teravail says these are available now, so see your local bike shop dealer and ask about 'em.


That's a wrap for this week. I hope you all get to ride this weekend.

Friday News And Views

Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra:

Well, this weekend is the annual Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra. First of all, good luck to all who are participating. Especially my old coworker and Trans Iowa co-founder, Jeff Kerkove, who is signed up to ride in this thing.

This event is star-crossed for me. I want to go, but every year something else coincides with this that keeps me from attending, either as a participant or as a spectator. This year my son has a football game, and for obvious reasons, family takes precedence over seeing old friends, but that doesn't make that any easier to bear. Last year I forget what it was that kept me from going, but I remember the year before it was the Fargo Reunion Ride which took precedence over Spotted Horse.

Anyway..... I will miss seeing everyone there and I wish you all the best. Maybe one of these days I'll make it to a Spotted Horse! But that said, hopefully this predicted rain won't affect the event too negatively, and also, I hope everyone stays safe!

Tell me they are good for gravel- Okay. Just don't say "gravel specific", please!

It's Getting Silly- This "Gravel Specific" Thing: 

Look........I get it. The bicycling marketplace is suffering. Sales are, at best, flat. The only categories showing growth, if you care to know, are e-bikes (mopeds-motorcycles.....whatever) and gravel bikes. I still think the adoption of "gravel" for these bicycles is short-sighted, but again........whatever.

The point is, this "gravel" deal is one of the bright spots in cycling. So, you know......everyone wants a piece of the action. In that vein, a new cyc;ing helmet was introduced Thursday, which shall remain nameless, which was touted as being "gravel specific". The media outlet which presented us with this farcical idea did its usual job of writing up a story and in the middle of its presentation it questioned what it was that made the helmet gravel specific, answering themselves by saying they didn't know, but maybe it was due to the useless visor attached to the helmet's browline.

See, this is marketing gone awry. I don't mind if a company says, "Hey! Look at this! It might work well for gravel riding!". Okay. That's good. That's fine with me. But when you tell me a saddle is "twenty-niner specific", as fizik did at one time, or that a stupid piece of plastic masquerading as a "visor" makes an otherwise roadie helmet "gravel specific", well you are on very thin ice there. Not buying it.

Titanium May Not Be Forever: 

But Silca says it can be guaranteed for 25 years in a bottle cage form. Yep! Introducing the "Sicuro" titanium bottle cage for $70.00.

Seventy bucks! It had better last for 25 years! That's a lot of dough, especially when you can get what is arguably the best cage in the business, made from titanium, in a King Cage for around $50.00 retail. But......you can move this one around in different mounting positions. Yep! Comparable to the Morse Cage by Wolf Tooth (made by King Cage) at the same price as this Sicuro cage. That said, Wolf Tooth doesn't have a 25 year guarantee.

The bottom line here is that you could outfit an entire bike with three plastic cages, or injection molded cages, for less, so it depends upon your viewpoint. Titanium is definitely durable. Like Silca says, ".....feel free to slam your bottles home with abandon and mount it under the downtube on your gravel rig in the knowledge that it will provide a "Sicuro" hold."

So clever there! Anyway, you'll have to decide whether or not titanium bottle cages are worth it, or if stainless steel is "good enough" (you can get that Wolf Tooth cage for $25.00 when it is in stock), or if none of this nonsense is making sense to you and you'd rather save a bunch of money and use injection molded cages. Twenty five years is a looooong time, so unless you plan on moving the Sicuro cage from bike to bike, you may not ever get the full benefit of the guarantee. Then again, you've got to wonder if Silca would even bother to warranty a 24 year old titanium bottle cage, or even if they would be around to honor that in 25 years. Hard to say......

Floyd's of Leadville to sponsor a Pro Continental Team?

In The "No- I'm Not Making This Up" File:

Pro road cycling still suffers from the stigma of doping, 20 years after the modern day breakout of the big doping crisis in the sport. Many have had their names drug through the mud, have been cast  from their lofty places in the sport, and have lost everything due to doping to gain an advantage on the field. One of these characters, Floyd Landis, announced that he was going to take what was left over from a lawsuit settlement which he was engaged in with the deposed cyclist, Lance Armstrong, and spend it on starting a continental Pro road race team. (Details here)

In an irony of ironies, a former doper is starting a team, in a sport hurting from doping allegations to this day, with money he got from a lawsuit against another doper, and will be sponsored by his own company which sells marijuana based hemp and CBD products. So dope! 

Man, the story just seems tailor made for a comedic routine. I'm sure the jokes are already flying! But, many in the media are trying to look beyond the obvious silliness here because any news of growth in the realm of road cycling is rare these days. That shows you how desperate these times are for cycling. 

Teravail offerings in skinwall.

 Teravail Debuts New Tire Offerings:

Lots of newsy stuff today and here is a bit more from QBP tire brand, Teravail. They have introduced some new variants in there tire model line up.

The two 650B offerings are interesting in that they cover two popular sizes and they are the tread that Teravail has designated as one of their gravel specific offerings. This is big because of all of the new bikes coming out with 650B compatibility. The smaller size should even slot in on bikes which have narrower clearances.  

The 29 X 2.8 Coronado is interesting for the 29+ freaks that want a great looking skinwall option. Of course, you can get blackwall versions, but why would you? Skinwalls till Winter! ha! Anyway, a great option for 29+ bikes. I doubt it will fit the back of many 29"ers. 

Then the Rampart is a tire I am not familiar with, but a 38mm offering is a good size which isn't covered by many companies. It also would be a better choice for some cyclo cross bikes where a 40+mm tire isn't allowing for any mud clearances or just plain won't fit. 

Teravail says these are available now, so see your local bike shop dealer and ask about 'em.


That's a wrap for this week. I hope you all get to ride this weekend.

Friday News And Views

The lottery submission process ends Saturday night.

DK200 Lottery Entries Close Saturday Night And Thoughts:

The inaugural Dirty Kanza lottery process has its first stage close on Saturday evening when all submissions must be in. The next step will be for the selection process to begin. It isn't quite clear to me how that will work, but then again, it doesn't matter. It's their event and they can do whatever they deem right for them.

I know I will not be going down this coming year. My feeling is that some others are deciding against the event as well. Prices for entry seem to be the main reason I am seeing folks make the decision not to go. Granted, it is the DK200, but prices for this event are decidedly on the higher end of the scale when it comes to gravel events nationwide. Ultimately, the riders will vote with their dollars and the resulting economy will be the deciding factor here.

Some folks like to point to "gravel cycling" as the culprit. They like to say that the "movement" is getting "too big", or it is "selling out", or they blame whatever nefarious group or nebulous movement for the reason why this is happening. This "vague blaming" is easy to do. It's non-confrontational, easy to agree with, and doesn't require any real cognitive action on anyone's part. Basically it is worthless spouting of hot air. You want to know why these kinds of things like the situation at the DK200 are happening?

It's the people who willingly buy into it. No one is prying money out of wallets and "making you spend money" or making you train, or buy a package to get a free entry, or whatever it is. No one is making anyone do that forcefully. Nope! People willingly pay these prices. 

Until people willingly do not pay these prices, nothing is going to change.

Oooo! Snow!

 Wow! What A Winter So far!

Sarcasm Alert: Gee, this fantastic cold weather with no snow has really been fantastic. And just think, next week they say it will get even colder! Awesome.

Yeah, it hasn't been maybe as cold as it should be this time of year, but the wind has more than made up for things, at least around here. Plus, the humidity levels have been high enough that this air we have just cuts right into your bones. At least the Arctic air we're supposed to get just in time for Christmas will be drier and not so bad to stay warm in.

Snow has been a rarity, and by the looks of it, that should remain the case through Christmas. Yeah, that's a risky thing to say, what with Winter weather being so hard to pin down. Who really knows. We could end up with a bunch of the white stuff here, but the weather prognosticators and my gut feeling say not so much.

The point is that Winter is going to be a slow starter if ever it does snow here. Really cold air without snow is just wrong, and for me, not really Winter. If we get very far into the New Year with no snow, well then.....I'm going to say this Winter is a major fail. But there is still a lot of time left before we can really think seriously about Spring, so this Winter still has time to redeem itself. I just know that short days, brown scenery, and cold air add up to a depressing state of affairs.

Meanwhile the rivers are already icing up and many will freeze solid they are so low, that is if we get really frigid temperatures for very long. It could make for interesting fat biking opportunities, but other than that, this situation isn't good.

Can you believe anything done when this is worn anymore?

The Latest Dope:

Occasionally I will opine about Pro road cycling here. I used to be a big fan. However; I became jaded after umpteen doping scandals and now I only casually follow this side of sport.


So, the following is from the perspective of someone that rides bicycles but doesn't really know or care about the Pro racing side of the equation anymore.

That said, the winner of the last Vuelta, Chris Froome, returned a positive for an inhaler banned by the UCI at twice the level allowed. No penalties have been issued, no sanctions declared, but the court of public opinion is already buzzing about this one. However that goes, should we be surprised anymore? 

Doping in bicycle racing goes way back. You really cannot blame salaries, modern cycling culture, or sponsors for this. It is historical. Riders have doped and died for doing it in the past. That doesn't excuse what we see today, by any means, but that it continues to this day, that is no surprise. Even in competitions that pay no money, have no prizing, or any real fame or glory to offer, even those events  have their cheaters. It is human nature to cheat. That's my opinion, and maybe a dim view, but I see no other logical explanation.

So while it is noble to believe that the Pro racers are "clean" when you watch the sport, it is naive to believe that there are no cheaters. That goes for all levels of cycling. Right down to the rank amateurs.

So, the latest scandal involving Chris Froome? I am not at all surprised.

 That's all for this week. Have a great weekend.

Friday News And Views

The lottery submission process ends Saturday night.

DK200 Lottery Entries Close Saturday Night And Thoughts:

The inaugural Dirty Kanza lottery process has its first stage close on Saturday evening when all submissions must be in. The next step will be for the selection process to begin. It isn't quite clear to me how that will work, but then again, it doesn't matter. It's their event and they can do whatever they deem right for them.

I know I will not be going down this coming year. My feeling is that some others are deciding against the event as well. Prices for entry seem to be the main reason I am seeing folks make the decision not to go. Granted, it is the DK200, but prices for this event are decidedly on the higher end of the scale when it comes to gravel events nationwide. Ultimately, the riders will vote with their dollars and the resulting economy will be the deciding factor here.

Some folks like to point to "gravel cycling" as the culprit. They like to say that the "movement" is getting "too big", or it is "selling out", or they blame whatever nefarious group or nebulous movement for the reason why this is happening. This "vague blaming" is easy to do. It's non-confrontational, easy to agree with, and doesn't require any real cognitive action on anyone's part. Basically it is worthless spouting of hot air. You want to know why these kinds of things like the situation at the DK200 are happening?

It's the people who willingly buy into it. No one is prying money out of wallets and "making you spend money" or making you train, or buy a package to get a free entry, or whatever it is. No one is making anyone do that forcefully. Nope! People willingly pay these prices. 

Until people willingly do not pay these prices, nothing is going to change.

Oooo! Snow!

 Wow! What A Winter So far!

Sarcasm Alert: Gee, this fantastic cold weather with no snow has really been fantastic. And just think, next week they say it will get even colder! Awesome.

Yeah, it hasn't been maybe as cold as it should be this time of year, but the wind has more than made up for things, at least around here. Plus, the humidity levels have been high enough that this air we have just cuts right into your bones. At least the Arctic air we're supposed to get just in time for Christmas will be drier and not so bad to stay warm in.

Snow has been a rarity, and by the looks of it, that should remain the case through Christmas. Yeah, that's a risky thing to say, what with Winter weather being so hard to pin down. Who really knows. We could end up with a bunch of the white stuff here, but the weather prognosticators and my gut feeling say not so much.

The point is that Winter is going to be a slow starter if ever it does snow here. Really cold air without snow is just wrong, and for me, not really Winter. If we get very far into the New Year with no snow, well then.....I'm going to say this Winter is a major fail. But there is still a lot of time left before we can really think seriously about Spring, so this Winter still has time to redeem itself. I just know that short days, brown scenery, and cold air add up to a depressing state of affairs.

Meanwhile the rivers are already icing up and many will freeze solid they are so low, that is if we get really frigid temperatures for very long. It could make for interesting fat biking opportunities, but other than that, this situation isn't good.

Can you believe anything done when this is worn anymore?

The Latest Dope:

Occasionally I will opine about Pro road cycling here. I used to be a big fan. However; I became jaded after umpteen doping scandals and now I only casually follow this side of sport.


So, the following is from the perspective of someone that rides bicycles but doesn't really know or care about the Pro racing side of the equation anymore.

That said, the winner of the last Vuelta, Chris Froome, returned a positive for an inhaler banned by the UCI at twice the level allowed. No penalties have been issued, no sanctions declared, but the court of public opinion is already buzzing about this one. However that goes, should we be surprised anymore? 

Doping in bicycle racing goes way back. You really cannot blame salaries, modern cycling culture, or sponsors for this. It is historical. Riders have doped and died for doing it in the past. That doesn't excuse what we see today, by any means, but that it continues to this day, that is no surprise. Even in competitions that pay no money, have no prizing, or any real fame or glory to offer, even those events  have their cheaters. It is human nature to cheat. That's my opinion, and maybe a dim view, but I see no other logical explanation.

So while it is noble to believe that the Pro racers are "clean" when you watch the sport, it is naive to believe that there are no cheaters. That goes for all levels of cycling. Right down to the rank amateurs.

So, the latest scandal involving Chris Froome? I am not at all surprised.

 That's all for this week. Have a great weekend.

Friday News And Views

Salsa's Beargrease goes to 27.5"ers on the current style frame.

Saddledrive 17:

The annual Saddledrive show is going on now. It is the show where QBP shows select dealers the newest rigs that will be, maybe, on dealers showroom floors this Fall and in to 2018.

Only you don't get to see any of it until September 8th. Thus saith the Q.

Apparently QBP wants to control the message more so than in the past, where dealers were pumping out images on social media and talking up stuff that wasn't quite cooked up enough for the Q to have out there quite yet. In fact, dealers were sworn to secrecy by the Q with an embargo agreement. All the 2018 line was shown in a special room sequestered away from prying eyes. This isn't entirely new for QBP, by the way. They did something similar when they announced privately to dealers the DW Split Pivot bikes.

So, all you are going to get now is a peek at Mukluk colors for 2018 and the Beargrease with 27.5" fat bike wheels. Same frame, by the way, just different wheels. Surly has the ECR in 27.5+ wheels in size medium on down and 29+ in size medium on up. The Straggler gets a new, blue sparkly colorway. That's about it for now.

So,stay tuned until September 8th when the wraps are lifted off and Salsa (and I assume Surly as well) is free to disseminate the new 2018 stuff.

Cyclo cross is hard, so e-bike it!

 First They Said You Can't- Then They Say You Should:

Remember all that ballyhoo about the Belgian cyclo crosser that had an electric motor in her seat tube and got banned from CX for it? The UCI got real serious about all of this and they even went so far as to develop testing machines that officials could employ at future events to detect any "e-doping" that may be occurring. To date, I have not heard that anyone has been busted.

So, e-biking in UCI cyclo cross events is a no-no, yes?

Well, maybe not! 

Apparently there is going to be a cyclo cross event at the next UCI sanctioned Cross Vegas, dubbed a "fun event", where e-biking will not only be allowed, but encouraged. Check the following quote out from the press release for this event: "The event is open to men and women riding any style of e-bike. It is a "bring your own bike" event; however, 15 lucky entrants will ride a Focus e-whip for the race."

So, any e-bike? Like, even modified, no speed limited e-bikes?

Wow!

I know cyclo cross is hard, so ya know......let 'em use motors, I guess. I'm just waiting for the basketball hoops to be lowered so even I can dunk. "When everyone is special......no one will be."

Sheesh! Giving us a break, I see.

GTDRI Is Tomorrow:

At 6:00am tomorrow, the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational will head out from Reinbeck, Iowa to ride 102+ miles and 25 miles of that dirt. The ride will have four people on it, as far as I know, plus myself.

The weather is weird for this event this year. Usually it is in the 70's at the onset of riding and gets into the 90's with high humidity by the afternoon. This, combined with some of the stupid-difficult courses I have come up with, have conspired to make the ride a real "death ride", or as close to real death as you'd want to get.

This isn't a totally unprecedented situation though. I do recall the first attempt at the Egin-Elkader-Garber-Strawberry Point area course where the temperatures were mild with low humidity. That was nearly ten years ago. The second GTDRI was cut short by a thunderstorm, which we were caught out in. That one wasn't too bad either.

But typically it was almost always hot, humid, and really hard to ride. This year it seems we have caught another break as the heat and humidity have been tempered by a cold front with cooler, drier air, that blew through here yesterday. Hey, I ain't complainin', I just think it is odd.

So, I think many of you might be surprised to find out what rig I am taking on this adventure. You'll have to wait until Monday to find out what it was. I am pretty stoked to give this a whirl, that's for sure.

That's all I have. Look for a recap of the GTDRI to start on Monday. Have a great weekend and keep the rubber side down, y'all!

 

Friday News And Views

Salsa's Beargrease goes to 27.5"ers on the current style frame.

Saddledrive 17:

The annual Saddledrive show is going on now. It is the show where QBP shows select dealers the newest rigs that will be, maybe, on dealers showroom floors this Fall and in to 2018.

Only you don't get to see any of it until September 8th. Thus saith the Q.

Apparently QBP wants to control the message more so than in the past, where dealers were pumping out images on social media and talking up stuff that wasn't quite cooked up enough for the Q to have out there quite yet. In fact, dealers were sworn to secrecy by the Q with an embargo agreement. All the 2018 line was shown in a special room sequestered away from prying eyes. This isn't entirely new for QBP, by the way. They did something similar when they announced privately to dealers the DW Split Pivot bikes.

So, all you are going to get now is a peek at Mukluk colors for 2018 and the Beargrease with 27.5" fat bike wheels. Same frame, by the way, just different wheels. Surly has the ECR in 27.5+ wheels in size medium on down and 29+ in size medium on up. The Straggler gets a new, blue sparkly colorway. That's about it for now.

So,stay tuned until September 8th when the wraps are lifted off and Salsa (and I assume Surly as well) is free to disseminate the new 2018 stuff.

Cyclo cross is hard, so e-bike it!

 First They Said You Can't- Then They Say You Should:

Remember all that ballyhoo about the Belgian cyclo crosser that had an electric motor in her seat tube and got banned from CX for it? The UCI got real serious about all of this and they even went so far as to develop testing machines that officials could employ at future events to detect any "e-doping" that may be occurring. To date, I have not heard that anyone has been busted.

So, e-biking in UCI cyclo cross events is a no-no, yes?

Well, maybe not! 

Apparently there is going to be a cyclo cross event at the next UCI sanctioned Cross Vegas, dubbed a "fun event", where e-biking will not only be allowed, but encouraged. Check the following quote out from the press release for this event: "The event is open to men and women riding any style of e-bike. It is a "bring your own bike" event; however, 15 lucky entrants will ride a Focus e-whip for the race."

So, any e-bike? Like, even modified, no speed limited e-bikes?

Wow!

I know cyclo cross is hard, so ya know......let 'em use motors, I guess. I'm just waiting for the basketball hoops to be lowered so even I can dunk. "When everyone is special......no one will be."

Sheesh! Giving us a break, I see.

GTDRI Is Tomorrow:

At 6:00am tomorrow, the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational will head out from Reinbeck, Iowa to ride 102+ miles and 25 miles of that dirt. The ride will have four people on it, as far as I know, plus myself.

The weather is weird for this event this year. Usually it is in the 70's at the onset of riding and gets into the 90's with high humidity by the afternoon. This, combined with some of the stupid-difficult courses I have come up with, have conspired to make the ride a real "death ride", or as close to real death as you'd want to get.

This isn't a totally unprecedented situation though. I do recall the first attempt at the Egin-Elkader-Garber-Strawberry Point area course where the temperatures were mild with low humidity. That was nearly ten years ago. The second GTDRI was cut short by a thunderstorm, which we were caught out in. That one wasn't too bad either.

But typically it was almost always hot, humid, and really hard to ride. This year it seems we have caught another break as the heat and humidity have been tempered by a cold front with cooler, drier air, that blew through here yesterday. Hey, I ain't complainin', I just think it is odd.

So, I think many of you might be surprised to find out what rig I am taking on this adventure. You'll have to wait until Monday to find out what it was. I am pretty stoked to give this a whirl, that's for sure.

That's all I have. Look for a recap of the GTDRI to start on Monday. Have a great weekend and keep the rubber side down, y'all!

 

Giving "Training With Power" New Meaning

Rendering of a motor bike with a seat tube mounted motor.

Unless you were living under a rock over the weekend, you probably got wind of the "mechanical doping" incident at the Cyclo Cross World Championships. If you want details, see this article on grit.cx's site.

The offense has been confirmed by the UCI, so now this goes from fantasy land stuff to reality, and much like other forms of doping, (technical infractions, if you go by the UCI's terminology), one has to wonder, is this the first time it has happened? 

Uggh....... I don't want to be the one that speculates on that, but this device was found on a bike belonging to an under 23 class rider, and you have to think that some Pro level riders have at least tested this stuff if it has been found in the lower ranks. Anyway....... Consider the following Tweet fron Velo News editor, Caley Fretz:

Caley Fretz ‏@CaleyFretz 23m23 minutes ago

"Last May, Greg LeMond told me it was only a matter of time before we found a motor. He said it with a conviction I should have recognized."

There are a lot of interesting comments about this from the innergoogles, and two of the most prominent ones are, "I wonder how powerful this would be?", and also, "This would make a great e-bike!". I have some thoughts on each of these comments, which, you probably are not too surprised by!

First off, something like this must not be an obvious advantage, or it would be a dead giveaway to something being "not right". So using that criteria, you could argue that the motor assist is not all that powerful. I've seen 100-ish watts as a figure given, and that makes sense. Thinking about how little separates the fast racers from each other, it wouldn't take much of a boost to get a break on the pack, or leaders. Having the boost/motor be controllable, as far as when you get that boost, would also make things a bit more believable. You can see the logic in that by thinking about how it would appear if the boost was used only on a climb, to gain a bit of separation.

You also have to figure that battery life is pretty limited, since it has to be small enough to be concealed and so it won't add a lot of weight. Again, that would lead me to believe that there would be some way to trigger the boost to occur only when you really need it. The rest of the time you might have a minimal output, only enough to overcome internal efficiency losses as you pedal under your own power, but not enough power to give you an advantage.

The second comment is mostly answered above. No- this would make a terrible e-bike. At least in this form factor. Think about how minimal the power and range of this would be. That ought to be enough right there to put this idea in the dust bin. But then you can compare it to contemporary e-bikes, (motorcycles), and you can see how this idea really isn't anything to crow about in a practical sense.

In the end, it becomes another "black eye" in the world of cycling. I'd be fine if we never hear or see of this stuff again in the future.

Giving "Training With Power" New Meaning

Rendering of a motor bike with a seat tube mounted motor.

Unless you were living under a rock over the weekend, you probably got wind of the "mechanical doping" incident at the Cyclo Cross World Championships. If you want details, see this article on grit.cx's site.

The offense has been confirmed by the UCI, so now this goes from fantasy land stuff to reality, and much like other forms of doping, (technical infractions, if you go by the UCI's terminology), one has to wonder, is this the first time it has happened? 

Uggh....... I don't want to be the one that speculates on that, but this device was found on a bike belonging to an under 23 class rider, and you have to think that some Pro level riders have at least tested this stuff if it has been found in the lower ranks. Anyway....... Consider the following Tweet fron Velo News editor, Caley Fretz:

Caley Fretz ‏@CaleyFretz 23m23 minutes ago

"Last May, Greg LeMond told me it was only a matter of time before we found a motor. He said it with a conviction I should have recognized."

There are a lot of interesting comments about this from the innergoogles, and two of the most prominent ones are, "I wonder how powerful this would be?", and also, "This would make a great e-bike!". I have some thoughts on each of these comments, which, you probably are not too surprised by!

First off, something like this must not be an obvious advantage, or it would be a dead giveaway to something being "not right". So using that criteria, you could argue that the motor assist is not all that powerful. I've seen 100-ish watts as a figure given, and that makes sense. Thinking about how little separates the fast racers from each other, it wouldn't take much of a boost to get a break on the pack, or leaders. Having the boost/motor be controllable, as far as when you get that boost, would also make things a bit more believable. You can see the logic in that by thinking about how it would appear if the boost was used only on a climb, to gain a bit of separation.

You also have to figure that battery life is pretty limited, since it has to be small enough to be concealed and so it won't add a lot of weight. Again, that would lead me to believe that there would be some way to trigger the boost to occur only when you really need it. The rest of the time you might have a minimal output, only enough to overcome internal efficiency losses as you pedal under your own power, but not enough power to give you an advantage.

The second comment is mostly answered above. No- this would make a terrible e-bike. At least in this form factor. Think about how minimal the power and range of this would be. That ought to be enough right there to put this idea in the dust bin. But then you can compare it to contemporary e-bikes, (motorcycles), and you can see how this idea really isn't anything to crow about in a practical sense.

In the end, it becomes another "black eye" in the world of cycling. I'd be fine if we never hear or see of this stuff again in the future.

Build Or Burn

Cards representing riders that didn't get on the roster for V11

The fall out regarding the Trans Iowa registration spilled over into an unexpected discussion on Facebook regarding a prank entry sent in to look like it was from Levi Leipheimer.

In that discussion there was an opinion expressed that I've seen before and, to be quite honest, thought was a bit of a scorched earth type of response to anyone accused/convicted of cheating by doping in professional cycling. I think this Tweet that I saw from one of the contributors to that thread pretty much sums up the whole "anti-Levi" part of that discussion.

"Im over cyclists defending and pardoning convicted dopers. We need lifetime bans & higher standards, esp in self supported scene #doperssuck"

First of all, since I put on an unsanctioned, unlicensed, totally free event that invites cyclists to accept and try to overcome a challenge, a challenge based on a trust that the riders will take it on honestly and with integrity, I was challenged to see the situation in the same "scorched earth" way. It is not my intention to change attitudes about Levi Leipheimer, or to somehow be a magical changing force in cycling regarding a "war on doping", but I will simply offer my observations here and ask that you, the readers, take some time to think this over, if you care to.

John Gorilla and Sean Mailen in T.I.V7 (Image by W Kilburg)

I feel that the things that happened which precipitated the cheating of Pro level cyclists and their handlers was on a level so unlike that of the situation we see at Trans Iowa, that saying that I should somehow reflect a certain protocol regarding doping in Pro cycling is unreasonable. I feel that to "ban" someone based upon Pro Road cycling's set of guidelines would probably mean I should also follow those guidelines as well, no? Well, I was told that doing anti-doping testing for Trans Iowa would easily eclipse the $8,000 mark. That simply is not feasible. Nor is it necessary, in my opinion.

Does cheating in Pro level road racing "suck", as the slogan that the anti-dopers often use says? Of course it does. In Pro cycling circles, it is a thing to be discouraged and punished at that level if that is called for. But guess what? Trans Iowa is not a Pro cycling event, and if I am to be totally honest, I cannot have "dopers suck" coming out of my mouth, nor say that , "...they should not ride in Trans Iowa", when I cannot even prove it hasn't happened at Trans Iowa, nor prevent it at all from happening in my event. That doesn't mean I don't care about this issue, but I realize what I can and cannot control, and wasting energy on being a hypocrite when it comes to doping and Trans Iowa is not a wise way to spend my limited energies.

In my view, it isn't an issue about "the rules". It isn't a "Trans Iowa" issue, it isn't a cycling issue, and it isn't even a Pro Road cycling issue. It is an issue of human character, however, and it also should be an issue of how we build up or tear down character. In my opinion, forgiveness and love win out over crucifying and castigating every time. Should there be consequences for ones actions? Absolutely. But there should be a path to forgiveness and restitution, if possible, as well. I speak in terms of spiritual things, but this can be applied to cycling's issues with doping as well. I don't think Levi or his other contemporaries should be allowed to race in the Pro ranks or in licensed events that fall under the auspices of Pro cycling's governmental umbrella. However; there are things these cyclists could do. Positive things. They should not be "banned from cycling", whatever that means to those who make that broad generalization.

The "reward" of a T.I. finish isn't worth doping. (Image by P LaCava)

I get why people feel that way though. They want to "crush the spirit" of the offensive practice and/or the riders involved.  Perhaps it is maybe a thought that by having this swept away by "banishment", they somehow will feel this issue will be gone and those folks will feel "better about the sport".

Well, to frame it in terms of another hot button topic, you can take away the guns, but that doesn't change the characters behind them. In other words, if there is a reason to cheat, and the reward is greater than the price to be paid for cheating, then cheating will find its way into the sport. Taking the dopers out isn't fixing the problems, it just addresses the wrong doing that already happened. Cheaters will justify their actions if it means they get what they came for in terms of results and the money, fame, and extras that come with that. Whether they do that by means of yesterday's doping, a new form of doping, or cheating in some other way, it doesn't matter. It isn't about the means, but it is about their choices and why they make them. It is about the "culture of Pro Road cycling". The bottom line is in a person's character and values and whether or not people have the correct choice available and are able to make it. It is a tricky thing to navigate.  

That's where I feel Trans Iowa, and some of the other gravel events, differs. In these events, a finish at the front doesn't really mean all that much more than it does if you come in last place. Take for instance T.I.V10, where Greg Gleason won overall, but the vast majority of the attention for any one finisher was arguably focused on Jay Barre who came in near to last and on a fixed gear bike. Or consider Charlie Farrow, who had the full respect of all in attendance, and didn't finish at all, but came up six miles short. How do you quantify that kind of thing? Is that worth cheating in Trans Iowa? Cheating yourself? To my way of thinking, the risks are not worth the "reward" you might get out of "cheating" by enhancing your performance with some drug. Not that anyone would know, or not that I could even hope to prevent that. As I said earlier, I have to trust that the riders will have honest intentions and do the event with integrity. If I felt that was violated, I would quit putting the challenge out there. In terms of Pro cycling, this is so far from their reality, that it cannot even be compared to Trans Iowa. 

Image by Wally Kilburg from T.I.V8

The bottom line then becomes a question of whether or not I might allow a rider of Levi's stature to attend and ride in Trans Iowa. If that were to ever happen, that a rider of this stature and situation were to actually correctly enter Trans Iowa, I would then have to answer that question. Right now, that is not the case, and I doubt it ever will be a situation I find myself in. I'd like to think that it would be a deal where folks would have an open mind, eschewing "scorched earth" thought, and be willing to see that there could be a way for a rider of that stature to be included in something that is so far removed from Pro Road cycling it is laughable to compare the two. Yes- they are both "cycling", but the rules and the situations are not remotely even the same. Heck- most riders of Levi's stature wouldn't even consider an event such as Trans Iowa a "real race" anyway.

Am I an "apologist" for dopers? I'd like to think I am more of a "realist" when it comes to whatever it is that goes on with doping and Pro Road cycling. For one thing, the vast majority of "average cyclists" in America probably don't even know or care about the travails of Pro road cycling. (To wit: my co-worker, a young 20's something male, doesn't even know who Levi Leipheimer is. And neither does my 70's something Mom.) Cycling will move forward regardless of those ne'er do wells. I think they should suffer the penalties doled out by the UCI, but as for the whole of cycling, I think there is something positive that could be had here versus a blanket statement of rejection. We can either build bridges, or burn them.

That's my take.