As You See It: Oct. 27, 2009

[ZENmud]

DOT-NET...

ZENsmile

My Opinion_El Paso_Texas wrote:

<quoted text>
Interesting question since Topix.com is showing you as living in Canada. Maybe you should address your question to the guy in charge of your government there in Canada who's been sending your Canadian soldiers to the war zone.

[ZENmud]

I'm a month late replying, and the original article is off-line now...

But I'm replying generally, but used your post because it seems you copy-pasted from the article itself...

I always enjoy detractors like Michael Lewis, who probably ran three stop-signs in his Hummer to get to work, so he could write about 'cyclists who run stop signs'...

As a cyclist who actually stops at most necessary intersections (because re-acceleration is a good work-out), I also wish most cylists would be more 'share-the-road' without a presumption that they can/should run red lights or stop-signs...

Sorry I missed reading it...

z

Nils wrote:

To Michael Lewis: Your letter demonstrates how little you know of the sport of bicycle racing, and reeks so much of cynicism and ignorance that it barely warrants a response.
> Lance Armstrong wannabes
Most professional racers you'll be seeing were racing long before Armstrong broke the Tour de France record. Furthermore, in a tour of this caliber, many aren't even American.
> sail through stop signs
+
> flout as many traffic regulations as possible in each ride
The entire course is closed with permits; this is perfectly legal and not to be considered an example for bicycle commuters.
> devolves into an expensive, garish caricature of its basically frugal and sensible function
Just like any other professional sport, except cycling is given far less priority than virtually any other televised sport in America. And I think you added a 'd' accidentally onto 'evolve', this these racers can do more with a bike than the stupid hippies riding down the wrong side of Mission St. at night.
> Media spectacles such as Amgen do more harm to the cause of bicycling than good
Amgen is a title sponsor, just as Credit Lyonnaise is for the Tour de France. How are they different?
Oh, and nice try at the prissy prose there, buddy, but I guess you have to pour lots of icing on top of a half-baked cake. Go soak your head.

[nocklebeast]

here's the original article

http://www.scsextra.com/story.php...

and here's more of the same on his blog

http://dukebike.blogspot.com/

[ZENmud]

Hi Nocklebeast,
Thanks for the linx... Michael actually looks like someone, with whom I'd enjoy drinking a beer.(?)

Thus his attitude seems 'off' to me (ie: he doesn't look like a bike-hating Harley guy...

If you're following anti-doping in cycling, I've a blog called WADAwatch, which is legally-oriented (aka DULL), but I put a video together and published it mid-week, re AFLD (French Agency) v UCI

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

or
http://wadawatch.blogspot.com

cheers!

zen