the manly art of leg shaving

Zip, zip, OUCH! Zip, zip, OUCH! That's what it used to sound like when I shaved my legs. I ride enough that it's a must but the only example of leg shaving is 'the wife' and some movies that pushed the limits of virtue when I was young, it's just not manly that way. Then I saw the movie"Overcoming" and witnessed the smooth finesse of a pro cyclist and the flawless zip-zip and done...very manly indeed. As for me I overcame the the bloody pant leg on several occasions before the realization that it's finesse and not brut strength that gets it done with out the need for toilet paper bandages..

Just how did this leg shaving become a necessity? I have no idea who or when some cyclist started shaving his legs thinking it was a health aid or was it just Paris in the 20's and 30's? I remember when pro-swimmers started to shave and yes shave time off their laps. What a weird thought for a nubile teen to hear these manly swimmers were shaving ALL their bodies just to increase lap speed. Then when those same swimmers started wearing panty hose for resistance during swim practice i steered away form the pool. Lucky for us those french cyclist didn't think of that or it would be part of our sport too.
But shaving ones legs is a wonder-kin for those who don't want to suffer ingrown and infected legs after a good road rash session. Not that I can't imagine that because I had a heck of a asphalt burn about 20 something years ago and I DON"T wont to see that day again! But yes, I did shave then and yes thanks to this small but useful hint of precautionary measure I didn't agonize over any ingrown hair but the gravel was painful to dig out.
So what else is manly about our chosen sport? That really tight Lycra we wear is very manly indeed. Even now as I walk into a store or pump gas and everyone stares I think to myself, "that's right losers, you too could be wearing this stuff and be a sexy beast like me". Notice I don't say it out loud, that would be stupid amongst the uninitiated and in some of the 'country' areas I ride it would be cause for me to be Alligator food in the squeal of a pig.

Not only do we wear lycra but it is very, how shall I say this...colorful and most of us wear a kit that is of our favorite riders. Not that every sport in the world has fans and the uniform is sold to these fans but ours are these skin tight very-colorful some times even garish types. It's very manly to wear one in public especially if you are on a solo flight far from home. Thanks Berto, for the thumbs up seal of approval.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peests, because you are buying.

T'was the night before...

So I was sitting in the IMAX theater last Wednesday, watching Avatar for the second time, when I started thinking how can I carve out one last ride this week before the family festivities take over. In between scenes of trans-migrational soul sharing between human and Avatar and some fairly good kick a_ _  warrior stuff on screen  I mentally looked at the schedule for the next four days.
Tomorrow, Thursday, if I pick up this family member earlier in the morning to get some last minute shopping done and then drop them off at their hotel I could squeeze in a 2 hour interval/ joy ride before picking my charges for the family Christmas eve nosh. That aught to work for them and give me a chance to lose some pent up energy so I'm not a physco when the family wants to spread some cheer. And after all I want to be a good host/family member so slicing two hours out of four days should be ok, right? At least that's what I'm was telling myself that night it would all wash the next day.
Tomorrow, I thought, will get off to a good start and I'll do some good stuff on the bike and get the furnace going then watch what I my diet with out eating like a model and I won't gain much weight and therefore won;t beat myself to much. My goal in to stay within a 2-3pound gain at most with out my daily routine for 4 days.
So the upside as you know is that we get to hang with family and tell stories on each other in front of the kids who are by now all at least 20 years old. Then when that has lost it's luster we will eat and drink and be satisfied until we are fat, dumb and happy.
Looking back on the Holiday, along with familial bonds and the eating of great food I actually got in an extra ride and didn't disturb the harmony and peace of anyone and I managed some peace of my own. Hope all had a great and Joyous Holiday!
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Seeing Avatar and the impending hoiday gathering

Avatar IMAX 3D is and always will be the only and I repeat only way to see Avatar. This is the only way to see  this incredible movie. Yes it seems, to some, to be a child's movie or at best some Sci-fi only to be seen by the Star wars or Star Trek set. Oh contraire! Along with the flawless cgi is a heart and soul of, well, heart and soul found in all who are even a little awake. The story line is fresh and well thought out. the technical aspect of the  three four opposing views of the main characters, equipment used by each of the four and the bottom line internal struggle exposes our own flaws spiritual, mental and emotionally.  Nuf said, enjoy!
Speaking of the holi-daze, so here we are all trying to be true to our sport and every one and his mother in law is coming to our house for the big dinner. You know what that means don't you? I'll have some more spinach artichoke dip please. Yep, my more or less disciplined gym/cycling/diet is going to be seriously rearranged if not totally obliterated by this once a year gathering of in-laws, outlaws and the rest. In reference to Britney Murphy I'll be a guy interrupted, bad taste? Wait till you try the spinach artichoke dip!
Most of the guys and gals I have ridding with are a heck of a lot more disciplined then I am when it comes to holiday gorging, I don't know maybe it's the family gathered about the hearth; maybe it's the comfort of smelling the roast, the mashed potatoes and the pumpkin pies or may it's the 5 beers I'll swizzle before and after the dinner/game that make it easy to fall into the traditional stupor, I don't know. I for one want to welcome all the family to the house for the festivities but not gain 10 pounds or miss my beloved sport in the doing so.
Thinking of this in my noodle I at once remember that the latest issue of Bicycling mag is rife with articles on how to stay fit for spring cycling. Then I remember when I was a kid and all the coaches then use to promote time off from training so the body could rest and mend and not get warn out in a few seasons of sports. I also remember fat guys in spring training who, by mid season, were sleek powerful and lasted into the post season. I also remember stories of Bernard Hinault who didn't even start to train until the season started. The story was such that he would have his last smoke of the season on the starting of his first race and by the TDF he was in prime shape. Now I don't know if that's a true story but it makes for a good legend.
All I'm saying is take it easy on yourself and enjoy those silky smooth mashed potatoes, you know the kind you don't find in that hungry man, and thank your lucky stars that you have a good dinner to eat. Relax and enjoy that quirky family of yours, who don't have a clue why you are a cyclist but always compliment you on staying so fit. There will be plenty of time to beat yourself into submission getting ready to win the first race of the season...fatty.
If I pass you on the roas stop at Peets, because your buying.

Week 14 wrap up and other things

Last night I did the usual Thursday eve velo-club ride...alone. Strange to say that when the weather is a little dicier than normal people in Naples stay  home. So what was a little dicier? Well some rain, some chilly wind off the gulf waters and it was below 75 degrees. Burr, gives me the shivers just thinking about it (insert tongue in cheek here). Like I always say," you can't chose the weather you can only chose the ride". So I went on my scheduled ride and did well considering the blustery conditions and only added 15 minutes to the time that it takes for  group ride. This is no major feet for seasoned riders but me at for week 14 I am very happy with my progress. I am right on track with what I had projected as a build up to the ride in California.
Being of sum what sound mind there are a few things in the news that are uncompromisable to me so bear with me. I learned this week that Time magazine has made Ben Bernanke it's man of the year. You know I thought he did a great job of bilking the citizens out of billions and giving it to his bank buddies, but not man of the year! Come on, Nancy Polosi has done a great job with the trillion dollar legislation scam called universal health care and the threat to trow any American into jail who doesn't sign-up, that's really creative. Or how about Mr. Oboma accepting a Nobel PEACE prize for not doing anything accept flying around and telling everyone he want peace and we are bad Americans...that is really whack if you don't think he deserves man of the year. But the best, the ultimate person of the year move was yesterday when Hilly, that's spelled Hillary Rodham-Clinton ( I have to quote this it's to good), "COPENHAGEN -- The United States is prepared to join other rich countries in raising $100 billion in yearly climate financing for poor countries by 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Thursday at the Copenhagen talks". By Jan M. Olsen and John Heilprin ASSOCIATED PRESS. (Emphasis on words are mine).
WOW, we are going to join other RICH countries like who? Who hasn't been effected by this ression/depression? WE, the US, are  having the largest single depression since the Great Depression yet we have enough to space a few billion? Not that I even believe that we little ants on Mother Earth could do damage to the climate change, or is it global warming or is it global cooling or what is it this week? Now this is the biggist scam yet and Hilly should be man of the year for her efforts!Then there is the profit for the new 'green religion' ,Al Gore, who seems to be making billions off of this scam himself.
If I thought for one moment that this earth wasn't big enough and powerful enough and wasn't programed to defend itself I would be on the front lines of this climate thing. Think about it the earth will change poles when it want to; the earth will be hot or cold when it wants to; the earth will spew out it's dredge from the deep when it wants to and the earth will go through yet another ice age or heat spell if it wants to. The earth will also kill of the creatures living on the surface if it wants to, just ask the dinosaurs ( see ice age the movie if you don't get it). And there is not a thing you can do about it!
If you read yesterdays blog then you will know I'm serious about the world that my children, grandchildren, friends and families children and grandchildren will inherent. But that doesn't mean I am a 'green religion' zealot. I am a reasoning man that has seen, read and heard all the Eco stuff for 50years and see how I can effect what little I can effect for the positive. On the other hand I still wonder when we have had the technology for 50 years to have 125 mp gallon cars what stopped the manufacture? When we have had the hydrogen technology for cars what stopped it? How about the nuclear technology for creating electricity? What about the hundreds if not thousands of inventions for clean fuel? Who's planet is it anyway?
Bottom line is if it's my planet, or should I say ours, then whats stopping us from using this technology? The afore mentioned people who have a plan are and it's not a plan for your benefit that's who. Money can't buy a better world. Only people, everyone, can make it a better world and it has to start in your own home first. IF not there then where and if not now then when?
If I see you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Going Green

How many of us want to live a simpler life? How many of us know that we can do our part and not sacrifice our ability to to take a long journey in the family car and not have a gas bill that negates our happy time away. How many of us don't believe that going green is a new or revolutionary idea, but we are on board because we have always been on board. Am I right?
So what is going green for the average guy? It sure the heck isn't turning over our minds to some group-think-faith in how we can save mother earth by just following some guys getting rich and flying private jets telling others to live simply. It's not logical that we have an effect on the living organism called mother earth any more than we can stop the sun from shinning or change the shape of the universe. That would be truly egotistical.
So what does going green mean to most people I talk too, and they are an average group of people from the poorest in monetary terms to the high income but regular folk non the less. It means being responsible with recycling for one. That doesn't mean that buying only recycled goods is better, not at all. Many recyclables take 40% more energy to remake into useful items and that's not being responsible is it. But recycling is the way to keep the crap out of the land fill and that's a good thing.
Does being responsible mean giving up an internal combustion car? If your car is paid for that's a good thing too. We should not be expected to buy something new if the old one is still useful, economically it's senseless and it puts an even bigger strain on how to recycle millions of cars, good cars, into the system...that's stupid. A phase out would be the way to go but then where do we get the supply of juice for all the new electrical cars? Why not hydrogen, two years ago when gas prices were around $5 per gallon there were three different guys in Florida alone who had invented a means to convert your car to hydrogen. What happened to them? Not government sanctioned?  This is from a local Fox News a couple of years ago:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHCOm4tLDU
Sweden's government  teamed up with Volvo and had come up with a way to make liquid methanol on a mass scale about 5-6 years ago. It was from the garbage that was dumped by her citizens and it was cheaper than gas at that time when gas was a mere$ 2.10 a gallon.  I know we are the largest garbage producing nation on earth per capita ( Latin for Per Head), why not have regional refineries right at a central dumps then transportation of the fuel isn't an issue because the gas stations are only a few miles away. I know  this  is all to easy and I'm sure the ideas running through your heads could help cut down on the garbage in our air, land and water as well as keep every on from going nuts about this subject!

But being a cyclist let me start with what I can do immediately...ride my bike to and from work a couple days a week. How about ride my bike to the store? Better yet, how many guys ride in the velo club? Make an effort to get to the city council or county board meeting and push for more bike lanes. That way more people, including kids, can ride bikes to the park or the store or whatever. If my kids wanted to go to the park now one of us would have to drive them because it's not safe on a bike...yet. What are some of your ideas on this subject?
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

The whir

Once again I rode with the velo-club last night and as we rode over those first few miles my day and all that went with it just disappeared. I found myself listening to the whir of the drive train multiplied by 25.  The soft sound of tires on the black asphalt, the coasting cassettes and even strokes of the pedals released the deepest, almost hidden hint of today's non-sence at work. It mesmerized me and then the reality of why I am soulishly  attached to cycling.
My first cycling race I attended was as an observer. All kinds of guys and every category was to be raced that day. I placed my self at the starting line which I found out was like waiting a week to eat a good meal only to gobble it down in one bite. The flag was dropped and they were gone. So repositioning  myself to the flat just before the huge incline was a good way to see the riders as they blasted out of the right hand corner into a little strait and up this huge hill with a righty at the top. Even after a huge pile up in the cat 4 race, the last of the day, I was HOOKED.
Road racing on a small closed circuit is cool but it's not like a point to point race by any stretch of the imagination. If your a spectator at a point to point race it just goes by you in a flash,  but if your a rider it's a continual mental, physical and psychological check with yourself and other riders. However there are those times when you daze out for just a few moments here and there. That's when I first started to hear the whir.  Everyone in the saddle at that instant is in an apex of time/space with everyone else and the raw power of the moment is overwhelming. But it  is also a power that feds you and you share with everyone in this dance that intermingles both men and machine.
This is what I hear when I watch the tours, the movies and the 'this is your life' stuff on video. Not how this or that was done but the real nature of cycling, the soul exposed for all to hear if they are listening.
So last night I was again reminded of my true nature, our power when we work together and the peace it brings to us when we are chatting it up as we put kit away for another day.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Track stand

 With all the holiday activity we somtimes forget that the rare instance we get to reflect should take it. We should take it with friends, lovers and family...not necessarily in that order. I happened upon this vidio in a UK cycling mag and it just reminded me of all the talented people who go unnoticed so I wanted to shre it with you:. If you want to find it on youtube the address is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSj7VL24GV4
I also have some good music for those of you who need a laugh and be Marry or Elvis or...

 Lastly for today I want to wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah and party on like Wayne and Garth or Cid and Nancey or The Grateful Dead or whom ever. Maybe like yourselves.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying,

Who is Sky team and is Brad Wiggons a champ or a chump?

The philosophy of Sky is solid when it comes to seeking out new talent, as is all Pro-teams who want to have a winning year. The article from 'Cycling News' confirms the method behind their recruiting: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-sky-reveals-recruiting-management-methods . They UCI awarded them a 4 year contract to race and they have the bucks and desire to win and if you read other articles they seem to be on the right track but are they?
Some have reported that with Sky's wealth, derived from the Murdoch media billions, that they can out muscle any other team financial and legally (James Murdoch is the chairman of Sky’s parent company, News Corporation, and a son of News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch.). “The way the deal went through is very disrespectful, and Brad clearly went after the money, which is sad,” David Millar, a British rider, said. “Sky is a corporate behemoth that is investing a massive amount in cycling, and they had to go and poach Brad from us. I know Brad better than anyone on the team. He’ll quickly forget that this time last year, that Jonathan believed in him 10 times more than anyone.” version of this article appeared in print on December 11, 2009, on page B13 of the New YorkTimes
 Bicycling Magazines was told The three primary forces that freed Wiggins to make his desired move were his revelatory fourth place in the Tour de France (which made him far more desirable); sheer persistence by Sky and Wiggins in pursuing a transfer; and a legal theory based on contract law in European football. Ultimately, said Garmin-Transitions CEO Jonathan Vaughters, it simply wasn’t worth the effort necessary to keep Wiggins in the Garmin fold. “It’s been a long protracted process with a lot of lawyers that hasn’t been very much fun whatsoever,” said Vaughters by phone from New York...http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2009/12/10/garmin-reacts-to-wiggins-departure/

 With that establishment of Sky as a bully and able to buy or litigate the team into a good roster then what's to stop them from buying or litigating past a doping scandal? Or how about the actual negotiation of a winning Tour De France and pressuring the outcome of any race the way they want it? Examining this line of thinking leads me to think if this kind of foul play and minor corruption exists in such an evident fashion then how about things that are hidden below the surface of reported news?
Now for the other side of this same coin, how about good ole Wiggo defecting on a contract in order to cash-in on the teet of Sky.  Has he done anymore or less than anyone else who worked hard in this sport? Has he really been so great a star and under supported by Garmin-Slipstream  that working with them would be a detriment for his carrer? Would honoring his contract to ride for Garmin-Slipstream be more faverable for him later when he is in his twilight? Mr Wiggions everyone loves a winner when he wins but ignore you when you have a bad season or two...especialy when you are not an honorable man!
So lets have a look at the big payoff:  Wiggins is rumoured to have accepted an offer from Team Sky well in excess of €1 million (about £905,000), effectively tripling his estimated salary with Garmin.  Times online Dec 10th 2009. You have made it buco, you have made the big paycheck. So what will your teammates think when they have to support you and you fall short? How about the X-teammates, will they wish you well or will they do the same thing Dave Z did to George H at the 2009 TDF everytime they can, HUM? I'm just saying.
 Maybe Greg Lamond is right about the rampant, unreported corruption in the Pro-cycling circut. In his article called, "cycling's 12th centry econonic model" , by Josh Kadis, he points out otherwise yet unrelated corruption that is plauging and even drawing down the sport. A good read Nov-Dec issue Road Magazine.
Bottom line for me is, yes I love the sport; yes I will watch the TDF and other tours that are broadcast but I am dissapointed in the unsprotsman like conduct of big teams and greedy players from every sport and now it's affected my sport as well. I don't have a thing against wealth but at who's expense you make it is a problem and right now I think the real losers are the fans. Again, I'm just saying...
If I pass you on the road stop ta Peets, because your buying.

Week thirteen, early report and put the week to-bed

See that guy on the right? That's how I felt last night after my first club ride in 24 years! No I didn't feel like a 7 time TDF yellow jersey Texan, I felt all smiles and confident in my skills to keep up with the 20-25 mph group. Yeah-yeah don't trash talk me until after another couple of months say, late February or early March. If I'm not riding with the 'fast guys' then maybe you can talk trash, maybe.
So let me tell you about it. I didn't have my usual Thursday eve riding partner, my niece who is starting to show talent for this sport, she road a 20 early in the day so I was left with out. Having known about this club ride for a while and witnessing them drop some riders a couple of weeks ago when I was out at the same time, I decided it was time to test the waters and dive in.
I don't know if you all remember the first time you set out to do something for the first time but I really tried to talk myself out of it the last hour of work. I think that old 'a type guy' stepped forward and quelled any doubt of that happening! So there I was in the parking lot of the local bike store and no one was around, my first thought was I got the night wrong, I don't want to look foolish, time to go home. Again the 'a guy' brought calm and I saw some fellow cyclists arrive..whew no more screwing around, time to get the kit on and to work.
The greatest strength I have is the knowledge of when I used to ride and once we were ready to go I fell into place in the pelaton and we were underway. The warm up was a mild pace around 15-17 mph and everyone was talking and excited to be moving and getting the blood to flow. This was a pelaton and those in the center are very well protected and I rested for about 10 miles. As we came to the Gulf beach road we all of a sudden kicked it up a notch or two and were cruising @ around 26-27 mph...a little fast for some of the riders but the majority were right there. The leader asked that we slow it down and we once again were @ at a comfortable 20-22 mph.
 I saw that front of the pelaton pulling and falling back so I asked the guy next to me if we get our turn? Yes I am the kinda guy who wants to pull and show  that the new guy is not a wus! So when we came to the turn around, which is convenient because it also the end of the road, I jumped up front and found no one wanted to share this pull. Fine my 'a type guy' said I've ridden solo for so long and know this run well  it's no sweat off my back to lead alone...well maybe it is a lot of sweat off my back but I'm not going to give up and show it. Finally some other guy saw I wasn't going to back down and pulled up beside me and we pulled for about 3 miles.
Just a little insight to this club: there were 16 year old riders, 60 year old riders and a couple of strong women in the mix. It was good to see and hear the camaraderie of this group toward each other.
So as we made our way back I noticed that the group was slowing down. I wondered if they were tired and needed a break but that didn't make any sense because these guys and gals looked like they were doing fine. That's when I over heard someone say that they were getting ready for the last couple of miles...WHAT, these guys are going to SPRINT? I had pulled four times, again to be the non-wus new guy and the regulars have been sandbagging the last  couples of miles so they could to race back to the parking lot. 
No problem I thought I'll just drain it and finish where ever I finish. With that thought just leaving my minds mouth two guys blew passed me then everyone else gave it the gas. Not to be left I pulled out all I had and though I was left by 45% of the guys and one of the gals, I kept cranking hard and sure enough I reeled in four or five before the finish. The TDF it wasn't but a victory for me it was and sweet to the taste!  I had nothing left in the tank but I never had the lactic acid legs at the finish. WOW that's a first in a situation like this. I mean an all out finish after a good ride with  the adrenaline and all. I now know I'll be ready for May and my time will be spent enjoying the family on this ride and not the drudgery of hoping to just make it to the hotel! and not embarrass myself!
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets for coffee and we'll swap stories.

What a women's sweat is worth

I was reading a UK cycling magazine named 'Cycling Plus", the September issue, and low and behold there was an article on page 14 that draws attention to the disparity in salaries of womens cycling. This is not a new theme and lately I'm finding this on velo blogs, online magazines as well as their printed equals. But if you did a little deeper you find that it's not just womens cycling but that womens sport on a whole that doesn't  pay anything compared to men and sometimes it just doesn't pay anything at all.

To be start with I know that the pro's in womens sports are no holds bared, don't hold back and always press on adrenaline junkies...just like their male counterparts. These fine athletes are very perfection oriented, quality driven and honed razor sharp...again just like the pro men. So why is the pay off for these pro women so small?

Sue Bird, a member of the Seattle Storm in the WNBA, has been called a poster child for women’s athletics. Unfortunately for her, that fame hasn’t exactly translated into tremendous riches. At the beginning of her maiden year in the hoops league, she made just $57,500. Eventually, her salary increased, but not above $87,000, which, according to InsideHoops.com, was the maximum pay in the WNBA. She and her teammates received a $10,000 bonus for winning the league title in 2004.

Compare the salaries of Bird and her fellow WNBA stars to those in the NBA and you’ll see the gender gap is as big as the Grand Canyon. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, the average NBA salary rose to $3.17 million per player in the 1999-2000 season, while the average WNBA salary was about $55,000. That means the men made almost 60 times more than the women. A few WNBA players earn more than $100,000 a year, but that is only because they have side jobs, such as playing in other leagues or helping with WNBA marketing efforts. As reported Aug 27 2009 @ Askmen.com, Steve Seppersud

Gender Inequity in Professional Sports
Despite the French Open's announcement this year to offer equal prize money to both male and female champions, other female French Open competitors will still be paid considerably less than their male counterparts.

• While ESPN is commended for tripling the women's purse for Summer X 12, purses are still not equal and women competitors are significantly underrepresented in both the Summer and Winter X Games, making up only 931% of the total athletes in the Winter 2007 X Games and only 9% of the Summer 2006 X Games.
  
• Total prize money for the PGA tour, $256 million, is more than five times that of the LPGA tour, $50 million. Similar discrepancies exist throughout professional sports.
  
• For a WNBA player in the 2005 season, the minimum salary was $31,200, the maximum salary was $89,000, and the team salary cap was $673,000. For NBA players in the 2004-2005 season, the minimum salary was $385,277, the maximum salary was $15.355 million, and the team salary cap was $46 million.
  
• For finishing in third place in the 2003 Women's World Cup, each U.S. women's national soccer team member was awarded $25,000. They would have received $58,000 if they had won the Cup. For reaching the quarterfinal of the World Cup in 2002, the U.S. men's national soccer team members received $200,000 each.
  
• In 2000, the average salary for vice presidents at sports corporate sponsors was 70% higher for men than for women ($141,250 vs. $83,067). The industry's overall average base salary for women was $58,407 vs. $88,796 for men. In 2002 the overall sponsorship industry, which includes sports sponsorship, still showed a large disparity between male and female salaries. Take-home pay for males averaged $108,350 versus $71,123 for females, a 52% differential. Also, 32% of men earned a commission, compared with 12% of women. As quoted from the Womens Sports Foundation 2008, http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Content/Articles/Issues/Equity-Issues/P/Pay-Inequity-in-Athletics.aspx

 Giving this subject matter a lot of thought and reading many articles in print and on the web I realized one thing and one thing only. It should be self evident and is not attached to the quality, pride, suffering and professionalism of these women athletes..do you know what the difference is? Il post a few comments first that I found on the web:
Dumb says:
There are too many women posts complaining about the salary differences. If you want women to make more money, then reach into your pockets and buy tickets and merchandise. Don't come to sites like this and complain about it. The biggest flaw to most women's sports is the majority of women don't watch it. I'm not saying that women's sports shouldn't be allowed but they should not make the same $$ or even close. If they did the sport would be bankrupt before they could even play a game.
Jeff says:
its not sexism its entertainment i rather watch dwanye wade slam it down then watch a lay up in the WNBA women will get paid equal when their skills are on par with the male counterparts and no offence thats when hell freezes over
Bball lady says:
Let's face it! Men's basketball is just more exciting and fast paced. As a women athlete I can concede that.

So lets face it it comes down to economics, butts in the seats,  if you can't sell your product for as much as the other guy or gal, than that's  it's worth to the populace. Not that it's worthless as a contribution to society it's just worth less and as such the revenue is smaller as well as the salaries and so on.
Bottom line is there are lots of very fine female athletes and in our hearts we want them to succeed but this is entertainment and you can't legislate how sponsors, fans and society spends it money no matter how foolish it is. I for one know that if we force there to be a mandatory wage for equal rights in sports than all will suffer, that's not gender bashing that's free market. The better show wins the dough, sorry it just works that way.  I hope in the future things get better for our friends and fellow athletes who just happen to be women.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

week 12, a blog response and stuff

Week twelve was, for me, in gear and in the hunt for 'the big ride' in May 2010 . You know I had forgotten from all those years ago how much prep work there is in getting your body tuned and finding the proper balance between miles/hours in saddle/ strength and interval training  and just shear connective body training, it's fricken tough work! But it's worth it. Not to mention the valet who was inches from making me into road kill so he could earn a bigger tip for quick car retrieval. Ah tourist season! I'm fortunate that Yoga girl sees the benefit of this and has her own training that keeps her going too. So this week really kicked arsh, finally after two weeks of the flu.
It seems impossible to think that I have been re-mounted on such a fine machine as my Trek 2200 and that it had as low a mileage as it did when I got it. Again what a find and what a bike and it's responsiveness always calls for more and never backs down in a sprint, a climb, a long slow ride or just sitting in the hallway it says not so subtly,  'hey when we going for a ride!' This fine bike with "proudly made in America' all over it still gets me in a head lock and shouts the question in my brain, 'why are we made in China and for the same amount of money as when we were made in Wisconsin?' I answer,'I for one don't know and if you ask me that again I will cycle cross with you'. Then silence is restored to the home.
I had an anonymous comment on the blog " the kit, the home team and more fun for Astana" which is very welcome. My question for you dear reader is, can one answer a comment made and expect dialog or just leave it alone? Be acidic, be pithy, be obnoxious, correct me, update me but leave you name and/or dialog..OK?

Lastly these last couple of weeks brings to mind the dedication of those who have come before us. It also reminds me of the great adventures still to come in our club rides, fast touring and races in which we will endeavor to win if not place or show (sorry left over phrases from my track daze). Then there's the  rewards of competing, meeting fellow cyclist and of course the accomplishment of hideously demolishing those new friends by waiting  one minute at the finish line before they cross.
Well that's it from my side. If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying...when you catch your breath.

Open letter to Lance and Ben

Hey you guys, I really appreciate the philanthropy that both of you do when it comes to causes that effect our world. It is very responsible of the both of you to aim at the problem and not the symptom. But in the case of the "Stilller-strong" project I know that this is a misguided effort considering the gravity of the economy in the US.  For the first time since the GREAT DEPRESSION we have unemployment that is crippling our country with an estimated 15 million citizens and legal immigrants with out work.

But the both of you want to focus on Haiti as charitable cause? Do you know how many BILLIONS the IMF has given to that country with out guide lines or consequences? Ben what is the cost of having the school add new rooms and fresh water, 100 k maybe? Then raise the money from your friends or make a picture and donate that much to the school or just give it to them. Hey it's a tax write off for god's sake! http://www.stillerstrong.org/
 Lance as a Texan, an image for Trek and a business man you want to impact those who support you at home right? Then talk to the Governor of Texas and the board at Trek and get the details hammered out so jobs are brought back to the US from China in this sustainable industry.  There are lots of closed factories that could be made over green with the help of local legal jobless construction workers. The state of Texas is wanting to attract business and can help with tax incentives, training for citizens and legal immigrants and loans so Trek can once again proudly produce bikes in the US. http://txed.convio.net/flash/txed_flash3.html  In no way can they cost anymore than the Chinese made bikes unless greed is their business. In this economy it just makes dollars and cents to make a big deal out of their homecoming to 'lend a hand' with good old American know how. Just ask Henry Ford what he did to get cars in the hands of Americans in the early 1900's! Quite screwing around with this hair-brain scheme of Ben's and see the big picture. Take care of your own house first and lend a hand to the community here before we can't lend a hand to anyone else. http://www.youtube.com/livestrongarmy
 Feeling good about doing the right thing is rewarding but doing it in your home first makes you proud and those around you proud too; then helping the next door neighbor makes them proud ; then the next door neighbor and you help another and the three of you impact another. After that the work load is is a ripple that starts in the center of your community and  those ripples becomes a wave and then it can be strong enough to send around the world.  That is the legacy of early 20th century America.
 So get in touch with everyday Americans and rediscover our strength which is our pride in taking care of ourselves and then lending a hand to our  neighbor. Remember growing up in Texas and how good people looked out for each other with out the Government getting in the way with a hand out. That's the way it was  when I was growing up in the SF bay area and it's still that way if you look, even in the cities.
Just don't make an institution out of your work with a catchy motto and a big corporate building and board of directors to feel important. Don't look like a scam and a money pit with no end of donation cycle in site, that's for another 'lost cause'.Grease the wheels, step back and let everyone share in it and they will propagate it. After all we built the damns, the roads, the cities and everything here. We did it then, we can do it now with out fanfare or mug shots http://www.cyranoworks.com/HooverDam.html.
Peace to both of you and your families this holiday season.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because we are sharing the coffee.

Driving, ghosts of past and present

 I remember when I got my drivers license I was Mark Donahue incarnate.He was the first  American who dominated the racing scene on both continents and in every class of car from trans am, can am to Formula 1. He was the man and I thought I was him. For those of you who were a little after his time here is an address for ya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_donahue
Back then the DMV was a nice place to go , the drivers were more considerate and the general population were, for the most part, civil. When I grew up in the SF bay area there was actually spaces in between each town and as a prominent milk company said in it's advertisement there were farms in Berkeley. It was a different time and only kids rode bikes, or guys with out DL's

Then things began to change as it has to and low and behold in the late 70's the Cal Berkeley student population started riding bikes en-mass. Like an explosion the fat tire flyers became popular over night and then the mass produced  Puget 10 speed and Schwinn Paramount came unto the scene and finally the serious euro-rode bikes began to appear. Of course with the rode bikes came the velo shops teaming with the exotic wheels, hubs, drive trains, clothes and cool aluminum frames all the way from France and ITALY!  Now our little berg had to cope with drivers and cyclists, again that was a little more civil times so we all shared our road, sort of. But for sure the cyclist was here to stay.
Nothings really changed I guess except the addition of bike lanes and the laws that make drivers have to share the roads. You know the drivers handbook does state that it's a privilege not a right to drive and I for one am glad it says that. Most driver here in Naples are good about sharing. But when the snowbirds come down  and our streets swell to capacity then drivers lose perspective because of the fool-hardiness of visitors driving vacation style during commute hours and get in the way of delivery trucks and such at all hours of the day... it's just damn frustrating. Now add the fact that cycling is past the 'on the rise' to it's a big thing and you have got a town busting at the seems.
 So lately the cars are honking at me, while cycling, to get off the rode. Then there are the drivers who yell out their windows for me to get on the sidewalk when I'm in a bike lane already and it made me look at this whole dance between car and bike a little harder. I started to dig and wondered if the laws of Florida do stipulate how drivers interact with bikes. Yep there it was in black and white, although not in one section but spread in three places for lack of cohesiveness sake. Leave it to the bureaucrats to mess something up that should be a no brainier!
Of course with all the focus on driving etiquette wouldn't you know that as I was driving down the road that hugs the coast two cyclists, who were in full velo-club kit, were not in the ample bike lane but riding side by side in the car lane and going slow to show off their skills. First I ride this road alot and know that the bike lane is always free of debris and has enough room to move around with out getting into the car lane.That's because the tourist ride on the coastal road and the city wants them to be HAPPY! Second it drove me insane to think that guys with velo kit on, advertising their club, would be so foolish and show disrespect to cars thus giving all of us a bad name. I was not happy with them I can't imagine what the 5 to6 cars behind me thought!

Bottom line is if you want to get respect you have to give respect. Have you heard that before? It was something the old guys would say when I was a kid and nothing has changed. There is no 'cool' in being a jerk to anyone and now is a great time to show just what a mensch you really are and obey the laws of the road or you could lose your privilege of driving and while your at it ruin it for all of us who do want to enjoy our sport with out harassment. Hopefully if we use our heads and not an other part of our anatomy we can get a few new bike lanes in the future to boot.
Remember if I pass you on the road stop at peets, because your buying. I'll be in the bike lane.

Who the heck is Rock Racing?

Back in the late 80's and early 90's there was another group of out casts only this time in the NBA, who were known as the 'Motor City Bad Boys' the Detroit pistons. These guys were the hardest playing, most intimidating and outrageous guys who were hoopin' at that time. This intercity led to back-to-back championships , 1989 and 1990. The roster had the guys that didn't fit anywhere else like Dennis Roddman and Bill Laimbeer.
Now we have Rock Racing as the 'Bad boys' of cycling and they have their pictures and articles in alot of November cycling mags...why? These guys are surrounded by controversy so why all the media hype? I mean if they are doping and are not good guys why do we Americans like these guys?
First I want to give a little back round on the founder and fearless leader Michael Ball. Michael was a cyclist who had a flare for fashion design and turned that into a small empire built on denim. His clothing line is known as Rock and Republic and is doing well with high end retail stores, boutiques and his own outlets. So he set out in 2007 to get his idea on cycling off the drafting board and into the UCI world of competition...with his own money I might add. A rebel who puts his money where his mouth is, we Americans and many independent thinkers of the world can back that up weather we admit it or not.
Now here is this guy with an idea and some venture capitol and he creates this team but needs cyclists. Starting a team has got to be a huge challenge since the life span of many teams is short even for the high rollers. Then there is the subject of paychecks and will they be cashable every month and so on. Astana had that problem last year and look at their situation with the UCI now, precarious.
Rock Racing got of to a good start on the legs of it's star Rahsaan Bahati. Then in 2008 they did well with the addition of some big guns in bodied by Santiago Botero, Tyler Hamilton and Oscar Sevilla. With this new life blood and the drive of Michael 2008 was a winning season. Although hampered by doping in the earlier career of some of the Rocks cyclist  the addition of an independent testing has keep these guys on the road and off the bench.
2009  was a banner year for this team of rebels. They did a great job in the western hemisphere and got the media to take another look at them as a real contender and an up and comer. Good job guys! You know I bet if the 89-90 Detroit Pistons could say something to them I'm sure it would be , "screw'em, winners make the rules losers go home and cry!"
Any further base info can be found @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Racing#2008_Season or their own site http://www.rockracing.com/ .
Remember if I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying! Thats my rule.

The kit , the home team & more fun for Astana

 I was just looking at my new kit, bib shorts and jersey, that I ordered from of all places Hong Kong. The one I ordered is the black on white Cervelo test team and it's awesome. Ok it's not the same quality as the $250 Italian made kit but in my eyes it will be worn out in 6 months and what ever part is still intact will be used with something else. It's just economics. No worries mate! 
When I cycled  in the 80's I had to have all the best the first time, this meant saving a long time and only getting a part of the kit here or there.Then when the unimaginable happened, like going down in a race or on a ride, I was minus that piece and couldn't afford to replace it...that was a pain.. So now better to have three full sets and if there is a problem, no problem. Plus the factor of  having  the wear and tear spread around in three kits rather than just one kit.
 Which in a strange way brings me to my next topic and that is the fact that I really like several pro and continental teams not just one. As I have mentioned I bought a Cervelo kit because I like those who want to excel and they did a good job working together this last season and supported different programs in Europe and in the US. Good on 'em as they say in England. Of course I will route for LA and the Shack team with their very strong roster. And then there is Columbia and the Garmin team and BMC...well lets just say if they all are in it to win it this season should be very good from the fans point of view. Of course the Rock Racing, Kelly Financial and Sutter Homes teams look good here in the states. So whats a guy to do, pick sides? Not a chance.
I ran across this article on the shape of the Astana finances. As you know last year they had a problem about not paying their teams salaries. This makes the whole scene of the Grand Tours fall apart before they even get going.  So this year the UCI has demanded some some collateral and it's all here in this article: Astana Team and guaranteed funds for the year: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHBihy_JQ_F9OZqR3-YR5C27vMZwD9C388IO1
So all in all it's going to be a great season and like the teams lets hope we are just as focused on our goals and work together to achieve them. Just look at the Team motto on the leg of the Cervelo kit written in such a way that the riders can read it when their heads are down and need inspiration...good motto!
As usual if I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Turkey, Wookie and Barf

This Thanksgiving is like all others because we'll have family coming over, we'll have a big spread and we'll have the game playing in the back-ground...whats not to like eh? We do have a lot to be thankful for. We also have a lot to think about this year and can't just hide our collective heads in the sand, that would be disastrous to all our forthcoming Thanksgivings. But for now let us truly take more than a moment to be giving thanks that we do have a warm home, plenty of food and great family to share it with. If this is not your situation then I hope this for you, I hope that your fortune changes; I hope that by this time next year you will have found friends whom you can share this day with in joy and thanksgiving, yes like the Pilgrims.

I have a lot to be thankful for so this year I'm pledging that, as in years past but not recently, I will find a charity who serves thanksgiving dinner and help out even if it's just taking out the trash. I don't want to be the big cheese nor do I have to as a volunteer, I just want to do my part no matter how small. Next year I want to invite one or two people, who have no family in this city, to join us for dinner and enjoy their company, like we used to. This is something we must do in order to understand what Thanksgiving is all about and to be human, share the joy of the day and share the moment with those who might not have the opportunity otherwise. If I don't do this then this day, as it was first celebrated, is for naught.

I often wonder what happened between us and France that we are not as great of allies as we should be. France did so much for the US during the revolution and that should have blossomed into a filial relationship. I know that most of the reason behind the help of France was to kick King George's arsh but non the less the people of France were at one time pro-American. The proof is the colors of the flag, the statue of liberty and a lot of our customs that derive from France. If I haven't said it before let me say it now, I talk about the people of a given nation in whom we befriend, not the government. Also we don't have to be just like them to be good neighbors and friends, just look at our families...ok let's not. Any way in honor of our two countries on this day I want to share something that is both all American and all French...Chewbacca winning the Tour de France. Now that's something to give thanks about!

And lastly how about our overindulgence which leads to hang-overs and bathroom camping, not pretty but this to is a tradition for some, not me the other some. So in honor of this long standing annual event I present to you a Mog, that's man-dog who's name is Barf.  As the late-great John Candy said in the movie 'Space Balls'," ...I'm half man and half dog, I'm my own best friend!..." This year I'm going to be my own best friend and live a life of thanksgiving year round.

If I see you on the road this holiday stop at my house and share some Turkey. Peace to you, your loved ones and our Nation.

Last week, week 9

Last week was one of kneeling and calling on Ralph...alot. So needless to say no cycling was done and boy did it show at the TT spin workout tonight, I couldn't even get out of the saddle and my vo2 was completely out of sink, just in ONE WEEK! Whats up with that? The picture, at right, shows how I felt, a broken down tree wheeler in a road race world! That will only last a day or two until I regain my breath, leg and sanity...would you like cheese with that wine Mr Wus?
It's funny when I talk to others who are going in the same direction as me are as far as training for a big event and it's been a decade or more since they competed. These tough competitors are in the same place as I am, struggeling to get back to a high level of fitness and control in there sport. There is the planning for several subsets of training to get ready for minor races or a warm-up here or there just to gauge the base line progress. If that progress is to far ahead then the adjust meant to rane it in a bit in order not to over prep. Or there is just the opposite and you come away from a fast club ride or a warm-up race or century and think to yourself, ' I suck and there's no way I'll be ready,,,argh'! At that point have a Sam Adams and CHILL, rethink, plan your work and work you plan. If nothing else do speed drills so your Vo2 will be there if not your legs, the rest is your WILL.
I have five and a half months until D-day on the coast of Cali. But lets back up, I just said D-day. How interesting is that saying  in our vernacular and we relate to the complete and total release of destructive forces that hasn't been seen since WW2 and yet we don't have the will to destroy the EVIL that kills unarmed citizens on our own soil...now that is weird. We have evil men doing evil deeds that by their society is a just cause and we think they just need a hug or are misunderstood. Can anyone tell me which of our political idiots thought of that? I digress again and it won't be the last time.
 Any way I hope you  all will have a very warm and happy giving of thanks for the safety of your family, be thankful for our troops that keep us safe and keep their families in your thoughts this holy-day season.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peests, and share a little holiday cheer!

PS This just in, Radio shacks team rooster is finalized: http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/blog/team-radioshack-announces-its-2010-roster/  More to come on the races they will commit to this year.

Looking behind the curtian, Pro team finances

Good Monday to all, how are you this fine Monday? I do believe it's a fine Monday and all is right with the people of the world at least those who want to want to be alright and those who want their neighbor to be all right.
Now back to the Pro cyclists. So I have been really digging for info and I did find a few pieces albeit most are so common that hey are hardly worth repeating but for the sake of compilation I present here what I have found.
 RadioShack Partners With Seven-Time Tour de France Winner Lance Armstrong to Form New Cycling Team in 2010
 In reality, the partnership makes sense on several levels. The cost of sponsoring a team is surprisingly modest. The top team in this year's tour, Astana, is funded by companies in Kazakhstan that spent a reported $21 million. Armstrong reportedly sought to raise $20 million for his team, and some of that may come from the secondary sponsors eager to get their names on his jersey.
Information on the USPS pro team shows the down side of financing a great Pro team that has a excellent rooster: USPS-US Postal Service: http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/consumer/a/uspslance.htm
Check out this site on the Skoda team:. Skoda Car manufacturer in Czech Republic sponsorship of TDF and the reason behind this crazy venture:   http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/162806/skoda-extends-tour-de-france-partnership
This is a snapshot of  Money problems even the BIG TEAMS run into if the 3-p's are involved. For those of you who do not know who the 3-p's are it's 'piss poor planning'. Sometimes an investor or group of investors have a bunch of money and the dream of having their TEAMS name in the news is so euphoric that these guys throw out a bunch of money for the stsrt-up. Then reality hits them and the possibility that they could lose as much as they invest they swing back the outer way and withdraw the support for the season, thats after signing contracts and spending the UP-FRONT money...a big chunck of change right there.You can follow the thread if you want to but you get the idea.   Money problems@ Astana :http://www.velonews.com/article/92087/    also of interest: New riders at Astana: http://www.europeloton.com/2009/10/david-de-la-fuente-paolo-tiralongo-sign.html
LIFE as a cyclist : http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Peloton/TNT-corner/life-of-a-pro.html
For 2009, those salaries are fixed as follows: Confirmed riders: ProTour: 33.000€/annual gross salary; Professional Continental: 27.500€/annual gross salary. Neo professional riders: ProTour: 26.700€/annual gross salary; Professional Continental: 23.000€/annual gross salary.

07-30-09, 11:43 AM

I think BMC is the only UCI pro continental team in American. So teams like Jelly Belly don't have any minimum salaries

enforced by the UCI. I don't think that USA cycling has any minimum salary requirements so what these guys make is anyone's guess. My guess is that the better riders on a team like that make 20-30k dollars per year.
That's what I was thinking. I'm sorry, may it please the court, I found the UCI salary limits, but I was unsure of what the Teams in the US even are.
Big is question is are the majority of the teams in the Jelly-Belly category?
"20-30K isn't much of an increase from the 18-25K from almost 10 years ago.
Riders on U.S. domestic continental teams (formerly referred to as Division 3 pro teams) can make next to nothing. My former team went from being just a local amateur team to fielding a Division 3 pro team. The riders on that team got $500 a month during racing season, per diem for food on days they actually raced, and they could sleep in a house the team rented". This is obviously an account from a Pro rider
He goes on to say,"I would imagine that there a handful of guys on Continental teams making actual money, but the majority of them are pretty much living a subsistence existence".
Here was a little info on the continental team Kelly investment that did real well Managed from an office in downtown Minneapolis, KBS/Medifast operates on an annual budget of more than $1 million. Aaron and his 25 employees -- which include the racers, a team coach, mechanics and an office staff -- juggle a schedule that sees BS/Medifast rolling to the start line at more than 75 races a season, this year from California to the Pyrenees Mountains in France. Last update: June 30, 2008 - 11:59 AM star-tribune Minneapolis
Looking back on the history of the sport I see that nothing in the sport has changed as far as the guys and gals that ride with their hearts. Most aren't making much money but their link with past is an unbroken line from the beginning of the men who first thought, hey lets do something crazy like ride our bikes over some insanely high mountains for three weeks and who ever doesn't die ...WINS! Thanks to those brave souls who decided to start this great sport.
So for now and until more Teams Financial Reports are available I 'll let it rest, I really need your help though on this one.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.
PS thanks for readiing!

     

FRANCAISE DES JEUX

Saleries of Pro Sports

I'm not really into sports per say let alone pro-sports. However  I do like the occasional get together over beer and pizza to shout for a team I think I like and ridicule someone elseses team. That for me is as enjoyable as it gets. But looking in depth at Pro-cycling, my passion and weakness, and it's finances I want to seek out other pro-sports salaries as one comparison to the wonderful world of our 'Tour' kings and princes.
OK, so we will start with the top 20 as reported online by "Free money finance"  in  August of 2006, three years ago and this is per Annam. This includes salaries, bonus, endorsements...the works:
In the US
1. Tiger Woods, Golf, $97,628,024
2. Phil Mickelson, Golf, $45,971,710
3. Shaquille O'Neal, Basketball, $34,000,000
4. Kobe Bryant, Basketball, $33,656,932
5. Carson Palmer, Football, $31,550,000
6. LeBron James, Basketball, $28,621,800
7. Derek Jeter, Baseball, $28,000,000
8. Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, $27,000,000
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Auto Racing, $25,761,830
10. Michael Vick, Football, $25,400,000
 In Europe

1. Michael Schumacher, Auto Racing, $80,000,000
2. Valentino Rossi, Motorcycle Racing, $30,000,000
3. Ronaldinho, Soccer, $29,100,000
4. Maria Sharapova, Tennis, $25,421,283
5. David Beckham, Soccer, $23,000,000
6. Ichiro Suzuki, Baseball, $22,500,000
7. Roger Federer, Tennis, $22,137,018
8. Ronaldo, Soccer, $21,600,000
9. Hideki Matsui, Baseball, $21,000,0009
10. Christian Vieri, Soccer, $20,000,000
So why is it so impossible to think that a pro-cyclist is worth at least 10 million a year given that in 2006 these guys were making this kind of money? Mind you I am not advocating that all the TOP DOGS get more than their share but that's all hinged on what they attract to a Tour, what they attract  watch to watch on Tv/internet and what they can sell, in other words it's all based on YOU!
Finding anything on the pro-cycling teams finances and the individual salaries has proved to be quite difficult. However in light of the other sports salaries I don't think I would be as shocked at our cycle heroes salaries given that the income quoted above is almost four years ago!  Also in light of the amount of work produced and finesse/strategy by the individuals and their teams at the Pro-cycling level I think a 'good living' is due each one including the DOMESTICS
I guess bottom line is with out finding raw numbers, but lots of speculation in the blogs, I would have to side with the Pro teams to be paid in the realm of the other sports stars. But why is it such a mystery anyway? Although looking at the supposed salary cap on American executives and in some cases skilled workers here, why are the sportsmen getting the lions share of $$$ for playing a game and we foot the bill? Convoluted to say the least. More on Monday and then the whole dreary thing will be over with...maybe.

Remember if I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

In the shop for repairs

Working on a new view, see you later?

closed today for mental repair

be back after my bannana break...peace

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtian

I worked a lot of years for corporations in order to put dollars to the bottom line for share holders, partnerships and owners. No matter the ideal or dogma they all had one mantra. 'plan your work and work your plan'. It's not like you haven't heard it before and it sounds easy right? But in average guy lingo that means have a goal and work towards that goal with out to many distractions and you'll make it, kinda like buying a house...but let's not open that can of worms!
So as I am reading the cycle mags and watching all the 'Tours' I can on the internet and also reading the Pro-cycle news and blogs, and there is a lot of 'em, my corporate mind took over. All I began to see is $ $ $ $'s flying around and of course I began to think about the Plan. You know the plan, the big picture the whole enchilada, the Business Plan of a Pro cycling team. So with a ton of research on Google,which didn't yield much, I did manage find the Pro team Application and general outline of how UCI, the pro governing body, wants to keep all the ducks in a row...http://www.wiwi.uni-hannover.de/Forschung/Diskussionspapiere/dp-345.pdf
The Meat really begins on page 5 of this 32 page treatise on ' what a governing body has to do in order to get some respect' piece. Hey these athletes are the hardiest working of any sport with an average of 25,000, yes that's thousand, miles a year on a pro's legs. And yes cycling did fall on it's face with all the doping and illicit behavior that goes along with any sport back before Eddy Merckx. So it is understandable that in order to be world class you have to look, feel, smell and present yourself to be, dare I say it...World Class. All cynicism aside I love this sport and I  for one want it to be for families not thugs and bookies. No disrespect to any soccer teams or their regional events it may or may not resemble.
Here is just  a little exert from pg 5 of the application so you get a glimmer of what I'm talking about:
The teams must apply for a Pro Tour License, which is limited to 20 Teams and runs 4 years,
costing EUR 100.000 (UCI 2006). Additional fees are to be paid for each race. Each Pro Tour
Team has to participate in all Pro Tour races and has to employ 25 riders. Also race organizers
have to apply for a Pro Tour license, with a maximum of 30 events being licensed per
year. The UCI system comprehends either two lower categories, the Continental Pro Teams,
which can be invited to Pro Tour races, and Continental UCI-Teams. No promotions and relegation's
are allowed for. That's $149,649 American just for the License, makes me have second thoughts about owning my own team. Oh and that's in 2006 dollars!
Reading this I know I'm just scratching the surface and an investigative journalist I'm not. I  want to understand how these organizations  function and in that way you can understand the shear magnitude of planning and money it takes before our favorite teams and heroes even get to the starting line for the first race of the season. The plan also calculates having cash reserves for the care of  the whole team all season in paychecks and accident care should someone break a collar bone or wrist or something. No one ever plans one, they just happen...Cheers to an accident free year.
More tommorow and I hope your still right there with me. Untill then if I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

I'm just saying

The wife and I were dining al-fresco Saturday afternoon and as usual having a fine talk about things in general, sometimes brushing over social-political subjects. She is very in touch with the Peace thru love ideal and I, well I try to encompass that and keep an eye on those who are saying it but not walking it out...bless my yoga girls soul.  When comparing notes we found that the ones who shout racist and bigot the loudest are usually the ones who themselves are profiting from this agenda. Do you get me so far?
It really sickens me and most people who are trying to be good to others when all they see is the finger pointers tell them that they are racists, homophobes, xenophobes,  haters of colors and different religions and worst of all...American patriots, oh how dreadful! Suddenly the worst-most ugly dreadful person to be is an American who loves his country. I wonder how these same people feel about those French when cheering on their countrymen at the Tour of France. How do they feel about the Italians or the Spaniards during their Tours, dreadful right?
So how about those dreadful smokers of tobacco and those horrible people who eat fast food? WOW, now there is a couple of hate groups  huh, smokers and overweight people. Why then are we going after these two groups and not the real haters? Haters of diversity in all aspects of life.
For example they, them, those who are the problem, hate cigarettes but not smoking of anything else like marijuana; those who hate fast food but insist on spraying our produce with chemicals that kills our children's bodies ability to fight sickness and among another things, cancer; Those who hate gasoline power but have no way to keep our nation going and finally for this day those who want to kill the health insurance companies because they will be making trillions off the "new system" or more relevant from the very people they call the haters.We know it would be different if all of them in the government had the exact same coverage as they are trying to give us, RIGHT!
Bottom line if you want Peace work towards it, not with an Ak-47 or a suicide vest or a 1000 page bill that nobody can understand, but with your two feet. Tell a co-worker that you like working with them; tell a next door neighbor that you got their back; don't let anyone badmouth another person or religon in your presence and lastly, most importantly be part of the solution and not the problem by trusting people of other colors and religions but not blindly. PC just isn't, it's stupid and you are not stupid.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

PS, cycling for peace in the middle east :http://www.heiseheise.com/1241/cycling-for-peace-from-rome-to-mecca
 The poster here shows cyclist  for peace in Berlin Germany circa 1954, this is not a new idea but it is time for us to see it through.