dracs

True story. And the fans.

But that is what some of us have been saying all along and taking abuse for it. You don't have to like or even accept the game - but don't pretend Armstrong was playing a different game to everyone else (and therefore treat him differently to everyone else...)

Stupid question perhaps, but couldn't that damn be made a whole lot bigger (looking at that valley)... Just thinking of PE's endless water supply problems (drought drought drought flood).

He looks a little silly but it goes to show the mindset of the peleton - guys were playing the cards they were dealt. most of the top guys (Indurain, Mercx before him, Contador after him) etc doped to the extent they could without (generally) getting caught cos that was the game. Sure (very few) others decided to either accept poor odds and stay clean or fold cos they thought the game stunk / decks were stacked and they didn't want to go there. Point is though Armstrongs attitude is not so shocking to the peleton of the era - hence most of them keeping quiet. Those that are speeking out are generally either self serving in what they say now (eg Millar looking for a new career, tyler and the gang looking to minimise their punishment and transfer responsibility for their actions) or are suffering from foot in mouth (as is big mig)

And on Garmin connect with elevation correction I got +1,260m / -1351m... So one would think they all run off the same map data - why the big variances with elevation correction enabled...

So why would you not concede LA was an exceptional athlete in that case?

I think Mapmyride underestimates quite often... As far as I know really just the one climb missing - so should still be 900m or so.

Not a popular point to make right now and pls not being offered as a denfence, but if you read the affidavits (rather than USADA's re-telling of them in their "reasoned decision") of Levi, Frankie, Tyler etc al it is very very clear that all the top contenders were doing the same stuff - so disingenuous to pretend his performances on the juice were not still impressive in relative terms.. The popular answer to that is he spent more / did more drugs etc - but that would be really naive to think. The top guys on other teams were taking every advantage they could legal or not - and many also worked with Ferrari as well...

Ja nee in all honestly no - knowing now that he almost certainly was on the juice for his tri's as well - - no I wouldn't want to watch it. But believing / hoping he wasn't it would have been good to watch. I can live with those contradictions.

And I would have still loved to have seen what he could have done at Kona this year...

Should be the year of PB's I think....

Is this a surprise considering Pat laid into tyler and floyed yesterday? That said I would agree - pat should go - but I would also like other relics of the past such as Hamilton to also disapear quietly off into the sunset. Neither will happen though.

Great post and nice parenting - and sometimes it takes an 11 year old to get a good perspective on things Talk about a minefield!

you are putting a lot of faith in the word of an admitted liar.

IMO Tyler is hardly a hero - he has profiteered from this mess AFTER being bust. In his defence he hasn't pretended to be hero though even if everything he has done has been self-serving. He has also admitted that had he not been found out would would also have likely continued to deny... Which means he is both a doper AND a defiant cheat - just like prime evil himself. See link... http://www.news.com....0-1226497727051 Speaking on Melbourne radio, Hamilton admitted he may likely have been "prepared to go to the grave" with his own secrets before being caught However once sprung, he knew he had to plough on and has urged Armstrong to do the same, suggesting it will lead to a happier life. "I just feel for his situation," Hamilton told SEN on Wednesday morning. "It's got to be hard. He's got to be a broken soul right now. "It's never too late to tell the truth. There's going to be consequences. "There's probably a lot of money at stake if he tells the truth, but I guarantee he's going to lead a much happier second half of his life if he comes out and comes clean." He also shows some empathy for Arstrong in between profiting from all this. I guess this may be because he knows that he, Lance and much of the Peleton are really all the same at the end of the day. lance was simply the most successful cheat of the lot and for that he will pay the biggest price.

So glad someone else asked this! I was coming over all inedequate like...

I think thats on the high side for a 2008 aluminium frame with 105... was thinking more like 4k or so Also to the OP - are you sure the frame is the right size for you? At 60cm you had better be tall...

I'm all for the fluffy lions (and prize money) being claimed back if they apply the same to Levi, Tyler, Millar, Floyed, Big George etc etc etc etc.

Just checked - it was 5.8...Not arguing with you Topwine - I admittedly don't know enough to do so even if i wanted to. Just curious on the science of what defines CR since Noakes makes it clear that he is not advocating for people who do not have this...

haha ok flip! Well I have read contradcitory opinions on the value of BMI, but yes, on that scale I am generally around 25 and drop to about 24 when triaing hard (just hit that now). So I believe that places me at the upper-end of "healthy". That said I would love to drop another 4 or 5kg and cannot get there with my current diet. I wouldn't say I have any other symptoms but I do tend to try eat small meals throughout the day otherwise I definately get energy dips. what the vitality health check people say is "normal"...

Agree - its force majeure. Or put differently "S*** happens" bad luck to those affected but hopefully the cyclist is OK.

I'll be surprised if UCI don't ratify the USADA decisions - simply becasue at this point they will be trying to save their own individual bacons... It would be good if they appealed the 6 month bans (i.e. take them up to 2 yrs) but they probably won't.

Ja so a lot of that is qualitative and subject to interpretation - except for fasting blood sugar levels (and BG levels - what are those?) On the blood glucose my tests have always been in the normal range though don't recall exact numbers. I'm kind of with Andy on this - I'm intrigued but this is a big lifestyle change and I wouldn't want to go down the road without knowing that 1. I am really an ideal candidate, and 2. I need to do a lot more research first...

exactly and I think this sometimes can make the big clubs look bad... if a group of fun riders are 3 or 4 abreast going along at 15kph, a club group of 20 or 30 riders have to go around them - which means for a moment they will be forced to take up the road. I can only speak for the groups I ride in and we stick to the left and never more than 2-abreast.

Just do it man. it sucks watching / hearing your mates go on about it (trust me that was me the last 2 years hence finally doing my first one). I will also be run/walk/running - just becasue thats how I roll (when not on wheels)