Lucky Luke.

My strong feeling is that the best we can hope for is a major change at the highest level of the sport. The UCI has been complicit in much of the Armstrong story and continues to act in a 'kingmaker' role. We're still seeing it, they've just changed the team that they're backing. The people with the power to affect cycling's reputation are abusing that power in a way that does a disservice to everybody, fans, sponsors and riders alike. Unless they are brought down and the problems turned inside out, I don't believe we can change the sport. However if we just say well there's nothing to be done about this, I think that's a very wrong approach to take. The evidence in this case points to Armstrong being more than just another one of the doping riders. He, Bruyneel and the UCI steered the sport down that path. This is our sport, we pay the bills at the end of the day and we have the power to demand that **** gets sorted out.

Lance had the opportunity to go to arbitration and tell us all about the supply chain. It's clear he has no interest in doing that. I'm also not convinced by the analogy of dope dealer / junkie. These are medical drugs in 99% of the cases, produced by pharmaceutical companies, with limited distribution channels, and requiring expert medical knowledge in order to properly administer them, whilst still escaping detection. The drugs originated on the scene because of certain doping doctors, and two of these doctors - by and large the worst offenders that we know about - Ferrari, del Moral, have been given lifetime bans. The place to combat the problem is at the top level of the sport. The example is set, methods of evasion learned, new doping techniques popularised, blind eyes turned, all at the highest level where the most money is to be made, by athletes and organising bodies. If you've any interest in clean cycling how could you be anything but relieved or pleased by what is happening?

The thing is many people weren't silenced and have been speaking out for years, only to be shouted down and rubbished by the LA PR machine.The world needs to hear the evidence though. It is there and there are many people who live in fear of it being made public. I totally agree that UCI must be exposed for their level of complicity and corruption. As Kimmage and Walsh have said, it's not about Lance it's about cycling and the future of the sport. You have to burn it down to make a fresh start. http://www.rte.ie/ra...75251%3A0%3A%3A

Best 'never tested positive' rebuttal I've seen, nicely summarised http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=998716&postcount=10 http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/qt/?title=Lance+Armstrong+Analysis,+interviews+w/+David+Walsh+&+Doug+Ullman&dashboard=&id=velorooms.com/files/bbc_radio_five_live_ullman_slater_walsh_240812.mp3&yr=2012

FNB apparently have a department that migrates all your standing orders for you. This is also a major concern for me.

I am with Standard Bank and am in the process of moving to FNB. Standard Bank seem more like a comedy outfit than a bank to me. My sense of humour has run dry though. All of the jokes were on me in the end. But I'll have the last laugh in a couple of weeks.

Yoh! We better hang on to our swimming coach before Team Sky poaches him for the 2013 TDF

Personally I've trained pretty hard and found taking on too much fuel just means you lose less weight.

I also struggled with the gag reflex when I saw the 15k estimate for supplements. I hope the OP's coaching is better than their PR and marketing strategy.

sounds like I'm buying insurance not riding my bike. I think I'll give the epic a skip if this is what is required.

You said it first, but you need to really spell it out for these guys.

I think we're pretty much on the same page. My feeling is the opposite of the thread title : let the stupid people keep riding their bikes at all costs. Keep the numbnuts away from motorised vehicles of any kind. There are more than enough mentally challenged drivers cluttering up the road already.

That post went over my head, I know some of the Aurecon guys, but I'm obviously not clever enough to know what the poster is on about.

Guys who can't ride properly should be out of the traffic, totally agree with you. At the same time thank God the spatially challenged choose to use a 15kg vehicle and not a two ton one. I'd much rather have them on bikes than in a car, SUV, bakkie or otherwise motorised vehicle.Riding badly is a separate issue I think.Motorists can't seem to make the logical leap : by riding bikes we are doing them a favour. One less exhaust pipe, one less burden on the public health system and most immediately, one less bumper in front hindering your progress. Very difficult for a bike to hold up traffic or cause you harm like cars do.

Speaking generally it's ridiculous to make a law or even expect that cyclists would always use the cycle lane at all times (where one exists) and be banned from using the road on that stretch. As has been stated above there are times when it's not practical to use the lane. Either because of riding conditions / bunch size or more often than not, because of the state of the lane itself. That said I am of course pleased we have the lanes and I believe the Milnerton ones are something of an asset for the city. However I'm simply not prepared to forfeit my road-going rights just because they - or any other lanes - exist. Removing cyclists from the road should neither be a goal nor considered a solution to vehicle / car problems. Cars and cyclists need to learn to co-exist. Fact.

I think norman has a natural advantage / lower center of gravity than the rest of us what with his brains being much lower down.

more scenes like this to follow shortly.. http://www.highroadsports.com/images/uploads/263-portrait.jpg?1241255447 http://www.highroadsports.com/news/92-Wiggins-and-Cavendish-Win-Gold-in-the-Madison

50km/h on the dot

Ok Wiggins owned that

Well I've no idea what they will or won't say to him, but Wiggins starts only 3 minutes behind him so no need for crystal balls.

Anyone betting on Froome winning the TT today? If his ear-brake doesn't slow him down it might happen...

Crap not even a TT helmet plus the daft looking haircut flapping in the wind - what was the frenchie thinking?

That's the guy, pony tail and glasses Don't think the TT was on the Champs Elysee though was it?

I just met Kevin at the shebeen and he said to say thanks very much, he and the brothers feel a lot safer now that he has converted your weaponry into Black Label quarts.

Seriously? Nobody wins the GC on the last day, not even in 1989 when Hinault trailed Lemond by 8 seconds was there a GC scrap on the Champs Elysee stage. Not a hope in hell that Froome will challenge Wiggo for the win I'm afraid. A more mountainous Tour next year is inevitable though, and Sky will have to think seriously about who gets to lead the team.