a nobel cause...

..but who hasn't got one these days?

i am bad ass.

here's the proof.

who else do you know that can score free lower level tickets to prince on the day of the show?

that's right. me!

you know who else is bad ass?

prince himself.

and of course, there's perennial bad ass:
robbie mcewen.


(from steephill.tv)

but, he still doesn't get to see prince.
in minneapolis.
for free.
opening the set with purple rain.

although, i'm pretty sure he has been relegated for rule 104 before...
maybe we are equally bad ass.

anyone see the stage today?
man, cancellara got caught in a crash near the end of the stage. (video here, final 1k then the crash).
but, thank god it happened at 2.4k otherwise he would not be within the "safe zone"... i.e . if it happened at say 10k from the finish there is no way they would give him the same time as the finishers.

fuck if he is the maillot jaune.
fuck if he is the world champion.

well, that's what the french would say anyway.


p.s. the iceman is also a badass for hooking me up with the tickets! thanks iceman!

i guess i'm pretty bad ass.

Rule 104(a): "No rider or licensee may be disrespectful toward organizers, officials, riders or spectators [warning for minor offense; possible relegation of rider; and/or up to a $50 fine]."

or maybe,

Rule 104(c) "(c) No licensee may assault (an unlawful attempt, coupled with the present ability, to commit a violent injury on the person of another) or do battery (any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another) to anyone connected with any event (including but not limited to riders, officials, spectators, public officials, etc...) held under a USA Cycling permit. [disqualified from the event, prohibited from participating in another event for 72 hours & suspended for up to one (1) year after due process]"

hmmm, here's how i remember the afternoon of the northfield crit going...

1. at the line, official states all the usual pre-race stuff, plus a bit about the pace car. "there is a pace car on the course, so if it is coming up behind you please be aware of it, and move over to the side of the road, for it to safely pass".

2. race starts. i'm dropped in .5 laps.

3. 3 laps later at the start finish, official from earlier points to the side of the road and says only, "pacecar". i see that indeed the pacecar is a block and a half behind me, so i move to the side and continue riding. as instructed at the startline.

4. car and following peloton pass me, i try to latch on the back... to no avail.

5. crossing the line the next time i coast slowly past the officials, hold my fully unzipped jersey down so they can clearly see my number, and say "i'm done".

6. check the results to see if i got 2nd or 3rd to last. it actually says DQ - rule 104

7. reading up on the rule, i think it must be an attempt at a joke, or an error.
considering i could not have been disrespectful to;
a rider, (i was never even in the field. plus super rookie wasn't there, who else am i gonna trash talk??).
an official, (as the only thing said to them was to report my exit).
or the organizer, (didn't see him, i'm sure he was busy. don't really know him anyway).

any ideas?
perhaps my track rep got me confused with one of the carneys?

oh well.
i guess it just preserves my bad-ass rep.

so, what's new?

well, i'm back.
i've been back for a bit now, but i really haven't had a lot of time to type shit out...
and i still don't really.

i do, however, have some observations about minneapolis since my return.
you wouldn't think much could really change in 2.5 weeks, but it kinda does.

one, it's hotter here than in southern spain.
total b.s.

also, the track needs a revamp of upgrade policy.
there are some glaring mistakes right now, and it came to a head last thursday.
i also really have a problem with the cat 3's being allowed to race with the 1/2's at the end of the night.
you know, right when they've just finished their endurance race and are blown.
how is that a good idea?

when i moved up from cat 3 i was all but winning at will, and totally in control (i felt) of the cat 3 races... but my first 1/2 races i was just hanging onto the back. ...and barely.
it was a big jump in ability level, and there is no way i could have raced after completing a cat3 60 lap race.
i think tuesday night structured training is the place for cat3's to gain more skill, not in the 1/2 race.
i don't think there is any argument that 2 tired cat 3's caused the crash in the 1/2 race that broke doug regesters collarbone. it probably could have been avoided.
and also in the 4/5 crash as well, as outlined by dan-o and kruse, here.

another thing is this, from the mcf board:

Personally I think that the Tour/UCI making the riders sign a document stating that they will give up a years salary if found to be doping is total bull.

this is one of the captains of the mn junior racing program.

They(Tour/UCI) has known for years the extent of the doping and have profited from it. You could argue that doping has made bike races much more exciting with the higher speeds and number of riders that can win on any given day.

you could argue that... if you support a culture of dope, and don't give a fuck about the athletes over your entertainment.

What's is the [rider] supposed to do? Go back to nothing or do what it takes to keep playing/working?

if by "what it takes", you mean training... then yes.
if by "what it takes" you mean dope, then no. absolutely not.

Yes, doping to win is wrong BUT When is the Tour/UCI going to give money back to the sponsors? When are the sponsors going to give money back to consumers(that purchased products because of cycling sponsorship)? When is any Professional league [NFL, MBL, etc.] going to refund season tickets holders? So why should the riders give back money if nobody else is?

this is missing the point. in my opinion.
the tour/uci isn't so much giving "money back to the sponsors", as the sponsors are going to stop giving money to cycling.
liberty mutual, and wurth pulling sponsorship is a huge blow.
they know that.
i think if any more major sponsors pull out, cycling will become a pretty marginalized (even in europe) sport.
maybe it's unfair that pro cyclists get tested 500% more than any other athletes, but that is the way it is.
what's actually b.s. is that they can't pass the tests...
i think we have a right to expect a clean race.
i for one think immediate lifetime bans is not out of line.

if the reason for doping is the "pressure to win" from management and sponsors, maybe we should apply greater pressure not to.

minneapolis is a funny, backwards place.

your thoughts?