Category: cycling

Lance Armstrong: Enough is enough.

On By Rick McIn cycling, ethics, sport - pro2 Comments

Lance Armstrong:

AUSTIN, Texas – August 23rd, 2012 – There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, “Enough is enough.” For me, that time is now.

I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart’s unconstitutional witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. …

LanceArmstrong.com

… Lance Armstrong says he will not fight charges brought by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, a surprising decision that sets the stage for the cyclist to be stripped of the Tour de France titles that turned him into an American hero. …

Armstrong refuses arbitration; faces sanctions

I’ve clung to hope that Lance is actually innocent, despite the dozens of top Tour riders of his era found guilty.

Ben Johnson, the sprinter, was a doper. Stripped of the Olympic Gold in the 100m in Seoul.

Coach Charlie Francis had all his athletes, including Ben, doping. Charlie claimed most of the top guys of the era were — including Carl Lewis.

Ben was retroactively stripped of his 1987 World Record — a mistake, I thought. Going back in history to re-test under new protocols is unfair. Unethical.

I’m sympathetic of Lance’s position.

thanks Doug Davis

On By Rick McIn cycling, friendsLeave a comment

I spent a couple of weeks hanging out with Doug, his wife Diana, and friends in Port Townsend, Washington.

During the winter Doug does much of his training on the porch, monitoring progress recumbent with multiple “apps”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Diana and I liked how his body heat melted the frost off the window one chilly morning.

Expedition Idaho – the movie

On By Rick McIn cycling, kayakingLeave a comment

Expedition Idaho Trailer, just released.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Expedition Idaho 2011 was a 6 day, 500mi adventure race hosted by Dave Adlard.

Legendary Randy Ericksen will be releasing the full official video early in the new year.

ExpId winners Thule went on to win the World Championships in Tasmania.

Andes to jungle bike ride

On By Rick McIn best bike rides, cyclingLeave a comment

I’ve done several, including the standard World’s Most Dangerous Road in Bolivia. I did that with Gravity Bolivia.

Here’s their NEW single track adventure.

… Imagine this: a 78 km downhill with a vertical drop of 3500 meters. You start at 4800 meters altitude and end up at 1300m. The most amazing thing is that you ride on an old and lonesome Inca trail, starting from high altitude landscapes and finishing in the jungle, not far from coca fields.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo. (includes 1.5km zip line at the end)

It looks mellow, but it’s not. Rough terrain, even if it’s a road.

One of the best bike rides in the world. No doubt.

Thanks Alistair Matthew from Gravity Bolivia for sending me the link.

(via Pink Bike)