Playing hookey and looking at Lance's legacy
Thursday morning: Skiing at Bradford Ski Area in Haverhill
Friday: 15 miles in 30-degree weather
I played hookey on Thursday, and skied Bradford. My friend, Ron, and I took as may runs as we could before 1 p.m. Today, I hopped on the red Allez and rode a slow 15 miles around Marblehead in the cold. I learned an important lesson, today. If you use your iPhone as a cycling computer, make sure it's fully charged or it will crap out.
I saw the news that federal prosecutors had dropped the doping case against Lance Armstrong. The Associated Press reporter does a good job of summarizing why a cloud will remain over Armstrong's legacy, and why this will not be the end of nagging doubts among everyday cycling fans:
Read the AP story in The Sporting News to get Armstrong's reaction.
The gist of this story is prosecutors wanted to see if there was a doping conspiracy afoot, not so much to answer the question whether or not Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs. Armstrong has never tested positive. In my opinion, doubts will linger among some fans, and I do not know if that is a good thing or a bad thing for the sport. Clearing the air is always a good thing, and I think cycling fans were looking forward to some sort of trial to see what evidence came out of it. Then, there's the work Armstrong's Livestrong is doing by giving hope to those who struggle with a cancer diagnosis, and for whom the odds are long. That's what sets him apart from other riders caught up in the doping scandals in the minds of many cycling fans. I lost a good friend to breast cancer, so Armstrong's work gives me and others inspiration, so that is what gives him a pass in the minds of many.
Having met Tyler Hamilton on the MS Global 2011 ride last summer, I met someone who was humble, helping and generous with his time and advice to fellow riders. So, it pains me to think how this might rebound on him and his family. I'm hoping we can all move past these dopey episodes and the sport betters itself.
As a naive cycling fan, I want to look past the faults and failings of the great riders from the not to distant past. Cycling fans want to celebrate their achievements because they know the riders are only human, and their greatness on the bike makes us believe we can achieve something in our lives, in the saddle, maybe conquer that great climb up Greenwood Avenue or win the Tuesday night sprint up Marblehead Neck, someday.
Then again, maybe not
Friday: 15 miles in 30-degree weather
I played hookey on Thursday, and skied Bradford. My friend, Ron, and I took as may runs as we could before 1 p.m. Today, I hopped on the red Allez and rode a slow 15 miles around Marblehead in the cold. I learned an important lesson, today. If you use your iPhone as a cycling computer, make sure it's fully charged or it will crap out.
What will be Lance's legacy?
I saw the news that federal prosecutors had dropped the doping case against Lance Armstrong. The Associated Press reporter does a good job of summarizing why a cloud will remain over Armstrong's legacy, and why this will not be the end of nagging doubts among everyday cycling fans:
The hurdle for prosecutors wasn't so much to prove whether any particular cyclist used drugs, but to determine if Armstrong and other team members violated federal conspiracy, fraud or racketeering charges.
Read the AP story in The Sporting News to get Armstrong's reaction.
The gist of this story is prosecutors wanted to see if there was a doping conspiracy afoot, not so much to answer the question whether or not Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs. Armstrong has never tested positive. In my opinion, doubts will linger among some fans, and I do not know if that is a good thing or a bad thing for the sport. Clearing the air is always a good thing, and I think cycling fans were looking forward to some sort of trial to see what evidence came out of it. Then, there's the work Armstrong's Livestrong is doing by giving hope to those who struggle with a cancer diagnosis, and for whom the odds are long. That's what sets him apart from other riders caught up in the doping scandals in the minds of many cycling fans. I lost a good friend to breast cancer, so Armstrong's work gives me and others inspiration, so that is what gives him a pass in the minds of many.
Having met Tyler Hamilton on the MS Global 2011 ride last summer, I met someone who was humble, helping and generous with his time and advice to fellow riders. So, it pains me to think how this might rebound on him and his family. I'm hoping we can all move past these dopey episodes and the sport betters itself.
As a naive cycling fan, I want to look past the faults and failings of the great riders from the not to distant past. Cycling fans want to celebrate their achievements because they know the riders are only human, and their greatness on the bike makes us believe we can achieve something in our lives, in the saddle, maybe conquer that great climb up Greenwood Avenue or win the Tuesday night sprint up Marblehead Neck, someday.
Then again, maybe not
posted by Ethan Forman at 8:05 AM
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