I'm a doper!

Oh wait a minute, what I meant to say was that - I'm a dope.

!996 winner of the TdF is???? With the top three - Riis, Ulrich, and Virenque - all admitted or highly suspected of doping who gets the credit for the win? Peter Luttenberger, who placed 5th. Because 4th place Laurent Dufaux (like Virenque) was part of the doping Festina team a few years later ('98) and shouldn't be eligible either. Crap - nobody wins OK!

I thought, naively, most of the racers who where cycling's top winners raced that way because they were extraordinarily talented. But with the news out of T-Mobile this week of Riis, Aldag, Zabel et al. it seems as if the peloton is in danger of imploding once more.

With the likes of Jan Ullrich, Roberto Haras, Johan Museeuw, Oscar Sevilla, Santiago Botero, Jorg Jaksche, David Miller, Franki Andreau, Joseba Beloki, Tyler Hamilton, Ivan Basso and Francisco Mancebo; just to name a few. Top names all! And it turns out that most, if not all, are either admitted, convicted or highly suspected dopers (of one sort or another).

My suspicions are further peeked by Greg Lemond who continues his assault of doping allegations on fellow American TdF winners - previously against Lance ("If Armstrong's clean, it's the greatest comeback. And if he's not, then it's the greatest fraud"), and now against Floyd at his USADA hearing.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, he "...doth protest too much, methinks." Certainly brings into question how a guy who after being shot by his brother-in-law in '87, to comeback (with 37 shotgun pellets remaining in his body, including some in the lining of his heart) to win twice more in '89 & '90. How's that for the pot calling the kettle black?

Like I said - I'm the dope!

Fast Axley dude

International Axley racer Phil Lew ("Pepi") racing toward a win in the 40+ Masters division outside Beijing recently.

The answer is - ultimate winner of 2006 TdF

Question..... Who is Andreas Klöden?

Velonews reports 2006 TdF runner-up Oscar Pereiro (who has much to gain if his former Phonak teammate Floyd Landis is stripped of the title) has a possible link to Operación Puerto and would rather quit the sport than give his DNA as evidence to prove his innocence.

Boys & girls can you spell G-U-I-L-T-Y? To give up the personal & professional prestige of winning the TdF rather than provide a DNA sample to prove he raced clean; it doesn't make any sense. Nobody said these guys are very well educated - either his stubborn pride is getting in the way of common sense, or...

WSBA Number 4 Sale

#120 (matches my resting HR) - never used in 2007 season. Both jersey numbers and plastic frame plate are in premium condition, fresh out of envelope, no cuts or tears, never folded, pinned or otherwise modified. Collectors & dealers need not inquire - serious racers only!

PBS Frontline broadcast

The Frontline broadcast tonight - Spying on the Home Front was an excellent piece of journalism. In fact just mentioning that will probably kick in some supercomputer at the NSA to add me to their terrorism watch list and you will be as well if you read this post (or most certainly if you go to the link).

The Ides of May - Death of the family sedan

My wife has come to the realization that her autobahn cruiser (a 2003 S430 Mercedes) probably doesn't fit into the family plans anymore. Not that we can't get all five of us into it, we can; but we can't get much else into it or go very far. Though we can go there in style. So, much to her credit on this realization, we'll be looking at the all-to-popular American family vehicle - the mini-van; probably the Odyssey by Honda. Any takers for the S430?

STS - Five Hundred

That's how many days I have left on the countdown for the Summit the Sun - Climb for Kids. This has been on the back burner for several years and will be here before I know it. 50 year-old guy climbing 50+K in America's 50th State. Laying out a sound & proper training program (which fits in with the new expanded family) and seeking sponsorship are my two highest priorities. It should be an exciting time leading up to the culmination next year of what has slowly evolved to its present form. Or basically - get on my bike & climb!

Shhhhh - secret training weapon; kid's in tow on bike seat and/or trailer.

Fatherhood again....and again!

Just after Noon on Monday (the 7th, see cartoon) the Scheller household saw two new additions to the family - son Kaden Gerald (6lbs 1.5oz, 18 inches) at 1:04PM and 2 minutes later daughter Skyler Marie (6lbs 6.5oz, 19 inches). Mom & both kids are doing great - we all came home yesterday afternoon anxious to part ways with the hospital environs and settling into some sort of routine (if that's at all possible) in familiar surroundings.

Makenna has been staying at her cousins house in Mill Creek since last Sunday (when she left she was our little girl) - where she has been especially enjoying their dog Goldie. She visited the hospital twice to get acquainted with her new siblings and will rejoin us in Gig Harbor on Saturday (where she will now be our big girl) leading by example. The adventure continues...

400 strong

Really good turnout yesterday for the negotiating rally. Just under half the pilots based in SEA came out to demonstrate their support. That's pretty incredible considering on any one day over a third are out flying and many live out of the immediate area. Hopefully management was paying attention and that their idea that the Union is only a few loudmouth radicals & the general pilot group doesn't follow their rhetoric was debunked; this was a great show of unity!

May Day

Today - International Worker's Day - if your going by the SEATAC Airport come show your support for the pilots of Alaska Airlines as we picket corporate HQ. This is designed to demonstrate our strength & unity behind our negotiators in their attempt to come to a successful resolution through the collective bargaining process on what is also marks the amendable date for our contract.

As most of you who're working stiffs as well (and not a company president & optics mogul like PruDog) your support is much appreciated as we try to gain an agreement with management which, along with work rule improvement, restores some (or all) of the pay cuts (up to 34%) which were imposed upon us 2 years ago. Workers of the World unite!