Monday, January 28, 2008

USADA Witch hunt

It is alleged that Kayle Leogrande of Rock Racing filed suit in LA County Superior Court charging that USADA planned to test his "B" urine sample after his "A" sample from a 2007 late summer race tested negative for performance-enhancing drugs.

Speaking with Associated Press, USADA general counsel Bill Bock called the anonymous lawsuit "utterly frivolous and morally bankrupt," adding, "What are they seeking to hide?"

Utterly frivolous & morally bankrupt? I'd be careful what you choose to utter, those words may come back to haunt you Mr. General Counsel.

My question to Mr. Bock would be, what are you trying to prove? The "A" sample already proved negative, even if the "B" sample came back positive what then, there is no "C" sample? And you need two to tango; just like Lance's "B" sample from the 1999 TdF sample being tested years after the fact - even the UCI and Dick Pound at the WADA after all was said & done ultimately agreed that despite whatever personal suspicions they may have there was officially nothing that could be done.

Mr. Leogrande may be guilty as sin for taking drugs or may be clean as an angel on a sugar high; but the USADA cannot try to prove anything in an illicit fashion - they must use appropriate protocol or the whole process is in shambles - which some may say it already is.

Upon further review - as far as I can tell WADA's Dick Pound stuck to his guns in Lance's apparent 6 positive EPO results from the 1999 Tdf (ironically by the same lab that Floyd had trouble with in his case), though the UCI told him what to do with it, ending their statement that, "It is essential that WADA act swiftly and definitively to establish that conduct of this type will not be tolerated."

Thursday, January 24, 2008

8 months...

...to go 'till the big day.

Summit the Sun - Climb for Kids is certainly my main focus for the year. As my endurance rides get longer and I get stronger I think that'll also help with my racing program. With the 3 youngest grins demanding a lot of my attention I may be somewhat limited to my frequency out racing this season, but I plan to support my teammies whenever I get the chance.


Sponsorship solicitation for Summit the Sun is coming along - no big news there yet, but I'm confident that the advantage of both the marketing potential along with the benefits of a generous tax-deductible donation will make it attractive to groups to align themselves with the event by mid-to- late Spring. Time will tell.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Job opening

Stupid driver of the day award
This guy & I were minding our own business, chatting up a storm on small claims court, tort reform and chocolate torts, riding westbound on River Road in Fife when a trash-hauler trailer pulls out right in front of us making a left turn. Slowing & swerving toward the right I still managed to get in the way of trash dudes rear wheels, as the rear trailer wasn't on the same track as the front tractor. While I was in the scree of the intersection and at almost a standstill the trailers left rear tire nipped my left foot & banged into my rear wheel, fortunately a relatively slow speed.

To the guys credit he stops right away at our yelling & hollering. Though his first words proved why he hauls garbage for a living - he started trash talking right away. "I didn't see you guys, why were you in the middle of the road?" So that's your apology? Not,"Are you OK? Can I do anything for you? How's your bike?" No, he's being defensively offensive. Never admitting anything wrong, he's basically blaming me for getting in his way and that's why I got hit. We didn't give way to him pulling out in front of us - yeah that's good logic.

Cops arrive get every one's story, sort through the hysteria, and end up issuing a citation to Rubbish-man for failure to yield ("But I stopped!") - now you to can apply for his job.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Rock On

Up in Malibu, where a couple of Range Rovers, or a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, is the norm. Where German imports (S Class Mercedes AMG's, Turbo Porsche's, or 700 series BMW's) are the everyday drivers like imported Japanese cars in my neighborhood.

Just after 4PM yesterday at my ride turnaround at Malibu Bluff Park, across the street from exclusive Pepperdine U, who comes jamming by, but the 20-something guys from Rock Racing in a swift double-paceline. Trailing them was a black Cadillac Escalade with wheel racks on the roof. Could not tell if Cipo' was on one of the Scott's or not, but definitely a disciplined group.

Stupid Driver of the Day award goes to the lady on her cell as she obliviously drifted toward me pressing me toward the line of parked cars on Lincoln Blvd. She nearly jumped out of her thin skin as I banged her right passenger door; which as an afterthought could've caused her to actually make things worse had she overreacted & swerved into me - but she didn't.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Teammies

First team ride of the year with actual teammates. Rode out of Irwin's on 40th in lower Wallingford at 9AM and went south along Lake WA over the I-90 bridge and then out to east of nowhere.

Street names like May Valley, Issaquah-Hobart, Cedar Grove, a couple 200 numbered roads, Petrovitsky came & went in unfamiliar fashion, before returning to friendly territory in Kent & Renton.

Ride was in the high 30's (perhaps hitting 40 in a few spots) and mostly dry except toward the later 15-20 minutes where the skies finally opened up.

My PowerTap had the ride data just shy of 75 miles in just over 4 hours, averaging 17.4 mph, with an average watt reading of only 180 (what that's all?) and 2721 estimated calories burned.

Jamie continues to ride stellar and Chad was rock solid as well despite his working 90+ hours a week. Post-ride burrito was consumed handily. Legs were definitely challenged today and felt comfortably tired. Tomorrow another solo long (& perhaps hilly) day in sunny LA.

Six weeks until Mason Lake #1.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Where's my Delorean?

I just read that he is publishing his 2nd memoir. Here is a guy who's over 3 years my junior writing another book about his terrific life. What could've happened in six years since his first book? I'm so far behind.

Checkmate

What I didn't predict - Bobby Fischer (should a grown man ever be named Bobby?) died yesterday. The often tormented and predictably odd behavior that frequently afflicts genius chess grandmasters who are utterly bored & seemingly can't be bothered by the illogical behavior of the mere mortals that must inhabit the planet with them. One commentator said there was one constant through his life -- his "running battle with the rest of the human race".

As demonstrated by other notable former world chess champions on their reaction to his death, these guys think on a different level:

Garry Kasparov hailed Fischer as a pioneer of professional chess. "We have lost a great individual. He was always alone ... But while alone he demonstrated that a human being is capable of reaching new heights. We have lost a great warrior, we have lost a great mind."

On the other hand Boris Spassky, who now lives in Paris, was less eloquent on the subject of Fischer. Asked by Reuters for his reaction, he said: "It's bad luck for you. Bobby Fischer is dead," then hung up.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

2008 Predictions

Long awaited prognostication for the year ahead:

Somebody will be elected President of the US of A this NOV. Just because of the name thing alone, it will not be Obama, nor Huckabee, same for Giuliani. Obama will accept Hillary's gesture to be her veep. They will run against a Romney/Lieberman ticket and win.

No plans for an Obama Elementary School outside of Illinois (and perhaps in Oakland, CA) in the near future.

Sticking with the election theme - Mike Pruitt will abandon his campaign to be Pakistan's next Prime Minister in protest on the lack of a viable & secure bike path anywhere in the country.

Several endurance events will be cancelled at the Olympics in Beijing in AUG due to terrible air quality. Both Men's & Women's Marathon (if they are run) will see the highest dropout percentage in Olympics history. One of the five official mascots will collapse during the opening ceremonies.

Jordan Campbell win be invited to join the USA Cycling National Development Team for 2009.

The grandson of Joop Zoetemelk (1980 Tdf winner, 1985 World Champion, 6 times 2nd place & finisher of all 16 Tours he started), a Junior racer from the Netherlands, will emerge from nowhere to win the TdF. He will be proclaimed to have the cleanest "biological passport" and will be hailed as the next great cyclist.

He will be busted for enhancing his performance illegally in 2009.

American Ned Overend will finish 2nd at the Tdf just shy of his 53rd birthday.

Tyler Hamilton will bite somebodies ear off during the Brasstown Bald stage of the Tour of Georgia.

The third runway will open at SEATAC to much fanfare with the initial landing made by a Singapore Airlines A380 mega jet which will cause the west retaining wall to fail creating a gigantic landslide demolishing the newly restored Miller Creek

Landslide area will be made into a BMX park for local kids.

Alaska Airlines will be bought out by American, will close its Seattle operations, and focus on building Boeing Field hub trumping & snubbing Southwest Airlines at their own game.

Southwest counters by opening up operations from Renton's Clayton Scott Field (KRNT) - where 100% of their Boeing 737's were assembled. Though due to performance issues they can only carry 4 passengers a flight, or limit their full passenger range to service only as far as Tacoma Narrows Airport.

Al Gore will move onto a North Atlantic iceberg and not leave until all countries accept his moral challenge to reduce greenhouse emissions. Unfortunately the world will continue to ignore his message and Al, with his Nobel Peace Prize by his side, will go missing as the iceberg eventually melts before a rescue ship (with an offset carbon footprint) can reach him.

Unfortunately Tipper wasn't with him and continues to bash objectionable music lyrics.

Al will turn up 5 years from now living in Venezuela secretly running their state-owned petroleum company PDVSA (PetrĂ³leos de Venezuela, S.A.), with kickbacks to former President George Bush who can't get a speaking engagement since it was learned he really does have an IQ of puppet.

Britain's Prince Charles will reveal he is gay (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and that with his "Misses" (Camilla Parker Bowles) they have a lavender marriage.

Evening Magazine will do a feature on some old cyclist attempting to ride up Maui's Mt Haleakala several times.

Old guy loses track of the number climbed so far and has to make a do-over the next day.

The team formally known as AxleyUSA/Spoke & Sprocket (cannot reveal new team name) will dominate NW cycling. Mike Pruitt will be nominated as WA State Prime Minister of Bicycling.

All 5 grins will keep on grinning & growing.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Solo grin

Just dropped off the other justfourgrins at the local aeroporto this morning as they flew off on Hawaiian to OGG for a few days without me. I've already got more done around the house in a few hours than in the last 8 months since the twins arrived. But I miss 'em already too!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Humm

Standing out on the corner waving his sign it didn't really sink in until a few blocks later - but why not, it makes perfect sense?

The gentleman was wearing an outfit that reflected the business he was trying to promote - Liberty Insurance - and it prompted me to wonder why in all these years I haven't realized that for the Lady there certainly deserves to be a Mister. And then there he was - torch, crown, the sea green color - that's what the gleem in the Lady's eye is all about. There is justice for all.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Knucklehead of the day award

Frequently I post the bad driver of the day award, or stupid passenger of the day award, etc.; so today I must self-disclose myself as the recipient of the knucklehead of the day award. I guess what goes around...

All I knew for sure is that at the end of the day I was going to be in San Diego, looking forward to a nice long ride up the coast tomorrow. I also knew my first leg was from SEA to SNA (Orange County's John Wayne Airport). I mistakenly believed that I was coming back to SEA from SNA (as is frequently the case) before continuing on to SAN. That was not the case, instead we were actually scheduled to fly from SNA to PDX; which although in the PNW neighborhood isn't close enough to do me any good for riding in SAN.

Since I thought I'd be returning to SEA I left my little circus bike in our pilot bag room - and would've gone to retrieve it prior to continuing on to SAN. Alas I am without bike, and will no doubt miss a great ride (see ride link at right) in terrific weather tomorrow.

Instead I'll work up a pool of sweat at the Mission Valley Y wishing I was outdoors paying for my blunder - DOH! Well I get another chance at a nice weather layover on Sunday when I have just 1 leg to LAX, I hope not to screw that up.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Which airline would you fly?

I was scheduled for 1 leg from SEA to SFO today and layover. If you followed the weather at all California was hit this morning by a strong frontal system that included heavy rain, low visibilities, turbulence, and very gusty winds. We launched out of SEA at 6:15 this morning for an arrival planned about 2 hours later. Typically when weather moves in like this there are significant ATC delays due to the SFO airport's ability to handle traffic - in this case landing south. When we got in the Bay area vicinity we held west of Santa Rosa near the Pt Reyes National seashore (not that it was visible).

Weather was as advertised - in one word - nasty! The steady winds were from the south at 45 knots gusting to 65 (51 - 70 mph) in heavy rain w/convective activity. ATC was advising losses on the approaches of up to 25 knots.

We were given an expect further clearance time (EFC), which generally means when our turn comes up to leave holding. As various planes EFC time came they left holding and commenced the approach. Many pilots reported to ATC that the conditions were just as advertised.

Alaska's policy prohibits landing in convective weather when conditions are heavy rain. They also prohibit landing when the wind exceeds 50 kts or a gust factor greater than 20. We had the double wammy against us - so we continued to bore circles in the sky hoping the weather would improve.

Finally the time came when our fuel reached a state that we had to leave and go to our alternate - in this case Ontario, CA 1 1/2 hours away.

My question to you dear readers - which airline would you rather fly? The airline whose policy errs on the safe side, at the expense of misconnecting a lot of passengers (let alone the out of place crew members, airplanes, the cost of the fuel, hotel & meal vouchers, etc.) - or the airlines who pushed on and landed in SFO, getting their folks there a tad late but well ahead of us?

The airplane needs lift over the wings to stay airborne. For landing this is done with safe airspeed's and flap settings. With losses on final approach of up to 25 knots repeatedly reported I am ashamed that my fellow pilots chose to continue rather than divert. All it would have taken is somebody getting a big loss of airspeed on very short final losing precious lift and splashing one in the Bay short of the runway. Fortunately that didn't happen today - and it only reinforces bad behavior and decision making for them to continue this kind of lunacy.

Alaska Airlines is no stranger to bad weather - in fact the weather in our namesake state is terrible most of the year. So procedures, guidelines, and policies were developed over the years (especially as the technology developed - GPS, digital weather radar, and wind shear warning systems, etc.) to get our passengers from point A to point B safely & sound. Sometimes that means that you won't be at point B when you thought, but when you get there you can be assured it was done with the utmost safety in mind.

I'm not one to toot my airline very often - but I think they did an outstanding job today in making tough decisions on where to ultimately go until the crappy weather blew through. Our folks in the back were updated repeatedly as to what we were doing & why. I doubt the other airlines talked to their ashen faced passengers about why they elected to continue to do what they did.

The safety of my crew & passengers lies with me and the various decisions (aided by our dispatchers, mechanics and others) made along each flight on each day. Ultimately it comes down to being comfortable with those decisions - I wonder how many of those other airline pilots were comfortable with their decision after the fact?

The saga continues tomorrow as the waves of weather continue to pound the West Coast through the weekend - happy trails!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Choices

As I renew my USAC license for yet another year I am reminded of the multitude of choices that I'll have to race this season. Previously I've been able to enter any race that featured the CAT 2 or Masters A & B fields. In addition to those this year I'll be able to opt into the Masters D as well if I so choose. At least there's one benefit to turning the big five-oh.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Mark your calendars

Hope everyone had a safe welcome to the New Year.

Check out the new site for information on the WA State Masters & Juniors Championship Road Race set for June 8th.

Please spread the word in regards to the Men's CAT 1/2/3 race. I need the feedback as to whether there's enough interest to put this on the schedule; please ask your teammates/friends who aren't otherwise eligible to race Juniors or Masters if they'd be interested in a CAT 1/2/3 race that afternoon.