PARALISED SPORT !

YES , it will now be obvious to ALL that Pro Cycling has problems ! Jacques Rogge has seen the " royal salute " during this Olympics Men's Road Race ! Unbelievably " UCI " and " WADA " allowed a " Convicted Doper " to have a two year holiday and then come back and give them the two fingers !

Please understand that i like Vinky , as a person , he has always been friendly and cooperative with me since we met after he won the Paris-Nice ITT on Mt Eze in 2000 . I even congratulated him on his win in the Tour de France last week , when i was photoed with him in Chartres . I am also friendly with Dave Millar , also a " Convicted Doper " and greeted him there , calling him " Rhino " , and in return he called me  " Skippy " , as he has since his win in Futurescope when he startled Lance with the win . Both these Racers were in an event that they had no place to be on Saturday !

Dave was there as Road Captain of the British Squad due to a " Smarty Pants set of Lawyers " , whether it was his doing , or he just benefited from their looking for a way to increase their income and profile , i am unable to say . Dave admitted his complicity in Doping and was given the suspension which stood at two years at that time . Happily he won an Etappe at the " Le Tour  " due to convincing those in the breakaway to cooperate with each other and use their skills to arrive in the last 5km with a huge time margin and there settle their differences . Looking at this TDF i would say all the riders benefited as a result , contrary to other breakaway/escapes , where the racers were caught , even though had they helped each other , one of them would have won and the others would have had recognition  with minor places .

Since returning from the " Jolly " that was two years suspension " Vinky " has enjoyed winning many events and truth be known , a win at the TDF and yesterday's win were well within his outstanding abilities , so why , did this talented Racer resort to Doping ? Seems that there are many who go that route because they are subjected to " Peer Pressure "! A team member of T-Mobile and thus of Bjarne Riis ( Admitted Doper ) , Rolf Aldag ( admitted Doper ) and Jan Ulrich ( no contest to charges but paid 250 big ones for the case to go away ) and Andreas Kloden ( Paid 50 big ones also ) ! Wonder what Jan And Klody said to themselves last night ?

Who knows what " Windbag Mc Quaid ( phat the rat ) " had to say BUT you will be certain that Jacques Rogge will have deflated his persona during a telephone call ! Did i hear Jacques address the " Doping Issue " in his Homily on the Olympic Podium at the opening ceremony ? You can imagine after my letters to him and John Fahey , that i feel  that he behaved like a " Whimp " , with his soft shoe comments ! Money and Sponsors are more important to the " IOC " than cleaning up the " shoddy cheats " that are allowed to continue in sport !

Four years suspensions have been voiced by " Windbag Mc Quaid " for several years  , and what has he done ? Had he acted in concert with WADA , many years ago , then we would not have seen either Dave or Vinky in the race ! Sorry guys , you both know my attitude to Doping , since we first met BUT then as a guy emailed me on Friday , i am perceived as a " Cycling Groupie ",  by him ! Clown wanted me to stand about with him on Thursday and relate what i told him he could discover in reading my blogs . In meeting many people i ask them to refer to " Google " , rather than appear to be " bull shitting " or " one man upping " when
i first encounter them .

When i arrive on someone's premises i always ask for the " Boss " as a courtesy , and most times that is the person i am speaking with  , but no matter their appearance , even then they can surprise you . Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay as an example , after greeting a Portugese Relay Runner , i quickly realised it was Rosa Motta , but later after she had gone for a shower asked the Guy she greeted with kisses , who he was  . I was surprised to discover that he was " George " , the then President of Portugal  . Just a guy on the street , but the armed chauffeur , standing quietly in the background no doubt was nervous about his decision to be in the crowd like  " Joe Public " ?

Had checked the " Olympic Oath " with the intention of voicing my opinion in a post , and i am certain those involved on Friday will be shaking their heads ! Make no mistake , i am not saying that " Vinky " will be a " shamilton " , BUT , i am certain that the alarms have been strident , since Vinky crossed the line ! Standing at 45km from the start , i voiced the opinion , that if the break consisted of more than a handful and  was more than two minutes ahead , i was sure they would stay away ! When 3 minutes passed i knew that the race was done and set off to the Olympic Rowing course and then west of High Wycombe calling in on a few people i had not seen in a while . Happened to read the results in Cycle Care Bike Shop at High Wycombe , but all i told Simon was that the result was " surprising " , since he wanted to stay in the dark until he watched a TV replay in comfort .

In my letters to John Fahey and Jacques Rogge , posted previously , i called on then to ACT NOW , on an Amnesty , so as to get the " Skeletons of the past " into the open ! Neither has replied ! No surprise there , secretarial staff and minders probably think i am a crank ! Simon passed on second hand impressions of recent reports about me by Eurosport Commentators  . In asking if they mentioned my efforts to help find Sponsors for " Para Sport " he thought that it was not mentioned ! Well i met Sean in Chartres and enjoyed a long chat with him and a variety of others that were passing , that we both knew . Certainly Dave Harmon will know what i am about since we have chatted and tweeted , but frankly , unless they mention WHY i ride, i wish they would leave me out of their " who we know " asides !

" El Diablo " was missing from the TDF due to health reasons as was confirmed by Sean and Henri Sannier , appears he had surgery for a Brain Clot , Speedy recovery being underway . First noted there was a problem when i saw an email from Didi  posted by a  commenter to Live Update Guy , this being Chas Pelkey , asked then by email for advice on the situation , with no result .

UNTIL THE SPORTING PUBLIC AT LARGE , get to canvassing their Sports Bodies , there will be NO CHANGE in Doping Practices !

YOU THE PUBLIC can make the difference !

ACT TODAY

Super Besse

Whilst the weather was bad on Super Besse i was in the warm in Issoire awaiting the Sunday start ! Georgethecyclist and his team rode out this morning into lousy weather whilst i drifted down the parcours in the car thinking to ride the final 50 km but even 5 hours before the racers arrive the Gendarmerie were lining the route and there was continual drizzle even dampening " El Diablo's " enthusiasm .

Several posts in place to amuse those that are interested .

 

WHEELCHAIRS

Over the years i have paid attention to those in wheelchairs as this is the only visible measure of this " minority community " and in the last 20km of today's etappe i was able to spot 4 close to the side of the road .

I do not include the older community here as they would be unlikely to play a " wheelchair sport " . Recently i remarked on the fact that 170 Wheelchair cycle racers participated in a " Hand-bike Race" and i am sure there are many more sports that enjoy good attendance .

Along the route today about 9.30am i spotted a large group of "Older folk " shaded by trees BUT with the race 5 hours away one wonders why they had to endure sitting there for so long ? Could be they enjoy chatting or looking at each other but where they were would provide less than the TV in terms of an experience . Nice to get out into the fresh air but was this the way to pass a day ?

Passed " El Diablo " today as he was having lunch with a family group so returned and enjoyed the " fete " but regretably had to leave before the desert , no doubt that would have been worth waiting for also . Christophe and Delphine made note of " skippydetour " on their computer phone , so i hope they relay my thanks to the others for the generous hospitality .

DURA ACE CHAIN

Yesterday i changed the chain on my "Grand Tour bike", you know the "pink one" ! This chain was put on in april 2009 when setting up the bike before the "2009 Giro d'Italia" after the frame had been repainted by the cowboys who could not be bothered to supply "touchup paint" but also cheated the guy who handled the job for me. When i delivered the frame in 2008 the paint job was "Gratis/promo", yea so why advertise £60 jobs and charge £153? Oh , only some jobs are £60? Misleading advertising? Well Bristol cowboys you are getting plenty of free advertising of the sort you CANNOT buy ! Congrats on a lousy job! Guess how many people have seen the bike by now and how many more know this story "Word of mouth" as well as in print/media !

The chain survived until i was riding in the "Chain gang" back from Trieste to Jesolo" on the Sunday evening after the stage and powering up the big hill driving 56 on 11 at about 35kph standing on the pedals to stay in the group which was composed of "Dilitante/race standard youngsters" ! The chain link opened and i sat down in time to avoid a spill and got spat out the rear like a "fruit seed"! Several locals including a mt/biker tried to help close/replace the link, even put in several that i carry as spares to no avail. WEll after an hour out came the thumb back to the start.




Monday morning i pulled up short of the start and found a really helpful Italian Bike Mechanic after about a dozen false starts, most wanted to help but did not have "shimano parts"! This guy guaranteed his work would last the life of the chain, it did and longer ! You see it survived 2009(11+km) and even though i was told in april to replace the chain after having it measured i decided as everything was working more or less correctly, to continue but carry a replacement and links in case of breakdown.

Well this season passed satisfactorily until 3km from the top of the Madelaine when the chain broke as i was nursing it to the top after a link opened. Luckily for me i had stopped alongside some English guys who had their trailor parked beside the road and whilst i drank a cup of coffee they fixed the chain. Days later, the friday night , i was entering the town of Rodex when they hollered "Skippy" as they drove around the roundabout on the bypass of the town, sorry guys if you did not hear me holler back !

I had been at the finish of the Etappe on the Mende airfield when the first storm struck early in the evening and having descended into the town was heading out for the next day's start at Rodex when the heavens opened once again. Having spotted the "Presidential Motor cycle squadron" in a tyre repair shop on the way out of Mende i headed back to their sheltering point. These guys are really friendly and some make the effort to speak English but have over the years gone out of their way to help where they can. During the hour or so we were there they supplied me with sandwiches and water so that the time passed quickly enough and i was entertained with stories of their careers and other news surrounding events observed at the tour.

When i left shortly before them as the storm had passed i had over 120km to go to Rodex so whilst waiting for a lift they passed on the way to their hotel. The first lift was about 30km and dropped me in time for "El Diablo" to pull in to offer a lift and drop me close to Rodex , my destination. Whilst driving Didi also supplied refreshment and although he does not speak any english we muddle along with my deutsch vocabulary , suffice to say the time passed quickly.

On my way into the town of Rodex i realised there was a YHA nearby and stopped to speak with a gentleman whose wife then took me on a guided tour until we found the Hostel closed for this period, I wonder who pays their bills if they do not want to be filled by tour visitors? Yves wife took me into Rodex town centre and then decided to offer me accom for the night. These strangers had a flat attached to their residence which left me self contained but they also sat me down to dinner and breakfast with a menu that would be the envy of any that were staying in a 5 star hotel. Single Malt scotch was an unexpected surprise as an aperitif as i rarely treat myself like this at home , seems a waste to open a bottle for myself these days. As i continue to mention in my blog entries this is the best part of the Tours, finding people such as this family who invite "Complete Strangers into their homes and treat them as Family" and this is why i continue to make the effort to support "Disabled Sport"

After the tour i was in Belgium to recover my car then over to the UK to visit a variety of friends. Sundays are always with a Cycle club somewhere, and this time it was with "Seamons Cycle club " out of Altrincham who decided to head for the hills outside Macclesfield. Even going out there the chain started skidding through but on the climb whenever i put effort into a higher gear i got a bruised knee when the chain skidded through, on the flat it was holding on the 56 ,11 but 42,11 etc was the problem as there was not enough tension any more.

Well yesterday i made the change and after 2 "Giro, 2 "Tdf, 2 "dauphinee a lot of trainig kilometres i figure that the chain which came from a Team bike must have in excess of 15000km and likely 20k usuage. I clean the chain as often as i can and use "wd40" like products rather than oils which tend to collect road dust/dirt and soil upholstery when in a vehicle.

Shimano would recommend replacement about 5k but teams change much earlier but regardless i hope this blog confirms the excellence of "Dura ace Products" which i continue to enjoy. The new "Dura ace Chain" is not working well on the 42 ,11 but runs smoothly enough elsewhere so there are some adjustments needed before i get back to trouble free riding before the Vuelta.

GIRO ITT St Vigil

Time being of the essence i have copied in my comment to fat cyclist which details some of the action on tuesday


"Yesterday on the ITT on the giro the racers were followed up the hill by motorbike with the mechanic riding pillion with 2 wheels and in somee cases a complete bike, of course you will have seen Arroya°s support running up behind him with the bike in the last few hundred metres!
Rode the course with Damiana on monday and as he was taking it easy, using little energy, recovery ride pace i was able to stay within shouting distance until the concrete & gravel then forget it time.
Racing the route alone i missed the turn and descended 2km before the light flashed on and arrived back to find the road closed so walked the last 5km of the course,cintinually overtaken by racers who looked like they would rather be somewhere else.
At the arrival most of these racers looked gaunt and pretty much done in so i reckon today will be a slow/late arrival. i will start at Cloz after visiting Fondriest shop in Cles and the Passo Tonale in lieu of the Passo Palides which i have done before.
Lovely photo of the runner!"

Monday i rode into St Vigil looking for the Team Hotels after finding BMC in Brunico, i found Gianni Motta resting in the sun then discovered Lampre team hotel just as Damiano was about to set out. Permission granted i rode with him and a colleague as well as 3 guys from "Fisi:k(saddles,etc)" wonder when they will deliver on the promises made. The first 45 mins was warming up ride then we started into the course but thankfully at a pace i was able to handle. when we returned to St Vigil i found a few riders lazing in a variety of cafes whilst awaiting lunch.

After lunch caught up with Mat Lloyd and then El Diablo in St vigil , ithen went to another area east of Brunico where the bulk of the teams were staying. There i caught up with Richie Porte amongst others. Amazing what some of the team support staff had to say ablout the "worm".

At the arrival area on the Plan yesterday i shared a few laughs with Pat Mc Quaid about the previous weeks cycling entertainment, you could hardly call 4 years of "same old, same old", news?

Times up , now off to the Tonale and then Peio to see the RACE arrival!

MONEY

Being retired I have time on my hands to do as I please and this leads me to help in ways and areas that the employed person is unable. Each day there are a variety of things that I am able to turn my time to best use. Everybody likes to feel that at the end of each day they have had good results. This is the main reason for the Blog, to achieve the mission, set in place a mechanism that others will assist or use to allow “Disabled/Physically Challenged Athletes” to participate at the Major Cycle Tours.

As you will have seen I can jump on the bike with a small pack of accessories and cycle the routes of the tours taking each day at a time alone and unassisted. Had I a missing limb I would have a variety of extra needs and would need more than my bike and pack to achieve even the shortest journey. During the 2001 Vuelta I was in the Pyrennees Start Village one day when I came across a one legged cyclist who planned to ride the route that day. We rode together about 100km over some tough terrain and as fit as I was at the time I did not have to slow very much for him to stay in my draft on the climbs.

He had qualified for Sydney Paralympics 2000 but the funds for the trip were not available so watched the event on TV. ONCE the wellknown Spanish charity generally funds the Spanish Blind Athletes but he failed to meet their criteria and his parents and friends were financially unable to raise the monies needed for the trip. Many people are in this situation until they return with a medal from an event. When this happens there is a change of attitude as all want to jump on the bandwagon and found “Fan Clubs” and Sponsors previously reluctant jump forward with assistance for future events. There is now a success story , a track record to justify their involvement. Qualifying for the event is not success enough because there is very little publicity value but being able to display medals is tangible proof of the achievement.

My hope for this year’s Tour de France is that people who are planning to go anyway will give up a little of their free time to help those Disabled Athletes that join in this project. Working with others to help your fellow human beings can be a rewarding experience. I know I was thrilled with this Spaniard getting to the 2000m point on the “Passe de Cassa” where we stopped before the descent into Andorra. I had to persuade him to stop there as he was planning to ride down towards the finish with me. I had to point out that when we got into Andorra getting up to the arrival that day included another strong climb and he did not have the clothing to keep warm whilst waiting until the Vuelta riders had passed. Standing beside the road after a strong climb you become cold and cramp up very quickly. When I saw him at the Time Trial the next days he told me that he got home from our parting but he suffered a cold from awaiting the racers.

For many years I have wished to take a Handbike to the Tours for the publicity value but to do this requires assistance. Breakdowns are possible regardless of preparation and whilst I can fix most problems “Murphy’s Law” will always intrude. Packing a normal bike into a “hitched ride” is easy enough to do, can’t manage with a 2 door VW, a mini or a sports car but most mid sized cars will cope. But imagine the difficulty with a 3 wheeled bike, many kind people will stop to offer their phone or ask if you need help as the possible genuine helpers drive past thinking you are being offered help rather than platitudes.

Once you get the backup there is the possibility that the media will notice the difference and start to report that fact and make the public aware of the story. Too many times over the years I have seen well meaning reports but a lack of substance. Writing about a 64yo Aussie is not the story but there are too many of the media that use this angle.

I AM THERE PUTTING IN THE EFFORT TO GAIN PUBLICITY FOR “DISABLED SPORT”, I could dress up as a “chicken” or as “antler man” or even as “el Diablo ( I have the beard)” and get attention, even get my real name in the media, but the whole purpose is “Disabled Sport”.

Certainly I get benefits from what I do , people will listen to some of my ideas but there are many who say to themselves “same old story”! Without a team of “Disabled /Physically Challenged Athletes and the volunteers to assist I will be back this season repeating the previous 12 years of Solo Effort!

AT present I see One follower on my Blog but then George has a Blog also and does me the courtesy of looking to help me improve my offerings to encourage visitors.

At present I am not getting a registering following but the triple digits of visitors are of people who have taken a look but I would ask that you after looking in help by passing on news of my Blog site to others even if only as a curiosity! Word of mouth or tweeting your followers or whatever means will hopefully reach others who could benefit or put to use some of my ideas.

This past weekend I asked the powers connected to the “Kitzbuhel Ski Event “ to offer my services to others to raise money for Haiti. What I offered was “Find a ski school who will give Euros1000 to the Relief Fund and I will work for them for a week (travelling, bed and feed expenses to be covered away from home) bringing them additional publicity as well as clients . Not really surprised that this has not provoked a rush but I thought the idea may bring out others with the same idea. They sold the Race Bibs worn by the Racers at Auction for some amazing amounts which were added to the Haiti Relief Fund!

THE TDU has finished but there will be others and I think that the next editions will be expanded to both weekends as well as fitting in as the finale to a series of events where more foreign racers will participate ! The Sponsors will do well to realise that by creating an interesting series it will help them and bring more overseas visitors. Some of the photos reminded me of stages on the Tour de France and the crowds were larger that those on some climbs than at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de Suisse

TO ALL THE RACERS WELL DONE, GREAT EFFORT AND COME AGAIN