More doping news...

The French Senate, in their infinite wisdom, has released names of those who had positive tests during the 1998 Tour.
Zabel, Ullrich, Julich, Pantani, Livingston, Cipo, Durand, Hamburger...among others...

Now the UCI is trying to figure out how to sanction them.  Really?  15 years after the fact, and they're all retired?  Way to worry about the doping that may be happening in today's pro ranks!!  Good job guys!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, cycling is the only sport that will drag out it's dead, and re-hang them in the town square.  Only this time, sadly, it's almost literal...

Let me guess, next you're gonna tell me the VDB doped too... (shocked)

The worst part?  The talking heads, "experts" and "journalists" who will report this story, and give their opinions, didn't know what the Tour de France was 15 years ago. 

If you had to Google any of the names listed on the report, save me your opinion.

Moving on...

This is brilliant...

Kittel is HUGE!!!  Check out Boston.com for more great pictures from the Tour.

And as I've made abundantly clear, I'm not a big fan of the whole "gravel" bike concept/fad/genre, simply because it's a CX bike.  I am, however, intrigued by Raleigh's new offering...the Tamland.  Reynolds steel, 11 speed, discs, room for FAT tires and the wheelbase of a large SUV.  Bet this thing is COMFY...and not light. (photo courtesy of CX Magazine)

And while this isn't strictly cycling related, one of these would go nicely down in Service Course...

Relatively fun ride last night.  Saw MW, DBarry, and Ben pull into the lot, and made the decision to just roll with the "B" group.  The knowledge that there would be NO actual "A" group after about 20 minutes was front and center.  And I was right.  "A" group was shattered all over LexCo.  It's what happens when three very strong Cat 1 guys roll out together. 
Meanwhile, the "B" group had a nice, even, fun ride.  Those who wanted to work did so, those who chose not to work sat in, and got a nice ride. 

It was the first ride for the Noah with "regular", non-carbon wheels too.  Wow...!  Not a lot of difference in speed, but a HUGE difference in stiffness.  The uber-stiff frame really makes one aware if the wheelset under them isn't stiff as well.  Nothing jarring, nor worrisome, but just...different.  And the 25s fit fine on the frame with the ROL alu wheels.  I guess the carbon wheels have a larger effective outer diameter.  No wonder the tires are harder to get on them...
I think I DO want a stiffer wheelset though...

Time to get the day started...