I'm a cycling nerd

So, I wrote to Steve Hampsten, co-president with Andy Hampsten of Hampsten Bicycles, to suggest that Andy comment on the Hampsten Cycles blog about how he viewed the shortening of snowy Giro stage 17.

At first, Steve replied saying great idea, but Andy just arrived in Italy and isn't around to respond.

But then later today I got an answer anyway, as Steve forwarded me this message from Andy:

"They cancelled some race stage in Italy, seemed it was wet and cold.
We should be selling boatloads of Giro '88 bikes to all the
disgusted fans now.

A"

I know I'm a nerd, but I was excited to get a peek, however small, inside the mind of one of my cycling heroes. Andy won the '88 Giro because he was just plain tougher than anybody else in the race. Sadly, some equally tough guy in this year's field lost his chance to win because Giro organizers decided to coddle the racers instead.

I hate to say it, but if you're a pro racer and don't want to ride in adverse weather, just abandon the race. There's no shame in that if you don't do well in bad weather. But if you really want to finish, hell... they make cold weather gear for cycling. I've got some I'll lend you if your team wont get you any.

OK, random ranting over. Admittedly, I'm not a pro and I'll never be one, so I'm speaking without firsthand knowledge of what these guys go through. My only point is that modern racers, while better athletes than ever before, also seem to have less of an edge, less toughness.