Just to add to the controversy:

The 5 members of the Astana-Wurth team who weren't allowed to start the race because they were supposedly connected to Eufemanio Fuentes and the Operation Puerto affair all had their names cleared by the Spanish courts.

SO, these riders were unfairly excluded from the tour, and then because the Astana team didn't have the minimum number of riders to start the Tour the whole team, including Tour favorite Alexandre Vinokourov, was excluded.

I'm no legal expert, but I'd say that Vino and his teammates have a legitimate legal case against cycling authorities. This guilty until proven innocent business has to be reversed. They destroyed an entire team, taking it out of the biggest race of the year, without cause. I think all these guys are owed something... at the very least an official apology.

Phonak confirms Landis positive... holy crap.

This sucks.

The Phonak team has confirmed the speculation that Floyd Landis returned a positive A sample after his win in stage 17 of the Tour de France. "The Phonak Cycling Team was notified yesterday by the UCI about an unusual level of Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France," said the team in a statement. "The team management and the rider were both totally surprised of this physiological result.

"The rider will ask in the upcoming days for the counter analysis to prove either that this result is coming from a natural process or that this is resulting from a mistake in the confirmation. In application of the Pro Tour Ethical Code, the rider will not race anymore until this problem is totally clear.

"If the result of the B sample analysis confirms the result of the A sample, the rider will be dismissed and will then pass the corresponding endocrinological examinations."

Another Cats Ride...

If you came with us on our may ride to the Fort Worth Cats' game, or if you were disappointed you missed it, take heart: We're doing it again, albeit on a slightly smaller scale and far shorter notice.

I've got 20 tickets to the 7 p.m. game Wednesday, July 26. First 20 riders at the shop ready to ride that day get a free ticket. More riders are definitely welcome, but you'll have to buy a ticket at the game (they're cheap). It also happens to be $1 menu night at the LaGrave concessions.

Be here by 6, and BRING LIGHTS. The ride back will be dark.

Congratulations Sparky!

Dr. Sparky will be leaving Texas soon to take a new job far, far away. But before she goes, she had to get a new road bike from us, which we appreciate.

Here she is on Saturday, shortly before her first ride as a proud new Masi owner:


Congrats Sparky, on both your new job and new bike!

Maiden Voyage:

I took the new Mother Ship on her maiden voyage tonight. After I christened her by breaking a bottle of Hammer Gel across her bow, we were off for a three-hour tour (a three-hour tour).



I have to say, I'm really impressed by the ride. It's certainly quite a bit more compliant than my last aluminum/carbon craft, without feeling even a bit flexy. Tim Jackson and the folks at Masi did an incredible job on this frame.

I'm glad I got a fork with a steel steerer rather than carbon; it allowed me to use a taller headset spacer, which I can already tell is going to help my long-ride comfort a lot. It also makes the drops much more comfortable to ride in, so I'll be able to use them more often. I got some new, non-ergo-drop bars that I really like, too. I never used the "ergo" part of the drop anyway; I just ride on the flat bottom part of the drop. With old-school round drops, I have a much longer area to rest my hands.

And are those orange wheels sweet or what? If you want me custom-build you some wheels with colored rims, let me know.