LeMond Returns: Introducing Three New Models at Interbike

Photo: Time Sport/LeMond

Source: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/greg-lemond-partners-with-time-for-road-bikes-38407/

I really wish I was going to Interbike this year...

Athletic Success and Finding Inspiration Through Those That Reach The Top

This post comes from another writing associate and I am thrilled to get to share it. While it doesn't speak directly about cycling - the concepts are so perfectly parallel to the struggle on the road or trail that we all encounter from time to time. I hope you find it inspirational. Enjoy - Matt.

Sports stories have a huge popular following. Millions of fans follow football, baseball, or hockey games every week. Yet more millions stay glued to their television sets every four years as an Olympiad rolls on by. What is it that we find so incredibly compelling and inspiring about athletic pursuits and success stories? Why do we keep watching and listening? Athletics are a smaller version of human struggling, a microcosm our lives. In a game, a race, or a ring we watch a bit of history unfold. We watch individuals struggle against others and against themselves. We watch them struggle with the weight of expectations and the weight of what others have accomplished before. And inevitably we watch as someone overcomes obstacles and fears to become a champion and hero.

Sports as Life

We love success stories in sports because they remind us about certain facts of life success. The game is always hard. The game is never over until the end, and no winner was born a winner. The win is in the training, in the practice. Just trust Muhammad Ali, who gave us this gem among his numerous inspirational quotes: "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" When we watch feats of athletic excellence, we watch the culmination of suffering and the birth of a champion.

Success as Personal

Some of the greatest sports stories remind us that we can be our own biggest opponents. Rudy Ruettiger has been made famous through the film Rudy. He was a short, dyslexic kid in a huge family. His dream was to play on Notre Dame's Fighting Irish football team. First though, he had to get into Notre Dame itself by taking two years of credits from a local college.

Report; No Doping Positives at 2013 Tour de France

I editorialized on this topic at about the half-way point of the tour this year after the stage finish on Mt. Ventoux saying that the tour certainly looks cleaner as a whole; but there were still some "suspicious" performances. This latest report seems to support my feelings. 

Stopping short of saying that the tour was completely clean; it did confirm that there were no positives (at least for the products and methods that there are tests for...).

Francesca Rossi; Director of the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation, commenting on the 622 samples, including 443 blood samples and 179 urine samples, said:

“We have no adverse analytical findings. We changed the strategy. We were unpredictable and the riders perceived we were unpredictable.”

Doping in Cycling and Mt. Ventoux

So, what have we learned?

It certainly was a different looking assault on the Ventoux today: high speeds approaching the base with some favorites seemingly caught out early.  However, once the climb started it was much the same - explosive attacks, calculated responses, and deflating implosions.

The longest stage of this years tour with a grueling summit finish provides one of the fastest paces.

To be totally transparent; I was watching today for some signs of where our sport stands on the road to cleaning up the infection that performance enhancing drugs has been for over two decades. I think I am left with more questions than answers at this point. Some hopeful signs, but some "same ol' same ol'".

Have the lessons of the past borne fruit in the riders of the future? Is cycling cleaner? Some of today's performances would point toward yes.  But, even at the height of doping - the mid-'90's through the early '00's - Ventoux didn't look that different from today. What does that tell us?

Added Monday, July 15:
Greg LeMond Speaks Out for Chris Froome

Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell Among Sprinters Guilty of Doping

What say you?

Bike Seat Selection and Elevated PSA Levels

I recently received an e-mail from a client with an excellent question.  I'll let our exchange do the talking.

He wrote:

I have just had a physical and the only area that showed with some concern was my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) level.  It could be elevated from one of the BPH medicactions that I take and/or all the bike riding.  I have decided given this situation to get some form of the Selle SMP saddles.  I am leaning toward the Dynamic.  Any thoughts on this.

My response:

As for saddles, as I have researched saddle selection and elevated PSA, the link between it and specific saddle selection seems weak at best but does stand to reinforce proper saddle dimensions, position, and set up.  The strongest link to elevated PSA (as it would appear separate from causation by prostate cancer cells) appears to be with cycling in general (and strenuous exercise specifically). Research by a couple of my mentors; seems to agree with these findings.

That is to say; I wouldn't let elevated PSA cause me to choose a saddle that I am not confident in, not comfortable riding, or just settling for in general. A saddle of proper dimensions, in the proper position; allowing it to correctly bear rider weight on the sit bones and minimize soft-tissue contact will be more prostate-friendly than otherwise.

So, as I am very commonly found to say - error on the side of your personal confidence and comfort, then be sure to have the position correct; which is my job, of course.

This is sure to raise some questions and thoughts with some of you so; fire away and I'll answer in order and as I'm able.

Thanks for reading!

Where to Watch Tour de France 2013 Online

Many of you have unplugged the cable TV just like we have.

In my house; that makes College Football season, the Olympics, Portland Trailblazers gamedays and the first three weeks of July particularly difficult.

However; there is a solution...

Allegro Cycling: Best Month Yet!

June is coming to a close and Allegro Elite Cycling is preparing to celebrate the BEST MONTH EVER of  in it's 2 year history.

I've been busy (if you can't tell from how little I'm posting here) and can't thank everyone enough. All the clients who have helped make this happen I count as friends - you are all credits to Portland's cycling scene.

So, in light of the best month in my Allegro's history - and since it is Friday - here's a Friday Five of why you should work with Allegro Elite Cycling

1. Help on your schedule. You are busy. How many bike shops have set hours and tell you when they will work with you and when they won't? Yep - almost all of them.

How NOT to Load your Bike on your Roof Rack

This is not the Allegro Cycling approved method of loading your roof rack.

Crazy skills though! Who else is looking forward to Sagan and Cavendish battling it out for the green jersey at the 100th Tour de France?

Race starts Saturday - It's Cycling's Super Bowl time again!

Top Tips to Avoid Cycling Injuries

I have been particularly busy with some other projects the last few weeks - directing a soccer camp among them - so I apologize for the lack of new articles.

Fortunately; I have colleagues like Mike Roberts to help bridge the gap. Mike Roberts is a writer for Priority Legal.

I am happy to have his contribution here and hope you enjoy it. My only editorial addition would be to also consider proactive injury prevention in the form of getting a proper and thorough bike fitting. Thanks for your insight, Mike.
If you are a keen cyclist then you will know that there is a chance you may have a cycling injury.  If you are new to cycling, or you only cycle occasionally, then you may not be so aware.

Although you can’t stop cycling injuries happening altogether, there are a few things you can do to help prevent cycling injuries from occurring.  Here are our top tips:

How to Avoid Accidents While Cycling

Laura Ginn is a freelance writer and blogger who loves riding her bike because it is an eco-friendly way to get around and it also helps her stay in shape. No matter where she rides, though, she always puts safety first to ensure that she does not get hurt.

Laura offers some good tips relevant to all of us to one degree or another. And as anyone whom I invite to share here she offers a different perspective and tone than you are used to from me.

Thanks for contributing, Laura!

No matter where you ride your bicycle, whether it’s on a quiet road in a rural area, along the suburban streets where your home is, or in a busy, crowded city, there are certain precautions that you need to take to avoid accidents as best as you can. If you aren’t riding as safely as possible, you’re increasing the risk that you’ll be involved in an accident, and this increases your chances of being severely injured. To avoid problems before they start, therefore, you have to know what precautions to take and how to avoid accidents in the first place.

Don’t Ride on the Pavement

Riding on the pavement may at first seem safer than riding in the street, but it actually isn’t at all. You risk getting hit by vehicles that are backing out of their driveways or swiftly pulling into their driveways without looking. And when it comes to crossing the street, many drivers don’t expect to see bikers in crosswalks,