Spoke Fiend

What became of my aluminum Casati Cometa with the cracked headtube

It surprises me how often I get emails asking for updates on the well-being of my old Casati Cometa. For those just joining the conversation let me provide a quick recap. It is an aluminum road bike that had a 2 inch long crack in the headtube. Despite the overwhelming amount of online advice that was telling me that the frame was junk, I took a chance and paid $50 to a local welder who has a side biz specializing in bicycle frame repair. Its important to note here..that he was very familiar with welding aluminum. That's important. OK, that's about it. You are now caught up to speed.

So...how is it holding up?  These days I'm spending the majority of my time on my BMC, so the Casati is not my primary bicycle. But, like The Nationals latest album, it is certainly in heavy rotation. After the weld, I stripped the frame down to bare bones. It's now set up as a no-frills single speed with a demanding 53/16 gear ratio. It requires no special shoes or other cycling accoutrements so it's my first choice for quick spins and 'recovery' rides. I've probably logged around 200 miles on it. I can honestly say that those 200 miles have been completely free of worry. In fact, I treat that bicycle harder now than I did when it was my primary roadie. There may not be any knobs on the tires, but I never hesitate to take it down dirt and gravel roads. Hell, I've even gotten to the point where I rocket down a steep (as in steep enough to sled down in the winter) and narrow dirt footpath near my house. The weld has held.

My advice is this. If you've got a frame that you love and hate the thought of parting with it. Call your local welding shop. Chances are there is someone there who can patch that weld. And for cheap money. The heat from the welding will destroy the paint in the afflicted area...but that's a small price to pay for salvaging a frame you love.

As for how it looks. Judge for yourself. I think she's still one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever owned.

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Lance responds to Landis Allegations.

The article below can be found on the Team Radioshack website. After reading this...it does calm some of my fears. It also does make it seem as though Landis is off his rocker.

Lance Armstrong spoke to the press prior to Thursday's Stage 5 at the Amgen Tour of California, responding to allegations by Floyd Landis against himself and other riders in the professional peloton.  "Obviously everyone has questions about Floyd Landis and his allegations. I would say that I’m a little surprised, but I am not.  In all honesty,  this has been going on for a long time. The harassment and threats from Floyd started a few years ago and really, at that time, we largely ignored him. Johan can speak more to what Floyd exactly wanted from us and the team. A year ago, I told him, ‘listen, you do what you have to do.' We have nothing to say and nothing to hide."

"They started again with some consistency and with some energy about a month ago before this race when Floyd continued to email, text and harass myself, Johan, Dave Zabriskie, Levi (Leipheimer), Andrew Messick, the CEO of Amgen, right around the time that they were  trying to get into this race. Floyd made pointed threats to Messick and to the leadership of Amgen that if he wasn’t let in the race he was going to say X, Y and Z about their product.

"I would remind everyone that this is a man that, first of all, from our perspective and from what’s gone on at US Postal and Discovery and all of those Tours, we have nothing to hide. We have nothing to run from and if anybody has any questions we would be more than happy to answer them.

"I would remind everyone that this is a man that has been under oath several times with a very different version. This is a man that wrote a book for profit that had a completely different version.  This is somebody that took close to a million dollars from innocent people for his defense under a different premise and now when it’s all run out the story changes. So we are a little confused.  Maybe just as confused as you guys.

"But with regard to the specific allegations and the specific claims, they are not even worth getting into. I’m not going to waste your time or my time. I think history speaks for itself here. We’ve all followed this case for the last four years. We’ve followed Floyd winning the Tour and we don’t know what he did or didn’t do when he was on that team. We can only speak about what he did when he was on our team. We followed the case, we followed all the drama with regard to the case and now we see something different. That is about it.

(Asked about allegations that the UCI was paid off  in a bribe)" Absolutely not. No. That is the other thing, if you get into it. Obviously we’ve seen the email and that is not correct. But a lot of other things in the email, the timeline is off, if you go year by year."

"Ultimately all of the other emails that have been sent around will come out. The emails to myself will come out. All of the emails to Andrew Messick will come out, to John Burke from Trek. For someone that says he is here to clear his conscience, why are you sending emails to other people’s sponsors, other people’s partners, to the organizer of a race, to the sponsors of a race? That has nothing to do with your conscience.   Eventually that will all come out.  But, no, absolutely not."

(Asked why he pin-pointed he and Johan)" He didn’t. He pin-pointed a lot of people and I mean, let’s be honest here. Obviously my name will be at the top of the story and my name will be in the headline. But, it goes from myself to Johan, to Levi, to Zabriskie, to Andy Rihs, to Jim Ochowicz to Michael Barry, to Matthew White, to Steve Johnson, to Pat McQuaid. At the end of the day, he pointed the  finger at everyone still involved in cycling, everyone that is still enjoying the sport, everyone that still believes in the sport and everyone that is still working in the sport was in the cross hairs.

"I’m standing here with you guys because I won the Tour de France seven times. But, you have to keep in mind that the yellow jersey of this race is also in the cross hairs and that is not by accident. Maybe that is a good strategy to get as much attention as possible but if I look at, I can use Allen Lim as an example, someone that I view that has the highest standards and the highest ethics of anybody in this sport, the fact that he is thrown in there speaks volumes to the credibility of this and I think that’s, if I walk away with one word to sum this all up - credibility. Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago."

To continue reading this article...head over to Team Radioshack.

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Adding insult to injury | Lance involved in crash at ToC

More bad news for Lance Armstrong today. He is leaving the Tour of California after being involved in what appears to be a pretty serious crash. Check out the photo captured by Bo Bridges.

On a side note, I once worked with Bo Bridges back in my Discovery days. We shot a train smashing into a parked car. Wound up being pretty hairy though when the car rocketed off the front of the train in our direction and we were sent diving into the orange trees (which have lots and lots of thorns).

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The happiest man in cycling today

Greg Lemond

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Floyd Landis Confession Letter pretty much confirms the Pharmstrong theory.

FLOYD LANDIS‚ LETTER TO THE UCI AND USA CYCLING

TYPED BETWEEN APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2010

2002: I was instructed on how to use Testosterone patches by Johan Bruyneel during the During the Dauphine Libere in June, after which I flew on a helicopter with Mr Armstrong from the finish, I believe Grenoble, to San Mauritz Switzerland at which point I was personally handed a box of 2.5 mg patches in front of his wife who witnessed the exchange. About a week later, Dr Ferrari performed an extraction of half a liter of blood to be transfused back into me during the Tour de France. Mr Armstrong was not witness to the extraction but he and I had lengthy discussions about it on our training rides during which time he also explained to me the evolution of EPO testing and how transfusions were now necessary due to the inconvenience of the new test. He also divulged to me at that time that in the first year that the EPO test was used he had been told by Mr Ferrari, who had access to the new test, that he should not use EPO anymore but he did not believe Mr Farrari and continued to use it. He later, while winning the Tour de Swiss, the month before the Tour de France, tested positive for EPO at which point he and Mr Bruyneel flew to the UCI headquarters and made a financial agreement with Mr. Vrubrugen to keep the positive test hidden.

2003: After a broken hip in the winter, I flew to Gerona Spain where this time two units (half a liter each) were extracted three weeks apart. This took place in the apartment in which Mr. Armstrong lived and in which I was asked to stay and check the blood temperature every day. It was kept in a small refrigerator in the closet along with the blood of Mr Armstrong and George Hincapie and since Mr. Armstrong was planning on being gone for a few weeks to train he asked me to stay in his place and

make sure the electricity didn't turn off or something go wrong with the refrigerator. Then during the Tour de France the entire team, on two different occasions went to the room that we were told and the doctor met us there to do the transfusions. During that Tour de France I personally witnessed George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong, Chechu Rubiera, and myself receiving blood transfusions. Also during that Tour de France the team doctor would give my room mate, George Hincapie and I a small syringe of olive oil in which was dissolved andriol, a form of ingestible testosterone on two out of three nights throughout the duration.

I was asked to ride the Vuelta a Espana that year in support of Roberto Heras and in August, between the Tour and the Vuelta, was told to take EPO to raise my hematocrit back up so more blood transfusions could be performed. I was instructed to go to Lances place by Johan Bruyneel and get some EPO from him. The first EPO I ever used was then handed to me in the entry way to his building in full view of his then wife. It was Eprex by brand and it came in six pre measured syringes. I used it intravenously for several weeks before the next blood draw and had no problems with the tests during the Vuelta. Also during this time it was explained to me how to use Human Growth Hormone by Johan Bruyneel and I bought what I needed from Pepe the team "trainer" who lived in Valencia along with the team doctor at that time. While training for that Vuelta I spent a good deal of time training with Matthew White and Michael Barry and shared the testosterone and EPO that we had and discussed the use thereof while training.

Again, during the Vuelta we were given Andriol and blood transfusions by the team doctor and had no problems with any testing.

2004: Again the team performed two separate blood transfusions on me, but this time Bruyneel had become more paranoid and we did the draws by flying to Belgium and meeting at an unknown persons

apartment and the blood was brought by "Duffy" who was at that time Johans assistant of sorts. The second of which was performed on the team bus on the ride from the finish of a stage to the hotel during which the driver pretended to have engine trouble and stopped on a remote mountain road for an hour or so so the entire team could have half a liter of blood added. This was the only time that I ever saw the entire team being transfused in plain view of all the other riders and bus driver. That team included Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie and I as the only Americans.

2005: I had learned at this point how to do most of the transfusion technicals and other things on my own so I hired Allen Lim as my assistant to help with details and logistics. He helped Levi Leipheimer and I prepare the transfusions for Levi and I and made sure they were kept at the proper temperature. We both did two separate transfusions that Tour however my hematocrit was too low at the start so I did my first one a few days before the start so as to not start with a deficit.

2006: Well you get the idea....... One thing of great significance is that I sat down with Andy Riis and explained to him what was done in the past and what was the risk I would be taking and ask for his permission which he granted in the form of funds to complete the operation described. John Lelangue was also informed by me and Andy Riis consulted with Jim Ochowitz before agreeing.

There are many many more details that I have in diaries and am in the process of writing into an intelligible story but since the position of USA Cycling is that there have not been enough details shared to justify calling USADA, I am writing as many as I can reasonably put into an email and share with you so as to ascertain what is the process which USA Cycling uses to proceed with such allegations.

Look forward to much more detail as soon as you can demonstrate that you can be trusted to do the right thing.

- Floyd Landis

Retrovelo

Here is a pretty smart looking bag for those of you who can't leave your laptops at home. Created by the German company Retrovelo.

The frame bag is nice, but Retrovelo's bread and butter is definitely in their bicycle designs. Check out a few samples below.

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Norman-Copenhagen Bike

I came across this insanely beautiful bike over at Swipelife.

Design house Norman-Copenhagen has been around now for more than a decade giving the world a mix of traditional and non-traditional products for everyday use. Their latest venture leads into the fascinating world of bicycles which is designed by Anne Lehmanne. As mentioned by the company, it is a classic man’s bike with an urbane style. It has a 50’s inspired lightness and comes in two colors: antrhacite grey and green. Limited to 50, each bike has been hand built by professional cycle builders. They will be sold from October 2010 through the Norman Copenhagen Flagship Store, through their online shop, and selected stores worldwide.

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Could it really be true? TEAM PHARMSTRONG

After hearing today's drug doping admission by Floyd Landis and his very detailed accusations against Lance,  I am reminded of a nickname I read over at Velominati.  As a fan of cycling and a fan of Lances' work, I sure hope it's not true.

Pharmstrong:
Lance Armstrong, for his (and his team’s) alleged but unprovable involvement in doping throughout his career; his organization could easily have doubled as a pharmaceutical business.
Here is one damaging excerpt from this article. "According to the newspaper, Landis claimed the blood extractions took place in Armstrong's apartment. He said blood bags belonging to Armstrong and then-teammate George Hincapie were kept in a refrigerator in Armstrong's closet and Landis was asked to check the temperature of the blood daily. When Armstrong left for a few weeks, he asked Landis to "make sure the electricity didn't go off and ruin the blood," according to the e-mail quoted by the Journal".
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I love love love SPECIALIZED for doing this. The SPECIALIZED ‘AMERICAN FLYERS EDITION’ TARMAC SL3

Simple Beauty

Bobby Julich and the Saxo Bank team along with Specialized have done a wonderful, wonderful thing. Paying homage to the 1985 cult classic American Flyers which featured Kevin Costner riding a Specialized Allez, the Saxo Bank team will be tearing through the mountains of California aboard these gorgeous looking commemorative edition bikes.  Can you say...GO SAXO! Be sure to check out Road Bike Action Magazine's Component by Component breakdown

Oh and Trek?  Logos are to be used sparingly. Please remember that.

Gotta thank Bicycledesign.com for sharing this one today.
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MASH | Tour of California Kit

I love this kit. I do not love its price. $160 for the bib, $110 for the jersey. I just don't think I can bring myself to spend $270 pre shipping and tax for a new kit. Damn you MASH, why or why do you have to be so expensive? If your pockets are deeper than mine, you can pick up this killer kit here.

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