Now there's something I haven't heard of in a while.

I'm going to go for Didi Sneft for the yellow jersey.. ;)

You gotta like this guy simply by virtue of his name.....David Cañada

???

The team got burned for doping in Spain no? Didn't a whole truck load of riders get busted?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...g.cyclists.ap/
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports...in-doping.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug...v=ap&type=lgns

""We asked the team Astana-Wurth, formerly Liberty Seguros, to pull out of the Tour de France," Tour spokesman Matthieu Desplats said Tuesday, citing the "image of the tour.""

http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/0/r1_equipes.html a look will show that the Astana-Wurth's jersey is missing from the team list on the site.

interesting.. I hadn't seen that news. They were ASKED to withdraw though, but they refused. It's up to Court of Arbitration for Sport now! :P

i read on cycling news yesterday that they had been granted a UCI lisence last minute. what bugs me about that Sais guy is that he was never a cyclist yet be became a directuer sportif? how does that work? it's like coaching a basketball team having never played...

okay, i'm jealous of this guy; a bike trip retracing the route of the tour de france from your birth year.

The Tour organizer's have asked Astana to stay away from the Tour. Astana have lodged a formal protest for which they are having a hearing today. I hope they get in cause having Vino there will make the Tour more interesting. Either way I am staying away from Astana in case more $hit hits the fan in the middle of the Tour. The Spanish authorities have released very little thus far....most of whats been reported is speculation...but...if they come out with names during the Tour all hell will break loose.

definitely very cool. I heard about it yesterday on the Surly blog. :P

Not just riding, but also doing some bouldering too.. I've asked this here before, but is anyone interested in doing some gym climbing? Very recreational.. maybe once a month or so.

gokiburi> not exactly my gig here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?search=...&v=7mv-lep67uI

What kind of gym climbing ( I am taking this with a grain of salt)

i think he means the indoor rock climbing kind, not the old-school gym class "up the rope or drop and give me 20 kind". i went climbing at joe rockheads off and on for a while many years back. i enjoyed it but could never find a belay partner my size. so yeah, i'd try it out again (even though i sold off all my equiptment, bah!) for kicks. i'll have to see what my work schedule / monetary situation is when i get back from the southern hemisphere.

eg: http://www.rockoasis.com/photos.htm

OMG ya sureeeeeee like I am going to drag my fat *ss up on that :roflmao:

Same here!

ok. if you're not interested, no need to respond. :) (wusses)

who's riding CM tomorrow?

B*TCH:D

I'll be at CM

sick with envy here... i can't stand people that get to travel and eat when i can't... keep us posted ;) i've been to china a few times but never ventured too far out of the south. shanghai is definitely on my list of places to go.. hell, i'd love to take a month off (HAAHAHAHAH) and spend a week in a large city and just bike around. and offhoff, whatever you do, spend a few days in hk.

it's asking me to sign-in due to questionable content HAHAHAAH. i'll check it at home.
i hope the rainy season ends before CM tomorrow.. ben, you make it out to any CM rides on your side o' the world?

Astana-Wurth update:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Cycling/20...660066-ap.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...244/index.html

Yo eyefloater want to swap some? I have all the above except
- The Road to Paris (Lance TDF training documentary)

I have these that you dont
- Pr0
- TDF best climbs
- TDF 2003 (2 disc version)

Trade on Sat?

I'm going to CM whether it's raining or not.

I remember 20 odd years ago a bunch on Danish riders dropping dead of heart attacks due to bad steroids. It seems pro cycling has been trying to deal with doping and drugs longer than other pro sports. If this is any indication of how far we've come in this long a period.... pro sports is in big trouble.

I think we should cloister pro athletes away in governing body run villages seeing that we obviously can't trust individuals, teams, doctor, or national sporting federations in some instances. A pro sport contract should include clauses against doping, or any other form of cheating. Get busted ... not only are you out but you must pay back your salary for that period. The message to up and coming athletes is completely destroying sportsmanship IMHO.