Dopers SUCK>>>>>

yeah, dopers suck. With the news of A-Rod testing positive in 2003, it got me thinking.

It's well documented that sports organizations like MLB, the NFL and the NBA have minimal testing programs and even less sanctions when then actually do (most likely accidentally) catch somebody using banned substances. On the other hand, we hear about cycling's "drug culture" and it being a "drug ridden sport" but nobody is putting things into perspective at all on the matter.

So- here's a very simple 2003 statistic.

In the news it is now being said that 104 MLB players tested + in 2003. That is out of about 1,000 players. NOW, compare that to the USADA statistics for ALL Olympic sports (except Baseball obviously)- there were 7448 tests (in and out of comp) performed by USADA in 2003 and there were 52 findings- yeah, only FIFTY TWO!!!!! And that is not in cycling but in cycling, swimming, track and field, weight lifting, skiing, triathlon, yada, yada, yada.........

Keep in mind these are US tests- the WADA (world anti doping association) in 2003 did over 5000 out of competition tests and only 28 adverse findings- (I couldn't find in comp results)

so, over 10% of athletes tested positive in MLB in 2003- and this is assuming that ALL players were tested- they were probably not testing everyone.

Here is the problem-

MLB penalties for steroid use
First positive: Treatment
Second positive: 15-day suspension or $10,000 fine.
Third positive: 25-day suspension or $25,000 fine.
Fourth positive: 50-day suspension or $50,000 fine.
Fifth positive: one-year suspension or $100,000 fine.
Note: All suspensions are without pay

Yeah, tough penalties for sure-

oh, what are cycling's penalties-

First positive: 2 year ban
Second positive: lifetime ban

yep- that's it, one and you are out for a long time, 2 and you're done.........

And that's just the comparison of MLB. The NFL and NBA aren't any better.

Wake up people, cyclists test positive because they are actually tested often. And the rates at which they test positive is very low compared to other sports.

I know my opinion, hopefully more people will start to look at what really goes on in professional sports and put the pressure on other governing bodies to clean up their sports.....

CARP

Goat Path.......

Rode what I think it THE toughest climb in the Chattanooga area today-

the Rockly Lane climb on Pigeon Mountain. It's 4K of miserably steep chip and seal in the middle of nowhere and goes even more into nowhere.

(see the link- note that I'm not the most ocmputer savy individual- I would like to actually learn how to embed this)

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=34.661028,-85.364113&spn=0.02718,0.073042&t=h&z=14&lci=lmc:panoramio

As I'm riding it I have the thought, "why in the hell did I do this climb in February?" This climb is beautiful but is most definitely my nemisys. After the 9 switchbacks of bouncy pseudo pavement, gravel and black ice wheel spinning good time, I stopped and caught my breath before I embarked on the way back down.

You see, when you get up to the top, you have 2 choices: 1) descencend the cliff you just climbed 2) ride the non paved-mogul filled rock and dirt path 8 miles to Daugherty gap.

This is the granddaddy of the road less traveled trainign series that I hope to ride again sometime this spring.


---carp

New Kits

here's a peek........

The Road Less Traveled Training Series

Took a bit of a diversion today- didn't have much time to ride but hit one of my favorite unpaved roads- this one is about 10K into the River Gorge RR course. Slygo Ridge Road......

I have a few roads that I think I can connect into a single endurance ride soon- Sam, you in for some off road diversions?

see you (off) the road

carp

Team Kits

Just got a sneak peak at our 2009 Hincapie-Barkley Development Team kits. SWEET!!!!!!

can't post as per orders of Bake, but you'll see them soon enough.

C

life changes

lot's going on in the Carp household right now, job transition, trying to advance the coaching business and have an exciting but nervous potential with a friend on a business proposal.

the cool thing is I have had more time to figure out the Ipod thing- just got one for my b-day last fall but now am figuring out the cool uses such as putting all the pictures on it that I took on my work phone over the past few years (a phone that I will now be returning in a week).

So, nervous, anxious and excited describes the Carp at this time in his life (yeah, sometimes you gotta go 3rd person)

see you on the road

carp

There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.......

It’s mid-winter. That means riding in all weather conditions and making the most of training time. That also means figuring out how to deal with the poor conditions and what are your individual limits/needs for those conditions. Basically, your individual time-temperature curve.

First, let me say I ride in ALL bad weather here in Chattanooga, I do not however ride if I feel the weather is DANGEROUS. The difference to me is in visibility, icy conditions and thunderstorms. The coldest ride start I have had this year was 2 Saturdays ago when it was 7 degrees (Fahrenheit) when I rolled out the door. 3 ½ hours, one climb and a coffee stop later I was still fine when I rolled back in the door.

THE key to me is dressing right. You hear of layers but exactly how do you layer. Here are my key points: Good base layer (especially wool or synthetic fibers that wick away moisture because if you get wet, you’re in trouble), arm warmers on the OUTSIDE of long sleeve jerseys (so you can take them off before a climb- and not get wet!), good gloves and shoe covers (the importance here is that if you wear to many tight layers on your extremities they will get COLDER due to lack of blood flow), a solid chest cover (wind resistant vest or jacket that can again be pulled off if needed), a solid head cover that fits under a helmet (yep- I don’t recommend going without a helmet just to wear a hat- get something that fits under a helmet).

We on the Hincapie Development team are very fortunate to have availability of the best made clothing in the world, I recommend to everyone to compile your winter gear as needed season after season, piece by piece if budget doesn’t allow a big one time purchase

Some Ghetto techniques are plastic bags between shoes/shoe covers, toe or hand warmers, a hot water bottle or warm camel back to make sure you have available water and it can add to the heat retention in the ride, and a “rescue layer” which is basically plastic (rain jacket, bag, etc) you can put on if you run into trouble being wet in a wind.

The recommendation you will hear anyone that rides in cold weather make is you should be cool but not frigid when you leave because you will warm up just from increased heat production from the work. So, if you are warm the first 2 minutes you may get cold later due to sweat.

See you out on the road.

Carp