He With The Biggest Mouth Falls Hardest....

Riccardo Riccò, formerly of Team Saunier Duval, may have his truthfulness tested once again. French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Thursday that the rider's Giro d'Italia anti-doping samples would be re-analysed after Riccò confessed to injecting himself with CERA, a last-generation EPO, prior to the Tour de France.
In front of the Italian Olympic Committee CONI, the 24 year-old said that he had taken the banned substance on Wednesday, July 2, three days before the Tour start. But he maintained that this was the only time he had cheated, and affirmed his second place in the Giro d'Italia was not tainted.
"I rode a clean Giro," he said. "I want to send a message to all of those who believe in me: before the Tour, I always won with my legs only."
Riccò's Giro d'Italia samples will be tested once again by the Rome anti-doping laboratory, which did not have the detection method for CERA at the time of the event, in May. Meanwhile, the rider had pointed out that of his ten anti-doping tests taken at the Tour de France, only two showed a positive result. "In theory all the tests should have been positive. The detection method is not efficient to a 100 percent, as the effect of the drug lasts one month," he said.
CONI is expected to pronounce a sanction on the rider some time next week.

ToCA 2009!

2009

Stage 1: Saturday, Feb. 14 - Sacramento

Stage 2: Sunday, Feb. 15 - Davis to Santa Rosa

Stage 3: Monday, Feb. 16 - Sausalito to Santa Cruz

Stage 4: Tuesday, Feb. 17 - San Jose to Modesto

Stage 5: Wednesday, Feb. 18 - Merced to Clovis

Stage 6: Thursday, Feb. 19 - Visalia to Paso Robles

Stage 7: Friday, Feb. 20 - Solvang (individual time trial)

Stage 8: Saturday, Feb. 21 - Santa Clarita to Pasadena

Stage 9: Sunday, Feb. 22 - Rancho Bernardo to Escondido

But We Had No Idea...... Mmm Hmmm...

From the desk of the RED Headed Step Child...

Ricco is out. We woke up shocked and in a complete state of utter disbelief. Two years ago, when we hooked up with the Scott boys and sponsored the team, we were excited to get our stuff on the pro’s bikes. We were excited to get our stuff “ProTour proven.” We were excited to go to the Tour de France.
We’re extremely disappointed that a team that we sponsor would have athletes that act with such disregard for the rules and regulations. At SRAM, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illegal behavior in the sponsorship game. We do not take lightly the actions of those that discredit the sport. We take pride in our products and our brand’s image and want to make sure that everyone knows what we stand for. We’ll all learn more in the next 24 hours, but until then, we will stop supporting this team and its athletes.
At the end of the day, sponsors like ourselves and Scott bikes, have lost a lot in this game. We have invested thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours working on bikes, and countless numbers of spare parts to support the team. We lose the ads that we ran in the magazines, we lose the pictures that appear on our websites, and we lose the imagery that we use in our brochures. I don’t think I’ll be wearing my coveted Saunier Duval jersey anymore at my local group ride.
In the end, SPAM moves on. We’ll weather the storm and continue to support the other teams that we sponsor. To you that support us, just know that we’re committed to fair play. We’re committed to great products that make your riding experience taste better.

HA! How About 49 or More Cars Get a Permit!

CASTRO VALLEY — The county is circulating a new "bicycle event" law proposal that would make excursions on country roads more difficult and expensive for organized cycling clubs.
County Supervisor Nate Miley said the law would balance the concerns of bicyclists and residents.
"We want people to ride bicycles, and not to impose unfair burdens on people who live along (rural) roadways," Miley explained.
The proposal would primarily affect roads in unincorporated Livermore, Pleasanton and Sunol. However, it also would cover portions of Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, Eden Canyon, Lake Chabot, Palomares and Redwood roads, and East Castro Valley Boulevard.
For years, bands of bicycle riders have irritated residents living along rural roads.
The cyclists often clog narrow roads at unexpected times, dump litter and take restroom breaks at inappropriate places, the residents have claimed during a decade of meetings with elected and appointed Alameda County representatives.
Under the proposed new law, organizations with advertised rides and 50 or more riders would have to apply for permits, which the Alameda County Sheriff's Office could approve or deny. The permit would cost $189. Another $150 fee would be required for informational signs, which the county would post along the requested route.
Groups with 49 or fewer riders would not be subject to permit requirements. The sheriff's office estimates that rides with a few hundred
to a few thousand cyclists occur about 20 times a year.
The proposal was introduced last week to Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council members, who had mixed reactions.
Council member Dave Sadoff called the proposal "not an unreasonable approach," while member Cheryl Miraglia claimed it went "overboard." The law wouldn't take effect until it is approved by county supervisors. As of Friday, no date had been set for a hearing.
The East Bay Bicycle Coalition, which advocates for cyclists in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, is batting 0-for-3. Nearly a year ago, as the ordinance was being drafted, the coalition told the sheriff's office that signs were unnecessary. The Oakland-based organization asked that the 50-cyclists threshold be removed and the term "bicycle event" — which could trigger the need for event liability insurance — be eliminated.

Another One Bites The Dust...

One seat available for the tour de france. Inquire at the Saunier Duval-Scott, located in an alley somewhere in France illuminated only by flashbulbs.

Note: Must pass drug test.

Michael Rasmussen commercial !

Sent in by Ams!

Quick! Is there an Asshole in the house?

Bicyclists who crave a steady uphill climb flock to Mandeville Canyon Road and its 5-mile, straight-shot ascent with no traffic lights.But the route's rising popularity has turned the narrow road into a zone of conflict for Brentwood residents and the hundreds of cyclists who, every weekend, brave its twists, turns and tree-root bumps.

The frustration boiled over on the Fourth of July. In what police describe as a "road-rage incident," two experienced racers on a holiday outing that attracted about 300 cyclists were riding down Mandeville Canyon when a motorist in an Infiniti sedan slammed on his brakes in front of them. Police said the resulting impact propelled one rider through the car's rear window and sent the other to the pavement.Police arrested the driver, Christopher T. Thompson, 58, on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon -- his automobile. Thompson, who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an owner of a medical documentation company in Woodland Hills, was released on $30,000 bail.Capt. Bill Eaton of the Los Angeles Police Department said the case could go to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office as early as today.Peter Swarth, Thompson's attorney, denied that his client had done anything wrong and said the cyclists' account was inaccurate. "This isn't an incident of road rage," Swarth said. "It is a very unfortunate accident. Dr. Thompson hopes for the injured cyclists' recovery."Cyclist Ron Peterson, 40, whose head crashed through the car window, suffered broken teeth and serious cuts on his face, including one that left his broken nose dangling.The other cyclist, Christian Stoehr, 29, said he suffered a shoulder separation that would require surgery.Photos showing a car's shattered window and what appears to be a blood-covered trunk and a cut-up Peterson on a gurney and in a UCLA Medical Center bed were quickly posted on Internet blogs, prompting outraged e-mails among members of Westside riding clubs.Peterson and Stoehr said they were starting their descent toward Sunset Boulevard when a fellow cyclist crashed into another rider's bike and was injured. The two remained behind to help.After paramedics arrived and loaded the cyclist into an ambulance, Peterson and Stoehr said they continued to descend, riding side by side at about 30 mph.Peterson said he pulled in front of Stoehr after a driver behind them honked. The car passed them, missing their handlebars by less than a foot, Peterson said.The driver "yelled out some profanity and 'Ride single file,' " said Peterson, who works as a cycling coach. Peterson, riding a $5,500 Specialized racing bike, screamed an expletive at the driver. At that point, the driver veered directly in front of the riders and "slammed on his brakes as hard as he could," Peterson said.Peterson's head slammed through the window. Stoehr, meanwhile, said he tried to steer around the car but clipped it with his bag or a foot. "I ended up being catapulted over my own bike and landed in front of the car," he said.According to Peterson, the driver emerged from the car and said he was a doctor. But "from that point on, he never offered any help," Peterson said.Thompson's biography on the website of his company, Touch Medix, says he spent 29 years as an emergency department doctor. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma and has for years consulted on issues relating to medical documentation.Wendy-Sue Rosen, president of the Upper Mandeville Canyon Assn., described Thompson as "a great guy who has been active in the community." His wife, Lynne, is on the association's board."People here are very, very angry at bicyclists and their disregard for the laws of the road," Rosen said, adding that residents had reported being spat upon by cyclists.Charles Mostov, a lawyer who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an avid cyclist, said the incident had prompted some much-needed conversation.Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the area, said he had called for a meeting within the next two weeks of residents, cyclists, traffic engineers and police to discuss the issues and to reinforce the fact that "cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear."Cyclists urged members of their community not to use the incident as an excuse to act aggressively toward motorists."As more people take to the road because of gas prices and the economy," Mostov said, "maybe this is an opportunity for some outreach and for dialogue so that we can get along."

Versus Cycling Prevention Campaign..... YEP! Its working....

I was going to run this shot backwards, but this guy's soooo guilty its best frozen...

OK ok.... I know I've been getting lapped on the blog posting. Stop writing me!

9 days at the tour of PA and then trying to get my legs back in 3 smoky Norcal days due to 20 fires - in time to go to KY for the Nationals.... Well that didn't work! So I raced on the 4th, 5th,and 6th and now I'm prepping to head to OR and do the Cascade Cycling Classic Stage Race this Fri~Sun....

It's tour time - Could be the Bore de France... who knows, however, we will see who emerges as the 2nd tear winner. That brings me to what is the most undermining commercial by the folks who bring you the TV coverage of the Bore in this country - Versus - or as they like to see it in print - Vs: - ya know, the cowboy ch... Bet those shit kickers dope, why the fuck else would you do that? Anyway, I could not embed the clip but if you click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHkdhb6yVrE you will see - not the one they play to death every commercial break - but the extended re-mix (wiki, wiki) - with the surprise ending - the walrus is Paul... David Milar. Have you noticed? The first version had Milar in the ending shots, but the current one running during the Bore has been replaced w/ Vino.... Hmmmm, pressure fro JV?

Garmin?

Not Amgen - we're sure of that!

Do ya think Baseball would run ad's durring the world series with Bonds, McGuire etc... hitting HR's backwards?

I didn't think so.......... Good on ya VERSUS!

Tour De Nez - Drama.....

In the end of a great stage race it comes down to 1 sec! Aaron Olsen worked his ass off in the break and Baz just sat in in the chase - numbers were crunched and in the end it was Aaron by a second! Baz was so pissed he refused to get on the podium.... after some finger pointing and coxing, he climbed up and never broke a frown.

The masters race was frickin hard with a lot of shelled riders - Dan Martin and Phipps went 1 /2 and picked up big cash! The rest of us pack filled to 20th / where the $$$ ended.
Great course and good racing!!!

As for this Blog, I'm off to shoot the U23 Tour of PA - so no post for a week.

Ride safe-

Stage one of TdN

The opening stage of the revitalized Tour de Nez was a bling-bling criterium held in the parking lot of the largest casino in the 'Biggest Little City in the World.' For most of the race it seemed the peloton was content to open-up their legs with a tough, 2.75km uphill time trial looming in front of them the next morning. But not for hometown hero Alex Candelario (Kelly Benefits Strategies-Medifast) who attacked out of the peloton as the 75 minute race went from time to seven laps to go. Candelario quickly built nearly 30 seconds by himself but a large Bissell train reeled him in on the final lap, setting up their neo-pro sprinter Steven Howard for his first ever professional win.
"Aaron [Olson] took over when we were still chasing Alex on the last lap," said Howard. "We caught him about halfway down the back side. Aaron then took me to the final corner and I went from there - it was a pretty long way!"
Coming in second just behind Howard was Successful Living's Argentinean speedster Ricardo Escuela, who unclipped from his pedal half-way down the finish stretch. Despite the unfortunate malfunction his momentum was so great that is still carried him up the false flat to the finish in second.
"I'm pretty excited about the win," Howard told Cyclingnews. "This is my first year as a pro and six years total riding. I just finished my junior year a month ago at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan native came to the Bissell team through their development system, which includes the Priority Health U23 squad. "I was on a couple of local teams and then the past few years the Priority Health U23 team. All the sponsors, like Bissell and Advantage Benefits, are pretty much local to Grand Rapids."
The attack by Candelario was an interesting move for the well-known field sprinter. "We wanted to smash in the last half of the race," he said. "It's a stage race and obviously I'm not going to do well in the uphill time trial. So I gave it a go to see if anyone would come with me, but no one came across. I just thought there would be more guys willing to race. But Bissell is just riding really strong and they have twice as many guys as anyone else."
Alex Candelario Storms off the front. Photo ©: Briggs Heaney

Candelario's uncharacteristic move did set off some alarm bells in the field, with many thinking of making the jump. But with only Bissell left as a major team, the rest of the teams and individual riders looked to them to chase. "I thought about going with him, but I had a brief hesitation," said race winner Howard. "With two laps to go I thought he was gone, but the team rode so well we were able to get him back."
A small bridge attempt did come from Garmin-Chipotle's Steven Cozza, riding on his own this week. "I just opened my legs up for tomorrow, for the time trial," he said. Cozza thinks that though Bissell and Kelly Benefits are strong in terms of numbers, the layout of the race does not necessarily favour them. It's a smaller field, about 75 guys, so I don't think team-mates are going to really help unless you want to win the sprints.
As for race strategy as a 'freelance' rider, Cozza said, "I'm just going to try to get into everything, and if anything has a Kelly Benefits or Bissell in it, get in it. They are the only teams here that can really control anything."
Conversely, for the two big teams, the usual GC guys are ready to go in the time trial tomorrow. One of them is Bissell's Burke Swindlehurst, who said the conditions are what he looks for in a stage race. "I'm one of them; I like the altitude and heat around here!"
Candelario said to look for his team-mate Andy Bajadali, who has ridden well in NRC stage races like Redlands. "Bajadali can drop pretty much everyone on the climb!"

Exclusive!!!!

Inside source FINALLY let me open my mouth an let da cat of da bag......

Slipstream is making a mid season change to.... drum roll.... ? Hummm, I don't know what they'll call it, but Garmin is in the house... Maybe Slipmin? Garstream?

Elite cycling squad officially renamed Team Garmin-Chipotle Presented by H30
OLATHE, Kan./June 18, 2008/PR Newswire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today its title sponsorship of Slipstream Sports, an elite cycling team that will be showcasing its dedication to clean competition in one of the biggest events in professional sports: the Tour de France. In tackling the daunting stages of the Tour — and redefining the face of cycling — Team Garmin will train and race with the Edge 705 GPS-enabled cycling computer and travel with nüvi 770 personal navigation devices. The sponsorship will extend through 2010 and the entire team – from kits to cars, will be re-branded for the Tour de France.
Garmin and Slipstream officials and athletes will hold a Webcast press conference on June 18, 2008, at Noon Eastern Daylight Time. All interested parties are welcome to attend. Additional information on Garmin’s title sponsorship, including the new team logo and visuals, will be revealed on July 3 in Brest, France, in the press room at Penfeld Parc des Expositions de Brest.
“Slipstream cyclists are setting the standard for success through integrity and sportsmanship,” said Jon Cassat, Garmin’s vice president of communications, “and this fresh perspective on work ethic and accountability is in keeping with Garmin’s worldwide reputation for accomplishing great things through teamwork.”
Packed with detailed maps of North America and Europe — and several million preloaded points of interest — the widely acclaimed nüvi 770 will help Team Garmin’s tour bus and support vehicles travel with speed and ease across two continents. Barely bigger than a deck of cards, the nüvi 770 features traffic alerts, Bluetooth compatibility, route-planning capabilities for multi-stop trips and instant answers to the questions: “Where am I?” and “Where’s my car?”
The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including power compatibility, wireless unit-to-unit connectivity and the ability to monitor GPS position, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. And Team Garmin will be able to share data – including saved rides, waypoints and workouts –through ANT+Sport™ wireless technology.
Team Garmin cyclists and coaches can track their progress, share workouts and participate in an online community – even sharing recent rides with fans around the world. Garmin Connect calculates measurements such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. This information is displayed through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps as well as the popular Google Earth application.
Garmin and Slipstream Sports share similar success stories rooted in hard work, innovation and an unwavering insistence on quality results. Just as Garmin is a global leader with facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia, the Slipstream squad assembled elite athletes from around the world. Team Garmin features several Tour de France stage winners and five National Champions from the USA, Sweden, UK, New Zealand and Canada. At this summer’s Olympics in Beijing, 17-year-old phenom Taylor Phinney will be among the members of Team Garmin competing for gold at the Games.
“We are thrilled to partner with Garmin and believe that establishing this title sponsorship is further evidence that a new era of cycling is upon us,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC, the sports management company that runs the team. “Garmin’s commitment to innovation and integrity mirrors our own.”
Slipstream Sports is dedicated to promoting ethical competition and developing the next generation of cycling champions. In 2007, Slipstream partnered with the independent Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE), to create the most progressive anti-doping system in the professional sports world. The team of 25 riders undergoes combined voluntary testing at least 700 times throughout the cycling season. Team director Jonathan Vaughters’ staunch “ride clean or go home” philosophy earned him a nomination by Sports Illustrated for the prestigious Sportsman of the Year award.
During the season, television coverage of professional cycling reaches 4 billion people, a number that is sure to grow as the sport emerges as an easy and enjoyable solution to global challenges associated with the environment and health issues. All around the world, riders of all ages, abilities and demographics are getting back on their bikes. And few competitive teams travel as far and as often as an elite cycling squad — the sport itself rewards getting from Point A to Point B the most efficiently — and Garmin’s wide range of products offer assistance every step of the way.

Is This A Good Thing? Tour De Caliance...

The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), owners respectively of the Tour de France and the Tour of California, have formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership to grow and develop each other's events.
Beginning with the upcoming 2008 Tour de France and 2009 Tour of California, the multi-year agreement calls for the organisations to develop and initiate comprehensive cross promotional platforms for each other's races, as well as providing assistance with media and sponsorship sales for the races in their respective regions.
Yann Le Moenner, Deputy Director of ASO, said that "AEG's success in developing and promoting properties like the Los Angeles Galaxy [football] team with David Beckham as well as, among others, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings [ice hockey team], will greatly benefit the Tour de France in the United States."
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme added, "The Tour of California, which will celebrate its fourth anniversary in February 2009, is still a brand new event on the cycling calendar, but one with a promising future ahead of it." Prudhomme emphasised the fact that ASO can help with "our support ... and know-how established through the organisation of centenary events, such as the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège." He also saw it as the organisation's duty to expand the sport of cycling worldwide.
Among the key components of the agreement, ASO will assist AEG with the international distribution of the Tour of California television and digital media rights. ASO will develop, produce and distribute a portfolio of programming formats, including live coverage of the race. Additionally, AEG will be assisting ASO with the sales of specific sponsorship packages.
Andrew Messick, President of AEG Sports, revealed, "AEG is delighted to be able to partner with the Amaury Sport Organization, who is without doubt the world's most experienced and successful organiser of bicycle races. With their help, we hope to be able to help to grow the sport of cycling, the Tour de France, and of course our Amgen Tour of California."

Tour de Nez $5000 purse Masters Race

The Northstar at Tahoe Tour de Nez changes venues for ’08. After 15 years of the focus of racing being in downtown Reno, the Tour de Nez has reached a 3 year agreement with Northstar at Tahoe to have the final days and main focus of the now 6 day event at Northstar at Tahoe.

We’ve created a really great 2 mile circuit that utilizes the immediate area of the village and actually goes right through the middle of the village each lap.

The masters race is approximately one hour and has a prize list of $5000.00 for the top 20 finishers.

Hope you can make the 16th addition of the Tour de Nez.

For more information about all the recreational events, the first ever womens race at Nez or the party and presentation schedule, go to http://www.tourdenez.com/


For lodging issues, please consider staying at;
Northstar at Tahoe Resort; http://www.northstarattahoe.com/ -We are pleased to offer a 30% lodging discount for Tour de Nez (LUX, family, friends, whoever) guests and event attendees.
Guests can book by calling 1-800-GO-NORTH and referencing group code TO0618
Cedar House Sports Hotel; http://www.cedarsporthousehotel.com/ they are offering discounted rates for teams and athletes.
Best Western – Truckee Tahoe Hotel; http://www.bestwesterntahoe.com/ They are not only offering special discounts for riders but are offering; First place, team wins a free night for the night they won, Second place, team gets 50% off the night they placed, Third place, team gets 1/3 off the night they placed
Truckee – Tahoe Hampton Inn and Suites; http://www.hamptoninntruckee.com/ they have deals for riders and teams as well.

For lodging questions and assistance; contact Kelly Bertelson; treeclimberkb@yahoo.com

For expo assistance, please contact John Armbruster; jambru@gmail.com

I’ve attached the schedule of events over the 6 days. Please check out http://www.tourdenez.com/ for other information.

Please contact me with other needs and concerns and I’ll be able to help you or direct you to where you’ll need to be.

Thanks for your consideration and participation in the 2008 Northstar at Tahoe Tour de Nez.
Tim


Tim Healion
Executive Director
Tour de Nez Outreach
+1 775 348 6673 p
+1 775 287 3599 c
thealion@tourdenez.com
www.tourdenez.com

Password: NoTourTom, Get's you in the backdoor for the Best Blow in the Pro Tour! Just slow down....

Belgium's Tom Boonen, who has tested positive for cocaine, will not be starting next month's Tour de France, race director Christian Prudhomme told AFP on Wednesday.
The news came shortly after Boonen issued an apology, saying he was sorry for the pain his recent behavior has caused his team and his family. Boonen read a prepared statement at a press conference at his Quick Step team’s headquarters in Wielsbeke, Belgium, adding that he plans to take a break from the sport for a short time.
While not directly admitting use of cocaine, Boonen appeared contrite; the 27-year-old, who is something of a superstar in his native Belgium, conceded he is “not perfect.”
Boonen has been the subject of two investigations regarding alleged cocaine use after cyclocrosser Tom Vanoppen tested positive for the drug in January and told police he had received it from the Quick Step sprinter. He also recently lost his driver’s license after two separate traffic stops for speeding, the most recent of which also showed a blood alcohol level beyond the legal limit.
"I'm not going to defend myself here today, but I hurt my family, my friends and my team and I apologize," said Boonen, who also has been barred from competing in the Tour of Switzerland starting on Saturday.
"I've been in the news recently in a negative way. I'm not perfect and I'll accept the consequences. I am now going to get some rest and I can count on the confidence of my team. I hope that the fans will continue to support me. They will soon be able to count on my unreserved commitment."

Boonen shared the spotlight with team manager Patrick Lefevere, who said the team "maintains its confidence" in Boonen.
"It wouldn't be intelligent to act hastily," he added.
Race director Prudhomme was unmoved, however.
"As far as we are concerned, Tom Boonen is automatically ruled out of the Tour de France as soon as the information concerning his case has been confirmed,” he said, adding that he had spoken to Boonen and Lefevere to inform them of his decision.
Lefevere made an effort to distinguish his star rider’s behavior from the "real doping problems," which have occurred in the Tour in recent years, noting that Boonen’s difficulties were of a "private" nature.
And then he tried to miss a cat and smashed his $500,000 Euro-Lambo... How's that song go? Things Can Only Get Better, or On The Sunny Side Of The Street?

One of those - Anyway, Tom I'll see ya tonight - wink (;{0>

Back from Philly..... just in time?

Well I just got back from Philly - great race in 98 degrees and 100,000,000,000,000 % humidity! No really, 100,000,000,000,000 % . I don't know how these guys do it. Well, it is better when you're moving... but when you stop, look out! Funny to see CSC win it as they are loosing their sponsor - See: http://servicecourse.blogspot.com/2008/03/and-what-did-you-expect-cssee-ya.html

This photo ran in Velonews - Casey Gibson shot it and they printed "Dave and Scott work hard to get a great shot".... Well Scott was directing in the AIR CONDITIONED truck - Hmmmm, yup, that's me busting my back to get the great shot for Scott, who.... IS IN THE AIR CONDITIONED TRUCK! I did mention the truck was air conditioned? Oh and, Scott was cool? Good - Now I need to add "Gladly" as in, I would gladly bust my back for a great shot for Scott "who" is a great director in the AIR CONDITIONED truck - truth is we have headsets built into our helmets and from what I could hear thru mine was Scott was the only one in the truck who was absorbing the cool provided.... and that's all I have to say about that. Good job Scotty, and now let me take a break and whip all this brown stuff from my nose.

The race has been going on for 25 yrs and is the site of Lance (I've never failed a drug test) Armstrong wining the Triple Crown and receiving One-million-dol-ars... bet he went out n bought Euros - smart! the conversation on "personal enhancements" from Europe are a killer...

The crowd is all-time and when you get to the wall its soooooo loud its insane!

Now, the following leads me to believe after the race is when things really heat up: (taken from a Philly blog).

West Philly is effectively challenging Fishtown to a battle of body order, bad facial hair, and all around bike riding mastery. To be honest I don't know who will really win. I mean this is some shit right. How the fuck are the hippyhipsters of West Philly gonna make a bike race, give away some dope bags and pretty much give a big finger to the fuckers in Fishtown like yeah bitch we got better all you can drink after parties for $5. You will not catch me at this event since I am gonna get my ass down to SXSW but actually the after party sounds interesting to me. Well kinda only because I really like short, frumpy girls, with bad tattoos, bad attitudes and who treat you like shit the whole night cause you don’t dress like them or there current boy friend but can drink as much you and then wanna fuck you in random places and then in the morning sneak out your apartment.

Good time - Philly style! Just don't know what the, gulp, "participants" of the fore mentioned post smelled like in those random places after a day of drinking in 98 degrees and 100,000,000,000,000 %..... at that point I was on a plane asleep.