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What an idiot. Yeah, sure he never had any contact with Fuentes.

I always blindly send off fat sacks of cash in advance of ever having talked with anybody or evening knowing who there are. Can someone there please publically call bs on Schelck's statements? I realize that most pro bike racers have never done anything else in their lives and don't
have much formalized education.

However, are they really this stupid? I'm sick of seeing moron after moron coming out with their denials and lies. Followed up here with Riis's (the doper's) comments too. He has no credibility here.

Schlek did it. Just like Basso. Go away. Come back after you've rethougt your life and had some financial damage done to yourself.

Hopefully your brother isn't as dimwitted.
Jeff Llaviolette
Portland, Oregon

Re: Leipheimer and USA Cycling
Editor,

re: USA Cycling's clarification

Sound like they need to visit a basic rule: Engage brain. Then open mouth. Thought maybe after the face mask fiasco, somebody would be thinking before talking.
Peter Howe,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A question about the UCI
Editor,

I have a question — why is the UCI so consistently dysfunctional?  

It is supposed to be a governing body enforcing the rules and regulations of cycling but it is also supposed to support cycling, right?  The same as the NFL enforces football rules and regulations but the NFL never seems to actively try to harm the sport of American football and there are times when the UCI seems to be actively anti-cycling.

The UCI may not allow Armstrong to race in the Tour Down Under because he's short by 10 days of the six months required for doping control registration.  

Ten days? I know nothing about doping but I rather imagine that if someone stuffed themselves to the eyeballs with every drug out there that any benefit would have long faded after 170 days.  

Lance will draw people to cycling events simply because of his presence which would be a huge benefit to the Tour Down Under and other races so why would the UCI not make an exception and allow him to race?  Isn't the idea to promote cycling and get more people interested?  

I'm all for anti-doping controls and nailing the cheats but too frequently I think the UCI forgets that it also has the responsibility to promote the sport of cycling.
Jean Brubeck,
Santa Cruz, California

Armstrong and publicity
Editor,

Does Armstrong like publicity? Is the Pope a Catholic? Of course he does. You don’t need to be a genius to see that. But so what! Plenty of high profile athletes like to be in the limelight. Why not? They spend a lot of time training by themselves, why not a little publicity.

I’d like to see Armstrong in the Tour. He’s far more interesting than the current crop of Tour riders. And at his age (assuming he’s fully trained), still better than the younger ones. Can anyone tell me that this year’s tour was more interesting than some of the past tours that included Armstrong. You’ll never convince me of that!
Eliot Cobb,
Denver, Colorado

Armstrong: let the fans judge
Editor,

I don't think there's a need for Lance to comeback into competitive road cycling and attempt to win the Tour for the eighth time. 

The Armstrong era is a bygone, for seven years of ruling the world's greatest bicycle race only makes it a boring race in the long run. 

It's short of saying that without Lance, the Tour will not survive.  We have a new generation of young and exciting talents worth watching for like Alberto Contador.  Road cycling already had a fresh start. 

If Lance is trying to prove that he won his seven Tours unblemished, he'll be under the radar this time because at age 37, he'll be tempted to get into performance-enhancement drugs by-hook-or-by-crook just to win and make a point to his claim. 

It would be best for him not to comeback ... Let the cycling fans decide of he had won his seven tours clean and history witll judge him by that.
Norman Baybayan,
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Re-testing: Don't do it, Lance!
Editor,

I am sure you will receive plenty of mail telling Lance to come clean and have his 1999 lab samples tested. I am here to give Lance one simple piece of advice regarding letting his old samples be tested. DON”T DO IT!!!!!

All one has to do is look at the debacles following previous tests and consider that anything could have happened to these tests over time. The fox is guarding the hen house? As long as there are questions regarding the absolute accuracy of the results, they will not serve any purpose other than fanning the flames of doubt in either direction.

Let sleeping dogs lie and get on with the events of today. Let Lance submit to the current standards of testing. Pass or fail, he will be on a level playing field with any other rider in the peloton.
Luke Astell,
Leavenworth, Washington

Riders: Single Up!
Editor,

Sirs:
I am not a "competitive cyclist," nor do I think that most confrontations between cars and bicyclists involve "competitive" cyclists, although the riders may fancy themselves as that.

And although I ride a lot and have seen my share of impolite and careless car drivers I can also say I've seen a HUGE number of foolish, careless and inconsiderate bikers, often riding in large club or team groups.

Come on people — single up when it makes sense, don't run lights, don't show off your track stands in the middle of the intersection. You're NOT the peloton, there's no TV coverage, and there are no time bonuses.
Bill Wolfson,
Huntington Beach, California

Have you forgotten Armstrong?
Editor,

Has everyone forgotten what Armstrong has done for American cycling? He has brought our beloved sport into the living rooms of non cyclist's houses. Keeping politics aside, I think it is ridiculous to have any bit of hate of ill will toward the man that gave cycling a huge shot in the arm.

I hope he proves you all wrong.
Ken Fitzpatrick,
Yorba Linda, California

Bad bike shop experience
Editor,

With today's economy and concern over small business it is refreshing to know that bicycle shops in the Philadelphia area are doing so well.

A consumer in the Philadelphia area needed a part for a road bike. The consumer did his homework and called Campagnolo to see if the part was available. The part is but may only be ordered via a shop.

He contacted one shop and left two messages. He contacted a second shop, which was recommended by Campy. The shop expressed no interest in ordering the part but referred the consumer to another shop that deals with mainly used product.

A third shop said that they didn't order from Campy. Determined to obtain the part he went to yet another shop and placed an order for the part, or so he thought. After a week with no word the consumer returns to the shop to find out they never ordered the part. Deciding not to question why, he simply asks that they indeed order that part now.

And bike shops wonder why people shop mail order.
T.E. Dalton,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Room at the top for Armstrong
Editor,

It seems there are many who are disturbed or even take Armstrong’s comeback very personally, as if it is some attack on professional cycling. It all seems a little strange to me. Let’s all stop worrying so much about ego this or motive that. Just enjoy what’s there, an amazing athlete that probably only comes around once in century.

So many are concerned about it affecting his legacy, image or the image of pro cycling; screw all of us who say if he should or shouldn’t comeback, he’s an athlete, that’s what he does and he has every right to ride a bike if he wants regardless of motive. Of course all of this questioning comes about because of the doping issues for which I am so sick of hearing about.

If you’re a Cat 1 trying to make it to the pros then I see your grip, people are cheating and your getting the shaft. Otherwise, all of us Cat 2’s, 3’s and 4’s, don’t worry about it, doping or not the Pro ranks are not in your cards.

As far as feeling cheated as a fan, that’s your choice to feel that way. Either assume they all dope and take it for what it is worth to you or assume they are all clean and take that for what it is worth, in either event just watch and enjoy what most of us will never be capable of, with or without drugs. Too many people have opinions about their heroes, villains and contemporaries lives and actions; let our judgment fall on our own lives and maybe if that is sorted out properly we would worry a little less about the headlines.
John P. Hayes,
Charleston, South Carolina

Our jealous, latte-sipping readers
Editor,

I just love reading the letters from all the jealous weenies who just can't stand a guy as good and famous as Lance. What's a matter, you babies feeling threatened?

Lance is exercising his free will, and that is a rare commodity. Most people look to their peers for approval. Lance says screw'em and does what he wants. A true American hero.

As for the comments about him feeding his ego by getting in front of a camera, what a laugh. Those letter writers take part in the individual sport of bicycle racing and would be the first to stand in line if the offer for publicity came their way, lol. What a bunch of latte drinking hypocrites.
Scott Grimshaw,
Marcellus, New York

Armstrong: Live strong
Editor,

Armstrong was and still is a competitor. What he has gone through on and off the bike is admirable and if he wants to make a return knowing the potential for failure with the world watching and all of those on the side lines eager to throw darts at him, well that is even more admirable. Looking forward to the '09 Tour and like many cancer survivors, I hope he keeps living to the fullest every single day! God speed.
Ren Martyn,
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

No more bracelet
Editor,

If Lance said he missed riding the Tour de France and was returning as a domestique for Contador or Leipheimer, I'd be on board.

I was wondering what it would take for me to pull off my Livestrong bracelet, which I've worn for five years. As soon as I heard the news, off it came.
Mike Smith,
Tucson, Arizona

Our empty-lived readers
Editor,

The people that are bashing Lance for coming back to racing, saying he's doing it to see his name in the news, are probably the same people whose lives are so empty they read the tabloid papers to see what celebrities are dating or where the latest Bigfoot sighting was, as if that is important in the world.

One of two men and one of three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their life time. That includes the bashers.

I've known Lance for several years. We met not long after I was diagnosed. I've sat with him and chatted, with no cameras or people around and I can honestly say there is nobody more passionate about putting an end to cancer than Lance. Just the fact that he announced his return has raised cancer talk/awareness around the world. I'm glad he's willing to put up with and ignore the garbage talk if it'll help promote funding research and reduce the number of people that die of cancer every day.

Cancer is just not dramatic enough to make the news every day, but it should. What if three fully loaded 747 jumbo jets crashed in the United States every day? That's about the same number of people we lose to cancer. Shouldn't we do more to stop it?

Thanks Lance!
Cancer survivor,
Jerry Kelly,
Birmingham, Alabama