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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Gentleman GeorgeEditor:This weekend I had the privilege of riding in the Oregon MS150. This year’s honorary chairman was George Hincapie, who took the time out of his busy schedule to fly Friday night from Europe, across the pond and the U.S. to Oregon, ride the two-day tour, then hop

Valverde won the 10th stage at the Tour before his knee troubles flared up.

PRESS RELEASE - Rolf Prima introduces carbon wheel system

The MerlinTiWorks CR 3/2.5 adds a whole new light to the term entry-level

The TiWorks CR 6/4 represents Merlin's first foray into 6/4 ti.

Tearin' it up at twilight

McCormack led it out . . .

. . . and Haedo finished it off

A crash neutralized the women's crit early on

Chalk another one up for Teutenberg

Graves led the way . . .

Kirkaldie lasted the longest

Teammates Hanusova and Vanlandingham fought to the line

. . . but Neethling was the fastest man (for one lap, anyway)

Davis takes the stage and sits second overall

It may have already lost two bids to host the Winter Olympics, but the tiny Swedish town of Falun remains doggedly determined to become a leading center for European sporting events, and perhaps one day get the Olympics after all. Later this month, Falun, nestled deep in the forest 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Stockholm, will host Sweden's first World Cup cycling event, a UCI mountain-bike marathon, which is expected to draw 1000 cyclists from around the world. The town of 50,000 is best known for being home to Europe's oldest copper mine, one of Sweden's economic

The town of Falun has lost two Winter Olympics bids, but hasn't given up hope of becoming a sports capital

It'll be tough to concentrate on racing when the scenery looks like this

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.What about an all-cycling network?Editor:Every time I turn on my TV the number of cable channels grows and grows. What would it take to bring all cycling factions together on one cable-television network? Outstanding European road cycling coverage is available. Are the rights fees too

Crashes and confrontations at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome on June 10 have resulted in suspensions for Andy Lakatosh, Marty Nothstein and Leigh Barczewski, according to USA Cycling. The suspensions stem from the keirin final at the Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, track, which saw Ben Barczewski and another rider crash after Barczewski and Jame Carney tangled wheels. As Carney crossed the line first, Lakatosh caught up to him and grabbed Carney’s bars, causing him to crash. Carney then chased Lakatosh up the track, and both riders were disqualified for unsportsmanlike behavior. The subsequent

Century Road Club Association has revived the Bear Mountain Fall Classic. This event, which was last won in the fall by John Lieswyn and Tina Pic in 2000, will cover the hilly terrain of Harriman State Park in New York on Sunday, September 11. This is the same course as the spring Harriman race, which has been the site of national championships and Olympic trials. This year the event is named the Nancy Morgenstern Memorial in honor of a local rider who was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City. The winner of the elite women's race will receive the Nancy

Basso may be racing in San Francisco

Break out the wetsuit, the aero’ bars and the running shoes — it’s triathlon season. Okay, I don’t know exactly what that means, but I do know that Sunday morning I’ll be knee-deep in a swamp of suffering. Kyle Du Ford, the editor over at Inside Triathlon, has called my bluff, passing on his spot at this weekend’s 5430 Long Course Triathlon so that I can take it. Lucky me, eh? The distances: a 1.1-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13-mile run. Yeah, it’s that last part that worries me, too. Although I came to cycling from a running background, that was 15 years ago. Running has basically

Hi, Bob,As a lawyer (corporate securities) and a wanna-be road racer, I always enjoy reading your column. Have you ever covered the legalities of using an iPod or other player, with headphones, on the road? Guys I know get tickets for this in California; I live in Texas. I think somewhere I read it might make a difference if you use one earpiece instead of both. I see more and more guys with 'em in and thought it might make an interesting column.P.H.Austin, Texas Dear Paul,When I was pursuing my racing career I passed the many, many hours of lonely riding listening to music and talk

After breaking his right wrist in a pileup during stage 4 of the International Tour de ‘Toona on July 28, NORBA star Ryan Trebon (Kona-Les Gets) has spent the past week scouring tiny Corvallis, Oregon – his current residence – for something to do. And for a guy who’s used to training four hours a day and town-hopping from race to race, that’s not any fun at all. “It’s weird going from riding my bike every day and being super active to just having to sit around the house. Jesus, it is so boring,” said Trebon. “I can’t stand it. "The other day, just to get out of the house, I walked across

For the second year in a row, the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s "National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" initiative has gained support from the U.S. Congress. A joint resolution (H. Con. Res. 205/S. Res. 195) sponsored by Senator Richard Burr (NC) and Congresswoman Virginia Fox (NC) has been earmarked for swift passage this fall. Additional co-sponsors are Senator Ken Salazar (CO) and Representative Mark Udall (CO). In 2004, thousands of kids participated in more than 100 events nationwide and in several other countries. IMBA expects even greater numbers of participants in

A different sort of neighborhood altogether

With parents like this, expect to see Liam Barry in the 2024 Olympics

Landis on his ex-boss: 'Friendship can’t exist when you give orders and direct others.'

Trebon is itchin' to get back on the bike

Mad Max in the red jersey

LANESBOROUGH - Bruce Fina, co-founder of the Pedro's Mountain Bike Festival, stared at the computer screen and insisted something had to be wrong. The weather forecast for his annual off-road rendezvous could not be that good. "I hope this doesn't drive customers away!" he joked. "We've become so used to rain, heat, lightning, and even frost for this event. I don't know what to wear!" While Boston and New York will swelter, the National Weather Service has called for good weather this weekend in the cooler elevations of the Berkshires, site of Pedrosfest. Initially

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Sock it to the sourpussEditor:I wonder if you could send Drew Kelly a pair of socks to brighten his apparently sour outlook on life (See Monday's Mailbag: "Lucky 7 ads dumb, amateurish"). I also thought the Trek "Lucky 7" ads during OLN's Tour coverage appeared amateurish, but

Julich is a favorite for the Benelux Tour

Lt. Col. Brian Ruhm (in VeloNews cap) with his office mates

Verbrugghe rides to a one-second win in the prologue

Geoff Kabush, aka “K-Bomb”

JHK: Engaged to the lovely Heather Irmiger

Kabush: Engaged to the lovely Keri Pink

JHK: Sideburns

Kabush: THE sideburns

JHK: “Dopers Suck” T-shirt

Kabush: Ditto

JHK: Getting down

Kabush: Masquerades as Canadian white trash

DENVER, CO — Beginning today with Laurent Fignon’s stage race, Paris-Correze (2.1), Team TIAA-CREF begins preparation for Tour de L’Avenir (Sept. 2-11) with a run at a series of European events. The riders representing the team overseas include Timmy Dugan, Craig Lewis, David Robinson, Stu Gillespie (2nd overall at Tour de la Martinique), current U23 National Champion Ian Macgregor, and climbing phenomenon Michael Lange. According to Team TIAA-CREF director, Jonathan Vaughters, "These races are going to be a stretch for a team that is so young, like ours. But, we have to learn to compete

Historical figure resemblance: Johnny Unitas (JHK)

The New Record C10 Ultra Narrow chain

Gen. Ambrose Burnside (Kabush)

The Eurus rear ...

Centaur CT crank

... and the Eurus front

Power will lead the Navs in Britain

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, a.k.a “JHK”

Sonoma, California — Pedal power will take over Infineon Raceway in August as the Sonoma Valley facility will open its gates to cyclists of all ages. The Summer Cycling Series will take place August 4, 11 and 18 with cyclists using the same 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course that is used by the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series each year. The series is sponsored by both Infineon Raceway and the Infineon Raceway Cycling Team/Napa Valley Velo. The event continues Infineon Raceway’s commitment to cycling. The raceway held a Spring Cycling Series this past April, and a Summer Cycling Series in 2004. In all,

In the weeks before what would be Lance Armstrong’s final ride in the Tour de France, Discovery Communications launched a media blitz across its cable channels for the cycling champion. Discovery Health aired a show featuring cancer survivors telling how they were inspired by Armstrong’s bout with the disease. On TLC’s car makeover show “Overhaulin’,” his rocker girlfriend Sheryl Crow had his Pontiac GTO souped up for him. TLC even aired a profile of his mother, titled “Raising a Champion.” But with Armstrong retired after his seventh straight Tour victory and with two years left on a

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Injured racer could use some cheering upEditor:Joe Trujillo, a 15-year-old junior rider and one of the Reno Wheelmen's rising stars, was badly injured when he struck a tree during a Cat. 3/4/5 support race at the NorCal/Nevada Masters Championships. Joe’s injuries include a torn

Beltrán after his stage-12 crash in the Tour

Di Luca keeps his ProTour leader's jersey

Moninger had enough of a buffer to allow him to play it safe...

... while his teammates patrolled the front of the field.

The race for the jersey came down to these two

Pic gets another stage win.

Pozzato and Paolini make it 1-2 punch for QuickStep

Ludewig tries his luck

Hoste on his own

Neither Ullrich nor T-Mobile got the win in front of the home crowd...

... which was sizeable.

O'Grady outsprinted a top field to take HEW in '04

Moninger made home alone.

McCormack was an unwelcomed addition

Jauantre spent most of the day on her own

This one will come down to the wire

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Slackers Unite!I have really enjoyed your coverage. It has made it possible for me to follow the Tour while at work. Any plans for similar coverage for the world’s?Jack HalesTampa, FloridaYes, Jack, we plan to offer Live Coverage and race reports from the world’s and, of course, daily

Perfect roads and the break worked well

Great Britain’s Court of Appeal has dealt a setback to Lance Armstrong’s ongoing suit against London’s Sunday Times newspaper over the publication of a story suggesting the American has used performance-enhancing drugs. In overturning a lower court decision, a three-judge appeals panel ruled Friday that the paper was entitled to argue that it was obligated to publish a story that triggered Armstrong's suit. In a story publish in June of 2004, the paper outlined allegations against Armstrong that he had used a variety of doping products, both before and after his 1996 cancer

Freedman goes for it...