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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

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

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”

Geoff Kabush, aka “K-Bomb”

JHK: Engaged to the lovely Heather Irmiger

Kabush: Engaged to the lovely Keri Pink

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

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.

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.

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

Trek and SRAM team up on relief effortOn December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake off the Northern coast ofSumatra created a Tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean. It hit thesurrounding countries with waves ranging from 8 to 20 meters.In the affected coastal regions, villages were destroyed and lives endedquickly and violently. Current estimates indicate over 200,000 dead, 100,000missing, and over a million homeless. The survivors now face the long struggleof rebuilding their lives, families and communities.Disaster relief of this scale is broken into 3 phases. Phase 1: First two

Interactive brand director Sports publisher seeks an Interactive Brand Director to manage its high-profile Web sites and interactive businesses. The successful candidate should have experience in creating interactive media concepts, managing multiple interactive projects, e-commerce, budget development and implementation specifically geared toward controlling costs and optimizing profitability within the brands. The candidate will be able to successfully explore and implement new technologies, markets, and other growth opportunities for Internet related businesses. The candidate will direct

At least Moncoutie won on Bastille Day.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Life after Lance

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Life after Lance

Comedy Central points out Armstrong has a domestic side, too.

The Casartelli memorial

Ocana lost the yellow jersey here.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Life after Lance

McCormack has solid support

Fans

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...

I am glad to see Armstrong go. With him there are no heroes, only victims.A German fan on the Col du Galibier I got a good laugh out of this, even if I didn’t actually hear it in person. My buddy Kirk, who was over at the Tour de France with some pals riding the cols of the Alps and Pyrénées alongside the race, relayed the quote to me. But I think the sentiment was shared by many fans along the roads of the Tour, as well as by a majority of journalists I spoke with during the week I spent in France. As amazing as Lance Armstrong’s feats at the world’s biggest bike race have been, the same

..but Pic takes the day.

Freire winning his third rainbow jersey last fall.

CPSC, VisionTech USA, Inc. Announce Recall of Bicycle Aero BarsWASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recallof the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalledproducts immediately unless otherwise instructed.Name of Product: VisionTech USA SuperMax, TriMax, TriMax Plusand Pro model Integrated Bicycle Aero BarsUnits: About 280Manufacturer: VisionTech USA, Inc., of Auburn, Wash.Hazard: The centerpiece of these bicycle aero bars can crackor break, causing the bicycle rider to lose

Vinokourov capped his '05 Tour with two stage wins. He wants more than that.

Lance Armstrong's triumphant farewell to cycling Sunday in Paris with his seventh consecutive Tour de France victory brought praise from across America, including a call from U.S. President George W. Bush. Bush telephoned Armstrong, a fellow Texan, shortly after the finish from his retreat in Camp David, Maryland, said White House spokeswoman Christie Parell. "Our country and the world are incredibly proud of you," Bush told Armstrong, adding that his victory was "a great triumph of the human spirit" and "a testament not only to your athletic talent but to your courage." Armstrong was

Off to the racesRacers (and writers) woke up with a tinge of a hang-over Monday following the big sigh of relief that comes at the end of the pressure-cooker that’s the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong and his Discovery Channel teammates were feted at a private bash inside the posh Ritz hotel Sunday night in Paris. Some 600 invited guests celebrated Armstrong’s unprecedented seventh Tour victory. Armstrong was scheduled to fly to the French Riviera on Monday to begin his life as a retired athlete. “Come Monday morning," Armstrong said on Saturday, "we’re going to wake up in Paris and the

KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES, CIRCUIT GLOBAL SPORTS MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMAJOR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTMinneapolis, July 18, 2005—Kelly Benefit Strategies, (www.kellybenefitstrategies.com),a group insurance broker and consultant specializing in healthcare anda division of Kelly & Associates Insurance Group, Inc. (KELLY), hassigned a multi-year partnership agreement with Circuit Global Sports Management(www.circuitsport.com) to bethe title sponsor of the KELLY Professional Cycling Team. This new U.S. professional cycling team will concentrate on gainingentry into such 2006 events as the

Ohhhh-kay, back to business

Pruitt and her rig

Course: After looping around the Chevreuse valley south of Paris, the course heads into the city on the right bank of the Seine to reach the traditional Champs-Élysées finishing circuit after 92.5km. Eight laps of the 6.5km circuit complete the 2005 Tour just 400 meters after the final turn from the Place de la Concorde. History: This is the 30th anniversary of the Tour first finishing on the Champs-Élysées. It previously finished in the velodromes at Vincennes (1968-74) and the Parc des Princes (1904-67). The first Tour, in 1903, finished at Ville d’Avray in the Paris suburbs. Favorites:

The jersey winners

Joel Panozzo finally nails one

For a Tour de France finale that was supposed to be a fait accompli — with Lance Armstrong virtually guaranteed a seventh win and the stage supposedly promised to the sprinters — Sunday's stage 21 into the city of Paris hardly fit the bill. That the 144.5km stage began under gray skies and with cold rain should have been a sign that the race that brought the curtain down on 3593km of racing would have something special to offer. And it did. Foremost of the day's surprises was the winner on the Champs-Élysées, the most attacking rider of the peloton, the ever-popular Kazakhstan