Pedal On

Chris Horner of Team Radioshack, 39, takes the win Sunday for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.
I missed it.

I'm not a fan of professional sports.  I don't watch the Indians or the Cavs or the Browns.  Their never ending cycle of almost winning something and then losing it at the last second doesn't have any influence on my life.  Plus, I don't find team sports to be all that impressive.  I'm far more interested in following athletes that compete to be their very best.  I love watching the Olympics, both winter and summer.  Its fascinating to see athletes at the top of their game compete against each other and themselves.

Being someone who loves bicycles I'm beginning to become a fan of professional cycling.  Its fast paced, its colorful, the races are always in beautiful locations, the ins and outs are pretty easy to understand, and, well, it involves bicycles.  Plus, unlike all those other national sports, these guys (well, most of them) aren't paid billions and that makes me feel better.

Of course, the races take place in completely different time zones and since cycling isn't mainstream in the good 'ole USA, watching them can be a challenge.  With a little searching though, you can find most of the races online live.  Last week we had two races to enjoy, the Giro d'Italia and the Amgen Tour of California.  I was pumped for the weekend since I could finally stream the Giro loud enough to hear what was going on (my co-workers would be annoyed if I did that during the week) and actually watch the last stages of the TOC.  So far, I only caught the TOC recaps due to the time.

As luck would have it, my internet was out all weekend.  So, I missed those awesome climbs at Lienz and Conegliano and that battle up Mt. Baldy and Chris Horner's victory of the TOC.  The only thing keeping me in the loop were the tweets coming into my iPhone.  Thank the Lord for that iPhone.

Twitter also informed me of the latest chapter in the Lance scandal.  More and more is coming out that he and his team doped and encouraged doping during his Postal Service career.  Tyler Hamilton's and George Hincapie's testimonies were sourced as further proof that cycling's biggest star has been lying to everyone's faces.

As I've said before, I'm not really a Lance fan.  Like baseball, basketball, and football, he has no impact on my life.  But, since it is becoming more and more clear that he isn't the saint that many have portrayed him, professional cycling is taking a serious hit.  That's a shame and I'm a little bummed.  I love cycling.  I love watching cycling.  I have my favorite athletes and teams.  Having to explain what's going on to my friends (who think I must be a Lance fan since I ride my bike a lot) isn't very pleasurable.  "Yeah, turns out the guy who put cycling on the map in US is probably a cheating liar."  For some strange reason, those that aren't fans of cycling are putting down the entire sport because all this.  I don't remember anyone bashing all of baseball because of Barry Bonds and all those other guys who were convicted of doping.  Whatever.

Just like the guys screaming at the TV at the bar and arguing about some team's strategy with their friends, getting all wrapped up in this scandal to the point we're shouting and name calling is ridiculous and immature.

Are you personally affected by Lance Armstrong's doping?  Are any of us, really?  Sure, if you are a fan its disappointing and disheartening.  Of course it is, but lets not get so upset that we let it take over.

Does any of this make riding your bike less fun?  

Meanwhile, the Giro d'Italia will continue tomorrow after today's rest day and the Tour of Luxembourg will begin next week.  If you're a fan of pro cycling, then don't let all of this background noise destroy your love of the sport.  It is indeed a beautiful sport.

Pedal on.