Reports from the Rubber City

I'm currently sitting on a hotel bed with a really awful cup of Wolfgang Puck coffee made from a bag and the sound of an air-conditioner humming in the background.  Yep, back in Akron.  The Mr. had a thing for The Company this week, so I tagged along.  Despite the fact it has been six months since we left the Rubber City, it doesn't really feel that odd to be here.  Strangely, neither does driving a car for the first time in six months.  We've been doing a ton, a TON, of shopping since we've been back, picking up clothes, bikey stuff I can't get my hands on in Lux, gadgets, more clothes, and the occasional kitchen item.  The other day we parked the rental car over at one store, made our purchases there, then made the 5 minute or so walk to the other end of strip mall hall for another stop without even thinking about it.  Before, we probably would have moved the car.  It's next to impossible to get around this area of Akron by foot, but that's how we get around now in Luxembourg and our first inclination is to walk somewhere instead of drive now.  That's kinda cool.

In other news, it's been an interesting week in professional cycling.  Andy Schleck is out of the tour with a broken tail bone, Lance Armstrong is finally being charged with doping during his record 7 Tour wins, and now this morning it was announced in the Luxembourg paper that the Schleck brothers will be leaving Team RSNT at the end of the season due their strained relationship with manager Bruyneel and his connection to the Armstrong doping ring.  All of this, of course, is timely stuff since the Tour begins in a few weeks.

Good grief.

My feeling on the tail bone thing is this:  while as disappointing as it is for him, it may actually be a good thing in the long run.  2012 hasn't exactly been a good year for the Schlecks, no doubt the trend would continue in the Tour.  They've both received a great deal of berating about their performance from the fans and their manager, and more of that in the Tour just won't do anyone any good.  Frank will be riding, but has a small chance of making much of an impact against this year's line up of GC contenders.  While there will be pressure for him to make the podium, it won't be as intense without his brother.

As to them leaving RSNT, I personally hope that is the truth.  Like I said, 2012 hasn't been their year, and much of that has to do with team politics at RSNT.  The sooner they get away from that situation and Bruyneel in particular, the better.  Cycling and drama go hand in hand, but when the drama overwhelms the sport, that's doesn't make for a winning environment.  Now that Bruyneel is also being charged in connection the Armstrong case, it's just another reason to get out.

As to Armstrong, well, can we honestly say we're surprised?  There has been too much evidence to deny that something shady was going on in the Postal bus.  The problem, of course, is not so much that he will be stripped of his record wins.  The real damage is yet another black mark, and in this case an enormous one, on the sport.  For years, cycling has had a reputation amongst the general public of being a completely dirty sport.  Of course, we the fans know that there are many, many riders and teams out there that are clean.  But, that's not what the average person watching the evening sports news knows and hears.  If we want cycling to become more mainstream (meaning we can watch the races on a proper television instead of choppy Euro feeds) in America, the news that the biggest name in modern cycling may be nothing more than a cheat isn't going to help that cause.  We already have to deal with ESPN personalities making fun of the sport while reporting on it.

Of course, as I said a long time ago, the people who are really hurt in all this are the cancer patients and survivors that look to Armstrong as inspiration.  None of us want to hear that a role model is actually a liar.  If he did cheat, as seems to be the case, there will be many more disappointed and angry people out there who have no interest in the sport at all.  That betrayal is the real crime.

Anyway, enough about pro cycling.

We'll be here until the middle of next week, with lots of socializing with all our AKR friends peppered in.  This weekend we will be visiting many of the old haunts in Akron and Cleveland.  We'll also be making a visit to the new Cleveland Aquarium (I have a major weakness for aquariums).  Of course, we'll also be spending much of the weekend with family too, passing out the jars of Speculoos we brought Santa-style.  It's been a lot of fun seeing everyone, but honestly, as the trip reaches its halfway point, I'm looking forward to getting back home to good 'ole Luxembourg where the weather is cooler and the nights are longer and the restaurants don't rush you through your meal. 

It will be nice to have a bicycle instead of a giant rental car too.