Metered Daily Dose - 7/30

Whoa, it's been a whole week since I last blogged? I know I had been busy with the time trial, but I hadn't realized it had been that long. Then again it has been four days since the last rider crossed the finish line too. You have to admit that I've been a little more consistent lately even though my "Daily Dose" is usually four days behind! Hey, so I'm on schedule then.

Speaking of the time trial, how about that? We received a LOT of positive feedback about the event, and of course a LOT of raised eyebrows after the race when asked, "so what did you think of the course?" I think it's safe to say those riders who won a medal absolutely earned it. I do most of my intense intervals and testing on Hwy 266, so I am very familiar with its difficulty. While I don't get thrilled at the thought of racing a 40k TT myself at least if I did that course I would know every inch of it. Knowing where those hills are and how long of an effort it is to get over them is a huge advantage. As of right now expect to be back in Lebanon for the TN State TT again, and more than likely on the weekend of July 25, 2009.

Moving on.....

Swimmer Jessica Hardy tests positive
Wait, you mean athletes in other sports are dopers? You're kidding me.

Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy: 'I'm innocent'
Oh my, here we go again. Yeah, Ricco said the same thing initially, but now he admits he doped. Her lawyer is Harold Jacobs. Does his name sound familiar? Yeah, he's the guy who led the losing legal battle for Floyd Landis.

So what did she test positive for?

Clenbuterol
Here's why it's on the banned list - ".....some similarities to ephedrine, but its effects are more potent and longer-lasting as a stimulant and thermogenic drug. It causes an increase in a aerobic capacity.....oxygen transportation."

This isn't something that just pops up in your system randomly. Maybe she was unaware of what she was actually taking and all the ingredients. Maybe she was taking it to help burn fat and lose weight because she's thinking it's nothing more than a dietary supplement. Who knows the truth? Regardless, it is the athlete's responsibility to know exactly what they're putting into their body at all times.

Here's a subject for another day, but follow my links here and you'll understand what I'm getting at:
Metered-dose inhaler
Bronchodilator
Bronchoconstriction - "Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction - More generally termed exercise-induced asthma, the preferred and more accurate term exercise-induced bronchoconstriction better reflects underlying pathophysiology. It is also preferred due to the former term giving the false impression that asthma is caused by exercise."

Whether you realize it or not, right now, you and I both are competing against cyclists who are using an inhaler to enhance their breathing capabilities. These racers are not asthmatic, but they know by taking a few pumps from an inhaler before a race is going to help them breathe easier. You think that's fair?


Athletes accused of cheating find perfect advocate
An inside look into the man behind all those dopers' defenses. Perfect advocate for dopers? Would Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton and Tim Montgomery consider his record perfect? I admire him for his calling and I'm sure he's as brilliant as he's portrayed, but boil it down to wins and losses and it's not possible to call him 'perfect.'

Mistaken Identity
I share this because myself and a teammate have this same issue everywhere we go. We never correct them but just go along with the mistakes because it happens so often. It's gotten pretty comical now since when either of us are racing people will yell the wrong name. Maybe it'll get easier (or confusing!) since we're racing in the same category now.

What a miserable stage it was for the Italian
Oh wow, Cunego should only focus on the Giro don't you think? I've never seen the front of a jersey ripped apart like that one. Maybe Pete Rose could give him some pointers on the head first dive.

Drummers are as fit as elite athletes
I agree, but you just know they aren't passing any doping tests!

Cycling Miles Per Hour Calculator
Someone shared this with me the other day and I thought it was cool. If you'd like a tool to help establish personal goals then this online calculator may help.

For the Hard Core, Two Wheels Beat Four
There are some trends from New York we may want to stop at the state line, but here's one that should spread like wildfire across the US. If they can lead the way on getting trans fat banned then surely they can help with the growth of commuting on a bike! If and when the city of New York addresses their transportation system in a comprehensive manner to accommodate bicyclists the effects will reach across the country.

Garmin Cuts '08 Outlook
I am not into PNDs, but I sure hope this doesn't affect their commitment to cycling long-term. Their sponsorship is a logical marketing fit, so unless a massive doping problem rears its head again they should remain a fixture in the sport. However, just how bad can it be when EPS is $4.13! Funny how outlook changes when expectations aren't met even when the outcome is still successful.

I'd like to continue sitting here sharing links and making comments, but I'd rather go out and spin my legs a bit before the race tonight. I found a nice short route from my house over into Shelby Bottoms that quickly gets me to Portland Brew East. I can easily get there in 20 minutes!