As a promoter I keep a watchful eye on some of the best local riders and with that in mind I present the first annual Charlie “Eye” Awards. Mind you, these are based only on the races I promote so the results are from Prospect Park, Floyd Bennett and Cedar Creek races so keep that in mind before you say “What about the guy that won Bear Mtn??”
“Charlie I.” Issendorf
Race Director
Kissena Cycling Club
Most Aggressive Award: Tie between Celestino Hernandez (Cat 4/Mexico-NY Cycling Team) and Stephan Dioslaski (Cat 1/ Team Metra-Cycles 54). First Celestino: Does this guy ever stop attacking? At the Tuesday Floyd Bennett Series, Celestino became the Green Jersey Sprint leader early on and you would think his tactic would be to wait and win the sprints, right? Wrong. Celestino was always on the attack and then would still have enough left in the tank to place in the top 3 on sprint laps. He also developed quite a cheering section each week. Then we have Stephan “I will die before I let this race come down to a fieldsprint” Dioslaski. Constantly on the attack, Stephan will form breaks, bridge to breaks, drive the breaks and do everything in his power to not let a Prospect Park race come down to a fieldsprint. If only he had some liked-minded riders to help him we might see some more successful breakaways.
Now That’s The Way You Bridge To A Break and Still Win Award: Eric Ragot (Cat 3/Kissena). At the Cedar Creek Criterium, a sure-bet breakaway formed late in the Cat 3 race and it was almost a given the winner would be decided from this group. Out of nowhere Eric Ragot bridges by himself to the break, attacks the break and solos in for the win. Smarts + Strength = Victory
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Clerico (Cat 5 then Cat 4 then Cat 3/ CRCA-NYVelocity). Where the heck did this guy come from?!?! After kicking some Cat 5 ass at FBF, he upgrades to his first Cat 3-4 FBF race on one of the windiest night’s of the year. He breaks away by himself about mid-race and the field never saw him again. Just four days later at the second-to-last Lucarelli&Castaldi Cup Prospect Park race, he gets in the winning Cat 4 break, drops all his breakaway companions and solos in for the win. Oh wait, it gets better. The very next day at the final Lucarelli&Castaldi Cup Prospect Park race, the Cat 4 race comes down to a fieldsprint and Clerico wins again. 3 wins in 6 days, 2 from solo breaks and one from a fielsprint. Did somebody say Alex Gulla? Let’s hope he sticks around.
Best Sprinter: Ricky Lowe (Cat 1/CRCA-DieHard-Think Racing). Ricky continues to be the dominant local sprinter and does not look to be slowing down. Even more impressive he seems to be getting away from a traditional sprinter’s comfort zone of sitting in and waiting for a fieldsprint. This was best seen at the Race For The Wine, a 50 mile death march at FBF. Ricky was constantly on the attack late in the race, made the key selections and won the final sprint from a breakaway. The race totally exploded at the end so nobody could claim it was an easy race.
Most Improved: Paul Burrowes (Cat 1/WS United). The other “Burrowes Brother”, Paul always seemed to be overshadowed by his brothers Jermaine and Horrace. This year Paul dominated the Cat 1-2-3 FBF Tuesday Night Series. He wore the yellow jersey for almost the entire series and defended it like a pro even picking up a few wins while in yellow. Not an easy task when you have that big yellow bulls-eye on your back.
The Greg Lemond 1989 Tour de France “there’s still one more stage left so don’t count me out yet” Comeback of the Year Award: Dan Schmalz (Cat 3/CRCA-BH-Garneau). It’s the stuff legends are made of. It was the final FBF race of the season, and Danny boy was sitting in third. Mathematically he still had an outside chance of winning but the stars had to align perfectly for this to happen. First, Chris Castaldi (2nd overall) had a nasty spill the week before forcing him out of the final race. Then race-leader Frank Arroyo flatted out. But Schmalz still had to come in the top three. As the field raced to the line Schmalz shot through the middle to claim second place and his first FBF overall title in god-knows how many years he’s been racing at FBF.
Best Junior Award: Tie between Eli Mernit (Cat 4 Junior/CRCA Jr. Development Team) and Wei Chen (Cat 4 Junior/CRCA Jr. Development Team). Racing with the Cat 4 men, Eli went head-to-head with the Cat 4 sprinters in the battle for the Green Sprint Jersey at the Lucarelli&Castaldi Cup and finished on the podium in third overall. Watch out Ricky Lowe! While Eli was slugging it out with the sprinters, teammate Wei Chen was doing battle for the KOM Jersey. He finished 4th overall in that competition, just a step off the podium. It’s good to see a new crop of young riders coming through the ranks!
The LL Cool J “Don’t Call It a Comeback I’ve Been Here For Years” Award: Wilson Vasquez (Cat 1/GS Mengoni). Wilson may not have the top-end speed he once had but he’s still one of the cagiest sprinters around and knows that positioning and timing are sometimes just as important as being fast. He won the Green Sprint Jersey at the Lucarelli&Castaldi Cup series by going just fast enough at the right times to slowly pick up enough points to win the overall. His all green kit probably helped too.
Honorable Mention:
Longest Drive To Compete In A Prospect Park Race Award: Jonathan Lowenstein (Cat 2/ NBX-Narragansett Beer). An old friend of mine. Jonathan still comes to a few Lucarelli&Castaldi Cup Prospect Park races each year. He lives in Rhode Island. Yes, the 4-hours-away from Brooklyn Rhode Island. He leaves around 2AM, races 44 miles in Prospect Park and with no traffic he’s probably home by noon. Some riders from Manhattan won’t even make the trip to Brooklyn to race!
To all the winners: You will receive a free entry fee in any race I promote in 2011. Congratulations!
Woops I meant M.Pulley, not M.Nipple.
So Freduian, that slip was.
thanks for the killer recap, charlie. it was a great season and we really appreciate the opps you give us to swordfight week in and week out. looking forward to next season! thanks for all of your hard work.
M. Nipple: ok, we get it. So you got thrown in the dumpster by the school bully’s at lunch recess in 6th grade. You need to move on with your life. Take some time off from bike racing, study for the bar exam (because failing it twice is not making your parents proud, considering all they spent on schooling), and make a difference in the world. Yes you can! Yes you can!
then let’s have a bake sale! We could sell some of the free stuff you receive for reviews? plus, what about the old phrase “talk is cheap”.
Dan, Like I said, I don’t really care about the smack-if I did I wouldn’t bother racing because its a part of the game. I would certainly love to see it go away, but I’m not crying about it while its here.
What I do care about is the fact that you guys feel its appropriate to have this site fall in line with your personal views, and not that of the viewers, who make your site what it is. Anybody can post, and it might stay up as long as you agree with it. Whats the point? Just remove all Comments and you can have your pristine reviews of overpriced carbon components. At the same time you poke fun at pros for the very thing that you refuse to touch or discuss when it comes to locals. As long as people visit your site everything is cool, lets not upset anyone. I’m not suggesting allowing rumors to run rampant, but when it comes to the guys that continually find themselves in the crosshairs, and many of those same guys have been caught, just let it go. Or are you like Steve Jobs, and trying to save the cycling community from itself?
Yeah, let’s blow the whole NYC cycling scene wide open. It’s a fascinating topic, something that might get a 10 second mention on someone’s cable access channel talk shows at 4 a.m.
has a pretty good point, i must say!
“toto loves ______ for breakfast?”
In all seriousness, the site as it is now, takes a huge amount of our time. Doing a full expose on local racers doping would be a great story (honestly), but would require a full journalistic investigation, and our budget for investigative journalism is $0.
Sadly, I don’t have the urine of every rider I talk to (I only have urine sample from about half of them). Mr Pulley, if you know so much, the solution is simple. Post a story on the site using your real name and provide evidence, and then we’ll both be internet rich (which isn’t real rich, but gets you about 5 twitter followers).
too funny! crazy right? so seriously though dan, such a story is obviously of great interest and could easily be pursued. so why would NYV avoid it? seriously, i want to know. a real reason, sans wit or sarcasm.
Hey are you accusing some riders of being able to communicate telepathically with ol’ Bessie as they pass through horseshit alley because, well, there’s a little genetic similarity coursing through their veins?
I think them incredibly moronic, and quite honestly rather hypocritical. Almost ALL drama related to cycling stems from drugs. I’d like to see you do cartoons based purely on lance’s babies. As long as you’re ripping on the pros its cool, but lets not fix whats clearly very wrong around town. Heaven forbid you lose some readers, or friends for that matter.
For Christ sake, Chrodroff was doing EPO as a cat 3! You think that’s a unique situation? You ride around and ham it up all the time at races with guys just as dirty as pros. You even glorify them. Its far more sad than someone calling it as it is. The sheer ignorance is shocking.
Thanks for reading!
It is a kick-ass story, feel free to pursue it yourself.
Joe Papp’s contribution to U.S. cycling are tremendous. Why, if it weren’t for him, numerous top 20 finishes in glorified parking lot P/1/2 crits wouldn’t have been possible. Keep your head high Joe, you helped many guys earn $6,035 or more per year, plus meal allowance, living the dream.
oh come on dan, that’s a lame response. i’m being serious. i don’t run sites, you do. i’m being gracious and offering you a free idea for a kick-ass story. “where does the dope in NYC come from and who does it go to?” what’s it all for after a while anyways? you musn’t be afraid of being sued since you blast the big guys? so why not?
for christ’s sake, i’ve answered the basso question like 4 times!
There must be a lot of tainted beef going around NYC…
**post edited for dramatic irony’s sake**
Mathis, you’re up to over 500 words of “caring less”
Andy! We’ve traced the call and HE’S IN YOUR HOUSE!!!!
Does your IP checker have a word count as well? Think you missed the point on that, I don’t care, but people around here certainly seem to, and at the same time they go to great lengths to defend people which they most certainly would not if they knew the real deal. I’m simply pointing out that people deflecting those stones I’m casting my be better off standing to the side.
call McGinley. He’ll clear this question right up. Papp too, he’s on a roll with that list. “Sweeter” dudes have been busted before…… Hmmmm, “The Harlem Crit is in which NY neighborhood?…….” i totally know this one.
I’m not necessarily defending anyone, you’re throwing stones without providing hard evidence, that could be called slander. And you’re not only posting anonymously, you’ve taken the extra step of cloaking your IP to post, which I think is a bit sad really. Does that sound like someone who “doesn’t care”?
**post edited due to extreme selfishness**
Who said its cloaked son? Maybe I am a California girl. Although these days you never know what middle aged white guy is sitting in front of his computer trying to find you. Safety first.
Next time I have a conversation about drugs ill be sure to bust out the tape recorder.
actually, in all seriousness. if shen sank half the effort into looking into drug use on a local level and not just the big man LA it would have far more impact on improving the sport. maybe that feels too much like biting the hand that feeds you? there is definitely plenty of material around here. testing is expensive, but exposes!!! cheap. i get it, we don’t want to go around making suggestions or accusations against people we know and see. yet it’s fine if it’s something the times might cover. that’s as sissy as say, posting on this site i guess.
hmmmm. Ivan’s last name is….?
Mr Tigweld, anyone can contribute to the site, and I think you’ve just found your niche—busting cat 3 local masters racers. Hit the streets!
Cat 3 Dan? Well you must be terrible, ride harder.
“you’re throwing stones without providing hard evidence, that could be called slander. ”
ok, then go get the evidence! now that’s a story, i mean wtf is this site for after a while anyways? $4000 wheel reviews?! LAME. PLUS, who cares about pros and they’re drug issues? tired story anyways. Boring interviews with domestic dudes we’ve never heard of talking about power files? come on shen, put those brains to some real use and make a difference. the evidence is actually abundant since there a really only a handful of suppliers of this shit. “buy local” as they say these days. support the local scene by making it a happier, better place.
I can’t wait to read the site you start Mr Tigweld.
Why would nyvelocity change anything about the cycling scene? Their forums are mostly visited for their rants. Their cartoons as just as much about drugs as most of the comments in their forums, but since they are in the name of fun its OK for them to do it.
If they had any inclination of how dirty the “elite” scene is they would probably stop running this site.
Plenty of clean dudes drive breaks. Its the ones that can ride Rickey out of the break that get popped for smack.
Andy has too much free time to pull all these relevant posts.
Mathias, speaking of “telling Jermaine something personally”, I would suggest you do the same with your theories instead of posting things here from an ocean away…
And that goes for your alter ego sassy pants also
They aren’t theories.
ohh nooo dan has an IP checker! But perhaps Im tricking you!
Feel free to provide proof then.
well if I had physical proof don’t you think id just give it to the powers that be? Ask him about it, see how defensive he gets.
Well played Mathias, you now own the internet
Just out of curiosity, where am I located now?
There are many secrets that you aren’t privy to Dan. Papp blowing out the domestic scene is just the tip of a very large iceberg.
I have to say I was in a number of breaks with Ricky this year and he helped in all of them. He might have been cagey a time or two, but not an ass like some others at FBF. I don’t think you can just sag him off the back either. He’ll just sprint around you and catch back on and you’ll be lucky to follow his acceleration. More likely you’ll be dropped than him.
Don’t get me wrong, I really could care less if guys wanna do drugs. Doesn’t really bother me. But what does bother me is when the rabble start writing checks on this forum their legs will never cash, and decide they need to defend people they probably wouldn’t be defending if they knew the whole story.
Its incredibly difficult to drop a strong sprinter out of a break, especially if its of anything larger than 5 guys. One guy can do it, anything is possible, but its nothing short of laying on a sword to do it for the sake of the break. If you have a teammate that’s fine, maybe that’s the best option. If its just you then its probably not a wise choice to run yourself ragged trying to lose a guy. If everyone helps, perhaps you can drop him. I don’t see much cooperation around here. Most riders are too afraid to drop themselves out of the break trying to get rid of someone they wont do it. And depending on the break scenario, everyone might already be at the limit if its close near the end or whatever. There are far too many variables to simply say just drop him, ride harder, train harder, etc.
I guess the argument is lost on you folks. There’s no point, because the converse argument is you’re just not good enough-which is very convenient to claim in an anonymous forum, but I don’t see all that many people dropping Rickey out of breaks once he leeches on, so either he’s the greatest cyclist ever to grace the tarmac at Floyd or none of you really have any idea what you’re talking about.
As for prefect strategy, that strategy only works if everyone else wants to pull you to the line, if they just say F it and go back to the group, and the break reshuffles without the lazy rider on the back, then he doesn’t win. I’d hardly call it perfect. The onus is clearly on everyone in the break to try to get rid of somebody like Rickey, clearly, that’s not whats in question. The fact that you can office chair DS and tell someone to just ride harder is not helpful, and quite honestly, its doubtful you are ever in those breaks, so your personal experience with getting screwed out of a win is a bit lacking. But like I said, the argument is lost on you. Id rather ride with Jens over Rickey any day of the week, and least that white boy pulls.
“Sitting on the back of a break may very well be a valid strategy to win, but it does not win you any respect with the guys that are in the break with you” – the purpose of racing is to win. So, Ricky is employing perfect strategy. If that doesn’t win your respect, then go ride with Jens Voigt.
the * in the room
no yellow or green jersey at tour presentation
If you are complaining about getting rid of rickey in a break then you are just not good enough to win a bike race in the 123’s. Sorry to be the one to break the news to yah.
Respect you say? The last time I checked all the guys who have gotten respect for driving a break ended up being caught cheating with drugs.
Ps. Jermaine is one guy that I see working his ass off and has gotten little or no respect. How do you explain that? Its obvious why certain guys don’t get respect. Rickey will never get the respect he deserves but from talking to him in the past this sort of stuff really roles off his back.
shut up and train harder. punk.
well that explains it. Everyone just has to keep attacking within the break? Thanks for the tip. I was just rolling around aimlessly trying to lose every time.
Of course I will expect you to be attacking in the break instead of saying, oh I cant pull, I’m so tired…
The problem is that when someone is not working and half the guys in the break see that, they then get the idea that they can also do a minimum of work, or none at all. A lot of times Rickey and others who employ the same “tactic” effectively end a break simply by being there. Sitting on the back of a break may very well be a valid strategy to win, but it does not win you any respect with the guys that are in the break with you. So everyone that watches the sprint finish from the sidelines and oohs and ahhs Rickey or whomever sprints to the win after soft pedaling all day really has no ground to stand one when it comes to giving helpful tips on how to get him out of the break.
There are only a handful of guys in the area that are constantly in the breaks. The 100 other schmucks sitting in the pack can hypothesize all they want about how they would get rid of the dead weight if they were in the break, but until I see you up there doing it, I suggest you keep your strategies to yourself…seeing as your brilliant racing mind didnt get you up the road in the first place…
Thanks for the recognizing me in your awards this year. I love coming down to race in Prospect Park. I’d do it more if I lived closer. Everytime I come to one of your races I know it will run on time, and everything you can control will go smoothly. I don’t know how you do it all season. I promote just one race a year, and that kicks my butt. Thanks for going through all the effort.
Jon Lowenstein
A bunch of Cat 3s and 4s complaining about Ricky, shit also cat 1s and 2s that cannot win a race or place to save their lives. You should stop racing if you do not know how to race and its not about bitching. If he’s a sprinter on a break, all you have to do is keep attacking him. If you can’t you should not be riding. Guys… learn how to ride and stop complaining, it’s not healthy. Learn from the really good cyclist that we have around here.
“too much racial tension”
yeah, you nailed it … that’s my first thought everytime when im cross-eyed in a break … whitey’s trying to drop me!
seriously though, genuinely curious. we’re all anonymous here, so let your colors show. does anyone give a shit about color or nationality while racing? i always thought one of the coolest things about floyd was you had literally every income type top to bottom and plenty of different colors, and no one seemed to give a 5hit either way
nanni – funny, however, resignation level is in fact _inversely_ proportional to one’s own smack level (though directly proportional to your break companions’ levels).
one other thing that cat 3 guy is fast at: responding to posts about himself. is there an award for lurking?
and no, we don’t need charlie to set up another series of awards for all to clamor over. there is a KOM at prospect park, for fuck’s sake.
level of resignation is proportional to the amount of smack coursing through your veins. a
In case nobody saw: http://road.cc/content/news/25860-nypd-officer-pulled-gun-cyclist-allegation
Nanni, do you race for Mel Gibson’s team?
Jeezus, do you all race with such resignation, packed like lemmings onto shiny carbon biycles?
Next on Bravo: “Now That’s The Way You Bridge To A Break and Still Win Award Eye for the Sandbagger Guy.”
That rolls off the tongue nicely…
Have you ever seen a break cooperate in NYC? I’m sorry but there’s just too much racial tension to allow that to happen. Its the white boys pulling and the Me No Pulls behind and Rickey Lowes in tow. Catch my drift?
Yeah in theory opening up the gap and jumping across over and over again could work but that would assume that 1, there’s more than one of you that’s not OK with the sprinter sitting on the back that will eventually blow your doors off, and 2, you’re already not the only one working…
Thanks for another great season Charlie, can’t wait for the next one!
what about that guy who won bear mountain?
What a crock.
i gotta admit, i was in just about every break with Lowe. “Attack” is not in his vocabulary. neither is “work” or “pull”. however, “i have a teammate” (either up the rd or BACK in the field, or even sometimes just ANYWHERE in the race) or “i’m so tired” are quite popular. Maybe instead of “Best Sprinter” we can award a “Most Persuasive” award?
This is a black thing isn’t it.
Great article Charlie – great to give these awards to put a bit of fun in the off season. The words “Alex Gulla” still sends a (positive) shiver down the spine of any Cat 3/4’s who used to line up against him back in the day!
Oh and Adam stop being such a wanker.
The only shivers I get would be from thinking about “racing” against 3/4s.
I believe that Wilson actually said he was making a comeback, at least 3 seasons in a row….
oh, you were in those breaks too?
ps. i beat gulla a couple times.
Thanks Charlie!
Guy goes from a 5 to a cat 1 in 3 months.. Racing the local circuit to getting 6th in the p1/2 at Catskills.
Again…
“Mind you, these are based only on the races I promote so the results are from Prospect Park, Floyd Bennett and Cedar Creek races so keep that in mind before you say “What about the guy that won Bear Mtn??†”
I only gave the awards based on the races I promote because those are the races I actually get to watch. Sean Smith had a great season but did not race that much at PP and FBF.
– Charlie “Eye”
Is it even possible to go from 5 to 1 in 3 months, without some Chodroff action…Can you even get the required points?
Thanks for the mention. charlie’s right,though, I didn’t race much locally after getting out of cat 5.
it took 4 months not 3 and stage races are what netted the majority of the points making it fairly easy to upgrade one category a month.
The more you attack, the better your odds of being in one that sticks…simple law of odds. Thanks for such a professionally and superbly run set of races…see you next season.
Stephan P. Dioslaki
if you whine about a sprinter who’s sitting on, you’re not attacking him enough. no shit he’s not going to attack, work, or pull.
Talk about an naïve statement. Why would attack someone continuously in a breakaway? That tends to not just piss off the sprinter but everyone else. And so you get the scenario where everyone but one guy worked all day and hes still fresh, now go ahead and just pull harder and drop him. Do it. Do it.
oh, you were in the break too?
that makes the 5th guy the smartest guy in the race
does the 5th rider rider for adler or the mets?
We can go after pros because they fail drug actual tests. Going after local guys because some anonymous dude in the comments section says he thinks they are in the “crosshairs” is another thing entirely.
Please, do tell!
What do you know that we don’t know?
Why are you creating innuendo?
Is it true?
C’mon, we love anonymous tell-all postings!
And I, for one, would read the weekly Mr Pulley crosshair report.
Sorry, you have to post using a real name (and um, have proof) to accuse someone of doping.
fail drug tests because they are tested. Test locals. It will clear up this problem VERY quickly, guaranteed. If you feel that its one person suggesting certain people are dirty every time, then you sadly mistaken and wrong.
And about the random law school comment. I have no idea what you are talking about. Assuming 1, that I went to law school, which I did not and 2, that my parents paid for school, which they did not, its still not funny. I suggest you aim such slights at Williamsburgers.
Are we having a bake sale to pay for the testing for locals? I like muffins.
And I thought you really didn’t care about people doing the “smack”?
You can accuse someone of anything, with or without proof. Happens all the time. Look at the Tea Party-they just make shit up everyday. Its the proving it part that requires the evidence. Doesn’t even require a real name. In fact, requiring a real name would most likely inhibit people from telling.
And anyways, there were no outright accusations made here, just insinuations. very different. If you choose to make those insinuations into an accusation well that’s your issue.
Regardless, its not like is really even possible for just anyone to get medical test results or similar evidence, as its protected. And its not like anybody can just request a pee sample. I think the idea is that there is zero oversight currently and there is a problem that’s pretty well entrenched. So perhaps insinuating there is a lot of drug use should be a suggestion that USADA become more involved in the NYC region. And as much as I’d like to just call em up and say, hey come on over and run some tests, I really don’t think a single rider can force a change unless they have for some reason been keeping recordings or similar evidence on hand, Which is almost as creepy as looking up an IP address of someone that posts on this site (bit of an abuse of power). But a well established website that covers the local scene and has some notoriety, well they could possible have the clout to get things started.
What’s with all the Ricky hate on this site.
Bike racing 101.. Ricky doesn’t care if the break stays away because he can win the filed sprint just as he can win the sprint from the breakaway, so why would he work?.
If you can’t win the filed sprint then it’s your job to make the breakaway too hard for him to stick in it.
Do you understand how hard you have to make a breakaway to drop a 5th guy that’s not pulling?
a pancake flat course mind you…
i love pancakes.
a break can drop dead weight. It’s pretty simple. When the dead weight is the last rider in the pace line, the rider in front of him eases up to lose contact with the other guys in front. At that point the dead weight has to decide if he wants to stay with the other riders in front. If yes, he has to sprint around the other rider and catch the other guys. If he does that, then rider to lost contact catches his wheel and gets a free ride back up to the break. The break then repeats this until the dead weight fall off completely or is so tired they can’t win the sprint.
Yes, easier said than done. Especially since one guy has to sacrifice his chances by creating the gap that dead weight has to jump across.
M. Pulley, be free of the pain. Yes, you were hung up on the pee-wee basketball hoop by your underwear in 8th grade, and that event has manifested itself in rage towards those who win bike races. It’s a strange correlation, for which I’ll have to consult with Dr. Ruth for plausible diagnoses, but nonetheless I suggest the following: shave the beard, sell the recumbent, burn the Primal Wear kits, and take a break from the bicycle scene for awhile. Maybe even seek out a girlfriend. Or at minimum, go to a nice massage parlor in order to release that tension.
well now you’re just talking totally unrelated nonsense.
So to recap:
You want us to use the Tea Party as the “truthiness” example for the site going forward in the future.
You want us to post “insinuations” about anyone you think might be doping, but since you can’t request any tests, you’d only be guessing.
And you think we’re creepy?
Lets take things out of context though.
You don’t have to post anything, either let the forums run free or not at all. You guys survive on the drama though so I highly doubt you’ll go comment free.
I didn’t say I was guessing, you are assuming I’m guessing; since you guys seem to require hard evidence instead of opening your eyes and watching dudes when they race, I merely suggested you help to enable that, for your sake. I’m certain nobody thinks you’re cool enough to tell you anything about the drugs they take, or sell in some cases, a pos test is really the only way you have for validation. You basically put people in an impossible position by demanding proof but being completely unwilling to help. I understand your desire to have hard evidence, but it doesn’t quite work that way in this situation. Getting caught really seems to be the only thing you guys understand. You can defend anyone and everyone if you wish, but you will just have to retract those words of support eventually, and I won’t be the one with the disappointed look on their face. I can’t really fault you, you are packfill, you don’t have much experience actually racing against these guys. You just provide prize money.
i’m getting confused…does M.Pulley have proof, or not?
if he does have proof, why can’t it be posted under a pseudonym if it appears valid?
We let all sorts of things go on in our comments (call me an asshole, and I’ll let it stay on the site)—in fact, we get slammed all the time for letting too much get said, but we don’t allow people to accuse individuals by name without providing proof or posting under their real name. I’m not sure why you have a problem with this.
Yes, we do like having “hard evidence” when someone accuses someone else of something that is immoral or even illegal, we’re sticklers in that way.
Once again, we are not WADA, and we have never provided any prize money. Ever.
Mr Pulley, you realize I’m not Charlie, right?
you know what canada bill jones said: the only thing that is immoral is hating delicious nut-filled brownies
you two should get a room
Does anyone even know if a local promoter chose to test, whether that would even be legal, ok by USA cycling, ok with Parks Dept/NYC?
How to tell if someone might be doping:
1.Does the real good local racer (presumed doper) ever enter races that have tests?
2.Was the racer ever tested?
i would be willing to bet a lot that 50% of the top 10 in every local race would test positive for all the b.s. banned substances–DHEA, asthma meds, etc…
Next on Bravo: Doping Eye of the Disillusioned Guy
You talk about earning respect from fellow riders yet you post without signing your name. Practice what you preach
Food fight!
Sounds like someone’s got his chocolate in someone else’s peanut butter.
Just like with the pros – look at those efforts / performances that seem just extraordinary – and they probably are:
1. Multiple attacks and/or participation in breaks within the same race by guys who have a “real full-time” job and or family commitments, or both.
2. Guys who rocket up the cats without any real cycling background (i.e. cat 5 to cat 1/2 in a single season or even 2 seasons) – moving to Cat 2 is pretty vain in and of itself unless you are regularly winning Cat 3 races – and who do we know that fits that bill? – so that is always a flag, but far less certain than #1 above.
3. Super strong in flat races and invisible in others – dominate crits and flat races (other than as a sprinter) but no climbing ability (unless its someone with a big body; strong in TT only (Chodroff)
4. Outsized displays of emotion with winning, losing or within races – if you doped, you’d expect results or maybe would be a bit cocky since you know you have extra juice, plus there is also “roid rage” – connect the dots – see #1 – #3 above and then think about guys who stand out for how they act…
I’ve got my bets….
I hear far too many guys break into show tunes whilst crossing the line in top 3. Is it safe to say they’re on an estrogen regime?
Yeah Nordic skiiers are clean
“2. Guys who rocket up the cats without any real cycling background (i.e. cat 5 to cat 1/2 in a single season or even 2 seasons) – moving to Cat 2 is pretty vain in and of itself unless you are regularly winning Cat 3 races – and who do we know that fits that bill? – so that is always a flag, but far less certain than #1 above.”
what about former rowers? cross country skiers? people who are motors, plain and simple?
I have no doubt that there are some dopers, but just because someone is a beast doesn’t mean they dope.
Chodruff was a rower…sort of, apparently. No, huge motors count, but those guys are pretty obvious, and big.
Some folks don’t understand the difference between making a baseless accusation and childish name calling. Nothing you can do about that.
Making a baseless accusation based on rumors is a sure way to get a call from someone’s lawyer. Chances are if someone can afford to juice up, they can afford to pay a lawyer.
I’m sure everyone who has been racing for more than a year here in NYC has heard a rumor of someone juicing up, but that’s all they are, rumors.
If you really want doping tests at local races, why not fund it yourself. Testing is not cheap, so no local promoter can afford to do it and pay the bills at the same time.
If you really want to make accusations based on rumors, then you should start your own web site. You know you would get at least on reader, Schmalz.
It would be easy to fund. Would a promoter of a race series be open to having testing at every race of a particular series? Spring series, etc? I would gladly pay an extra $10-15 per entry or fund it outside of entry. There’s no doubt that there are people who dope in NYC.
As a masters rider, I’m very concerned about doping, because sometimes I have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours. Should I call a doctor?
Yes, Corentin, call Dr. Love!
If you don’t like Ricky being there in the break with you, or not doing any work, you should try and drop him or attack him. If you can’t or aren’t strong enough, STFU and figure out a way to win the race. Seriously, stop being such bitches.
Why are we talking about road when there’s the up coming roller race season? How about predictions? I think Cupcake is going to win. All of them.
depending on the circumstances, urinalysis’ can range anywhere from $100-$500.
a racing promoter, if he desired, could get the lower end of that range by the fact he would be “buying bulk.”
the profit margins for most local races are enough to allow for at least one urine test every once in a while, if not more often.
I have no interest in paying $10 more per race to satisfy someone’s baseless rumors. Why don’t YOU run out and get a sponsor to pay for all the drug testing YOU think is necessary at the local races.
Let’s face it. Most of us don’t really care that much about the local dopes who are doping. Most of us are just participating in a hobby we really enjoy. We will support promoters who put on fun, safe races for us. Keep the races safe and fun and we will continue to come out to the races.
can’t you buy home drug tests at the pharmacy? you know, the type of things that overly eager parents threaten their no-good teens with. those might only test for weed and coke, but at least you ask the promoters to be as annoying as an after school special.
i doubt the real issue is expense, but what is done with the data. if testing is done outside of USADA, how does a resulting positive get reported? think about it. at big races, the testing is done completely outside of the control of the officials from USAcycling or the promoters for a reason. that is to ensure that the proper protocols are followed and the chain of custody is properly maintained with samples and information.
Promoters may be great human beings, but they are not in the profession of policing drug policies. sorry. i really think its something that will not change, especially without the results of this Papp-smear being fully processed by the powers-that-be.
you got the wrong guy. i always tell you to your face when i don’t like being in breaks with you 😉 that’s part of my “charm” buddy. See you next season!!
is not just strong, he’s smart too – and wily to boot
What happens if the fifth rider encounters the third rail?
I prefer the brass rail myself.
shocking!
Charlie… maybe you can set up official “eye” award categories and riders can shoot for them next year?
The problem is that the claims aren’t baseless, so nobody’s lawyer is going to call anyone. You just like to think they are baseless because it helps you sleep at night. Dirty riders don’t make an legal issue out of someone insinuating they are dirty, as it may very well bite them in the ass. Lets face it, this is hardly a public forum, only lame cyclists read it.
Plus, the shit these guys take is cheap, not that many guys use the boutique drugs.
Anyways, this whole thing was about Rickey being in breaks and sitting on for the win, not drugs…Nobody said he was dirty, at least not in this thread.
And will you guys just stop with the Oh just attack the break to drop him advice? As its been said early a thousand times, unless you’re up there dropping them yourself and not huffing it in the middle of the field “just here for the training” then keep your suggestions on how best to extract the non-worker in the break to yourself.
I am usually indifferent to the possibility of my competition doping. It’s beyond me why anyone would feel the need, or take the health risks at our level, and age. However, most of us sacrifice a lot to do this sport. Hours of training, waking up earlier than we’d like, postponing fun, drinking beer etc. It’s sad to think that my competition was doping just to beat the likes of me.
whether or not they are baseless, how do you prove that they are not without a positive test? chances are that by the time your lawyer got the accusee to take a drug test, the drugs would be out of his system.
how would you feel if someone made a claim against you just because of where you placed in a race? or are you just pack fill with no hope of a podium?
The Kangaroo Court of No Appeal is now in session…
The [dis]honorable Judge M. Pulley II, presiding.
Are doping accusations this year’s sandbagging claims? Man, I’d be flattered if anyone ever accused me of either(at least on this forum). That’s how you know that “you’ve arrived” here.
Well, it seems that it’s all one very tenacious nutjob who really really doesn’t care about doping and never reads this lame site posting under multiple names, so I’m guessing this will die out once our friend discovers his meds again.
Just so everyone knows, joining USACycling includes an agreement to be tested at anytime. Every USAC sanctioned race has the right to test. The threat of testing exists at every race.
CRCA has looked into doing testing at club races and Bear. Testing can be done with no prior warning.
if anyone is so sure that the reason they aren’t winning is because the competition is doping, you can always go ahead and “level the playing field”
this is an honest question,
if you want testing to be done, though, do you need to pay to have USADA come and do the testing? I’m curious how that works for promoters to have testing done at their races.
USADA said they might charge me $650 for testing. I never got a bill, so I guess the testing is gratis if you set a record (and pass the test). Fail the record, fail the test, expenses will mount.
The cost to a promoter is less in the actual tests, and more the possible (probable) results, which could hurt his ability to retain/secure sponsors. Remember that “all this talk about drugs is bad for cycling.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_mC6EZ8Jpk
i remember watching that as a kid and being intrigued by what he was selling
I love bad trips and chromosome damage.
Reminds me of a bad trip to the Rambles mens room before a park race. The “magician” pulled out something entirely different that time and then asked me to hold his wand.
The race organizer pays the cost for drug testing including travel costs for the control officer even when the race is required to test.
Here’s a list of everyone who’s been tested by USADA. http://www.usada.org/athlete-test-history#Cycling
Note that testing doesn’t always catch people. Jonathan Chodroff was tested and came up clean as did some guy who is not the most tested cyclist by USADA and is often featured in Toto.
Testing at park races in NYC is very low priority. There is no knowing how selective USADA and USAC are being in going after people on Joe Papp’s list. So far they have only gone after a National Champion, Chodroff. Maybe the local guys on the list, if any, will be left alone.
could i get lucky and have the slow chromosome damaged? i mean, maybe this is an easy way to gene dope while partying at the same time. by the way, is that how drug dealers worked in the 1970’s?
40-44 45.5871 Ken Harris, Trexlertown, PA, 9/23/08
45-49 49.3610 Kent Bostick, Manchester, 1999
Interesting. I see Margarite got tested, Bremer and JFT?! Also Bunde twice in 2009. Did he still have to be tested while suspended. Fun site.
Doesn’t pan out:
“2. Guys who rocket up the cats without any real cycling background (i.e. cat 5 to cat 1/2 in a single season or even 2 seasons) – moving to Cat 2 is pretty vain in and of itself unless you are regularly winning Cat 3 races – and who do we know that fits that bill? – so that is always a flag, but far less certain than #1 above.”
Evelyn Stevens, tested once in ’09 and five times in ’10
a drug test would be a huge boost to my ego
tammy thomas was tested 7 times before getting caught
There is another John Tomlinson who’s a very good young rider. It’s not JFT.
Evie won Fitchburg and Cascades GC and several stages and got 2nd in National TT in ’09.
That she was tested only once indicates there is not much in-competition testing. For ’10 she is in the out-of-competition testing pool and has been tested 5 times by USADA. She was probably tested a few more times in Europe after winning Giro stage and maybe some other races. UCI is much stricter than USAC about in-competition testing.
I took an art test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfDKkCHfrz8&feature=related
but I relish in the idea that some of my competitors are doped. It affords me the delusion that I am better than I have actually proven to be. If the guys that regularly beat me are doped, then I might just be the best un-doped athlete in the race. If they were tested and proven to be clean, my delusion would be blown apart and I would have to realize that I am not that great, that I couldn’t drop a Ricky Lowe – no matter how much I trained, that there are stronger local riders than me. lt’s keep the unfounded, anonymous allegations alive. It gives me something to believe in – my less than stellar performance.
Sir, you are hereby bequeathed The Most Positive Thinking Man in the World.
Bravo!
not that we all dope, but we certainly are dopes for what we perceive as asidfhawighui9svaisfnrqwhfjasognjmasinv!!!
and another thing, aosuorth9sing9uiawhgoasnjawofaslmoasgn!!!
Thanks for this prestigous award. I really am not kidding in my previous post. Sad and true.
“but I relish in the idea that some of my competitors are doped. It affords me the delusion that I am better than I have actually proven to be”
Yes!! This is it in a nutshell !!
Sorry friends but there are people out there who just “have it”. That is REALITY so be careful before you starting flinging shit at talented guys. Cycling is a beautiful and painful sport but it must be recognized that there are humans out there who are genetic outliers who just “have it” – that being a nasty sprint or death-inducing 10 minute power numbers.
Greg Lemond’s father did the Cat 5 to Cat 1 trip in a season and he was a fat, beer drinking sloth before he got on a bike. Greg was legend for the same innate ability.
YES – the dopers are emulating these people at all levels of our sport and should be treated harshly. I am not naive. But if you haven’t cracked an FT of 5 Watts/kg after 10 years of trying, it ain’t gonna happen. Swallow that bitter pill rather than take a pop of EPO.
That’s precious, but there’s people racing locally that take roids to win local series. That’s just a fact.
Are you alleging funky boeuf is being served up right here in our very own backyard?
people taking roids in our area that don’t even race. That is just there pathetic problem, not mine. Ane yes, I am sure some of them have beaten me in races. I still don’t care, it is their problem. I can do well in races around here, but truth be told, the few that might cheat are not preventing my meteoric rise to the pro-peleton so whatever.
isnt writing/complaining anon on this site just like cheating? (I feel so dirty…so good)
I personally witness Lowe put out 1760 watts in a practice sprint. I thought the power tap was broken. Then he did it again and registered 1923. He is putting out twice as much watts with one leg than I can put out with both legs. My point is, there is no amount of dope that can make you do that. That’s just talent.
I remember they took pictures of his power tap after the Mengoni race he won as a cat 3 by like 10 bike lengths and he registered 1723. This was at the end of a race. I thought it was a fluke until I witness it myself.
a good sprint puts out 20watts/kg
I can put out 50, 100 and even 150 watts….when I turn on my living room lamp.
I am not accusing anyone but you are nuts if you think steroids couldn’t greatly improve someone’s sprint watts
now you fuckers can chill
http://www.bikereg.com/events/ConfList.asp?EventID=11274
The last woman registered was “silky underwear” in german
IMO, PP cat 5’s should be tested before the USA Curling Team. What’s the advantage in doping for Curlers? More loud and aggressive slacks?
Cat 5’s in PP need to be tested for alcohol and crack.
THE RAPHA IS TOO DAMN HIGH! JOIN THE REVOLUTION!! http://www.rapha.cc/classic-softshell-jacket
small kitchen garbage bag w holes for arms and head…
(free from chipotle)
You should rename this article “Charlies Cataracts”