why did they quit?

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of

it?

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

Interesting variation on the "cyclists aren't athletes" theme. Nice troll,
too.

Bob C.

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:53:37 GMT, "Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of it?
Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

You are starting from the mistaken premise that the Olympic games are a big deal
in the world of cycling.

This is something that pro cyclists try to work into their schedules rather than
something to plan the season around.

Ron

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of it?
Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

In cycling if you get dropped from the pack that means you've quit.
Riding the full distance off the back isn't considered "not quitting",
that's still quitting.

harsh.

"RonSonic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:53:37 GMT, "Callistus Valerius"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of

it?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

You are starting from the mistaken premise that the Olympic games are a

big deal

Quoted message said:

in the world of cycling.

This is something that pro cyclists try to work into their schedules

rather than

Quoted message said:

something to plan the season around.

Ron

For *road* racers, your point seems correct. But don't the track racers put
a lot more importance on the Olympics. Is that right Carl (or Dave L.)?

Just think of the contrast between the US athletes in those Home Depot
commercials, you know, the ones that work there to get flex time for
training, and the NBA players on the US basketball team. I would put the
road cyclists nearer the NBA players than the Home Depot workers. (Well,
maybe not the racers from Iran, etc.) Whereas a number of the track cyclists
do the Home Depot program, including our local Olympian, Adam Duvendeck (in
the team sprint).

You look down the list of Olympic sports and it's hard to find many where
the athletes make as good a living at their sport as the (top) road cyclists
do.

Mark
(wondering if there are other rbr former Olympians besides Carl and Dave?)
(besides the lurkers, that is)

Quoted message said:

In cycling if you get dropped from the pack that means you've quit.
Riding the full distance off the back isn't considered "not quitting",
that's still quitting.

harsh.

I don't know. I see 85 year old women completing a century ride in 12
hours, and not quitting. And I just can't picture Jim Thorpe saying it's
too hot and throwing in the towel. If I can't win, why try. Is that what
cycling is?

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of

it?

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

Olympic cycling is as old as the modern Olympics. From the very beginning
there were those who dropped out. That, for the uninformed, is the way of
the sport. When you can no longer have any hope of winning or any
possibility of helping your teammates you are only in the way on the course
and you retire rather than be swept up. Only a complete idiot would think
that someone that is going to finish 50 places below the next guy on his
team is of any value.

I'd had the idea that you raced, but plainly you ain't got a clue. I'll bet
you'd be one of those guys who gets lapped in the local citizens races and
then tries to sprint with the lead group.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Callistus Valerius said:

Quoted message said:

In cycling if you get dropped from the pack that means you've quit.
Riding the full distance off the back isn't considered "not quitting",
that's still quitting.

harsh.

I don't know. I see 85 year old women completing a century ride in 12
hours, and not quitting. And I just can't picture Jim Thorpe saying it's
too hot and throwing in the towel. If I can't win, why try. Is that what
cycling is?

No but the conditions were terrible and there are other events to get
ready for. In terms of winning and losing, finishing fourth is pretty
much no better than finishing last and that being so, only a fool would
kill themselves pointlessly when they can save themselves for another
day. Riders like Levi Leipheimer who have more days to ride this
summer are not comparable to the Greek marathoner who continued to
finish some incredible distance behind. That runner's effort was
heroic and remembered (even if I can't remember his name) but then,
that marathon was his race, season, and probably life in sport.

Spence

--
James P. Spencer
Rochester, MN

"Badges?? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In cycling if you get dropped from the pack that means you've quit.
Riding the full distance off the back isn't considered "not quitting",
that's still quitting.

harsh.

I don't know. I see 85 year old women completing a century ride in

12

Quoted message said:

hours, and not quitting. And I just can't picture Jim Thorpe saying it's
too hot and throwing in the towel. If I can't win, why try. Is that what
cycling is?

Bicycle racing is fairly unique in this respect, although off the top of my
head tennis has similarities. If you are down 1-5 in a set, many players
will dump the last game as a lost cause, then start the next set even.

However, how can you compare a bicycle race to a century ride? The goals are
entirely different. Sprinting is the no different than a road race in this
respect. Are you as critical of the sprinter who sits up before the line
when he/she knows they've been beaten? It all depends on whether you look at
the big picture or not.

How is the old saying, "He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another
day"?

BTW, name two women you've 'seen' who have completed centuries.

"Mark Fennell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:mnPTc.63312$xk.33708@fed1read01...

<sniP>

Quoted message said:

For *road* racers, your point seems correct. But don't the track racers

put

Quoted message said:

a lot more importance on the Olympics. Is that right Carl (or Dave L.)?

Mark
(wondering if there are other rbr former Olympians besides Carl and Dave?)
(besides the lurkers, that is)

I would say that the olympic gold medal means more to a track cyclist than a
road cyclist. Most top road cyclists can get paid something for riding their
bike, not so with the track riders. And I hope you are not referring to me
as a former Olympic track rider. Although I did win one event at the
olympics....just before I woke up from the dream.

Dave

Quoted message said:

I'd had the idea that you raced, but plainly you ain't got a clue. I'll

bet

Quoted message said:

you'd be one of those guys who gets lapped in the local citizens races and
then tries to sprint with the lead group.

No, what I'm saying is that I don't think cycling belongs in the
Olympics, and what I've read in this thread confirms that. I do enjoy
multi-stage races, because it forces riders to complete races. I have
played other sports, and quitters were considered scum. Maybe that's just
been indoctrinated into me. I don't know how many times I've seen someone
in the front pack get a flat, and the first thing they do is find a cell
phone so they can get picked up by someone. Vince Lombardi, I'm guessing,
probably would have worn out his shoes, kicking ass, if he was coaching a
cycling team. Vince would have lighted a fuse under Ullrich, or he would
have knocked that gold bricker off his bike, and rode it to the top himself.
Dramatic wake-up calls is what this sport needs. No wonder Lance walks all
over them.

Callistus Valerius said:

Quoted message said:

In cycling if you get dropped from the pack that means you've quit.
Riding the full distance off the back isn't considered "not quitting",
that's still quitting.

harsh.

I don't know. I see 85 year old women completing a century ride in 12
hours, and not quitting. And I just can't picture Jim Thorpe saying it's
too hot and throwing in the towel. If I can't win, why try. Is that what
cycling is?

I watched the 65-69 masters "crit" today and after the 4 minute split on
the first lap, I didn't see any of those guys quit...(nor any of the
70+ guys either..) Of course the "crit" is really a circuit race,
there's more climbing here than one would expect from a crit course.

"Mark Fennell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

For *road* racers, your point seems correct. But don't the track racers

put

Quoted message said:

a lot more importance on the Olympics. Is that right Carl (or Dave L.)?

That's true. Olympics and worlds are the annual goals. Even the world cups
are not much more than ways to serve as qualifiers for those two events and
to gain international experience. There isn't a "Classics season" or even a
Grand Tour equivalent for the track. If you're a sprinter or kilo guy, you
have some sprint tournaments and possibly the International series on the
Japanese Keirin circuit in addition to geographic championships (national,
continental, etc) and the world cups to look forward to. At least the
endurance trackies can compete on the road, but if they are still focused on
the track, it tends to make them a 'jack of all trades' rider with the Olys
and Worlds still #1 goal, whereas even road riders are focused almost
exclusively on the road (Brad McGee types being the exception).

BTW, Lettieri hasn't posted here in a while. I don't know if he still lurks
or not.

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

BTW, Lettieri hasn't posted here in a while. I don't know if he still

lurks

Quoted message said:

or not.

Who knows, maybe he got too disgusted with all the LA bashing. That, or
having a wife and three kids plus a successful business means he's too busy
to look at rbr!

Mark Fennell said:

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

<snip>

Quoted message said:

BTW, Lettieri hasn't posted here in a while. I don't know if he still

lurks

Quoted message said:

or not.

Who knows, maybe he got too disgusted with all the LA bashing. That, or
having a wife and three kids plus a successful business means he's too busy
to look at rbr!

I think he still lurks but as you said is likely to be fed up with the
LA bash fest and all thepolitical crapola that surfaces here at tour
time. I vote for the successful business, wife and three youngun's.. I
also hear that a number of the locals out there are suffering from
crashitis, so he may be busier thatn usual......

"Faster Bordello" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark Fennell said:

"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

<snip>

Quoted message said:

BTW, Lettieri hasn't posted here in a while. I don't know if he still

lurks

Quoted message said:

or not.

Who knows, maybe he got too disgusted with all the LA bashing. That, or
having a wife and three kids plus a successful business means he's too

busy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to look at rbr!

I think he still lurks but as you said is likely to be fed up with the
LA bash fest and all thepolitical crapola that surfaces here at tour
time. I vote for the successful business, wife and three youngun's.. I
also hear that a number of the locals out there are suffering from
crashitis, so he may be busier thatn usual......

You hear correct--it's getting pretty bleak. Our Sunday world champs has
more crashes than the races. Dave himself went down a month or two ago and
rung his bell. Of course, today he just got dropped. :-)

Try to understand the difference between sports.
In basketball, for example, if one team quits, then the game is over
prematurely.
In cycling, when one rider quits, the race continues just the same as if
they kept crusing around a half hour behind.

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have
played other sports, and quitters were considered scum.

Quoted message said:

Try to understand the difference between sports.
In basketball, for example, if one team quits, then the game is over
prematurely.
In cycling, when one rider quits, the race continues just the same as if
they kept crusing around a half hour behind.

All I'm saying is that Cycling and the Olympics isn't a match. The
participants don't even think it is. Look at Lance. A couple of sports
where the participants are paid like in cycling are tennis and skiing. I
don't think tennis is a match either, but for some reason I think skiing in
the Olympics has even more drama than their professional schedule.

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 13:06:35 -0700, "Mark Fennell" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"RonSonic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:53:37 GMT, "Callistus Valerius"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of

it?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

You are starting from the mistaken premise that the Olympic games are a

big deal

Quoted message said:

in the world of cycling.

This is something that pro cyclists try to work into their schedules

rather than

Quoted message said:

something to plan the season around.

Ron

For *road* racers, your point seems correct. But don't the track racers put
a lot more importance on the Olympics. Is that right Carl (or Dave L.)?

Good point. It is a bigger deal for them. And some of the road guys were
planning for this event, especially Bettini.

Quoted message said:

Just think of the contrast between the US athletes in those Home Depot
commercials, you know, the ones that work there to get flex time for
training, and the NBA players on the US basketball team. I would put the
road cyclists nearer the NBA players than the Home Depot workers. (Well,
maybe not the racers from Iran, etc.) Whereas a number of the track cyclists
do the Home Depot program, including our local Olympian, Adam Duvendeck (in
the team sprint).

You look down the list of Olympic sports and it's hard to find many where
the athletes make as good a living at their sport as the (top) road cyclists
do.

True. I'm sure it makes a difference where the games fall in your sport's
season. Most of the top road cyclists are coming off the tour and heading into
the Vuelta, not a good time to plan to peak or for a maximal effort that isn't
going to result in a good showing.

Ron

Quoted message said:

Mark
(wondering if there are other rbr former Olympians besides Carl and Dave?)
(besides the lurkers, that is)

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 13:06:35 -0700, "Mark Fennell" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"RonSonic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:53:37 GMT, "Callistus Valerius"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are not Olympians. I wonder how many events in the Olympics, do
54% of the participants do not finish the event. Like the longer running
events, do more than half of the runners quit the event in the middle of

it?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclists are a pampered group, that when they see their butt getting
spanked, cry and quit. Olympians arn't quitters, and maybe the cycling
events should be dropped from the Olympics.

You are starting from the mistaken premise that the Olympic games are a

big deal

Quoted message said:

in the world of cycling.

This is something that pro cyclists try to work into their schedules

rather than

Quoted message said:

something to plan the season around.

Ron

For *road* racers, your point seems correct. But don't the track racers put
a lot more importance on the Olympics. Is that right Carl (or Dave L.)?

Good point. It is a bigger deal for them. And some of the road guys were
planning for this event, especially Bettini.

Quoted message said:

Just think of the contrast between the US athletes in those Home Depot
commercials, you know, the ones that work there to get flex time for
training, and the NBA players on the US basketball team. I would put the
road cyclists nearer the NBA players than the Home Depot workers. (Well,
maybe not the racers from Iran, etc.) Whereas a number of the track cyclists
do the Home Depot program, including our local Olympian, Adam Duvendeck (in
the team sprint).

You look down the list of Olympic sports and it's hard to find many where
the athletes make as good a living at their sport as the (top) road cyclists
do.

True. I'm sure it makes a difference where the games fall in your sport's
season. Most of the top road cyclists are coming off the tour and heading into
the Vuelta, not a good time to plan to peak or for a maximal effort that isn't
going to result in a good showing.

Ron

Quoted message said:

Mark
(wondering if there are other rbr former Olympians besides Carl and Dave?)
(besides the lurkers, that is)