So the old saying, "when it rains it pours" holds true. first, poison ivy, then my car (needs a new alternator), now i just put my phone in the wash. i'm hoping that it works when it drys out but i don't know....fuck me i suck at life today.

USAC....short for

U.S.eless Ass Clowns

trying to get upgraded by my regional upgrade coordinator is hit or miss.

first it's 2+ weeks of waiting for them to say....
Dear ,

The following request to change your INTL/USCF category has been denied by USA Cycling:
- 2009-05-18 6:38
Member:
License: INTL Road
Request to change category from Cat 4 to Cat 3

fuck her. i'm going back door on this bitch.

oldie but a goodie

thanks to rotten for the link.

Baker's Dozen

"Even if you win you still lose" was a statement from ms. behavin last week before she headed off to the Big Easy. i should know this by now, as we are getting hitched, she's always right.

Don't Blame Me, Blame the Kid defended our title from last year with somewhat more ease than the previous edition. despite bike issues on my part we didn't give up a lap like we did last year. we, as in the dccod/c3/fast forward racing/visitpa.com/sht rolled deep with a rented circus tent courtesy of velo ami.

jimbo was supposed to be there to watch and help jeff and i. he turned into the biggest supporter of all the teams as he wrenched tirelessly with the many mechanicals that the teams had. muchas gracias amigo, but i'm pissed that you never tried my rice.

the weather was fantastic and the course was run in reverse from last year so there was a bit more climbing than i remembered but the course seemed to flow just as well.

Rob and his crew at Plum Grove cycling did a great job promoting the race, but......and this is a big but, what's the deal with the lack of reward for a win? now don't get me wrong, i like the event, i like rob, and we ride bikes in the dirt for fun, yet for some of us this is almost a job. you look for a little return on your investment or at least make your entry fee back if you win. the only category that received cash were the solos and the winner of the men, veganrob got $80. that's a tank of gas for him. oh i forgot all the podium placers received a backpackish bag for turning themselves inside out for 13 frickin hours. i guess i feel bad that i talked the race up to my teammate veganrob and he spent time and money to do this race and all he gets is a bag and $80. that's bullshit. SHOW ME THE MONEY!!

this probably seems like i'm being a whiner and i am to a point...the kicker of it all is that the prize list has decreased every year and the number of entries has increased. 2 years ago the winners got some serious cash. last year the winners got $150 which was almost enough to cover entry fees. this year only the solos get cash and half of last years meager purse. maybe i'm making this up, but i recall reading, after registration was closed for a month or so, what the prize purse entailed. a little too late to back out after you've spent the money to race.

hindsight is 20/20 and "even if you win you still lose."

come up to granogue May 3for the second MASS race and you may be able to win a wingnut bag in the beginner or sport class.

Sad in more than one ways than one....

from cyclingnews.com

Cycling News Flash, April 17, 2009

Hamilton tests positive, retires

By Kirsten Robbins with additional reporting by Shane Stokes

Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton is facing a possible lifetime ban from cycling following a positive doping control, Cyclingnews learned Friday. He tested positive for the banned steroid Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) after an out-of-competition control in early February. Hamilton admitted to knowingly taking the substance which was an ingredient in a vitamin supplement, and has decided to retire.

Hamilton has already served a two-year suspension following a positive test for a homologous blood transfusion in 2004. A second offense could earn him anywhere between eight years to a lifetime ban according to the World Anti-doping Agency's code. For the 38-year-old Hamilton, a comeback would then be highly unlikely.

"No one officially knew about it," Hamilton told Cyclingnews regarding the rumors of a positive test that circulated for weeks unfound on any competition start lists in March. "I took a few weeks to figure out my options. I knew it was the calm before the storm. I needed that time to spend with my family, talk to them about what was going to happen and what I am going through."

"I took a banned substance so I need to take whatever penatly they will give me and move forward," Hamilton said. "Today is about my leaving the sport and to talk about my depression, not the past. I don't want to talk about that anymore, its about moving forward and taking care of myself."

Hamilton purchased Mitamins Advanced Formula for Depression, an over-the-counter homeopathic anti-depressant supplement that contained DHEA. "I'm not naive," said Hamilton who claims he was fully aware that DHEA was an ingredient of the supplement and also one of USADA's banned substances. "I know people will be angry with me and depression is something I need to take care of, I didnt do it at the right time or in the right way and I'm sorry for the negative spot light," said Hamilton who has been a member of USADA's out of competition anti-doping control program since 2000.

"What I did was wrong and yes, I did know it [DHEA] was on the list of banned substances. I also knew that USADA could have shown up anyday and at any time to test me. But, I was going through a very rough moment and I was desperate. I heard about it and I thought I would try it out as an act of desperation. Did I take it for a banned substance? Absolutely not."

Dr. Charles Welch, Mass General hospital in Boston diagnosed Hamilton with clinical depression in 2003. He was prescribed Celexa as an anti-depressant for the next six years. According to Hamilton, he took amounts double to the prescribed dosage for two weeks in January when his mental health declined further after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Severe side effects caused him to stop taking the prescribed medication at the end of January. According to the 38 year old, his mental health continued to decline without prescription medication during training camp where he purchased Mitamins Advanced Formula for Depression.

Hamilton claims he took the suggested dosage for two days prior to the out-of-competition urine test. USADA's legal limit of DHEA found in the urine is 100ng/mL. Hamilton's urine sample was tested at UCLA where lab technicians found 130 ng/mL of DHEA in his urine sample. Dr. Paul Scott, Founder of Scott Analytics reviewed the testing proceedure for the B sample.

According to Scott, the level found in Hamiton's urine was not consistent with him taking large amounts of it however, trying to nail down how much was taken is hard if not impossible. "It could have been a large amount taken a several days before the test where only small amounts remained or it could have been a small amount, the suggested dosage on the bottle, taken the day before the control," Scott told Cyclingnews. "That is a question only Tyler can answer. But, we can't exclude other possibilities to the way it was taken."

DHEA is a natural hormone released by the adrenal glands and the synthetic form is primarily marketed as an anti-aging drug an anti-depressant and for muscle growth. It is one of the only steroids in the USA not classified as a controlled drug and does not need FDA approval to be sold over-the-counter. According to Scott, it is banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and USADA because it is an andro-related substance but the amount taken is neither here nor there because technically DHEA has very little performance enhancing effects on the body.

"There is no scientific evidence or basis for this steroid to be a performance enhancer," said Scott. "It is fair to suggest that the probablity of DHEA having a performance effect on anyone, at any amount taken is inconceivable. There is no good reason to take DHEA, this is a very foolish drug to take because it is readily detectable but it has no performance enhancements."