I’ve won a ton of trophies in my lifetime.  Before cash as prizes, every race gave out trophies.  A crazy amount of unique ones.  I have trophies made of wheat stocks, ceramics.  glass, plastic and metal, of course.  And lots of rocks.   Most of my favorite trophies are from South America.  They are ornate.  And seem handmade.   But, Friday, Brian Jensen gave me one that the  promoters of The Hell’s Kitchen Road Race had given him to give to me.  It was a trophy for winning the race last year.  About as unique as they come.  And perfect for me.  If every time I won a race they gave me an engraved tool, I’d probably try just that much harder.

Last week, I was gluing some tires on for a friend before the Tour of Kansas City.  I hadn’t glued many non Vittoria road tires on for awhile.   I won’t mention the brand, but it took some time to get these guys straight.  Then, after I pumped them up to full pressure, they wanted to turn inside out on the rim.   That is a first for me.  Anyway, I was amazed how much old glue was on the braking surface of the rims.  It took me nearly a half hour with steel wool and toluene to clean them (aluminum). In his defense, he had used them previously for cross and probably had mounted some Dugast  tires that are nearly impossible to stretch on.  But, I couldn’t understand how anyone could brake with so much glue on the rim.  I looked around a bit during the Tour of KC last weekend and was surprised that it wasn’t that unusual.   I guess there isn’t a class on gluing tubular tires onto rims, but if there was, rule 2 or 3 would be-no glue on the braking surface after the tire is mounted.  None.  Zero.   Use solvent to clean the rim completely or better yet, don’t get any glue on the rim to start with.

I was gluing a super light Bontrager tire, I got from Al Clark at Trek, to a super light Bontrager carbon wheel.  I don’t think they’re going to be making the tires, but they should.  I think a lot of guys would like to ride tires weighing less than 260 g.  Anyway, check out the picture below.  That is wheel, tire, skewer and magnet on the scale.  Pretty light, huh?

Trophy - engraved pitch fork. Willow and Wink more interested in camera I guess.

Unique and functional.

Complete front wheel total weight of 653 grams.

in‧dis‧cre‧tion

[uncountable and countable] an action or remark that shows a lack of good judgment, especially one that is morally unacceptable:

So, I have to reconsider.  I guess it was an indiscretion technically.  The problem for me is that  the reason WADA went back to the Dec. 24, 2007 (and why do you have EPO in you urine on Christmas Eve?) urine sample  was because  there were problems with his current biological passport.  So, 2008 & 2009 went unchecked.   That seems more than an indiscretion.   Indiscretion connotes a minor infraction to me.  These “indiscretions”, to me, seem nearly criminal, not mere infractions.   That these “indiscretions” are becoming so commonplace does not make them right.  Let’s not condon behaviour by using language that inappropriately characterizes the nature of the conduct by minimizing it.  Words matter.

So, since I’m nitpicking  Cyclingnews.com on their choice of words, I might as well continue.  They had a article about how up to 7 more guys are going to be announced positive before the Tour.  I’m a little sick of the whole exposure thing on drugs when the limelight is on the Tour.  Anyway, they have a photo attached to the article.  Below is the photo and caption.  It like they are saying, “Athletes realize that they need more oxygen to compete, so they will train and make sacrifices to win.”    Cyclingnews has always been on the forefront of the “war against drugs” in cycling.  Seems to me that they have tempered their stance a little recently.