I’d have to say that I really never paid that much attention to this doping thing in the sport while it was going on. Of course, I knew that it was happening, but I felt I neither had the energy or the ability to do anything about it. Maybe that was the same way a lot of people thought. I guess we are all guilty in that regard. And, don’t get me wrong, I knew it was really bad, like terrible. The drugs made it virtually impossible to compete on a National/International level.

These past few months, I find it amazing how many guys I used to race with, just casually admit that they used drugs. I had no idea. Most of these guys raced pre-EPO, but it really doesn’t matter. Well, it does matter, because the oxygen carrying drugs really changed the game. It was hard to tell if someone was just taking amphetamines, but it is/was very easy to tell if they are manipulating their blood. When I read Joe Parkin’s book, Dog in a Hat, I was surprised that amphetamine use was so prevalent. I’d raced a ton in Belgium and didn’t have a hard time staying competitive. I had no idea everyone I was racing against at the time was doping.

It seems like a lot of people I used to race with are having heart issues. A couple guys have admitted to me that they think their problems are created by taking stimulants while racing, mixing amphetamines with caffeine. I have no idea if that caused the problems or not. I wrote a post about how it is thought that maybe we shouldn’t be doing so much exercise as we age, related to our hearts. The jury is still out on that, but maybe all the pacemakers cyclists are receiving are just a bi-product of sport and the duration we compete, I don’t know.

Anyway, what got me thinking about this was I was looking for the results of Deer Valley, when Lance raced and happened upon the results of the short track from 2000. Man, are those some fucked up results. I have no idea why I would have even gone to that race. I must of been out of my mind. I feel bad for the guys on that list that are really just that great of athletes and not dopers. And, I don’t have too feel bad for that many, if you catch my drift.

And I did this for years, weekend after weekend. I sure must of not been bothered getting my assed kicked by dopers, back then, as much as it bothers me now. Maybe it was just getting paid to do something I love and I didn’t care that much about the personal results. I might do the same thing now. I guess I still do.

Looking back, I am embarrassed I didn’t take a more public stand against the whole stupidity. Privately, and sometimes when I was interviewed, I’d let my views be known, but it really didn’t seem to matter. I did an whole interview with Road Bike Action that pretty much said that everyone in the top 10, at every race, in Europe, was doping, and that was in the late 90’s. But, no one seemed to care. Maybe even me. Embarrassing.

Ned Overend once told me, a long time ago, “Steve, we were so lucky to be able to race internationally before the sport became polluted.” Ain’t that the truth.

I feel badly for the few guys on this list that did it right and honestly.

Redlands Bicycle Classic – Highland Cirucit Race 2003

Or, how many of these guys need their names removed from the results?

I love the sport of cycling because it morphs into whatever I need it to, whenever I need it to. When I need the sport for focus, it is there. When I need it for relaxation, it is there. When I need it for problem solving, there.

There is a unique relationship between physical exertion and mental capacity. They work together to create something greater than either alone. Cycling is unique, as a sport, because it does allow time for your mind to “wander”, to address things that you might not even know need addressing.

For sure, for me, the competitive side of the sport is exhilarating and very interesting. Interesting on a personal level. I am a student of the sport. I get criticized here some, for being critical about other riders, and/or, team tactics. But, that is what I do in a race. I try to absorb as much information as I can from my surroundings and then use that information as best as possible, usually instantaneous. When riders or teams ride stupidly, or great for that matter, I register that and use that information later, or currently, to try to better my result. I find stupid bike racing rather boring, even though that statement sounds elitist.

Riding the MS150 from Houston to Austin a month ago, I was amazed how many people would decide to ride over 150 miles, in two days, nearly cold turkey. Those riders didn’t have the luxury to be able to process anything other than their current surroundings and feelings, because they were so new to the sport that they didn’t have any extra mental capacity to deal with anything other than staying upright, in the masses, and trying to overcome physical suffering. It takes a certain amount of time and dedication, to the sport, before you get to get to the next level of mind wandering freedom. This seems fair. You should have to pay your dues to get to the real benefits.

Anyway, don’t underestimate all the ancillary benefits that the sport of cycling gives. I would love to just make it a rule, that for the 1st year, licensed riders can’t have a power meter or Garmin on their bikes once they get an USAC license. Riders need to know the feel of their bike, learn the correct skills, to get to a point of being one with their bikes and surroundings. I believe too much focus is now put on registering and tracking power and that the other aspects of the competitive side of our sport is being ignored. The other aspects is what makes a good rider great. And this allows us all to do spectacular things.