I’ve been down in Austin the last few days trying to avoid the rain that seems to have overtaken the whole midwest.  And I didn’t do a very good job of the avoidance.  I haven’t actually gotten caught in much rain here, but it is impossible to avoid the heat and humidity, which, the latter, is caused by rain.

It really hasn’t been that hot, in the mid 80’s, but it seems crazy hot when it is close to 100% humidity.  At least I’m not out in Colorado with Vincent.  It is snowing right now in Arvada.   The rain here is badly needed.  I rode by Lake Travis yesterday and there is actually some water in it.  I’m not sure it will ever be full again at this rate.  I heard it rained something like 8 inches here and if that is all the water that stays in Lake Travis, then it is worrisome.

My friend Ann, who I stay with down here, has had a bunch of big life changes.  She got married a few months ago and now is buying a new house.  We went by the new house to check out some of the construction they are doing before moving in.  It is really close to her old house, but in a much quieter neighborhood, on a cul-de-sac.  I like seeing construction in progress, so it was super fun.  We went out to dinner at one of our regular places, Z’Tejas, which was nice.

My Garmin computer has been acting up recently.  It seems to go dead, for no reason. Someone told me I can send it back and get it overhauled, but I hate not having it.  It seems to work sometimes and then not again.   I should read up about it.  Maybe it needs an update or something?

I’m heading back to Kansas soon.  It looks like the rain there is going to be gone after today.  I need to finish painting a house there.  I have it mostly scraped and sanded.  I’m not one to do a mediocre job on something, but I’m not too into this project, so I’ve lowered my standards some.

Okay, I’d better head back out into the humidity.

Ann showing me the kitchen in their new house.

The title of this is a little misleading.  They have been testing for EPO at the Tour of California for a long time.  Not since the inception of the race, but for nearly the past decade.

The story here is that the UCI is finally allowing collaboration between the testing agencies and allowing USADA to do testing at the race.  This is a big deal, freeing up more resources for testing, which should allow for better testing and more of it.

They also announced that they are testing for synthetic  testosterone, CERA and hGH.  I’m not sure they should be announcing this before they do the testing, but they did.  Before, like in Floyd Landis’ case, you had to have a skewed TE ratio before they tested for synthetic testosterone.  Now they are just looking for the synthetic testosterone straight out.  Seems better.

I’m not big on testing.  I think that the athletes, or their doctors, are way ahead of the tests.  But, the threat of retroactive testing might be enough of a scare for trying out new products to deter some usage.

Anyway, I never understood why all the anti-doping agencies weren’t in this together and now it seems that Brian Cookson, head of the UCI, is serious and making it happen.  I have to applaud him for this.

Don’t think they can test for Aicar.  This explains a lot of these huge weight fluctuations.   Click the CC to get the English subtitles.