Michael Ashenden, one of the experts overseeing the biological passport on cycling, resigned because of a clause in his contract that would essentially make it impossible to express his own opinions about doping in the sport. He did a pretty in depth interview with NYVelocity.com that goes on to explain a lot of what goes on in the testing and doping arenas in cycling. It is pretty serious reading, but if you what to expand your knowledge on the subject, it is pretty good. The article goes into depth about the Contador case and the underlying facts.

He thanks Floyd Landis a couple time for giving him information on what lengths the riders will go to stay under the radar. They aren’t just carrying around hematocrit centrifuges like the old days, they have transportable blood analysers that followed them around and allow the riders to constantly monitor their reticulocyte levels.

It goes on to explain that EPO is more of a masking agent now and that the blood transfusions are the way they use to gain the oxygen carrying advantages. Man, it just gets more complicated and crazier every time something comes out.

Anyway, after reading the article, it is apparent that he is one of the “good guys” and that the sport needs more people like him around. I guess he is going to be associated with WADA some still, but it sounds like he isn’t going to be the go to guy to try to clean the sport up. It’s a big loss.

I thought all along this premature Spring was going to disappear and we’d come back to reality on what the real temperatures are supposed to be this time of the year. Now I don’t think so. I think that it is going to stay nice and that it is going to be a long Spring, which is perfect.

I found a baby turtle out riding a couple days ago. That is a sure sign that Spring is here. It is about a month early this year here in Kansas. A full month, that is nuts. I talked to a friend of mine whose parents are farmers. She said that the wheat is starting to come to head, which isn’t normal until May. If it doesn’t freeze, it is going to be a great wheat crop this year I’d guess.

I’ve been taking it pretty easy for a while. I wanted to rest some during March and April and try to get my body back to normal. I’m doing the resting part, but haven’t really addressed the back to normal part.

It is amazing how much bicycle racing is on the internet now. It kind of screws up my mornings. And the weekends some too with the Spring Classics happening now. I watched the finish of The Tour of the Basque Country (Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco) this morning. It finished on a pretty steep pitch. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team took off with a couple hundred meters to go and put 9 seconds into Samuel Sanchez, who was the previous race leader. That was a lot of time for such a short period. Pretty impressive.

Anyway, there aren’t any races this weekend because it is Easter. I understand the reasons, but it is a shame that Easter has to fall right in the middle of such perfect weather. There should at least be something going on Saturday you’d think? But, it never seems to happen. Spring is my favorite season. I like them all, but when everything is new and fresh, it is energizing.

Baby Green turtle found on the road.

He had a very pretty underbelly

This chard is left over from last year. I'm going to eat it tonight.

I planted seeds in one of the planters I built last fall yesterday. The other one is strawberries.

You know it is Spring when the road work has started. Our city is under the impression that replacing just squares of the concrete is the way to go. It isn't working, but they have no idea.

Spring breakfast this morning. I don't know why, but when it gets warmer out, I like to eat way more fruit and fresh vegetables.