Go Clipless

Open letter to Floyd Landis re: scaring Lance

Dear Floyd,

Now you've gone and done it. Why did you have to go and choose to race in the very same mountain bike race as Lance Armstrong? Don't you have an original bone in your body?

I realize you have a competitive streak in you and a bone to pick with Lance, but really, how small of you. There are so many other races you could have chosen that would have accomplished the same goal. Actually, what was your goal again? Oh, that's right. You wanted to kick Lance's ass. I applaud that, but you had to know that he wasn't going to race against you. What would he have to gain? Lance wanted the story to be Lance conquering the Leadville Trail 100, not the battle between Floyd and Lance.

You had to be the spoiler didn't you?  All I can say is that if you are not suspended than you better ride in this race. You owe it to the fans and to the promoters.

And before you get all huffy at me, yes, I did write a letter to Lance as well. So there. You're even.

Sincerely,
Go Clipless

(photo stolen from BikingBis)

Open letter to Lance Armstrong re: scheduling conflict

Dear Lance,

Don't be such a p*ssy! I know you like to control your own destiny and guarantee your self victory in everything you do, but life doesn't always work that way. Especially not in mountain biking. Are you really that scared of Landis? You can kick his scrawny metal hipped ass in the Leadville 100, can't you?

You know this doesn't look good? A scheduling conflict? Couldn't you come up with something better than that? It better be a family conflict. Otherwise, what could be so important. A wedding, graduation, a child's recital maybe could be understood and forgiven, but you have to tell us that. Did you get a new P.R. rep? I'm surprised at this amateurish announcement at this time.

The initial damage is done, but all is not lost. Here's what I would do to immediately repair the situation. You need to identify another high profile endurance mountain bike race and announce your intentions to race right away. That way you can still hide behind the conflict thing, but claim that it is still a goal to compete at a high level in a new facet of cycling. Maybe you should do one of the endurance stage races like Trans Rockies or even the new Seven race? How about a 24hour race?

Move quickly my friend.

Sincerely,
Go Clipless

(via BikingBis)

The Urban Dictionary of mountain bike slang

Just surfing around and came across the Farkin Wiki Slang Glossary. Check it out if you need a few phrases to impress the gang on your next group ride. Here's a good one:

Yard sale - When your crash is so bad they find you by following the trail of debris you left behind in your path. “A pedal broke off, lost my chain, my pack ripped open and I lost all my tools....it was a total yard sale!”

It's a Wiki so you can add your own slang if you're so inclined. Here's another good list that's slightly more conventional.

So is there a definitive list of jargon out there?

What's up with this year's IMBA Report Card?

Let me start by saying that IMBA kicks ass! The organization has worked tirelessly to grow mountain biking and help it gain the level of respect it now enjoys above many other trail user groups. This has been particularly true the last couple of years since Mike Van Abel took over as executive director. During this time he has refocused the mission of IMBA, repositioned the organization with professional branding, and has embraced freeriding and developed whole new programs to help this aspect of the sport.

I've always been impressed at the tools the organization has provided to regional mountain bike associations to help them advance the cause. Which brings me to the annual IMBA Report Card. One of the mainstays of the regional advocacy tool set, the IMBA Report Card provided a grade - as judged by riders - to the state of mountain biking in every state or province in North America. IMBA suggested that regional organizations use this grade to help advocate with local officials. If your grade was good you could reinforce the great work that had been done over the past year. If your grade was bad, you could more easily build a case for a disaffected constituent group. (Read my post on this year's report card survey for more on this).

This year, however, IMBA, somewhat inexplicably, decided not to provide the full report card for each of the regions. Instead it chose to highlight the best and worst locations based on their grades, saying only that:

In 2006, IMBA has stepped away from assigning each state, province and nation individual grades. Instead, we're hoping to focus attention where it's most needed: the top of the class, and the problem students who will need extra attention to succeed in 2007.

What about every area in between? Don't we at least deserve to know the grade?

The real question is why would IMBA suddenly change course this way after eight years of producing the report card? Speculating for a minute; my guess is that either there were too few votes for the poll to be meaningful, or the results were so wildly different region to region based on prior years that it would call the polling methodology into question.

Is it just me, or do others find this a bit odd?

About Go Clipless

Go Clipless is a blog providing commentary, reviews, and resources for mountain bikers and cycling enthusiasts. We provide a unique view into the cycling industry through straight talk, humor, and sometimes some good old fashioned facts. Go Clipless is part story-telling, part stream of consciousness, and part editorial - all with an edge of hipster glib. We don’t take our selves too seriously, but our readers sure do.

Many people ask about the name "Go Clipless." The idea is to capture that turning point when bike riding goes from being a recreational hobby to one where it becomes part of your lifestyle. For me that turning point happened when I made the move from standard pedals to clipless pedals. To me the term "Go Clipless" captures the idea of "finding a passion," "becoming serious," or "taking one's skills to the next level."

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Having attended Interbike for the past two years and meeting many people in the cycling industry, I have occasionally found myself with a conflict of interest when posting about something that has been given to me for review. The number of requests that I have had to review or highlight a company's products and/or events has risen to a point where I've needed to adopt some formal policies. Please read the following if you think that you have something that would be of value to Go Clipless readers:

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Growing readership—approximately 20,000 visitors per month.

Selected as one of only eight sports blogs in the 9rules network-the most exclusive blogging network on the Web.

Named Feedster Feed of the Day on November 2, 2005.

Won an AmericanTrails.org best of the Web award in 2004.

Claimed the top ranked position on Top Listed's list of the Top 50 Mountain Bike sites March 3, 2007.

Best of the Web Blog listed in the Cycling/Mountain Biking category.

Member of the International Mountain Bicyclists Association (IMBA) and the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE).

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