Dear VeloNews;
I saw Andy Lee’s response to my diatribe yesterday (see O'Brien's letter, "I see no improvement," and Lee's response in Tuesday's mail bag) on the VN site this morning. Yes, he supplied a direct link to the “Forms and Applications” page, but I also clicked on the USA Cycling home page link he listed to look for a way to find that same page and … well, at the risk of appearing even less “computer savvy” than yesterday, I suggest that you try to find it off of the front page.It ain’t there.His patronizing, “everyone in the world is an idiot except us” attitude is what got the organization in trouble in the first place.By the way, how much does VN charge for letting people vent? It isn’t enough.
Jim O’BrienWe regard it as a free public service. No charge. - EditorHe could just go to the races
Dear VeloNews;
I worked registration for two races this year, the Blue Bell (PA) circuit race and the Evolution Racing MAC cyclo-cross race. At both events, it was easy for somebody to buy either a one day license or an annual license at the registration table. There also were officials available (Judy Miller's Gang) to answer questions. I can't see where it could get much easier than that.
Steve Craig
Atlantic Racing Club
Team MonexCome on it's easy!
Dear Velonews;
In regards to Mr. O'Brien's letter on the difficulty of purchasing USAC Cycling License, I have to disagree with him on every point. I recently registered and purchased a new license completely online. The entire process took less than 10 minutes, at the end of which I printed a "Right to Race" form and had my hard copy license within 10 days of registering. Kudo's to USAC for making the process extremely easy and user friendly.
Richard Hobbs
Canyon, TX It may be easy, but it ain't intuitive
Oh Mr. Andy Lee of USA Cycling, give me a break.
Instead of mounting a lame defense, how about going to your own Web site and trying to retrace Mr. O'Brien's steps? Your organization needs to send someone through Web site design 101.

After reading Jim O'Brien's letter with interest, I went to www.usacycling.org (no fair cheating by using the "forms and applications page" link in Mr. Lee's letter) and found that the only link relevant to obtaining a license was "Buy/Renew License" under "Membership" in the left column. Clicking on that, I was taken to a page whose only content was "You must be logged in to edit your account. Click here to Login." No sign of a link to a download page for a printable application. I'm sure it's there as you say, but it's well hidden.

Sorry-- using "as stated in our release" may work for CYA purposes, but it doesn't help actual users of your site.
Kenneth Stadden It's all verbal, but is it oral?
Editors;
If you're going to be a smart ass, at least get it right (lest journalism students the world over fail their exams). Slander and libel are both verbal (that is, they use
words rather than chirps and beeps or smoke signals). Slander is spoken (or "oral" if "spoken" isn't sufficiently fancy) and libel is published.
Andrew Karre
St. Paul, MN I think we've been out-smart-assed... verbally. - Editor The truth is out there, man
Editors;
I hope someone will explain to the journalism trained receptionist at USAC headquarters that truth is an absolute defense to claims of libel and slander. Also, the distinction you note between written and verbal assault on one's character, derives from the English Common law. Most jurisdictions have combined them into the charge of defamation of character. Which, I suppose, raises yet another issue regarding the characters in the Springs.
Cheers,
Brian "Not Renewing This Year" Lafferty
Longmeadow, MAThings do seem to be getting better.
Dear VeloNews;
I have been around racing for one year. In my year I have seen an abysmal website get better. I remember in the spring trying to tell a teammate how I found an application form. All I could say was "I don't remember where I found it, but after poking around for half an hour I was able to find and print it." I also recall trying to find the upgrade criteria around July and finding nothing but broken links. I finally searched the site for "upgrade" and found two sets of criteria with slightly different instructions for upgrading. Around late August/early September things started to get much better. The links started working and the menu structure got more intuitive. After reading Mr O'Brian's letter I checked and I was able to get a .pdf file of the application form to print easily and without creating an account. The day after the online services opened last week I created my account without much trouble. All the information in their database was current with the exception of my current category. They have the category from when I applied for my license, not the midyear upgrade. But since I upgraded while they were in the midst of their website redesign I'll let them have that one. The first test will be when I renew online in the spring. Will my license have the right category since I upgraded by the old paper system or will I have to be begging my way into races while I wait for my regional rep to fix it?
I'm optimistic.
Jeff Hobbs
Lewis Center, OH
But there was no positive test
VeloNews;
Perhaps, in reading your column more carefully (see "Jeanson denies EPO use"), your readers would have seen the following:

“While the case had been going on for more than a year, Duquette's guilty plea came just a month after Jeanson was tossed out of the world cycling championships in Hamilton, Ontario, on October 11 when blood samples taken hours before the women's road race showed a red blood cell count above the limit allowed by the UCI.” “But test results announced last month backed the Quebec cyclist and found no trace of any performance-enhancing substance in her body.”

If Jeanson trained the way she stated she had, she could rally her red blood cell count to the levels as tested, without drugs. Testing people living at high altitudes consistently show the same result as Jeanson’s: an elevated red blood cell count. Further, the red blood cell count standard is arbitrary at best. All blood tests come back with a defined range called “within normal limits”, (WNL) or above, or below normal limits for results of tests taken. WNL means the statistical average, only. Now, just how many elite athletes like Geneviève Jeanson are in the statistically average group?

Sorry, but no EPO was found in Jeanson’s sample upon testing. Further, they’re using a test that is arbitrary and not completely dependable due to being based on a statistical average (a poorly defined statistical average, that is). Perhaps measured against Homer Simpson, Jeanson’s on the high end of test results!

Jeanson’s owed an apology, compensation for being pulled out of her race, and the benefit of the doubt! Let the girl ride!
Tom Lane
Santa Rosa, CAWhen it adopted the hematocrit standard in early 1997, the UCI relied on data from blood tests taken in the early 1980s (pre-EPO) as part of an independent study of cyclists. The standard was established as the mean plus two times the standard deviation (50 percent for men and 47 percent for women). That standard would, by definition, cover only 95 percent of the population. The rule also included special dispensation for riders who have naturally high red blood cell counts (Jonathan Vaughters, for example, has a normal count of 53 and documentation to support that). The rules, however, make no allowance for riders who rely on altitude tents or other means to boost their red-blood-cell count. - EditorThe problem is the UCI, not Geneviève
Editors;
I'm sure Geneviève has been tested many times this year. It is the over-reaction of the UCI to any possible drugging that got her cut from racing. Shame on all of you cyclists who are ready to condemn her based on very vague evidence. This is the officials becoming more important than the athletes.
Brian Polhemus
Spencertown, NY.It's not all bull (riding) on OLN
Editors;
I wanted to respond to Sean McMahon's wish for more cycling this fall on OLN. (see "Cut the Bull, OLN" in Tuesday's mail bag)The entire Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, plus the Central Mass Cyclo-Cross to End Homelessness in Worcester, Massachusetts, will be aired (or has already aired) on OLN's SportsZone show this fall. So far, they've aired coverage from New Gloucester, Maine and Worcester, Massachusetts. This week, look for the ECV/Clif Bar Cyclo-Cross from Gloucester, Massachusetts, and next week, the Cycle-Smart International from Northampton, Massachusetts. OLN has been great in helping us get coverage for these events for the first time, so I hope everyone tunes in. And that's no bull.
Adam F. Hodges MyersonThat's great ... as long as it doesn't interfere with our bull riding. - EditorThere's an appeal to bull riding and fishing...
Dear VeloNews;
It's not enough that Sean thinks the ratings might be decent for 'cross or track races. In fact, OLN itself doesn't particularly care. It's what the sponsors believe will get ratings that gets broadcast. As soon as some commercial interest, (a.k.a., a sponsor), puts up the money to produce and broadcast track and 'cross races, then OLN will gladly show them. Until then it's bull riding and Bill Dance fishing shows. Lots of companies have gotten involved in bull riding, and good for them. The folks involved in the promotion of the sport have created a great package involving a very exciting event that's perfect for TV: short, intense action that lends itself to replays and expert analysis/commentary. It doesn't hurt that almost anyone who watches will agree that it's one crazy activity that they'd never try. Bike racing, on the other hand, is just a variation of what everyone did as a kid. Bike racing promoters, if they're interested in TV exposure, could learn a lot from the PBR.
Scott Hendricks
Denver, CO
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