The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com, appearing each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Jim Kirstein
Folsom, California
It’s not the bike, it’s the course
Editor:
If any governing body has a problem with mountain bikers using road bikes to win races, please vent your frustrations on the course designers, not the riders by drumming up new equipment rules. If a mountain bike race can be won on a road bike, it's not a mountain bike race. It is a road race in which mountain bikers happen to be competing. Got a problem with it? Design mountain bike courses.
Jeremiah Bell
Anchorage, Alaska
That wooden be nice . . .
Editor:
Let's face it, crits get the blood pumping. As long as no hands come off the bars and no deliberate hooking occurs, banging elbows and/or bars is part of the game. What's not is the 2-by-4. Gaggioli is lucky Sundt was Sundt. If he had come at me, an out-of-the-service SEAL, he'd have splinters up various orifices and a whole new idea of what springing wood is all about. Can't we all just race along?
E.A. Aneas
Nashville, Tennessee
Gagg’ is lucky to still have a job
Editor:
Gaggioli expresses shock and dismay at his suspension – he feels it is too severe and that it impacts his ability to perform his "job." I think Gagg has spent far too much of his adult life in Lycra and needs to understand how it is handled in the "real world."
I work for a large international corporation, and if I ever allowed a disagreement at work to descend into shouting (which I wouldn't in the first place; it's just a job) I would have the pleasure of a one-on-one with Human Resources and possible disciplinary action. If the hypothetical argument went even further and involved assault with a 2x4 (even if only to "scare" my tormentor, as Gagg’ recently stated) I would be immediately terminated and charges would be pressed.
Gagg’ is damn lucky that he received the slap on the wrist that he did; he now needs to shut up take his punishment like a man.
Aaron Hubbell
Indianapolis, Indiana
We worked for a union newspaper once, back in the day, and there were only two things for which a staffer could be immediately sacked, no discussion, end of story: Being drunk on the job, or assaulting someone. We’re proud to say we never assaulted anyone. — Editor