The Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have read in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.

Re: Rock Racing's 'tude
Dear Editor,

Rock Racing is a flash in the pan. Pettyjohn and Moninger will post better results and make a longer lasting impact with a fraction of the budget.

You cannot buy legitimacy. You must be the thing in yourself. Mr. Ball and his all-star wrestling attitude are not what my son needs to hear or see.

Alexi Grewal
Loveland, Colorado

Give Rock a chance
Editor:

I must confess, I did not care for the whole image of the Rock Racing team from day one. Michael Ball's win-or-get-fired stance, hiring controversial riders, and many of the other stories make me want to ignore this team and just wait for it to go away.

That said, something about the team's support of Kayle Leogrande and Mr. Ball's statements about supporting his riders as innocent until proven guilty are making me think that some of Ball's flash is simply marketing and maybe, just maybe, he can put together a quality team that is run the right way.

Keep doing what you do Rock Racing, I will be watching.

Mike Pearson
Sacramento, California

Give Levi a break
Editor:

This is in response to the guy saying that Levi is boring and all he does is follow wheels. I don't know if you understand race tactics but anyone that does understands that it's all about saving your energy for when you need it.

Lance did it and saved his strength for the tt's and mountain top attacks. It's a tried and tested formula. As far as the tour is concerned I say we all boycott watching what looks to be a very boring tour without any major contenders except Evans. Everyone else is either retired or banned. Let's see how they do without the fans.

Stephen O'Sullivan

More Indians needed
Editor:

Enough finger-pointing at the cyclists for doping. I think the new
"passport" will take care of that, but what about these guys who can't even
start the season opener in Europe without fighting over control. Let's come
up with one boss. There are too many chiefs!

Dave Kennedy

Less talk — More strike
Editor:

The UCI is on to something. But the riders should take the lead, forcing the UCI and the ASO onto the same page and demanding that Astana be allowed to ride. Strike! No riders, no race. No justice, no peace. Strike, you have only your chains to lose.

Donald Yacovone
Cambridge, Massachusetts

U.S. kids need bikes, too
Editor:

I wanted to comment on the Bamboo bikes for the masses article. I can appreciate Craig Calfee's and Tom Ritchey's work towards helping people in Africa.

However, what about our kids in the USA? How are we supposed to grow our sport when families here in the United States of America don't have the money to feed our kids, let alone to purchase them bicycles. A kid learning how to build his/her bicycle would help spark more interest in the sport. Wouldn't it?

Bill P
Baltimore, Maryland

Why Astana?
Editor:

I think what I am having the hardest part about this whole thing is why just Astana? Doesn't High Road and Rabobank have just as much baggage? Bruyneel made mistakes yet Riis is an admitted doper. So then why isn't CSC also in the same boat as Astana?

If you are going to throw out one team then all the aforementioned ones should also be out. But I guess there must be some other reason for all of this. Is it just one more way for ASO and the UCI to have a power struggle that doesn't unite the sport? Foolishness all the way around.

Vern Brunton
Norristown, Pennsylvania

There were really 66 articles?
Editor:

How is it, that out of 66 Tour of California-related articles, not one covers the
ground-breaking event that happened in Santa Rosa on Feb. 18th before the
men even arrived???

The professional women's race was a huge success, and
a huge step forward to a corresponding women's stage race, yet you offer it
no coverage.

I know the women's management of certain teams worked very
closely with the tour organizers, and that the riders showed up in force
just to be a part of it, no matter what their team's outcome result-wise.

I also happen to know, as my boyfriend is racing in the tour, that even the
men's peloton was interested in the success and outcome of the race. You,
apparently, were not. Women's cycling is moving forward with breakneck
speed.

I was thrilled with your cover and article on Mara Abbott, and
thought you were smart and brave to do it, but please don't leave out the
women's most important races!!!

(unsigned)

Editor's response: We had hoped to do more, but we did publish a brief article, picture and results on the Amgen Womens Criterium and mentioned the results in the day's main Amgen Tour of California race report. Watch for increased coverage of women's racing, particularly of NRC events, on VeloNews.com this year.