Editor;
In response to Mr. Tew's letter (see "Absolutely the last helmet letter we'll publish ... until the next one" - below) I would like to point out the following facts:

1. This was a staged photo shoot, where I was riding about 5 mph past the camera, trying to look like I was riding fast.

2. Our new helmet sponsor, Rudy Project, had not been able to deliver my new team helmet at the early date of this photo shoot, and so being the reckless fellow I am, I chose to wear no helmet at all, rather than the Credit Agricole-splattered helmet of another brand that I had with me.

3. I am about the only professional rider I know that's worn a helmet in every mass start event I did over the course of eight years of racing in Europe … so, give me a break!

4. No, I didn't wear a helmet in the Mt. Ventoux time trial in '99, but to be honest with you, sir, if I crash in an uphill time trial, or a staged photo shoot, badly enough to cause a grave head injury, I don't need to be racing bikes anymore...for the safety of others, and myself.

5. As a parent I would strongly recommend not introducing your children to cycling, especially competitive cycling, if you are concerned about your child being injured, as it is very dangerous, and deaths have occurred with and without helmets.

Jonathan Vaughters
Denver, CO Oh, do shut up
To Mr. O’Grady;
Keep your political views to yourself, as I read this magazine as an escape from the outside world.

I'm no huge Bush fan, but having to read comments from a guy having to spout his personal ideology in a bike magazine is very self-serving.

Hope you feel better. Thanks for an otherwise funny article.
Tammy Hoyt

Don’t shut him up
Velo folks;
I actually look for O'Grady's Foaming Rant on Fridays, even before checking the other columns!

Please don't cancel him!

Thanks,
Corey Cohen
Tulsa, OK

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Sunday's Mail:In praise of the Women's Challenge
Dear VeloNews;
We like singing, but a dirge is not the final event of the Women’sChallenge (see "Women'sChallenge canceled"). Instead, we will be lifting our voices andglasses in a toast to what we have accomplished in promoting opportunityfor women and showing the best of Idaho.

It’s been a great journey and we salute the wonderful fans and law-enforcementprofessionals in all the places along the way.

We will never forget the “Come Back” spirit of Kamiah; the kids’ awardceremony in Grangeville; all 79 residents of Stanley; the great finishesin Ketchum; the crowds at Elkhorn, the Statehouse and Hyde Park; the runways,ramps and Gun Fighters at Mountain Home; the picnics in Moscow, McCall,Malad City, Burley, Buhl, Shoshone, Montpelier, Lewiston, Emmett and GlennsFerry; the rough but never mean streets of Idaho City, and more.

We have traveled this great state like no other sporting event everand have been privileged to bring world-class athletes to the outlyingcommunities where Idaho’s heritage and culture are sustained and nourished.

Our sports odyssey has been a journey of love and a tribute to womeneverywhere. From the beginning this race has been dedicated to all mothers,sisters, aunts, daughters, nieces and granddaughters. We have done ourbest to bring honor to you and in doing so, hope we’ve made you proud.

On behalf of the race staff and volunteers

Thank you for the memories.

Jim Rabdau
Race Director
The Women's Challenge
 

Absolutely the last helmet letter we'll publish ... until the nextone
Dear Editor;
I realize that you have practically closed the book on the helmet debateafter the recent deaths of Andre Kivelev and the Cat 2 racer in Tucson,but I must express one more viewpoint.

I was extremely surprised to open your most recent VeloNews withVaughters on the cover and see two pictures of both Jonathan Vaughtersand Chris Wherry bundled up with absolutely everything covered except theirheads.

This is ridiculous and irresponsible. Especially for Vaughters, whohas a young child, is so focused on developing junior cycling and is arole model for many budding cyclists. The redundant and ridiculous argumentgiven over and over by the Euro pros is that even the new lightweighthelmets are too uncomfortable on the long climbs in mid July. Well, what’sthe rationale for not wearing your helmet on a cold winter training ride;it surely isn't so that they can wear a warm hat as neither had anythingon their heads.

After the recent deaths and publicity, I expect most cyclists aroundBoulder will stop the posing and be sensible.

I certainly hope when my two boys are old enough to start racing for ayouth development team, the coach/mentor is intelligent and responsibleenough to set a good example and wear a helmet, and if not, that our localmagazine would use better judgment than placing a picture of him climbingsome grimy snowy ascent high above town without a helmet. It's time forall of us to set better examples.

John Tew
Boulder, Colorado

At least make him suffer
Dear Editor;
I live in sunny So Cal (Orange County) and am already just short of3000 miles this year. Sorry to see all the snow in Colorado as the roadriding has been picking up over here and everyone is gaining speed.

I told you last year Pat's opinions stink like a cheap perfume knock-offyou would find from a discount drug store (see "Friday'sfoaming rant: The snowjob of '03"). His opinions still reek like1992 vintage reruns of "The Dennis Miller Show" ... on beta.

I don’t read the foaming rant ever. I just blow by itas it is always nonsense, but was so inspired by the mail bag (See "Puta sock in O'Grady") that I did read just to see what all the fusswas about.

It's definitely A.D.D.-inspired writing again. As it is clear you arenot going to get rid of him: Can you just tape an upside-down thumb tackon his "enter" button for me?

Thanks in advance.

Scott Guyett

Video generals
Dear Editor;
Well my hat's off to Patrick O' Grady for having a conviction - anda good one at that.

Hawks like the last top two letter writers - who are from Anaheim andMission Viejo, what a surprise - have nothing to say in contrast becauseeverything Patrick said rings true. They're like the millions sitting ontheir big safe asses in some living room digging how the newest gee-whizweapons can cleanly kill people, and yelling: 'Go get 'em, boys. We're rightbehind ya."

Yeah, they're all over it.

Kenneth Joseph
North of freakin' Anaheim

Even if he's right, it was wrong
Editor
Yes, it was a bummer to read his opinion about the war. I absolutelylove his writing in general, but wrong or right, his column just isn'tthe proper forum for his political views.

Jeff Cospolich
Breckenridge, CO

A view from the UK
Dear Editor;
Well I stand full square alongside O'Grady's views on your president,our prime minister and the whole deplorable affair.

It's one more reason to envy our French cousins.

Stan Thomas

Is it "fish and freedom fries" over there, too, now? -- Editor

Disclaimer didn't even disclaim
Editor
Well you have gone over the top now. Your little "sort of" disclaimerat the end of "Foaming Rant" this week shows the lack of editorial oversightI would expect from a top-of-the-line rag.

Having been one of the many who buy your magazine off the rack for thereports and support you lend to cycling I will have to admit final defeat.I will no longer spend my hard-earned money on your products.

I only have one question for Patrick O'Grady. Sir, just how much wouldyou do to stop the rape, torture and killing of innocent women and kids?Let alone support our president in what is felt by three quarters of thisnation to be the elimination of a possible threat to our country?

I am sorry for you, sir; you seem to have bottomed out.

With all due respect,

Robert Lemon
Bellingham, WA

Shut him up and I'm outta here
Editor;
Mr. O'Grady is so good that if you ever do censor his comments I willcancel my subscription.

There are a lot of people that feel his comments do not belong in acycling magazine, but the reality is that anyone who does not like his commentsdoes not have to read his column. I enjoy it and look forward to readingit.

Albert Castillo
West Covina, CA

Spouting off is patriotic, too
Editor;
Even patriotic Americans can be against a war supported by the President,sheep-like congressmen/women and the mainstream press.

Thank you, O'Grady, for a well-worded critique of this illegal actionthat will likely come back to haunt us all in the coming years. Bicyclingis a fun and healthy sport but is of relatively little importance comparedto freedom of speech and speaking out against imperialist activities carriedout by our otherwise beloved country.

Keep up the meaningful journalism.
Sincerely,

Michael. Sanguinetti
 

What amendment allows you to be a tool?
Editor;
I read VeloNews for respite from everything non-cycling. It'san escape for many of us, and O'Grady has always been a good tool of laughter.Given his political comments, I still consider him a tool, but of a differentsort.

Picket if you will, even do it on your bike if you so desire, just don'tforce your way into my home. Don't abuse your position to espouse yourpolitical views. Your position as a cycling commentator and humorist shouldnot afford you that freedom. The Constitution does, but respect your readersand do it elsewhere.

M Simpson
Phoenix, AZ

Downright un-American
To the editor:
Why do people complain about reading opinions they don't haveto read?

Why not just turn the page or turn to one of the many other media outletsthey seem to prefer. Better yet, jump on the bike and ride for the troopsif that's what spins your wheels. But let Patrick O'Grady have his say.If you don't like it, vote with your fingers, the remote control or yourpocketbook. But don't expect people writing opinion columns in any forumnot to voice their opinions about whatever the hellthey want.

That's downright un-American, dammit. By the way, has your visa/residencystatus been verified lately?

Pat Malach
Hillsboro, Oregon

Now he's a foreign-policy expert?
Editor;
So, now that PO'G has become an expert on public international law,can we expect Bob Mionske to start opining on the perpetual ability ofbearded Freds to get dropped every time they go up a hill?

Yeah, until PO'G spends the time to study international law, or at leastfollow the novel journalistic convention of basing a conclusion on factsas opposed to bald-faced, unsupported, incorrect and counter-logical statementsof opinion, maybe he should limit himself to muttering his misguided opinionsto himself while getting dropped, or on the rollers if the snow persists.

Oh, yeah, and can you ask Bob to start citing cases in his excellentcolumn?

I think it would be hilarious to start citing the public urination caseshe came up with.

Brett Coffee, Esq.
 

If you complain, the columnists have won
Editor;
I finally had to do it: Write VeloNews and get in on the action onthe subject of Patrick O'Grady.

I love the whole magazine, including Patrick O'Grady. I don't understandwhy cyclist get so bent (spoke) over him. He is just one person with a viewthat happens to not be like yours ... or mine.

When he writes an editorial, it is just that: an editorial, a commentary, or the rantings and ravings of a lunatic according to some of you.

You allow him to get your goat almost every time. And every time you send in a letter to VeloNews complaining about him, he wins! I see your goats all lined up and Patrick laughing his way all the to the bank.

I never see anyone write in and complain about "The Simpsons" when they attack religion, nuclear power
plants, or the Fox Network. Even Fox does not complain when "The Simpsons" attack the very network that shows them. I figure it goes back to the old saying: "If you don't like it, don't read it or watch it."

Let's all remember that it is a free nation; one in which all views are valued and that they are just that, someone's view.

Brian A. Wallace
Carson City, NV

Enough crap
Hey;
I've had enough of journalistic folks that talk crap, particularlypolitical crap just to see who is reading. I realize I don't have to readfoaming rants, but the fact that it’s there on VeloNews.com is enough.

Believe it or not, some of us just want to read about cycling on a "cycling"website. I'm through with VeloNews.com.

Anon.

Giving a ranter his due
Editor;
Is not that part of the Bill of Rights?
Give O'Grady a break - a platform where he grabs so much flak is a perfectexample of free speech.
Best r egards,

Bruce Ewert
Chairman/CEO IXR, Inc.

He thinks he thunk
To O'Grady;
You did what you're supposed to do, get people thinking.

peace,
Adam Szczepanski

Those who can't...
Dear Editor;
What is the old saying, if you can’t do it, write about it ... wellI must comment that O`Grady should be writing about logical thinking.

Todd Bennett

Give war a chance
Editor;
Except for ending slavery, fascism, Nazism and communism, war has neversolved anything....

Come on, man, communism has only killed 100 million people... Let's giveit another chance. All he needs is a little more time. Truth hurts, doesn'tit? For the military in Baghdad it hurts a lot. All Saddam had to do wasleave town and admit he's an ass. He made the choice not to leave. If hewere riding in Boulder with a bat banging on your head I'm guessing you'dwant him to leave town as well.

May the chemical-weapon laden wind always be in Sadam's face.

Tyler O’Brien

The end is just a click of the mouse away
Editor;
I enjoy Mr. O'Grady's articles. He has a unique way of making me lookat something from another perspective. I may not always agree with thetone or content of his rants, but I certainly wouldn’t want him to censorhis writings to satisfy a few crybabies out there!

O'Grady, keep up the good work, and to the whiners out there, if youdon't like it, don't read it.
Charles O. Jones
Orange County, Ca.
 

More liberal crap
Editor;
Like most liberals, O'Grady only thinks with his heart and just plainignores the facts and realities of life.

Most liberals are only liberal when you agree with their thinking. O'Grady'sarticle of 3/21 proved that.

Steve Gerard
Wall, NJ

It really is uncanny
Dear Editor;
It seems Mr. O'Grady has an uncanny ability to piss some people off.I may not always agree with the man but I truly resent how some peoplethink they have the right to try and shut him up.

We always have the option to not read the man's articles and he certainlyhas the right to speak his mind. Disagree with him if you choose. Writea letter stating your own opinions if you like. But trying to interferewith his (and VeloNews's) First Amendment rights is totally againstthe American tradition.

Grow up, folks! There are people in this world who will disagree withyou. Live with it.

Jeff Warren
Susanville, CA
 

If only everyone had the right to spout
Editor;
The writer Arthur Koestler, a reformed supporter of Communism and witnessto the Nazi terror, wrote of the intrinsic paradox of democratic societyout of which Hitler rose to power. He noted that only in democratic societiesdoes its protection of individual freedoms allow the very forces that woulddestroy those freedoms to flourish virtually unrestricted.

Free speech, including the freedom to make an ass of oneself by supportingthe continued rule of a bloodthirsty dictator, is a wonderful thing. Apity that the O' Gradys of the Arab world who may dare to oppose theirown ruler's policies have an unusually short life span. Rest well, dearPatrick, as others continue to fight for your right to embarrass yourselfagain next week.

Naftali Moses
Israel
 

In fact, where's that other obnoxious guy?
To the Editor:
Give O'Grady free rein. His column is great. Let the political commentaryfly!

By the way, whatever happened to Bob Roll?

Joseph Antaree

Bob Roll is alive and well and roofing in Durango, Colorado... whenhe's not offering his insightful commentary on OLN. He's had somethingof a case of writer's block lately, but word is that he is working on anotherbook. -- Editor.
 

Angry mail is a sign of success
Editor;
I seem like the only soul who agrees withO'Grady about this war. Keepwriting, and if you haven't hacked someone off, you've tried too hard tobe nice.
JD Kimple
To The Editor:

Still more liberal crap
Editor;
I've been a subscriber to VeloNews since 1972 and have neverthought once about canceling my subscription, but I am now.

If I want liberal crap I'll buy the New YorkTimes, thank you.

Gene Gilmore
Walpole, MA

Unsafe at any baud rate!
To the Editor;
Well, as usual, another one of O'Grady's articles has fired up theflame throwers.

And yes, I agree that I don't expect to find political commentary inVeloNews. However I think it would be naive to think that the currentwar is not on people's minds no matter where they are during their day.Perhaps readers have logged on to VeloNews.com to escape their worries,and were upset by having it thrown back in their face.

It's an emotionally charged topic which is nearly impossible to feelambivalent about. Unfortunately it's also not an easy topic to neatly segregatefrom daily life. I'm reminded of the war every time I channel-surf, lookat a newspaper cover, walk past a magazine rack, drive past a militarybase, or even see the American flag.

I have consistently read O'Grady's articles since the Foaming Rantsbegan. I know that when I click on that link, anything and everything isfair game. While I don't always agree with his views, I can appreciatehis writing, dry and sarcastic humor, and (dare I say it?) occasionallythought-provoking comments. Perhaps the use of the word "rant" in the titleis insufficient warning to O'Grady neophytes. Maybe a federally approvedwarning label, similar to the parental advisory labels on music, wouldbe helpful: "Unsafe at any speed of modem access."

Limiting his articles to 100 percent cycling-related content would bea mistake, in my opinion. Perhaps a better suggestion would be that ifyou don't like it, don't read it. I know that's a bit like closing thedoor after the horse has escaped the barn. But unlike biochemical weapons,we're not talking about something that will scar you for life by beingexposed to it; no guarantees about next week's article, though. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to enjoy living in a country where we can speakfreely, express our views, and publicly criticize the president.

By the way, if a movie can be made out of MTV's "Jackass" program, whencan we expect to see a "Best of the Foaming Rants" book? (I'm sure O'Gradywill be flattered and complimented by the comparison.) The book shouldbe easy to find on the shelves of the book store. It will be the only onewith a bottle of Pepto Bismol shrink wrapped to it.

Rich Miles
Ephrata, PA

We were going to compile a book of his rants, but since MTV now hasa lock on the title we were going to use.... -- Editor
 

That moment of political consciousness
Editor;
What a treat to read something from O'Grady that didn't make me thinkhe was a 14-year old trying his best to be baaaaad when all he wasbeing was immature. There I was reading his article on snow, finding itrather trivial (how many words can you pen about the white stuff beforethere are yawns all around), when there appeared this gem of a paragraph.

As a Canadian who is exposed to the terrible American war coverage (whydo you folks tolerate CNN?) O'Grady's slip into politics was a treat. Heisn't accurate about most things, but he got it right this time.

Now, just because I like his (horrors) "left" take on the U.S actionsin Iraq does not mean I think he should write about politics. He reallyshould stick to cycling but this moment of political consciousness wasa welcome surprise.

As for your readers who think O'Grady's views were part of a left politik,y'all really don't understand what left politics are. Grab your bike andhead to places like South America and Africa where there are serious leftyviews. I guarantee it will help remove all that gunk CNN has you immersedin.

Sandra Bender
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

We take serious umbrage at the assertion that Mr. O'Grady is likea 14-year-old trying to be baaaaad. He is a 49-year-old trying to be baaaaad-- Editor

Pay him!
Dear VeloNews,
Please, please, please keep on supplying Mr. O'Grady with whateverit is you pay him with. I love his columns. In fact I read his stuff beforeany other coverage.

Tell all those crybabies if they don't like Patrick, then don't readhis column. How hard is that? From reading many letters to your websiteI believe certain people think they are more "right" than the rest of us.Thanks for the news and opinions I get from your website and magazine.

Perry "Roubaix" Felker
Spokane, WA

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VeloNews.com welcomes your comments. You may send letters intendedfor publication to Webletters@7Dogs.com.Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited forlength and clarity.