The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. 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.

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Keep Brandon's stories coming
Dear VeloNews,
Hey I'm really enjoying Brandon Dwight's diary entries. Keep ‘em coming.As far as the Lion of Flanders flags; it was explained to me by a Belgianfriend of mine that the flag with the red claws and tongue is the provincialflag of Flanders and the flag featuring an all-black lion is the flag ofthe separatist group. Maybe I've got that backwards but I understand it'snot well received to wave the political flag in some areas of the country.
John Gilchrist
Calgary Alberta Canada.
 
Just a flag
Editor,
As a Belgian living in Atlanta and an avid cyclist I have to correctsomething that Brandon Dwight said. The Yellow flag with the lion is notthe flag of some Flemish separatist wanting to separate from Belgium butjust the Flemish state flag.

This is like any other state or province flag in any country. I justwanted to correct this small point.
Kind Regards,
Wim De Sutter
Atlanta Georgia

Actually Wim, we were wondering about that, too. So we called upa Belgian buddy of ours this morning and he explained it pretty much likeJohn did. The Flemish state flag is a black lion with red claws. The all-blackflag carries the message that the one waving the flag is in favor of afree Flanders, independent or autonomous. We've been seeing a lot of theblack ones at bike races and few of the red highlighted flags.

While the black lion was originally embraced by a right-wing separatistgroup called the Vlaams Blok, there is a new movement, VlaanderenVlagt, which has made a serious effort to broaden the appeal across the entire political spectrum and to ensure that the black Lion of Flanders appears prominently at events that feature Flemish stars, which explains why we're seeing a lot of them at (where else?) bike races. - EditorHappy ‘cross guy
VN,
Thanks to Brandon and VeloNews.com for the great Belgy ‘cross notes.As a die-hard ‘cross geek, these are some if not the best articles going.If I could I'd buy him one of those creamy Belgian beers myself I would.It really keeps a cross dork going during the deep snows of northwestColorado.
Keep' em coming!!
Jon Cariveau
Steamboat Springs, ColoradoYou do know they sell Chimay in Steamboat, don't you? You can always raise a glass to the guy, even if you can't buy him one. – Editor.Happy reader
Dear Editors,
Thanks to VeloNews.com (and VeloNews hard copy edition) fora great year of information. But unlike some (most?) of the otherreaders I stick around mostly because of O'Grady. Yeah I know Ineed to get a life.
Thanks!
Mike Tierney
Woodstock, Ontario
CanadaWell, Mr Tierney, before you go out and get that life, you will bepleased to see that Mr. O'Grady has crawled back out from beneath his favoriterock to annoy at least some of our readers with hisannual awards column. – Editor.

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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. 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.