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The E-word thread. EWS

Inclag

Turbo Monkey
Sep 9, 2001
2,750
439
MA
I agree although I'd tend to believe that DH is more about feeling like you're doing a bad ass thing when you're realistically 30 seconds off the elites and basically over-biked as fuck for what you're actually doing. I think most of Enduro's popularity comes from not requiring a chairlift/shuttles to participate, actually getting some ride time in a race weekend and being way less intimidating for punters.
Not suggesting that we all aren't squids, that chest pounding doesn't exist in other discipline's, or that one discipline trumps another. It was awesome to see the stoke biking brought to a bunch of riders I saw at Killington this year during the US Open when we got to a ski trail opening and saw a group of guys practicing the enduro course holding their bikes on top of them as they slid butt first down a rock face as if it was a slide. Maybe I'm getting old and soft, but if what I witnessed was the spirit of enduro, then perhaps maybe all of us cyclist could use a little more of it.
 

Happymtb.fr

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2016
1,907
1,252
SWE
I don't mind Jared and Richie cheating, they are probably not the only one... I just like observing the whole situation it created, watching the rats leaving the boat and the others trying to keep it afloat
 

shelteringsky

Monkey
May 21, 2010
307
257
I don't mind Jared and Richie cheating, they are probably not the only one... I just like observing the whole situation it created, watching the rats leaving the boat and the others trying to keep it afloat
I think JG and RR have lost a whole lot of credibility (and the EWS by extension) and probably won’t ever completely shake their reputation as cheaters. I feel like the “everyone is doping” argument historically deployed to defend dopers in road cycling is a cop out, especially in this case where the rest of the podium tested negative.

This is a pivotal moment for doping control and cleaning up the EWS and a harsh punishment as a deterrent is needed, IMO. I suspect these guys will get a slap on the wrist and the rest of the field, realizing how skewed the risk-reward equation is in favor of doping, will be “accidentally ingesting” dodgy supplements and consulting their doctors about those “asthmatic problems” they’ve been experiencing.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Yeah. But in road cycling it's actually an honest one

Is anyone even using that argument for Jared and Ritchie?
.
Yeah it's honest but it's still shit because you win by having a) better doctors b) risking your health more.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,541
5,472
UK
Yeah it's honest but it's still shit because you win by having a) better doctors b) risking your health more.
Still better to know the truth from the off before wasting your life chasing a pro road career though.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Still better to know the truth from the off before wasting your life chasing a pro road career though.
The thing is many roadies still pretend it isn't the case. It's not officially aknowledged even if everyone knows it. I doubt a father will tell his 12 year old son "have in mind everyone you like does drugs"
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,541
5,472
UK
Depends how much and what drugs the 12yr old's father has done that day, eh?

Honesty is my policy with mine
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,828
13,063
Depends how much and what drugs the 12yr old's father has done that day, eh?

Honesty is my policy with mine
"Son, I'm off my fookin' head on IRN BRU again. You're ganna have to goo work ma shift at the distillery today," said Gary.
 

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,993
716
I feel like the “everyone is doping” argument historically deployed to defend dopers in road cycling is a cop out, especially in this case where the rest of the podium tested negative
If you're referring to Armstrong, everyone who podiumed when he did was caught at one point or another. He was the only "clean" one at the time which is why everyone was so suspicious.
 

Cerberus75

Monkey
Feb 18, 2017
520
194
It's funny to me to see people think that when money / fame is involved that athletes are clean. I hung out in the bodybuilding and power lifting crowd. And even used 10year. Since that crowd is more open about using. Other Athletes in the gym are more open. NFL players can use almost as much gear as a power lifter and still pass a drug test. WADA is stricter so many cyclists and endurance athletes look for the next thing that isnt on the list. Or isnt traceable.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Depends how much and what drugs the 12yr old's father has done that day, eh?

Honesty is my policy with mine
Yeah but I doubt you are represenative of how most people bring their children up. Probably none of us are.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
It's funny to me to see people think that when money / fame is involved that athletes are clean. I hung out in the bodybuilding and power lifting crowd. And even used 10year. Since that crowd is more open about using. Other Athletes in the gym are more open. NFL players can use almost as much gear as a power lifter and still pass a drug test. WADA is stricter so many cyclists and endurance athletes look for the next thing that isnt on the list. Or isnt traceable.
In our side of biking we thought differently because the community was smaller and everyone knew it better plus it used to be more about skill. Especially in the old days where half of the field used beer instead of Rhyno suplements.
 

Cerberus75

Monkey
Feb 18, 2017
520
194
In our side of biking we thought differently because the community was smaller and everyone knew it better plus it used to be more about skill. Especially in the old days where half of the field used beer instead of Rhyno suplements.
Hobby sports vs pro sports. Once money and keeping a contract depends on winning. Pros will do what they need to to win.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,541
5,472
UK
"Son, I'm off my fookin' head on IRN BRU again. You're ganna have to goo work ma shift at the distillery today," said Gary.
WTF. I'm not a Geordie.
You're thinking of famous ex England international football legend and all round twat Gazza from the 90s
Gazza's recipe to achive such awesomeness:

I'm Gary. The Scottish mountainbike version. ;)
 
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6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,828
13,063
WTF. I'm not a Geordie.
I'm Gary. The Scottish mountainbike version. ;)
I thought IRN BRU was still the national drink after whisky, otherwise everyone else on here only has heroin/Trainspotting for reference :D
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,541
5,472
UK
I thought IRN BRU was still the national drink after whisky, otherwise everyone else on here only has heroin/Trainspotting for reference :D
FYI There's a massive difference (and rivalry) between East and West coast Scots
IRN BRU addiction and Tennents is West Coast
Heroin and Trainspotting is East.
I used to live opposite the train station the "Trainspotting" line in the book was named after was set in.
 

shelteringsky

Monkey
May 21, 2010
307
257
Yeah. But in road cycling it's actually an honest one

Is anyone even using that argument for Jared and Ritchie?
.
Not denying that road cycling is dirty. Far from it. But there are some clean racers, who simply don’t have the inclination or resources to dope, and those are the guys getting f*cked over. Same as everyone who was behind Jared and Richie.

As for the “everyone is doing it” argument, people like Barelli have basically used it. Justifying shitty behavior on the basis of others in your peer group doing the same thing is weaksauce and it’s the kind of mentality that’s found in genocides, pedophile rings and the fanny pack thread
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,541
5,472
UK
Not denying that road cycling is dirty. Far from it. But there are some clean racers, who simply don’t have the inclination or resources to dope, and those are the guys getting f*cked over.
No shit?

Hence why I said this:
Still better to know the truth from the off before wasting your life chasing a pro road career though.

As for the “everyone is doing it” argument, people like Barelli have basically used it.
People "like" Barelli? Or Barelli? and if so. What exactly did he say?
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,480
4,720
Australia
I'm just bummed it wasn't a French rider who got busted. The worst part about this whole saga is hearing the French guys pretend like this is something only Americans and Australians would do.
 

shelteringsky

Monkey
May 21, 2010
307
257
No shit?
People "like" Barelli? Or Barelli?

Yoann Barelli. But quite a few people liked his comment so both.

and if so. What exactly did he say?
Christ, I had to go looking through that flog's instagram to find the quote and couldn't find it. Found his Pinkbike comment though:

"Don't point the finger at these 2 guys, they are not isolated cases trust me!! In 5 years of racing the EWS I've witnessed bunch of things, and they sometimes looked pretty border line to me like at the top of stage 4 in Colombia where there was a reunion of top racers showing what products they were carrying with them on race day.. It basically went from pain killers, to some ziplock bags full of yellow green and white pills and even some powder that one put on his gums saying that it was to make his brain more alert !! My response to them wasn't to go see Chris ball and Wine about it, my response to them was to try my best to kick their ass with just water in my bottle and vegan bars to eat, That was my victory and still is my victory. But The problem isn't them, the problem is the importance and pressure that we put on Winning, How it makes us feel in this society, the problem is the lack of education, the problem is the absence of boundaries and was doping control (it's changing now). Racing is such a weird thing, and if you don't race for winning some people would say "but why do you race for then?".. Well it gives me some discipline in life, to have the best health that I can, to take care of what I put in my body, to understand better who I am.. and when I am at the races It's a bit like being an artist who's putting on the show for the crowd, a person that put all his heart in what he loves the most!! I believe that Jared and Richie race for the same value as myself, and I hope that this is serving other people to pay attention about what they ingest !! High level racing doesn't mean that you should become a "vacuum cleaner", you should in fact be the opposite. Jared more than ever, stay strong !!"
If you were able to wade through that verbal diarrhoea, then the gist of what he's saying is, everyone's doing it so it's not so bad (plus some other bullsh1t about being a vegan and how he's 'like an artist'), and we shouldn't "'point the finger at these 2 guys". I couldn't disagree more. Like I said before, I think the EWS needs to make an example of these guys lest we find ourselves in the situation road cycling is/was in.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Hobby sports vs pro sports. Once money and keeping a contract depends on winning. Pros will do what they need to to win.
Communities tend to self regulate pretty well when they are new and small. The argument that as soon as you can win money people start cheating and the proportion of cheaters is the same in all sports is unrealistic.