Story on Mark Abramson, USAC President and former RAAM team mate

www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling

USAC president: The era of the collegian
The new board president of USA Cycling, Mark Abramson
Photo ©: USA Cycling (Click for larger image)

In March the USA Cycling board of directors elected its vice president, Mark Abramson, to succeed the term-limited Jim Ochowicz as president of the board. The new president comes from the ranks of collegiate cycling (NCCA), one of the five discipline associations, and is the first NCCA member to hold this position. Abramson spoke with Cyclingnews' North American Editor Mark Zalewski about where he plans on taking the board in his term.

If one had to title the new USA Cycling board president Mark Abramson's upcoming term in office, it would be 'the era of the collegian'. This is because Abramson sits on the board of directors as the sole representative of the National Collegiate Cycling Association (NCCA). Collegiate cycling is where he was first exposed to bicycle racing and it is the vehicle that brought him up the ranks of USA Cycling.

"I became involved with racing in 1995," said Abramson. "I started mountain bike racing at Tufts University. Eastern Massachusetts is not exactly mountainous but we have surprisingly good singletrack." Abramson, 33 (but in true USAC fashion said, "Racing age, 34!") is a Boston native and currently resides in Cambridge running a software development company. "I grew up in Wayland in the suburbs of Boston. Boston has a great cycling community, but certainly a tight-knit racing community as well."

Abramson continued his involvement with cycling in the collegiate ranks, both in racing itself and then promoting after graduation. "I was involved in collegiate cycling as a rider and then within the team when we hosted an eastern championships in 1996 - I was the promoter of that event. Then I became more involved with the eastern conference, and after I graduated I took over as assistant conference director and then conference director."

At this point collegiate cycling was not a full association within the governing body. Abramson continued increasing his involvement within the sub-discipline by expanding his work beyond New England and pushing for inclusion at the top level. "I became involved with collegiate cycling at the national level with the NCCA committee. We then worked to add ourselves as a full USA Cycling association, and became part of the board of trustees and got a seat on the board of directors. I served on the NCCA committee and became a trustee and then director.

"I've always considered myself a cyclist, but collegiate cycling was my introduction to the competitive side of the sport. I started off mountain bike racing but then I got bit by the road bug. That became my primary focus, though I did run the Boston Cyclocross Association for a number of years. We promoted a number of races in New England, so that was another outlet."

Continue to the full feature.

The best joke ever....

WADA, CAS, Fahey, "Penis" Pound and the the rest of them should realize that this witch hunt is costing the sport. Get a clue you so called administrators of the sport. Move on.....


Anti-doping agency to seek court costs from Landis | Sports | Reuters

MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday it may seek $1.3 million in court costs from disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis if the cyclist fails to win his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The new chairman of WADA John Fahey discussed the possibility of recovering court costs after chairing his first major meetings at the doping agency's Montreal headquarters last weekend.

Fahey's predecessor Dick Pound has been critical of the International Cycling Union's unwillingness to contribute financially to the court costs that Fahey said stood at around $1.3 million.

We need to rally around this again to preserve San Onofre State Park

Not surprising that saving the camp grounds is an ongoing battle.  This is the latest update.

 

The call-to-action is simple:

1.      Go here: http://ga1.org/campaign/Secretary_Commerce

 

2.      Fill out the form that populates a plea-letter with your vitals and sends it to Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez

 

3.      Pass this on to your people so we can continue to fight this thing

 

The TCA has asked the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to override the California

Coastal Commission's NO vote regarding the Foothill-South Toll Road.

Remember that the Foothill-South Toll Road was soundly rejected by the

California Coastal Commission for its serious and unmitigable effects on the

environment.

 

In a shocking testament to the TCA's consistent and repeated failure to

address the public's concerns regarding this toll road, they have urged the

Department of Commerce to deny the public an opportunity to participate in a

hearing on the appeal.

 

This project, if allowed, would be the first time in California that a local

agency could take state parkland for its own infrastructure use, setting a

dangerous precedent and putting all our state parks at risk.  According to

the California State Parks Foundation the Foothill-South Toll Road will

destroy nearly 60% of San Onofre State Park, California's 6th most popular

state park, causing the likely abandonment of the San Mateo Campground, and

harming the water quality of Southern California's last pristine watershed.

 

San Onofre State Beach is far away from Washington D.C.!  U.S. Secretary of

Commerce Carlos Gutierrez is hearing from special interest groups and the

TCA's lobbyists.  Now he needs to hear from you.

 

The TCA would have us believe that a toll road through our state park is the

only solution to our traffic problems.  This is a false choice presented by

a single-purpose agency. Send a message to Commerce Secretary Gutierrez

asking him to review the TCA's appeal based on facts.

 

Visit http://ga1.org/campaign/Secretary_Commerce today!

 

Thank you!

Robin Everett

Conservation Organizer

Sierra Club

Friends of the Foothills

949-361-7534

949-338-5356 cell

949-361-6623 fax

League Announces the Latest BFC Designations

League of American Bicyclists * Press Releases

League Announces the Latest BFC Designations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Nesper
League of American Bicyclists
202-822-1333
bill@bikeleague.org

Washington, D.C.—May 1 , 2008—Today, eleven communities were honored with the League of American Bicyclists prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community designation and eleven communities renewed their designation. “This round brings into focus both the geographic and demographic diversity of designated communities,” League President Andy Clarke said. “These are all cities that are realizing the potential of bicycling to address the challenges of climate change, traffic congestion, rising obesity rates, and soaring fuel prices.”

The Bicycle Friendly Community program is revolutionizing the way communities evaluate their quality of life and transportation network. These new winners bring the total number of current Bicycle Friendly Communities to 84, stretching across 31 states. The League awards this four-year designation to communities that have made impressive, measurable efforts to integrate bicyclists into the community. There are four levels—platinum, gold, silver and bronze—awarded twice each year.

The new Bicycle Friendly Communities are:

Silver
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Durango, Colo.
Minneapolis, Minn.

Bronze
Arcata, Calif.
Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlottesville, Va.
Coeur d'Alene, Id
Oxford, Miss.
Port Townsend, Wash.
Sitka, AK.

Eleven communities renewed their designation at the same level, with one exceptional standout, Portland, Oregon, which moved up from gold to platinum. These communities are:

Platinum
Portland, Ore.

Gold
Madison, Wis.
Tucson/East Pima Region, Ariz.

Silver
Bellingham, Wash.
Missoula, Mont.

Bronze
Albuquerque, N.M.
Ashland, Ore.
Gilbert, Ariz.
Longmont, Colo.
South Sioux City, Neb.
Sunnyvale, Calif.

This designation is one with real meaning—it is difficult to earn and important to renew. In addition to the winning communities, 16 additional communities applied in this round but did not reach. Since the program’s inception in 2003, 212 communities have applied and 84 current have a bronze or higher designation. Ten communities were given honorable mentions as well.

It is important to recognize communities as they begin to build bicycle friendliness into their network. But a designation only goes to communities with established records in two or more of the five categories which are known as the Five E’s:
Education: Does the community have systems in place to train children and adult cyclists?
Engineering: Are bicyclists included in the city’s transportation plan?
Enforcement: Do police officers understand and enforce bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities?
Encouragement: Does the community participate in Bike Month, offer bike rodeos, host community bike rides, or otherwise encourage cycling?
Evaluation: Does the community have methods in place to ensure their bicyclist programs are making a difference?

The honorable mentions for this round are:

Cleveland, OH
Flint, Mich.
Morgan Hill, Calif.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
Northampton, Mass.
Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
Roanoke, Va.
Sarasota County, Fla.
Venice, Fla.

About the BFC Program
The BFC program was initiated in 2003 and has received applications from more than 213 communities. Currently 84 cities and counties are designated Bicycle Friendly Communities. The program is generously supported by Trek Bicycles and Bikes Belong. Applicants complete a detailed on-line form with numerous questions in five key areas: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation/planning. Local cyclists, national experts, and League staff review the applications. For the complete list of Bicycle Friendly Communities and more information on the program visit http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/communities/.

League of American Bicyclists Names Portland, Ore. a "Platinum" Level Bicycle Friendly Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Nesper
League of American Bicyclists
202-822-1333
bill@bikeleague.org

Washington, D.C.—April 29, 2008—The League of American Bicyclists congratulates Portland, Ore. on achieving platinum Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status – Portland is the first large city in the United States to gain the designation and joins Davis, Calif as the only other platinum BFC in the country.

More than 200 communities have applied for BFC recognition since 2003, and 84 currently have a bronze or higher designation. An announcement of additional designations from the most recent round of applications is scheduled for release Thursday, May 1, to mark the first day of National Bike Month.

Portland’s BFC award is recognition of the incredible progress the community has made to encourage more people to bicycle and to ride safely. “When Portland received the gold award in 2003”, said Andy Clarke, President of the League, “We challenged the community to increase ridership to get to platinum. Bold leadership, community-wide involvement, and a lot of hard work has resulted in a 144% increase in bicycle use since the 2000 Census – impressive results by any standard.”

“We are honored that the League has recognized Portland’s work to become a better, safer place for people to bicycle”, said Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, who has spearheaded the initiative to achieve platinum status. “This is integral to our broader vision of Portland as a world-class, sustainable, and economically vibrant city that attracts families and businesses because of the quality of life on offer to all. Bicycling helps us achieve all that and more. We are not content to rest on our laurels. Platinum status is just the beginning and we realize that the eyes of the nation are now upon us to keep pedaling forward!”

BFC reviewers noted that Portland has coupled modest but smart investments in infrastructure, with outstanding education, promotion and encouragement activities to make bicycling a practical and safe option for many more Portlanders than ever before. Education and enforcement programs are now helping drivers and pedestrians interact more safely and predictably with the increasing numbers of cyclists on the road.

Other highlights from the 27-page application included:

• Portland’s bikeway network includes 270 miles of on-street bike lanes, bike boulevards, and paved trails; another 6 miles of singletrack and 40 miles of mountain bike accessible trail offer mountain biking opportunities in city parks.
• A city ordinance requires bike parking in new development and redevelopment projects; another provides a huge incentive for developers to provide showers and locker rooms
• Six bike corrals have been installed, each replacing one on-street car parking space with 12 bicycle spaces
• 400 bikeway destination signs have been installed (with 400 to come) on the bikeway network
• More than 1,000 traffic offenders (including cyclists) have been through a two-hour “Share the Road” Safety Class
• More than 400 bicycle light sets are distributed annually to low-income bicyclists by the city, Tri-Met (the transit agency) and the Community Cycling Center.
• 2,250 elementary students annually receive a 10-hour bicycle safety course as part of a larger Safer Routes to School initiative. The course is delivered by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and has helped increase bicycling to school by 5% in just one school year.
• The city distributes 35,000 citywide bicycle maps and another 35,000 local area maps. The citywide map is also reproduced in the Portland phone book.
• More than 9,100 people participated in the 2007 Bicycle Commuter Challenge, including 1,700 first-time bike commuters
• A Tri-Met survey found that three-fifths of area employment sites provide bike parking and ten percent offer incentives to employees who bicycle.
• 20,000 participants in the Providence Bridge Pedal make Portland home to the second largest community bike ride in the United States (after Bike New York)
• 2,000 hardy riders fill the annual Worst Day of the Year ride in early February
• The Bicycle Transportation Alliance boasts 3,000 members in the city and is just one of many advocacy and riding groups that organize thousands of rides, events and bicycling activities year-round
• Creation of the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovations at Portland State University will help ensure technology transfer and much-needed research into innovative ways to encourage bicycling
• The city boasts 40 bike shops and more than 150 bicycle-related businesses that provide thousands of green-collar jobs and with an economic benefit of more than $65 million (2005)

“Portland has had the courage to lead, to innovate, and to pursue a vision of their community that emphasizes choice, equity and quality of life,” continued Clarke. “The job isn’t done, however. Platinum status isn’t forever, and it carries with it the responsibility of setting a high standard for other communities to follow. We recognize that compared to other world class cities for cycling, Portland still has a long way to go.”

Among the recommendations made by the League to the City to maintain their platinum status are:

• Ensure better access to city parks and recreation areas for off-road riding
• Strengthen ties to the police and enforcement community to ensure motorists and cyclists are following the rules of the road
• Increase investments in the city’s bikeway network, particularly bike boulevards and signature projects that overcome major barriers, to open up the city to cyclists of all abilities
• Continue to innovate and demonstrate leadership with projects such as the new bike boxes, colored bike lanes, and Sunday Parkways program

About the BFC Program & the League
The BFC program was initiated in 2003 and has received applications from more than 213 communities. Currently 84 cities and counties are designated Bicycle Friendly Communities. The program is generously supported by Trek Bicycle Corporation and Bikes Belong. Applicants complete a detailed on-line form with numerous questions in five key areas: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation/planning. Local cyclists, national experts, and League staff review the applications.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of 57 million American cyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org or www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org.

Pro cyclist: caught between a rock and a hard place....

Petacchi is suspended for using Slabutamol a drug used to treat bronchitis. My first gut reaction when I read the headline is that "here goes another doped up pro cyclist...." and "...when is all this catching/doping cycle going to end?...."

Then I gave Petacchi the benefit of the doubt and said "what if this guys is really sick and needs to get better so he can race the Giro and fulfill his duties as a professional athlete?"

I mean, I certainly have taken modern medicine to help me recover from illness so I can get to work, so why can't Petacchi or the thousands of other professional athletes?

But, where is the fine line between an athlete taking advantage of modern medicine to recover from an illness and those who abuse the system to gain training and/or racing advantage?

I supposed we rely on the medical industry--having doctors diagnose and vouch for ill athletes--to make sure athletes are taking medicine for the right reasons. But doctors have also been known to abuse the trust we give their station...the stories of team doctors "forcing" "vitamins" down the throats of pro athletes in a common one.

So, how do we connect the dots and clean things up? Or, can we? One thing's for sure...the cycle of mistrust is intricately wide and deep. It's hard to have hope for this sport with no real solutions in place. The war against drugs is rampant and if governments can't effectively gain ground against deeply entrenched drug circles, what chance do niche governing bodies have?

For one, I think this forces cyclist-enthusiasts to re-focus their love inward towards what they love about the sport for themselves and by themselves.



CAS suspends Petacchi

By Charles Pelkey
Posted May. 6, 2008


The International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, (CAS) ruled Tuesday that Italian sprint star Alessandro Petacchi will be ineligible to compete until August 31, because of a doping case stemming from last year's Giro d'Italia.

The 34-year-old Petacchi tested positive for the drug Salbutamol in May after one of his five wins in last year's Giro. The Milram sprinter was originally cleared of the charge by the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) last July, which found that Petacchi overused his inhaler after the stage and may have accidentally swallowed some of the drug in the process. However, the the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) argued that since the level of the drug exceeded permitted levels, Petacchi should still be suspended and appealed the FCI ruling to CAS.

While noting that Petacchi may well have accidentally inhaled too much of the bronchodilator and bore "no significant fault or negligence," the CAS panel, nonetheless, suspended him for a year, but declined to impose a full two-year penalty.

"In order to establish no fault or negligence an athlete has to show that he used 'utmost caution,' the panel concluded. "Even on his own account, Mr. Petacchi took more than the authorized dose. He cannot establish that he used utmost caution."

"CAS has ruled that Alessandro Petacchi is ineligible to compete for a period of one year, less two months already served," the court noted in its decision. "Therefore, the period of ineligibility will run from 1 November, 2007, to 31 August, 2008."
Advertisement

The court also ruled that all of Petacchi's results from the 2007 Giro should be scratched from the record books.

"All competitive results obtained by Alessandro Petacchi during the 2007 Giro d'Italia shall be disqualified with all of the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes," the court ruled. "Alessandro Petacchi can retain all other competitive results between 23 May 2007 and 31 October 2007, but all competitive results obtained after 31 October 2007, and during the period of ineligibility will be disqualified."

The ruling also negates the results of Petacchi's two stage victories at the recent Tour of Turkey.

Petacchi was accused of doping after a urine sample he gave at Pinerolo on May 23, 2007, the third of his five stage wins in last year's Giro, showed an unusually high level of Salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma.

Salbutamol is banned, but riders suffering from asthma are allowed restricted use of the drug if they have a medical certificate.

Petacchi has such a certificate ─ a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) ─ having suffered from asthma for many years. The World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list notes, however, that riders whose urine samples show a concentration of Salbutamol greater than 1000 nanograms per milliliter must prove that the elevated level is a result of normal therapeutic use. If a rider with a TUE produces a level lower than 1000 ng/mL the burden of proof falls to anti-doping authorities, if they wish to show a violation.

Studies have shown that in addition to aiding in the treatment of asthma, Salbutamol can be used to increase an athlete's anaerobic power. According to study results, peak power appeared significantly earlier and was noticeably increased after Salbutamol use.

Petacchi produced a level higher than the upper limit and was required to show that he did not take the drug orally or inject it and that his use of the inhaler was in keeping with its normal therapeutic use. Last year, the FCI ruled that Petacchi and his attorneys had met that standard of proof. A CAS panel, however, disagreed and ordered Petacchi’s suspension until August 31.

Despite the ruling, the panel did not accuse Petacchi of cheating.

"The panel is satisfied that Mr. Petacchi is not a cheat," the decision noted, "and that the adverse analytical finding in this case is the result of Mr. Petacchi simply, and possibly accidentally, taking too much Salbutamol on the day of the test, but that the overdose was not taken with the intention of enhancing his performance. Indeed, it would be an unusual way of attempting to enhance performance to take the prohibited substance after the particular event had concluded."

"In the circumstances, the panel is satisfied that Mr. Petacchi bears no significant fault or negligence ... therefore the panel can reduce the period of ineligibility."

The most significant impact of the ruling will come in July. Petacchi had already announced that he would not take part in this year’s Giro d’Italia, because he is suffering from bronchitis. He had, however, planned to participate in the Tour de France.

Since CAS is the sporting world’s highest court, Petacchi has no more options to appeal the decision.

Parents ban children from cycling on the road

Parents Ban Children From Cycling On The Road (from The Argus)

Parents ban children from cycling on the road
By Andy Chiles
Comment | Read Comments (4)

Tens of thousands of children are being banned from cycling because their parents are too worried to let them out on the road, a new survey has revealed.

The figures show that three-quarters of parents in the south of England will not let their children ride alone despite being aware of the health benefits.

Cycling England, which commissioned the report, said the state of heightened parental anxiety had caused a generational decline in cycling and the creation of what it called "cul-de-sac kids".
advertisement

The body's chairman Phillip Darnton said: "Somewhere along the line, our fears for our childrens safety have overtaken the reality of on-road accidents, which are in long term decline."

The figures have been released at the start of national Bike to School week, a time when it is hoped thousands more children will take to the saddle.

The statistics, based on a sample survey of 1,079 people, show that most parents now do not want their children cycling on the road until they are 12-years-old, compared to the previous average of ten.

Only 22 per cent of those surveyed said they let their children cycle to school, despite 44 per cent of them being allowed to do the same when they were younger.

Just five per cent of children did ride to school regularly despite 64 per cent living less than two miles away.

Cycling England said families had to overcome their own fears if they wanted their children, and future society, to enjoy the health and environmental benefits of using bicycles.

It said sending children on cycling courses like its Bikeability scheme was a good way of giving them and their parents the confidence needed for them to ride safely on the road.

Mr Darnton said: "Every parent will want to ensure their children are kept safe, but they can't live out their lives within the shadows of the cul-de-sac, never able to venture further away from home."

Interior designer Alison Mewett, of Kirby Drive in Telscombe Cliffs, near Brighton, said many parents felt drivers did not take enough care which made them more nervous about the safety of their children.

She said it was symptomatic of the generally over-protective nature of parents now.

Despite her concerns Mrs Mewett, who has become part of a national mums' panel promoting cycling, said her daughter Betsy-Blue, 12, would be riding to her school in Brighton as soon as work on a bike lane on the South Coast Road and Marine Drive was completed.

She said: "It's sad really that we worry about letting our children play outside and feel that we've got to watch them all of the time. I think we really need to let go, even if its a difficult thing to do.

"Of course it does worry me a bit when she's out cycling but she's 12 now and has been on the Bikeability level two course. I know she is quite confident on her bike so I feel a lot better about her riding."

12:01am Tuesday 6th May 2008