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Burke Swindlehurst racing at Callville Bay Classic. Photo copyright © Brian Hodes/VeloImages, linked from VeloNews.com

After a long career on the road, facing all the ups and downs that come with riding for a professional cycling team, Burke Swindlehurst has now entered a new phase … as a privateer both on the road and dirt; but a privateer with a cause, riding for TeamGive, an organization which works to increase awareness of, and raise funds for, research, treatment, and support of those suffering neurological disease, including Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) and similar debilitating diseases. He debuted his new one man “team” at the Callville Bay Classic, on the shores of Lake Mead, outside Las Vegas, Nevada.

Burke is a perfect ambassador to represent TeamGive. He is one of Utah’s most widely recognized professional cyclists; he truly loves his profession; and in my experience, unlike many professional athletes, he is incredibly friendly and humble.

Not only did he know who I was before I ever actually met him (and I’m just a cycling fan with a keyboard), and has never failed to say “hi” when I’ve seen him out on the road (generally going in the opposite direction and/or much faster than I am), but he has incredible taste in music. As much as he loves cycling, I think he may love music even more.

Yeah, I sound like a fanboy, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I can honestly say that Burke is one of the coolest people I know.

I am truly looking forward to following his results this year, cheering him on to the stage win at Snowbird during this year’s Tour of Utah, and being able to raise a glass and toast him for a job well done at the end of the season.

View Ascent activity on 20-Feb-10 at 12:00PM in a larger map

The sun was out, the sky was blue, it was beautiful, and so is my bike … but it was flippin’ cold out there today. Brr. Felt good to turn the legs over … ski day tomorrow, I think, unless the weather is gorgeous down here again, in which case I may have to make some more circles.

View Ascent activity on 14-Feb-10 at 01:38PM in a larger map

Caught a bit of a cold, but the weather is absolutely gorgeous out today … I couldn’t allow myself to waste the day on the couch; so out for an easy 15 miles through Holladay, Murray, and Millcreek. Legs were a little heavy, lungs were a bit tight, but ultimately, it felt good to get out there.

In yet another step down the road to mediocrity, the International Olympic Committee elects UCI President Pat McQuaid as a member. This is a man who, instead of working to protect the status of one of the premier cycling disciplines (the individual pursuit) as an Olympic event, instead opts to eliminate it in favor of an omnium format which is popular with no one.

About the only thing worse would be if someone from USA Cycling was elected. Then it would would just be a matter of time before Olympic athletes started getting participation certificates!

UCI President Pat McQuaid was elected today as a Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The 60-year-old Dubliner was one of six candidates nominated for membership at the 122nd IOC session, held prior to the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected as one of the IOC members and to represent and promote the interests of the IOC and Olympic Movement, in Ireland and elsewhere throughout the world," McQuaid said after he joined the other 114 members.

“I look forward to working with its President, Jacques Rogge and its members and to building upon the productive relations that I have already established with the IOC through my role as President of the UCI.”

via McQuaid Elected As Member Of IOC | Cyclingnews.com.

View Ascent activity on 07-Feb-10 at 02:20PM in a larger map

Short ride before the Stupor Bowl … lungs in terrible shape today; even with the inhaler, I could barely breathe throughout much of the ride. I think the average (158) and max HR (177) rates today will corroborate.

On the other hand, it’s another ride in my legs; getting that early start on the 2010 season.

View Ascent activity on 30-Jan-10 at 02:01PM in a larger map

Ride #2 for the year, and it’s obvious that whatever fitness I gained on my trip to Arizona over Christmas is now gone. With an AvgHR over 160, peaking out at 179, I was definitely struggling on anything even remotely resembling a climb … not to mention the actual climbs.

Funny thing, though … even though my pulse was really high throughout the entire ride, on the flats I felt like I was cruising easy. So maybe I’m not in quite as bad shape as I think, and it’s the air that’s causing the problems.

Tomorrow should be a ski day; at least that’s the current plan. The rest of today will be spent relaxing, doing laundry, and watching Steven Soderbergh’s Che. I watched the first part, which covers the Cuban Revolution, a couple days ago … watched a documentary on the making of the movie this morning, and am now watching the second part, covering the Bolivian years. Excellent movie. Highly recommended.

I guess Richie Rich got tired of sitting on the sidelines while his girlie girl was getting to race … so he decided to take her out by slipping her a little CERA to jack up her Hct values …

Poor Vania … did you not think that being associated with a doper might also put you under targeted suspicion as well?

I’m guessing that Vania falls more into the Mayda Munny camp, rather than the Gloria Glad camp …

Ricco’s girlfriend tests positive for CERA

Vania Rossi, a top Italian cyclocross racer and girlfriend of Riccardo Ricco, has tested positive for the blood booster CERA, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced Friday.

A blood sample taken from Rossi after the January 10th Italian cyclocross championships in Milan was found to contain the drug, CONI said. Rossi finished second at the championships.

Ricco, who has a child with Rossi, tested positive for the same substance in the 2008 Tour de France and is serving a 20-month suspension set to end in March.

via Ricco’s girlfriend tests positive for CERA – VeloNews.

On the bright side, that’s one less cheater that Katie Compton will have to worry about this weekend.