Friday, October 30, 2009
It's hit the Big Time now!
Cyclocross race must change locations after park permit pulled
A cyclocross bike race set for Saturday in West Seattle was canceled only four days before the event over what the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department calls a bureaucratic snafu.
By Marc Ramirez
Seattle Times staff reporter
A cyclocross bike race set for Saturday was canceled only four days before the event in what the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department calls a bureaucratic snafu, leaving hundreds of local cyclocross enthusiasts all revved up with no place to go — temporarily, at least.
On Tuesday, the city officially notified Seattle's Low Pressure Promotions that it was revoking its permit to hold the race at West Seattle's Lincoln Park, an event it had been planning for months.
"It's unfortunate," said Zac Daab, co-promoter of the event. "... With the timing, I don't feel like we were given any sort of recourse to either prove ourselves or to sort out from a community standpoint how to move forward."
Daab's organization was able to negotiate a last-minute venue with King County Parks, but the cyclocross community remained upset about the city's handling of the matter.
In an e-mail, Seattle parks officials cited three reasons for the permit revocation — resident complaints, the potential for damage and an earlier department decision not to allow such events at Lincoln Park after a similar event by another promoter caused "significant damage" in 2003.
Parks Department spokeswoman Dewey Potter said information about the 2003 decision was likely part of the institutional knowledge lost when a parks employee died several years ago, leaving current scheduling staff unaware.
"They were erroneous in issuing the permit for the event, basically," she said.
Asked why such important criteria regarding park usage had not been noted in writing, Potter responded: "That's a good question. This incident makes it clear that we need to do that."
Event organizers "absolutely acted in good faith," she said. "It was our mistake ... . We feel bad for the inconvenience to them and all their people."
Cyclocross is a European-based sport featuring road bikes racing on a three-kilometer course, a combination of grass, pavement and dirt.
Word of the race's cancellation set the blogosphere ablaze Tuesday, with 50 comments posted on West Seattle Blog in less than two hours.
Most were from cyclocross advocates, venting about the last-minute decision and the perception that parks officials had been swayed by a few vocal residents.
Potter said the permit was revoked not only because of resident objections but because the event, expected to draw up to 600 riders and an equal number of fans, was too large. "(Lincoln Park is) designed for small-scale recreation," she said. "It doesn't have the capacity to accommodate an event of this size."
Thus, the department's special-events committee should have been informed, she said — a rationale Daab finds mysterious since the race's expected turnout was noted on previous application materials.
The department has offered to refund $500 in fees to the group. Other venues it suggested either had unsuitable terrain or were already booked.
On Wednesday, Daab was able to negotiate terms with King County to hold the race at White Center's Lakewood Park — on Saturday, as originally scheduled.
"Typically, venues take months to confirm," he said.
A cyclocross bike race set for Saturday in West Seattle was canceled only four days before the event over what the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department calls a bureaucratic snafu.
By Marc Ramirez
Seattle Times staff reporter
A cyclocross bike race set for Saturday was canceled only four days before the event in what the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department calls a bureaucratic snafu, leaving hundreds of local cyclocross enthusiasts all revved up with no place to go — temporarily, at least.
On Tuesday, the city officially notified Seattle's Low Pressure Promotions that it was revoking its permit to hold the race at West Seattle's Lincoln Park, an event it had been planning for months.
"It's unfortunate," said Zac Daab, co-promoter of the event. "... With the timing, I don't feel like we were given any sort of recourse to either prove ourselves or to sort out from a community standpoint how to move forward."
Daab's organization was able to negotiate a last-minute venue with King County Parks, but the cyclocross community remained upset about the city's handling of the matter.
In an e-mail, Seattle parks officials cited three reasons for the permit revocation — resident complaints, the potential for damage and an earlier department decision not to allow such events at Lincoln Park after a similar event by another promoter caused "significant damage" in 2003.
Parks Department spokeswoman Dewey Potter said information about the 2003 decision was likely part of the institutional knowledge lost when a parks employee died several years ago, leaving current scheduling staff unaware.
"They were erroneous in issuing the permit for the event, basically," she said.
Asked why such important criteria regarding park usage had not been noted in writing, Potter responded: "That's a good question. This incident makes it clear that we need to do that."
Event organizers "absolutely acted in good faith," she said. "It was our mistake ... . We feel bad for the inconvenience to them and all their people."
Cyclocross is a European-based sport featuring road bikes racing on a three-kilometer course, a combination of grass, pavement and dirt.
Word of the race's cancellation set the blogosphere ablaze Tuesday, with 50 comments posted on West Seattle Blog in less than two hours.
Most were from cyclocross advocates, venting about the last-minute decision and the perception that parks officials had been swayed by a few vocal residents.
Potter said the permit was revoked not only because of resident objections but because the event, expected to draw up to 600 riders and an equal number of fans, was too large. "(Lincoln Park is) designed for small-scale recreation," she said. "It doesn't have the capacity to accommodate an event of this size."
Thus, the department's special-events committee should have been informed, she said — a rationale Daab finds mysterious since the race's expected turnout was noted on previous application materials.
The department has offered to refund $500 in fees to the group. Other venues it suggested either had unsuitable terrain or were already booked.
On Wednesday, Daab was able to negotiate terms with King County to hold the race at White Center's Lakewood Park — on Saturday, as originally scheduled.
"Typically, venues take months to confirm," he said.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Another Doping Incident
Swanguen suspended
By VeloNews.com
Published: Oct. 20, 2009
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday that downhill racer J.D. Swanguen has accepted a three-month suspension from competition after testing positive for a metabolite of marijuana at this year’s national championships.
A urine sample provided by the 20-year-old Swanguen at the USA Cycling national mountain bike championships on July 19 of this year tested positive for Carboxy THC, a metabolite of cannabis.
Swanguen accepted a three-month period of ineligibility, which began on October 9, 2009, the day he accepted the sanction. As part of his sanction, the period of ineligibility can be suspended and reduced to time served since he accepted his sanction on October 9, 2009, upon completion of a USADA anti-doping educational program.
Swanguen has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on the date of his positive test, through and including the date the doping education program is completed.
Riding as a junior, Swanguen was a silver medalist at the 2007 world championships and competed as an elite rider in 2008, finishing 33rd.
By VeloNews.com
Published: Oct. 20, 2009
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Tuesday that downhill racer J.D. Swanguen has accepted a three-month suspension from competition after testing positive for a metabolite of marijuana at this year’s national championships.
A urine sample provided by the 20-year-old Swanguen at the USA Cycling national mountain bike championships on July 19 of this year tested positive for Carboxy THC, a metabolite of cannabis.
Swanguen accepted a three-month period of ineligibility, which began on October 9, 2009, the day he accepted the sanction. As part of his sanction, the period of ineligibility can be suspended and reduced to time served since he accepted his sanction on October 9, 2009, upon completion of a USADA anti-doping educational program.
Swanguen has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on the date of his positive test, through and including the date the doping education program is completed.
Riding as a junior, Swanguen was a silver medalist at the 2007 world championships and competed as an elite rider in 2008, finishing 33rd.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
In case you haven't heard, one of our own has turned pro. Local rider and Cycle U coach Adrian Hegyvary signed with OUCH! and will be making his pro debut this Spring alongside Tim Johnson and Floyd Landis.
Adrian will be giving a talk at the new West Seattle Cycle U Grand Opening on November 7th at 6pm. He will be giving a presentation on the keys to his breakout season that led to his pro contract. Free and open to the public.
This location was a Chrysler showroom and is now a full service Specialized shop with wattage based training center. 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW. Plenty of parking and right off the West Seattle freeway. Open house prior from noon-6pm. Hope you can come celebrate another great homegrown success story.
Adrian will be giving a talk at the new West Seattle Cycle U Grand Opening on November 7th at 6pm. He will be giving a presentation on the keys to his breakout season that led to his pro contract. Free and open to the public.
This location was a Chrysler showroom and is now a full service Specialized shop with wattage based training center. 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW. Plenty of parking and right off the West Seattle freeway. Open house prior from noon-6pm. Hope you can come celebrate another great homegrown success story.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Jackass
LA road rage trial begins. Prosecutors play a 911 recording, the defense calls it an unfortunate accident.
By Patrick Brady
Published: Oct. 19, 2009
After one cyclist slammed into the rear of his car and vaulted over it into oncoming traffic, and another crashed through his rear window, Dr. Christopher Thomas Thompson called 911 and told the operator, “They’ll tell you they are seriously injured, but they’re not.”
Prosecutors presented a recording of the call on Friday during the opening day of testimony in Thompson's trial on assault with a dangerous weapon and other charges. The trial continues Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Prosecutors say Thompson, 60, a former ER doctor, purposefully braked in front of the two riders as they descended Mandeville Canyon Road on July 4, 2008.
Cyclist Christian Stoehr hit the back of Thompson's Infiniti sedan and went over the top into the other lane. His injuries included a grade-3 shoulder separation and road rash. Ron Peterson went through the rear window; the impact broke his nose, nearly severing it, and shattered several of his teeth. More than 90 stitches were required to reattach his nose.
In opening statements Friday, Thompson's defense attorney Peter Swarth said the collision was an unfortunate accident and not the result of any intentional action. He said Dr. Thompson had been saving lives for more than 30 years and would never deliberately hurt anyone. He told the jury there are two sides to every story and insisted that the facts of the case would exonerate his client, provided jurors kept open minds and didn’t decide the case prematurely.
Earlier incidents will be examined
District Attorney Mary Stone promised jurors that she would present evidence about the Fourth of July incident, including the tape of the 911 call, in which Thompson can be heard telling one of the cyclists to get his bike out of the road before downplaying the extent of their injuries. Stone told jurors she would also present evidence from two prior episodes on the same road, allegedly involving Thompson, the owner of a medical records company who lives on the road.
Mandeville Canyon Road is a two-lane, dead-end street in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood. It's popular with cyclists who want a climb with relatively little traffic.
In both prior incidents, the cyclists described a driver in a car similar to Thompson's and in one case the cyclist recorded the car's license plate number, which matched Thompson's.
The first incident involved car buff and casual cyclist Patrick Early. Early was riding up the hill in winter 2008 when he said someone resembling Thompson approached from behind, swung close and shouted at him, “Get the fuck off the road.” Early replied “Fuck you,” and says the driver hit his brakes, stopping short. Because Early was traveling uphill, he was able to stop without running into the back of the car. He reported the incident only after reading about Peterson and Stoehr's incident in the Los Angeles Times. Early told the prosecutor he felt remorse for not contacting the police at the time of the incident.
The second incident occurred in March 2008 when cyclists Patrick Watson and Josh Crosby were passed from behind by a car resembling Thompson's. After shouting at them, the driver allegedly hit his brakes and stopped, forcing Crosby into the oncoming traffic lane while Watson bunny hopped over the curb and rode into a yard.
The Fourth of July ride
Peterson and Stoehr had taken part in a Fourth of July group ride and were descending behind the rest of the group after assisting another cyclist who had fallen and waiting for paramedics to arrive.
They say Thompson approached the duo at speed in a late-model burgundy Infiniti sedan and honked at them before pulling alongside and telling them to ride single file. After a brief exchange of words, the cyclists say, Thompson pulled ahead of them and then stopped short.
Thompson is charged with two felony counts each of assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, battery with serious bodily injury and the added enhancement of causing great bodily injury. The reckless driving charge is related to the March, 2008, incident. The other charges are related to the July 4 incident.
Opening Testimony
Opening testimony came from Stoehr. Stone asked him a number of questions about his expertise as a cyclist, when he began racing, when he hired a coach, the attraction of riding on Mandeville Canyon, the nature of the road, the location of the crash and Thompson’s actions leading up to, during and following the crash. Swarth made four objections about testimony lacking foundation and each time Judge Scott Millington overruled the objection.
Swarth, on cross examination, tried to suggest that the cyclists involved in the Fourth of July holiday ride “took over the road.” Stone objected to the characterization, and the judge sustained the objection.
What followed was a lengthy discussion about Stoehr’s level of experience, whether his bike was in proper working order, how brakes work on a bicycle and the distances involved in the accident: how far Stoehr was behind Peterson at the time Thompson stopped, how much room Thomspon left as he passed them and how much room Peterson and Stoehr took up in the traffic lane as they descended. On several occasions Judge Millington had to admonish Swarth to allow Stoehr to finish answering a question before asking another.
Testimony ended early as a juror had to leave court for a funeral. Testimony will resume with Stoehr, followed by Peterson on Monday at 10:30 a.m. PST.
By Patrick Brady
Published: Oct. 19, 2009
After one cyclist slammed into the rear of his car and vaulted over it into oncoming traffic, and another crashed through his rear window, Dr. Christopher Thomas Thompson called 911 and told the operator, “They’ll tell you they are seriously injured, but they’re not.”
Prosecutors presented a recording of the call on Friday during the opening day of testimony in Thompson's trial on assault with a dangerous weapon and other charges. The trial continues Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Prosecutors say Thompson, 60, a former ER doctor, purposefully braked in front of the two riders as they descended Mandeville Canyon Road on July 4, 2008.
Cyclist Christian Stoehr hit the back of Thompson's Infiniti sedan and went over the top into the other lane. His injuries included a grade-3 shoulder separation and road rash. Ron Peterson went through the rear window; the impact broke his nose, nearly severing it, and shattered several of his teeth. More than 90 stitches were required to reattach his nose.
In opening statements Friday, Thompson's defense attorney Peter Swarth said the collision was an unfortunate accident and not the result of any intentional action. He said Dr. Thompson had been saving lives for more than 30 years and would never deliberately hurt anyone. He told the jury there are two sides to every story and insisted that the facts of the case would exonerate his client, provided jurors kept open minds and didn’t decide the case prematurely.
Earlier incidents will be examined
District Attorney Mary Stone promised jurors that she would present evidence about the Fourth of July incident, including the tape of the 911 call, in which Thompson can be heard telling one of the cyclists to get his bike out of the road before downplaying the extent of their injuries. Stone told jurors she would also present evidence from two prior episodes on the same road, allegedly involving Thompson, the owner of a medical records company who lives on the road.
Mandeville Canyon Road is a two-lane, dead-end street in the Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood. It's popular with cyclists who want a climb with relatively little traffic.
In both prior incidents, the cyclists described a driver in a car similar to Thompson's and in one case the cyclist recorded the car's license plate number, which matched Thompson's.
The first incident involved car buff and casual cyclist Patrick Early. Early was riding up the hill in winter 2008 when he said someone resembling Thompson approached from behind, swung close and shouted at him, “Get the fuck off the road.” Early replied “Fuck you,” and says the driver hit his brakes, stopping short. Because Early was traveling uphill, he was able to stop without running into the back of the car. He reported the incident only after reading about Peterson and Stoehr's incident in the Los Angeles Times. Early told the prosecutor he felt remorse for not contacting the police at the time of the incident.
The second incident occurred in March 2008 when cyclists Patrick Watson and Josh Crosby were passed from behind by a car resembling Thompson's. After shouting at them, the driver allegedly hit his brakes and stopped, forcing Crosby into the oncoming traffic lane while Watson bunny hopped over the curb and rode into a yard.
The Fourth of July ride
Peterson and Stoehr had taken part in a Fourth of July group ride and were descending behind the rest of the group after assisting another cyclist who had fallen and waiting for paramedics to arrive.
They say Thompson approached the duo at speed in a late-model burgundy Infiniti sedan and honked at them before pulling alongside and telling them to ride single file. After a brief exchange of words, the cyclists say, Thompson pulled ahead of them and then stopped short.
Thompson is charged with two felony counts each of assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, battery with serious bodily injury and the added enhancement of causing great bodily injury. The reckless driving charge is related to the March, 2008, incident. The other charges are related to the July 4 incident.
Opening Testimony
Opening testimony came from Stoehr. Stone asked him a number of questions about his expertise as a cyclist, when he began racing, when he hired a coach, the attraction of riding on Mandeville Canyon, the nature of the road, the location of the crash and Thompson’s actions leading up to, during and following the crash. Swarth made four objections about testimony lacking foundation and each time Judge Scott Millington overruled the objection.
Swarth, on cross examination, tried to suggest that the cyclists involved in the Fourth of July holiday ride “took over the road.” Stone objected to the characterization, and the judge sustained the objection.
What followed was a lengthy discussion about Stoehr’s level of experience, whether his bike was in proper working order, how brakes work on a bicycle and the distances involved in the accident: how far Stoehr was behind Peterson at the time Thompson stopped, how much room Thomspon left as he passed them and how much room Peterson and Stoehr took up in the traffic lane as they descended. On several occasions Judge Millington had to admonish Swarth to allow Stoehr to finish answering a question before asking another.
Testimony ended early as a juror had to leave court for a funeral. Testimony will resume with Stoehr, followed by Peterson on Monday at 10:30 a.m. PST.
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Race Across the Sky - One Day Only!
Race Across The Sky - Leadville Trail 100
10/22/2009
EVENT OVERVIEW
On October 22nd, experience a One Night Event in movie theatres nationwide featuring the debut of “Race Across the Sky” – a documentary covering the 2009 Leadville Trail 100 bike race, one of the most intense endurance races of all time - and candid conversations with Lance Armstrong, Chris Carmichael, Dave Wiens, and other elite and amateur cyclists who overcame extreme challenges to participate in this grueling race.
Race Across the Sky – Leadville Trail 100, featuring Lance Armstrong, Dave Wiens and other elite and amateur cyclists on October 22nd at 8:00pm ET/ 7:00pm CT/ 6:00pm MT/ with tape delay to 8:00pm PT.
This one night event will feature a panel discussion with Lance Armstrong, Chris Carmichael (owner of Carmichael Training Systems and Lance Armstrong’s coach), Dave Wiens (6x Leadville 100 winner), Ken Chlouber (Leadville Trail 100 Founder), Travis Brown (Olympian and professional mountain biker), and others before and after the debut of the documentary “Race Across the Sky”.
Playing at:
AMC Pacific Place 11
600 PINE ST
SEATTLE, WA 98101
206-652-8908
Vandenbroucke Dies
Belgian dies on holiday in Senegal
Frank Vandenbroucke has died while on holiday in Senegal. Reports in Belgium have said that 34-year-old Belgian cyclist was found in his hotel room and that early reports indicate that he died of a blood clot.
Vandenbroucke was out of contract after leaving Cinelli-Down Under but was looking for a team in 2010 just a few weeks ago.
He turned pro in 1994 with Lotto and won an epic Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1999, along with two stages in the Vuelta that year. In a two-year winning streak he also won Paris-Nice, Het Volk and Gent-Wevelgem riding for Mapei and Cofidis.
However, his career was not without controversy. He was questioned by police for drunk driving and possession of doping products and despite numerous comebacks he never reached the heights of 1999. He also suffered from depression and tried to commit suicide after his wife said she would divorce him.
Nevertheless, reactions from his friends, family as well as the press suggest that Vandenbroucke was in good shape and spirits lately. He had worked as a consultant for Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad at the World Championships in Mendrisio, hoping to get a contract with a team for 2010.
"I'm satisfied with this year," he told reporters of the paper last week. "I understand that the teams are reluctant to give me another chence, because I carry this past with me. But I think I proved this year that even without a monthly salary, I am still able to live a 100 percent for pro cycling."
His mother, Chantal Vanruymbeke, confirmed that he felt good lately. According to Belgian media, her last contact with her son was on Sunday evening, when he called from his holiday location.
"He was very excited and happy. Mama, he said, I am in the most beautiful hotel in Senegal. He gave me his hotel room number so that we could speak on the phone in the next few days. I was so happy that we had found our son back this year after ten difficult years. And now this. This is surreal. Irreversible," she said.
Frank Vandenbroucke has died while on holiday in Senegal. Reports in Belgium have said that 34-year-old Belgian cyclist was found in his hotel room and that early reports indicate that he died of a blood clot.
Vandenbroucke was out of contract after leaving Cinelli-Down Under but was looking for a team in 2010 just a few weeks ago.
He turned pro in 1994 with Lotto and won an epic Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1999, along with two stages in the Vuelta that year. In a two-year winning streak he also won Paris-Nice, Het Volk and Gent-Wevelgem riding for Mapei and Cofidis.
However, his career was not without controversy. He was questioned by police for drunk driving and possession of doping products and despite numerous comebacks he never reached the heights of 1999. He also suffered from depression and tried to commit suicide after his wife said she would divorce him.
Nevertheless, reactions from his friends, family as well as the press suggest that Vandenbroucke was in good shape and spirits lately. He had worked as a consultant for Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad at the World Championships in Mendrisio, hoping to get a contract with a team for 2010.
"I'm satisfied with this year," he told reporters of the paper last week. "I understand that the teams are reluctant to give me another chence, because I carry this past with me. But I think I proved this year that even without a monthly salary, I am still able to live a 100 percent for pro cycling."
His mother, Chantal Vanruymbeke, confirmed that he felt good lately. According to Belgian media, her last contact with her son was on Sunday evening, when he called from his holiday location.
"He was very excited and happy. Mama, he said, I am in the most beautiful hotel in Senegal. He gave me his hotel room number so that we could speak on the phone in the next few days. I was so happy that we had found our son back this year after ten difficult years. And now this. This is surreal. Irreversible," she said.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Election Update
Mallahan opposes completing the Missing Link (from Cascade Bicycle Club)
General election ballots will start mailing this week. Did you know where the Seattle Mayoral candidates stand on completing the missing link of the Burke-Gilman Trail?
Anti-trail backers are pouring money into Mallahan’s campaign. Mike McGinn shares Cascade’s vision of a livable, bikable city. What’s it worth to you to make Seattle a more bike-friendly city? Get more involved. And please consider how voting your pedals can make a difference this election.
On the King County level, Dow Constantine was by far the best candidate in a field of eight when it comes to bicycling and land use issues. Constantine proposed fast-tracking the purchase of the BNSF eastside right of way and the immediate construction of a multi-use trail on the rail bed. Throughout his interview with a Cascade panel, Dow drew comparisons between the active work of the Cascade Bicycle Club and policies and programs he would pursue as executive. Candidate Sue Hutchison did not return our calls or emails. Still, the race is close. If you're a King County resident, a couple of hours of your time to support the Dow Constantine campaign would be a big help.
General election ballots will start mailing this week. Did you know where the Seattle Mayoral candidates stand on completing the missing link of the Burke-Gilman Trail?
Anti-trail backers are pouring money into Mallahan’s campaign. Mike McGinn shares Cascade’s vision of a livable, bikable city. What’s it worth to you to make Seattle a more bike-friendly city? Get more involved. And please consider how voting your pedals can make a difference this election.
On the King County level, Dow Constantine was by far the best candidate in a field of eight when it comes to bicycling and land use issues. Constantine proposed fast-tracking the purchase of the BNSF eastside right of way and the immediate construction of a multi-use trail on the rail bed. Throughout his interview with a Cascade panel, Dow drew comparisons between the active work of the Cascade Bicycle Club and policies and programs he would pursue as executive. Candidate Sue Hutchison did not return our calls or emails. Still, the race is close. If you're a King County resident, a couple of hours of your time to support the Dow Constantine campaign would be a big help.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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