More on Lance - this time his charity

Some fascinating figures here. Turns out Lance Edward Gunderson Armstrong's Live Strong charity allegedly has the lowest possible efficiency rating, and it is said to have made a loss of over $5 million in FY06 (which seem to be the latest published figures, hmmm). I know that many people who know little about cycling think that Lance is a god, so I've added a few links below.

Boulder Report

Investigate Lance

Investigate Lance "The Facts"

Weight Weenies forum

Wikipedia

(see "Allegations of Drug Use")

Note: These Web sites don't reflect my views 100%. In particular, Investigatelance.org makes allegations that seem unverifiable. Yet they all give you an indication of the alleged potential problems of Lance heading the Tour organization.

Lance to buy the Tour de France

Multi-millionaire cyclist Lance Armstrong is tipped by the Sydney Morning Herald as a potential buyer of the Tour de France organization. This would surely be the final nail in the coffin for the sport. I, for one, will not watch an event owned and run by this awful man. (click on the title for the article)

I'm pleased to see I'm not alone: http://cyclingfansanonymous.blogspot.com/

A pleasing review

I got a nice review of my Wallpaper City Guide to Kyoto yesterday...

You can see the review here

Bad news for keirin fans

Beijing Olympic triple gold medallist Chris Hoy has pulled out of the international keirin series in Japan in October with an injury (hmmm, really an injury or a more lucrative offer?)

However, Ross Edgar will take his place and he'll be racing against Australia's Shane Kelly and, I believe, Dutchman Teun Mulder.

Sad news

Yesterday in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, keirin cyclist Kei Uchida, 27, crashed and died while racing. Uchida was a great rider. Pro since 2002, he was incredibly strong. He could ride a 200m in the low 11s, yet at the 1995 World Championships he lined up for the individual pursuit and finished in 4.47.601, he went to the Asian Games a year later and rode 4:44.264. He also excelled in the keirin, riding at World Cup level.

It's kind of weird bit of synchronicity, but his old racing bike is on sale: http://columbus.craigslist.org/bik/800215256.html

Well done Masahi Ishii

Masahi Ishii won the 1km time trial at the Beijing Paralympics in a time of 1.08.771 on Tuesday. An amazing time. This guy rides in the cerebral palsy category, and yet he can ride a kilometer in a time more than one second under the time a rider must do to qualify as a keirin rider.

Ishii actually was a keirin rider before a car hit him, leaving him injured. The amazing thing is he's riding as fast, or faster, than many current pros.

Well done Ishii.

Nice Bomber Pro

Of all the keirin frames made in Japan there are three that I like the most - Makino, Cherubim and this one - a Bomber Pro. Try to ignore the awful saddle and rims.

Hakone

I went to Hakone today to see art, but I wish I brought my bike. Such a beautiful setting, and some great mountain climbs up steep, narrow roads.