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does any1 know some good value online stores, want to get some value on my first bike. cheers ian

I can tell you for sure that a very, very bad value is an ill-fitting bike. If you’re confident that you know bikes, bike geometry and your own fit needs go for it.  There are many mail order shops in any triathlon rag, but here are a couple to consider: www.hi-techbikes.com www.missionbaymultisport.com -KM

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Are you sure that the cheapest price will give you best value? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – does any1 know some good value online stores, want to get some value on my first bike. cheers ian

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Ebay…… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Are you sure that the cheapest price will give you best value? does any1 know some good value online stores, want to get some value on my first bike. cheers ian

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does any1 know some good value online stores, want to get some value on my first bike. cheers ian

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I’ve cross-trained with a Concept 2 (in my dreary basement) for years. Apparently the erg is right up there with swimming and x-country skiing in terms of its ability to work all the major muscle groups. It’s always done the job for me — a great way to get a good workout when the rain/snow is too thick outside. One note of caution:  I overtrained on the erg and the bike a few years back and ran into trouble with weakened adductors (the muscles on the inside of your legs).  You can address this effect by ensuring that you develop your adductors (lots of good stretching and targeted muscle training). Lots of training tips at http://www.concept2.com R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: Road Runner – NC Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon I used to row and used the erg all the time and then I bought a bike to cross trian for crew.  After being on the bike, I decided to give up crew and do triathlons.  Now my problem is that my size, which was great for crew, is killing me during triathlons!  Only to be a small runner… Just make sure you are using proper technique.  You want to explode off the catch of the stroke with your legs, and then open your back and bring in your arms at the end.  The recovery goes arms away and then close your back and finally bring your legs up the slide.  You don’t want to lift the handle over your knees, it should already be past your knees from bringing your hands and back over.  Also, go slow up the slide.  Otherwise you’ll hurt your knees. Have fun on the dreaded rowing machine. Adam Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Concept2 for cross training.  I bought one a while back and it really give a great workout. Before you buy.

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Concept 2 rowing machine??? I used to row in college, rowing is excellent crosstraining!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Concept2 for cross training.  I bought one a while back and it really give a great workout. Before you buy.

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I have found that a Concept II will eat your lunch. Your legs and lungs will get the kind of workout that after you finish you will almost be unable to get off the machine for several minutes unless you just fall off. If you do not moderate your stroke to an average for your desired time at the very beginning, you will drop way behind on your 500 meter rate after only 200 meters or so. I cannot tell you how many times I have started strong and died too soon, praying and watching that readout, waiting, waiting, waiting for that 1000-2000-2500 meter finish, and dying with every pull. rockymountainrowing.com Link up to some info through this site. Take a look at what the times are for your age/wt group to qualify either local or national and look at the time per 500 meters you would have to do for it. Then try it. It may be harder than any tri you have ever done in your life. When I lived down in New Orleans there was an interesting race, a Quadrathon. It was a time trial staggered start and all on indoor machines.No breaks between, continuous timing. 500 steps on stairstepper 2500 meters Concept II rower 8 miles Schwinn Airdyne bike 3 miles treadmill run. Very strenuous. Ken

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Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Concept2 for cross training.  I bought one a while back and it really give a great workout. Before you buy.

I use it for "triathlon" training in the gym. I find your typical gym stationary bike very unrewarding, so I never use them. Here’s my workout when I’m pushed for time: 30mins on CII – do close to 8500m, wipe the sweat off the machine then straight on to – 30mins treadmill – my rowing is faster! Some bench-press and shoulder-press sets. If I’m really pushed for time, I’ll drop the weights, and just do 20mins on the rower/treadmill. — Baker Atlas GEOScience      Tel: +44 (0)208 202 2433 154 Brent Street,           FAX: +44 (0)208 202 2287 London, NW4 2DR, ENGLAND.   WWW: http://www.zands.com

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Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Concept2 for cross training.  I bought one a while back and it really give a great workout. Before you buy.

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I used to row and used the erg all the time and then I bought a bike to cross trian for crew.  After being on the bike, I decided to give up crew and do triathlons.  Now my problem is that my size, which was great for crew, is killing me during triathlons!  Only to be a small runner… Just make sure you are using proper technique.  You want to explode off the catch of the stroke with your legs, and then open your back and bring in your arms at the end.  The recovery goes arms away and then close your back and finally bring your legs up the slide.  You don’t want to lift the handle over your knees, it should already be past your knees from bringing your hands and back over.  Also, go slow up the slide.  Otherwise you’ll hurt your knees. Have fun on the dreaded rowing machine. Adam Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Concept2 for cross training.  I bought one a while back and it really give a great workout. Before you buy.

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Oct. 03, 1998 Oct. 23, 1999 Oct. 14, 2000 Oct. 06, 2001 Oct. 19, 2002 Oct. 11, 2003 Oct. 23, 2004 Oct. 15, 2005 Oct. 07, 2006 Oct. 27, 2007 Oct. 11, 2008 Oct. 03, 2009

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Oct. 03, 1998 Oct. 23, 1999 Oct. 14, 2000 Oct. 06, 2001 Oct. 19, 2002 Oct. 11, 2003 Oct. 23, 2004 Oct. 15, 2005 Oct. 07, 2006 Oct. 27, 2007 Oct. 11, 2008 Oct. 03, 2009

Thanks Tracy, I have my calender marked for my next 2 age groups! Good Training, Good Racing, Joe Joseph C. Foster "People can’t understand why a man runs. They don’t see any sport in it, argue that it lacks the sight-thrill of body contact, the color of rough conflict. Yet the conflict is there, more raw and challenging than any man versus man competition. In (Triathlon) it is man against himself, the cruelest of all opponents. The other (racers) are not the real enemies. His adversary lies deep within him, in his ability, with brain and heart, to control and master himself and his emotions." – Glenn Cunningham

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Well now I am 3 for 3. Yep, three races I desperately wnated to do this year I have been closed out of because of the field limit. I didn’t even get my Alcatraz application in before it closed. Then the Desert Quest adventure race closed. Now, the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon is closed. Maybe it is a sign to stop racing this season. All those rainy days trying to train through El Nino for naught. Boo Hoo !

Why not try some smaller, local (not neccesarly shorter) races?  There usually closer, cheaper and none of that drafting(much less anyway) than the big field races like the GCT.  The local races never fill up ( in my many experiences) I usually sign up race morning and I race almost every week.  I enjoy the small races more actually, I am able to be competitive.  Of course maybe out west you don’t have the numerous races we have in the northeastr, There’s usually 1-3 du’s or tri’s within a 2-3 hour drive of me every weekend from march to october. Tim Hignett Buaidh No Bas -Seeking HQ GD and JGB tape trades,YLGM-

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I understand that there’s plenty of room in the Met-rx 1/2 I-man at Lake Perris in August.

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Well now I am 3 for 3. Yep, three races I desperately wnated to do this year I have been closed out of because of the field limit. I didn’t even get my Alcatraz application in before it closed. Then the Desert Quest adventure race closed. Now, the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon is closed. Maybe it is a sign to stop racing this season. All those rainy days trying to train through El Nino for naught. Boo Hoo !

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Well now I am 3 for 3. Yep, three races I desperately wnated to do this year I have been closed out of because of the field limit. I didn’t even get my Alcatraz application in before it closed.

If you didn’t get into the "Escape", try doing the Envirosports Alcatraz XVIII triathlon on August 15.  It’s called "Alcatraz XVIII" because Envirosports has been putting on this race for 18 years (they were the original Escape from Alcatraz).  The "24 Hour Fitness" people have only been putting their version on for 3 years, with a new race director each year. You can find info about the August 15th race at     http://www.envirosports.com/all_events.html#aug15 Good luck! Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft." *** Ironman Canada 1997 – 13:04:09 *** http://www.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

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___MAYBE___ it’s a sign to stop procrastinating! <g Or, for the psychologists out there, maybe you really didn’t want to do them anyway. Or, the dog ate the apps, or the mailman threw them in a river in Chicago. (This was meant in a lighthearted manner – all of it) I did the opposite. I signed up for three races WAY WAY in advance, and now can’t do Columbia this weekend because of a bum hamstring. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well now I am 3 for 3. Yep, three races I desperately wnated to do this year I have been closed out of because of the field limit. I didn’t even get my Alcatraz application in before it closed. Then the Desert Quest adventure race closed. Now, the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon is closed. Maybe it is a sign to stop racing this season. All those rainy days trying to train through El Nino for naught. Boo Hoo !

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Thanks for the info, anyone else have suggestions?

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Can anyone recommend a store in the Dallas Metroplex to purchase a Trisuit? What type of Tri-suit do you recommend? I am a new Triath. (1st year) and don’t know what to buy or where to buy? Thanks for any help offered. Ryan Propst

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Unfortunately, Dallas does not have a pure triathlon store. You can find some things at Run On, though it’s mostly running-oriented, tri-bike things at Bike Mart, and swim things at Luke’s Locker. Wheels in Motion has a few things, but they aren’t too popular among tri-geeks. Avoid Competitive Cyclist, they have an evil reputation. If you want to shop for wetsuits, then your best bet is a trip down to Houston, to Bikesport, or Shreveport, or Austin Tricyclist. I keep bugging the Bike Mart guys to carry more tri-stuff, especially QR stuff, but apparently there was some hassle between the owner and our friend Mr. Empfield. I respect both, so I assume it was an honest misunderstanding, but I wish they’d work it out. You can also go the expo before the big races. The next big race in that category is the USTS race on May 10–I’m sure there will be a major expo there the day before the race. My best stuff I bought at such expos. Can anyone recommend a store in the Dallas Metroplex to purchase a Trisuit? What type of Tri-suit do you recommend? I am a new Triath. (1st year) and don’t know what to buy or where to buy? Thanks for any help offered. Ryan Propst

Rick Denney Take what you want and leave the rest.

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Question:

Hi there,         Spencer’s shorts are part of the Speedo TRIATHelite range sold only in Europe. The last time I heard Speedo are not going to sell the range in the states. I could give you the name of a shop that boasts world wide sales if you want in England. Chris carpenter — Chris Carpenter at the Max-Planck-Insitut fuer Polymerforschung voice: +49 6131 379217           : Zipp 2001…..Speed Weaponry fax:   +49 6131 379100           : Saucony,  Loyal to the sport www:   http://www.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/~carpent

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I believe the shorts/suits are Speedo Aquablade "Jammers"…but then again, Spencer could easily have something custom made… Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the speedo shorts like those worn by Spencer Smith? They look like a chopped down version of bike shorts. These look like they would be ideal for an Ironman length race, to swim in, then ride in. I don’t relish the thought of wearing my weenie bikini on the bike at Ironman, but would love to be able to pass up changing bottoms after the swim though. I checked a couple of mail order mags. and saw a pair that was similar, but they were just straight black, so i’m not sure if they are the same thing. Mike Plumb

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Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the speedo shorts like those worn by Spencer Smith? They look like a chopped down version of bike shorts. These look like they would be ideal for an Ironman length race, to swim in, then ride in. I don’t relish the thought of wearing my weenie bikini on the bike at Ironman, but would love to be able to pass up changing bottoms after the swim though. I checked a couple of mail order mags. and saw a pair that was similar, but they were just straight black, so i’m not sure if they are the same thing. Mike Plumb

Mike: They are available at many triathlon/running shops. Call your local stores first. If you fail, give Inside/Out Sports a call. I know that they have them in stock. Call Cid or Aaron at (919) 755-6202. Cheers Keith Simmons Ironman Triathlon Wetsuits (804) 288-6000

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Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the speedo shorts like those worn by Spencer Smith? They look like a chopped down version of bike shorts. These look like they would be ideal for an Ironman length race, to swim in, then ride in. I don’t relish the thought of wearing my weenie bikini on the bike at Ironman, but would love to be able to pass up changing bottoms after the swim though. I checked a couple of mail order mags. and saw a pair that was similar, but they were just straight black, so i’m not sure if they are the same thing. Mike Plumb

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I’ve been looking for the same.  I’ve seen them in World Wide Aquatics catalog as well as in the Speedo store in the mall, but to be honest I wasn’t impressed.  The Speedo store wanted $40-50 and they were very thin(seems you should get a little more durable weight material for that much). DeSoto has something similar for women in their catalog as well as on their website(on sale for quite cheap).  In an email, Emilio told me that they don’t have a similar short for men yet, but he’s had a lot of guys purchase the women’s short in one of the more neutral colors.  That doesn’t really help me since the large is still too small for my Herculean(yeah right) waist. Stacy J. Hills Reston, VA … – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the speedo shorts like those worn by Spencer Smith? They look like a chopped down version of bike shorts. These look like they would be ideal for an Ironman length race, to swim in, then ride in. I don’t relish the thought of wearing my weenie bikini on the bike at Ironman, but would love to be able to pass up changing bottoms after the swim though. I checked a couple of mail order mags. and saw a pair that was similar, but they were just straight black, so i’m not sure if they are the same thing. Mike Plumb

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The bike course is NOT closed to traffic. Although there are a lot of cops clearing the way. The swim course was cut short last year due to fog. The one thing I can tell you is bring a wetsuit!! Have a great race. Roger Gorke

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For those folks who have done this race, can someone confirm that the bike course is closed to traffic?  Also anything you’d like to say about the swim course?  Thanks — Huy Nguyen

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Snip, snip  I had a wetsuit, I would have worn it. name and abode to add to the feeling of accomplishment as I strutted past the finish line 66th out of 167.

Congrats!  And welcome to the club wacko!   Anders

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     I was shivering without a wetsuit in brown water waiting for some sort of sound to indicate the start of the swim.   My feet were sinking in the mud as I let my eyes wander around my water companions.  I wasn

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When I first started racing sanctioned events a few years ago, it seemed as though purchasing a license (either one day or annual) was a type of extortion.  Either you buy our insurance, or you don’t race.  My view began to change around the time of the elections last year when the drafting/ITU issues began to heat up.  I voted for anti-drafting/anti ITU control candidates, but decided to hold off on renewing my annual license, for as long as possible so that I could see if the new board would actually take a stand or proceed with business as usual.  I ended up renewing a few weeks ago, and now am extremely glad that I did.  By their actions in implementing and enforcing the new drafting policies, and by taking a stand against Mr. Sisson, USA Triathlon has, in this one members view, grown from just another bureacracy into an effective voice for the athlete. Thank you, Chuck Berghoefer

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  FROM USA TRIATHLON’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS       AN OPEN LETTER TO MARK SISSON FROM USA TRIATHLON   RELEASE I   [.. Reasonably Predictable stuff ..] Ole!         Encore!                 Hear!, Hear!                                 Woof!! I have nothing more to add .. really.   Release II will be posted on May 16, 1996 I can hardly wait. Well said USAT —   Woof!

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FROM USA TRIATHLON’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AN OPEN LETTER TO MARK SISSON FROM USA TRIATHLON RELEASE I 1.  INTRODUCTION This is an open letter from USA Triathlon to Mark Sisson answering his "This is a long one" RST memo.  USA Triathlon believes Mark’s memo needs an open reply. It is important that all of the readers of RST know what is happening in the world of the federations. USA Triathlon has decided to nominate its own candidate to be the next ITU President.  You will be reading all about that either tomorrow or the next day. Also, USA Triathlon has decided not to renominate Mark to be a candidate for the ITU Treasurer election which is scheduled to take place in Cleveland on August 23, 1996.  We think that everyone should know why. However, this memo is more than an explanation of USA Triathlon’s action in this regard.  At least in part, we intend this to be a statement of the philosophy and goals of USA Triathlon. USA Triathlon believes that Mark Sisson should be answered at length in order to correct the many inaccuracies and special pleading which fill his RST memo.  USA Triathlon has decided to answer each of the points raised by Mark.  Because of the length of its answer, USA Triathlon plans to release its answer, point by point, every other day for ease of reading and comment.  We think it would be best that any RST reply refer to the USA Triathlon release by name as well as number.  This release is Release I. On August 23, 1996 in Cleveland the ITU membership (118 triathlon federations) will meet to vote for new ITU officers and committee people for the four year period ending with the Sydney Olympics.  Under the ITU Constitution, no one can run for an ITU office or ITU committee post unless the prospective candidate’s home federation nominates that person in writing signed by the home federation’s president and secretary.  USA Triathlon has not nominated Mark Sisson to run for any ITU office or ITU committee position in Cleveland this coming August, including, as we have said, for ITU Treasurer. 2.  THE ITU TREASURER Everyone reading this posting should know that Mark Sisson has, in his time, given this sport good service.  However, in the past several years he seems more and more to have looked at this sport solely through the eyes of Les McDonald, ITU’s president.  In the process, Mark has disappointed many people, including USA Triathlon, with the views he has taken on many important issues.  He has shown that he is very much out of step with the thinking of USA Triathlon and its members. As ITU Treasurer, Mark is entitled to his own views.  As ITU Treasurer, Mark is not expected to speak for USA Triathlon.  But what Mark overlooks is that USA Triathlon is the only entity having the right to nominate Mark to his ITU Treasurer’s office, or for that matter, any ITU position or office.  With respect to anyone wanting USA Triathlon’s nomination to an ITU post, it seems crystal clear that the person making a request for nomination should be sensitive to what USA Triathlon thinks and what it requires. As Mark Sisson says, and as USA Triathlon agrees, the ITU Treasurer is not the representative of USA Triathlon.  The ITU Constitution specifically sets forth the ITU’s Treasurer’s duties which include, among other things, (i) the responsibility for ITU’s financial affairs, (ii) signing all marketing and sponsorship agreements and (iii) preparation of the annual ITU budget.  Further, when Mark was elected Treasurer he took an ITU oath which required him         "To advance the programmes and policies of the ITU [and to] faithfully               discharge [his] duties as an officer." USA Triathlon would have very much preferred if Mark could have seen his way clear to make it possible for USA Triathlon’s views to be understood and respected by the ITU Executive Board, especially since there is no other USA Triathlon person on the ITU Executive Board.  We think that if Mark could have made USA Triathlon’s view known and respected in ITU circles, Mark’s ITU Treasurer job should not have been diminished in any respect. However, if Mark had merely insulated himself from USA Triathlon during the past years no one would have been really angry with him. Disappointed, yes; angry, no.  Instead, Mark seems to have been part of the ITU process of the last few years which has built a wall around USA Triathlon and its views.  Indeed, Mark seemed to take pleasure in helping Les McDonald isolate USA Triathlon from the ITU decision-making process. Because of that, USA Triathlon believes that Mark Sisson incorrectly states the issues involved concerning his desire to run again for ITU Treasurer. When the ITU was formed in 1989, its initial members (which included USA Triathlon, then known as Tri-Fed) included the following provision in the ITU Constitution, a provision which is still in effect:         "9.5 A candidate for election must be a member of a [national                            federation], which is an affiliate of ITU in good standing; [and must]               submit…the nomination form signed by [that federation's] President and               Secretary." Thus Mark Sisson cannot run for re-election as ITU Treasurer unless USA Triathlon renominates him for the office.  If Mark Sisson would have been content to be a one-term ITU Treasurer, then the disdain in which he holds USA Triathlon would merit no further comment from USA Triathlon. But Mark Sisson is not content to be a one-term ITU Treasurer.  He wants a second term, and for that, as he understood, he had to ask USA Triathlon for its second nomination.  And so Mark asked for renomination in February of this year at the USA Triathlon Board of Directors meeting. Unless you were there, you would never believe how Mark handled himself as he asked for renomination.  It was apparent at that meeting that Mark had forgotten the basic reality of all politics, and that reality is to stay in touch with your constituency’s views about what the constituency considers to be key issues.  In Mark’s case, his constituency was the USA Triathlon Board of Directors, not Les McDonald.  At the February USA Triathlon Board of Directors meeting, Mark lectured the USA Triathlon Board.  Mark made it quite clear that if he came away with USA Triathlon’s renomination, he intended to continue to pay no heed to either USA Triathlon or its views. USA Triathlon was not about to make the same mistake twice.  It was time to retire Mark Sisson. It is a fact, and Mark was told this in plain English at the USA Triathlon Board of Directors meeting, that USA Triathlon was not satisfied (i) with Mark Sisson’s ITU performance and (ii) with Mark Sisson’s working relationship with USA Triathlon.  In a nutshell, he was denied a second nomination by USA Triathlon because of his expressed contempt for USA Triathlon and its views. That contempt pervades Mark’s RST memo which is the subject of this and subsequent USA Triathlon RST releases.  Mark Sisson, as he says, may never have been USA Triathlon’s representative but he had once been USA Triathlon’s nominee for ITU Treasurer.  Turnabout is fair play.  Now, Mark is not USA Triathlon’s nominee for anything. By the way, the reason why an ITU candidate needs to be nominated by the candidate’s home federation is not as Mark puts it (preventing a person unknown to the sport from being elected) but is much more basic.  After all, when you think about it, anyone who is not known to the sport is not going to win an election. The reason why a home federation has to nominate one if its own to be a candidate is because the ITU was started as an organization of national member federations.  It was to be their international federation.  That’s why the ITU Constitution was written as it was, so that ITU officers and committee people had to stay in touch with their home federations if they wanted to hang around for more than one term. Mark has forgotten all of that; maybe he never knew it.  For many years he has acted, in concert with Les McDonald, as if he was an ITU owner.  It’s really time to change that way of thinking.  We hope you agree. Release II will be posted on May 16, 1996. -USA TRIATHLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Hot off of the presses pilgrims: Forsyth County News, Cumming Georgia, March 17th      "A political impasse has caused the Sawnee Communitee Center to cancel its biggest fund-raiser of the year.      Mayor H. Ford Gravitt stands by the Cumming FPolice Department’s sug- gested route for the Cumming Triathlon/Biathlon.  The organizers of the race, like-wise are adamant their proposed route is best.  The organizer’s route was designed four years ago by Dick Waters, co-director of the Sawnee Center, his wife Karen, former director of the triathlon/biathlon and consultant for this year’s race, former Police Chief Wayne Lindsey and former Sheriff Wesley Walraven.      For the past 11 years, the Cumming Triathlon/Biathlon has raised money to support the center.  This year, the race was cancelled due to the discrepency in the route.      The race, which has raised over $145,000 for the non-profit Sawnee Center over the past 10 years, has followed the same course for three years, said Karen Waters.      The previous route was changed to avoid crossing Bald Ridge Marina Road when it was expanded to two lanes each direction, she said.      Although planning for the Triathlon/Biathlon began in September, no problems were voiced to organizers until the end of January, Waters said.      "Our concern is the safety," said Assistant Police Chief Buck Jones of the Cumming Police Department.      Jones said there have been problems in past years between bicyclists and motorists.  On one occasion a driver hit a bicycle rider on purpose, although it was later ruled an accident, Jones said.     "The people get downright belligerent," he said.      Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said the Police Department began working with organizers of the race in January this year.  In past years the police were not involved until 30 days before the race began.      "We tried to resolve it with them and work it out," said Gravitt "they were dead set on the route they had."      Waters said she and her husband have looked into several alternative routes but none qualify.     The route suggested by Jones crosses Bald Ridge Marina and Pilgrim Roads.  Waters said the closing of those roads would be almost impossible. Bald Ridge Marina has two lanes of traffic each direction and there are hundreds of homes along Pilgrim Mill that would be blocked.      Jones said those areas are out of his jurisdiction.      "All we are concerned with is inside the city," he said.     Jones said many city officials are concerned with the route the race has been run the past few years because it involves Highway 9, Castleberry Road and Old Buford Road.  Gravitt said the City Council has had numerous complaints over the past few years from businesses and residents about the traffic problems.      The race as proposed would begin and end in Mary Alice Park.  During a City Council Meeting in January, Councilman Rupert Sexton suggested the race end at the fairgrounds to prevent crossing the city twice.      Waters said there is too much gravel in the fairgrounds parking lot. Many contestants ride bikes which cost $5000.  They do not want to ride them in gravel or along grass.      Gravitt said the parking lot should be paved this week, eliminating the problem.      A statement released by the Sawnee Center Friday said other problems with the fairgrounds plan include space requirements.  The parking lot will simply not fit up to 700 bicycles. Also, twice the number of volunteers would be needed if the race began and ended at different locations.      The race has been recognized as the best in Georgia and one of the best in the southeast, according to the Sawnee Center.  This year’s race was expected to be the Georgia State Championship for 1996.      The race has been run by athletes from at least 37 states and eight foreign countries." =^ SIGH! I was really looking forward to this one this year.  Is there no end to the stupidity of petty beaurocrats?  If The  can shut down a major part of Boston for 5 hours, don’t you think it is possible to shut down a minor burgh like Cumming for a few on a Sunday Morning?  Sheesh! Mol<==One really depressed Trigeek!

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As a former resident of Alpharetta (just down the road toward Atlanta from Cumming), I can testify to the safety questions surrounding this event. While I didn’t start doing triathlon until I moved to Southern Cal, I road hundreds of miles on the roads around this area, and I’m lucky to be alive.  Nowhere have I seen more people go out of their way to insult, pelt, and flat run off the road every cyclist they meet.  That line about a racer being hit by a car "accidentally on purpose" kind of says it all. I am sorry to hear about the race being canceled, though.  Anytime we are denied a chance to compete, whether by act of God or mindless bureaucrat, everyone in the sport loses just a little.

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