The New Criterion:
Making the Grandest Tour. I’d like to see the stats behind this comment: “... the sport he set in motion takes such a savage toll on its riders that studies show that the life expectancy of a professional cyclist is barely more than fifty years.”
CNN:
Another pair of climbers die on Rainier. Avalanche, apparently, this time.
Scotsman.UK:
Ulrich Inderbinen has passed away. Mountain guide par excellence. “He climbed the Matterhorn - ‘the most beautiful mountain in the world’ - at least 370 times, making his final ascent at the age of 90. ”
The Local Sam’s Club
has JanSport Cirrus TN75 3 liter hydration packs for around $29. I picked one up, specifically because it is one of the first ones I’ve tried that actually fits my long torso. It has a nice fleece lined pocket that snugly fits my Canon G5, and a few places to lash things on. The mouthpiece is overengineered (as per usual in new hydration packs; I dislike Platypus’ in particular, and replaced theirs with a standard Camelbak mouthpiece) — but not to the point that it’s unusable. You can actually drink out of this one, though my first impression was it looked restrictive as all hell. I still may swap it out ...
OutdoorsMagic:
Grand Central Everest. I’d go ‘slum’ at K2, rather than get involved in the crowd. An indicator: there are four ... count ‘em ... *four* groups looking for Mallory’s companion, Irvine, on the mountain.
OutdoorsMagic:
No Eiger Norwand climbing this year, it seems.
The Economist:
Name the oldest sport in the world. Quickly, now. No, I didn’t get it either.
NY Times:
Overhauling Lance Armstrong. I had to laugh at the bottom line (in more ways than one).
Outside Mag:
John Kerry, the Extreme Sports candidate. I can’t wait to see how the Secret Service will deal with a windsurfing President ...
SF New Mexican:
Japan’s Olympic swimmers training here in Santa Fe.
NY Times:
Jack La Lanne proves he’s more than just panem et circenses.
The Economist
also has an excellent obituary for Marco Pantani. “When the American champion Lance Armstrong—condescendingly, Mr Pantani thought—allowed him to win the Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour in 2000, he was so angry that he made Mr Armstrong chase him through the peaks for the next two days. The mountains were his, and he could not bear to see them conquered by anyone else.”
NY Times/Reuters:
Cycling teams warned over new tests, blacklist. Pantani’s death woke ‘em up.
BBC:
SI.com:
Marco Pantani, found dead. We will not forget you pounding up the Alpe D’Huez, Marco. Rest in peace.
Singlespeeds:
Yeah, but Gordon, singlespeed had more ... shall I say impact ... when we wore old-fashioned toe clips and straps. Screw up, you’re roadkill. But the quads you grow ... man, oh, man. Great collection of finds.
Bicycle racing:
The 2004 Singlespeed World Championships. Sounds like it’ll be a gas. Berlin. I hope some of those kamikaze NY bike messengers show up.
BikeMagic:
Return of the Raleigh Chopper. Gee, can an Orange Krate be far behind?
Reuters:
Athletes want life ban for steroid use. Good. And this would dramatically change the face of sports.
CNN:
British fox hunting ban reversed. If the foxes have Irish accents, call Bert (Dick Van Dyke, ‘Mary Poppins’) and his carousel-horse, quick ...
CNN:
No surprise. Lance Armstrong and wife to divorce. I wish them both happy lives ... but emphasize for them to think of their children’s needs first.
