The Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. Write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company.

Pros' helmets
Editor,

Am I the only person that does a double take when I see the pro's training for Roubaix without helmets on? Are these guys crazy? I just saw a shot of the Quick Step team training, and there was not a helmet to be seen. I spent a year in Germany, rode a lot of cobbles sans helmet, and I look back and wonder what the hell I could have been thinking. You would at least expect Stuart O'Grady to after last summer.

I always think back to Chris Carmichael saying that he doesn't swing his leg over a bike without one. These days, I'm the same way. I wonder how long it will be before more pros are also.

Whatever. To quote This Is Spinal Tap: There is a fine line between genius and stupid.
Kevin LaVoy,
Chicago, Illinois

Justin's sister says he's a team player
Editors,

Thanks so much for your story highlighting the hard work done by rider Justin England in Tuesday's stage of the Tour de Georgia. I'll admit my bias up-front; I'm Justin's sister.

I was pretty upset by what happened with the most aggressive jersey, and I really appreciate you reporting on it and giving some recognition to a young man who has to be one of the kindest and humblest riders out there. Justin England is truly a team player.

Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Laura England,
Madison, Wisconsin

More on England
Editors,

I watched the race all day yesterday and saw the HUGE effort that Justin England made to get away and stay away until joined 30+ kilometers later.

Then this morning I read an article to find out that he was NOT awarded the Most Aggressive Rider jersey and instead it went to Rhys Pollock (GE-Marco Polo). That by itself is crazy and then to learn that GE (team sponsor of Pollock) was also the sponsor for the Most Aggressive Rider Jersey, that is just insane!!!

Have we as a bike racing community sold out totally to the sponsors? Are we here in the US following the Political BS that the ASO has brought to the sport. That's right, a sport!
John Sokolowski,
Long Branch, New Jersey

Factories actually ARE cool
Editors,

After my letter in VeloNews, I got a call from Robert Egger, creative director at Specialized.

I just got back from a short tour and I have to say, things have really changed since I last walked in their lobby many years ago. Even though it's still a work in progress, now it looks like the kind of lobby I was hoping for back then — a museum and a showcase for some of the fun these guys and gals have had over the years building both totally outrageous and not so outrageous bicycles.

It reflects the enthusiasm and technical innovation I've always associated with the Specialized brand, and it clearly reflects the evolution of Specialized in to a very successful global cycling icon. So it looks like factories aren't just factories anymore.
Steve Rempel,
Los Altos, California

Unimpressed
Editor,

After reading the April 14th letter “Game theory and dopers”, I followed the writer’s advice and read Michael Shermer's article in the March 2008 Scientific American. I was left unimpressed. Putting aside the oft referenced “Game Theory” and a sprinkling of science, the article was filled with all too familiar opinions, rumor and speculation.

Just look at the “More To Explore” list at the end of the article to get an idea on a few sources of the article’s bias. Now I remember why I stopped reading Scientific American.

VeloNews readers might want to read an article about real science in the March 29, 2008 issue of Science News entitled Foul Play: Genetics may affect athlete doping tests.

Maybe after reading this there will be a few less people who are so quick to try and convict an athlete because of a so called positive drug test, especially when it’s testosterone. Or maybe people will just think that this is another way some athletes get away with doping.
Bruce MacKinnon,
Millerton, New York

Likes Chris
Editor,

I don't know if this is the right venue. But, I beg for more interviews and videos with Chris Horner. He said more intelligent things in this latest one than many riders can say in a year. He is insightful and ever so frank without seeming arrogant. His analysis of team strategy and just what happens during races brings us amateur racers right into the pro peloton.

(e.g., see his video interview immediately after Floyd's comeback stage win in '06.)

I love it.
Tyson Branyan,
Cushing, Oklahoma

Redlands was awesome
Editors,

What a great weekend for the Redlands Classic! The Rock Racing spectacle brought so much to the event for my non cycling friends. They know nothing of bike racing, nothing of the caliber of riders on the team, but the show Rock Racing brought to the event created at least a few new fans of bicycle racing. For the good of cycling let's encourage sponsors like this, not make it so damn hard on them!
Earl Schofield,
Yucaipa, California

Earth Day idea
I coach Columbia University's team. We're green at nearly every race. We cut up an old, dead tube to make shims for our clip on aero bars. We make our own power bars and have used maple syrup to replace energy gels. And, we reuse water bottles until they fall apart. We do this out of necessity.

If other teams want to go green, my advice is to go broke like us.
Rob Rowan,
New York, New York

Oy Velo!
Editor,

Mazel Tov on publishing the Web site oyvelo.com. Great find! Who knew there was a site with Jewish dogs, bikes, jerseys and interviews. Shalom out.
Dave Epstein,
San Francisco, California