wirelessracer wrote:It seems Masters 35+ races are faster than ever, Are some guys on the juice or do they not have jobs? Whats do you think, I've been racing a long time and cant believe how fast masters racing has become.

Interesting question. Myself, I'm placing pretty frequently and riding better than I did in the P/1/2 races. Why? Various reasons, which I suspect are common among many of the guys: I now get better rest (enforced by family) that leaves me fresher for race day, I'm that many more years attuned to my body so as to suffer more effectively, I'm now past that 8 year window during which you are still on the upswing, I've dialed in my bike better over the past 4 years (you wouldn't believe the difference that can make!), and the distances are now within my striking range at full power for the duration. So, I train/ride less, but the time spent is structured 100% better than in the past. Ergo, faster more successful racing.

As for deciding if the locals are on some sort of doping scheme, I would like to presume that everyone is basically honest and not doing so. The past few years appear to indicate that those who dope locally suddenly outperform any previous capabilities. If everyone were doping, those individuals wouldn't show up so prominently (high signal to noise ratio). I'm hoping that is a good indicator that the pack is basically clean. I'm also not able to see the value of such doping at the Master's level. Most of the guys here aren't training for national or international results. Who would want to spend megabucks, and risk their health, just for a few extra t-shirts?

I may be blind to the problem, but I prefer to believe that my competitors are clean and that the winners each week can be congratulated as having competed honestly and well. If I'm wrong, I hope to remain ignorant since it allows me to enjoy my rivalries without bitterness or anger. I hope they feel the same way.

Tracy

Ugaliptite wrote:I don't know if anyone is on the juice, but I can tell you first hand, Masters racing in Nor Cal is taken very seriously.

Just look at the amount of money put into Masters teams in the last two years from Corporate sponsorship. Safeway, Morgan Stanley, Spine, and EMC/Documentum. Right there is over 100K in sponsorship cash.

Uga, I can only vouch for one team, but not all of us are racing because of sponsorship dollars... if that were the case, we could field about 1.38 riders.

Ah, well put, they aren't doping, they're dating, and apparently polypharmacologically...

I don't know if anyone is on the juice, but I can tell you first hand, Masters racing in Nor Cal is taken very seriously.

Just look at the amount of money put into Masters teams in the last two years from Corporate sponsorship. Safeway, Morgan Stanley, Spine, and EMC/Documentum. Right there is over 100K in sponsorship cash.

With the amount of money going into cycling in the last couple of years, it would be to everyones advantage if the promoters and the NCNCA would step up and help bring bike racing into the mainstream. A little publicity about events would go a long way. It's not hard either, just call up the newspapers in the towns, they actually like writing about the races. The EMC/Documentum crit got a front page write up on the Tri-Valley Herald Business section. Sponsors like that stuff.

They really could not care less about this website though. 5k well spent? Not sure.

BamBam wrote:Its EVERYWHERE !!!

I once saw a top level NCNCA master go into total roid rage during an arguement. The veins in his forehead were about to pop.

And how many local NCNCA guys pro 1/2 have been busted in the last couple of years?

The hell with all of 'em. I'm selling the bike and taking up poker.

Its EVERYWHERE !!!

I once saw a top level NCNCA master go into total roid rage during an arguement. The veins in his forehead were about to pop.

And how many local NCNCA guys pro 1/2 have been busted in the last couple of years?

The hell with all of 'em. I'm selling the bike and taking up poker.

:evil: Me??...I'm on Belgian Waffles. :mrgreen:

BEBO wrote:Tyler 33, ... what happens is most of these guys retire from the pro peloton, but still need an endorphine fix..

Tyler might not be a good example to use.

I personally know a master racer i would put my name on the line for this guy. He actually is a school principal his technique is simple train smarter not harder. Also remember the older the athlete the more base, the more experience and you must recall with the exception of Damiano Cunego last year, the guys winning the grand tours are no spring chickens. Lance 33, Jan 33, Ekimov 38, Bobby Julich 33, Tyler 33, Cippolini 37, Freddy Rodriguez 31, what happens is most of these guys retire from the pro peloton, but still need an endorphine fix. What happens next you get AMD, Discovery Channel masters team. These retired guys will race until they can no longer walk. So are they juiced yes, but with emotion and passion to race and compete thanks to our masters our new generation of riders have great examples to follow.