December 22/97 19:47 pm - New Team, Forum, MTB World's Schedule, `Cross, Vietnam, Silly Season

Posted by Editor on 12/22/97
 

3 Canadians on New U.S. Team

Canadian riders Gord Fraser, Matt Anand and Mark Walters will be members of a new U.S. squad. The team has no title sponsor at this point, but it will focus primarily on U.S. races; the only Canadian appearances will be for events such as Beauce. While moving to a large U.S. team is a step up for Anand (and a lateral move for espoir rider Walters), it seems to be a bit of a comedown for Fraser - he did have a 7th place in a Tour stage, and a stage win in the GP du Midi Libre this past season (trivia question: which stage?). However, Gord was not able to get the sort of contract he wanted, and his girlfriend does live in the southern States..., so the move is one that will probably make him happy. Thurlow Rogers (who rode `way back in the `84 Olympics) is the team captain, but expect Fraser to be one of the leaders (ie, the one the team is working for) on the road, since he is one of the most accomplished riders on the team.

Not A Creature Was Stirring...

It may have seemed like we had abandoned you, since we haven't posted anything for 5 WHOLE DAYS!, but we've been busy working on a bevy of new sites (including our own updated version), and there was really no news to report. Seems like our readership has been busy too (everyone out doing their last minute Christmas shopping?) - the Forum postings have petered out over the last couple of days. Too bad, that - there was a couple a good threads started: Top-10 list of gifts for cyclists; and the 12 Days of Christmas, done to the tune of Curt (read them and yule understand...). Let's see if we can get them up and running. However, if your creativity has run dry in that area, we have a more important task for you: post your New Years' Resolution to the Forum. It can be a real one (I will clean my chain at least once a week), or a fantasy (I will clean my chain once a week...). Put them up between now and New Years' Day so that we can all be inspired.

World's Page

We have been told that the UCI has finally approved the schedule for the `98 Mountain Bike Worlds (in Mont Ste Anne, Quebec). We expect to have the official schedule within the next 24 hours and will then post it to the Worlds website. The accomodation page is also in the works, so that should go up soon as well.

Vietnam Challenge

We wanted to let you know about this area on the AskAsia Website, the Vietnam Challenge; a bicycle journey for reconciliation. We invite you to visit the site, and add a link if possible to encourage others to experience this unique historical event.

The site is located atVietnam Challenge

On New Year's Day 1998, abled and disabled veterans from both sides of the War in Vietnam will begin the Vietnam Challenge, a bicycle journey down Vietnam's previously war torn Highway 1. The Asia Society, America's premier cultural and educational institution dedicated to fostering understanding and communications between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific, will enable millions to follow the historic 16-day, 1,200 mile trek virtually via the AskAsia Web site (http://www.askasia.org).

Led by champion cyclist Greg LeMond and Olympic swimmer Diana Nyad, the 75 rider Challenge seeks to build channels of dialogue and friendship between nations. It's also a potentially ideal online experience. The Web's immediacy and interactivity, coupled with AskAsia's commitment to top quality learning and discovery experiences on the Internet, make the Vietnam Challenge a perfect activity for families. Online participants will communicate with challenge team members (American and Vietnamese), exchange ideas, explore Vietnam's diverse landscape, and learn about the richness and vitality of contemporary Vietnam.

If you require any additional information about this event, please contact:

Chris Gioia
Connors Internet Group
chris@connors.com

Cyclo-Cross World Cup #4 - Belgium

1 GROENENDAAL, Richard NED 1:01:10.0
2 VAN DER POEL, Adrie NED 1:01:33.0
3 JANSSENS, Marc BEL 1:01:47.0
4 PONTONI, Daniele ITA 1:02:02.0
5 VERVECKEN, Erwin BEL 1:02:16.0
6 SIMUNEK, Radomir CZE 1:02:16.0
7 NIJS, Sven BEL 1:02:16.0
8 VAN SANTVLIET, Peter BEL 1:02:27.0
9 DE VOS, Wim NED 1:02:30.0
10 WELLENS, Bart BEL 1:02:44.0

World Cup Standings (after 4 events)

1 GROENENDAAL, Richard 170 points
2 VAN DER POEL, Adrie 142
3 RUNKEL, Dieter SUI 98
4 PONTONI, Daniele 94
5 JANSSENS, Marc 89

Silly Season Stuff

These next two items have absolutely nothing to do with cycling, but we could not resist putting them up:

Check this site out, we won't say another word, you will understand when you get there...

The Xmas Files
(thanks to Steve Boehmke of Shimano)

Mulder: We're too late. It's already been here.

Scully: Mulder, I hope you know what you are doing.

Mulder: Look, Scully, just like the other homes: Douglas fir, truncated, mounted, transformed into some sort of shrine; halls decked with boughs of holly; stockings hung by the chimney, with care.

Scully: You really think someone's been here?

Mulder: Someone or some THING.

Scully: Mulder, over here -- it's fruitcake.

Mulder: Don't touch it! Those things can be lethal.

Scully: It's O.K. There's a note attached: "Gonna find out who's naughty and nice."

Mulder: It's judging them, Scully. It's making a list.

Scully: Who? What are you talking about?

Mulder: Ancient mythology tells of an obese humanoid entity who could travel at great speed in a craft powered by antlered servants. Once each year, near the winter solstice, this creature is said to descend from the heavens to reward its followers and punish its disbelievers with jagged chunks of anthracite.

Scully: But that's legend, Mulder -- a story told by parents to frighten children. Surely, you don't believe it?

Mulder: Something was here tonight, Scully. Check out the bite marks on this gingerbread man. Whatever tore through this plate of cookies was massive -- and in a hurry.

Scully: It left crumbs everywhere. And look, Mulder, this milk glass has been completely drained.

Mulder: It gorged itself, Scully. It fed without remorse.

Scully: But why would they leave it milk and cookies?

Mulder: Appeasement. Tonight is the Eve, and nothing can stop its wilding.

Scully: But if this thing does exist, how did it get in? The doors and windows were locked. There's no sign of forced entry.

Mulder: Unless I miss my guess, it came through the fireplace.

Scully: Wait a minute, Mulder. If you are saying some huge creature landed on the roof and came down the chimney, you're crazy. The flue is barely six inches wide. Nothing could get through there.

Mulder: But what if it could alter its shape, move in all directions.

Scully: You mean, like a bowl full of jelly?

Mulder: Exactly. Scully, I've never told anyone this, but when I was a child my home was visited. I saw the creature. It had long white strips of fur surrounding its ruddy, misshapen head. Its bloated torso was red and white. I'll never forget the horror. I turned away, and when I looked back it had somehow taken on the facial features of my father.

Scully: Impossible.

Mulder: I know what I saw. And that night it read my mind. It brought me a Mr. Potato Head, Scully. IT KNEW I WANTED A MR. POTATO HEAD.

Scully: I'm sorry, Mulder, but you're asking me to disregard the laws of physics. You want me to believe in some supernatural being who soars across the skies and brings gifts to good little girls and boys. Listen to what you are saying. Do you understand the repercussions? If this gets out, they'll close the X-files.

Mulder: Scully, listen to me: It knows when you are sleeping. It knows when you're awake.

Scully: But we have no proof.

Mulder: Last year, on this exact date, S.E.T.I. radio telescopes detected bogeys in the airspace over twenty-seven states. The White House ordered a Condition Red.

Scully: But that was a meteor shower.

Mulder: Officially. Two days ago, eight prized Scandinavian reindeer vanished from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Nobody - not even the zookeeper - was told about it. The government doesn't want people to know about Project Kringle. They fear that if this thing is proved to exist, then the public would stop spending half its annual income in a holiday shopping frenzy. Retail markets will collapse. Scully,they cannot let the world believe this creature lives. There's too much at stake. They'll do whatever it takes to insure another silent night.

Scully: Mulder, I --

Mulder: Sh-h-h! Do you hear what I hear?

Scully: On the roof. It sounds like . . . a clatter.

Mulder: The truth is up there. Let's see what's the matter.