Road Riding Makes Me Think Of Lance

I went out for a road ride today to just change things up and I got to thinking about the announcement of the Lance making a comeback and heading to the Tour.  I couldn't help but to think of my own attempts of a comeback and how awful that went.

Back in 93 I was State Champion in the California State Series and Amateur Cup Champion all in the same year.  This was the height of my cycling career... college took front row after.  But after years of being out of the game, I was still riding and actually getting very fast.  Everyone pushed me to go out and race again, saying I would own the Expert Class field.  They couldn't be more wrong.

The first race held at Castaic I came in next to last.  I completely blew, but I had a huge smile across my face from the race, something I rarely encountered in the midst of my better days.  My second race I crashed and smashed my face.  I was done.  Racing was in my past, officially.

Which brings me back to Lance.  Dude, take note, don't do it.  Instead pull a comeback in Mountain Biking.  It would be great to go out a hero in road cycling and then if you fall on your face in mountain biking, you have a list of excuses like, it's more technical, the downhilling is rough, whatever.  But to go back into what you  already mastered can lead to huge risks with very little gain.

Think about it.  Let's say Lance wins again.  So what?  All any of us would think is 

1.  The sport got soft and 

2.  No big surprise, he did it many times before.  

It's not like it's Ullrich making a comeback and winning the tour... that would be awesome if Fat Boy came back and kicked ass. No this is someone we are expecting to win.

Now let's say Lance gets his ass handed to him.  Now he goes down like all other greats to tried to make a comeback.  And everyone will say, should've staying in retirement.

BUT, if you make a comeback in a sport close to yours, now it's open season.  And mountain biking is an old dude's haven.  Look at Ned.  He kicked more ass as he got older.  Plus, it would do mountain biking wonders to have an A list athlete in the mix.  Maybe it would give mountain bikes in the stores the exact boost they need in this economy.

That's my two cents.  Agree?  Disagree?  Shout back and let me know.