It was with some disappointment that I read Darach McQuiad’s tweet from Friday, October 14th.

“Momentarily irked by bloggers. Q – any cycling blogger out there actually, EVER, achieved or created anything in this sport? Risked any €$ ?”

For those who don’t know Darach is the brother of UCI president Pat McQuaid. Darach is also a principal at Shadetree Sports – the company that was partly responsible for bringing the Road Cycling World Championships to Virginia in 2015. His company was also behind the now folded Tour of Ireland. I’m guessing his exasperation with bloggers is that they have pointed out possible nepotism in the process awarding Worlds to Richmond. It’s easy to see how there would be a conflict of interest. In an interview with Cyclingnews.com Pat denies any possible family backdoor dealings. However, Darach fails to realize how bloggers are often the ones pointing out and exposing to the light some of the dirty secrets this sport has hidden. So this begs the question – why is Darach irked? Don’t both McQuaids want what’s best for the sport?

Some main stream media have taken bold steps to point out fallacies/lies/inaccuracies that the UCI tends to push out in poorly written press releases, but it’s the bloggers who have championed the cause of cycling for the better. They are not motivated by a sales team that is worried about a full-page ad being pulled or comp’ed hotel rooms for a magazine’s journalists being yanked. The good bloggers are questioning what needs to be questioned.

For me Darach’s statements once again smack of the era of “omerta” in the sport – don’t look behind the curtain and let us continue to run the sport as it always has been.

To follow Darach’s logic, before someone can fairly criticize the sport they have to have risked money or created something? That makes no sense. Instead McQuaid should be thanking blogs like Inrng, Cyclismas, Cyclocosm, NY Velocity, and The Elements of Guile, to name but a few, for carrying the banner of cycling with passion and verve. It’s writers like this, along with a select group of journalists, not willing to tow the company line, that have righted this ship and pushed for change. If not for these writers, we’d still be in the days when racers were going to bed with blood thick as ketchup and never waking up. Ah…the good old days…

As I talk to younger pros, some seem to understand how these “irksome bloggers” have been part of a change for the better. The old ways of not allowing critical analysis are gone and the Old Guard had better accept it and work with it. Comments such as McQuaid’s show a reluctance for change, which is necessary and unavoidable.

I sincerely hope this was a passing thought and he reconsidered his point of view after a few calming breaths. These changes that the McQuaids seem to be fighting against are for the best and if they can’t tack their sail into this new wind of change, they need to abandon ship. And to answer his question – yes I have risked $$, created and achieved in this sport. So have many others.

Speaking of change – one element of reporting or sharing our lives is the use of social media like YouTube and Twitter. On the next TourChats our two guests are masters at both. Austin Carroll posted daily video blogs for a year chronicling his personal life as he struggled as a professional cyclist in the discipline of the track. Carroll had been part of BMC, Rock Racing and in the beginning of this year, a new track squad, Team OUCH. However, plans didn’t go smoothly for him and Carroll was forced to make adjustments. Along the way we also got a look into his personal life off the bike – all in five to ten minute segments.

The other TourChats guest I’m not even sure how to describe. @Mmmaiko is an anonymous Twitter phenomenon. Her tweets are rapid fire and perplexing at first glance, but looked at again funny and poignant. She started a Tumbr blog where she Blingees professional cyclists. I invitede her on the show fully expecting to be shot down, but instead she agreed to come on camera and talk. To be honest I’m not sure what to expect. As @mmmaiko herself said, maybe she’s my Tyler Durden and in the end we’re just going to blow shit up. I guess you’ll have to tune in Sunday night…

@neilroad hates failwhales...

Twitter is where I often go to spout off on a number of subjects. Sometimes those 140 character posts are jump off points for other conversations. For those who are not on Twitter or may just pop in occasionally, here are some highlights from the past week.

@neilroad: Looking at photos from CN’s report on Tour of Beijing I don’t see any spectators? http://bit.ly/oKSsZq

@neilroad: OK…stand corrected. Maybe these images were just added but there are spectators at Beijing finish line http://bit.ly/pio2n7

I got some responses from people actually watching the race in person and they reported that the crowds were in fact sparse. The Chinese police were a little concerned about large public gatherings. I wonder if the Chinese officials realized that watching a bike race required a large gathering? Turns out that bike racing is not an approved Chairman Mao activity.

@neilroad: Trying to read CN story that says UCI deny threatening teams but a 404 error. Has Aigle launched cyber attack? http://yfrog.com/nxo5tpbj

I’ve been reading post-race reports and watching video clips from the Tour of Beijing. Let’s forget for a moment the mutual hand jobs that the race organizer and the UCI have given to each other to make this race happen. From threatening emails sent to team sponsors to how a sport’s governing body has stepped into a role of race promoter – this all stinks to high heaven like the back alley of a Beijing restaurant. Then another bomb dropped which again showed the shadiness of cycling’s governing body.

@neilroad: Wow! Sometimes you think the UCI can’t do anything stupider & then this cock-up. Cycling needs new leadership from top to bottom http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-performed-no-blood-tests-during-amgen-tour-of-california

Hold on! Stop the presses! The UCI didn’t conduct the blood testing like they said they would at the Amgen Tour of California. Also there were no blood testing at Tour of Utah and the Colorado Pro Challenge Stage Race Whatever the Hell They Want To Name It Race? What more can I say that hasn’t already been said numerous times – Pat McQuaid and his cronies need to be removed.

But the best tweets of the week have come from my mom who is visiting from England. Here’s a sample which will undoubtedly grow during her four week stay.

My mom:”what you write can be seen around the world? Me: Yes, on the internet. Mom: “oh, that’s lovely. #shitmymomsays

@neilroad: Spent AM trying to explain why not good idea to walk around w/$100s in cash. “I’ve never been robbed except 1 time in Spain” #shitmymomsays

@neilroad: British people say “nachos” funny. #shitmymomsays

Another Twitter personality, Austin Carroll is going to be on our TourChats show this Sunday. You can tell he is excited:

@AustinCarroll: I am going to be on @TourChats this Sunday!!! More info soon!!!

Another guest will be US women’s TT champ Evelyn Stevens. She’s not on Twitter yet…

The baned Shiv at the Specialized launch

First Alberto Contador’ Specialized Shiv was banned, now Fabian Cancellara’s Shiv has also been declared illegal by the UCI. Team Saxo Bank team manager Bjarne Riis was furious.

“It is very annoying,” said Riis to Sporten.dk. “Fortunately we have not really had a major time trial, but it will not be long before we do at Paris-Nice. The rules are so complex and precise.”

Contador was set to race on the Shiv at the Tour of the Algarve. However, the UCI decided at the last minute to ban the bike.

“It is ridiculous, the bike is durable and safe and they suddenly call it illegal. It is always about these little details.”

The piece in question is the nose cone. Specialized considers the nose cone an important design feature which houses the front brake. The UCI considers the nose cone a fairing, which is in violation of the design rules of a bike.

The nose cone in question. Is it a structural element or a fairing?