An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.

On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.

Well, that will be the end for me.

erik simpson wrote:
> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.

I haven't decided yet. I do fear for those in need of me telling
them to drink a bucket of my salvia. What oh what would they
do without me?

I mean, I'm so brilliant that I often wish that I could be me.

Without the gift of JTEM, how are people to survive?

-- --

https://jtem.tumblr.com/post/736719721282568192

erik simpson <eastside.erik@gmail.com> wrote:
> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite
> successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo
> that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less
> interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>
Is GG ending or are you offering alternatives? Facebook would be a hard
pass for me. Discord servers are ok IMO. There’s a threading option. Not
too much of a learning curve really.

On 12/14/23 2:41 PM, JTEM is my hero wrote:
> erik simpson wrote:
>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>
> I haven't decided yet. I do fear for those in need of me telling
> them to drink a bucket of my salvia. What oh what would they
> do without me?

Sage advice indeed. (Botanical humor for those in the know.)

On 12/14/2023 6:39 PM, John Harshman wrote:
> On 12/14/23 2:41 PM, JTEM is my hero wrote:
>> erik simpson wrote:
>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook,
>>> quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new
>>> client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's
>>> less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the
>>> audience is very small and strange.
>>
>> I haven't decided yet. I do fear for those in need of me telling
>> them to drink a bucket of my salvia. What oh what would they
>> do without me?
>
> Sage advice indeed. (Botanical humor for those in the know.)
>

Not as an olive branch, but a crown of thorns.

On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully.
> It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we
> can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on,
> and the audience is very small and strange.

Do we need to offer up more pun cascades? What about obscure cultural refs?
I hear one among us is adept at Firesign Theatre sketches but while I recall
some I'm not sure I can keep up with the flow, even if it's yellow.

On 12/14/23 5:35 PM, Lawyer Daggett wrote:
> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully.
>> It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we
>> can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on,
>> and the audience is very small and strange.
>
> Do we need to offer up more pun cascades? What about obscure cultural refs?
> I hear one among us is adept at Firesign Theatre sketches but while I recall
> some I'm not sure I can keep up with the flow, even if it's yellow.
>
Always ready for a Firesign battle, if that helps. Shoes for industry!

On 2023-12-14 6:39 PM, John Harshman wrote:
> On 12/14/23 2:41 PM, JTEM is my hero wrote:
>> erik simpson wrote:
>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook,
>>> quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new
>>> client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's
>>> less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the
>>> audience is very small and strange.
>>
>> I haven't decided yet. I do fear for those in need of me telling
>> them to drink a bucket of my salvia. What oh what would they
>> do without me?
>
> Sage advice indeed. (Botanical humor for those in the know.)
>
I'm allergic. I only have family made stuffing at turkey times.
--
--
Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" PN)

On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.

Interesting mention of bicycle racing, might bother with facebook for that. Tx

On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 12:52:09 AM UTC-5, daud....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> Interesting mention of bicycle racing, might bother with facebook for that. Tx

Cave picts may link ancient Egypt, Borneo, extinct sloth lemur
https://groups.io/g/1WorldofWords/message/125

On Thursday 14 December 2023 at 23:12:08 UTC, *Hemidactylus* wrote:
> erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite
> > successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo
> > that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less
> > interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> >
> Is GG ending or are you offering alternatives? Facebook would be a hard
> pass for me. Discord servers are ok IMO. There’s a threading option. Not
> too much of a learning curve really.

Google Groups will stop receiving and sending
all Usenet messages. "Effective from
15 February 2024", says their banner on
this screen. "Subscribing will be disallowed"
as well: I don't know if that means group user
membership, or something else. I think that
their copies of group messags will survive in
a frozen state, for an unknown time.

On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.

Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.

About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
"This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."

This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.

On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
>
> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
>
> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.

On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
erik simpson <eastside.erik@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
> > On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> > > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> > Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
> >
> > About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
> > "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
> >
> > This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
>

I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
(I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

On Sat, 16 Dec 2023 11:07:45 +0000, the following appeared
in talk.origins, posted by "Kerr-Mudd, John"
<admin@127.0.0.1>:

>On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
>erik simpson <eastside.erik@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09?AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
>> > On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08?PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>> > > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>> > Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
>> >
>> > About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
>> > "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
>> >
>> > This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
>> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
>>
>
>I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
>
"turn into" seems a bit of an overstatement, especially
given the number of off-topic threads, some *far* longer
than this one, which have occurred in t.o over the past few
decades.
>
>(I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
--

Bob C.

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science,
the one that heralds new discoveries, is not
'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'"

- Isaac Asimov

On 12/16/23 3:07 AM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
> erik simpson <eastside.erik@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
>>> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>>> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
>>>
>>> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
>>> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
>>>
>>> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
>> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
>>
>
> I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
> (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
>
>
>
It probably shouldn't. I'm an ex-non competitive cyclist who mostly
lurks on rec.bicycles.racing. We could talk about issues like overage
greats there.

On Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 6:12:10 AM UTC-5, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
> erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
> > > On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> > > > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange..
> > > Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
> > >
> > > About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
> > > "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
> > >
> > > This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
> > This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
> >
> I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling

I don't think you need to have any fear of that.

> (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).

Um, Cavendish resigned to Astana for 2024, specifically to try for the record # of TDF stage wins. And Thomas lost the lead in the final TT of the Giro, coming is 2nd overall just 14 seconds down after a three week stage race.. I'd say Thomas still has a lot to contribute.

On Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 12:02:10 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> On 12/16/23 3:07 AM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> > On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
> > erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
> >>> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> >>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> >>> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
> >>>
> >>> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
> >>> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
> >>>
> >>> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
> >> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
> >>
> >
> > I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
> > (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
> >
> >
> >
> It probably shouldn't. I'm an ex-non competitive cyclist who mostly
> lurks on rec.bicycles.racing. We could talk about issues like overage
> greats there.

As an odd aside, I worked with a close confidant of Armstrong who was in daily contact
with him the weeks before he publicly acknowledged his doping. I never talked with her
about it directly but was discretely present and over-heard her talking to mutual friends.
Nothing special to report other than that he knew what he had to do but somehow was
looking for a good time to do it. Finally realized no "good" time would come.

On 12/19/23 5:08 AM, Lawyer Daggett wrote:
> On Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 12:02:10 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>> On 12/16/23 3:07 AM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>>> On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
>>> erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
>>>>> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>>>>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>>>>> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
>>>>>
>>>>> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
>>>>> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
>>>>>
>>>>> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
>>>> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
>>> (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> It probably shouldn't. I'm an ex-non competitive cyclist who mostly
>> lurks on rec.bicycles.racing. We could talk about issues like overage
>> greats there.
>
> As an odd aside, I worked with a close confidant of Armstrong who was in daily contact
> with him the weeks before he publicly acknowledged his doping. I never talked with her
> about it directly but was discretely present and over-heard her talking to mutual friends.
> Nothing special to report other than that he knew what he had to do but somehow was
> looking for a good time to do it. Finally realized no "good" time would come.
>
I have mixed feelings about Armstrong. It was a period where almost
every competitive cyclist doped. I recall reading an interview with
Frankie Andreu, who said he started when he found himself unable to keep
up with competitors whom he know weren't as good as he was. I believe
Armstrong was unfairly singled out as the poster child of doping because
he was the best of best during that period. He probably would have been
similarly successful if the sport had been clean.

On Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:08:45 -0800 (PST), Lawyer Daggett
<j.nobel.daggett@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 12:02:10?PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>> On 12/16/23 3:07 AM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>> > On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
>> > erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09?AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
>> >>> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08?PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>> >>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>> >>> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
>> >>>
>> >>> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
>> >>> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
>> >>>
>> >>> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
>> >> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
>> >>
>> >
>> > I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
>> > (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> It probably shouldn't. I'm an ex-non competitive cyclist who mostly
>> lurks on rec.bicycles.racing. We could talk about issues like overage
>> greats there.
>
>As an odd aside, I worked with a close confidant of Armstrong who was in daily contact
>with him the weeks before he publicly acknowledged his doping. I never talked with her
>about it directly but was discretely present and over-heard her talking to mutual friends.
>Nothing special to report other than that he knew what he had to do but somehow was
>looking for a good time to do it. Finally realized no "good" time would come.

As an even odder aside, I recall Armstrong made a commercial where he
opened the door to his hotel room to see the father and son from
American Choppers hacking Armstrong's racing bike into a chopper;
banana seat, ape handlebars, extended front forks, the works.
After several moments of silence from everyone, the son says "See, I
told you he wouldn't like it." Pure gold.

--
To know less than we don't know is the nature of most knowledge

On Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 11:52:14 AM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> On 12/19/23 5:08 AM, Lawyer Daggett wrote:
> > On Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 12:02:10 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> >> On 12/16/23 3:07 AM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> >>> On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
> >>> erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
> >>>>> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
> >>>>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> >>>>> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
> >>>>> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
> >>>>>
> >>>>> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
> >>>> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
> >>> (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> It probably shouldn't. I'm an ex-non competitive cyclist who mostly
> >> lurks on rec.bicycles.racing. We could talk about issues like overage
> >> greats there.
> >
> > As an odd aside, I worked with a close confidant of Armstrong who was in daily contact
> > with him the weeks before he publicly acknowledged his doping. I never talked with her
> > about it directly but was discretely present and over-heard her talking to mutual friends.
> > Nothing special to report other than that he knew what he had to do but somehow was
> > looking for a good time to do it. Finally realized no "good" time would come.
> >
> I have mixed feelings about Armstrong. It was a period where almost
> every competitive cyclist doped. I recall reading an interview with
> Frankie Andreu, who said he started when he found himself unable to keep
> up with competitors whom he know weren't as good as he was. I believe
> Armstrong was unfairly singled out as the poster child of doping because
> he was the best of best during that period. He probably would have been
> similarly successful if the sport had been clean.

Armstrong was the best at both doping and racing. You're correct, I feel it's unfair to use him as the poster child for doping, especially when riders such Johan Museeuw and Marco Pantini) were widely convicted for doping during the period they were at the apex of cycling, yet are still widely held as heroes. From 1996 to 2010 every rider on the podium (45 riders) had been convicted or admitted doping except one, Carlos Sastre (3rd in 2006, 1st in 2008). Carlos was the _only_ Grand Tour Podium rider from that era to never have a doping allegation.

On 12/22/23 7:57 AM, Zen Cycle wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 11:52:14 AM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>> On 12/19/23 5:08 AM, Lawyer Daggett wrote:
>>> On Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 12:02:10 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>>>> On 12/16/23 3:07 AM, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>>>>> On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:34:27 -0800 (PST)
>>>>> erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:27:09 AM UTC-8, Zen Cycle wrote:
>>>>>>> On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:22:08 PM UTC-5, erik simpson wrote:
>>>>>>>> An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
>>>>>>> Interesting you would mention that, as I've been an active competitive cyclist since 1985, and am a fan of professional racing. I've had a subscription to the Global Cycling Network GCN+ platform since it was available, which is a streaming media network that provides live bicycle racing coverage for the vast a majority of televised professional races.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> About a month ago GCN announced the streaming service was going to be cancelled. Not because it wasn't profitable, but because it wasn't profitable _enough_. From the GCN website:
>>>>>>> "This decision comes from our parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and is driven by its global strategy to consolidate its streaming services, and to offer content in fewer places, making it easier for customers to access and discover more content. In Europe, GCN+ subscribers will now have the option to subscribe to access Discovery+, Eurosport or Eurosport Extra, where you can continue to watch live cycling. In markets outside of Europe, WBD is reviewing how content is delivered to its fans."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This really has nothing to do with GG shutting down usenet access, It's just not common to run across other individuals interested in bike racing outside those forums and platforms.
>>>>>> This is news to me. I've used GCN+ the last couple of years. Hope something's available to replace it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I had no idea Talk.Origins would turn into Talk.Competitive.Cycling
>>>>> (I feel Geraint Thomas should bow out gracefully, like Cav).
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> It probably shouldn't. I'm an ex-non competitive cyclist who mostly
>>>> lurks on rec.bicycles.racing. We could talk about issues like overage
>>>> greats there.
>>>
>>> As an odd aside, I worked with a close confidant of Armstrong who was in daily contact
>>> with him the weeks before he publicly acknowledged his doping. I never talked with her
>>> about it directly but was discretely present and over-heard her talking to mutual friends.
>>> Nothing special to report other than that he knew what he had to do but somehow was
>>> looking for a good time to do it. Finally realized no "good" time would come.
>>>
>> I have mixed feelings about Armstrong. It was a period where almost
>> every competitive cyclist doped. I recall reading an interview with
>> Frankie Andreu, who said he started when he found himself unable to keep
>> up with competitors whom he know weren't as good as he was. I believe
>> Armstrong was unfairly singled out as the poster child of doping because
>> he was the best of best during that period. He probably would have been
>> similarly successful if the sport had been clean.
>
> Armstrong was the best at both doping and racing. You're correct, I feel it's unfair to use him as the poster child for doping, especially when riders such Johan Museeuw and Marco Pantini) were widely convicted for doping during the period they were at the apex of cycling, yet are still widely held as heroes. From 1996 to 2010 every rider on the podium (45 riders) had been convicted or admitted doping except one, Carlos Sastre (3rd in 2006, 1st in 2008). Carlos was the _only_ Grand Tour Podium rider from that era to never have a doping allegation.
>
It might be that he was clean, or just lucky. I'll assume he was clean.
It's disheartening to think he was the only one. It's scary what the
performance of the whole peloton was last year. Better nutrition? I
hope so.

On Friday 15 December 2023 at 15:12:09 UTC, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Thursday 14 December 2023 at 23:12:08 UTC, *Hemidactylus* wrote:
> > erik simpson <eastsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > An old group (rec.bicycles.racing) has transitioned to Facebook, quite
> > > successfully. It' a thought. Or you can find a new client/server combo
> > > that works for you. Or we can just quit. There's less and less
> > > interesting stuff happening as time goes on, and the audience is very small and strange.
> > >
> > Is GG ending or are you offering alternatives? Facebook would be a hard
> > pass for me. Discord servers are ok IMO. There’s a threading option. Not
> > too much of a learning curve really.
> Google Groups will stop receiving and sending
> all Usenet messages. "Effective from
> 15 February 2024", says their banner on
> this screen. "Subscribing will be disallowed"
> as well: I don't know if that means group user
> membership, or something else. I think that
> their copies of group messags will survive in
> a frozen state, for an unknown time.

It's now saying "22 February 2024".