:: 'Professional' ::

:: i've met some wonderful people cycling, and i've also met a fair share of chumps too. this is a story about the later. back in the day, i rode for a team which to maintain anonymity we shall call vsl. vsl was formed by succeeding from a snooty parent club to provide a safe-haven for cyclists who weren't necessarily the fastest thing on two wheels, and welcomed me with open arms. i spent many wonderful hours riding with folks i met weekend mornings and hanging out at the local bike shop. now fast forward 5 years... the team has grown and a sponsor shows up to sponsor the 'elite' team. by this point many of us had purchased accessories and even bicycles that matched our old kit, and overnight we went from an elite and very stylish club, to looking like a gang of rag-tag rookies who shopped at the cycling goodwill. at this point, i moved away and it was very clear the club was too big and uninterested in my membership. at races though, i'd always ride up to an vsl cat and say hey. 9 times out of 10 i'd be scoffed or completely ignored as we bumped elbows in the peleton. but on the rare occasion my presence was acknowledged i'd ride until i met the man with the hammer to get my new friend to the front. now fast forward another few years to this past weekends tour d'toona. i see the aforementioned sponsors name plastered on the side of a truck which is painted the garish colors of the most recent vsl kit. while the race was going on, i spotted a fellow by the truck who looked very important, and stopped by to say hey. i asked if a few of the members of the old elite team were racing, and was met with a blank stare. he did admit they sounded familiar, and i said that i used to race for vsl. his response, in true chump fashion was, 'oh... they're amateurs. we're professionals.' he then decided our conversation was over. with all of the hooplah the last few weeks regarding professional cycling, i walked away disappointed that such a chump represented a sport i enjoy following. in the final sprint, a chumpster's buddy was in it, but i didn't cheer for him to win it... and he didnt... i know, i know, not very professional, but hey, i'm just an amateur. ::