The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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Agree with DeCanio? Then don't stay anonymous
Editor:
Thank you for printing this (see "Ofoto fires DeCanio over web sites").

I am a Matt DeCanio fan; I don't always agree with his communicative skills and tactics, but I am "on his side." I am disappointed to read that the racing contract hangs in the balance.

When you add this snip to the story . . .

"Matt's pretty confrontational and makes a lot of people angry," one high-profile professional said, asking to remain anonymous, "but there's a lot of truth in what he writes on his Web sites."

. . . it makes me furious that this sport continues to be so tethered to the drug culture. Where are the guts that allow a rider to address your story and agree with Matt, yet hide behind the "anonymous source" mask?

Richard Sachs
Chester, Connecticut

Lance would be a star in any era
Editor:
In regards to Phil Renaud's letter, (see Friday's Mailbag: "Lance should try racing a full season") keep in mind that when Eddy raced, his top competitors were also racing for the full year. Everybody was overtrained and overworked.

Back then, racers had to race even minor events to pick up a few bucks in between real races. After Eddy's era, racers began trying to peak for chosen events. In the 1980's, salaries for top pros climbed high enough so they didn't have to race hard year long. Think (and thank) Greg LeMond.

In this modern era, even Eddy would have to pick and choose his races more carefully, since his competitors would be specializing and peaking, too.

Lighten up on Lance. I bet he would have been a dominant figure in any era, even in 1920, smoking a cigarette and downing a Shiner Bock.

Matthew Brinkley
Tallahassee, Florida

Here we go again
Editor:
It must be the start of the season - various teams are trotting out their lineups, racing is in full swing Down Under, and the French have started their inevitable, fruitless "Let's investigate Lance" probe. Everything in its place - all we need is the next Cipo' retirement!

Dave Parish
Houston, Texas

'Inside Cycling' is a great look back at British cycling history
Editor:
I am enjoying John Wilcockson's pieces on British cycling in the 1950s very much. My fiancée's dad raced as a junior a good bit around the north of England in the 1950s and has told me some great stories. Thanks to him and my friend Eddy I have been able to read a bit about cycling in Britain and have found it fascinating.

I have been fortunate enough to read two of Dick Swan's books, the Taffy Davies and Bert Harris bios, as well as Reg Harris' autobiography. Great stuff. Swan's books are a bit awkward but a real treasure of information.

Thanks for telling these stories before they are lost. I would very much like to read anything else you write on the subject and I think others would as well.

Bruce J. Masterson
East Providence, Rhode Island

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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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