How has it got to this?

Felt_Rider

Actually my dosages were not as high as some of my friends, but yet way higher than the prescribed dosage.

I found that my receptors were not that good for the drugs so taking more really didn't give me any better results. For economic reasons I had a select dosage based on drug availability and would stretch out the cycle the best I could.

I often switched drugs every few weeks during a cycle to keep the receptors clean. My cycles would range from 10 to 15 weeks and I could never pass a drug test as many of the drugs were oil based and lingered in my system for long periods of time, but since I competed in a drug sport it didn't matter.

I can't really state dosages now because it is now 10 years since I was in the scene. I don't think I ever went over 400 mg of test per week, but typically I was stacking so there were other drugs involved.

trucker39

Wow. It makes interesting reading. I for one would like to commend felt_rider for his honesty.

John Knees

One of the most elegant "don't" arguments I have read, as the pay-back period persists long after the glory has gone.

One thing puzzles me though. When I was a teenager (1940s-early 1950s)possessed of a normal load of testosterone, I found riding with a stiffy a painful process dictating prior attention.

To-day that is but a wistful memory, but how do they claim Landis rode an entire Tour de France in that state?

John Knees.

fscyclist

Felt Rider hit the nail on the head.

I raced for about 10 years and during my last year of competitive racing (mid '90's) there was a guy who went from back of the pack to winning most of the races. He wasn't some newcomer that just found his form, he had raced for a few years without success, and according to his teammates his training plan wasn't significantly different. We all highly suspected doping, but how can you publicly accuse someone without proof? It pissed me off to no end then and still bothers me, especially when you hear people say "let them all dope". Well that's fine if you want to dope, but I wasn't going to dope or risk my health and you cannot compete against those who are doping. I trained my ass off only to end up getting beat by a guy that couldn't suck my wheel a few months before.

The problem remains that you will sound like a whiner or sore loser, something no one wants. Look at some of the posts on these forums about LeMond. If people say a 3 time Tour winner is a whiner, then what are they going to say about a two-bit Cat 1/2 cyclist?

Also, remember cycling is a team oriented sport and you are constanly making alliances. If everyone hates you, you will never get in a winning break, get on the right wheel, or even worse. The only race you should even bother doing at that point is time trials.

wicklow200

Very good points fscyclist.

Felt_Rider

fscyclist makes an interesting revelation to this example of why some guys and girls take that step into using PED's.

The guy that he is talking about doesn't sound like he was blessed with the natural ability to be a competitive cyclist, but yet had the obsessive desire to be one. Being at the back of the pack race after race probably was a discouragement to him. Rather than be rational and either be content with just the joy of being in the race and live with the results or make the descision that racing wasn't his "genetic / natural" blessing, he stepped over the line. Obsession to win is the underlying problem with athletes stepping over the line. For me I know by hindsight and being honest with myself that obsession to win was the culprit. This type of obsession can make a person completely irrational.

Have you ever heard an interview with an anorexic stating that they must avoid food because they are fat and yet the person is on the brink of death from starvation? That type of obsession overrides all sense of sanity. It blocks the sanity of legal issues or life or death issues or relationship issues. It will absolutely destroy a person and everyone around them can see the destruction except for the person who is in the obsession. I know because I lived it at one time and I know others who are living it at this moment. I could take you to personal website of a dear old friend that is virtually prostituting herself to pay her expenses to be a competitive athlete and I am very sad for her. Obession will destroy.

fs, you were probably correct that this person more than likely did step over the line. Even if there were a change in training either by individual discipline or by hiring a coach it is doubtful that a person can make that big of a leap at once. It would be more likely that the person would make incremental steps upward in placing.