bbbean 

The point is that I don't care if there are a few guys who might do that. But there's a difference between "someone somewhere probably does this" and "doping is rampant". In most of my races, I know half or more of the field, at least from reputation and/or previous races. None of us are racing to pay the rent, launch a career, or even to break even on what we have invested in gear, training, and nutrition. Further, if there are 75 of us at the start line, we already know 72 of us are going home somewhere short of the podium. But we keep doing it because we love the competition, we love the camaraderie, and we love the challenge. We're all pushing to our limits, and finishing every race high as a kite on adrenaline and endorphins. THAT'S what makes amateur racing legit. The mere possibility that someone could cheat doesn't detract from any of that.

gsteinb

For you.

Others have a different take. Plenty of amateurs had their potential cut down because others doped. I've lost races and series to dopers, formers dopers, probable dopers. I still like to race, but to pretend that it doesn't bother me on some level would be bull****.

And just because you know someone doesn't mean they're not doping. People are shocked to find out their relative has been having an affair. The guys who raced with David Anthony had no clue he was doping. It was a shocking revelation.

For sure it's not the biggest deal in the world because ultimately it's a hobby few care about. To pretend the situation is 'someone probably does this' is head in the sand stuff.

Radish_legs

I've won the arguably most prestigious group race/ride on the north side of the Dallas area 3 times. It's by far the most prestigious accomplishment I have, better than all my C and B crit wins. I have never doped. But my point is that group rides can matter a lot in the cycling caste system.

Doge

None more than Rogers Cup. This ranks better than 90% of the race wins.
You get to do whatever, the only rule is no motors, start at the prayer and stop at the lights.

And a cool cup going back to 1976.
https://binged.it/2SFUBPq

Juniors even get to use the same equipment as adults.
https://binged.it/2SGP3nT
https://binged.it/2SGP3nT


And my fav - we got dopers (sanctioned ones), WT pro, 4-5 NCs and some future ones.
https://binged.it/2SFUBPq

bbbean 

To pretend the situation is "everybody does this" in the absence of evidence is cynical/paranoid stuff. Do some intervals. When you come in first, it doesn't really matter what the other guys did.

zigmeister

The reality is now unless you are going to race nationals, you can get an RTUE...you have to prove to them the issue is not idiopathic, but if you do, someone could race amateur in the US, and I'm sure there are plenty that do, and take Test injections under this.

So, I doubt anybody taking this stuff with a legit approved RTUE is taking anything away from high-level naturally gifted cyclist and not allowing them to move up in the ranks.

You can take all the crap you want, the creme de la creme is going to smash you at the races and move right past everybody up the ladder and ride off the front all day long. I see these younger riders do this periodically that end up racing at the national level and move into development teams.

gsteinb

I should do some intervals, huh? Neat. Good advice.

drobotnik

I think I understand what you’re getting at.

So, the best way to explain it is like this: some races are janky, bare-bones, barely held together by entry fees; other races have multiple sponsors, attract racers from all over a region or the country or from other countries, and have structure to them. Like, officials from some sanctioning body keeping up with lap times and making sure the timing is legit.

Both can be USAC sanctioned, but one may not count toward anything legit (like a local mountain bike race at your favorite park), while another could be state championships or a regional series (I’m from Tennessee, so TBRA or SERC). As far as cheating goes (doping?), I’d say at a local event you’d be the odd person out if you were doping. From my experience (mountain bike racing), you might find people on narcotics or prescriptions or their special blend of cycling juice (I’ve met guys who were oddly specific about powder quantities and temperatures), but no one on a specific doping regimen as part of their training.

Bikes get inspected at all races. I got called out for not having bar plugs once, they let me cover the ends with tape - and that was a C-group mountain bike race. It’s for safety, not cheating. Also, the guys running some races have gotten my name wrong and I could not get them to change it. Lost several results that way. I just learned to write neatly.

I think when money and sponsorships start being the driving force behind events and teams there’s more of an expectation that no one gets swindled into a controversy.