Cycotherapy News Roundup: Finding meaning, Shimano, TDF routes and fares, a man who finds hope, Oh Joy Begin.
Another roundup of tidbits on the interwebs that is only sometimes related to cycling
Greetings.
So much is happening in the world right now. Israel. Palestine. War. Death. Bloodshed. Grief. Elections. Corruption. Sexual harassment. Toxic dumping. Gun violence with seemingly no end or solution.
And then there’s cycling. The hum of the rubber on pavement lulls us to a place of clarity. The fresh air enters our lungs and it burns so good. We exhale the bull shit. We’re reminded of the meaning in our lives.
And then we get sucked back into the vortex of reality, and wait for the next ride.
I hope you’re able to get in the saddle today, even if it’s just for a minute or two or three. Take it all in, find comfort in the meaning it brings. And then do it all over again.
Sincerely,
dillon.
headlines & links
Are cyclists just better humans?
I think all of us cyclists, to some degree, have always innately sensed that we are just better humans than all others. (Kidding. Kinda.) But now there’s a scientific study that proves it! We have ammo, friends! Gotta thank our friend JEK over at
for pointing this thought-provoking article out, which postulates that people who ride bikes “rather than driving was positively associated with orientation towards the common good…”
TDF route misses Paris
The 2024 Tour de France route has been published. Big takeaway: no Paris start. For the first time ever, riders won’t start the tour in Paris. Dodging the capital has also produced a tougher route.
USA Cycling adopts trans policy
USA Cycling has aligned itself with the UCI in regards to rules surrounding trans athletes. As a refresher, as of July 17, the UCI banned trans women from competing in women's categories in UCI-sanctioned events in all disciplines if they transitioned after puberty.
Shimano making headlines
Shimano product sales were down 25% in the first quarter of its fiscal year, resulting in a $1.9 billion loss. The company blamed a global inspection and replacement program involving millions of Hollowtech cranksets for the loss. They said it cost them $114 million, resulting in an “extraordinary loss.” The behemoth bike components manufacturer also said they lost $961,000 for a voluntary recall that resulted from the inspection. Yikes. (But still, can you imagine spending that kind of money and it still only representing a tiny sliver of all revenue? Crazy.) Here’s a piece analyzing what this means for the cycling industry as a whole.
Paying to watch TDF?
Part of the allure and the romance of the TDF is the fact that you can just watch it from the side of the road. You can rent a tiny little French car and sip straight from the wine bottle and nibble on a fresh baguette as you wait for Tadej to zoom by. Well, that might change. UCI is considering charging spectators 5 euros at each stage. Boo. It’s not a whole lot of money ($5.29 USD to be exact), but still. Boo.
feature of the week
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: not all stuff on Cycotherapy is about cycling. This story is not about cycling. Instead, it’s about a man who spent most of his life behind bars for really bad stuff he did. But then, he found God — and ultimately — hope.
This is the story about how a man, executed by the state on Oct. 26, 2023, found hope in the last days of his life. It’s well written, and well reported. And the ending, poignant.
meme of the week
I went out last night with some colleagues for beer after an event the newsroom hosted. Good times. But man … this is so true. Time for some cycotherapy, right?
lyrics of the week
Samurai Cop (Oh Joy Begin)
The day you came
Naked, afraid
Young mother screams and pushes you
The day you came
Oh joy begin
Weak little thing
More precious there'll be nothing, no
Oh joy begin
Let's not forget these early days
Remember we begin the same
We lose our way in fear and pain
Oh joy begin
First just one step
One word and then
With laughter sing, oh life begin
First just one step
Let's not forget these early days
Remembering we began the same
We lose our way in fear and pain
Oh joy begin
Innocent kiss
Black magic bliss
First broken bone
Sudden and swift
Oh innocence
Let's not forget these early days
Remember we begin the same
We lose our way in fear and pain
Oh joy begin
Oh joy begin
-Dave Matthews Band