Todays idiot masters fattie doper

[smaryka]

Just out of curiosity, everyone saying "my dad at 70" or "the guys I know" how old are you/they or how long ago?

The 20 somethings from when the sport of cycling started its meteroric rise amongst the average person are the 40-50 somethings now. Cycling has been the new golf for 10-15 years. Racers who used to retire from serious racing at 40ish to become organisers etc. now race on into their 70s. Male HRT and the likes of Wegovy are promoted as normal natural wellbeing hacks for those who want to maintain their weight, strength, energy etc. as they age.

So I do wonder how out of touch people posting on this forum are. It may be the minority for whom HRT makes a difference enough for them to win and stand out, but I'm not convinced it's therefore the minority dabbling in it. I'm on a few other cycling forums where if a doctor prescribed T for low natural T, they insist it's not cheating and just levelling the field/letting them live their lives to the fullest/staying healthy. The cognitive dissonance is very noticeable.

 

[Pontiac]

Just out of curiosity, everyone saying "my dad at 70" or "the guys I know" how old are you/they or how long ago?

The 20 somethings from when the sport of cycling started its meteroric rise amongst the average person are the 40-50 somethings now. Cycling has been the new golf for 10-15 years. Racers who used to retire from serious racing at 40ish to become organisers etc. now race on into their 70s. Male HRT and the likes of Wegovy are promoted as normal natural wellbeing hacks for those who want to maintain their weight, strength, energy etc. as they age.

So I do wonder how out of touch people posting on this forum are. It may be the minority for whom HRT makes a difference enough for them to win and stand out, but I'm not convinced it's therefore the minority dabbling in it. I'm on a few other cycling forums where if a doctor prescribed T for low natural T, they insist it's not cheating and just levelling the field/letting them live their lives to the fullest/staying healthy. The cognitive dissonance is very noticeable.

Thank you for posting this! I really didn't want to respond earlier. I am one of those old guys (73 now) who raced as a kid and started up again as a master. The drug issue is real and and has been for a very long time. I sure saw it as a kid and though I started as a master and thought no way were masters doing it.....well, I was sadly mistaken. I'll be the first to admit that the majority of guys in the pack were most likely not doping. In any race, it's only 5% that are in the running for a win and once I got fit enough to win again, that is when I noticed the doping was widespread with the old guys in that group. It was enough to make me question my own mindset in wanting to win and seeing where it led other guys. Stand back for a sec and it all seems pretty stupid, again for just for those gunning to win....nothing against guys who can keep it in balance and are happy filling out the pack.

When I raced in France Hinault was famous for using that argument about hormonal balance! That crap filters down through the ranks. I took lots of the stuff the doctors gave me, just couldn't bring myself to do the testosterone, steroids or speed. But the docs always used to say, but you have to if you want to race at this level.

 

[Sciatic]

Having the means and actually doing that safely are worlds apart. There is no comparison between blood doping and ‘roids or growth hormone common in gyms. Those are much less likely to kill you if you get it wrong. I am also sure there are unscrupulous doctors but you would expect to read about tip offs occasionally? Risk your life to win amateur masters bike races? I’ll believe it when we read hard evidence.

Why would taking EPO (if that's what you mean by blood doping) be more dangerous or worse or more difficult than anabolic steroids? Yes, it they try to push their hematocrit to 60 it will risk cardiac danger. But all it does is add a synthetic version to a hormone that already is circulating, which tells the bone marrow to make more blood cells. It doesn't have overall systemic effects like anabolic steroids do. It's also a much easier injection (steroid injections need to go IM into large muscle, EPO injections are intradermal with a tiny needle).

 

[Sciatic]

Just out of curiosity, everyone saying "my dad at 70" or "the guys I know" how old are you/they or how long ago?

The 20 somethings from when the sport of cycling started its meteroric rise amongst the average person are the 40-50 somethings now. Cycling has been the new golf for 10-15 years. Racers who used to retire from serious racing at 40ish to become organisers etc. now race on into their 70s. Male HRT and the likes of Wegovy are promoted as normal natural wellbeing hacks for those who want to maintain their weight, strength, energy etc. as they age.

So I do wonder how out of touch people posting on this forum are. It may be the minority for whom HRT makes a difference enough for them to win and stand out, but I'm not convinced it's therefore the minority dabbling in it. I'm on a few other cycling forums where if a doctor prescribed T for low natural T, they insist it's not cheating and just levelling the field/letting them live their lives to the fullest/staying healthy. The cognitive dissonance is very noticeable.

I agree. It also suggests that folks think cyclists have more integrity than gym-bros or high-school football players taking steroids or women wanting to stay ultra skinny (via drugs). I tend to think cyclists have more integrity than some of those other myself, but I'm obviously biased as would be most posters here.