You are reading a single comment by @dan and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@dan
Jimmy, for someone who constantly complains about "Strawman" treatment - you really picked that up and ran with it!
I don't have time to write another long-ish post (take from that what you want - I've got work that needs doing) —*but I will say this: I didn't say anything about Armstrong. When I talk about pragmatism, I am not talking about from a sports administration POV, I mean pragmatism as a fan. I don't have an answer for making things better in the sport, but I do have one for allowing me to continue to enjoy watching it. A coping mechanism if you like (you can be sure as shit that all this venting on forums will not change cycling one jot).
The best way I can explain it in brief, is through analogy:
You start dating a girl (or guy) who is a known serial cheater, you love her and believe she can change (she tells you she can, she wants to) but she cheats on you.
Every time she cheats on you it breaks your heart, but you take her back and she says she won't do it again- it gets worse and worse each time and sometimes you find out that she's lied in the past about cheating too. You still love her, but it's breaking your heart and slowly changing you as a person.
In this instance, is it not better to cut your losses and chose to become friends with this girl? You can still enjoy her company and keep some of the relationship, but you can watch her indiscretions from afar, without being hurt by them.
In the future, she may change and you could be together - but until that time you aren't going to be hurt.