In the United States, being suspected of defrauding a Federal agency or of using its finances for illicit purposes is, not surprisingly, the kind of activity that can bring a world of pain your way.
The US Postal Service has Federal status and under a Freedom of Information Act request, broadcaster ESPN has obtained records which show that the organisation spent $31.9 million sponsoring Lance Armstrong and his USPS team between 2001 and 2004, when the rider was, perhaps, at the height of his powers.
Armstrong's spokesman, Mark Fabiani, said in a statement: “Over the years, many different sponsors have seen — and continue to see — the benefits of associating with Lance and his cycling teams.”
And that is, indeed, true, or at least it has been. Studies by a pair of marketing firms covering 2001-2004 which have been obtained by the Associated Press, claim that USPS received $103.6 million in domestic value from sponsoring the Armstrong-led teams during his historic run of Tour de France wins. That return was referenced by the Texan himself in a recent tweet spotted by BikeBiz, when he said: "[US Postal Service] got 103 million in return. 300%! We should all be so lucky to be victimized like that. Sign me up!"
However, last week, sportbusiness.com revealed a new study by Ace Metrix on celebrity endorsements ranked Armstrong’s Radio Shack advertisement as the second worst of 2010 in terms of effectiveness, behind a Tiger Woods ad for Nike.
Radar tells me their closing speed, if they are slowing and how far away. Then I decide to say a prayer. The change of light pattern is incidental.
Quite so, which is why our village 20mph zone covers the whole residential extent. Of course, enforcement is another thing..
£4.
No, that's very doubtful while proper testing would be fully destructive.
In that £1000 exactly scenario, beginners should probably be made aware that pedals will be extra.
What's wrong with dropping down on to the Millenium Bridge, or the swing bridge, then the brief, but satisfying climb back up the hill? #training....
The relatives might of course disagree, but in general I'd countenance a relatively light sentence* if only we could fix it so that those who...
Id forgotten that I got a second hand set of project two's for my getting to work bike over twenty years back.
My bet is that all these tires popping off are from people with bad pressure gauges or they're simply just putting too much air in on purpose. ...
David9694 - you were right! These new autonomous vehicles really are conspiring to run out of control!...