GREAT FOR SPECTATORS
For Immediate Release:

Kansas City, Kan (Oct. 15, 2007) - The course for the 2007 U.S. Cyclocross National Championships promises to be challenging for competitors but perfect for spectators.

The nearly two-mile-long course through Wyandotte County Park in Kansas City, Kan., was unveiled today on the race’s official website, www.kccrossnationals.com. Online registration for the Dec. 13-16 National Championships continues through Dec. 8.

Race Director Bill Marshall of KLM Marketing Solutions had a solid blueprint for the national championship course design, having staged several UCI races in the 360-acre park, which features rolling terrain in the scenic setting of hillside oak and lakeside sycamore trees.

“We wanted to make the course very hard,” Marshall said. “Cyclocross is tough, no matter what. Our intention was to make this course both technical and fast.”

The signature element is a pair of back-to-back stair sections, each 40-feet in length, that come about a quarter-mile from the finish line.

“You’ll run up the first set of stairs, get back on your bike for a brief time, then dismount and run up the second set,” Marshall said. “This is going to be crucial as we found out in Providence last year at nationals. They had two run-ups close to the finish and it makes it very interesting if it is a tight race.”

Another crucial element of the course design was to make it as spectator-friendly as possible, Marshall said. Nearly the entire course is viewable from several vantage points. A barrier section, positioned between a pair of heated spectator tents, will also be a prime viewing spot.

Special attention was given to the start area to ensure that competitors who do not have the most prime starting positions have the opportunity to move up quickly before the course narrows.

“That first grass section is extremely wide open and slightly uphill as it leads into the first sweeping right-hand turn,” Marshall said. “We tried to make it as close as possible to the start you would see on a UCI course. Eventually, though, there are a few turns to slow it up and create opportunities to get away.”

Where the course doubles back on itself in several places could also prove particularly tricky, he said.

“This course has some decent hills - not the steep ones like you saw in Providence for nationals last year - but ones that are going to be tough in all conditions,” Marshall said. “They’re long uphills so if it’s icy, they’ll be particularly treacherous. If it’s dry, the course will be rippin’ fast.”

Racers will also have to negotiate a section of the course that passes close to a pond - one that was covered in ice when four-time national cyclocross champion Steve Tilford crashed into it during a race last year. Incredibly, Tilford recovered from the frigid plunge to come back and win.

“We’re officially labeling that pond as the ‘No Tilly Zone’ this year to recognize that feat,” Marshall said.

Racers will have the unique opportunity to preview the national championship course on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Boulevard Cup. For more information regarding this race, go to www.kccrossnationals.com

There is no admission fee for the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships. Parking is also free, but only in designated areas. There is no fee for pit access. Official race apparel is on sale through the event’s official website, www.kccrossnationals.com.

ATHLETE REGISTRATION: http://www.kccrossnationals.com/NEW_SITE/Registration/index.html

About U.S. National Cyclocross Championships
The best racers in American cyclocross will fight for the right to wear this year’s stars and stripes jersey at the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships December 13 - 16, 2007 in Kansas City, Kan. Four days of epic racing will take place on a technical, challenging and fast course for junior, collegiate, master and elite athletes from all over the country. The event venue will offer spectators multiple vantage points on the action, an Expo area, kids activities and beer garden. The event is sanctioned by USA Cycling and hosted by KLM Marketing Solutions.

source: Jodi Hall

CTS Athlete Mike Hagen finishes second in 45-49 age group

Colorado Springs, CO - CTS Athlete and current Ironman 70.3 World Champion Craig Alexander pulled off one of the best rookie performances in the history of the Ford Ironman World Championship triathlon in Hawaii to finish second overall to race winner Chris McCormack on October 13. Alexander started working with CTS founder and Lance Armstrong’s personal coach, Chris Carmichael, and Nick White in August in an effort to fine-tune his preparation for his Kona debut, and will continue as a CTS-coached athlete through the 2008 season.

Alexander completed the first leg of the race, a 2.4-mile open-water swim, with the lead group of favorites and exited the water with a time of 51:40. He followed this with a strong performance on the bike, finishing the 112-mile leg in 4:38:11. When he exited the transition between the cycling and running legs, the Australian was ten minutes behind the race leader, Chris Lieto, and in fifth place, but a 2:45:13 marathon was fast enough to move him up into second place overall, just 3:30 behind McCormack.

“Chris and Nick are geniuses! With the specific work we did on the bike, I never felt like I was ever in any distress during the bike portion of the race,” said Alexander after the race. The specific work he was referring to was a program developed by Chris Carmichael and Nick White which incorporated extensive motorpacing into the triathlete’s pre-Kona tune-up training. By riding behind a scooter, Alexander was able to maintain a higher intensity for a longer period of time than would have been possible riding without a draft. During a training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he spent 3 ½ hours behind the scooter, maintaining a power output similar to what he would need to produce in Kona.

“I used the same concept with Lance Armstrong. It’s important to spend some time training at the speed and intensity you’re going to experience on race day, but for elite athletes it’s nearly impossible to accomplish that workload without the added stimulus of the scooter,” said Carmichael, who also worked with 3-time Ironman World Champion Peter Reid.

“The idea was to get Craig through the cycling leg of the Ironman with as much energy left as possible, so he could have an excellent run. The motorpacing work we did in the past two months helped him conserve energy while riding with the main contenders throughout the cycling leg in Hawaii, and that helped him move from fifth to second overall during the marathon, “ said CTS Pro Coach Nick White.

On the Pro Women’s side of the Ironman World Championships, CTS Athlete Heather Gollnick swam, rode, and ran to an 11th place overall finish. She is coached by CTS Coach Tim Crowley and has won five Ironman triathlons in her career, the most recent being Ironman Louisville on August 26, 2007.

At the Ford Ironman World Championship, pros compete along with age-group amateurs, and CTS Athlete Mike Hagen finished second in the Men 45-49 category with a time of 9:26:06. Just less than two minutes behind him, CTS Athlete Kevin Dessart crossed the finish line with a time of 9:27:58, a new personal best and good enough for 20th in the Men 30-39 age group.

Other CTS Athletes who competed in the Ford Ironman World Championships include:

Name Age Hometown Finishing Time CTS Coach CTS Athlete for
Bob Whitman 54 Salt Lake City, UT 13:32:02 Nick White 2.5 years
Fred Scott 55 Scottsville, NY 12:02:02 Steve Harp 1 year
Patrick Harten 33 Long Beach, NY 11:47:32 Steve Harp 1.5 years
Doug Welling 28 Brunswick, ME 10:24:34 CTS coach for nearly three years

Founded by Olympian, US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year, and bestselling author, Chris Carmichael in 1999, Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) inspires and empowers the athlete in EVERY BODY to perform at their best. For more information, visit www.trainright.com

source: Kevin Dessart

RAAM Announces New Finish Line!
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We are excited to announce that Annapolis, MD, will host the Finish for the 2008 race. RAAM will be racing into history as Annapolis celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008.

The entire RAAM family is grateful for the support of Atlantic City, NJ which has hosted the finish for the past five years. RAAM’s new management team spent considerable time defining the necessary criteria and needs for a finish line host city, and several months of scouting the possible candidates. After visiting a half dozen cities in person, we have selected Annapolis.

Annapolis is a beautiful, historic, and quaint city which sits on the picturesque backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay. The city and its Mayor, Ellen Moyer, have a keen interest and track record of supporting environmental friendly activities. Obviously, a cycling event of RAAM’s magnitude is of great interest to the Mayor and the city. We expect a warm welcome and strong partnership with Annapolis in 2008 and beyond.

Annapolis sits within a region that has a large cycling presence. Washington, DC, and Baltimore boast two of the largest bike clubs in the US with several thousand members each. Additionally, two prominent bike shops and owners are excited to partner with us. Thank you to Parker Jones of Capital Bicycle in Annapolis for serving as a RAAMbassador during our negotiations with Annapolis. Larry Black of Mt Airy Bicycles will be hosting Time Station 52 at his shop. This will also serve as the Penalty Box. Both will be of great help in spreading the news about RAAM in the DC/Baltimore markets.

We are excited for the change and look forward to an amazing finish in Annapolis!

Taos or Bust - A New 1,000 Mile Race in 2008
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Over time, RAAM has added pieces to the race which enable more racers to experience the journey that is RAAM. In the 90s, 4-Person teams were added. Just five years ago, 8-Person teams were added and more recently the 24 Hour Challenge was started.

In 2008, we are introducing a new event: a 1000 mile race starting in Oceanside and finishing in Taos, NM. The 1000 mile event fills the void between the traditional 500 mile races and the full challenge of RAAM. We recognize that there are many racers, particularily aspiring RAAM rookies, that will find the commitment to race 1,000 miles, a much less overwhelming proposition than a full RAAM. There are few races in the world of this distance and this will be the first in the US.

Just as with the 24 Hour Challenge and the teams, 1000 mile racers will race directly against those going to Annapolis, across the beautiful western portion of the course. It’s truly a chance for racers to test themselves in a new distance and see if they want to step up to the ultimate race - RAAM!

Expect a great 1,000 mile event as RAAM brings its experience and history to this unique distance.

Secure your spot in the new RAAM 1000 (or any of our events) today by placing a deposit at the RAAM Store. Register prior to November 10 for a special discount!

Over 1,200 Miles of New Route for 2008!

For the past 5 years the RAAM route has remained largely the same with only minor changes. With the help of lots of maps, local knowledge, and already a first drive of the 2008 route by Route Designer, Peter Moffett, we have over 1200 miles of new roads in 2008!

The changes start with skirting south around the Salton area saving everyone from riding on the interstate. The next change also reduces 40 miles of interstate in Arizona as we skip Williams and instead head straight from Prescott, AZ, to Flagstaff, AZ, via Cottonwood and Sedona and some beautiful climbs and descents.

The biggest change is an updated route from Pagosa Springs, CO, to near Pratt, KS. The route will dip south taking in Chama before heading over Cumbres Pass and La Manga Pass on the way to Taos, NM. Racers will encounter half of the beautiful Enchanted Circle and Red River Pass before heading east across New Mexico. After a very brief touch in Texas, the route angles across the panhandle of Oklahoma and into Kansas.

The route and Time Stations from Pratt, KS, to Effingham, IL, remain unchanged. For the past several years, racers have had incredible support from Time Station Staff in this stretch and we hope that continues!

The second major change is shifting the route between Effingham, IL, and Athens, OH. Instead of heading up to Indianapolis, the route will pass through Indiana University and the infamous Little 500 Stadium in Bloomington. If you’re not familiar with the cycling lore of this region, please go rent the movie “Breaking Away!” In Ohio the route passes between Dayton and Cincinnati through some very bike friendly areas.

The final change is the finish. We will hit Hanover, PA, and unfortunately miss Time Station 54 in Georgetown, PA. From Hanover we head south to Mt Airy, MD, and then squeeze between Baltimore and DC on the way to the finish.

As always the route is spectacular and continues to offer all the challenges the American landscape can throw at the racers - heat, mountains, the plains, and the hills of the east.

Spring Clinics and Mentor Networks
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It takes a lot of preparation to get ready to race RAAM. Everything from vehicle set up to recruiting crew to practicing team exchanges. Growing your knowledge takes time as you read articles from websites and talk with those veterans in the RAAM family who have competed in RAAM.

We have learned that with the growing popularity of RAAM, in particular the team divisions, that many racing teams have limited RAAM experience, and struggle to get the answers they need to build the infrastructure needed to get to the start line.

To help the process of preparation for RAAM, or for a qualifier, we have begun planning to host several RAAM Clinics this spring. These clinics will offer seminars on various topics for preparation, question and answer sessions, live demonstrations, and hands-on work. Additionally, we are also compiling a list of volunteer mentors from our RAAM family, to answer your questions as the year progresses.

Look for details in the coming months!

RAAMbassadors - Help Us Secure Sponsors!
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RAAM survives largely because of those that have a great deal of passion for the race.Many are volunteers wanting to help the race and see it thrive just as we do.

RAAM’s survival is dependent on building partnerships with sponsors. While our new management team has been well-recieved by potential sponsors in the cycling industry, we need your help to bring more partners into the RAAM Family.

RAAM is a valuable property for potential sponsors, and our existing sponsors can testify to the return on their investment in RAAM.

Can you introduce us to a business that would benefit from a partnership with RAAM? Obviously, a personal link from our RAAM family, to a potential decison-maker is the most effective way to introduce the value RAAM can provide. Please contact RAAM’s Sales & Marketing Director, Jeff Stephens (jeff@raceacrossamerica.org), with any ideas and/or contacts you may have. We have a complete set of sponsorship materials and opportunities; we just need your help with introductions.

We ask your help to ensure the future of RAAM. Thanks!
RAAM Website to Receive Major Overhaul
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The RAAM website needs an overhaul - and it’s on the way. We are fortunate to have found two excellent developers to rebuild the RAAM website, give it a fresh new look, and bring everything together in one place. Gene Fourney and David Glade both bring their strong technical backgrounds to the project and both have ultracycling experience so have RAAM in their heart. Gene’s brother Bob raced several times and is well known; David’s career is on and off, but extends back to the early 80s.

We will improve the navigation and the look. We will update the content. It may take some time to build up all the content, but it will be a source of information for anyone considering RAAM or a qualifier. We will have a new registration system that’s entirely online. Every racer will be able to enter and edit their own information right at the website with the roster, etc automatically updated from that.

The registration system will be available by late November and you’ll see the new website towards the end of the year. Over time all the areas will be filled in.

http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/

source: Race Across America (RAAM) Press Office
Jeff Stephens [jeff@raceacrossamerica.org]

For Immediate Release:

Sun Valley, ID, October 16, 2007 - SCOTT USA announced today their results from the Ironman world championships in Hawaii at the annual bike count hosted by Triathlete Magazine. This annual count occurs at the bike check-in for the approximate 1700 participants in Kona, Hawaii.

“We were quite pleased and rather surprised to move to 4th in the Kona bike count. We did not deliver our first Plasma triathlon bike to the market until February, 2006. So in 21 months to move from obscurity to a top position is very satisfying. We have worked very hard to establish ourselves as a player in this fickle segment. Triathlon is a very important demographic of sophisticated athletes and we feel succeeding in triathlon is an important segment to build our brand.” said Scott Montgomery. “The untold story in the bike count is the age of the bikes ridden by brand. I personally sit and count the bikes along with other industry staff and our bikes at the count were all new Plasma triathlon models. Some consumers are riding new bikes, and some consumers are riding old bikes. It was very gratifying to see first hand that consumers are riding new SCOTT bikes and that they are excited with the benefits of a lightweight and aerodynamic carbon machine. We take this research very seriously and will continue to build on this momentum with more innovation in 2009 and 2010.”

Bike Brand: 2 Yr. % Change:
——————————————-
SCOTT 456.0%
Kuota 94.0%
Cervelo 76.0%
Felt 89.0%
Cannondale -15.0%
Trek -23.0%
QR -33.0%
Kestrel -36.0%
Litespeed -47.0%

Rank: Brand: 2007
1st Cervelo 344
2nd Kuota 128
3rd Trek 128
4th SCOTT 89
5th Cannondale 75

In 2004, SCOTT USA returned to the market and quickly began development of the Plasma triathlon bike. The bike was first shown at Interbike in 2005 and began delivery in February, 2006.

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SCOTT USA, Inc., established in 1958 and located in Sun Valley, Idaho, is a leading international manufacturer of premium bike accessories/equipment, motorsports, and wintersports products.

source: Adrian Montgomery
Marketing Manager, U.S. Bike Division

Fusing sport, art, and environmental awareness, Randall Scott teams with local and national organizations in a celebration encompassing all these things

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Scott MacNamee
Leader of Men
Randall Scott Company
Service@rscycle.com
www.rscycle.com

Boulder, CO –10/15/2007–
Randall Scott Company, The World’s second best Cycling and Adventure Company headquartered In Boulder CO, recently completed its first annual Eco Arts Tour.

Randall Scott has always placed a premium on - not just bringing its customers great deals on cycling and outdoor products - but using our passion for the outdoors and affinity for community as an impetus to create something greater than a standard consumer/retailer dynamic.

I’ve always enjoyed working here at RS because of the way creativity is embraced and encouraged on all levels, and last weekend was really a culmination of this philosophy.

What was our First Annual Eco Tour? Well. Eco Arts has been around for a while now, and can aptly be described as a, “growing community of artists, scientists, curators, writers, nonprofits and businesses who are developing creative and innovative strategies to address our global environmental issues.”

In conjunction with BMOCA (Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art), Elephant Magazine, and the aforementioned Eco Artists, we threw a 2 wheel party that winded through the city of Boulder on a cloudless fall afternoon. Visiting different exhibits, our tour guides brought us through a myriad of pieces that combined art and science in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability and the preservation of our planet.

The afternoon tour ended here at Randall Scott Headquarters where we had the World’s best 80’s DJ, complimentary kegs from local brewery Avery (with recycled cups and utensils supplied by Ecocycle), and the grand opening of our in house Gallery, which has yet to be named.

The Gallery features work from local artist, employees, and is another outlet to perpetuate a message of camaraderie, lifestyle and environmental awareness. The turnout was great, and the impact may be felt long into the future, as an Eco Arts head honcho was present and eager to use this event as a model going forward.

Learn more of Love, love lost, unrequited love, and love found at the Randall Scott Lifestyle Blog.

Check out upcoming events on our Community Calendar

Visit our new concept showroom via the web, or in person in gorgeous Boulder, CO

Here at Randall Scott we run on the simple philosophy that everyone should have endless options to make their adventures come true, receive world class customer service, be educated about the 80’s, and have these needs met with the least possible impact on mother nature. We aim to foster a community where buyer and seller respect and trust one another as we search for the best way to explore, enjoy, and preserve this radical planet.

For more information please visit www.rscycle.com