PROMAN Racing, in its third year, is pleased to announce a partnership with Swiss bicycle manufacturer BMC. The team does not operate under a large corporate umbrella but by generous donations from product sponsors, small businesses, family friends, Marin County BMC dealer Paradigm Cycles and even fellow racers; it is truly a community effort. To receive support from an industry giant such as BMC is a tremendous boost.

Frankie Andreu”The PROMAN Women’s Team is a fantastic and unique program that BMC is proud to support,” said Scott Thomson, General Manager of BMC North America. “Their grass-roots approach brings together a potent blend of elite and developing athletes. They ticked all the right boxes in building this program, so there was no question about BMC getting involved. We are excited to support these outstanding athletes with the best technology. It has been an exciting season thus far, and we’re looking forward to having them race in our back yard at theNature Valley Grand Prix.”

With a stellar roster for the upcoming Liberty Classic, PROMAN Racing is ready for the challenges of Manayunk and Lemon Hill. “PROMAN has a great roster and I think they are ready to have a great showing at the upcoming Liberty Classic! This team could be the underdog team gone wild. Look for a rider like Shelley Olds to be on the podium.” Said Robin Zellner, technical director for the race, “ I have watched this team develop at a steady pace over the last few years, there is a lot of depth and dedication, they are here to stay”.

Following Liberty Classic the team returns to Minnesota for its second shot at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The team claimed podium spots and a 6th place GC last year. “ In 2007 we were a young green team, with a stronger roster this time around and lots of racing under our belt we could spring some surprises” commented Olds.Nature Valley GP is the accomplishment of David La Porte and his tireless team. “ Its not just a race it is spectacular entertainment.” Phenomenal crowds and great support for the women’s event draws top caliber female racers from around the world.

Joining the team for these races is former U.S Postal rider Frankie Andreu who will be taking the directors seat. Although very familiar with the pro men’s peloton he is keen to experience women’s racing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fulcrum Racing One Wheelset
Specifications:

Model: Racing One in black color with Shimano Cassette
Weight: 1610 grams (actual measured weight without skewers)
Extras: includes skewers and wheel bags

MSRP: $1199

Introduction:
Fulcrum is a new brand in the wheelset market yet it is backed by one of the oldest brands in the industry. Campagnolo launched Fulcrum to build a wheelset and components company that can be appreciated by all cyclists. Campagnolo has been making some of the best wheels in the industry but they are generally ignored by many cyclists who use Shimano components. Aside from the cassette incompatibility between Shimano and Campagnolo, mixing components between the two brands is generally considered as taboo by many cyclists.

Fulcrum wheels are very recognizable and very attractive. They are usually identifiable by the ‘Fulcrum Red’ color. The road wheelset with aluminum rims line-up consists of:
Racing 7 - 1858 grams - $299
Racing 5 - 1756 grams - $399
Racing 3 - 1605 grams - $799
Racing 1 - 1550 grams - $1199
Racing Zero - 1425 grams - $1299

All the wheels are available in clincher version only except for the Racing Zero which is available in clincher and tubular versions.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hydrapak GEL-BOT

• 24 fl. oz. liquid capacity.
• 3.2 oz. gel capacity.
• $13.99 MSRP

Here’s a tech short note on a product I’ve been testing out lately, a nifty product called the GelBot. If you use energy gels such as Hammer Gel but want to make life a little more convenient, check this out. It has a small reservoir nested in the cap of the bottle where you put the gel. Squeeze the bottle with the nozzle shut to get the gel out, or open it like a standard bottle to drink the water.

The only downsides I saw were two: the nozzle is pretty large compared to most bottles so it feels a little awkward, and there is enough flow resistance in the gel port that in cold weather I expect the gel would be too viscous and would be hard to squeeze out. But for a simplified solution in warm weather this would spare you some messy gel packs in your jersey pockets. Pretty clever I’d say. I think GelBot is a super option in a TT where you need some energy supply, but not too much, and only want to carry one thing. They are sold by Hydrapak.

Official Hydrapak Website - Product Page
RoadBikeReview.com User Reviews

“300 Warriors” (citizen cyclists) to get 4-hour head start on Tour of Utah pro teams on August 16, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - May 23, 2008 - Terry McGinnis, executive director of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah presented by Zions Bank announced today the “300 Warriors” citizen challenge. In the fourth and most demanding day in “America’s toughest stage race,” 300 citizen warriors will precede the premier professional teams by 4 hours. Their goal: ride 98 miles and scale 14,778 vertical feet, a feat representing over 28% of the horizontal distance and almost half the climbing in the five-day Tour of Utah stage race.

“Finishing this ride,” said Terry McGinnis, veteran Utah bike racer, coach, and Tour of Utah executive director, “is the equivalent to riding the Tour de France’s Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and Alpe d’Huez.”
Continues McGinnis, “Proof of your ‘bragging rights’ to being one of only ‘300 Warriors’ - selected on a first-come/first-served basis - will be limited-edition racing jerseys and medallions. Only 300 jerseys will be produced, ordered to size (with the bib number actually printed on the jersey) as each citizen rider signs up. In addition, each of only 300 medallions issued to participants will entitle its owner to a $300 discount on most Larry H. Miller new or used automobiles.”

The “300 Warriors” will be enlisted in order of their registration. 300 is the event limit. The enlistment cost of $135 per rider will include the commemorative 3-inch-diameter medallion and jersey with bib number awarded in order of registration. The first ten bib numbers are reserved for an as yet unnamed corporate sponsor, and bib number 300 is reserved for Rick Bennett, the 61-year old creator of the event. All riders will responsible for their own SAG support. A downloadable PDF file for rider SAG vehicles will be provided. All net registration proceeds will support the Tour of Utah.
“While this isn’t a competitive race,” said event creator Rick Bennett, “I view it as an excellent tune-up ride for September’s Logan-to-Jackson race. At a racing-age of 62, I don’t know how many more years of this insanity I have left in me. My goal is to elude the thundering herd of pro riders and beat them to the Snowbird finish line. A four-hour head start might do the trick.”
Continues Bennett: “The 300 Warriors don’t even need to complete the ordeal to get their medallions and custom-numbered jerseys. In fact, the value proposition of having such a unique artifact could more than pay for itself on eBay. Worst case, buy a Larry H. Miller car and more than double your registration fee in savings. It’s a win-win for everyone, and supports Utah bicycling, too.”

“Before signing up as one of the 300 Warriors,” said Chairman of the 2008 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Presented by Zions Bank, Greg Miller of the Larry H. Miller Group, “Each participant must view a 3-minute video on bicycle/automobile safety. This is a subject near and dear to all cyclists who have spent much time sharing the road with cars.”

“I’d like to sincerely thank each citizen warrior,” concludes Greg Miller, “For their support of Utah cycling and the Tour of Utah. Ride safely and have the time of your life.”

To sign up as one of the 300 WARRIORS, go to www.tourofutah.com and click on the 300 WARRIORS tab. Or for more information on the Tour of Utah, contact Terry McGinnis, executive director, at terrymac@xmission.com or call 801-273-8790.

Masterlink Films announces the world premiere of their debut film, Road to Roubaix, documenting the most difficult and prestigious one-day road cycling race in the world.

New York, New York, June 1, 2008 — Masterlink films announces the world premiere of its first feature-length documentary film, Road to Roubaix, at the Bicycle Film Festival (www.bicyclefilmfestival.com), on June 1, 2008 at 7:00 PM local time. Road to Roubaix takes moviegoers along for the epic one-day, 122 year-old professional road race Paris-Roubaix, which features over 160 miles of the most difficult terrain the riders will encounter all season. The film includes interviews with the biggest names in cycling: Lance Armstrong. Tom Boonen, George Hincapie, Fabian Cancellara, Juan Antonio Flecha, Sean Kelly, Jean-Marie Leblanc and many more.

Masterlink Films founders and directors, David Deal and David Cooper, bring you a film that goes beyond the limits of what broadcast television can offer. Road to Roubaix tells the stories of the riders, mechanics, fans and the brutal, unpredictable landscape that is the stage for Paris-Roubaix. The film combines rare, behind-the-scenes footage, stunning panoramic views of the race, and a collection of archival and contemporary still images that most people never see.

The trailer for Road to Roubaix can be viewed at www.masterlinkfilms.com

ABOUT MASTERLINK FILMS: A diverse team comprised of creative professionals and commercial photographers that offer a fresh approach to filmmaking, from meticulously composed scenes to an emphasis on story as an art form.

Venus de Miles, Colorado’s 1st Women’s-Only bike ride is set for Sunday, August 17th, 2008.

Across the United States there are only 12 supported, all women’s, non-competitive rides. With Colorado’s abundant pool of passionate recreational female cyclists, founder Teresa Robbins identified the need and opportunity for an all-women’s ride. Venus de Miles was designed to bring female cyclists of all abilities together each year to celebrate women and community. Today, women are not only running for president, they are coming together to enjoy sports that may have at one time felt intimidating. Venus De Miles, a non-competitive event, is the perfect venue for women, new and old to the world of cycling, to come together and enjoy a summer day of “spinning” in scenic Colorado.

Proceeds from the ride benefit the non-profit organization, Greenhouse Scholars (GHS). GHS provides high-performing, under-resourced college-bound students with personal, academic, and professional support, as well as, a significant financial scholarship.

Read the rest of this entry »

Six special award jerseys will be presented to the world’s elite U25 cyclists who prove their mettle in the inaugural run of the 450-mile American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania presented by Highmark Healthy High 5®. The six-day stage race, June 24-29, is a first of its kind event and the richest race in the world for U25 riders, the sport’s next generation of superstars.

Beginning in Philadelphia and traversing a historically significant route along the Forbes Trail that was forged in 1758 by British General John Forbes and Colonel George Washington, the race culminates in Pittsburgh as part of that city’s 250th anniversary celebration. In addition to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the Tour’s host cities include Downingtown, Carlisle, Camp Hill, Bedford, Latrobe and Ligonier.

The course route alternately favors sprinters and climbers, and now the 120 riders can vie for individual honors in these and several other categories with the six award jerseys, designed by American Eagle Outfitters and manufactured by California-based Voler Team Apparel.

Read the rest of this entry »

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Crumpler Bags is joining forces with One On One Bicycle Studio and eight local and national artists to create a limited edition series of messenger bags featuring one-of-a-kind graphics. The custom bag designs are the centerpiece of a weeklong event called “Imaginary Bags” which culminates in a fundraising party featuring a silent auction to raise money for a local cycling-related charity. All proceeds benefit the Mark Loesch Memorial Fund.

Gene Oberpriller, owner of One On One, says the idea for the show came together in a conversation he had with Crumpler Bags employees at last year’s Interbike convention in Las Vegas. “One On One is a combination bike shop- coffee shop-art gallery, and we attract a pretty diverse group of customers. So we’re always looking for ways to bring the local bike and art scenes together. A show featuring custom messenger bags designed by local artists was a natural.”

Oberpriller took the idea to Charles Youel, a Minneapolis advertising creative who’s worked to stage other art and cycling events at One On One, including ARTCRANK, a bicycle-themed poster show. Youel put together a group of local and national artists to create designs based on the Crumpler Fux Deluxe messenger bag: Adam West, Aleks Stancevic, Amy Campbell, Katherine Lamm, Mary Fallon, Nicki McCracken, Sarah Nelson Forss and Steve Smith.

Read the rest of this entry »

Blazing Saddles Plunges into the Tour de France’s Rousing and Rowdy History

Award-winning Sports Writer Matt Rendell Reveals an Astonishing Side of Le Tour

Boulder, CO, USA - Death-defying rides, bare-faced cheating, blind passions, double dealing-the Tour de France is the greatest show on wheels. For more than a century, the Tour de France has captured the world’s imagination as the ultimate test of man’s strength and willpower. Blazing Saddles: The Cruel and Unusual History of the Tour de France spins a riotous tale of the inspiring and sometimes astonishing history of cycling’s most famous race, its whimsical mishaps and astounding feats. Blazing Saddles is available now in bookstores, bike shops, and online.

Award-winning sports writer Matt Rendell plunges into “La Grande Boucle,” describing everything from the clothing of the first Tour winner (white blazer, black trousers, wool socks) to the earliest method of cheating (riding the train). Blazing Saddles recounts the famous rivalries and riders that contested the Tour, setting the record straight with complete results of every podium finisher. Rendell’s vivid storytelling is complemented with more than 100 black and white photographs, portraying cycling’s heroes and martyrs, villains and cheats, from the very first race to modern times.

Blazing Saddles is an entertaining romp through 105 years of Tour mania and it’s sure to be enjoyed by record numbers of American cycling fans. American cycling continues to enjoy the boom in spectatorship and participation begun with Lance Armstrong’s seven consecutive Tour de France victories. In 2007, 20.5 million American households watched the Tour, an 11% increase over 2006. In 2008, for the first time in history, two American cycling teams will represent American cycling at this year’s Tour de France. The Outdoor Industry Association reports that cycling is America’s fifth most popular sport, with 1 in 5 Americans riding a bike in 2006, and newspapers across the country have noted a shift from golf to cycling for fitness and networking. USA Cycling, the governing body of the sport, reported a record high membership last fall.

Matt Rendell is the author of Kings of the Mountain and A Significant Other. His biography The Death of Marco Pantani was the 2007 National Sporting Club Best Biography and was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

Atlanta, GA - For a team to defend a race lead over seven stages takes a tremendous amount of effort on everyone’s part to ensure the win. For one rider to do it on his own start to finish is almost unimaginable.

But John Murphy of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis pulled it off during the five-day, seven-stage Tour of Atlanta this past weekend, despite having to contend with full squads form a number of teams, including UCI continental team Toshiba.

Murphy won the opening-stage time trial by a solid 0:31 margin, but had five members of Toshiba within 0:55 of him after the stage.

But after the second stage - an unusual street sprint stage done over three rounds of sprints only, with time bonuses awarded for the top three finishers in each sprint - Murphy pushed his lead out to a slightly more comfortable 0:54 after winning all three rounds of his sprints.

From there it was a matter of being vigilant and riding defensively. He finished second in the stage 3 circuit race, and second again with a composite team in the stage 4 team time trial. But his lead had shrunk to 0:20 after the TTT. That lead held through stage 5, and despite a time bonus for another second place in the stage 6 criterium, his lead dropped to 0:16. But that’s where it stayed after the final stage criterium.

Read the rest of this entry »