Cervélo TestTeam is pleased to announce the signing of Simon Gerrans of Australia, Martin Reimer of Germany, Inigio Cuesta and Xavier Florencio of Spain as well as Gabriel Rasch of Norway.

Simon Gerrans, a former swimmer, runner and motorcycle racer, only turned to cycling by chance (and in hindsight, good fortune) after injuring his knee when he was seventeen in the Victorian motocross titles. A pro cyclist since 2003, the twenty-eight-year old Australian won a stage victory at the 2008 Tour de France, as well as a third place stage finish during the 2005 edition of the Tour. Gerrans rode this past season for Team Credit Agricole.

Martin Reimer is one of the major young talents in Germany. The twenty-one-year-old native of Cottbus won the 2008 German U23-national road race title. In 2008 he rode for the Continental Team LKT Team-Brandenburg.

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Portland, Indiana - AeroCat, LLC , an Indiana based bicycle company, today announced availability of the R750 ultra light weight road bicycle. The addition of the “Seven Fifty” is the first of several new bikes that AeroCat will be announcing in the near future.

The new AeroCat R750 (Seven Fifty) road bike is a marvelous display of high-tech engineering utilizing state-of-the-art materials and fabrication techniques. Equipped with top-end components and light weight racing wheels enters the Seven Fifty into the sub-14 pound category. At the heart of the design is a 1K high-modulus carbon fiber frame weighing in at 950 grams (54 size fully painted pearl white and blue). The frame features an industry standard English threaded bottom bracket receptor making it compatible with standard cranksets and has a replaceable rear dropout hanger. Frames are available in sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60. The custom matching fork is constructed with same technology and features a weight of 320 grams fully painted. The Seven Fifty is available as a complete bike built to order or as a frameset only.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Shimano Dura Ace Carbon Clincher Wheels for Bicycles

Units: About 275

Importer: Shimano American Corp., of Irving, Calif.

Manufacturer: Shimano Components SDN, of Johor, Malaysia

Hazard: Rim surface and spoke hole plugs on the wheel can cause a puncture to the inner tube, resulting in a flat tire. This can cause the rider to lose control and fall.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the Shimano Dura Ace Carbon Clincher Wheel Sets with model number WH-7850 C24CL sold for road racing bicycles. The rim has labels that read “Shimano WH-7850″, “Dura Ace”, and “Carbon 1380.” These wheels are intended for use with high end adult road racing bicycles.

Sold at: Bicycle specialty stores and dealers nationwide from April 2008 through August 2008 for about $1,300.

Manufactured in: Malaysia

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the bicycles with the recalled wheels, remove the wheels, and return them to their local bike dealer or retailer for a free inspection and repair.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Shimano American Corp. at (800) 353-4719 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s web site at bike.shimano.com

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:

Pozzoleone, Italy – Team Liquigas’ Ivan Basso will make his return to pro racing on October 26th at the Japan Cup on fi’zi:k’s new Antares road saddle. The new light-weight, low profile saddle introduced at the fall Eurobike and Interbike shows with a scheduled November aftermarket release, has been on his Cannondale Supersix since mid-August.

“I’m very happy to finally be riding fi’zi:k,” Basso said. “I know that both some of my rivals and comrades developed lasting relationships with fi’zi:k because they like to work closely with the athletes for development and feedback. I’ve visited their Pozzoleone headquarters several times and their European Marketing Manager, Gabriele Benedetti, has taken the time to work with both me and our mechanics. I tested a few saddles but I can say, honestly, that the Antares is the best saddle I’ve ridden in my entire career.”

Both Basso and Garmin-Chipotle’s Dave Zabriskie received the first two pre-production models in mid-August. Prior to joining the Garmin-Chipotle team last year, Zabriskie also had never ridden fi’zi:k saddles. Added US Marketing Manager, Suzette Ayotte, “It’s not always easy to put a pro cyclist on a saddle they’ve never ridden and get the desired results, but both cyclists have been on the Antares ever since. We don’t hope to unseat the Arione and Aliante, but the Antares is the solution for those somewhere in between.”

While the Antares is most easily described as a cross between fi’zi:k’s popular but contrasting Aliante and Arione models, the third dimension – the third A in their high performance road line-up – goes a few steps further to reduce weight while adding comfort. Measuring 274 meters in length, the Antares is 16 cm shorter than the Arione, flat across the top like the Arione and 142 cm at its widest point like the Aliante.

In comparison tests with other ultra light high-performance saddles, the CX padded Antares has 300% more nose padding and up to 15% more surface area. Introduced on the Arione CX early in 2008 the foam formulation adds no bulk but yields a super low-profile with added comfort. As Basso explained, “The padding and flat surface provides support to eliminate pressure on the prostate area and the wide nose provides support when I’m climbing in the saddle.”

Fi’zi:k’s new Antares will be available in two versions and is scheduled to land at IBD’s in November. The mostly black with white, carbon braided rail version has a targeted weight of 145 grams and will retail for $230. The black with white Antares with k:ium rails has a targeted 175 grams weight and a retail price of $200.

Ultegra SL Wheelset Review by Gary Lee

Shimano Ultegra SL WH-6600G

• 24mm 6061 Aluminum rims
• Offset rear rim increases rear wheel rigidity
• Bladed & butted spokes, 16 front/20 rear
• Oversized hub and axle
• Ice Grey in color
• 10-speed compatible only
• Weight – 1,680g (pair)
• MSRP - $530

The Ultegra gruppo is more than adequate for the weekend warrior or even a serious racer. The price range is attractive and you don’t lost that much to the higher end Dura-Ace gruppo. Ultegra users over the years have benefited greatly from the trickle down technology of the Dura-Ace DNA, with its smooth, short throws, and light weight characteristics.

This is very true of the new Ultegra SL wheelset in the stealthy Ice Grey color option. The wheelset is decently light, affordable, and due to the new rim profile and spoke nipple design is stronger and stiffer than the previous Ultegra models.

One concern voiced to me during a group ride was the lack of lateral stiffness with the older Ultegra wheelsets. According to him during hard cornering the spokes on the earlier generation models would flex to the point that his wheel magnet would make contact with the sensor and he’d hear the clicking it made when it rotated. Obviously a bit un-nerving when you’re at speed on a tight turn bunched in a group!

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SRAM Red 5-piece Component Upgrade - By Twain Mein

• Double Tap brake/shift levers
• Front and rear derailleurs
• SRAM PC-1090R chain
• SRAM Red cassette (11-26)
• Actual Cost - $1236

This is a review of the SRAM Red 5-piece upgrade. I’ve been sticking with Shimano 9-speed Dura Ace because I have 4 road bikes that I’m always switching components on. Plus, I haven’t really seen a compelling reason to switch my Dura Ace Octalink BB (175 grams) and FSA Superlight Cranks (522 grams) for the new-tech outboard bearing cranks; they aren’t significantly lighter and are a lot more expensive. However, I recently bought a new used Cervelo R3 and the weight-weenie bug struck hard. Plus, the 11-26 SRAM cogset seems like a great upgrade that lends a huge range of flexibility. Shimano offers only 11-23 or 12-25. And the Red component group is rumored to be much lighter. It was time to upgrade to 10 speed. Plus I pooled my 42nd birthday funds to afford the upgrade.

Cost/Benefit
Below is pricing and weights from the Excel Sports web site (as of 9/29/08). Last year’s Dura Ace and Campy Record 10-speed currently have steep discounts while the new Dura Ace and Campy 11-speed have big premiums as they are being introduced. SRAM Red is in between; more expensive than the 2008 models but less expensive than the 2009 models. But lighter than all. Kudos to SRAM for forcing the competition to go back to the drawing board. This being said, the original Dura Ace 9 Speed has certainly stood the test of time and is a remarkable value for price and weight.

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Portland, Or - After a devastating fire this summer, Velotech, Inc., the fast-growing company that owns and operates BikeTiresDirect.com and WesternBikeworks.com, announces the opening of a new warehouse and retail space in North East Portland.

Early morning Sunday, August 3rd, an electrical fire spread quickly and engulfed the main warehouse of the Portland, OR based online retailer. Ninety fire fighters were called to battle the blaze of bicycle tires and cycling products. CO2 refill cartridges became projectiles and were found over 300 feet away from the 10,000 square foot building. Luckily, no one was in the building at the time and no fire fighters were injured fighting the blaze.

By mid-August, the Company had leased a new, 20,000 square foot warehouse, office and retail space and began rebuilding their inventory. Orders began shipping less than a month after the fire. Jay Torborg, Velotech President commented, “Within hours of the fire, we began receiving calls and emails from our customers wishing us a quick recovery. Our employees pulled together to outfit and restock the new warehouse and we were up and running in record time. We look forward to the future in our new home.”

On October 30th Velotech will host a Grand Opening of their retail store and warehouse with food, drink and special deals for in-store customers. Online customers can participate with a free shipping deal through Sunday November 2nd.”

At the midpoint of the U.S. cyclocross season, the North American Cyclocross Trophy has clear leaders in both the Men and Women’s categories following The Erdinger Gran Prix of Gloucester held October 11 & 12th.in Gloucester Mass. Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Amy Dombroski (Velo Bella-Kona) jumped to the top of the leader board for the national series and will start the next round wearing the NACT Leader’s Jersey

Trebon moved from second spot in the NACT standings to first with a wins on both days in Gloucester. Trebon leap-frogged U.S. national champion Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) who finished second both days in Gloucester as well as Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) who did not race Gloucester. Trebon now holds 200 points in the series to Johnson’s 170 points. Powers rests in third spot with 90 points.

Under-23 National Champ, Dombroski was also victorious both days in Gloucester and captured maximum points to gain the series lead and the Leader’s Jersey with 158 points. Wendy Simms (Kona) and Sue Butler (Monaviecannondale.com) are tied for second spot with 100 points though neither competed in Gloucester. The Canadian National Cyclocross Championships unfortunately conflicted with Gloucester were Simms defended her women’s title. Dombroski’s two wins will make an interesting battle of Generation Y versus Generation X as the over thirty five paring of Simms and Butler try to take back the lead in the final four races.

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Quite a year for Canadian Dominique Rollin. On his first year with the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team and his second year racing on the North American circuit, he caught everyone’s attention after the fourth stage at the Tour of California, the 135-mile (217 km) slog from Monterey to San Luis Obispo. In horrendous weather conditions, Rollin pulled away from his breakaway companions with 12 miles (20 kms) to go and held off some of the best riders in the world, including a chasing George Hincapie (Columbia) to take the stage win after nearly seven and a half hours in the saddle. He also went on to win the Sprint Competition.

Throughout the year, the 6 foot 2 inches, 182-pound Rollin worked hard for his team to bring in victories and Rollin himself finished thirteen times on the top step of the podium in 2008 (so far) which included a stage win at the Cascade Cycling Classic and the CSC Invitational.

I caught up with a relaxed Rollin at the start of the Tour of Missouri where after joking about wishing for windy and horrible weather conditions for the upcoming race, Rollin who excels and loves racing in bad weather, looked back at his year.

Rollin was also looking forwards to a final racing push starting with the Tour of Missouri, the World Championships and finishing up with the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia.

“It’s the second year that I do the Sun Tour, it’s a good experience, I like it. This year, I’m taking advantage that half my team is Australian to stay a it in the warmth before returning to the cold weather in Quebec. It’s a way to extend the season, to take a rest a little later, this way I don’t really have a morale break or a loss of motivation.”

Team for 2009. His Toyota-United team is ceasing its existence after three years  as its primary sponsor  decided not to continue after the end of the year. At the time of the interview, Rollin said he had a few offers and declined to talk more about them.

“It’s a strange year. I only hope not to gain the reputation of shutting down teams, two in two.” smiled Rollin whose previous team Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada folded at the end of 2007. “Joking aside, it was disappointing to have a team like Toyota-United leave.”

During Interbike, I learned that Rollin is joining the new Cervélo TestTeam for the upcoming season.

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