Feature Articles | Tour-of-California

Bikes of the Tour – Tom Boonen’s McLaren Venge

By thien   May 15, 2012

Tom Boonen is having quite the year, winning the overall at the Tour of Qatar, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, and his 4th victory at Paris-Roubaix. Making him the first ever cyclist to ever win the Flemish cobblestone quadruple. After an incredible spring classics campaign, Boonen is returning to racing at this week’s Amgen Tour of California.

Boonen has won this year on three different Specialized bikes, the Roubaix, Tarmac, and Venge. For the Tour of California, Tom has brought both a Tarmac SL4 and McLaren Venge for normal road duties, with a Specialized Shiv for the TT in Bakersfield.

“Tom is pretty much going to ride most the stages this week on the Venge as his chosen bike,” said Sean Estes, Specialized’s public relations manager, “Given Tom’s body style and the type of riding being featured at the Tour of California, it’s the perfect bike. Highly aerodynamic, highly stiff, it’s perfect for the sprints.”

Boonen’s bike is equipped with mostly new 2012 SRAM RED, he has chosen to run an older SRAM TT chainring on the crank to make the minimum UCI weight limit and for it’s added stiffness. Speaking of stiffness, a special collaboration between McLaren and Specialized has resulted in a special layup schedule that results in the McLaren Venge frameset being both stiffer and lighter by 150 grams than a normal Venge. Boonen will ride Zipp 404′s for most stages, but has the full range of ZIpp wheels to choose from. The only part on his bike that isn’t off the shelf is a one off Zipp stem, in a 140mm size, a size they don’t normally offer.

Sean Estes of Specialized shows us Tom Boonen’s race bike…

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Tom Boonen’s McLaren Venge and Specialized SL4 Tarmac Photo Gallery below-
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Feature Articles | Tour-of-California

Team Exergy Comes to Tour of California Seeking Gold

By thien   May 12, 2012

Team Exergy is making their Tour of California debut this year, and the’ve decided to go for gold in the Golden State. Working through the night tonight to make sure their bikes are ready for the start tomorrow, they’ve brought the aces of design Trademark Sign Company with them to bling out their race bikes. Remi McManus reached out to the teams gear and equipment sponsors with a gold theme idea and they quickly mobilized to make it happen. Here’s the first shot of the teams Felt FC race bike complete with Gold signature parts.

Microshift was able to get the team new groupsets utilizing Gold instead of the traditional team green. Fizik came through with gold versions of the Ariones and Antares the team rides. K-Edge came through with gold versions of both their chain catcher and custom number plate holders. Component manufacturer FSA quickly got the team new bar tape and headset spacers to compliment the other gold bits. The completed package should make the team stand out when they line up at the start of the Tour of California tomorrow in Santa Rosa.

More photos to come, but check these out for now…



Feature Articles | Tour-of-California

Trek Honors Jens Voigt with new bike for Tour of California

By thien   May 11, 2012


“Shut up Legs” paint scheme the latest rider-themed bike from Trek’s Race Shop

Trek is excited to announce the unveiling of a Jens Voigt-themed paint scheme designed for the world’s most popular rouleur, just in time for the Amgen Tour of California. The all-new “Shut up Legs” scheme pays homage to one of cycling’s most respected competitors and a nod to one of the more popular post-race quotations attributed to him. Along with the famous quote printed along the top of the top tube, reminding its rider of the hardman’s philosophy of controlling the body with the mind, a weathered wolf’s head is emblazoned on the seat and head tubes, speaking to Jens’ uncanny ability to seemingly always lead the pack. The bike also incorporates amazing statistics from Voigt’s long career as a professional cyclist, with the numbers hidden inside the fork legs and within the downtube logo.

Never short for words, Voigt had a lot to say about the design throughout the concept and development of the bike. “I was thrilled when Trek said they wanted to do a bike for me,” commented Voigt. “We went back and forth about the theme and I talked a lot about the way I approach racing and going for the attack and we came up with this really cool wolf theme. It’s pretty aggressive but I feel like it fits.”

“We wanted to incorporate some of the accomplishments of his huge career so we asked Jens to talk about his career and to list some interesting statistics from his years on a bike,” said Trek VP Joe Vadeboncoeur. “He came back with the standard stuff, ‘64 pro wins, 15 years as a pro, 35 wins as an amateur’ but what was really unique, and this just speaks to who Jens is; was that he included things like ‘100 crashes, 11 broken bones, 25 screws or pins, 1300 kg of pasta eaten’. It was an amazing list that he had kept and we’ve incorporated all of it into the details of the bike.”

The bike will be raced at Tour of California, with a replica on display at Trek’s festival space at each stage. Voigt’s bike is the latest edition in a line of rider-inspired paint schemes crafted by Trek’s in-house Creative Design Studio. Last year during the 2011 Tour de France, Trek unveiled limited-edition paint schemes for Frank and Andy Schleck as well as the popular “Spartacus” bike for Fabian Cancellara.



Feature Articles

Introducing Osmo Nutrition

By thien   May 11, 2012


Cutting edge nutrition company launches hydration and recovery product-system based on proven, peer-reviewed science

Conventional wisdom in the endurance sports drink world holds that itʼs optimal to have both electrolytes and carbohydrates in the same formula, to essentially turn a fluid into a fuel. Launched today and founded on the philosophy of, “Hydration in your bottle, food in your pocket,” Osmo Nutrition aims to not only challenge that assumption but to turn it on itʼs head.

The company is unveiling its initial, four powdered-drink product line in Sonoma County, California around the start of the Amgen Tour de California.

All of Osmo’s products are based on the peer-reviewed scientific research of noted Nutrition Scientist and Exercise Physiologist Dr. Stacy Sims, MSc, PhD. Osmo Nutrition’s hydration and recovery products deliver proven performance benefits to help athletes perform and feel their best. The companyʼs formulations take a systematic approach to hydration and nutrition for athletes that focuses on what the body needs at specific stages of the exercise and recovery cycle. Dr. Sims has spent over 15 years conducting research in the lab and field developing Osmoʼs leading hydration and recovery formulas, working with the likes of Lance Armstrong, the Slipstream Sports professional cycling team, the USA Olympic Track and BMX teams and many top Triathletes including Dan Hugo.

“Osmoʼs products are designed to work with the bodyʼs natural responses to exercise and adaptation,” said Dr. Sims. “Specifically, each formula works at a particular point of the exercise/stress cycle and allows the body to minimize the stressors of exercise and maximize the repair. The focus on hydration is to enhance total body water as inadequate hydration is a huge performance limiter. The focus on recovery is two fold: 1) to give the body what it needs immediately post exercise to shut down the breakdown stress and start adaptation and repair; and 2) to work with the bodyʼs natural repair cycle that occurs during quality sleep. A double hit of recovery means faster adaptation and quicker gains in performance and potential.”

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

2013 Colnago C59 Disc

By thien   May 07, 2012

Colnago’s C59 Disc made its North American debut at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. The C59 Disc is a 2013 model, so what you see displayed here is still in prototype form, including the Formula levers. The C59 will be Colnago’s first fully featured front and rear hydraulic disc brake road bike. Colnago claims it will bring a whole new level of performance and safety to their road bike line.

Formula’s brake levers, built around Shimano’s Di2 drivetrain, looks intriguing. With an elegant shape, it’s still a little rough around the edges in it’s prototype form. Still, the shape and form is quite impressive for a project that only really took off this past fall. Hidden inside the brake hoods are tiny reservoirs for the hydraulic brakes. Unlike, TRP’s Hywire, there is no indication or bulge, making these hoods just as narrow as any other with traditional brakes. Formula says their system, the RR1, should be finalized and in production by the summer. Strictly a Colnago collaboration right now, they should announce an aftermarket version at this year’s Eurobike.

The C59 disc will be spec’d with 140mm diameter discs front and rear (we’re told a 160mm mounting kit will also be available for heavier riders). The system is easy to service, should it ever need servicing – as the system is essentially closed and there are no cables to replace or wear out. The regular maintenance will only consist of checking the brake pads for wear, and replacing them when needed – which is a simple five minute job.

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Feature Articles

SRAM’s Chain Catcher Now Available Aftermarket

By thien   May 07, 2012

SRAM today announced the availability of their new Chain Catcher as an aftermarket part. Initially an integrated part of SRAM’s RED-2012 YAW front derailleur, a kit available starting next month will bring the effective Chain Spotter to RED, Force, Rival, and Apex front braze on front derailleurs. The chain spotter is an integrated solution assuring accurate performance while protecting your frame.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic | Video

Look Cyclocross X-85 Frameset

By thien   May 02, 2012

One of the most anticipated and requested bikes from Look Cycles has always been a true carbon fiber cyclocross bike. Look answered those requests this past fall with the introduction of the X-85. Shown quietly at the fall bike shows, the X-85 was still very much a prototype bike. Prototype no more, the production version was on display at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. Look is returning to cyclocross with a truly avant garde cross frameset. Using Look’s 25 years of experience and “know-how” in carbon technology, the new X-85 is completely hand made in Look’s Nevers, France carbon factory. The frame is constructed of “tube-to-tube” technology and weighs in at a very respectable 1150 grams (size M), and the all carbon disc fork is 550 grams.

The X-85 is built to accomodate standard 160mm rotors with the IS standard mounts, hydraulic or mechanical. To ensure a wide range of wheel options, Look opted to use a standard 135mm rear wheel spacing allowing for most any 29er wheel to be used. Look’s “Mud Evac” chainstays have been designed for optimal mud clearance and seatstays were designed with a carbon composition incorporating flex, ideal for absorbing vibrations. Look has also moved the cable routing from the below the flattened top tube on the prototype to above it, for easy shouldering during cross racing.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

Volagi Debuts Viaje – All Day Comfort in a Disc Brake Steel Road Bike

By thien   April 30, 2012

Volagi took the wraps off, Viaje, the latest addition to Volagi’s lineup of long bow seat stay road bikes at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. Literally translated from Spanish, Viaje means “trip” or “journey”. Journeys don’t always go over paved roads though, so Volagi set to designing a bike that could handle like your road bike, power through rough patches like your cross bike, and fit racks and mounts like your randonneuring bike.

The Viaje is Volagi’s first steel road bike featuring the same Long Bow Seat Stay technology and disc brake compatibility as their Liscio. Offered in both Reynolds 853 and a 525, it’ll allow Volagi to hit very specific price points – $3200 and $2000. One will feature Campagnolo Chorus and the other most likely SRAM’s Apex.

The Viaje answers a lot of questions Volagi’s been asked over the short time they’ve been building bikes. Questions like “will it accept a rack,” and “will it fit cyclocross tires?” On the Viaje, the answer is Yes. The Viaje’s geometry will be very similar to that of the Liscio, the company’s carbon bike designed for performance and long distances. But will allow up to 42c tires, 32 if you choose to run full fenders. Want to run racks, panniers, and a dynamo, you’ll have all the mounts you’ll need.

The Viaje is expected to arrive in final production form in August with a 27.2 seatpost, BB386 BB, and a 135mm spaced rear end.

For more information check out Volagi at www.volagi.com



Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

USE R1 Aero Bar

By thien   April 30, 2012

Steve from Ibex Sports, the North American distrubutor for Ultimate Sports Engineering products shows us the new line from USE. Including the new for 2012 R1 Handlebar, to be used for Triathlons and TTs. Ibex Sports claims the R1 is the most aero bar on the market and claimed weight is just 550 grams. Claimed weight aside, the most significant change from previous USE bars is how the adjustable extensions and pads are mounted on pillars now instead of clamps.

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Feature Articles | Sea Otter Classic

2012 Sea Otter Classic Cyclocross

By lyne lamoureux   April 27, 2012

A cyclocross race at Sea Otter Classic? In April? Would anyone show up? The answer was yes. Through the fields were small, even tiny for the pro women, it didn’t stop the fans from loudly cheering the racers on.

Using the terrain around the Laguna Seca Lakebed, the course which started and end on the racetrack included a few grassy sections, so-called kitty litter pits with gravel instead of sand and a foray into the expo for a barrier section near the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden.

While the racers at the front were racing hard, many were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of (very) early racing to simply have fun. The crowd was happy to cooperate with beer hand-ups, dollar hand-ups and even a salad hand-up for Georgia Gould of the Luna team.

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