Prince-of-Sport

Tour de France : Great Moment Part 3

2009-04-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

Great moments in the history of the Tour

1952 - First finish at altitude
For this experiment, three finishes at altitude were planned: Alpe d’Huez, Sestrières, and Puy-de-Dôme. Italy’s Fausto Coppi crossed all three finish lines in front to claim his second Tour de France crown.

1964 - Anquetil: better than Bobet
Jacques Anquetil became the first rider to win Le Tour five times, the Belgian Thys and the Frenchman Bobet having triumphed three times apiece.

1969 - Return to brand-name teams
The national team formula was scrapped and the reversion to brand-name teams was made permanent.

1974 - A fifth win for Eddy Merckx
Known as “The Cannibal”, the Belgian Eddy Merckx lived up to his reputation by gobbling up the miles, setting the record for days in the Yellow Jersey (96) as well as for stage victories (34). He is also the only rider to have won all the separate classifications of Le Tour.

1975 - First finish on the Champs-Élysées
After the Parc des Princes and then La Cipale, it was the turn of the Champs-Élysées to serve as the finish for Le Tour.

1976 - An eighth podium for Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor never donned the Yellow Jersey, not even for one day. But at the age of 40, he mounted the event podium for an eighth time.

Credit : http://www.letour.fr/

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy Cheap ASUS Eee Netbook Laptop

Tour de France : Great Moment Part 2

2009-04-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Great moments in the history of the Tour

1903 - Premier Tour de France
After having completed the event circuit at an average speed of 25 km/h, Maurice Garin was rewarded with prize money of 6,075 francs, a handsome purse for the era. But most importantly, he was the first in a long line of champions.

1910 - Le Tour discovers the high mountains
Having already tackled the Ballon d’Alsace (1905), the peloton now got to grips with the summits of the Pyrenees. The following year, the race journeyed up into the Alps to take the Col du Galibier mountain pass.

1919 - Creation of the Yellow Jersey
The first Yellow Jersey, indicating the leader in the general classification, was issued to Eugène Christophe in Grenoble. The choice of colour evoked the paper on which L’Auto magazine was printed.

1930 - The national teams
In an era when the Davis Cup was dominated by the famous Mousquetaires of French tennis, the peloton was also stirring up plenty of patriotic sentiment. André Leducq was the overall winner of Le Tour and Charles Pélissier triumphed over eight stages. This was also the year that the publicity caravan was created.

1947 - Back after 7 years’ absence
After the Second World War, France was in the throes of reconstruction. The first post-war Tour was therefore appropriated as a symbol of the nation’s drive and enthusiasm. Jean Robic took the laurels with the final stage.

Credit : http://www.letour.fr/

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy Cheap ASUS Eee Netbook Laptop

Tour de France : Great Moment Part 1

2009-04-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Great moments in the history of the Tour

The line between insanity and genius is said to be a fine one, and in early 20thcentury France, anyone envisaging a near-2,500-km-long cycle race across the country would have been widely viewed as unhinged. But that didn’t stop Géo Lefèvre, a journalist with L’Auto magazine at the time, from proceeding with his inspired plan. His editor, Henri Desgrange, was bold enough to believe in the idea and to throw his backing behind the Tour de France. And so it was that, on 1 July 1903, sixty pioneers set out on their bicycles from Montgeron. After six mammoth stages (Nantes - Paris, 471 km!), only 21 “routiers”, led by Maurice Garin, arrived at the end of this first epic.

Having provoked a mixture of astonishment and admiration, le Tour soon won over the sporting public and the roadside crowds swelled. The French people took to their hearts this unusual event which placed their towns, their countryside and, since 1910, even their mountains, in the spotlight.

Le Tour has always moved with the times. Like France as a whole, it benefited from the introduction of paid holidays from 1936; it has lived through wars, and then savoured the “trente glorieuses” period of economic prosperity while enjoying the heydays of Coppi, Bobet, Anquetil and Poulidor; it has opened itself up to foreign countries with the onset of globalisation, and now finds itself at the forefront of the debate on the malaise afflicting world sport in general. Over a hundred years after its inception, le Tour continues to gain strength from its experience.

Credit : http://www.letour.fr/

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy Cheap ASUS Eee Netbook Laptop

Paris-Nice 2009: Sanchez Secures Paris-Nice Title : Part 2

2009-04-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Paris-Nice 2009: Sanchez Secures Paris-Nice Title

Antonio Colom wins stage 8 of Paris-Nice. But the big winner is Luis Leon Sanchez who bested his friend and countryman Alberto Contador for the overall title.
By Jean Montois

Schleck leapfrogged Chavanel in the overall standings after he finished a vital 16 seconds ahead of the Frenchman, who had suffered a mechanical problem coming down the col d'Eze.

The victory for Sanchez was the 25-year-old's most significant career milestone following a stage win at Aurillac in the last Tour de France, and previous placings of third and fifth at Paris-Nice in 2007 and 2008, respectively. He also triumphed in the 2005 Tour Down Under.

"I've been making progress since the start of my career and up until now I've been learning my profession," Sanchez said. "With this victory I've crossed a threshold. In the future I'm thinking more of competing in big stage-based races.

"In two or three years' time I hope to be in the fight to win the Tour."

Eighth Stage Standings:(119 kms in and around Nice)
1. Antonio Colom (ESP/KAT) 2h47:49.
2. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) at 0:00.
3. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) 0:01.
4. Jonathan Hivert (FRA/SKS) 0:17.
5. Christophe Moreau (FRA/AGR) 0:17.
6. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 0:17.
7. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/RAB) 0:17.
8. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/FDJ) 0:17.
9. Jens Voigt (GER/SAX) 0:17.
10. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 0:17.

Overall final standings:
1. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 30h53:51.
2. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) at 1:00.
3. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 1:09.
4. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 1:24.
5. Antonio Colom (ESP/KAT) 1:47.
6. Jens Voigt (GER/SAX) 1:59.
7. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL/QST) 2:29.
8. Jonathan Hivert (FRA/SKS) 2:57.
9. Yury Trofimov (RUS/BTL) 3:37.
10. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/FDJ) 4:00.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com/

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy Cheap ASUS Eee Laptop

Paris-Nice 2009: Sanchez Secures Paris-Nice Title : Part 1

2009-04-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

Paris-Nice 2009: Sanchez Secures Paris-Nice Title

Antonio Colom wins stage 8 of Paris-Nice. But the big winner is Luis Leon Sanchez who bested his friend and countryman Alberto Contador for the overall title.
By Jean Montois

NICE, FranceMarch 15, 2009:
Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez outlasted compatriot Alberto Contador's attack to win the 67th Paris-Nice cycling race after the eighth and final stage Sunday.

Sanchez, riding for the Caisse d'Epargne team, finished the race one minute ahead of Luxembourg's Frank Schleck in the overall standings, with French rider Sylvain Chavanal another nine seconds adrift in third.

Spanish rider Antonio Colom won the final 119 km stage of the race in twour, 47 minutes, with Contador in second at the same time one second ahead of Saxo Bank's Schleck.

Astana rider Contador, the 2007 Tour de France winner, looked to have taken pole position after taking the overall lead in stage six of this race.

But last year's Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain winner lost almost three minutes during Saturday's seventh stage after a failing to eat and drink properly and losing all his power.

In a bid to recoup the valuable time he'd lost, Contador attacked at 41km and held the lead until the drop from the col d'Eze, less than 10km from the finish line in central Nice.

The Spaniard shook off a dangerous duo of Sandy Casar and David Lopez in the ascent of the col, but was hauled back in by good coordination from teams Caisse d'Epargne (Sanchez) and Saxo Bank (Schleck).

It was Colom and Schleck who emerged on Contador's shoulder in the descent, and the former showed his sprinting prowess to take the stage win down Nice's famed seaside boulevard, the Promenade des Anglais.

"I was expecting Contador's attack in this stage," said Sanchez. "As I had done the night before, he forewarned me. We are great friends in real life but in a race like this, it's each man for himself.

"For me, it's even better to struggle for victory in a race as big as this with a rider such as him," added Sanchez. "Even when the lead was cut to under two minutes, I wasn't worried because I had my team around me and I knew that Frank Schleck's team were also beginning to get going."

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com/
Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch

Devolder Defends at Tour of Flanders

2009-04-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

Devolder Defends at Tour of Flanders

Belgian Stijn Devolder wins his homeland’s toughest race for the second year in a row. PLUS: George Hincapie’s Big Week in Belgium.

By James Startt, Bicycling.com’s European correspondent
April 5, 2009Ninove, Belgium:

Winning a great race for the first time is always a great achievement. Defending one’s title is considerably more rare. And when it comes to the Tour of Flanders, considered by many the hardest single-day race in the world, only the greatest cyclists can even dream of such a feat.

On a sun-kissed day in his native country, Belgian cyclist Stijn Devolder entered the hall of the greatness by winning his second straight Tour of Flanders title. He won the 261.5-km race in virtually the same manner as last year, with a big attack on the Eikenmolen climb, just over 30 kilometers from the finish. But this year, as defending champion, he could not rely on the element of surprise, but simply his own pure power.

Last year, when he stormed to victory as the Belgian national champion, many considered his victory of result of circumstances. His team leader Tom Boonen was the heavy favorite, and when Devolder attacked in 2008 he was not carefully marked. This year, however, Devolder started as a clear co-leader of the mighty Quickstep team. And like all leaders he was equally marked by the competition.

“You know physically he is the same rider,” said Quickstep manager Patrick Lefevere after the race. “He still has two legs and there just isn’t much physical difference between a 28-year old professional and one that is 29. But in his head it is different. After winning Flanders last year, he now knows what he is capable of doing.”

The Quickstep team virtually owns the Tour of Flanders, since they have won the race four the last five years. After riding strong all spring, they once again entered the race the hands-down favorite. And once again they demonstrated why.

Taking control of the race as it enter the daunting final 70 kilometers, filled with a disparaging array on non-stop hills, Quickstep continually placed a key rider up front.

Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel controlled the race for Quickstep until Devolder took over.

In carbon-copy manner he attacked on the Eikenmolen. Then, after bridging across to Chavanel’s group, Devolder exploded off the front on the Geraardsbergen Wall, a climb made famous by it treacherous cobbles and dizzying steepness.

“The Wall decides who has the best legs,” Lefevere said after the race. “And on this day those legs clearly belonged to Devolder.”

Getting a 30-second lead over the climb, he then opened his gap to nearly a minute in the final 15 kilometers and once again had time to roll across the line easily so that he could savor the victory.

In the final meters he raised his finger and pointed to the sky, as he also had time to think momentarily of his friend and teammate Frederic Nolf, who tragically died in his sleep while racing at the Tour of Qatar this past January.

“I always said I would dedicate my first victory to him,” Devolder said afterwards. “When someone dies like that, you see that it can be over in a moment. It makes you think about a lot of things. I pointed to the sky from where he was watching the race. I was very emotional.”

Germany’s Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) finished second, with Belgian Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) third ahead of a big crash in the race’s closing stages that saw a number of riders go down. This wasHaussler’s second near miss in as many weeks as the German just lost out to Team Columbia-High Road’s Mark Cavendish at Milan-San Remo.

Top Ten at the 2009 Tour of Flanders
1. Stijn Devolder (BEL) 6hr 01min 08sec
2. Heinrich Haussler (GER) at 58sec
3. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) 58
4. Filippo Pozzato (ITA) 58
5. Martijn Maaskant (NED) 58
6. Matti Breschel (DEN) 58
7. Marcus Burghardt (GER) 58
8. Bjorn Leukemans (BEL) 58
9. Martin Elmiger (SUI) 58
10. Bert De Waele (BEL) 58

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com/

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch

Boonen Wins a Third Paris-Roubaix : Part 2

2009-04-20T05:38:00.000-07:00

Boonen Wins a Third Paris-Roubaix

Belgian Tom Boonen broke away on the cobbles to win a crash-filled Paris-Roubaix.
PLUS: James Startt Rides With Boonen and Quickstep.
By AFP Direct

That left Hushovd alone up front with Boonen, but just as their duel appeared to be emerging disaster struck Hushovd, the Norwegian hitting the ground after clashing with the barriers on a tight left-hand bend.

Boonen was left on his own to ride through the throngs of Flemish fans with 15km to go, but on his wheel only 100m behind Pozzato emerged from the dust in a vain attempt to catch him.

The race was marred by numerous crashes including one accident, which left ten people hurt, when a motorcycle crashed into fans lining the route near the northern town of Orchies.

"A motorbike from the race organization struck the crowd," a spokesman for Lille emergency services told AFP, saying he had no further details on the extent of the injuries.

Paris-Roubaix results on Sunday:1. Tom Boonen (BEL/QST) 6hr 15min 54sec2. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/KAT) at 0:47.3. Thor Hushovd (NOR/CTT) 1:17.4. Leif Hoste (BEL/SIL) 1:17.5. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/SIL) 1:22.6. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/RAB) 2:14.7. Heinrich Haussler (GER/CTT) 3:13.8. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 3:15.9. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/LIQ) 5:00.10. Matti Breschel (DEN/SAX) 5:29.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy ASUS Laptop

Boonen Wins a Third Paris-Roubaix : Part 1

2009-04-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

Boonen Wins a Third Paris-Roubaix

Belgian Tom Boonen broke away on the cobbles to win a crash-filled Paris-Roubaix.

PLUS: James Startt Rides With Boonen and Quickstep.
By AFP Direct

The man nicknamed Tornado Tom simply knows how to ride the cobbles. Team Quick Step's leader and Belgian hero Tom Boonen powered away from a break filled with top name riders to win his third Paris-Roubaix Sunday. Italian Filippo Pozzato finished second nearly one minute behind Boonen.

Boonen's title defense at Roubaix coupled with last week's repeat at the Tour of Flanders by teammate Stijn Devolder capped off an amazing week of Spring Classics for the Quick Step outfit.

Boonen and Australian-born German contender Heinrich Haussler of Cervelo were pivotal in the final third of the race where they took turns forcing the pace in a bid to drop their respective rivals. After a 10-man breakaway was caught inside the final 70 km Boonen increased the tempo on the Mons-en-Pevele cobbled sector, taking five potential winners along for the ride.

The Belgian's move left him isolated, but perhaps that was the price to pay for dropping all three Saxo Bank riders - Fabian Cancellara, the 2006 winner, Matti Breschel and Kasper Klostergaard - whose presence in the larger group minutes earlier had posed a major threat to his bid to win the race for a third time.

In Hushovd, Pozzato and Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain, Boonen had some quality rivals for company. Pozzato, whose marking of Boonen during the Tour of Flanders last week effectively stymied the Belgian's bid for a third win there, was looking especially strong.

Boonen overcame potential disaster a few kilometers further on as they approached the sixth from last cobbled sector when he suffered a mechanical problem and was frantic as he made a quick change of bike.

It took him two kilometers at full-on pace to catch back on to the lead group, which by then had a lead of nearly 1:30 on their pursuers.

With 17.5-km remaining all collaboration appeared to have come to an end when Flecha, a two-time podium finisher, pulled ahead of the group taking Johan Van Summeren of Silence with him.

Less than a kilometer further on the victory hopes of Flecha, Van Summeren and Silence teammate Leif Hoste and Hushovd bit the dust in dramatic fashion as the Spaniard went too fast into a left hand bend and crashed to the ground. Boonen just managed to avoid the carnage as Hoste hit the ground and Van Summeren waited for his teammate.
Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy ASUS Laptop

TWENTY YEARS AGO IN... MARSEILLE

2009-04-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

TWENTY YEARS AGO IN... MARSEILLE

In 1984, young Vincent Barteau, then 22 had already impressed by carrying the Tour de France’s yellow jersey during 13 days before eventually losing it to his team mate Laurent Fignon, the future winner of the event.Five years later, the man from Normandy again made the headlines by winning a Tour stage in Marseille on a 14th of July, day of the bicentenary of the French Revolution. Close to 20 years later, Barteau keeps a fond memory of that day and remembers almost all the details.

Vincent Barteau: “I was the king that day!”

“It remains a great memory, a great moment of party. The weather was great that morning at the start in Montpellier. We had sung the Marseillaise (French National anthem) in the pack and then the race started. It was very windy because we were riding by the sea and then a breakaway group took off with all the favourites (Fignon, Lemond, Indurain, Kelly…), around thirty riders and I was in it. I had a good feeling that morning but I hadn’t planned anything. In cycling and on the Tour, you don’t choose your days. At a moment Fignon, my leader and Mottet pulled away, I just chased all the counter-attackers. In the final part, the group bunched up together again. Colloti broke away and I managed to follow him. In the Côte de St Antoine, I dropped him and continued on my own. There was still a loop to cover with a first passage on the finish line at the Vieux Port. I therefore heard the bell ring as I went by and I was waiting for the belle to ring again to have an idea of my lead on the following rider. About forty seconds later, I heard it and I knew that it was going to be my day.”

A victory on the French National day makes it even tastier?

“It’s a whole. The weather was great. We are going to Marseille. There was a huge crowd. But when you lift your arms up in the air, it’s because it’s a victory on the Tour de France. My joy would have been the same on another day. It’s such a difficult sport that you don’t choose your stages. You tell yourself that it would be great to win on the 14th of July. When you wake up, you immediately look at the weather and you tell yourself that it would be wonderful to win on that day. It’s a bit like for a National championship. But then again, it’s a stage like another. I would have also been delighted to have won the 2nd stage that year. Of course if you win on the 14th of July, it’s a bonus.”

What did that victory change for you?

Well, already I had my contract extended and my salary was raised. But concerning the fans, people often mix that victory in Marseille with my 13 days with the Yellow Jersey. Yesterday I went to drop friends at the train station and a controller recognised me and talked to me about my career, Marseille, the yellow jersey. But mentioning my victory on the day of the bicentenary of the French Revolution, no-one will ever be able to do it again. On that day, I was the king!”

Credit : http://www.letour.fr

Mongoose Bike BMX
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike
Sale Cheap Apple iPod Touch
Buy ASUS Laptop

The iZip

2009-04-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

The iZip

With the great advancements in technology offered by NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) and Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) have SLA (sealed lead-acid) batteries become obsolete?
Not necessarily.

While clearly NiMH and Li-Ion offer remarkable advantages such as great range and light weight, not all of us ride all that far or mind the extra weight. And SLAs cost less to replace: about $100 perhaps every two years versus about $450-600 perhaps every three to four years for Li-Ion. (Longevity does of course vary between riders, rides and miles).

When Currie (= iZip) first arrived in the U.S.in the mid 90's we became one of their early dealers. As of Spring '09 we are now again a dealer with the Trailz AL—an SLA model offering much at the modest $649 price. The unique Currie drive system has thus reassuringly evolved over many years.
We assemble and service the iZip bikes we sell.

Credit : http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike

EZip Trailz Electric Bike

2009-04-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

EZip Trailz Electric Bike

Ecozine is currently working on creating a product review module for this site, but we don't want you to miss out on any reviews we write in the meantime so we will be posting them in our Blog until the review module is completed. The first review we conducted was of an electric bike called the EZip Trailz, you can read all about this bike in the review below.

Out of the box the EZip Trailz comes with the usual packaging around the bikes frame to protect the paint work, it also has the front wheel, seat, pedals and handlebars removed so it all fits neatly in its box. A simple set of instructions is included giving you a step by step guide to putting the bike together. Assembly is quite simple, attach the front wheel, connect your pedals, thrown on your seat and handlebars and your pretty much done. A more comprehensive bike manual is also included for those wanting to undertake some more comprehensive servicing or tuning.

Before you take your new purchase out on the road it is recommended that the battery is put on charge for eight hours. Charging is simple and involves connecting a three pin connector to the battery. The charger has a simple red light green light indicator to tell you when the battery is charging and when charging has completed. You can charge the battery on the bike or remove it by unlocking the battery from the cargo rack using the supplied keys, this allows you the convenience of charging the battery at a location of your choosing.

Once the battery has been charged your ready to go. The bike has a dual power switch under the rear cargo rack that allows you to choose either the left or right battery. The bike comes with one sealed lead acid (SLA) battery but the cargo rack can hold two of these SLA batteries allowing you to increase your travelling distance. To date I have been unable to find these batteries online or in store, nor have I found the better battery choices of NiMH or Li-Ion that are mentioned in the bike manual. This could be a concern for regular riders as it is recommended that the battery be put on charge after every ride, if the battery has a life of up to 300 charges this could mean you'll be in the market for a replacement within a year. The batteries however could be repacked by a battery specialist.

Once the power switch has been activated you simply ride the bike as you would any normal bike but you have the option of using the throttle on the right hand grip to control the electric motor. The hand grip assembly has three lights and an on/off switch, the lights represent the battery charge levels of green / orange / red. When riding these lights will change depending on the battery drain and throttle position, for example if you are pedalling hard and activate the throttle the light will most likely stay green, however reduce your pedalling on a hill and activate full throttle it will probably show red. This doesn't necessarily indicate that the battery has drained it just alerts you that you use will use the charge faster.

The on/off switch on the right hand grip does not turn the motor on and off as one would expect, it actually is a bypass switch that allows you to override the pedal sensor. If you sit on the bike in a stationary position and turn the throttle the bike will not activate the motor until you start pedalling, the on/off switch will allow you to override the pedal sensor and activate the motor without the need to pedal. It is recommended that you ride with the pedal sensor on and after riding the bike you see the benefits, for example if you are riding up a small hill and then down the other side you would normally coast down the hill without pedalling, the sensor would detect this and cut power to the motor. If the senor was bypassed you could continue to provide power unnecessarily to motor when you stop pedalling.The bike is heavy but when your riding it you get used to the weight especially when you have a motor to assist you.

The bike could be improved by manufacturing it with a light weight material and by using a different battery such as a NiMH or Li-Ion, having said that it rides well on the road at high speeds and the bike has good stopping power. With its seven gears the bike is easy to ride on relatively flat ground and down hills, when travelling up hill the gears work well with the power assist.

The bike has as many good points as it does bad, you can't attach a child seat to the back of the bike due to the existing cargo / battery rack width and frame configuration. It has front suspension forks that make the ride more comfortable and has the capacity to attach a drink bottle holder, the bike is heavy and you notice it when you disengage the motor while pedalling. The EZip is however a lot of fun to ride and if you live in a hilly suburb its even better.

The bike is extremely well priced and is cheapest at Kmart in Australia. They normally retail at Kmart for $445 and this good value considering I have seen them online for up to $1100. When you compare the EZip Trailz to an after market kit that costs $800 just for the motor, controller and battery, for a complete hybrid bike the e-zip is very very good value.

Credit : http://www.ecozine.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter
Ezip & Izip Electric Bike

Rider Diary: Big Week in Belgium

2009-04-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Rider Diary: Big Week in Belgium
Team Columbia-High Road's George Hincapie says the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are his most important races of the year.

just got off the plane in Brussels. I'm about ready to begin what is the biggest week of the year for me with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix classics coming back to back.

In previous years, I've come to Belgium a week earlier and raced the Three Days of La Panne, which is a big warm-up race, but I opted not to do it this year. It just gets more dangerous every year and with my experience I feel fine going into Flanders without it. Plus, it was good to be home in Gerona for an extra five days, although ironically, the weather was actually worse down south.

These races have always been suited to my style of my riding. Riding the cobbles, there is always a fine line between fighting for position and wasting too much energy. From my very first years of racing, I've been able to handle these sections. A lot of guys get really tense just before every cobble section, but staying relaxed is key. That can't be taught-it's instinct.

Compared to the Tour de France, Flanders and Roubaix are so different. They are intense and you have to remain very focused for six or seven hours of racing. There are stages at the Tour in which you really have to concentrate, but you are never on the small little roads like in Flanders and Roubaix.

Some guys think that Flanders is the hardest race in the world. For me Roubaix and Flanders are equally difficult. In Roubaix your body takes more of a beating, and the last 70 to 80 kilometers of Flanders are just so brutal. The climbs are relentless.

Like every year, Quickstep is the team to beat. They are the local favorites. There are a lot of other teams up there, like Rabobank and Cervelo. Columbia-High Road, my team, is strong too.

To win here on Sunday, you need to have the right combination of focus, endurance, power and tactical smarts. It's never easy and it is never predictable.

As I said, this is the start of the most important week of the year for me. There aren't many races where I get nervous before the start, but I sure do before Flanders and Roubaix. I feel good going into the races, though. I've done everything correctly, so now I just need a little luck.

As told to James Startt

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter

Tour of Flanders 2009: Boonen Favored to Win

2009-04-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Tour of Flanders 2009: Boonen Favored to Win
After the race launched his career with victories in 2006 and 2007, all eyes will be on Tom Boonen at this year's edition.
By James Startt

The Tour of Flanders has a reputation as one of the toughest races in the world, as it annually destroys the field with its spiked cobblestone climbs. Traditionally held on the first Sunday of April, this 261.5-kilometer race first skirts along the coast of northern Belgium before zigzagging around the picturesque but daunting hills, so steep they're often called walls. For many Belgians, especially those that hail from the Flemish region, the "Ronde," as the race is known, equals a world championship.

To win Flanders, the cyclist must possess a rare combination of courage and brute force. "Unlike in the Tour de France, an extra kilo or two can actually help you-you need the power," says Patrick Lefevere, director of Quickstep, a team which has seen its riders win three of the last four editions.

Great Belgian classics riders like Johan Museeuw, Peter Van Petegem and Tom Boonen have often dominated the race. Italians, like Gianni Bugno, Andrea Tafi or Michele Bartoli, who have a strong tradition of one-day racing, have also left their mark at the Tour of Flanders.

At the start of this year's race in the historic town of Brugge, all eyes will be on Tom Boonen and the Quickstep team. After dominating much of the early season, they come here as the local favorites packed with potential winners like Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel or Stijn Devolder.

According to Boonen, the team's stiffest challenge could likely come from Italian Filippo Pozzato, who recently won the E3 race as well as a stage in the Three Days of La Panne, both key warm-up races for Flanders. Strong challenges could also come from experienced classics teams like the Dutch Rabobank squad and the Belgian Silence-Lotto team. Strong classics riders, like American George Hincapie, Heinrich Haussler or Martijn Maaskant could also present challenges.

Boonen knows that all eyes will be on him at the start. The Tour of Flanders defines him--victories in 2005 and 2006 launched his career as the world's top classics rider. But to maintain his stature, he needs to once again dominate on brutal set of 16 climbs this Sunday.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter

The History Of Kick Scooters

2009-04-04T02:49:00.000-07:00

The History Of Kick Scooters

The history of the kick scooter is quite interesting. Since kids have great imaginations that are uninhibited by doubt, they can create just about anything to keep themselves occupied with fun. The first kick scooters were invented by taking roller skate wheels and attaching them to a small plank of wood.

A handle was constructed with a 2x4 and possibly the handlebars were made from splitting the 2x4 or a piece of pipe was strapped to the top of the board for handlebars, crude as it was, it still worked and got kids to places that made walking seem obsolete.

Some of the earliest models of kick scooters inspired the newer generation you see today. It took about 100 years for the idea to catch back on because many other modes of self transportation received more public demand. The bicycle was vamped up to meet the needs of kids and adults, skateboards became more popular and kick scooters sort of lost their place in history. It wasn't until 1990 that Wim Ouboter saw a need for a push scooter because one of his sister's legs was shorter than the other. She had trouble riding a bike but she could push a scooter, he took the original idea and created a sturdier version.

Since wood scooters couldn't stand up to weather, they would rot or the metal skate wheels would rust, an aluminum version was introduced by Razor. If you ask somebody to say the first word that comes to mind when you mention the word scooter, Razor is most likely to be the one they say. Razor revolutionized the push scooter and gave it more stability and style. They didn't just stick with one version of their widely popular toy; they manufactured them in colors and even created ones that adults can ride. Some Razor scooters have three wheels so once you get going you can ride with both feet on the back and steer around objects with more control. It also helps with balance.

The aluminum scooters of today are virtually quiet. They have polyurethane wheels and the only sound you might hear are the screams of fun or wind resistance from your clothing unlike the metal wheels of yesteryear. They have a hollow tube for the steering shaft and soft handle grips to keep the riders hands from slipping off. Many of them fold up and can be placed in a backpack for safe keeping. They don't take up as much space as a bicycle and if you have to take yours with you it doesn't invade anybody else's space either.

You might still see a big wheel for sale at a mass retailer, they are still around and letting kids grow into new ways of transporting themselves is always fun. I remember riding my big wheel down the middle of the street. My plastic wheels made so much noise I never heard a car behind me, every now and then somebody would honk and that was a great indication to move aside, they did have a bigger bumper than I did. Toys like that were fun to have and distant memories are all we have since you don't see commercials for big wheels much any more, safety is key for parents. That's why push scooters are becoming more popular, the child is upright, they are controlling the steering and the toy is very quiet. You still need to be cautious because we live in a society where people are always rushing around and personal safety needs to be exercised.

A kick scooter can also be ridden in the house, unlike a bicycle. When it gets cold and the kids get stir crazy you can pull the car out of the garage and give them a little more room to scoot around. Razor has recognized the market for kick scooters and is making them available to those who want to do tricks on them. You can do the same amount of tricks on a Razor scooter that you can on a skateboard. I don't know if kick scooters will make an appearance at the X Games anytime soon but they are fast becoming a new tool for professional skaters.

Credit : http://www.articlesbase.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter

The History of the Scooter

2009-04-04T02:40:00.000-07:00

The History of the Scooter
Foot-powered and motorized scooters.
By Mary Bellis, About.com

Early patents for scooters have been filed as far back as 1921.

Razor Scooter

The Razor scooter is a foldable scooter invented by the J.D. Corporation, which also sells aluminum bicycle parts and electric scooters in Shanghai, Taiwan. The Razor Scooter took 5 years to design under Gino Tsai, the then 44 year-old Taiwanese president of J.D. Corporation. Gino Tsai, a mechanical engineer claims that his legs were too short, and his walking speed always seemed too slow to get around his large bicycle factory in Chang Hua, Taiwan. To serve that purpose, Gino Tsai updated the old-fashioned scooter into the modern Razor scooter.
The Razor uses airplane grade aluminum tested to support an 1,100 pound load without bending, (often neon colored) polyurethane wheels with silent bearings, and a patented brake worked by stepping on the rear fender.

Go-Ped ScooterIn 1985, Steve Patmont founded Patmont Motor Werks, a family operated business, first run out of the garage. Steve is also the inventor of the Go-Ped motorized scooter. Patmont Motor Werks was started as an assembly plant and modification center for its only product, the Go-Ped.

Ginger ScooterDean Kamen invented the Ginger Scooter or Segway Human Transporter.

Credit : http://inventors.about.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter

History of the Bicycle

2009-04-04T02:27:00.000-07:00

History of the Bicycle

The name of the modern vehicle dates from 1869. Various precursors of this machine were known as velocipedes, from a French name dating from the late 18th century.

Crude two-wheeled vehicles propelled by the feet were popular as early as the second half of the 17th century. In 1690 a Frenchman invented the celerifere, consisting of a wooden beam to which the wheels were affixed. The vehicle had no handlebar, the rider sat on a cushion on the beam and propelled and steered the machine by pushing his or her feet against the ground. In 1816 a German nobleman designed the first two-wheeled vehicle with a steering device. This machine, named the draisine (after the inventor), had a handlebar that pivoted on the frame, enabling the front wheel to be turned. Improvements were later developed by French, German, and British inventors. In England these early models were known as hobby horses; the name dandy horse was applied particularly to the expensive pedestrian curricle, invented in 1818. The curricle was lighter in weight than the draisine and had an adjustable saddle and elbow rest. It was patented in the United States in 1819 but aroused little interest. In 1839 driving levers and pedals were added to a machine of the draisine type by Kirkpatrick Macmillan of Scotland. These innovations eanabled the rider to propel the machine with the feet off the ground. The driving mechanism consisted of short cranks fixed to the rear wheel hub and connected by rods to long levers, which were hinged to the frame close to the head of the machine. The connecting rods were joined to the levers at about one-third of their length from the pedals. The machine was propelled by a downward and forward thrust of the foot. In 1846 an improved model of this machine, designed by a Scotsman, acquired the name dalsell and was widely used in England.

The direct precursor of the modern bicycle was the French crank-driven, loose-pedaled velocipede, which became popular in France about 1855. The frame and wheels were made of wood. The tires were iron, and the pedals were attached to the hub of the front, or driver, wheel, which was slightly higher than the rear wheel. In England this machine was known as the boneshaker, because of its effect on a rider pedaling over a rough road or a cobblestoned street. In 1869 in England, solid rubber tires mounted on steel rims were introduced in a new machine, which was the first to be patented under the modern name bicycle. In 1873 Jamse Starley, and English inventor, produced the first machine incoporating most of the features of the so-called ordinary, or high-wheel, bicycle. The front of Starley's machine wasas much as three times as large in diameter as the rear wheel.

The modifications and improvements of the next 15 years included the ball bearing and the pneumatic tire. These inventions, along with the use of weldless steel tubing and spring seats, brought the ordinary bicycle to its highest point of development. The excessive vibration and instability of the high-wheel bicycle, however, caused inventors to turn their attention to reducing the height of the bicycle. About 1880 the so-called safety, or low, machine was developed. The wheels were of nearly equal size, and the pedals, attached to a sprocket through gears and a chain, drove the rear wheel.

The safety bicycle was universally adopted by manufactureres in the U.S. The improved safety machine had wheels of equal size, hollow steel tubing, coaster brakes, adjustable hadlebars, and other improvements. American cyclists increased greatly in numbers and became strong supporters of a nationwide movement for improved roads. In 1899 the American production of about 1 million bicycles a year was valued at more than $31 million. Yet by 1909, with the rise of the motorcycle and the automobile, the U.S. bicycle industry was nearly nonexisten.

In the 1960s and'70s, as air pollution from automobile exhaust caused great concern, and the energy crisis worsened, the popularity of the bicycle increased tremendously. Some areas set up bike lanes and special bike paths. An emphasis on physical fitness in the 1970s and '80s added to this popularity, and an estimated 82 million bicycles were in use in the U.S. in the mid-1980s. Most popular was the lightweight ten-speed touring bike, modeled after European racing models, with cable-and-caliper hand brakes and narrow, high-pressure tires. For recreation, the all-terrain bike, with waffle-tread tires and a heavier frame, was rugged, safe, and maneuverable.

Credit : http://inventors.about.com

Mongoose Bike BMX
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Giro Bike Helmet
Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver
Razor Electric Scooter

Best Training Resolutions

2009-04-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

Best Training Resolutions
10 easy ways to see huge results this year.
By Selene Yeager

Don't expect to see changes if you always ride the same routes at the same speed with the same people. If cycling improvement is what you're after, resolve to do these 10 things in the months ahead.

Register for a Race
Competition raises your fitness ceiling because it forces you to push your body harder than you do while training. You'll recover stronger and experience a bump in performance that could take weeks to develop otherwise.

Go Easy More Often
The physiological adaptations that raise your cruising speed happen during recovery, not training. Leg-searing, lung-burning rides create tremendous physical stress. Your body doesn't like that, so it strengthens itself by building more muscle fibers and increasing its aerobic engine. Push yourself to your limits once or twice a week and take a day or two off the bike in between.

Ride Out of Your Rut
Many fitness gains are made through neuromuscular adaptations. This means your muscles are throwing a party for your mind, which wakes up and says, "I haven't done this hill before. I'll need to recruit more muscle fibers for the job." Focus on your speed if you always climb; hit the hills if you diesel along flats.

Work on the Fundamentals
Like a golfer's swing or a runner's stride, a cyclist's pedal stroke, bike-handling skills and cadence become more efficient with practice. Do this cadence drill to get a jump start: Warm up for 10 minutes on a trainer. Spin with the right leg for 30 seconds, gradually increasing cadence while maintaining form. Repeat with the left leg for 30 seconds. Then put both legs into action for one minute at a cadence of 90 to 110 revolutions. Repeat, this time with 60 seconds of single-leg spinning per side. Perform the sequence three times.

Get a Jump on the Competition
Plyometrics--explosive jumping and hopping--train your muscles to reach maximum strength quickly. Researchers found that just one month of plyometric training twice a week can increase your power endurance by 17 percent. This means you'll be stomping out longer sprints and charging up hills in your big ring. After you have a few weeks of general training under your belt, do star jumps twice a week: Stand, then bend legs toward the floor into a crouch position. Swiftly jump up and open your arms and legs to create a star shape midair. As you land, bend your knees until your hands can touch the floor on either side of your feet. Do one to two sets of eight to 12 reps.

Shrink Your Cycling Circles
Group rides are important, but too much time in a pack may prevent you from reaching your potential. Power training research shows that you can easily loaf in the middle of a large pack, expending a fraction of the watts being put out by the leaders. Find a small group to train with once or twice a week so you're forced to take the lead.

Condition Your Core
Whether you're pulling up on the bar or pressing down on your pedals, your core is at the heart of the work. As it fatigues, your form deteriorates. In a University of Pittsburgh study of 15 competitive cyclists, researchers found that as the riders' core muscles became tired, their legs started wobbling. To best simulate the unilateral demands of cycling, get into a plank position (arms extended like a push-up), then simultaneously lift your left foot off the floor and extend your right arm in front of you. Pause. Return to start. Alternate sides for 10 to 20 reps.

Track Your Progress
Keep a training log. Write down the usual stats: riding time, terrain, average speed, as well as how you felt. When you notice your stats or mood dipping south, roll easy or take a day off so your body and mind can recover.

Balance Your Body
Cyclists' bodies are notoriously imbalanced from hours of hunching forward, which eventually causes tight quads and hip flexors, weak glutes and hamstrings, soft abs--and the various aches and pains that accompany these disparaties. Stretch your quads, hip flexors, chest and shoulders daily. Strengthen the backside of your body with moves like this one three times a week: Lie back on the floor with shoulders flat, arms at sides, and legs extended, ankles resting on a stability ball. Squeeze glutes and lift hips off the floor while pulling the ball toward your butt with your heels. Return to start. Repeat 15 times.

Set Up a Cycle
"Ride lots" is good advice; "have structure" is better. Spend three weeks building your training load and intensity, extending your long rides and hard efforts each week until you feel whipped. Then scale back during week four. Your body will compensate for the effort and you'll start the next training cycle that much stronger.

Selene Yeager, a USA Cycling certified coach, is here each month to give you a solid workout as well as tips for healthy living.
Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike
Sale Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver

7 Easy Ways to Become a Faster Cyclist

2009-04-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

7 Easy Ways to Become a Faster Cyclist

It’s one thing to hang with the pack—and another to lead it. With a few simple changes to your fitness and lifestyle routine, like hitting the gym a few times a week to lift weights, or cutting out junk calories from soda and juice, you could find yourself blowing away your competition all season long.

Drink Skim Milk
You already know you need protein to build your muscles after a hard workout. Now a Canadian study of 56 exercisers found that those who drank skim milk before and after training built more lean muscle tissue, more quickly, than those who drank soy-protein drinks. Mix Ovaltine, which is filled with vitamins and minerals for added recovery, with skim milk for a perfect postride toast. Add a shot of espresso for an extra jolt.

Start Weightlifting
Hitting the gym can be a foreign experience to cyclists. But your first week in the gym can be extra effective if you limit your breaks to 60 seconds. Researchers, followed previously untrained men through a 10-week resistance-training program. Volunteers either took a 60-second or 150-second rest between sets and the scientists monitored their hormones, strength and muscle size. For the first week the short-rest group showed a 70-percent greater increase in post-workout testosterone levels; testosterone is essential for muscle-building. The research also found that shorter rests lead to leaner muscle, which is essential for cyclists.

Spin Easy in the Morning
English researchers observed hormone levels in 12 healthy volunteers as they either relaxed for an hour, or spun on a bike for 60 minutes at 65 percent of their maximum heart rate. One hour before the exercise, or rest, the subjects ate breakfast. And while the control group gradually became more and more hungry, the cyclists' hunger dropped off during the exercise. Their appetite did, however, return when both groups were offered an open buffet an hour after the exercise. Thanks to the calories burned while in the saddle, the cyclists still maintained an energy deficit that would lead to weight loss.

Say "Yes" to Coffee
Downing five to six regular cups of coffee with a carbohydrate-rich meal helps your body refuel faster. For the study, a group of seven cyclists performed a two-day trial. On the first day they biked to exhaustion and ate a low-carb meal to deplete glycogen stores. The following day they again biked to exhaustion, but followed the workout with either a plain high-carb drink, or one with 8 grams of caffeine for every kilogram of body weight. After four hours, the caffeinated group's glycogen levels were 65 percent greater. The 8 grams/kg of body weight come out to about 600 mg of caffeine for a 165-pound person. That's also the equivalent of eight cans of Red Bull, four Monster Energy Drinks or two Starbucks Grande coffees. Experiment with smaller amounts to see what works best for you.

Do the Plank
This move is ideal because it mimics how we hold our upper bodies on the bike. Support your upper body on your forearms, with your elbows beneath your shoulders, knees on the floor. (Don’t forget to squeeze, zip and brace.) Press your toes into the floor and lift your knees so that your body forms a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. Do three sets, two or three times a week.

Cut Calories the Easy Way
You can improve your power-to-weight ratio without training any harder by drinking less of everything except water. According to a study of 46,576 American adults, during the past 37 years the number of calories adults consume from beverages such as soda, juice and booze has nearly doubled, to an additional 222 calories per day. That's enough to pack on about a half pound a week, or 26 pounds a year. And remember—for rides less than an hour or two, skip the energy drink and just have water.

Invest in a New Helmet
British researchers found that keeping your head well ventilated provides more than comfort and sweat relief. By keeping your melon cool, you prevent the parts of your brain that control fatigue signals from overheating and telling your muscles they've had enough. For the study, nine cyclists exercised in a climate-controlled room set to just over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The scientists then measured how long the volunteers could perform at a high-intensity level before they reached exhaustion. Trials results showed that a cool head boosted time until fatigue by 51 percent. So with a well-vented helmet, you'll be able to ride longer and gain fitness faster as the weather gets warmer.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike
Sale Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver

A Great Training Block, and an Abrupt Stop

2009-04-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

A Great Training Block, and an Abrupt Stop

Chris Carmichael says Lance Armstrong was making great progress before suffering a broken collarbone at Castilla y Leon.
By Chris Carmichael

There is no such thing as a 20-minute steady climbing effort in professional cycling, or any level of bike racing for that matter. Plenty of athletes train with tightly regimented interval workouts that call for steady efforts within a small power range, but it's important to remember that those intervals are most effective for achieving the physiological adaptations that allow for improved performance on climbs. Alone, they don't make you a great climber.To become a great climber you have to develop more than just the ability to maintain a high power output on long and steep ascents. You also need to be able to surge and slow down, attack and recover, force the pace and conserve your strength. You need the agility to be able to accelerate and the good judgment to know just how hard you have to go--and when and where--to accomplish your goals. After three years away from the major mountain passes of the Alps, Pyrenees, and Dolomites, Lance Armstrong needed a refresher course in Advanced Grand Tour Climbing, so following an endurance block immediately after the Tour of California, he packed up and headed to Italy for a climbing training camp. I couldn't afford the time away from my family or Carmichael Training Systems (we're getting ready to move into a new facility in Colorado Springs and launch The Endurance Sports Club), so the Italy trip was another journey for CTS Premier Coach and Sports Scientist Dean Golich. From my perspective, the most significant workouts of the trip were a series of climbing efforts punctuated by unpredictable changes in pace and intensity. Lance and the crew were based in southern France and had access to long, 30- to 60-minute climbs in both France and Italy. As Lance climbed, Dean's job was to command changes in pace and/or cadence. While Dean knew exactly what he was planning on prescribing for each individual climb, in terms of total time above Lance's lactate threshold power and times at different cadences, Lance didn't know when the next effort was coming, nor did he know how long it would last. The climbing efforts Lance performed in the weeks prior to the Milan-San Remo race went very well. Lance's power outputs were quite good and his ability to handle multiple accelerations was also impressive. As with any other type of training, though, the climbing efforts couldn't completely replicate the demands of competition. Even though the pace changes were randomly presented to Lance, he was alone and responding to a voice. In a real race, he has to watch the competition, evaluate his own strength and energy level, and decide whether to dictate the pace or respond to other riders' tactics. I'm not worried about his ability to read the race, though. Three years or 30 years off the bike, he's become one of the best on-the-road tacticians in the cycling. My bigger goal was to ensure that he has the power and fitness to act on his tactical decisions. More importantly, I want to make sure his strategic options aren't limited by his fitness, as I'm a firm believer that superior fitness is the best way to broaden an athlete's strategic arsenal.Milan-San Remo was a good race for Lance. It's a long, long event that's always incredibly difficult because it's such a coveted victory. He then went to Castilla y Leon, and as everyone already knows, he crashed heavily during Stage 1 and fractured his right collarbone. Now, I know everyone wants to know what the injury means for his training and preparation for the Tour of Italy and the Tour de France, but in all honesty from a coaching perspective it's still too early to say much of anything. We'll all know more in the next few weeks.Chris Carmichael is Lance Armstrong's personal coach and founder of Carmichael Training Systems, Inc. For more information on coaching, camps, and performance testing, visit trainright.com or follow Chris at twitter.com/trainright.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike
Sale Taylor Made Burner Tour Driver

Santa Barbara, CA: Gibraltar Road

2009-04-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

Santa Barbara, CA: Gibraltar Road

Climb from downtown Santa Barbara into the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains on this gnarly 48-mile loop serving up quad-killing efforts up Rattlesnake Canyon and breathtaking Pacific vistas.

Author: RaphaContinental
Date: 16 Mar 2009 10:11:13 AM
Activity: Bicycling
State: California (ca)
Distance: 77.47 km (Change units)
Elevation: Total Gain: 2904 mTotal Loss: 2901 mNet Change: 3 m
Difficulty: 8 / 10
Tags: Santa Barbara, California
Rating: Unrated Rate it

You must be logged in to add a rating.Login Register
Your Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 Submit Cancel
Photos courtesy of the Rapha Continental

This 48-mile romp through the Santa Ynez mountains starts pleasantly enough, rolling through Santa Barbara’s verdant neighborhoods and picturesque Spanish churches. But upon hitting Mission Ridge Road at mile 2.9, you'll begin a grueling ascent of Rattlesnake Canyon ont Gibraltar Road (which climbs nearly 3,000 feet in just over seven miles at an average 7.7 percent grade). Aside from being steep and twisted, Gibraltar Road is bumpy and beaten, dusted with a layer of sand and rocks, and completely exposed to the sun, rendering it a brutal scorcher on sunny summer days.After completing the ascent up Gibraltar Road -- catching southern vistas of the infinite Pacific and the miniscule Channel Islands along the way -- hang a right onto Camino Cielo (Sky Road) to endure a brief climb before flying down a roughly four-mile descent. Turn around at the gravel parking lot at the road’s end to head back up Camino Cielo toward La Cumbre Peak, the highest mountain in the area (3,995 ft.)

After La Cumbre, complete one more moderate climb before hanging a left and heading south on Painted Cave Road. This abomination of a roadway, literally tattered with potholes and cracks, descends toward the Pacific, first weaving through grasslands before slicing through a narrow, tree-dense valley. After five miles, hit CA 152 for four miles of smooth coasting on the shoulder of a well-paved freeway. Then hit the rollicking Foothill Boulevard to cross into downtown Santa Barbara. For some prime post-ride Mexican fare, hit up the local favorite La Super-Rica Taqueria. -Mapped by the Rapha Continental

Credit : http://bicycling.trimbleoutdoors.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

2009 Absa Cape Epic: Bulls Secure Overall Win

2009-04-03T06:51:00.001-07:00

2009 Absa Cape Epic: Bulls Secure Overall Win

After 685 kilometers of intense and controversial racing, the Bulls Team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm take the overall win at the 2009 Absa Cape Epic.Photos and words courtest Absa Cape EpicKarl Platt and Stefan Sahm walked away with top honours as overall winners of an exciting

2009 Absa Cape Epic. With a four minute and 48 second lead on Trek-Brentjens (second overall) at the start this morning, the Bulls crossed the finish line in 4th position today with the Songo.info team of Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander. Hundreds of enthusiastic spectators welcomed the exhausted teams at the final finish line of this year's event, hosted at the Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset-West.
The Bulls finished the last 8 days of the 685km Epic in an overall time of 28 hours, 10 minutes and 14 seconds. Trek Brentjens team of Bart Brentjens and Chris Jongewaard was second in 28:15:08 - only 4 minutes and 54 seconds behind the leaders. Emil Lindgren and Andreas Kugler's Felt Factory 2 team finished third in a time of 28:28:43.

The South African team of Kevin Evans and David George (MTN Energade) finished in 4th place (28:41:00) overall and won the Leader Jersey of Best African Team. Songo.info's Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander, who set the pace for this year's race and won 5 of the 7 stages as well as the prologue, finished in 6th place overall (29:08:41).
The Bulls Team of Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm also won the Absa Cape Epic in 2007, and Karl Platt won in the inaugural year (2004) with Mannie Heymans. Platt is the most successful participant in the history of the race having won three times. Stefan Sahm, Roel Paulissen (who did not participate this year), Nico Pfitzenmaier, Doug Brown, Hanlie Booyens and Sharon Laws have all won the race twice. Kevin Evans won the title Best African Team three years in a row.
"Crossing the final finish line took a load off my mind. All the problems we had this year with Karl dislocating his shoulder twice, then riding in fear that it could happen again, and those small mechanical problems we had to face, all took its toll up to now," said Sahm.

In a heart warming display of camaraderie, two of the top teams in this year's race, the Bulls and Songo.info, crossed the finish line at the same time, holding on to each other. The two teams were embroiled in a controversy after Stander of Songo.info took assistance during stage four costing his team a fifteen minute penalty and the overall lead. The two teams showed solidarity and the spirit of sportsmanship of the Cape Epic finishing together in 2:51:44.
"The organization is superb and being surrounded by 1 200 other mountain bikers every day, seeing them at dinner, at the start, at the finish and all that in another, beautiful country is unbelievable," said Flückiger (Trek World Racing), today's stage winner. "You are riding through Africa, so the scenery is stunning. I think as a mountain biker you must experience this race at least once in your life!"

Ladies Category
First to cross the finish line in the Ladies was the Absa Ladies team of Hanlie Booyens and Sharon Laws. They won all of the stages as well as the Prologue and completed the race in 37:18:20. They were followed by Robyn Adendorff and Sarah van Heerden (WSP - Jeep Girls) in an overall time of 42:19:45. In third place in an overall time of 43:41:39 were Nolene Saunders and Sarah Wielopolska of the Tread Magazine Ladies team.
Says winner, Hanlie Booyens (Absa Ladies): "We tried to ride as hard as possible in order to compete with the whole field, not only the other ladies. I felt a bit tired the last two days, but Sharon was going strong. I must admit I also enjoyed this year's route much more than previous years. It was real mountain biking."

Mixed Category
The Adidas Big Tree team of Nico Pfitzenmaier and Alison Sydor won their category in an overall time of 32:13:10, having won 6 of the seven stages as well as the Prologue. In second place overall was the Wheeler - IXS Pro team of Marcel Bartholet and Esther Süss in a time of 32:51:56. Paul Cordes and Yolande Speedy (IMC/ Momentum GT/ Activeworx) finished in third place overall (33:44:48) with Lukas Kubis and Ivonne Kraft (Haibike - VMT Afripex) in fourth (34:04:38).
"It's been such an honour to ride for The Big Tree Foundation," said Pfitzenmaier. "I hope we're able to create some awareness of the great work Big Tree is doing and that there are many more people out there who'll support them in future. Athletes can serve well as role models, and to top it all we can truthfully say that the money donated arrives where it's needed."
What will Sydor be doing this evening? "Eating something that doesn't have any sugar in it! We'll have a big SA braai with friends in Stellenbosch and I'm expecting a lot of good meat and some great red wine. My sister is here with me, so we'll enjoy the last hours before flying back home to Canada on Monday night."

Masters Category
The Absa Masters Doug Brown and Bärti Bucher won the Master's division of this year's Absa Cape Epic in a time of 31:20:40. They were closely followed by Shan Wilson and Andrew Mclean (Cycle Lab Toyota) in 31:23:46, with Doug Andrews and Rich Bartlett (Block/ Geoladders.com) in third place overall (31:47:52).
Absa Masters team member Doug Brown, said this year's race was very close. "Too close for comfort actually. After yesterday when everything went wrong, I was suspicious of today and expected for something to happen - this is a high-risk sport. We had a good warm-up this morning and were riding well. Bärti is such a fantastic partner - he's like a rock wall. I think I'm getting a little too old for this race. My body feels old after this week, but it's still nice to beat all the young guys."

Out of the 1,196 riders that started this year's Absa Cape Epic eight days ago, 503 teams and 1,078 riders completed the 685km. During the prologue and 7 stages they climbed a total of 14,663 meters, which is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest twice. Only those who have completed all 7 stages receive the prestigious title of Absa Cape Epic finisher.
Title sponsor, Absa, has confirmed their sponsorship for the 2010 Absa Cape Epic.
Visit Cape-Epic.com for more information.

Credit : http://mbword.mountainbike.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Only the Fat Survive

2009-04-03T06:41:00.000-07:00

Only the Fat Survive
Stuff.

How the hell can the government be thinking about an auto industry bailout when they've already let one of our most important companies slip away? How no one bought at least the brand rights is so far beyond me it's hard to explain. Frozen? Dunked in milk? Whatever with Oreo... How 'bout this? $15b for the toolboxes in Detroit as long as they are forced into a proper chapter 11 restructuring with clear conditions for leadership, dealer networks, unions, models of manufacture, research, etc. AND: everyone who buys American gets a year supply of Mother's Cookies. Maybe make the current CEOs drive the country in an American made, hybrid Mother's mobile to promote the plan.

Stunning. No, really. Who ever would have guessed? A non-cyclist?
"It's like watching Bowman ride off road." Steak, elaborating on the undeniable grace of Hippos swimming (no, I'm not making this up) by comparing them to the riding style of our local shop owner, Mark.

"We're going to change the slogan on our license plates. We'll go from 'The Dairy State,' to,'Only the Fat Survive.' " HB Performance marketing wonk Joel Richardson simultaneously mocking Wisconsin culture and commenting on their miserable winter weather.
Magazine redesign. Should be in your mailbox or on the newsstand, (wait for it….) … NOW! Good bad or otherwise, I want to hear what you guys think.
Among other bits from the magazine.... (Scroll down - it's worth it.)

Tweak your bike for the cold. This is my first proper winter in PA. The Mrs., kid and I moved back here last February. I spent plenty of time riding in the So Cal mountains during winter, often well above snow line, during the time I lived there, but never anything like this where it's consistently below freezing with varying degrees of wind chill. Some of it is kind of, yeah, yeah, whatever. I mean, if you've spent enough time traveling or racing, you've encountered cold weather before and know that it's not that big a deal. And yeah, there are plenty of places colder than Emmaus, Pa. Besides, I'll take a proper freeze over a 38-degree rainy day any time.

But what has caught me a little off guard is how much the cold affects bike performance - brakes, tires, suspension, freehub performance and more can all change - sometimes to a large degree - depending on what grease/oil/fluid/etc. a manufacturer has used for the parts on your bike. Makes performance a bit of a guessing game at times. So far I've found myself backing off of my summer damping settings for suspension, and revisiting my oil/grease selections for freehub bodies and shift cables in particular. In some cases I've changed to lighter suspension oil to reduce the damping effect to a point that it works in a more desirable way. I guess it's a good excuse to do a little maintenance.

Tire performance seems to vary a ton based on durometer and material. So far, it seems like silica rubber compounds generally do better than non-silica (or low silica content). And softer compounds are an easy choice. The fun really starts when you have to pick the ideal tire for conditions that fluctuate between above and below freezing. If water is part of the equation, you end up looking for a tire that can perform when the ground is frozen solid AND when it thaws and gets a bit soft and muddy. Good luck with that. Especially as I generally like a larger volume tire for the rocks and roots, but a smaller volume tire for muddy days. Some of my favorites so far: Softer compound tires around 2 in. (for XC/Trail) with relatively small knobs and a bit of space between knobs. Compromise? You bet. But it beats not riding. And yeah, I'll readily admit to being overly sensitive to changes in bike performance. Some of the guys back here just ride what they've got and shut up about it, you know?
Perhaps the biggest issue I've encountered is that any brakes I have with mineral-oil-based brake fluid have started getting sluggish. Not as bad as some from even just five or six years ago - when they would pretty much just freeze solid at times - but still noticeable. Fortunately there are solutions. Here's the advice I've gotten from a couple of the brake cos, and I'll report back with my own favorite solutions after I've had a chance to try more of these.
Says Jude Monica, long time Magura tech guy: We switched over the years to a thinner viscosity (15wt to a 10wt.), which helps considerably but doesn't totally eliminate the feel difference. The seals will become a little harder from a durometer standpoint but should not affect the feel too much. Could allow fluid to pass past the harder seal and back up into the reservoir but no dangers or catastrophic type failures.

Since our fluid and Shimano's is approx the same in viscosity (10wt.) they perform similarly in these scenarios where a DOT is around 5wt viscosity. You can always and safely experiment with lighter viscosities like a Finish line 5wt or Hondaline (or similar) high quality. I mention hondaline but know that is a suspension fluid (mineral based as all suspension fluids) in fact Honda suspension fluid is ATF. The problem being all the unidentified additives for specific fluid characteristics like anti frothing and lubrication etc. So....warranties are never honored in this case (if there is a problem)…. The only problem with lighter viscosity fluids is that they can seep past seals but typically only when the weather and everything else is hot so you should be safe. Lighter fluids are much easier to bleed and remove air, however.
The main point is that all fluids no matter whether they are the same visc. or not react to the cold temps differently. i.e. 2) 5wt fluids from different manufactures will perform very differently at cold temps.

I also talked a bit with the guys from HB Performance (Hayes Brake, Manitou, Sun, Wheelsmith...). Because it turns out that it gets freakin' cold in Wisconsin where they are based, and they do brakes and suspension there. Joel Richardson, their Marketing guy, made fun of me a little for being all sensitive and worrying so much about fork performance. He doesn't change his fluid and just lives with the change in damping feel. He did mention the same thing as Jude though when it comes to brake performance - that DOT fluid at 5wt seems to be more stable in low temps in terms of performance and brake feel. Interestingly, he suggested going to a carbon lever blade instead of aluminum in cold weather. Not for brake performance, but because it will feel warmer for your hand - something about being less dense than al, so at a given temperature it will draw heat away from your body at a slower rate or something like that. Score another victory for plastic mache.

My guess is that plenty of you guys have more experience riding in worse weather than me - any more advice or ideas to share? Particularly interested in clothing solutions you might recommend. It's one thing to ride the road in some of the more expensive and effective cold weather kit out there. It's another thing entirely to wear it off road when crashing is pretty much a given. Thoughts on cheap, effective solutions?

Credit : http://dirtcircus.mountainbike.com/
Cheers -Jasen MBEditor@Rodale.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Obama and Dirt

2009-04-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

Obama and Dirt
Obama and the bike, part II, changes continue for Mountain Bike magazine, and whatever with the UCI's ruling on skinsuits.
Alternate headline: Apparently I'm an Idiot, Part II
By Jasen Thorpe

In case you missed it, here's Part I of this conversation.

I'm not going to use this space to get too much into politics outside of bike related issues. And while I'm glad to see Bush and so many others of the current regime out on their asses, I won't say that I am exactly elated that the Dems have as much power as they will come January. Something representing a little balance would be nice, I guess. All the same, until the election results were finalized, I don't think I realized how much it meant to me that my boy (now 18 months old) will grow up in a world where you don't have to be a white guy to be president. A few days later, I'm still riding a little bit of a high because of that.

And knowing that some key bike industry leaders were already ahead of the curve in working with Obama didn't feel too bad, either. Especially knowing some of the bike guys you'll see in this photo are staunch Republicans.MB Print UpdateA few months ago I mentioned changes coming with the print version of MB (that's the cover of November at the top of this blog). Inside November you likely noticed that we're taking a much more in-depth look at technology these days. Additional change on the horizon: by early December, you'll see a complete redesign of the magazine on the newsstand (or in your mailbox if you subscribe). More on that later though, as December still feels like it's about a million miles away. On the other hand, we're already working on the Buyer's Guide (April issue). Gearheads, lookout: This one's gonna be a departure from the past, for sure. In a good way.
Anyway, thanks to all of you who offered feedback and advice. And especially to those of you who offered good feedback and advice.

Whatever with the UCI #1You've already heard from Joe and Cassidy on the new ruling from the UCI outlawing skinsuits for DH racing. But somehow I feel like I still need to say this: That's about the dumbest thing they've done in a really long time, essentially saying that rider clothing selection and its role in aerodynamics is now going to be negotiated on an arbitrary battleground. For example: how tight fitting can clothing be before it's considered a skin suit? Do super-tight, emo-loving, dirtjumper girl pants count? What about a Lycra suit with one inch of non-stretch fabric sewn in? Two inches? In a sport where wins and losses come down to fractions of a second, all this rule does is invite officials into a decision where they have no reason to be involved. And besides, with all the other stuff the UCI has to worry about, how can this be on their radar at all? In fact, I think all other issues for the UCI (including doping) are trivial until they implement this change: UCI rule #1.0: No President of the UCI shall be a jackass.

If riders want to wear baggy clothes, great. If they want to wear skin suits, great. If the UCI really gave a damn, they'd implement more rules related to rider safety: gloves, pads, helmet, neck protection... and forget about being arbiters of fashion. I mean, seriously, have you seen how most of the UCI guys dress?

The best prediction on the actual reason for the UCI ban on skin suits: "It's just going to turn out to be a glorified PR stunt for Martin Whitely. His riders will all wear skin suits and he'll pay the fines and get a ton of press." Says Todd Seplavy, easily among the more knowledgeable DH guys out there. (See a full interview with him in our next issue.) Whatever with the UCI #2If you've been around long enough to have the perspective, or just want to spend a couple minutes googling for old race photos, you'll see where this is going right away: Think about how much DH and Freeride have progressed since 1996. Slalom and 4X. Dirt jump. Endurance racing. And Cross Country? Oh, wait. XC hasn't really progressed at all, has it?

Remember how stoked the mountain bike community was to get UCI recognition in 1990? It was sweet that the world championships were finally unified into a single event.
Remember how stoked the mountain bike community was when XC racing became an Olympic sport in 1996? It was cool to see the publicity and raised awareness among the general public.

But seriously, is anyone stoked now with the stagnation of XC racing under the IOC and UCI? It kills me that we have "marathon" and "endurance" events called out separately from XC. It kills me that pro level road racers routinely get 5-6 hour events, and that mountain biking's best are selected over only 2.5 hours (or less). It kills me that somehow marathon XC racing gets less attention than short format, er olympic format XC.
Our best athletes should be selected at longer events. XC should evolve to the point that something like Leadville is what matters most for determining the best single-day off-road racers.

Beyond that, long-distance off-road stage races should become our sport's ultimate showcase. Fortunately there is movement on this front largely because it can happen outside the purview of the UCI. La Ruta, TransAlp, Trans Rockies, BC Bike Race, Baja Epic, Cape Epic.... The international mix and rate of creation and advancement of quality off-road stage races is a fantastic development. But missing from the list of destinations: the US. Fortunately, for 2009, that's going to change as Mike McCormack (of Mountain States Cup fame) brings us the Breckenridge Epic Six Days. Breckenridge, Co. July 2009. Mark your calendar.
I'm lobbying Mike to let us kick off the event with a mass, one-finger salute toward UCI HQ, but I think he's more focused on running a quality event, making sure everyone has a good time, that the course is fantastic and the racing top level.

Stay tuned for news on some similarly spectacular stage race to be held in the East...in 2010.
All for now. Cheers. -JasenMBEditor@Rodale.com

Credit : http://dirtcircus.mountainbike.com/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

MB Leadership

2009-04-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

MB Leadership
What can trail advocacy groups can learn from Barack Obama’s stance on gun control? And a few other random questions.
By Jasen Thorpe

Hey guys - Figured I'm long overdue to post a blog. Hell, our Associate Publisher Joao has been updating his personal blog more frequently than I've been posting online, and he doesn't get paid for it. And he's funnier. I swear. Anyway, couple questions for you guys before we kick this off:
Question 1: would you consider buying (or have you recently purchased) a full-suspension bike that did not come with (at a minimum) separate external adjustments for rebound and low-speed compression damping?
Question 2: Wheelset A is made from relatively traditional materials and is sufficiently tested in the field to prove that it delivers good performance and durability over time. It sells for $750. Wheelset B is made from more exotic materials, weighs the same as wheelset A, and delivers a 200 percent increase in strength. What value would you put on wheelset B?
Obama and Dirt (alternate headline: Apparently I'm an Idiot) Part I
Look, it's not the first time I've ended up feeling like an idiot. As we were working on the November issue I thought it would be cool to do something on the presidential election, basically trying to answer the question: "If you were a single-issue voter and your issue was mountain bike access, for whom should you vote?"
We floated this question to a bunch of different industry leaders and IMBA, among others, and got a bunch of "no comment," "I don't want to talk about that," and, "uh, lemme get back to you" responses. (If you've read the November issue, you may have noticed that this article didn't run.)
It turns out that some of these organizations, IMBA included, as non-profits cannot specifically endorse a political candidate. But what they can do is speak to something like this in general terms. i.e: generally the Dems will do XXXXX for mountain biking, where Republicans will do XXXXXXXX. IMBA chose not to offer any comment even within that context, choosing to maintain its apparent strategy of avoiding pissing anyone off. Ever. I won't pretend to be smart enough or informed enough to pass judgment on this strategy (and the description of it is my perspective, not IMBA's). What I will say is that it leaves the mountain bike lobby in an awfully isolated position as making no enemies also seems to mean making few allies.
One of the complications IMBA and other organizations face is that to truly advocate for mountain bike access, they would have to side with entities that also actively lobby for access for their own endeavors, which may include activities that vary from mildly bruising the planet (off-road vehicles), to out right raping and pillaging: oil, logging, mining. The challenge? Most mountain bikers care very much about the environment. So how can IMBA be perceived as siding against environmentalists?
Of course, most mountain bike opponents hide behind a veil of environmentalism, so supporting them, or explicitly siding with them, doesn't make much sense either. Particularly as it means implicitly siding against the other groups looking for access.
For the bike industry, it gets way more complicated-it's an issue of finance as much as politics. Dems, environmentalists and the lot are more likely to pass legislation favorable to road, commuter and other pavement dependent types of cycling. But they're also more likely to pass sweeping anti-mountain bike wilderness legislation, too. Republicans are more likely to allow mountain bike access, but less likely to support bike-specific funding in transportation bills. For the industry, neutrality makes financial sense to a degree. But if they (collectively) were forced to choose, I'm guessing that mountain biking gets the shaft as there is simply more business opportunity in bikes for pavement because more people have access to road riding and commuting than they do to mountain biking. And riding on pavement is much easier than riding off-road, so there are more people willing to give it a try. Especially when/if there are more off-highway bike paths.
On the advocacy side, while IMBA and League of American Bicyclists seem to play nicely most of the time, it's not hard to see that they could actually be mortal enemies under the right conditions and pressures.
But I think all of this points to an opportunity (and need) for more clear leadership from IMBA, LAB and the industry. Which makes me think about one of Barack Obama's campaign speeches from a couple months back in which he was doing his best to avoid getting his campaign mired in culture wars while also demonstrating leadership rather than avoidance of the issues. For example, on gun control he simply said that he, his staff and the American people are smart enough to be able to embrace the right to bear arms while differentiating between the needs of legitimate gun owners and those who would use guns for crime. It's one of those simplifications that probably is easier to say than to build policy around, but it also rings true.
Chris Vargas of the Warrior's Society, a SoCal advocacy group, has offered what is closest to an equivalent position on land access: essentially his stance is that all recreational access to public lands is valid. Public lands should not be held available to just one group. As long as an activity is legal and there is demand by taxpayers for a place to participate in that activity, then they should at least have access to public lands in proportion to the size of the participant base. It's up to land managers to figure out where people can hike, fish, bike, snowboard, motorcycle, snowmobile, boat or hunt. And to determine how and when these activities can or should intersect versus which ones need special access or should have usage limitations or separation from other groups.
Vargas is also smart to point out that we need logging. We need oil. And that we need to appropriately manage these and similar activities and resources.
Again, this is an opinion that is easier to voice than it is to build definitive policy around. But it's a message of inclusion and understanding in a space that is typically very divisive. It's a way of saying, "Hey, the issues are too complex for us to address with one-size-fits-all rules; we have to exercise good judgment on a case by case basis." And it seems like the kind of message that more of the public is responsive to these days.
So rather than getting your voting guide in November issue, look for an interview with Vargas, and one with Chris Cook from the Blue Ribbon Coalition in our Jan/Feb issue. It's worth taking a deeper look into what each organization advocates. Their respective messages of inclusion are dead on. And Vargas in particular is one of the most passionate and outspoken advocates I've met. (Hmm. sounds like what an advocate should be, no?)
Next Week: Part II of ... Apparently I'm an Idiot.Cheers. -JasenPlease comment below or drop me a line here: mailto:Carbonsoles@aol.com.

Credit : http://dirtcircus.mountainbike.com/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Dirt Circus: Be Heard, Maybe.

2009-04-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Dirt Circus: Be Heard, Maybe.
Change is brewing at Mountain Bike and Mountain Bike.com. Consider this your heads-up.
By Jasen Thorpe Mountain Bike magazine news:

Change: sometimes good. Sometimes not so much. Often inevitable. Occasionally exciting.
Change in the context of MountainBike.com and Mountain Bike magazine: Undeniably under way.
From a personal perspective, the biggest change is easy to identify: I've got this new job to worry about and an absurdly self-important sounding title to go with it: Editor-in-Chief/Brand Director, Mountain Bike Magazine. But along with that comes some upside, no doubt. Foremost in my mind on that count: I get to open a conversation with you guys through this blog.

Some of you may remember that I had a previous stint as an edit guy for Mountain Bike that lasted until 2002 or 2003, writing mostly tech stuff, a tech/maintenance-based Q&A blog on the website and corresponding column in print. I have to say that of all the things I've done for different jobs I've held, writing that blog was easily among my favorite. Being able to offer that kind of service in a forum that facilitated such immediate and open communication was a blast - partly (mostly?) because it was such a great way to quickly get a look at many different perspectives on any given topic. And I flat-out loved the open and often fierce debate that came with it.
With that perspective in mind, here's a heads-up on what the future holds for Mountain Bike.
Starting with the November issue, you'll see a change in our approach to gear and bike coverage. We'll be delivering more in-depth reporting on leading and emerging technology. Our foremost goal: To make sure that you are as well-informed as possible about your buying options, and that you know about emerging trends that may affect those options and/or your buying decisions. On that front, wait until you see the November issue cover bike - I won't say what bike it is, but I will say that it's a 2009 prototype, a derivative of a competition-proven design and so far is unbelievably good.
Similar bikes from other manufacturers are coming. You could argue that it defines a new category, but more accurately, I think it defines a previously unexplored space within the all-mountain category. No other mag or website has the bike.
Beyond November you'll see a largely redesigned Mountain Bike with the Jan/Feb issue. Many of the details here are still up for discussion, and I suppose it's not entirely normal that you get a magazine using its website to openly talk about a print redesign before it even happens. Usually it's something that readers just see after the fact - "here it is, hope you like it. And if you don't, well, piss off." But we have the technology, and if memory serves, you certainly have the opinions about what you want to see, so why shouldn't we talk about it? Ultimately, it's really your mag and website as much as it is Rodale's, the Mountain Bike staff's or anyone else's.
Now don't go getting all cocky on me and start thinking you run the show, and don't think I've gone all soft, either. I don't mean to say this is a democracy or that popular opinion will drive the direction of the mag. I try not to seem that stupid. And we're not trying to focus-group our way to the next Britney Spears hit single here. All the same, I do think that the sport of Mountain Biking at its best is essentially a two-wheeled celebration of individuality and distinct voices, and I put a huge amount of value on the discussion and debate that comes from the different people and groups that make up the mountain bike community. Especially voices from the fringes and emerging niches and evangelists. Even when they are dead wrong.
Couple options for feedback from all y'all. New school: it's a blog, so comment away by clicking below. Old school: if you don't like public forums, click my byline or e-mail address below and just shoot me a note.
Hey, hey, hey, before you go getting all excited, there's more. The website is going to see some love as well. I'm sure you've noticed more original content from us more often in the recent past. Expect that to continue and, in fact, accelerate. And a new look probably isn't so far off, either.

Credit : http://dirtcircus.mountainbike.com/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

MB Word : April 01, 2009 Hello Darcy: Riding the Chilean Summer

2009-04-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

MB Word : April 01, 2009 Hello Darcy: Riding the Chilean Summer

A three-week trip to some of the best trails in Chile finds new friends, thrills and the biggest bail of my life.
By Darcy Turenne

As a 16-year-old wannabe ski bum, I always had high hopes of going to Chile. As my skier friends experienced the snow of Chile year after year, I was left to finish school and pursue my biking career. Each summer (Chilean winter) would find me anxious to travel south to join my friends on the open glaciers of the Andes, where myths of deep powder and sunny days reigned. Never in my life had I expected to go to Chile with my bike.
Then in December I found out my Gravity teammate Chris Van Dine was spending the North American winter in Chile to ride his bike. In what seemed like a few days, my agent had planned and secured a Gravity team trip and photo shoot. I booked my ticket for three weeks, although the shoot was only scheduled for 10 days.
I was picked up at the Santiago airport after 26 hours of traveling by a friend of a friend of a friend, eventually making it to Valparaiso to watch the end of the urban downhill race. The course was crazy, not so much in the technical sense, but more due to the raging fans and lazy dogs that would jump out at the riders at any given time. Cedric Gracia, who ended up winning, later told me he had landed on a dog in his qualifier.
Meeting up with my teammates Eric Porter, Steve Smith, and Chris Van Dine along with my agent, photographer and videographer was a huge relief after travelling. The race was interesting to watch, but what was most entertaining was the riot after Cedric won. In Canada, tear gas would have been released within a few minutes, but I guess charging, screaming and stealing fans are status quo in Chile. A few hours after the race when we began walking to our hotel, we were passed by Cedric pedaling away from the mob in only his underwear. If mountain biking were this popular in the rest of the world we would all be living like Michael Jordan.
After the chaos of the race, we were all excited to begin our team trip. We started riding at the bike park in Nevados de Chillan, followed the next day with an eight-hour ride into the Andes, complete with horses to shuttle our bikes. After waiting all day for a ride out of Valparaiso, we arrived in Santiago at roughly midnight and began the 5-hour drive south to Chilan with our new Chilean amigos, Felipe, Eduardo, and Cristobal.
The next day we were greeted by sunshine and hot springs in the beautiful resort we were staying in. We went on as many laps on the hill before lunch and shooting. The trails in Chillan had been amazingly thought out and incredibly built. The place was in the middle of nowhere and almost completely devoid of riders, yet, they had world-class trails spidering down the dusty hillside as if they had been there for years.
The cameras came out and we began shooting. I was having a great time but only feeling 70 percent due to jet lag and lack of sleep, but still decided to follow Porter off of a 20-foot gap jump that I wasn't really feeling in my gut. He rolled into the jump and popped off it, and I rolled off of the jump and didn't pop enough -- therefore, casing it by six inches and crashing shoulder first into the thankfully soft transition. As I was crashing I knew I was in the process of taking one of the worst crashes of my life. Thanks to the two filmers documenting it, I now have proof. To my surprise, I walked away with only a slight shoulder injury, bruises, and a nice hip abrasion that will forever be a souvenir of Chile burnt into my skin.
That night Felipe (also injured from a bad crash at the Valparaiso race) convinced me that karaoke is good for healing. As our friends checked their email and went to bed, we belted out Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Pepper songs in the hotel lounge. They must have felt sorry for me because I won a free Pisco Sour (the national drink) and I know it wasn't because of my great singing. Whenever Felipe and I would take our turn they would turn up the music to drown out our lyrics.
The next morning nerves were flying. Rumors of all options were flying around the breakfast table, but nobody knew what to believe. I popped about six ibuprofen and we stuffed our backpacks with food and as much water as we could and nervously gave our bikes to the guides who loaded them two by two onto young, unimpressed horses. Unfortunately, Steve had to miss the ride due to some tainted ice that had him laid out for 24 hours of digestive hell.
As the horses took our bikes to the top of the ridge, we began our two-hour hike up on foot to the top of the ridge to began one of the craziest descents of our lives. The trail had extremely steep switchbacks and was a foot deep with dust, cut by horses and cows and probably 1,000 years ago. Loose boulders and logs shaken from the earth by hooves littered the trail. At one point a herd of five cows barreled past us, only to be seen again a few hours later when we reached their pasture.
Two river crossings, a long and steady downhill, a few beautiful cross-country ride and six hours of pedaling later we had finished the most epic ride I could have ever fathomed. Apparently we did the short loop. Liana and I arrived at the finish with energy to spare (most likely out of sheer exhaustion) and everyone else trickled in with huge smiles on their faces. What boggled my mind most was how local rider Nico rode the trail smoother than all of us on a K-mart special hard tail that weighed close to 40 pounds while the paramedic and guide walked the ENTIRE trail. Walked! On foot! Chileans are a tough stock.
Our next destination was the La Parva ski resort just outside of Santiago. All of the guide books I had read about Chile suggested spending as little time in Santiago as possible, but what they mustn't have known was that the surrounding mountains of the city are some of the most beautiful and incredible parts of the country.
La Parva's landscape, or shall I say moonscape, is barren to the point of gorgeous. The surrounding peaks seem to go on indefinitely and the riding is burly to say the least. I was taking it easy due to my shoulder injury (eight-hour rides don't help shoulder injuries apparently), but at one point a rider of a new Ironhorse Sunday came limping down the hill snapped completely in half at the steer tube. Despite the intimidation factor of the trails, La Parva at sunset is one of the most serene places to ride I have ever experienced. Later in the week, after the Gravity team had dispersed, I went on a cross-country ride with Felipe through the foothills of La Parva. Blooming cactus lined the perfectly undulating single track aptly named "amphitheatro" that overlooked the city, and made me re-fall in love with cross country riding.
The rest of the time in Chile I spent vacationing. I won't subject you to the "what I did on my winter vacation" journal entry, but I will say it was phenomenal. Great food, even better people, cheap beach-front cabinas, and endless days of sunshine. The Chileans will go out of their way to make sure you are well taken care of and happy.
Yes the riding was fabulous, but it was the people who really made this trip one for the history books. My expectations of Chile were only exceeded and maybe one day I will go back to ski as my teenage ski-bum dream led me to do, but for now, I am definitely planning to go back with a fleet of bikes and high-SPF sunscreen!
Freerider Darcy Turenne is a regular blog contributor on MountainBike.com. Find out more about her on her Web site

Credit : http://mbword.mountainbike.com/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Bike Buying Tips

2009-04-02T02:25:00.000-07:00

Bike Buying Tips
Read these tips before you buy your next bike.
By Alex Stieda

Before you buy, ace the test ride first, make sure you're getting the right style of bike--the shop should ask about your riding preferences. control the conditions under which you test models. Bring your own shoes, pedals and shorts. Your riding position (saddle height, reach to the bar and handlebar height), tire pressure and saddle should be the same on each bike. Then ride the same route each time: Accelerate in and out of the saddle, climb, corner and descend. If it comes down to two bikes with similar levels of performance, go with your gut instinct.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

MB Word ?

2009-04-02T02:17:00.000-07:00

What is the MB Word?

It's the vast Mountain Bike community, one voice at a time. From our own editors and columnists sounding off—or ranting—to bike makers, part makers, wrenches, racers, whoever, voicing their own opinions, MB Word is the place where we let it fly. Sometimes these tales, rants, and essays fly right into a brick wall, sometimes they clean the launch but blow the landing. But the judge is always you. What's important is that MB Word brings the state of the mountain bike community, no matter how strange or wrong that might be, directly to your eyeballs.

Credit : http://mbword.mountainbike.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Mountain Bike Accessories Part 1

2009-04-02T02:03:00.000-07:00

The Shift To Electric
Shimano says electric shifting is ready for the road-bike masses. And that means mountain bikers should pay attention.

By Matt Phillips
(Shimano's new electric Dura-Ace.Courtesy )

Electronic Dura-Ace--the electric-shifting version of Shimano's top-of-the-line road group--is set to hit store shelves early in 2009. (It's been tested in the pro ranks for the last five years.) That's a huge deal. Why? Because eventually mountain bikers could actually reap more benefits from electric shifting than the roadies. Wayne Stetina, vice president and road product specialist at Shimano, was instrumental in the development and testing of Dura-Ace electric, and he sees clear advantages for mountain bikers. "Shifting perfectly and effortlessly under pressure, like when you're trying to control the bike over extreme terrain changes, obviously that would make sense for mountain bikes.

" Not The First...Or The Last

Electric shifting isn't new. Mavic has had two different electric road groups: Zap (1993) and Mektronic (1999). Campagnolo has been race-testing an electric road group since 2002, and is rumored to be launching a new group in 2010. Even SRAM has dabbled with the technology, says Ron Ritzler, the company's category manager for mountain bike. "We've played with electronics a lot over the past 10 years," he says. "I think we're excited to see what the market says about Dura-Ace going electric."It takes one ride on electric Dura-Ace to get a sense of what the market's going to say. One of the first things you notice: the smoothness and consistency of the shifts, which Stetina attributes to the faster-than-mechanical movement and shift pattern. "There's a little bit of overshift built into it," he explains, "regardless of which way [the rider shifts]. It gives it an extra tug to yank the chain off the gear. Instead of just lining up under the gear, it goes a little more and pops back a fraction of a second later." Stetina also notes that the servo motors always exert the same force, so there are no shifting troubles due to cable degradation or human inconsistency.

Rapid Rise, Perfected?

Electric's smoothness is reminiscent of Shimano's Rapid Rise--yes, that Rapid Rise--which reversed rear-derailleur action. With Rapid Rise, the derailleur's spring pulled the chain into lower gears, easing shock on the system as the derailleur couldn't be forced to make those shifts via cable pull. As a result, Rapid Rise reduced the number of broken chains and bent cassettes. But it had the potential to do much more: Rapid Rise could have paved the way for narrower drivetrain components and allowed more cassette cogs within current frame dimensions, which would have eventually lead to fewer chainrings and tighter chain lines. But none of these developments came to pass because Rapid Rise wasn't embraced: It asked us to forget a shifting pattern we'd been following for years; it slowed downshifts (problematic at the base of a sudden steep climb); and upshifts were more uncertain when accelerating hard or bombing rough descents.Electric shifting could overcome those problems, and add even more benefits. The smoothness of electronics would reduce the shock on drivetrain components. Any pattern could be used because the shift buttons could be programmed in any arrangement. And the smaller mechanical system could improve ergonomics. In theory, the buttons could be positioned so you never have to break grip with your thumb to shift--that just isn't possible with mechanical paddle shifters.The most noticeable improvement with electronic Dura-Ace: front shifting, which, on any bike, is more problematic than rear shifting because the chain has to make a larger vertical jump, and the chain moves at the point where it's under the highest tension (in contrast to rear-derailleur shifts, which are initiated along the less-tensioned bottom run). With electric, that doesn't matter: Dura-Ace electric's powerful servo, controlled movement, automatic trim and minimal hand effort provide the most beautiful front shifts our testers have ever experienced. In fact, they ultimately found themselves using the front derailleur more often. Because mountain biking is far less smooth than road riding, this would be a huge benefit. The problem? According to Stetina, a triple-chainring-capable servo would require a battery that is too heavy and bulky. This could be a deal-breaker, at least until battery life, servo technology or derailleur design provide the much-needed breakthrough, or we start using 2x10 gearing, which may not be as silly as it sounds.

The Electric Look

Simply put, an electric drivetrain would change bicycle design. Electric has no cables and housing to get contaminated, and shifting performance doesn't deteriorate over time, which means there's no need for routine replacement. It also means that components don't need to be easily accessible for changes, so they can be more protected. On top of that, routing issues are nearly eliminated: The wires can be run with no concern for friction and proper cable angle--a huge benefit to full-suspension (especially longer-travel) bikes. According to Jeff Soucek, Felt's senior design engineer, "You still have to route those wires, but it's easier to snake them around because they're softer and you don't need to worry about having smooth flow." Plus, as Soucek says: "At what point is the shifter wireless to the junction box? Cables would just go from the battery to the [derailleurs], nothing goes up to the handlebar. That would be slick.

"Downsides: You Knew They Were Coming.

If the battery dies, shifting stops. On the road, you aren't likely to be far from help. But that's not always the case on a mountain bike. Officially, Shimano states that Dura-Ace electric will last more than 600 miles between charges--a huge amount of off-road riding. Informally, Stetina says that he's achieved up to 2,000 miles between charges (Dura-Ace electric has an indicator to tell you when it's time to charge). All a rider needs to do is remember to plug the system in from time to time. Another thought: Batteries could potentially come in many sizes, like a larger "enduro" battery or a smaller "race" battery for short events. And then there's the fact that mountain bikes are simply punished more than road bikes, whether it's from crashing, environmental conditions (mud, dirt and water) or trailside litter that throws the chain into the spokes. And while an electric drivetrain isn't necessarily more fragile than a mechanical one, there's no denying that it's more expensive: The new Dura-Ace electric rear derailleur will surely sell for more than the mechanical version's $300 asking price (actual price wasn't available at press time). Sure, Shimano built a "saver" feature into the Dura-Ace electric derailleur to protect it in a crash, but a blown electric rear derailleur will be one expensive accident.

It's Coming...But When?

Road is the perfect place for Shimano to launch and test its electric shifting: Bicycle designs are more standardized, the riding conditions are more controlled, and road drivetrains use narrower cogs, chains and spacing than mountain bike drives. But you have to believe the company's working on a mountain version. Could it replace the mechanical drivetrain? Hard to say. At this point, we wouldn't consider electric to be the only or best answer for future mountain bike shifting, but it could certainly provide some real benefits--and it could drive overall mountain bike design well into the future.

Credit : http://www.bicycling.com

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Bicycle Helmets : Full Report Updated April 2008

2009-04-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

Bicycle Helmets : Full Report Updated April 2008

Types of Bike Helmets

Different styles of bike helmets

Helmet technology has evolved over time. Helmets of today are lighter, stronger, better ventilated and safer than those of ten years ago. Although flashy, expensive helmets exist and beckon to the trendy consumer; those with limited budgets can easily find helmets that are both safe and affordable. Most of Consumer Reports' Best Buys are priced at $50 or less, and the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) believes "that some of the most protective helmets are out there in the discount stores at prices from ten to twenty dollars."In terms of safety, a helmet's ability to protect you is determined less by how much you spend than by how well it fits and if it's worn properly. Although all helmets sold in the U.S. must comply with CPSC safety standards, that doesn't mean that every helmet will protect every wearer, since helmets (and people) come in different shapes and sizes.
Pricier helmets use in-mold construction and expensive materials such as carbon fiber, which is lighter in weight, but still strong. This allows the helmets to be lighter and have bigger and more vents, while still conforming to CPSC standards. Better ventilation makes them cooler and more comfortable. The in-mold construction can sometimes make the helmet more scratch-resistant.
Each year, more than 20,000 bicyclists are admitted to hospitals, according to the Snell Memorial Foundation, and those hospitalized with head injuries are 20 times more likely to die as those without. Bicycle helmets are designed to prevent or minimize head injuries. Since 1999, all bicycle helmets made or sold in the United States have had to comply with the safety standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which requires helmets to provide protection against an 11-mph impact on simulated rocks and curbs and a 14-mph impact on a flat surface.
Adult bike helmets come in a few different styles, with the predominant one until recently having been the angular, sloping type of bike helmets seen on Tour de France racers. The latest trend, however, is toward helmets that are rounder and smoother. Sometimes called commuter bike helmets, these have a smoother design that has fewer pointy edges that can snag in a crash. Both styles can be safe if worn properly.
Although there's a lot of overlap, helmets are often categorized in the following ways:

Sport helmets are intended for all-around cycling use and are often value-priced. The more rounded helmets are usually classified as sport helmets.

Road helmets are the lightest and most aerodynamic, with the largest vents (to improve ventilation and reduce weight). They also tend to be more expensive.

Mountain-bike helmets are similar to road helmets, but they're generally not as light and have thicker straps to contend with the extra bouncing and jostling of rigorous terrain. They also often have small visors to keep debris off your face.

Youth helmets often mimic adult helmets, but they are smaller and decorated in patterns that appeal more to kids.

Toddler helmets have more rear coverage for added protection, which tends to leave less room for ventilation, and they are usually decorated with cute, colorful graphics.

BMX helmets look very different from other cycling helmets. Some are like a thick, smooth cap, covering only the scalp, and some are bulky, looking more like motorcycle helmets, covering the entire face down to the jaw line. Often stronger than the other cycling helmets, BMX helmets have more coverage around the back and sides of the head.

Women's helmets feature more feminine colors and sometimes have space for a ponytail, but otherwise they're structurally the same as men's helmets. For example, Giro brand helmets for women are structurally the same -- but they're painted in colors that the manufacturer thinks appeal more to women.

Credit : http://www.consumersearch.com/bicycle-helmet-reviews

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France 2008 News : The 20 teams selected

2009-04-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

The 20 teams selected

Twenty teams that will form a pack of 180 riders have been selected by the organisers to take part in the 96th edition of the Tour de France that will take off on the 4th of July in the Principality of Monaco.

- GERMANYTeam Milram (MRM)

- BELGIUMQuickstep (QST)Silence - Lotto (SIL)

- DENMARKTeam Saxo Bank (SAX)

- SPAINCaisse d’Epargne (GCE)Euskaltel - Euskadi (EUS)

- UNITED STATESGarmin - Slipstream (GRM)Team Columbia - High Road (THR)

- FRANCEAG2R - La Mondiale (ALM)Agritubel (AGR)BBox Bouygues Telecom (BTL)Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne (COF)Française des Jeux (FDJ)

- ITALYLampre - N.G.C. (LAM)Liquigas (LIQ)

- KAZAKHSTANAstana (AST)

- NETHERLANDSRabobank (RAB)Skil-Shimano (SKS)

- RUSSIATeam Katusha (KAT)

- SWITZERLANDCervélo Test Team (CTT)

credit : http://www.letour.fr

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France 2008 News : Amgen Tour of California : on TV around the world

2009-04-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

Amgen Tour of California : on TV around the world

The recently expanded 750-mile, nine-day stage race, considered to be the most important and popular race held on U.S. soil, will take 17 of the world's top professional cycling teams from Sacramento to San Diego County. The race will include two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, among other top cyclists. Scheduled from February 14-22, 2009, the fourth-annual race will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes along the route.

For the first time, the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race will be broadcast internationally. The race will be broadcast live in more than 90 countries available to more than 200 million households across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and Africa. The unprecedented coverage is due to the partnership established with Amaury Sport Organisation which has assisted AEG with the international television distribution of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, further strengthening the partnership between the two cycling tour owners announced in June 2008.
Amongst the line-up of broadcasters, Eurosport, the leader in cycling broadcast coverage in Europe, will broadcast the race live in 77 countries throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific. Abu Dhabi Sports in the Middle East, HiSports in Nigeria, J-Sports in Japan, SBS in Australia and Sky TV in New Zealand are also amongst the race's international broadcast partners. In addition to the live coverage, highlights will be made available to fans in a total of 201 countries and territories, in 22 languages by a total of 23 channels.

Follow the Tour with the official website : www.amgentourofcalifornia.com

credit : http://www.letour.fr

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France 2008 News : 11 stages for the Cycloparc tour

2009-04-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

11 stages for the Cycloparc tour

For the third consecutive year a moving animation and initiation site, exclusively consecrated to cycling, will travel through France during spring. The Cycloparc that hosted in 2008 over 70000 visitors will this year stop in 11 towns that will also be on the program of the Tour de France. Except for the games and exhibition stands, theoretical and practical tests will also allow children to earn a place on the P'tite boucle Nesquik, a series of races organised the day of the Tour’s passage. The animators of the local affiliated clubs of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) are systematically called up to prepare for the arrival of the Cycloparc and to take care of the selections. Added to that, on each stage, the Cycloparc will welcome on the Friday thanks to the “Union Sportive de l’Enseignement du Premier degré“ (USEP) and the Ministry for National Education, school groups for an outing dedicated to cycling.

The Cycloparc calendar

April 3-4: Brignoles (Parking des Augustins)

April 10-11: Marseille

April 17-18: Limoges (Champ de Juillet)

April 24-25: Montpellier (Place de la Comédie)

May 7-8: Perpignan (Place de la Victoire)

May 15-16: Annecy (Place Paquier)

May 19-20: Tarbes (Place de l’Hôtel de Ville)

May 29-30: Aubenas (Place du Champ de Mars)

June 5-6: Besançon (Place de la Révolution)

June 12-13: Issoudun (Au Pepsi)

June 19-20: Colmar (Place Rapp)

credit : http://www.letour.fr

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France : Grand start 2010 Part 4

2009-04-01T01:38:00.000-07:00

Sunday 4th July

Second stageStart in Rotterdam

Before the start of the stage the pack of riders on the 2010 Tour will enjoy a final stroll through Rotterdam town centre, following the start in De Heuvelpark. Prior to their departure from the town they will also receive the visit of some of the 18 municipalities that make up Rotterdam’s urban community.
The “leap” west will take them into a particularly windswept region: on the Zeeland polders the most enterprising will certainly be able to gain ground, just like the Dutch pioneers of old who conquered the North Sea.
The race will then move due south and will cross the border separating the Netherlands from Belgium, approximately twenty kilometres north of Antwerp.

credit : http://www.letour.fr

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France : Grand start 2010 Part 3

2009-04-01T00:47:00.000-07:00

The Tour strat in Rotterdam

Saturday 3rd JulyFirst stageRotterdam > Rotterdam9 km time-trial course.
The 2010 Tour will be launched from the south side of Rotterdam, for a nine kilometer time-trial.The launching pad will actually be set up in Zuidplein, from where the riders will move north.
The first stretch will take them to the majestic Erasmus Bridge. At this point, it is not the minor incline that will play havoc with the champions’ rhythm, but the wind that sweeps relentlessly across the estuary.
After a sharp bend to the right, the route will wind back up the course of the New Meuse River for 1 km. The transfer back to the left bank will be made via the two bridges that cross the “Nordereiland” peninsula.
To arrive at the finish the riders will follow the same avenue taken in the first two kilometres, but in the opposite direction.

credit : http://www.letour.fr

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France : Grand start 2010 Part 2

2009-03-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

About Rotterdam

Situated in the province of South Holland, near the North Sea and at the river mouth shared by the Rhine and the Meuse, Rotterdam has approximately 600,000 inhabitants, with more than a million in the greater Rotterdam area.
The second most important city in the Netherlands after the capital Amsterdam, Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe and one of the most important in the world. Founded in the 12th century near a dam in the river Rotte, from which the city derives its name, today Rotterdam forms an industrial, commercial and financial centre, and is the seat of the Erasmus University.
After having been destroyed in 1940 at the start of the Second World War, the city centre was rebuilt, giving the city its modern character.

- Wednesday 30th June: Opening of the organisation HQ and the press centre at Ahoy’ Rotterdam. This vast complex consisting of conference rooms and exhibition halls is situated in the south of the city.
- Thursday 1st July: Presentation of the teams for the 2010 Tour de France. - Saturday 3rd July: Start and finish of the first stage near Ahoy’ Rotterdam. - Sunday 4th July: Start of the second stage at De Heuvelpark.

Directions

By aeroplane: Rotterdam Airport (5 km from the centre of town), or Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), 45 km away.
By train: Several trains every day from Paris (3 hours in the Thalys),
Berlin, Brussels, London, Rome, Vienna.
By road: 450 km from Paris.

Credit : http://www.letour.fr

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France : Grand start 2010 Part 1

2009-03-31T23:08:00.001-07:00

The Tour’s letter

The choice of Rotterdam, a vast urban centre with one million two hundred thousand inhabitants, is directly in keeping with the special start of the Tour in London in 2007. The proposed project – “Rotterdam and the Tour, a new energy” – seduced us. It fits into an overall policy that aims to an even bigger place for the bicycle in the city’s heart, while leaning on the popularity of the biggest cycling race in the world, the Tour de France. From the banks of the Thames to the biggest port in Europe: the same desire, the same will.
In 2010, the Netherlands, which gave the bicycle its nickname of “little queen”, will host the Grand Départ of the Tour for the fifth time. A journalist recently asked me why the Netherlands has been favoured compared to the other countries (“only” three starts each for Belgium and Germany, two for Luxembourg, one for Spain and none in Italy, for instance). Besides the geographical location, which gives the organisers every freedom to organise the route in its entirety, a large part of the answer lies in these few lines, written in L’Équipe in 1954, when the Grande Boucle decided to start outside French borders for the very first time: “All of the Netherlands seemed to have gathered on the roads of Wassenaar, Delft, Rotterdam… Tens of thousands of spectators in closed ranks, uninterrupted, for kilometres and kilometres, clapping, cheering for everything that had to do with the Tour, the cyclists, the motorcyclists, the cars that followed or that led… [In this way] they made a triumph of the first stage!”
I do not believe that I am taking any risks by stating that these words were a taste of the future. A huge party is already being prepared with all the Dutch people, including, naturally, our friends from Utrecht, who are rightly disappointed today. In Rotterdam, between the Rhine and the Meuse, the Tour will depart with its feet in the water, so to speak, for the third time in a row. After Brest with the Atlantic Ocean, the Principality of Monaco with the Mediterranean Sea, here we have the North Sea, which the route across Zeeland will allow us to admire at our leisure. However, at the beginning of July 2010, it will be the enthusiasm and the jubilation of the people because of the Tour that will blow us away.

Credit : http://www.letour.fr/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Lance Armstrong

2009-03-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

Lance Armstrong To Cycle For Cancer Center

Pelotonia, the ambitious new cycling tour founded by NetJets to benefit cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, now has the world’s highest profile cyclist joining its inaugural tour that will take place from August 28-30, 2009.
Pelotonia is proud to announce that Lance Armstrong will participate in its opening ceremony on Friday, August 28 and will cycle Pelotonia’s “century ride” from Columbus to Athens, Ohio on Saturday, August 29 following the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland August 24 through 26.
As the landmark event of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, the Summit will make the case for acting urgently to address the global cancer burden and introduce new commitments to cancer control by bringing together world leaders, corporations, non-governmental organizations and advocates in an unprecedented show of solidarity.

“The LIVESTRONG movement will take its Global Cancer Campaign to Ohio for Pelotonia 09 because we share the same goals. Pelotonia’s sole mission is to fund life-saving cancer research and that mission aligns perfectly with our efforts to support survivors all over the world and to make cancer a global priority,” confirmed Lance Armstrong. “NetJets’ creation and sponsorship of Pelotonia 09 will help raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer and promote the spirit of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign.”

“NetJets is pleased to join advocates around the world by making this commitment to join LIVESTRONG’s global fight against cancer,” said Daniel Rosenthal, Office of the Chairman, NetJets Inc. “Pelotonia is going to be an incredible experience for everyone involved and we are excited that Lance Armstrong will add to that experience by participating in Pelotonia’s inaugural weekend.”

“We are thrilled that Lance Armstrong will join our community for Pelotonia’s inaugural weekend this August,” said Thomas Lennox, Pelotonia’s Executive Director. “Lance returned to cycling in order to increase global awareness about cancer, and Pelotonia will help him further that mission while also raising the funds necessary to support the high quality research performed every day at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
One hundred percent of the donations raised by Pelotonia and its riders will benefit groundbreaking cancer research performed at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James).

“We have enjoyed an ongoing partnership with Lance Armstrong and the Lance Armstrong Foundation,” said Michael Caligiuri, MD, CEO of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute and Director of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We were one of the cities selected last year for Lance’s national tour on LIVESTRONG Day, and we hosted the LIVESTRONG Summit last July. We’re one of eight cancer centers in the nation to be part of the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence Network. His participation in Pelotonia 09 is yet another example of his commitment and partnership with Ohio State. We are delighted that he has chosen to participate in this event and help promote groundbreaking research in our cancer program.”

Registration for both riders and volunteers is currently open at www.pelotonia.org. Registered riders may choose from three scenic routes of 50 miles, 100 miles or 180 miles, all of which have been designed to appeal to cyclists of varying experience levels. President of The Ohio State University E. Gordon Gee, Dr. Michael Caligiuri, and NetJets executive Daniel Rosenthal have all registered to ride.

On the afternoon of Friday, August 28, Pelotonia’s festivities will begin with a celebration at Chemical Abstracts Service in Columbus, Ohio. The kick-off will include rider registration, expositions and an opening ceremony.
On the morning of Saturday, August 29, riders on all three routes will clip in at Chemical Abstracts Service in Columbus, Ohio and travel southeast toward Athens, Ohio. Pelotonia will support all of its riders along all of its routes with food and beverages as well as medical and mechanical assistance. Water stops will be located in or around Groveport, Amanda, Sugar Grove, and Nelsonville, Ohio.

Those riders who choose the one-day, 50-mile route will end their tour with a finale on Saturday near Sugar Grove, Ohio, while those who choose the one-day, 100-mile route will end their tour on Saturday with a festival at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Those riders who choose the two-day, 180-mile route will finish their first day’s tour with the festival at Ohio University where they will also spend the night. On Sunday, August 30, the two-day riders will ride back toward Columbus, ending their tour with a celebration near Canal Winchester, Ohio.

In order to participate in Pelotonia, a rider commits to a fundraising minimum that corresponds with his or her chosen route. Two-day, 180-mile cyclists must raise at least $2,000. One-day cyclists riding 100 miles must raise at least $1,500, while one-day cyclists riding 50 miles must raise at least $1,000. Pelotonia will donate every dollar raised by every rider to the OSUCCC-James.

Credit :

http://www.looktothestars.org

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Grand start 2009 : Monaco

2009-03-31T07:09:00.000-07:00

About Monaco…

The Principality of Monaco is situated in the south east of France, next to the Mediterranean, twenty kilometres east of Nice. Divided into districts, of which Monte-Carlo is the most famous, it stretches out over a surface area of 2 square km and is the second smallest state in the world after the Vatican City

Independent since 1297, this constitutional monarchy is governed by the sovereign Prince Albert II since 2005.

Useful informationWednesday 1st July: Opening of the organisation HQ and the press centre at the Grimaldi Forum. Thursday 2nd July: Presentation of the teams at the Port Hercule (Hercule Harbour). Saturday 4th July: Start and finish of the first stage at the Port Hercule. Sunday 5th July: Start of the second stage at the Port Hercule. Official starting ceremony upon passage in front of the Casino. 4th and 5th July: Transfers between the Grimaldi Forum and the Port Hercule will be made via a boat shuttle service.

Monaco and the Tour

On Saturday the 4th of July 2009 Monaco will host the Tour de France for the sixth time.
This will be the 17th time, since 1954 in Amsterdam, that the race will be launched from outside France. There have not been many starts from the south: four in total, and only one from the south-east, from Nice, in the region bordering that of the Alpes-Maritimes, in 1981.
It was in 1939 that the Tour visited the Principality for the first time, during the 12th stage, Saint-Raphaël - Monaco, won by the French rider Maurice Archambaud. René Vietto wore the Yellow Jersey before losing it in the Alps to the future champion, the Belgian rider Sylvère Maes.
After the War, in 1946, Apo Lazaridès triumphed in a five stage race, Monaco-Paris, which heralded the revival of the Tour one year later.

In the 1950s finishes in Monaco crowned the Dutch riders Jan Nolten and Wim van Est and then Raphaël Géminiani. And in 1964 the finish of the 9th stage, Briançon-Monaco, was the backdrop to one of the epic Anquetil-Poulidor combats.

The Normand rider was the first to enter the cinder track of the original Louis II stadium. Poulidor caught up with him for a battle in the sprint. But, astoundingly, as soon as he crossed the finishing line, he stopped whilst Anquetil carried straight on racing. There was still another lap to go but, perhaps duped by memories of the Tour d’Espagne, where a fraction of a lap at the finish made all the difference, Poupou finished 5th in the stage, leaving victory and the one minute bonus to his rival. Following further action packed feats, including the legendary climb of the Puy de Dôme, Jacques Anquetil won his 5th Tour in Paris… 55 seconds ahead of Raymond Poulidor.

Credit : http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/grand_depart_2009.html

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Tour de France : Grand start 2009

2009-03-31T02:31:00.000-07:00

The route

Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometres.

These 21 stages have the following profiles:

- 10 flat stages,
- 7 mountain stages,
- 1 medium mountain stage,
- 2 individual time-trial stages,
- 1 team time-trial stage.

Distinctive aspects of the race

- 3 mountain finishes,
- 2 rest days,
- 55 kilometres of individual time-trials,
- 20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed.

8 new stop-over towns

Brignoles, Gérone (Espagne), Issoudun, Martigny (Suisse), Saint-Fargeau, Tonnerre, vatan, Verbier (Suisse).

Credit : http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Mongoose Bikes

2009-03-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

About Mongoose Bikes

Mongoose Bikes is a brand name of performance Mongoose bicylces designed, manufactured, and sold by Pacific Cycle. The Mongoose bikes market themselves as their being built for riders, by riders. They also state that Mongoose bikes are built to be tough, fast and fun to ride. They were established in 1974 and their manufacturing office is based in Madison Wisconsin, USA.

What Mongoose Bikes offer
They primarily design and manufacture Mongoose BMX Bikes, Mongoose Mountain Bikes and street bicycles. However, they have since expanded to developing a wide range of Mongoose bikes and performance parts, as well as skateboards and electric scooters. Mongoose sells essentially two lines of bicycles. One is a line of discount bikes offered through USA mass-merchandisers like Wal-Mart, Sears and Kmart. The other line, featured on their home website, are higher end models sold through specialty shops.

Mongoose ProductsMongoose’s first product was the case cast-magnesium MotoMag wheels. Today they produce BMX, Mountain and pavement bikes. Mongoose is synonymous with bicycle performance. Mongoose bikes are vigorously tested by their design team at the park, on the track and on the hill. They have recently designed the Front Porch head tube, which lets you fine-tune the handling on their Black Diamond series mountain bikes, or Freedrive suspension technology, which eliminates pedal bob and gives you super-efficient full suspension.

Credit : http://www.nationalcycles.co.uk/

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Bestselling GPS ... Garmin GPS !!!

2009-03-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

Garmin Nuvi for Public Transportation

Garmin is the largest consumer GPS manufacturer and has become almost synonymous with “GPS”. Garmin was started in 1989 and has a history of producing leading GPS products and they have sold millions of GPS receivers.

Garmin announced a new series of Nuvi models earlier today, the Nuvi 1200 and Nuvi 1300 series. These new models will appear on the “value” end of the lineup and come similarly equipped to the Nuvi 2×5 series of devices. A few small tweaks include a slimmer overall device and the lighter color. For what is included out of the box, that is about the only change.

Public Transit Routing

The real news here is that these devices will come with the ability to plan routes through various public transit systems… busses, metro, subway, etc. The bad news is that the maps necessary to route through those systems don’t come installed on the device– they are merely the models that will be compatible with the maps. The Garmin CityXplorer maps will cost about $10-$15 per city, and not available everywhere. The list of cities available is expected to be out by the end of June, as well as these devices, but there was no mention of when the CityXplorer maps themselves will become available.
It will be interesting to see how they deal with certain challenges of the pedestrian and mass transit environment. GPS signals are pretty much non-existent uderground, and without an electronic compass the speeds you travel on foot are often not fast enough for the GPS to get a good sense of direction. Garmin is smart however, and when they release a new product they almost always get it right, so until we get our hands on one we’ll assume they have thought through these scenarios.

Credit : http://www.gpsreview.net

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Bicycle Helmets : Full Report Updated April 2008

2009-03-29T05:54:00.001-07:00

Types of Bike Helmets

Different styles of bike helmets

Helmet technology has evolved over time. Helmets of today are lighter, stronger, better ventilated and safer than those of ten years ago. Although flashy, expensive helmets exist and beckon to the trendy consumer; those with limited budgets can easily find helmets that are both safe and affordable. Most of Consumer Reports' Best Buys are priced at $50 or less, and the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) believes "that some of the most protective helmets are out there in the discount stores at prices from ten to twenty dollars."
In terms of safety, a helmet's ability to protect you is determined less by how much you spend than by how well it fits and if it's worn properly. Although all helmets sold in the U.S. must comply with CPSC safety standards, that doesn't mean that every helmet will protect every wearer, since helmets (and people) come in different shapes and sizes.

Pricier helmets use in-mold construction and expensive materials such as carbon fiber, which is lighter in weight, but still strong. This allows the helmets to be lighter and have bigger and more vents, while still conforming to CPSC standards. Better ventilation makes them cooler and more comfortable. The in-mold construction can sometimes make the helmet more scratch-resistant.

Each year, more than 20,000 bicyclists are admitted to hospitals, according to the Snell Memorial Foundation, and those hospitalized with head injuries are 20 times more likely to die as those without. Bicycle helmets are designed to prevent or minimize head injuries. Since 1999, all bicycle helmets made or sold in the United States have had to comply with the safety standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which requires helmets to provide protection against an 11-mph impact on simulated rocks and curbs and a 14-mph impact on a flat surface.

Adult bike helmets come in a few different styles, with the predominant one until recently having been the angular, sloping type of bike helmets seen on Tour de France racers. The latest trend, however, is toward helmets that are rounder and smoother. Sometimes called commuter bike helmets, these have a smoother design that has fewer pointy edges that can snag in a crash. Both styles can be safe if worn properly.

Although there's a lot of overlap, helmets are often categorized in the following ways:

Sport helmets are intended for all-around cycling use and are often value-priced. The more rounded helmets are usually classified as sport helmets.

Road helmets are the lightest and most aerodynamic, with the largest vents (to improve ventilation and reduce weight). They also tend to be more expensive.

Mountain-bike helmets are similar to road helmets, but they're generally not as light and have thicker straps to contend with the extra bouncing and jostling of rigorous terrain. They also often have small visors to keep debris off your face.

Youth helmets often mimic adult helmets, but they are smaller and decorated in patterns that appeal more to kids.

Toddler helmets have more rear coverage for added protection, which tends to leave less room for ventilation, and they are usually decorated with cute, colorful graphics.

BMX helmets look very different from other cycling helmets. Some are like a thick, smooth cap, covering only the scalp, and some are bulky, looking more like motorcycle helmets, covering the entire face down to the jaw line. Often stronger than the other cycling helmets, BMX helmets have more coverage around the back and sides of the head.

Women's helmets feature more feminine colors and sometimes have space for a ponytail, but otherwise they're structurally the same as men's helmets. For example, Giro brand helmets for women are structurally the same -- but they're painted in colors that the manufacturer thinks appeal more to women.

Credit : http://www.consumersearch.com/bicycle-helmet-reviews

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike

Mongoose Bikes

2009-03-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

Mongoose Bikes

About Mongoose BikesMongoose Bikes is a brand name of performance Mongoose bicylces designed, manufactured, and sold by Pacific Cycle. The Mongoose bikes market themselves as their being built for riders, by riders. They also state that Mongoose bikes are built to be tough, fast and fun to ride. They were established in 1974 and their manufacturing office is based in Madison Wisconsin, USA.

What Mongoose Bikes offer

They primarily design and manufacture Mongoose BMX Bikes, Mongoose Mountain Bikes and street bicycles. However, they have since expanded to developing a wide range of Mongoose bikes and performance parts, as well as skateboards and electric scooters. Mongoose sells essentially two lines of bicycles. One is a line of discount bikes offered through USA mass-merchandisers like Wal-Mart, Sears and Kmart. The other line, featured on their home website, are higher end models sold through specialty shops.

Mongoose Products

Mongoose’s first product was the case cast-magnesium MotoMag wheels. Today they produce BMX, Mountain and pavement bikes. Mongoose is synonymous with bicycle performance. Mongoose bikes are vigorously tested by their design team at the park, on the track and on the hill. They have recently designed the Front Porch head tube, which lets you fine-tune the handling on their Black Diamond series mountain bikes, or Freedrive suspension technology, which eliminates pedal bob and gives you super-efficient full suspension.

credit : http://www.nationalcycles.co.uk

Low Price Mongoose Bike
Low Price Garmin GPS
Low Price Giro Bike