Posts Tagged ‘Bikes’
Written by Peter Suciu on 03 September 2010
This week Waterloo, Wisconsin based Trek Bicycles announced that it would sponsor a new pro cycling team for next year’s Tour de France. This new, to be named team, will be led by two-time Tour runner-up, and white jersey (for best young rider) winner Andy Schlek.
Schlek and his brother Frank, who was unable to finish this year’s Tour de France after crashing out early in the multi-stage race, had previously announced that they would be leaving the Saxo Bank team to start their own team based in their native Luxembourg for the upcoming season. This team has yet to announce its full roster or title sponsor.
Trek will join Specialized Bicycles in being a company that will provide cycles to more than one team, as this year Specialized had provided the bikes for Alberto Contador’s Team Astana. Contador, who won the tour, has made the move to Saxo Bank, which was the other team riding Specialized this year. It was also the first time that a Specialized bike was used by a tour winner. Contador and Team Astana had previously ridden Trek, but the company followed Lance Armstrong to the Radio Shack team for this season.
It was announced that Trek would continue to provide bikes for Radio Shack next season, despite the fact that Armstrong has announced that he will be retiring. It isn’t clear if Astana will be in the Tour next season, or if the company will be using Specialized bikes.
Trek Bicycles
Specialized Bicycles
Tags: Alberto Contador, Andy Schlek, Bikes, Cycling, Frank Schlek, Lance Armstrong, Radio Shack, Saxo Bank, Specialized, Team Astana, Tour de France, Trek
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Pro Sports | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 27 August 2010
When purchasing an upscale bicycle a buyer often picks out a frame size, picks out some components and then opts to get a fitting. This is much like buying a suit or a wedding dress, where an item is made to fit you. But PK Cycling of Fairfax, California takes the custom fitting to the next level, and it offers clients the option for a truly customized bike that will fit riders like a tailored suit.
Christopher Kautz of PK Cycling was kind of enough to describe his company’s unique process. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bikes, Christopher Kautz, Custom, Cycling, Guru, PK Cycling, Serrota, Titus
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Triathlon | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 13 August 2010
During the Second World War many nations relied on bicycles to transport soldiers in rear areas, and to carry messages. Some nations, such as Japan, even used bicycles to rush troops to the front lines. This worked well until the bikes got flat tires – and with rubber in great demand many bikes proved to be sort of worthless, a feeling any rider with a flat probably feels. However, the Japanese solution was simply to ride on the rims until those bent out of shape. Fortunately today bicycle tubes are still just about the least expensive part on the bike, but that’s little comfort when you get a flat and have to change the tire – unless you think of riding on the rims.
So we’re not exactly sure who this “Stan” might be, but he invented one cool product – at least as long as you’re not the maker of bicycle inner tubes, or like riding on your rims with flat tires. The Stan’s Tubeless System is essentially a kit that allows for most standard bike tires to hold air without the use of a tube. This innovative system uses a rubber rim strip to cover the spoke holes along with a liquid sealant to prevent air from leaking through the tire. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bicycle, Bikes, No Tubes, NoTubes.com, Stan's Tubeless System, tire, TUBES
Posted in Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 07 July 2010
The Cervelo P4 Time Trial bike might just give you the time of your life on a long ride
While we’re setting our alarms so we can get up bright and early to watch the Tour de France live and of course in high definition, we have to admit that we haven’t been able to follow all the trends on the latest technological advances. Our friends at Gnews have compiled a look at some of the biggest innovations that you’re likely to see on the roads throughout France in the next two and a half weeks.
Let’s just hope we don’t see more blood on the road. After the numerous spills in Rotterdam, on the roads in Belgium and on the cobblestones the technology most in demand might be anything to help the riders heal up. And while jokes have been made about electronic motors, we think any suggestions that any rider is getting a mechanical aid should be put to rest, especially after the efforts we seen so far.
Top Tech of the Tour de France [Via Gnews.com]
Tags: Bikes, Cycling, Tech of the Tour, Technology, Tour de France
Posted in Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 01 June 2010
Trek Speed Concept 9 Series
If you blinked you might have missed it, but Trek Bicycles introduced its highly anticipated line of new Triathlon and Time Trial specific bikes at last week’s Tour of California. The Speed Concept line of bicycles was used in last Saturday’s Stage 7 Time Trial is Los Angeles, and the aerodynamic profile was sure to turn heads. The KVF tube shape makes for a sleek cycle to reduce drag, and get you to the finish line in style. If weren’t in the City of Angeles, or didn’t catch the race on TV, you’ll soon get to see the bikes, which should be riding into stores soon.
You also won’t need to be a sponsored rider either, as Trek will offer the Speed Concept in three unique platforms for 2010, with a total of 12 models – to fit most price ranges, and with five unique sizes and six different stems, this concept will fit the frame of the rider like a glove.
The high-end Speed Concept 9 Series models utilize OCLV2 Carbon and can be fully customizable through Trek’s custom bike program, Project One. For those with a more modest budget, or just looking to get a solid ride off the shelf, the company offers the Speed Concept 7 Series, which is comprised of five models. These bikes, with prices ranging from $2899 to $3799, offer the same revolutionary aerodynamic advantages of the 9 Series but are constructed of Trek’s TCT carbon. These bikes will have you looking good on the road, and looking sharp at the finish line.
Trek Speed Concept website
Tags: 7 Series, 9 Series, Bikes, Time Trial, Tour of California, Trek, Triathalon
Posted in Cycling, Pro Sports | 1 Comment »
Written by Peter Suciu on 13 May 2010
The Museum of Art and Design's The Handbuilt Bicycle
Want to browse some bikes that you likely won’t be seeing anytime soon at your local shop? The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City has an exhibit running through the middle of August, which shows off the designs of six internationally renowned bicycle builders. The Handbuilt Bicycle showcases bikes that took weeks, and even months of skilled workmanship to build. Each bike of course bears the builder’s unique signature in design while showcasing their personalities through the choice of materials, forms and techniques.
The frames are metal, but these works of art show off the individual craft with graphics and other artifacts. Michael Manaram, owner of a textile company and an avid bike collector, along with Sacha White of Vanilla Bicycles of Portland, Oregon, organized the exhibit, which includes 21 bikes that were completely hand-built.
The bikes include fixed-gear, road racing, cyclocross, mountain and even commuter bikes, as well as a stripped-down randonneur, which was designed exclusively for long-distance racing. The exhibition includes bikes from Mike Flanigan of Alternative Needs Transportation (A.N.T.), Jeff Jones of Jeff Jones Custom Bicycles, Dario Pegoretti of Pegoretti Cicli, Richard Sachs of Richard Sachs Cycles, J. Peter Weigle of J. Peter Weigle Cycles and Sacha White of Vanilla Bicycles.
Museum of Arts and Design: The Handbuilt Bicycle
Tags: Alternative Needs Transportation, Bikes, Cicli, Dario Pegoretti, fixed-gear, Handbuilt Bicycle, J. Peter Weigle Cycles, Jeff Jones Custom Bicycles, MAD, Michael Manaram, Mike Flanigan, Museum of Art and Design, Richard Sachs Cycles, Sacha White, Vanilla Bicycles
Posted in Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 02 April 2010
If you have a high-end bike, then you probably have that sense of dread when having to use the typical a bike rack. There is the worry of scratching the frame’s paint or decal, and the fact that the wheel-in-first racks are designed for bikes from decades ago. Even the general “metal” loops are poorly designed to allow for adequate positioning, as there just isn’t enough space to lean the bike.
A Wellington, New Zealand firm may have the answer, and it is one that solves another problem in the process. Duncan Forbes and Matt Hammond of Bikerakk have created a cycle stand that has a solid steel core frame but has a softer outer layer made of recycled car tires. And to encourage businesses to adopt these stands, the rack is in the shape of a bicycle, allowing the rear wheel to be a glass disc that can light up at night for advertising and signage.
So far the Bikerakk is only available in central Wellington, but the company hopes to eventually get the stands throughout the island nation. Maybe it will catch on, as it is a great use of recycled tires and provides a bit of padding. Plus it could be just the thing to remind people that two wheels make a good way to get around.
Tags: Bike Rack, Bikerakk, Bikes, Cycling, New Zealand, Tires
Posted in Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
