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.
Have we seen the end of the Cervélo Test Team? That seems to be case as the company announced today that it would not be continuing as a title sponsor after the end of this season. However, this doesn’t sound like it will be the end of Cervélo bikes in the Tour, or in other major races. We’ll post more as news develops.
UPDATE:CyclyingNews.com reported that Cervélo could be the bike du jour in next year’s Tour for the Garmin-Transitions team, which could become the Garmin-Cervélo Team.
“The bike manufacturer has been linked with the Garmin-Transitions team as a possible replacement for the American squad’s Felt sponsorship, with Transitions dropping from the second sponsor slot and Cervelo taking over in their place. Neither team confirmed this.” Read the rest of this entry »
While the excitement of the Tour de France is typically on the road, there is much to see that isn’t part of the official coverage on TV. From the antics of the fans, to what it takes to prepare a pro team for this grand event, and finally just to the day to day happenings there is a lot “Beyond the Peloton.” And it can now be experienced from the official Cervelo TestTeam YouTube Channel, as it is presented in High-Definition from documentary film makers Joe Finkleman and Booker Sim, who let you return to France to see what the race footage failed to capture.
In addition to the event, the channel gives some great insight via past videos such as the New Cervelo Project California, or the how the Cervelo TestTeam ROTOR Q-Rings no doubt helped get the teams’ riders in the spin of things. So if you’re already waiting for next year’s Tour de France, this site might help you pass the time.
While the last few days of this year’s Tour de France were pretty exciting to watch, one fact was missing from a lot of the commentary. Both over all winner Alberto Contador and second place finisher Andy Schleck rolled into Paris on Specialized bikes. This was the first-ever Maillot Jaune for California-based Specialized.
For a company with the name “Specialized,” it makes a range of products that aren’t limited just to the road bikes either. The company’s gear was used throughout the peleton, not only with both the Astana and Saxo Bank teams sponsored teams, but notably with many other riders using shoes, saddles and other Specialized accessories. Alessandro Petacchi also sported the new Prevail cycling helmet as he sprinted his way to winning this year’s Green Jersey.
“Winning the Tour is a dream for us that has taken 36 years to come true,” said Mike Sinyard, founder and owner of Specialized. “It’s a clear example of successfully following our founding principle to focus on the rider’s need for technologically advanced products that provide true performance benefits.”
With a one-two finish for the bikes we can’t but agree!
you’ve been watching the Tour de France, especially on the high mountain climbs, you’ve noticed a few colorful characters. There are guys in gorilla costumes, dudes with Viking helmets and of course plenty of yellow to celebrate the race leader. And then there is the giant water bottle, which if you followed the whole cycling season you might have seen previously. But in the latter case the guy (or just as likely girl) in the bottle suit isn’t just a super dedicated fan. This is rather a promotional stunt for The Clean Bottle, a company founded and run by David Mayer, a road and mountain biker.
As you might also have noticed in professional cycling, the serious riders don’t keep their water bottles and often toss them to the side of the road. Since most of us don’t have water bottles handed to us from our “team” car during our long rides, we tend to save a reuse the water bottles. The result is pretty much what Mayer discovered – the bottles get really nasty over time, and they’re darn hard to clean, especially if you enjoy sticky sweet sports drinks rather than just your average H20. Read the rest of this entry »
We reported earlier this month that Team HTC Columbia had partnered with Google, and while the Tour de France is heading towards Paris you can still track the placement of riders in real time. Each rider with Team HTC Columbia is using the My Tracks program, and is carrying an HTC Legend device, so this allows for the location to be provided via GPS in real time.
You can also see the individual rider’s power, speed, cadence and heart rate data. About the only thing you can’t see is who is going to be the new lead out man for Mark Cavendish.
The Aurumania Gold Bike will set you back a mere $25,000. We hope that includes grip tape and pedals!
With the Tour de France is full gear there has been no shortage of expensive bikes on TV and in the news. Think those pricey? Actually, those cycles are small change, at least compared to some of the truly expensive rides that can be hand. Forbes magazine offered a peak at some of “The World’s Most Expensive Bicycles,” complete with a slide-show.
Now in fairness, most of these bikes aren’t the type you’re likely to find at your local bike shop – and although some of the bikes are based on off-the-shelf frames, the bikes included are one-of-a-kind pieces of works, decked out in jewels and featuring exclusive paint jobs. Interestingly, many of these bikes are now in private collections, such as a Trek Madone 7-Diamond, which was decorated with 100 white diamonds in honor of Lance Armstrong’s record-breaking seventh Tour de France victory in 2005. That bike was auctioned for charity and sold for $75,000.
Other bikes included in the slide show feature gold leaf and special finishes. When you consider that most serious riders get pretty upset when they scratch the paint or nick a decal, imagine even thinking about risking these bikes on a road ride!
The Edge 500 fittingly on my Felt road bike, the same brand that the Garmin Transitions Team is riding in the Tour de France.
This past week we had the chance to test out the Garmin Edge 500 GPS-based cycling computer. With this on my bike I’m feeling like I’m ready for the Tour de France – that is if women actually were allowed to race in the most famous of cycling classics. But it helped me on my way for my local training rides.
The very first impression was that this one could be difficult to setup and calibrate. The problem with technology is the more it can do, the more complicated it is to use. But I was more than pleasantly surprised with the ease of the set-up and the versatility that this device offered out of the box. While not the most notable, but certainly appreciated is the fact that this device comes with several rubber loops for securing the computer’s mount to the bike. This is such a small thing, but it is so welcome, especially for anyone who can’t decide the best placement for the mounts, and only realized this after tightening the zip ties.
But the more notable point is that this is a wireless device. So there is no wire to run, making for a cleaning line on the frame, and more importantly making for one less thing to worry about. The Edge 500 can be used without a heart rate monitor, without the sensors. But the version I’m testing came with those items, and all this set up very easily and quickly too. Read the rest of this entry »
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.
All eyes are on Oakley, or is that Oakley is on the eyes at this month’s Tour de France? The performance eyewear maker has announced updates to the glasses that will be worn by the competitors, and which will now be available to fans as well.
Lance Armstrong sporting a pair of Oakley Radar glass
Among the racers wearing the new Oakley glasses will be Lance Armstong, and he’ll be sporting LIVESTRONG versions of the Oakley Radar and Jawbone models. Each is available with quick change-out lenses, including the G30 lens that is being used by Armstrong. There will also be new Clear-Black Iridium Photochromic lenses with new technology that automatically adjusts to changing conditions – like those in parts of France where it can go from rain to sunny skies.
Fabian Cancellara will also be riding in the Tour with Oakleys and while his chances to get back the Yellow jersey maybe off the radar, it will be the Oakley Radar glasses that will let him see the saw. He won’t be alone, as Carlos Sastre will also have his Radar on. Finally, look for Mark Cavendish to sprint to the finish with a pair of BMX Chrome Jawbone. Let’s just see if he actually can earn the green ones!
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.
