The new Cervélo Pro Travel Experience currently has almost 15 tours on the calendar that fall under two categories – Race Events and Iconic Rides. The race events cover the major races from to Tour de France to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and occur at the same time as the professional road races. The iconic rides, including the Classic Cols of Provence, the French Alps and wine country around Santa Barbara, are scheduled for the time of year that would allow for optimal weather conditions.

The tours are typically 4 to 6 days in length and riders can expect to ride on average 100 kilometers or 60 miles each day. For each tour, each group ranges in size from 8 to 20 riders and each rider can either use their bike or borrow a Cervélo team bike. Each of the tours cost between $3500 and $5000 based on double occupancy, not including airfare. So what can be expected for all of that money?

All accommodation and most meals, snacks and drinks for daily rides, all transfers and baggage handling, use of an Cervélo R3 Team bike throughout (including 3T tubular wheel sets where appropriate), a complimentary Cervélo gear kit made by Castelli, use of a Garmin Edge 800 with pre-loaded routes, services of a ride leader(s), full ride support from a support vehicle, all private tours, tastings or entrance fees to on-trip events; all local gratuities for special events, local guides, transfers, hotels and restaurants.

Cervélo is certainly not new to the concept of conducting a tour in conjunction with a professional race, in previous years they ran their own moderately successful tours under the name ‘Cervélo TestTeam Travel’. The past Cervélo tour participants were able to get up close and personal with the drama that occurs during the ’race events’ as seen in the Beyond the Peleton video. The Cervélo Pro Travel Experience is promising a similar experience.

Built around the world’s marquee professional competitions, our Race Events turn you from a spectator into a participant. You’ll see the sport’s top riders in action firsthand, pedal the very routes they tackle on the very same bike, and meet them or members of their support team in person for an insider’s account of life on the circuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWBQLZzW4N0

Does the chance to ride the same course as your heroes sound appealing? The Cervélo Pro Travel Experience just might be the ‘full ride’ you need for the perfect vacation!

Cervélo Pro Travel Experience Official Website

For a professional cyclist having a chain fall off while shifting can be a complete disaster. In recent cycling history, Andy Schleck threw his chain during stage 15 of the 2010 Tour de France losing 39 seconds to Alberto Contador on the stage. After three weeks and 3,642 kilometres (2,263 miles) of racing was over, Contador beat Schleck by a mere 39 seconds to snatch the Tour de France victory.

American professional cyclist Kristin Armstrong had a similar mishap four years earlier while riding the World Time Trial Championships in Salzburg, Austria. In a similar incident that most likely lost the 2010 Tour de France for Schleck, she threw the chain off during a shift, but she managed to recover quickly and went on to win her first World Championship title in 2006.

Seeking to eliminate this problem for Kristin, Joe Savola set out to design and build a solution. With only three weeks until Kristin Armstrong was set to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Time Trail (TT), the pressure was on. The course’s hilly profile meant several critical shifts would be required during the event. Joe approached Eric Jensen, part owner of the manufacturing company, AceCo Precision Manufacturing, about building a chain catcher that Joe had designed. They succeeded in completing a prototype prior to the Olympics, and Kristin Armstrong used this one-off chain catcher on her time trail bicycle, winning a gold medal in the event.

World Time Trial Champion Kristin Armstrong benefited from the K-Edge Chain Catcher

After the Olympics, recreational cyclists started to notice the chain catcher in photos of Kristin’s Olympic TT bike. Then it caught the eye of a mechanic for the professional cycling team, Garmin-Slipstream. With the upcoming 2009 Paris-Roubaix spring classic, Garmin-Slipstream contacted the creators of Kristin’s chain catcher to order a number of their own to help their racers avoid throwing a chain while tackling the gnarly cobblestones of the Hell of the North.

With a proven product, public interest, and professional team use, the K-Edge Cycling Solutions brand was created by the AceCo Sport Group to produce the Chain Catcher for a mass market. The AceCo Sport Group, which also includes the Finite Ski Tool brand, is the recreation arm of AceCo Precision Manufacturing company. The AceCo Sport Group’s main focus is on the sports and outdoor industry. With the immense manufacturing capabilities of AceCo Precision Manufacturing, their 120 employees, and over 50 years of experience backing them, the AceCo Sports Group has shown that they can quickly design and bring a product to market, almost entirely in-house.

The K-Edge Chain Catcher is completely designed and manufactured in Boise. Since starting with this single product, AceCo Sports Group has expanded the K-Edge Chain Catcher line to include road, cross, and mountain bikes. Along with the Chain Catcher, AceCo has branched into other cycling related products. With the introduction of the Shimano Di2 electric shifting, they have designed and are producing an electronic shifting kit for mountain bikes utilizing Dura-Ace components and their own modifications under the K-Edge name. Starting this month they are releasing a new series of mounts for the GoPro HD Hero line of cameras specifically designed for bicycles. We should have our hands on one soon to review.

With the success of the K-Edge Chain Catcher and the electronic shifting solution for mountain bikes, the future looks bright for this innovative American brand and parent company. But the question will always remain, would Andy Schleck have won the Tour de France in 2010 with a K-Edge Chain Catcher mounted on his bike?

K-Edge Official Website

We thought that we would pass along a little bit of humor for your weekend. Make sure to start watching past the first minute to see the 2011 Tour de France 2nd and 3rd place finishers, Fränk & Andy Schleck, get squeamish on the couch as they are interviewed for Japanese TV.

Ushi Hirosaki of Tokyo Broadcasting, is a Japanese interviewer. Together with her partner Hiromi Tojo she travels around the world to surprise international stars with her shameless questions.

The Elite Attack Jersey  is made from a lightweight mesh fabric with hexachannel fibers for moisture transportation and cooling effects. The jersey has a wing panel construction that enhances freedom of movement. The same wing panel construction provides an ergonomically shaped fit for the perfect riding position.

The Elite Body Control Bib Short, which will be available in the spring of next year, has a dimpled fabric on the leg bottom for increased aerodynamics. Craft used Coldblack fabric (which KineticShift recently covered) that reduces the absorption of heat and UV protection to keep riders cool. The Elite Body Control Bib Short also uses the Craft elite pad with carbon fibers, which provides support and thermal regulation.

While some of the mountain stages and descents were chilly, the breathable fabric and structure of the outfits provided optimal performance on those hot days riding alongside fields of sunflowers.

Craft Performance Apparel

Just about every cycling stage race has custom jerseys created to designate the ‘race leader’ from day to day – the USA Pro Challenge is no different. USA Pro Challenge will award jerseys daily to top athletes in various standings including the leader, sprinter and climber. In addition, the best young rider as well as the rider who tackles the course with the most tenacity and aggression will wear jerseys commemorating their accomplishments. In a special tribute to Davis Phinney, the first American to win a stage at the Tour de France and the last reigning champion of the Coors Classic (the most famous stage race in America), the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is sponsoring an auction of one of each of these jerseys. Davis Phinney, at the age of 40, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – the same disease that Michael J. Fox has been battling since 1991. These jerseys are autographed by professional riders including Davis Phinney, Ron Kiefel and Dale Stetina, and will be posted on CharityBuzz.com through August 2, 2011. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Davis Phinney Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides information, inspiration and tools to help people with Parkinson’s disease to live well today.

Along with the auction of the USA Pro Challenge leader jerseys, bidders will have a chance at winning a true cycling classic – an authentic Team 7-Eleven jersey! This particular auction includes the jersey and a 5 x 7 photograph of some of the riders as well as autographs by 13 team members from 1986-1989, such as Davis Phinney, Ron Kiefel, Bob Roll and Alex Steida.

Sports apparel company Pearl Izumi, which has also joined the race as an official partner, will produce the USA Pro Challenge leader jerseys to be presented to riders who display exceptional skill in each stage of the race in the following categories:

• 2011 Quiznos Leader Jersey
• 2011 Smashburger Sprint Jersey
• 2011 Nissan King of the Mountain Jersey
• 2011 Sheets Best Young Rider Jersey
• 2011 Exergy Most Aggressive Rider Jersey

With more than one million spectators expected at the event, as well as national television exposure on NBC and the cable network VERSUS, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be the race to celebrate in America. Visit www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com for all the details on who is competing and how you can watch, or catch us on Facebook or Twitter @USAProChallenge.

Auction items can be found at the Davis Phinney Foundation Auction

This UCI-legal frame utilizes Specialized’s proprietary FACT IS 11r carbon fiber construction to create a fully integrated cockpit with radical tube shaping for the ultimate optimization of aerodynamics, stiffness, and weight. Along with the full carbon fiber frame, Specialized also uses the FACT carbon fiber for the monocoque fork, crankset, seat post and handlebar/aerobar. The S-Works Shiv TT is sold as more than just a frame, but it is certainly not a complete bike. For the $6100 price tag you will still need to add wheels, a chain, a rear cogset, shifters, derailleurs, bar tap, cables, a seat and some pedals, but when a bike of this level is purchased, it is not uncommon for the rider to be very particular about those items.

The list of features for the 2012 S-Works Shiv TT Module include:
• For UCI time trials or any race against the clock, this FACT IS 11r carbon frame
• Super-stiff and light, UCI-legal, S-Works FACT carbon monocoque fork
• Specialized S-Works FACT carbon crankset with chain rings and an OSBB, removable carbon spider, and ceramic bearings
• Aerodynamic carbon stem integrates with the aerobar
• S-Works FACT carbon integrated handlebar/aero bar is UCI-legal and offers 0-115mm height adjustment
• S-Works FACT carbon bladed seatpost is UCI-legal with two setback options
• S-Works aero integrated brakes

The one feature that should also be highlighted is the 2012 S-Works Shiv TT incorporates the Specialized ‘XY Fit’ system which allows the rider to make precise adjustments to their bike – extremely important for those who race in the ‘aero’ position for a long period of time. It is best explained by Specialized:

WHAT: A precise frame sizing method that’s based on effective stack (X) and reach (Y) to the aerobar pads.
WHY: Allows the rider to determine their appropriate bike size and more closely replicate their fit from bike to bike, rather than relying on traditional top tube measurements. A fine-tuned fit is especially important for triathlon bikes, where the rider must hold a fixed position for an extended period of time.
HOW: Measures the height of the aerobar pad above the bottom bracket (effective stack) and how far the pad sits in front of the bottom bracket (effective reach).

If you have an empty bike hook in your garage that you would like to hang a new 2012 S-Works Shiv TT from, race on over to a Specialized dealer for further information.

Specialized Official Website

The Pro-Form Le Tour de France Indoor Cycle lets users choose and even create real-world routes using Google Maps. If that was all it did we’d still think this was pretty darn cool, but oh it does so much more. This is no ordinary spin bike, and it utilizes Pro-Form’s iFit Live technology to simulate the grade and position of climbing stages. As the grade of the route increases, the bike titles forward or backward up to 20 percent! This is of course based on satellite image of a chosen area.

The device features 24 pre-mapped courses, so you can start your own personal Tour right off the bat, or create your own. Among the pre-mapped courses are routes over the Passage du Gois and of course Mount Alouettes in France.

The device even adds wind to the mix, where users can enter their specific height and weight and get the appropriate resistance. Sorry, actual wind isn’t sent into your face however, for that you’ll still need a fan, but frankly, the rest of this is so cool that we can accept that it can’t quite do everything. Still this bike, which is available now for $1,299 is truly the next best thing to riding in the actual Tour de France.

Pro-Form Official Website
[Via Engadget: Google Maps-powered training bike simulates Tour de France, refuses to speak English]

The device features an aerodynamic diamond shape and yellow accents, as the the CS500 Tour de France is designed for event riders who want to improve their fitness at the competitive level through highly effective training guidance. The CS500 Tour de France features twice as much memory than the original, and offers compatibility with the forthcoming Polar LOOK Keo Power pedals, the world’s first pedal-based system for measuring power output and cadence.

The training computer can be further configured with the wireless Polar Power Output Sensor W.I.N.D. accessory, and when used with a compatible power measurement accessory, the expanded memory recording rate is automatically set to one second to ensure the most accurate cycling data possible. The CS500 Tour de France even features a two-way rocker switch operation combined with an extra-large, reflection-free data display screen for quick readability and safe control even at high speeds.

“For decades, Polar has been riding with pro cyclists as they’ve led the pack,” said Jeff Padovan, President of Polar USA. “In celebration of the passion, courage, and determination of those who’ve worn, or aspire to wear, the coveted yellow jersey, we’re proud to offer the limited edition CS500 Tour de France, the official training computer of the most prestigious and elite cycling event in the world.”

Users have access to body-related data, with the ability to track speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, calories burned, incline, altitude, ascent, descent and temperature. The CS500 Tour de France training computer can display up to four of these different data points on the extra-large screen. When using the auto-lap splits feature, miles automatically roll-over and cyclists can see a snapshot of their data per lap, and the device syncs with the PolarPersonalTrainer.com website.

This online training journal allows cyclists to easily set goals, track progress, and analyze their results. Using the optional DataLink wireless communication accessory from Polar, which is PC and Mac compatible, users can upload their data to the site. The Training Load feature on polarpersonaltrainer.com shows a user their cumulative training load in a color-coded graph, helping them make smarter decisions by interpreting how hard a specific workout was, and advising them when they’ve recovered from previous workouts.

The CS500 Tour de France training computer is the next best thing to riding to Paris, and for most of us it means we don’t have to make those alpine climbs or try to outsprint Mark Cavendish.

CS500 Tour de France Training Computer Official Website
PolarPersonalTrainer.com

Beginning this weekend, and thus overlapping with the Tour of California, is the Giro d’Italia – also known to cycling fans as the Giro. This is actually one of the three grand tours with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España(Tour of Spain) as being the other one. So why don’t more Americans know it? Part of it is that it just hasn’t gotten the same level of coverage.

And while Versus has long carried the Tour de France, now Universal Sports could make the Giro much more of a household name as it provides 45 hours of live comprehensive coverage of the event, with coverage beginning this Saturday, May 7 at 9:30am ET and continuing to Milan on May 29! The broadcast team consists of Steve Schlanger on play-by-play and Todd Gogulski, former teammate of Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond, serving as the network’s cycling analyst.

Universal Sports will have daily live coverage of every stage, including a post-race report, and primetime re-airs nightly at 8:00 pm ET. On the two rest days, the network will air the “Giro Race Review” show, featuring highlights of the race so far and an analysis of upcoming challenges.

This should make for an exciting May, where we hope to see the latest in innovative products and get a feel for who might be racing to Paris in July. And with the Tour of California starting just next week, May truly is shaping up to be a month of cycling as well as National Bike to Work Month!

Giro d’Italia Official Website
AMGEN Tour of California Official Website
Universal Sports Official Website for Cycling

Back in 2007 the Tour de France started things off in London – sort of a “Tale of Two Cities” theme going on – with the prolog as well as the first stage heading from the Mall. Now the Mall will be center stage again for cycling as start of the men’s and women’s 2012 Olympic cycling road race, which see the finish in front of Buckingham Palace.

 Our friends at BikeRadar.com reported this week that the riders will likely be a figure-eight course that will take them out of London to the southwest and then back to the city. The reported men’s race will cover 265km, whilst the women’s race will be over 140km. The mostly flat terrain around London, and especially the final stretch, will prove to make a day for the sprinters, suggesting that Mark Cavendish could feel like a king for a day as he goes for the gold.

 [Via BikeRadar.com: London 2012 Olympics road race route details emerge]

And now there are five, as in the first five teams to sign on for the inaugural 2011 Quiznos Pro Challenge professional cycling race that will host as many as 128 professional cyclists from 15 teams.

Today race organizers officially announced the first five teams, which include Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) pro teams: Team RadioShack (USA), Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy), HTC-Highroad (USA), Slipstream Sports/Garmin-Cervelo (USA), and BMC Racing Team (USA). 

Among the racers that are confirmed include seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, world champion Thor Hushovd and former world champion Cadel Evans; along with team directors Johan Bruyneel and Bob Stapleton. 

“It’s exciting to see that the Quiznos Pro Challenge is already considered one of the most important races in the United States,” said Ellen Kramer, General Manager of the Quiznos Pro Challenge.  “Our goal is to connect new audiences in America with the sport of professional cycling; having several of the premier international teams already signed up is a huge step in that direction.” 

Here is the official lowdown about the teams competing:

Team RadioShack (USA)

Team RadioShack is led by Sports Team Manager Johan Bruyneel, the most winning sports director in history with nine Tour de France victories, including seven with pro-cycling legend Lance Armstrong.  The 2010 team was comprised of riders hailing from 16 countries, including Grand Tour leaders, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Andres Kloden, Jani Brajkovic (Slovenia) and Tiago Machado (Portugal).

Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy)

Liquigas-Cannondale is an Italian professional cycling team ranked second in the UCI ProTour for the third consecutive year.  Sport team manager Roberto Amadio has many returning stars including Vincenzo Nibali, who took the overall victory at the 2010 Vuelta a Espana, and Ivan Basso, who earned his second career Giro d’Italia win in May. 

HTC-Highroad (USA)

Led by Bob Stapleton, the HTC-Highroad team has the most victories in professional cycling with 389 wins since 2008, nine national titles and six world champions on its 2011 roster.  HTC-Highroad is comprised of top young talent with 19 riders under the age of 26 making it one of the youngest teams in professional cycling.  The team represents national champions of Germany, USA, Sweden, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy and Slovakia.

BMC Racing Team (USA)

BMC Racing Team finished as one of the top 10 teams in the UCI world rankings, helping them earn ProTeam status for 2011.  Competing in its fifth season overall, the team is managed by Directeur Sportif John Lelangue and includes former world road race champions Cadel Evans (Australia) and Alessandro Ballan (Italy), and U.S. national road champion George Hincapie.  In addition to many 2010 wins, BMC Racing Team led both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in its first participation in both events.  As a recent addition, Colorado native and multi-time world and U.S. national champion Taylor Phinney will join the team’s roster in 2011.      

Slipstream Sports/Team Garmin-Cervelo (USA)

Headquartered in Boulder, Colo., Slipstream Sports and Team Garmin-Cervelo are managed by CEO and Director Sportif Jonathan Vaughters, a Denver resident who had a 10-year career as a professional cyclist.  The 2011 team – a powerhouse in the peloton – includes Ryder Hesjedal, who earned seventh place overall at the 2010 Tour de France; sprint sensation Tyler Farrar; world champion Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar.

The Quiznos Pro Challenge promises to become the premier cycling race in North America, and could be the most demanding professional bike race ever held in America, with racers experiencing breathless altitudes and nearly 600 mountain miles, for seven-straight days.  The inaugural 2011 Quiznos Pro Challenge will take place August 22-28, traveling through some of the world’s most famous and beautiful destinations, including Colorado Springs, Salida, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Aspen, Vail, Avon, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Golden and Denver. 

The Quiznos Pro Challenge Official Website

Serious athletes are often considered the elite. But does the Elite Corsa water bottle, which is used by professional cycling teams including LiquiGas and HTC during major races including the Tour de France,  have what it takes to stand up to the true elite? And does it have what it takes for those who tend to use the bottles over a season instead of tossing them to the road after a single use? Here is what we found.

Elite’s Product Description: Soft squeezable construction; New triple- function cap with soft push-pull nozzle is easy on the mouth and  delivers fluid fast; Easy to grip bottle with ergonomic shape; wide mouth opening for easy filling and cleaning; dishwasher safe and BPA- free; 550ml liquid capacity

Bottle Sizes: 550ml (approximately 22oz). The Super Corsa is available in 750ml
Plastic: Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: Croatia
Retail Price: $7.00 (est.)

Basic Standards (Two from Interbike were tested):

1. One bottle did leak badly when filled with water and squeezed (the other bottle was fine)
2.  One bottle did leak badly when filled with water and turn upside down (the other bottle was fine)
3.  BPA free

Taste test and manufacturer’s claim test: Elite is the official sponsor of many of the Tour de France cycling teams including LiquiGas and HTC so there were high expectations for this bottle. The first disappointment arose when one of the test bottles had a major leak between the bottle and cap, but the other bottle worked fine so that one was used for further testing. After the initial rinse, the water did taste fine with no lingering plastic taste or smell. The bite valve was soft rubber which allowed for easy removal during cleaning, but there was a bit of resistance when using your teeth to open the bite valve. It was actually a little too small and soft, and during opening the valve would slip out of the teeth gripping the valve. This was one bottle that Accelerade was used during testing to evaluate the easy cleaning claim. The bottle did easily rinse out using water, but still required the use of a bottle brush to clean the tight areas. The bottle brush worked fine and after final cleaning there was hardly any residual smell in the bottle. Overall, there really seemed to be no advancement over the classic Specialized bottle and the bite valve was actually harder to use.

Likes: Bite valve is removable for cleaning

Dislikes: The bite valve was too small and there was too much resistance when pulling the bite valve open

Kinetic Shift Recommended Use: We actually recommend using the classic Specialized bottle over the Elite Corsa. There were really no features that warranted changing from the classic.

Elite Official Website

Dave Mayer was in France last summer for the Tour, but he wasn’t seeing the sights and probably not a lot of the riding. Instead was there promoting his new water bottle, which he did by having someone wear a giant suit that looked like his revolutionary sports bottle. Now he’s looking to clean up in the world wide market with the Clean Bottle, which is unique in that it unscrews at both ends. The bottle is currently available through KHS, Hawley, Paceline, J&B and Peregrine Outfitters in the United States and he’s looking to take the bottle around the world.

“During the first year of our business, I had to be a little conservative with my distribution partners due to supply and demand issues,” states Mayer. “But due to spectacular results from our Tour de France coverage on Versus and our other marketing efforts, we’re now ready to go big time.”

As Mayer begins his world wide journey he’ll be taking the “Bottle Boy” with him to major cycling events. But more importantly he’s got distribution agreements for the UK, Canada, Japan and Singapore in place. Does the Bottle Boy have a passport we need to ask?

Clean Bottle Official Website

Video of the Bottle Boy in Action