Feb
25
Let Alberto Ride
Filed Under Attendee News, Deep Thoughts, Racing, humor | 3 Comments
Was up at the Tour of California on Saturday and noticed t-shirts with “Let Levi Ride” on them for the first time. Also saw them on display at my local bike shop on Sunday. Now, all issues of right or wrong, guilt or innocence aside, I love BikeSnobNYC’s observation (as always, tongue in cheek) that the Let Levi Ride campaign ought actually be for Levi’s teammate, Alberto Contador - the guy that actually won the Tour de France. I’ve got nothing against the guy, but why focus on the third place finisher, right?
If an online petition can actually have an effect on the ASO’s decision, isn’t the real injustice leaving the winner out?
(If you’ve never checked out the BikeSnob blog before, it’s definitely worth a visit. And with upwards of 100(!) comments to each of his almost daily posts, I’m not the only one who feels that way. Bring your sense of humor.)
Jan
8
Hey there! Happy 2008! Been a bad little blogger here for the past couple-o-months. Well, we’re not dead yet here. Just really busy. Working to get back in to the swing of things here in the blog world.
To get things going again, I’ll hand things over to the guys from Cross Vegas with their preliminary plans for 2008. One of the coolest tid-bits in the release is the part about an industry cup race like we had for the crit last year:
CrossVegas 2008 Ready To Rock Interbike Again
Preliminary Race Details ReleasedJanuary 7, 2008 (Boulder Colo.) After a tremendous first year in 2007 that saw 5,000 spectators and arguably the highest caliber field ever assembled in the U.S. converge on the evening of Interbike’s opening day, CrossVegas is back on the schedule for 2008. Boulder-based organizers, CrossVegas LLC, announced the event will be Wednesday September 24, once again capping off the show’s opening day.
Dubbed as “the international cyclocross season starts American-style in Las Vegas,” CrossVegas featured a field of elite men and women racing under the lights at Desert Breeze Soccer Complex, a short distance from the Strip and Interbike. Canadian Lyne Bessette won the women’s event while then-U.S. national champion, Ryan Trebon, took the men’s title.
Providing a peek into 2008 plans, CrossVegas co-promoter Brook Watts announced that a race for tradeshow attendees is one of the new additions for year two. “There’s obviously a lot of folks in the industry who race cyclocross and we’ve heard many pleas for a “Wheelers and Dealers” race to start the evening. We’re ironing out details but expect full information by late spring.”
Commenting on 2008, Interbike advisor, Lance Comisasca continued, “We’re working closely with CrossVegas to build upon the success of year one by developing a shuttle for spectators among other things. We’ll be announcing lots of joint promotional efforts in the upcoming months.”
Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels ranging from CrossVegas title sponsor to suppliers. Watts heads the sales and marketing effort and explained “It’s still early in the planning process for many companies, anyone who is looking for a way to reach 5,000+ bicycle industry influentials should consider sponsorship of CrossVegas.”
Observing the impact of CrossVegas on the still-growing cyclocross bike category Watts said, “We had several manufacturers tell us they wrote more cross bike orders on Thursday morning than any previous show day.”
Sep
20
Crit & Industry Cup Schedule Revision
Filed Under Attendee News, Exhibitor News, Interbike, Racing | 4 Comments
There’s been a slight change in the WCSN USA Crits Finals presented by Interbike schedule (phew!). Slight delay in the Industry Cup start time and a couple of new events. See below.
- Women’s Pro Finals - 6:15pm
- Kids Criterium - 7:15pm
- Handcycle - 7:30pm
- Bicycling Magazine Industry Cup - 8:15pm
- Pro Men’s Race - 9:15pm
Sep
20
Landis Decision is Out
Filed Under Industry News, Interbike, Racing | 4 Comments
Wow. WOW. Floyd Landis loses his arbitration case.
Check the Sports Illustrated article here.
CyclingNews.com here.
Sep
19
Cross Vegas, Baby! VIP Racer List
Filed Under Attendee News, Exhibitor News, Interbike, Racing | 2 Comments
The posts just keep flyin’ here at IBT. Here are some long-awaited details on the other big race at Interbike this year: Cross Vegas. Looks like Chris and Brook have lined up some pretty big, and some surprising (Chris Horner?!), names for Wednesday evening. It’s a fast course and these are some fast guys and girls. Try to get out there!
—
Boulder-based event organizer DBC Events has announced expected competitors for Excel Sports CrossVegas scheduled for September 26 in Las Vegas. With a short week until race day the field is shaping up to be the strongest of the entire U.S. cross season
The UCI Category 2 race will attract top U.S. Cyclocross racers as well as Europeans chasing all-important UCI points to the “Entertainment Capital of the World†for an early Cyclocross season showdown.
Top contenders among the Elite Women are:
Katie Compton (3 time US Champion, Silver medalist at Worlds)
Lynne Bessett (multi-time Canadian Champ)
Georgia Gould (winner of 5 straight NORBA races this season)
Katerina Nash (Winner of 2006 final Cyclocross USGP, 3rd overall in series)
Allison Sydor (Canadian mountain bike champion and perennial contender)
Wendy Simms (Canadian mountain bike pro who looks ready to storm the cross scene)
The strong Elite Men’s field includes a number of riders coming off of the recently completed Tour of Missouri in addition to a number of Cyclocross specialists ready to start the season:
Jonathan Page (Silver medalist at Worlds, best US finish ever in Men’s Elite)
Ryan Trebon (2006 National Champion)
Tim Johnson (1999 US Nat’l Champion and Bronze Medal in 1999 U-23 World Championships)
Barry Wicks (Mountain bike pro, winner of 2006 Boulder Cup (2006 USGP #2)
Jeremy Powers (US cross standout, “king of the bunny hop”)
Jesse Anthony (2006 U-23 National Champion, 6-Time U.S. Cyclocross National Champion)
Danny Summerhill (Silver medalist in the Junior category at Worlds)
Tony Cruz (Discovery Team workhorse)
Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto team strongman and cross enthusiast)
Joachim Parbo (Danish National Champion)
Mark McCormack (veteran US cross champion)
Davide Frattini (Italian roadman and cross veteran)
Other activities at the event include the Sierra Nevada beer garden and Qdoba Mexican Grill burrito hut. To add to the excitement, the sport’s best announcers - Dave Towle and Richard Fries - will be calling the races.
Aug
29
Pacific Cycle and Saris Throw Down the Gauntlet
Filed Under Attendee News, Exhibitor News, Interbike, Racing | 4 Comments
Saw a press release posted at the Bicycle Retailer & Industry News site this morning from Pacific Cycle and Saris about the Industry Cup race at Interbike.
Pacific and Saris have formed a joint team called “SchwycleOps” (from their respective brands Schwinn and CycleOps). Their mission? “Ass whupping.” Looks like somebody is taking this race pretty seriously:
Though little is known about SchwycleOps, lore of the team’s epic training rides has spread. Tales of team SchwycleOps team doing 800+ mile lunch rides have become legend. The team’s virility and stamina is coveted, feared and studied–can it be bottled somehow? Are these men indeed mere mortals? The Industry Cup will decide.
I think this is awesome. I hope some of the other companies and teams that are participating are getting into the friendly competitive spirit like Pacific and Saris. While I’m certain that somebody will be taking this race a bit too seriously ( I won’t name any names here), I expect most of us will keep things fun and remember that there will still be another day of Interbike on Friday morning after the race.
Another way that Pacific and Saris could inspire other companies is by their decision to make a donation in the name of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers’ companies to Bikes Belong. They’ve committed to giving $1,500, $750 and $250, respectively, to the coalition. How cool is that?
Well, I’ve got to get back to working on 2008(!) budgets - they’re due by close of business today. Craziness. No lunch ride today…
Aug
14
Vegas Bike Race Fever - Catch It!
Filed Under Attendee News, Cycling, Exhibitor News, Interbike, Racing | 7 Comments
Ok. Maybe you noticed already, but the crit in Vegas is now called the “World Championship Sports Network USA Crits Finals - presented by Interbike.” It’s a mouthful, but all those words should mean that we’ll have an awesome night of racing on Thursday night of Interbike.
Here’s a little update to fill you in on what’s happening with the Industry Cup race that’s happening between the pro men’s and women’s races. Judging by the quality of some of the “industry” racers, there shouldn’t be that much difference in speed from the pro’s.
The teams that are signed up so far to compete (as of Aug 13, 2007):
Cyclesafe.com
Bike Hugger
Fuji Bicycles
Clifbar
J&B Importers
Orbea (2 teams)
Pacific Cycles/Schwinn/Saris (2 teams)
Pearl Izumi
Carmichael Training Systems
Road Magazine
Descente
Shimano
Bicycling Magazine
Giant Bicycles
Training Peaks
Baby Jogger
Defeet
Check out some of the interesting individuals within those teams that should make for a great race:
Gary Erickson, the founder of Clifbar will be racing on the Clifbar Team. Any other CEO’s out there wanna mix it up?
My former New England ride guide at Pedro’s Fest, Mark McCormack (a former US PRO Champion) will be racing on his employer Fuji’s Team. Ready for some speed?
You may not know it, but Bicycling Magazine’s publisher, João Correia, is a former - Portugal National Team Member and Worlds Participant. He’ll be defending Bicycling’s honor in Vegas.
Surprise, surprise: Wayne Stetina, former multiple-time US Champion and member of the US Bicycling Hall of Fame has to be one of the favorites with the Shimano team.
Erik Saunders - A former professional who heads up the cyclesafe.com program will be racing in their kit. I roomed with Erik and team mates at the old Killington Stage Race, oh, 7 or 8 years ago now? A good guy and a great racer. One of the top crit racers out there. Watch out.
And, as if there weren’t enough former pro racers already, seems like Gord Fraser might be lining up that evening to put some hurt on the field. He really should need no introduction, but, basically, he’s a former winner of everything. Rumor has it that the newest CTS coach will be racing in the Carmichael Training Systems colors. Looking forward to my lesson in pain that night, Mr. Fraser.
If you haven’t already signed up for the Cup race and are thinking about it, I’d get my application in pronto. Should one be a heck of a race.
BTW, I had a nice long chat with a certain ‘G.L.’ at our Health+Fitness Business trade show 2 weeks ago, and he expressed some serious interest in racing. He did ask if there would be doping controls, though. 
I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on behind the scenes with the crit - and the Cross race: Don’t forget about Cross Vegas, baby! Heard form the promoter a couple of days ago that there are some big CX guns lined up for that one, too.
And with this post done, I’m going to try to squeeze in a lunch time ride so that I can, at least, not get dropped by the field…
Jul
25
Watching Le Tour with the Kids
Filed Under Cycling, Interbike, Racing | 2 Comments
We’ve been watching the Tour with the kids this year. Well, making them watch it, actually.
Sean, at just under 2 years, still enjoys seeing the “by ray” on TV every morning and night, but our 5 year old, Sarah, was getting a little annoyed at the round the clock bikes on the tube. Since Mommy and Daddy met on a training ride and honeymooned at the Tour back in 2000, we remind her that she probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for bike racing.
I really thought that the beauty and excitement of the sport was getting through to Sarah when she began remembering one of the riders’ nicknames. His was the only one that stuck and I was having fun pointing out how fast he was riding and explaining why he was riding the way he was. She even liked his light blue uniform (but T-Mobile’s pink is her favorite).
The rider’s nickname? Vino.
I’m waiting for her question: “Daddy? Where’s Vino today?”
Where do I start? Hopefully she won’t notice he’s gone. I wish I could forget he was ever in the race. Same goes for that so called “chicken.”
Shame. It was a great race up till then. Looks like it could still be with Contador, Evans and Levi now to battle it out. Now, don’t YOU guys screw things up!
Jun
7
World Crit Championships and Industry Cup races in Vegas
Filed Under Attendee News, Cycling, Exhibitor News, Interbike, Racing | 8 Comments
So it’s official. After several furtive attempts over the years to hold a race during Interbike, we will finally get to see some first-class racing on one evening of the show (Thursday, to be exact). It should be a great party and chance to hang with our industry brothers and sisters for an evening and watch some serious racing.
The race, called the World Criterium Championship, will be the final race in the USA Crits series promoted by Swagger, LLC. Other races in the Series include the Athens Twilight and Tour of Somerville - two classics on the US race calendar for many, many years. We’re really excited to be presenting sponsors of another great race put on by the guys at Swagger.
Speaking of being excited, I think one of the coolest parts of that evening’s events will be the “Industry Cup” race. This will take place be between the pro women’s and pro men’s races and will pit teams from Interbike exhibiting companies against each other. Should be some fun and friendly competition - nobody would take this race too seriously, now, would they? Imagine Team Shimano vs Team SRAM. Or Team Pedro’s vs Team Park Tool. Look vs Time… The opportunities for friendly competition, rivalry and bragging rights are endless… All in the name of good fun and bike industry camaraderie, of course.
And think of some of the ex-pro’s that now work in the industry. There could be some very fast teams out there. A couple of names that come to mind are Wayne Stetina of Shimano and Karen Bliss of Fuji. Who else is out there? And there is definitely no shortage of fast amateurs working throughout the industry.
Here’s the link to the official press release.
More info to come as it become available…
Jun
1
An Antidote to the Dopers
Filed Under Advocacy, Racing, Rides | 4 Comments
I think the picture below really gets you feeling positive about the future of the sport following all the recent admissions that just about anyone who even thought about racing in the 90’s doped. It’s the start line of the Dana Point Grand Prix’s kids 4-7 race that happened last Saturday. Now these racers surely are clean (unless sugar is on the controlled substance list). There’s hope for the future…
That’s my daughter Sarah in the pink Giro d’Italia t-shirt in the middle. Notice the little (16″?) Mariposa road bike under the girl in the yellow jersey on the right. Pretty cool. Sarah was nervous at the start, but ended up having a blast in her first (of many, I hope) bike race. And she LOVED the cool medal and t-shirt she got as the race was a part of the Shimano Youth Series. She was so proud to wal around wearing it post-race and had to bring in to preschool for show-and-tell (remember that?). The medal has a sort XTR-look to it with the brushed metal face and the all black strap. Very nice, Shimano. Thanks for continuing to support kids’ racing.
he town of Dana Point (California) put on the race and they did a great job, too. Despite my critical last post about the course, it ended up being a very clean and smooth figure-8 loop. Since I had already psyched myself out of my return to racing after driving the course, I didn’t bring my bike to race. I was there just as support for Sarah.
Oh, and also referring back to my last post, Floyd Landis did not show up to announce the races. The organizers did, however, manage to secure the services of Dana Point native and 1984 Olympic gold-medalist (and still super strong racer) Steve Hegg as color commentator for the race.