Several new routes have been added to our routes page.
Many more to be added in the future. Be sure to check back frequently.
Phinney ready to lead Trek-Livestrong in Quatar and possibly the Tour of Missouri
Under-23 squad confident against elite competition, Tour of Missouri start possible
Brought to you by Cyclingnews.com
Taylor Phinney will kick-start his 2010 season at the Tour of Qatar next month, leading his Trek-Livestrong squad against one of the highest quality fields the under-23 team will have faced in their short two-year history.
The US-based team will compete in the six-day event, which begins with a four-kilometre team time trial, and Phinney believes that the team has what it takes to not only take on the ProTour ranks but also cause a few surprises.
“I’m not going to say that we’re going to go there and win the team time trial prologue, but its big goal and the perfect race for us. We have a strong group of time trial riders and if everything goes to plan and we go as fast as I’d like we can certainly be up there. It’s a big goal. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a big result,” Phinney told Cyclingnews.
Pro Bike Preview: Ag2r’s Ludovic Turpin – Kuota KOM
Brought to you by Cyclingnews.com
Italian company Kuota has been sponsoring professional teams for several seasons now but its deal with Ag2R La Mondiale is the first time it will supply bikes to a ProTour squad.
The French team kicked off 2010 at the Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, where Ludovic Turpin featured in the break during the penultimate stage from Snapper Point to Willunga. He made the seven-man escape group aboard his Kuota KOM – dubbed the ‘ProTour Edition’ by the manufacturer.
The 34-year-old Frenchman has essentially spent his decade-long professional career with the same squad, which he debuted for in 1999 when it was the Casino team (which also boasted a certain Kazakh rider named Alexandre Vinokourov). Throughout that period he has ridden for various incarnations of the team and consequently a variety of bikes, with Kuota being the latest.
Pro Bike Preview – Team BMC’s George Hincapie – BMC racemaster SLX01
Brought to you by Cyclingnews.com
The new year brings a new team and a new bike for George Hincapie in 2010. Having ridden on machines from companies such as Eddy Merckx, Trek and Scott, the 36-year-old from New York State is well over six foot and a Classics specialist so there’s plenty of stress on his equipment.
The big American’s switch to BMC Racing sees him aboard the Swiss company’s BMC racemaster SLX 01 complete in US national champion’s livery – it’s been done by other brands in the past but this particular incarnation is rather striking. It’s hand painted and the first element you notice about the bike.
The other initial observation is the size of Hincapie’s bike. At almost two metres tall (6′3″) he requires a 57cm frame and 140mm stem, with a lot of saddle setback. This is achieved by cutting the clamp and increasing the length of the cradle to support the carbon rails on the Selle Italia Turbomatic.
Pro Bike Preview: Team Sky’s Ben Swift – Pinarello Dogma 60.1
Brought to you by Cyclingnews.com
Much has been made of Team Sky’s launch and subsequent start to the season in Adelaide, Australia and the bike that carried the British team to glory in last Sunday’s Cancer Council Helpline Classic befits the excitement.
Prior to sponsoring Team Sky, Italian marque Pinarello had an existing contract to supply Spanish ProTour team Caisse d’Epargne and still provides its Dogma 60.1 for the team that includes riders such as Alejandro Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez, both of whom rode in the Santos Tour Down Under.
Velonews.com reporting that Armstrong will race spring classics
Armstrong confirmed for spring classics
Be a better cyclist- without even getting on the bike
Bicycling is a great activity with many benefits. A regular routine of cycling will help you increase your fitness level, decrease your stress level and maybe even help you avoid depression.
So if you’ve been bicycling for a while you might feel like you’ve plateaued. Your fitness level hasn’t gone down, but it hasn’t really improved noticeably in a while. Or maybe you’re brand new at it and just want to get better. Regardless of your situation, consider these ways you can become an even better biker:
Read More »Be a better cyclist- without even getting on the bike
Climbing: Six ways to reach the top faster, easier and with less pain
The following is a wonderful article from Bicycle Magazine.
Every climb contains one fundamental element: effort. But there are other ingredients that can make or break a successful ascent. Here are six essentials that Andy Applegate, climbing specialist and co-owner of VeloSports Performance Center, in Asheville, North Carolina, swears by.
Read More »Climbing: Six ways to reach the top faster, easier and with less pain
Stay on track in 2010
With the New Year come New Year’s Resolutions. Many of you will resolve to make a new or renewed commitment to fitness. But, by the end of January, your visits to the gym, runs, rides, and hikes have become “infrequent,” you are on a first name basis with the counter help at the local take out joints, and your New Year’s resolution to stay committed to fitness is just a memory like 2009.
You don’t have to be one of those January to February “fitness unenthusiasts,” Indeed, following a few simple guidelines will help you keep your new or rejuvenated commitment to fitness and put you on a path towards better overall fitness and health.
Stay Strong & Fit this Winter
Many cyclists spend the off season jamming away on their trainers or rollers, avoiding the gym for fear of putting on unnecessary body mass. That mindset, however, is as dated as toe clips. To truly improve on the bike, you need to do more than just ride big miles. Over the course of the past decade more and more cyclists have incorporated weight training into their off season plans.
Indeed, many of the top pros such as Lance have even come around and incorporated weight work into their off season work. Many coaches believe that bringing a weight training component into a cyclist’s off season training regimen is a surefire way for him or her to make gains on the bike once the season starts.