Category: Pro Sports

USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Spectator Information for Stage 2 – Gunnison to Buena Vista

12,126 feet above sea level on Cottonwood Pass

If you can’t ride the course with the pros, the next best thing is watching them in action, and next week you can get your chance if you head out to Colorado to watch the “Queen Stage.” After riding the course (The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista), we thought we’d share our thoughts on the best way to take in the course.

With road closures and traffic, it is going to be quite a feat to see Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge (UPCC) from both the start in Gunnison and the finish in Aspen. For the brave or those who would rather sit in a car than hang out at the host cities, there is a route that is only a 2.5 hour drive. Getting out of Gunnison, driving the distance between both cities, finding parking in Aspen and hoofing it to the finish line is going to be tough. After riding the stage, we agree that a better spectating experience will be had by not trying to see both ends of the stage. The following is our thoughts with regards to viewing along the first half of Stage 2. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Spectator Information for Stage 2 – Gunnison to Buena Vista

USA Pro Cycling Challenge: The Riding of Stage 2 – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista

 

City of Gunnison - The start of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

With our plans in place to ride the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Mike Prendergast and I left our homes on the Colorado Front Range and began our journey with a four hour drive to Gunnison. We chose to make the trip late on a Wednesday, meet the representatives from Gunnison and roll out early Thursday morning for the ride. We arrived in Gunnison with enough time to check in to our hotel, drop our bags, shoot some video of the city and make it to Garlic Mikes for dinner.

We met with four representatives on the Gunnison side of Stage 2, Joellen Fonken, Petra St. George, John Messner and Jon Brown, all who had various roles in bringing the stage to Gunnison. John Messner, the Facility and Events Manager for the City of Gunnison, was a major driving force behind the task of securing a stage and explained to us that it was not the race organizers who proposed the stages, but each town and city in Colorado had the opportunity to submit a bid outlining four to five different stage routes through their community. Gunnison submitted a number of options including one through Black Canyon. Though the race organizers were reluctant at first to go with the stage over Cottonwood Pass due to the dirt road, that was the option that was finally selected. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge: The Riding of Stage 2 – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista

When a Governing Body Stifles Technology

Recently I was sent James Thomas’s article from Bicycledesign titled, “Is TJ Tollakson the Graeme Obree of triathlon?,” regarding the use of a carbon fiber 1996 Zipp beam frame triathlon bike by T.J. Tollakson in numerous triathlon wins including Ironmans. Tollakson has been experimenting with different riding positions and use of materials, some non-cycling, to come up with his winning combination. The beam design that he chose has not been utilized for some time now due to its design not falling with the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations, but this style of frame is still legal by the regulations of USA Triathlon.

As Thomas notes the UCI wasn’t nearly so kind to Graeme Obree, also known as “The Flying Scotsman,” when he created his bike “Old Faithful” using parts from a washing machine. As Tollakson used soccer shin pads to aid the unique design, we’re left wondering if the UCI would approve. But this is just part of the issue.

I remember when the double triangle rule was implemented by the UCI and thinking that it was the end for real innovation with road bike frame designs. Continue reading When a Governing Body Stifles Technology

HTC Hangs Up Pro Cycling

Last week High Road Sports announced that the team was disbanding. Team manager Bob Stapleton noted that Team HTC-Highroad would dissolve at the end of the 2011 season after a failure to find a new sponsor. Title sponsor HTC’s contract had ended.

We at KineticShift are sad to see the team break up, but it has been an interesting ride for High Road, but also for the partnership between mobile phone makers and carriers and professional cycling. HTC is just one example, and from 1991-2003 was actually Team Telekom, after the Deutsche Telekom. From 2004-2007 it was T-Mobile-Team, and then after a period of non-phone sponsorship it called up HTC in 2009 when it first became Team Columbia-HTC followed by Team HTC-Columbia before this year’s HTC-Highroad. Continue reading HTC Hangs Up Pro Cycling

Get Closer to the Racers and the Bikes During the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Are you dreaming of seeing a mountain stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge Tour de France style, but are dreading the drive up one of the passes due to the traffic or road closures? Do you want to see who is using carbon fiber, SRAM, the new Shimano DuraAce Di2 and not just read about it? Does getting an up close look at the latest technology that the pros are riding that may not even be available to the general public yet interest you? The Colorado State Police (CSP), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have decided to allow spectators to camp out overnight alongside each state road that the race travels past. For a period of 24 hours prior to the race passing your campsite, CSP and CDOT will not ticket or require campers to move as long as they are camping off of the path of travel, including shoulders and private property. As long as the campsite does not impede traffic, it can stay. This move will allow more spectators and fans to have closer access to the competitors as they struggle to tackle some of the toughest mountain passes of the Rockies and this is your perfect chance to see the racers pass by at a speed that you can actually get a look at their equipment! Continue reading Get Closer to the Racers and the Bikes During the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

KineticShift Takes on the Toughest Stage in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Sandwiched between the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, the second and third of the three Grand Tours, is a new multi-day professional cycling challenge. This one is not on European soil, but right here in the United States. Starting in Colorado Springs, CO on August 22nd, the new USA Pro Cycling Challenge is a seven-day, 518-mile long stage race all through the Colorado Rocky Mountains ending in the heart of Denver on August 28th. Touted as being the “highest altitude course ever created”, the new USA Pro Cycling Challenge will bring the racers over multiple mountain passes, with a number of them being almost 3,000 feet higher in elevation than the mountain climbs of the Tour de France.

Various cities and states around the U.S. have played host to some truly classic cycling events, but none have had the staying power of the European ‘classics‘. The new USA Pro Cycling Challenge looks to reignite the epic, professional stage races held in Colorado during the 1970s and 1980s. The Red Zinger Classic and Coors International Bicycle Classic drew some big names in the sport of professional cycling from around the world and even played host to the Soviet and East Germans teams who were racing in the U.S. for the first time. The staff of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge has been making flurry of announcements that this new event will too play host to some of the biggest names in the sport. Andy and Frank Schleck of Leopard Trek, Levi Leipheimer of Team RadioShack and the 2011 Tour de France maillot jaune winner Cadel Evans of BMC Racing have all confirmed that they will be racing in the inaugural 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Continue reading KineticShift Takes on the Toughest Stage in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Jerseys Being Auctioned for Charity

This coming August, sandwiched between two of the three Grand Tours, is the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is expected to be the largest spectator event in Colorado history and may possibly be one of the largest sporting events to ever take place in the United States. For seven consecutive days, 128 of the world’s top athletes will race across 518 miles through the majestic Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they’ve ever had to endure, more than two miles in elevation. The inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge will take place August 22-28, 2011, starting in Colorado Springs and traveling to Salida, Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte, Gunnison, Aspen, Vail, Avon, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge and Golden, ending in Denver for the finish.

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. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge Jerseys Being Auctioned for Charity

Is it 2012 already? Specialized thinks it is!

Specialized has recently added a section to their website titled ‘2012 Early Launch’ featuring a mix of bikes from entry level to ones that could be raced in the Tour de France. One item that caught our eye was the new S-Works Shiv TT Module time trial/triathlon carbon fiber frame.

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 Continue reading Is it 2012 already? Specialized thinks it is!

Nike Goes to the Moon – Sort of…

This week Nike Golf announced that its latest shoes for the US Open, the Lunar Control golf shoes will be available to the public. Traditionally these shoes are usually only created for Nike’s tour athletes, but this year everyone can take a swing at getting a pair.

The Limited Edition Nike Golf Shoes were created and developed with insight from the number 10 golfer in the world and US Open contender Paul Casey. These shoes deliver just the right combination of stability and comfort, while still be the lightest-weight performance shoe on the tour – and they look good too!

The shoes feature Flywire construction; offer ultra light, springy Lunarlon cushioning, and feature waterproof performance leather by Sadesa, so you can hit a full 18 holes without making your feet like they’re on a walk to the moon!

Nike Lunar Control Men’s Golf Shoes Official Retail Site
[ Via BeSportier: Limited Edition Nike Golf Shoes : US Open Lunar Control]


USA Pro Cycling Challenge Provides Stage Details

We know that not everyone can, or even wants to ride like the pros. But there is no denying that professional cycling helps spread the word about the benefits of using a bicycle for fitness. It brings awareness to bicycles and that hopefully also means safer roads.

Cycling is on the rise in the United States and we’re seeing new races, including this year’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge, a free event for spectators to see 128 of the world’s top riders compete in a seven day race. This will some of the most scenic locations in Colorado, not to mention the world.

The course, which will include the Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass will also take riders to some of the highest peaks in the world.

“What’s really remarkable is that the athletes will ride both these passes in one stage,” said Shawn Hunter, co-chairman of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. “There is no better place in the world for athletes to test their endurance and pure athleticism than Colorado, and there is no better place to watch a professional cycling race than in the Colorado Rockies.”

The race takes place from August 22-28.

Video after the jump, along with stage details. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge Provides Stage Details

Bad Week for Board Riders

Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins at a past X Games

This hasn’t been a banner week for skateboarding. The northern Utah city of Richmond is considering banning skateboards on city streets. There have been complaints that skateboarders ride in the middle of streets, but one city councilman reportedly expressed concerns that the boarders threatened the safety of pedestrians, especially children.

Won’t someone think of the child? But seriously, how is it that the boards are threatening children – are the kids walking in the middle of the streets as well? It would seem that skateboarding on the sidewalk would threaten the safety of pedestrians.

Meanwhile, ESPN has announced that it has eliminated women’s vert skateboarding form the program at this July’s X Games in Los Angeles. This event reportedly struggled to sustain a viable competitive tour, and the X Games was the only remaining major competition.

On the plus side women’s street skating will remain a part of the X Games program.

3T Enters the Next 50 Years on New Wheels

The name 3T, formerly known as TTT, has been making high-end cycling components since 1961. On the year of its 50th birthday, this Italian icon has decided to launch an all new product line – complete wheelsets. Two new clincher wheels, the Mercurio and the Accelero both benefit from clean-sheet whole-system design: key performance measures of aerodynamics, weight, inertia, strength, stiffness, and braking equal or exceed the best available; patented hub provides easy maintenance and cassette interchangeability.

TTT (now 3T) was founded by Mario Dedioniggi in 1961 in Torino. 3T handlebars and stems quickly became popular with Italian racing cyclists, and by 1970 they were in widespread use in the professional peloton. 3T was among the first cycle component manufacturers to switch production from steel to aluminum alloys. The firm worked closely with pro racers to refine handlebar design. 3T ‘bends’ took their name from the champions of the era – Merckx, Saronni, Moser, and Gimondi. Continue reading 3T Enters the Next 50 Years on New Wheels