Category: Pro Sports

Polar Tour’s France

This week Polar USA announced that it is taking a “Yellow is Everything” attitude, and has announced the release of the CS500 Tour de France, the official Tour de France training computer. The granddaddy of cycling events kicks off in just a month and a half, and now you can give it your best and try to ride like the very best in cycling.

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. Continue reading Polar Tour’s France

SRAM Powers Up

Back in the beginning of 2006, James Meyer wanted to purchase a power meter for his bike, but Mieke Meyer would not let him make the purchase due to student loans. By mid-2006, Jim convinced Mieke that he could build a power meter and he set out soldiering – 10 hours later he had a prototype. After two years of testing and refinement, production units of the CinQo were finally shipping out to customers. Continue reading SRAM Powers Up

When Race Car and Bicycle Engineers Collaborate

Two years ago the sports car company, McLaren, approached the bicycle manufacturer, Specialized, to collaborate on a bicycle frame project utilizing a material that both companies are familiar with – carbon fiber. McLaren pioneered the carbon fiber monocoque construction technique used in their Formula 1 race cars all the way back in 1981. Since the 1990s, Specialized has been using carbon fiber in their higher end bikes either as main tubes with aluminum lugs or as complete carbon fiber frames. In 2009, McLaren’s Applied Technologies division approached Specialized with the idea of designing a carbon fiber bicycle frame utilizing their years of extensive research and racing know-how to make an even lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic frame. McLaren hoped they too could learn something from this endeavor to make an even better sports and racing car.

Continue reading When Race Car and Bicycle Engineers Collaborate

Will Universal Sports Bring Giro d’Italia Into Spot Light

Everyone knows the Tour de France, it is of course the biggest event in cycling. But past that… other than cycling enthusiasts few actually know about other races. No doubt residents in places such as California can’t help but hear about local events such as the Tour of California, which will kick off next week, but what about the other events?

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. Continue reading Will Universal Sports Bring Giro d’Italia Into Spot Light

Miura Golf Introduces Old-World-Quality Craftsmanship With New Line of Forged Irons

We like to report on the latest innovation and new technology, but sometimes the “old” way is still better. Miura Golf shows this in its video highlighting its Passing Point 9003 forged irons.

Creator Mr. Miura and his sons Yoskitaka and Shinei think of their forged clubs as “active machines” says Adam Barr, president of Miura Golf. As the video shows there is art mixed with the forging process in how the clubs are crafted.

Miura Golf Official Website

Ride the Tour of California With Strava and AEG

There are a few ways to ride the Amgen Tour of California. You can train hard, win local races, get picked up by a team and ride with the pros. Or you can ride it virtually with Strava, creator powerful Web and mobile applications for avid athletes, and AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment providers. The two companies have announced that Strava will power social fitness for next month’s Tour. The three-year partnership will bring Strava’s event maps to the Web and mobile platforms. Strava is further supplying complimentary premium memberships to all race participants and will also offer training and race-day challenges.

“We are excited to partner with AEG to bring the sport of cycling even closer to the fans,” said Michael Horvath, CEO of Strava. “Strava’s GPS maps and online competitions allow avid cyclists to follow their favorite pros, compare and compete, and gain deeper insight into their own training.” Continue reading Ride the Tour of California With Strava and AEG

Acura In the Bike Race With BMC Racing Team

Automaker Acura has announced that it is now the official North American vehicle sponsor of the BMC Racing Team, and will provide the team with a fleet of specially-equipped TSX Sport Wagons for use as the team cars at all North American races.

This is something we don’t think about, but it is part of the business of professional racing, and the cars are extremely important for the teams. During races, each modified TSX Sport Wagon will serve as a rolling command center, repair shop, hospital and cafeteria to support BMC Racing Team riders as they compete in grueling multi-day events through some of the most spectacular cycling terrain in North America.

“The BMC Racing Team is one of the top teams in professional cycling,” said Steve Center, vice president of national marketing operations for Acura. “Their aggressive approach and commitment to the best technology and constant improvement make them a perfect match with the Acura brand.”

The BMC Racing Team Acura TSX Sport Wagons will debut at the week-long 2011 Amgen Tour of California, starting May 15 in South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Acura Official Website

BMC Racing Team Official Website

 

Bike Industry Magic – Merlin Brand Rebirth Underway

Apparently I have been living under a rock lately, but it appears that one of the first manufacturers of titanium bicycle frames has been sold…again. Back in March the high-end online retailer, Competitive Cyclist of Little Rock, AR, announced that they had negotiated the rights to the Merlin Metalworks from the American Bicycle Group (ABG) based in Chattanooga, TN

Merlin has changed hands multiple times since it was founded in 1986 by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger in Cambridge, MA followed a year later with the partnership with Tom Kellogg. Back then they were one of the first manufacturers to create titanium bicycle and wheelchair frames using TIG welding to create small, uniform and aesthetically pleasing welds.Merlin has created frames that have been ridden by Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, Steve Hegg, Ken Carpenter, Rob Kish (Race Across America 1995 winner) and Bob Hall (the first person to enter the Boston marathon in a wheelchair). Continue reading Bike Industry Magic – Merlin Brand Rebirth Underway

Women’s Ski Jumping Approved for 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

It’s hard to believe there’s been no women’s ski jump in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) just approved the sport for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The approval follows the two-time recommendation by the International Ski Federation. Before the 2014 Winter Olympics, three World Championships will have taken place. Continue reading Women’s Ski Jumping Approved for 2014 Sochi Olympic Games

Orange is an Apple to Our Eye

While Americans may know British autos such as Mini Cooper (now owned by Germany’s BMW), Land Rover and Rolls Royce, most probably don’t know Orange Bikes. Over the years I’ve spent enough time in the UK to know and appreciate the company’s dedication to unique hand built bicycles.

Orange has not made much – if any – impact in the United States and that’s a shame. So it is unlikely that any Yanks will be among those riding the (very) limited edition Five Pro Blackout. With only 25 reportedly being made, the Blackout is a true black beauty that might just seem mythical – even in the UK, most riders will probably never see on. The bike will come outfitted with Hope Tech X2 components, with an option to upgrade to Hope Tech M4 SE. Neither option will come cheap, and the bike will reportedly retail for around $4900.

But more importantly, will the bike make its appearance on this side of the Pond? Only if someone here is very lucky.

[Via Bike Rumor: ORANGE BIKES (VERY) LIMITED EDITION FIVE PRO BLACKOUT]

Orange Mountain Bikes Official Website

Artificial Clouds to Beat the Heat

While no one wants it to rain on game day, too much sun can be a real pain – and actually a health hazard for those in the stands. There are indoor stadiums of course, but that’s not the same. And even retractable roofs don’t always shield everyone away from the glare of the sun’s rays.

This is no doubt a concern for the 2022 World Cup games that will be played in Qatar, where extreme summer heat is something that can’t be easily beat(en). The solution, according to The Daily Mail is a cloud. We’ve heard of the digital cloud – as in online hosting of digital data – but this is actually an artificial cloud. And least you fear that this is some of gaseous creation, it is actually lightweight carbon structures carrying a giant envelope of material containing helium gas. In other words, large balloon like objects. So maybe a retractable roof would be the better idea?

However, because of the region has so much sun, organizers are looking to power the artificial clouds via solar power, as well as the air conditioning in the stadium. Hopefully as this will let spectators beat the heat.

[Via The Daily Mail: Pie in the sky! Qatar invents artificial clouds to beat the heat at 2022 World Cup]

Race Radio Ban Could Result in Boycott

Two-way radio technology has become a major part of sports, but some governing bodies are looking to ban their use. This is most notable in professional cycling where a number of teams have threatened to boycott this falls Tour of Beijing cycling race unless the International Cycling Union (UCI) withdraws its ban on the radios.

Race organizers have tried to institute bans in major classics, such as last year’s Tour de France, but Beijing could be the real showdown as it is the only event in professional cycling that the UCI actually governs and promotes directly. As expected the teams are not taking this lightly. The professional cycling association, known as AIGCP (Association International des Groupes Cyclistes Professionels) could pull out of the Chinese event. Continue reading Race Radio Ban Could Result in Boycott

Nike Tees Off With New Golf Balls

Can Nike do for golf balls what it did for athletic shoes? No doubt that is what the company is looking to it, as it unveiled its new 20XI premium golf ball franchise. And yes, there even a “swoosh” adorned on the side, but from the outside these new balls otherwise look just like every other golf ball.

What makes these balls stand out is what out is that these feature innovative golf ball technology that will reportedly dramatically enhance the performance of golfers around the world and, at the same time, propel golf ball manufacturing into an entirely new level of innovation. Those are big claims, but again this is coming a company that has delivered on its past bold statements.

The Nike 20XI golf ball features a combination of proprietary technology that has actually never before been seen in the golf industry, and more importantly is the result of four years of collaborative research and development between Nike Golf’s golf ball engineers and a team of material and science experts at DuPont. Together they went to the core of creating a golf ball, as in the actual core and opted to bounce out the old conventional rubber core with a radically new resin material. Rubber has been the traditional core for years, so the switch to resin is quite a big deal. Continue reading Nike Tees Off With New Golf Balls