The Boise, Idaho based cycling component brand, K-Edge Cycling Solutions, was created from a singular and focused ambition. The goal was to help an Olympic cycling athlete secure a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. To see how this happened and the resulting product we take a quick look to France, Austria, China, and return to the USA for how it all played out.
Tag: Tour de France
Fränk & Andy Schleck Interviewed for Japanese TV
httpv://youtu.be/0CofKpGRdb0
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.
Podium Position: What Did They Wear in the Tour?
At the Tour de France 2011 the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank, stood on the podium in second and third positions after an exciting three weeks of daily races. The brothers, and the entire team of Leopard Trek, wore kits from Craft Performance Apparel. Each rider wore an Elite Attack Jersey and Elite Body Control Bib Short. Both pieces have some interesting technology that keeps riders cool and comfortable.
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. Continue reading Podium Position: What Did They Wear in the Tour?
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!
Ride the Tour de France With Google Powered Training Bicycle
The Tour de France is well under way, and chances if you’re like us, you are watching it from your couch. Wouldn’t you like to get in a ride while watching it? Sure there are rollers and trainers, and then there is the Pro-Form Le Tour de France Indoor Cycle, which is the next best thing to a trip to France. And you won’t have to stop on the side of the road should nature call.
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. Continue reading Ride the Tour de France With Google Powered Training Bicycle
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
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
London 2012 Cycling Road Race to End at Buckingham Palace
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]
Quiznos Pro Challenge Announces Five Top Pro Teams for 2011
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.” Continue reading Quiznos Pro Challenge Announces Five Top Pro Teams for 2011
Hands on: Water Bottle Round-up – Elite Corsa
KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.
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.) Continue reading Hands on: Water Bottle Round-up – Elite Corsa
Clean Bottle Goes Global
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?
Video of the Bottle Boy in Action
Cervélo TestTeam Offers More Behind the Scenes of the Tour de France
This week Cervélo announced that the release of the next episode of the second season of Beyond The Peloton, the High-Definition documentary following the racing exploits of Cervélo TestTeam. The series, which is available on YouTube, is the next best thing to an all-access pass to the Tour. It follows filmmakers Joe Finkleman and Booker Sim as they return to show you what race footage fails to capture “beyond the peloton”.