Trek helps bring beer, bikes, and big wheels to Madison on August 24

LONGMONT, CO - April 10, 2008 - Adventure Fit Inc. is pleased to announce that Trek has signed on as the title sponsor of the Trek Urban Assault Ride in Madison, WI and presenting sponsor at the seven other Urban Assault Ride events.

The Urban Assault Ride is a funky bike scavenger hunt that sends two-person teams riding to checkpoints around town to complete crazy obstacle courses at each stop. Mental muscle is just as important as bike skills as teams of two choose their own course to checkpoints around the city. Obstacles are a surprise until participants arrive at the checkpoint and have included bike jousting, adult big wheel races, flying down an inflatable slip and slide, and much more. This pedal-powered urban adventure is an event that anyone can do.

Urban Assault founder Josh Kravetz is pleased with the partnership. “Trek is an ideal sponsor because they share our ideals and goals. Like us, they want to make the world a more bike-friendly place and show riders that it can be just as easy to grab your bike lock as your car keys when you’re running errands or going to work. Using a bike for transportation is the easiest way to improve the country’s lack of fitness, combat increasing traffic problems, and help fight global warming. And of course… it’s fun.”

A key goal of Trek’s One World, Two Wheels program is to increase the number of US trips by bicycle from one percent to five percent. According to their web site, with nearly 40% of car trips taken being under two miles, it’s an achievable goal. Kravetz agrees. “Participants in past Urban Assault events have told me that after experiencing how easy it is to bike around town, they are using their bikes more for transportation.”

The distance is around 25 miles and the ride takes two to three hours to complete. It is based at Olin Park and the ride is followed by a huge after party with Capital Brewery beer, live music, and plenty of two-wheeled shenanigans. Madison was chosen as a host city because of its bike-friendly community and an extensive cycling infrastructure.

The Madison event benefits Dream Bikes – a group that promotes bike advocacy as well as the Wisconsin Association for Blind Athletes. The Urban Assault Ride’s “green focus” extends beyond bike advocacy. The entire production powered with solar power, a bio-diesel truck delivers the gear to each city, and almost all event waste is composted or recycled. In addition, Urban Assault partners exclusively with companies that have sustainable business practices and promote bike advocacy. In addition to Trek, Urban Assault partners include New Belgium (which is title sponsor at six of the eight race series), Keen Footwear, Clif Bar, Sweet Leaf Tea, Swobo, Timbuk 2, Rudy Project and other local sustainability-focused partners.

Other bike-friendly cities selected to host this year’s event are Seattle (May 18), Portland (May 25), Austin (June 22), Fort Collins (July 20), Denver (July 27), Minneapolis (September 21) and Chicago (September 28).

Find out more at www.urbanassaultride.com

Madrid, Spain

5/4/2008

This weekend was the 3rd consecutive World Cup. We went from Northern Europe down to sunny Spain. Earlier in the week temperatures were barely hitting 18C, but today for the race it was in the 30Cs. That’s pretty hot when you’re used to high teens.

Burry, Mark (Team Mechanic), and I spent the week in Mira Flores which is a mountain town about 60Ks outside of Madrid. It’s about three thousand feet higher, hardly any traffic and great road riding. The Vuelta Espana rolls through the town on one of the mountain days.

The course in Madrid hasn’t changed much since the first time I raced here back in 2002. It’s fast with short one-minute climbs, super hard pack with ball bearing type pebbles on top which make for slick corners. There are also tons of spectators packed on the course’s six main climbs. Last weekend in Offenburg the race was only 35Ks–this weekend we did about 56Ks, so that gives you an idea of how fast this course is.

The race started incredibly well for me, and I led the race through the start/finish area after the first lap. I have never led a World Cup before so that was an accomplishment in itself. I eventually popped out of the lead group at the end of lap four and raced in for an 18th place finish, only 2:49 seconds down on the winner. That just goes to show you the depth of the fields we’re racing. Burry had another incredible race coming in 13th and the number one U23 rider meaning he got a trip to the top of the box.

We have three weeks of no World Cups now, and I’m looking forward to a break and doing my home town Iron Horse Road Race for the first time in almost ten years.

Thanks for all your support,

Todd Wells

Thanks to all of our GT Team Sponsors: Kenda Tires, SRAM, Kore, Sun Ringle, SDG, Ogio, Champion System, FLY Racing and e.thirteen.

http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/newsDetail?id=2860 

source: Sarah Ostermeier

http://www.kirtvoreis.com/allride.html 

source: Lindsey Voreis

 

- Tech, Testing Yields Huge Improvement Over “Really Bright” Bike Tail Lights -

TRENTON, NJ (April 11, 2008) - During Princeton Tec’s round table product development discussions regarding visibility and our new taillight, we kept stumbling across the words “REALLY BRIGHT.” At first, we weren’t sure what it meant. Did it mean brighter than bright? What does “really” really mean anyway?

After further discussions and some research (mostly on our own manufacturing floor) we discovered that it meant that we should probably make our new bike tail light, called the Swerve, you guessed it, REALLY BRIGHT. As we kept testing we decided, in fact, it would be a great, noble idea to make the Swerve REALLY, REALLY BRIGHT – which is, as you might have guessed, brighter than REALLY BRIGHT.

In the end, we found success. One of the key advantages of the Swerve is the use of two high-power LEDs rather than regular 5mm LEDs. By using a combination of diffused and focused lenses, we were able to create a very, very bright beam pattern that repeats between a wider beam and a narrow beam, ultimately creating a higher level of visibility. The eye must juggle these two beams and therefore doesn’t get a chance to relax – very effective.

The combination of wide and narrow beams and an extremely bright source of light, allows the Swerve to be one of, if not the most, efficient and REALLY, REALLY BRIGHT bike tail lights on the market. Yes, we said so.

Because the Swerve is REALLY, REALLY bright it can be seen for miles. It is also quite versatile; having the capability to not only attach to the seatpost, but seatstay, handlebar, jersey, helmet, fork, messenger bag, etc. … It also features a toggle switch operation for on-the-go functionality with flash and steady modes. And, it’s only $29.99.

The Swerve will make its debut at the Sea Otter Classic April 17-20. For more information about the Swerve and Princeton Tec check www.princetontec.com.

About Princeton Tec:

Since 1975, Princeton Tec’s goal has been to support the outdoor community by building lighting products for the people who use them. Our products are designed to enhance all outdoor activities, crossing the boundaries from scuba and water sports; to camping and backpacking; to snow sports; alpine sports and road biking. For more information on Princeton Tec, visit www.princetontec.com

source: Keith Cozzens at Base Camp Communications

 

SZCZAWNO ZDROJ, Poland, Sat. May 3, 2008:

So for those of you who didn’t read Chuck Ibis’s “spew” “Lopes goes to Poland with a Tranny”, tranny is the hardtail prototype that Brian brought to compete in the invitational “Four Cross Night Race” held in southern Poland. And with the fastest qualifying time, Lopes and the “tranny” proved to be a winning team from the get go.

The beautifully-manicured and well-lit course found in the charming town of Szczawno Zdroj, was brimming with approximately 4,000 spectators saturday night. The crowd was composed of a diverse group of serious cycling fans and some locals, both looking forward to some high-speed entertainment. And that is exactly what they got!

The first straight demonstrated to be the most challenging, as the two middle lanes appeared to be slightly faster featuring a set of doubles leading to a high-speed left-turned drop and a series of the switchbacks. Plus, did I mention it was a over 46 seconds long.

Nonetheless, Brian and the “tranny”, kept their eye on the prize and tackled a field of predominately Dutch racers. This held true in the finals as well, as Brian met up with Joost Wichman, Jurg Meijer and Joey Van Veghel. Lopes got a good start, only to bump elbows with Meijer, allowing Wichman to take advantage and grab the lead. Lopes chased Wichman down 3/4 of the course, reeling him in as they both approached the finish-line. But the Brian/Tranny team ran out of track and had to settle for 2nd place at their first showing!

“Man…I could see the cross-county guy coming at me as we reached the finish line” said Joost Wichman who had driven over with a car full of fellow-Dutch over 9 hours to participate in the 4X Night Race.

FINAL RESULTS

1. WICHMAN Joost NED
2. LOPES Brian USA
3. MEIJER Jurg NED
4. VAN VEGHEL Joey NED

BIG thanks to Oakley, Marzocchi, Kenda, Ibis, Bell, Hayes, Easton, TLD, Shimano, MRP, ODI, Fizik and our Polish hosts Andrzej Skrzypczak, the mayor of Szczawno Zdroj, Team Lang!

source: Paula Lopes

PEATY 2ND, HILL DOMINATES TEST EVENT

Val Di Sole, Italy
May 4, 2008

The organizers did a brilliant job putting together this test event in the heart of the Val Di Sole region in Northern Italy, and the pleasant weather this weekend helped make the event a great success. The test event was a great way to prepare for World Championships for both the racers and the organizers. The Syndicate boys were pleased with the downhill track and feel it is worthy of a championship race. “The course is great with fast parts ripping through the trees, and it has a lot of rocks and sniper roots all over, and quite a few steep parts. They’ve done a nice job putting the course together and the sections link up with a nice flow,” said Rennie.

The semi-final run was held to determine start order, with everyone qualifying. There were some surprises from practice to semi-finals as riders tested the track at a racing pace. “I just wanted to ride smooth and tried to get on the lines I had seen in practice. I got half of them, and missed half of them. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to stay on the lines, or on the track, even,” commented Minnaar. Peat just rode steady hitting his lines but said, “I felt like I was riding like a girl in some sections.”
Rennie said, “My run was a shocker, I mucked up the top rocks then another section so I just cruised down for an earlier start.” Josh Bryceland’s run was not “mint”, as he didn’t hit many of his lines, but he was pleased and surprised with a good finish time. Sam Blenkinsop posted the fast time of 3:29.82, while Peat just beat Minnaar to set the three top positions with 3:30.01 for Peat and 3:30.88 for Minnaar.

The finals saw Bryceland having a fantastic result with a time of 3:29.37, which held up for a 6th place overall finish. Fabien Barel then set the mark to beat with a time of 3:26.92 to take the hotseat. Just ten minutes later Hill was smashing it up with the crowd cheering him as he neared the end with an obviously smoking fast run. His finish time of 3:19.42 had people gasping! Peat gave it a go and was the next fastest finisher at 3:24.60 to take second place. Barel’s time held for 3rd, with Florent Payet in 4th with a 3:27.77, and Justin Leov rounding out the top five with a 3:28.67

Minnaar suffered a mechanical that left him in 8th position, and Rennie had a crash that put him off the pace, he finished 59th. They were both happy at least that these things happened in a test race, and not at a race that counted for more. Minnaar said the course was a lot faster in the final than the qualifier as the clouds moved in and eliminated shadows making it easier to see the track conditions. On his run, Peat delighted the group of team mechanics as he set out of the start by pumping his fist in the air saluting them. Syndicate mechanic, Doug Hatfield said, “You had to see it, you could never replace that moment, what a great salute Steve gave to us. We were pumped!”

The Syndicate will stay on in Italy for a few days testing new Black Box products with SRAM before heading to the first UCI World Cup next week in Maribor.

TOP TEN MEN DOWNHILL FINALS:

1) SAM HILL (MONSTER IRON HORSE) 3:19.42
2) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:24.60
3) FABIEN BAREL (SUBARU) 3:26.92
4) FLORENT PAYET (SUBARU) 3:27.77
5) JUSTIN LEOV (YETI) 3:28.67
6) JOSH BRYCELAND (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:29.37
7) SAM BLENKINSOP (YETI) 3:29.40
8 ) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:29.58
9) FABIEN PEDEMANAUD (TEAM PYRENEES/ MOREWOOD) 3:30.04
10) PASQUAL CANALS FLIX (MASSI) 3:30.85

DOWNHILL SEEDING RUN RESULTS:

1) SAM BLENKINSOP (YETI) 3:29.82
2) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:30.01
3) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3.30.88
4) SAM HILL (MONSTER IRON HORSE) 3:31.00
5) FLORENT PAYET (SUBARU) 3:31.23
6) JUSTIN LEOV (YETI) 3:33.15
7) DAMIEN SPAGNOLO (SUBARU) 3:33.53
8 ) MICKAIL PASCAL (MSC BIKES) 3:34.25
9) JOSH BRYCELAND (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 3:34.49
10) JULIEN CAMELLINI (CHAIN REACTION CYCLES) 3:34.66
14) NATHAN RENNIE (SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES) 3:38.47

THANKS TO THE SYNDICATE SPONSORS:

Santa Cruz Bicycles
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
Maxxis
DT Swiss
WTB
Crankbrothers
Lizard Skins
Clif Bar
Troy Lee Designs
Chris King
Five Ten

source: Kathy, Santa Cruz Bikes

####

World Championships Test Event - Downhill Finals

11th Chris KOVARIK Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense
12th Julien CAMELLINI Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense
30th Matt SIMMONDS Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense
42nd Ruaridh CUNNINGHAM Chain Reaction Cycles / Intense

Sam hill showed everyone why he is the current World Champion and the man to beat come the real race on the 21st June. The course looked super rough for the riders and the bikes. Riders had to be really strong to hold onto the bike and also really fit to be able to go at 100% all the way down the very steep and challenging course.

Chris over came a few bike set up problems for the final and had a descent run to place 11th but also post a good time with a lot more left come the real race. He said he had a descent run and was finally happy with the bike set up. Chris hasn’t rode anything steep with roots since the final World Cup last year, so this was a very valuable test event for him and the team.

Julien had a mechanical early on in his race run and made him pretty nervous all the way down but still managed a great time, so he has a lot more to offer also come June. Juliens hard training over the winter is definitely going to pay off for him and he is very happy with his bike.

Matt had a decent run but struggled a bit with his lines. We got here late because we had to wait for a shipment of parts the riders missed course walking inspection and while the other guys walked the track on Saturday evening, Matt was racing 4X.

Ruaridh was looking great on the course, but unfortunately caught his pedal on a root whilst hopping up onto a high line and flipped over the bars and landed on his back. He jumped back on quickly but then plowed straight into a tree head first. Even with all this Ruaridh still managed a 3.42 only 12 seconds off the top 10! So this is amazing form for him so early on after his winter knee injury.

All the guys now know what they need to work on for the start of the World Cup series in Maribour next weekend. This has been a great weekend of testing and getting the bikes set up properly. We head off to Maribour tomorrow for a bit of training and recovering before Thursdays practice.

Thanks to all our sponsors.

source: Nigel Page - Team Manager - ChainReactionCycles/Intense

 

Gravity Group marketing agency is pleased to announce their cooperation with global tire
producer – KENDA and bicycle manufacturer – TOMAC as title sponsors of the newly
created KENDA TOMAC Mountain Bike Racing Team.

KENDA TOMAC is an international mountain bike downhill-fourcross team that associate 2
athletes: Filip Polc (Slovakia) and Mitch Delfs (Australia).

KENDA TOMAC is operated by the crew of Peter Siulczynski (Team Manager), Michal
Kozak (Assistant Team Manager) and Jean-Philippe Simard (Team Mechanic), Gary Perkin
(Team Photographer) and John Lawlor (Team Videographer)

Filip Polc, KENDA TOMAC Team Rider:

I’m happy to join the KENDA TOMAC team. New season, new bike and new team mate… I
can say it’s going to be a great year. I am focusing especially on downhill where I want to
step up and show what is in me! So watch out for me, I’m going to be “faster as the shadow of
the others”.

Mitch Delfs, KENDA TOMAC Team Rider:

I am super happy to be on a team that is giving me the opportunity of doing my first full
World Cup season with the great structure needed so I can concentrate on racing and
achieving my goals of making an impact at a World Cup level. Its awesome opportunity to
ride with Filip who has such a good experience at racing, so I am able to learn from him.
Having JP Simard wrenching on my bike again is a bonus too. I am looking forward to hitting
the season hard.

Peter Siulczynski, KENDA TOMAC Team Manager:

We are very pleased to enter into the 2008 Season with a new organized team and excellent
athletes. To have Filip Polc and Mitch Delfs in our squad is a perfect mix. Filip as the leader
of the Team will finally get the attention he deserves. Also young Mitch Delfs can reap profits
from training with a more experienced team mate as well as from having proper organization
to concentrate on racing only.

Jean-Philippe Simard, KENDA TOMAC Team Mechanic:

I am glad to be on a World Cup team this year. I will do my best to help these riders perform
at the very top level without worrying about their bikes & setup. Having great partners such
as Kenda, Tomac, Formula, ControlTech, Mavic, Novatec, Gamut, etc. to work with will just
help us to reach that perfect setup. Working along with Filip Polc who is a determined and
experienced athlete combine to the youngness of Mitch Delfs will definitely make for a killer
season!

KENDA TOMAC Team Schedule 2008:

14 – 25 April Team Camp Cap d’Ail France
1 – 4 May Test Event Val di Sole Italy
8 – 11 May World Cup # 1 Maribor Slovenia
16 – 18 May Lisbon Downtown Lisbona Portugal
23 – 25 May US Open Vernon USA
29 May – 1 June World Cup # 2 Vallnord Andorra
5 – 8 June World Cup # 3 Fort William Scotland
12 – 15 June Wheels of Speed Willingen Germany
16 – 22 June World Championships Val di Sole Italy
10 – 13 July European Championships Caspoggio in Valmalenco Italy
24 – 27 July World Cup # 4 Mont-Sainte-Anne Canada
31 July – 3 August World Cup # 5 Bromont Canada
28 – 31 August World Cup # 6 Canberra Australia
4 – 7 September* Eurobike Show Friedrichshafen Germany
11 – 14 September World Cup # 7 Schladming Austria
22 – 26 September* Interbike Show Las Vegas USA

Thanks to the official KENDA TOMAC Team Partners:

Controltech
Formula
Mavic
Novatec
Crankbrothers
Fizik
Gamut
Odi
Sapim
Giro
Mtbcut.tv

source: Gravity Group

Anaheim, CA - Check out the new 2008 Catalog! http://www.chumbaracing.com/catalog.shtml

Marin Partners with Bike Parks BC and Mad March Racing as Bike Provider for Exciting Consumer Event

NOVATO, Calif.–May 2, 2008. Marin Bikes, manufacturer of performance bicycles, announced today that Marin will be the official bicycle sponsor for the Kokanee Beer “Ultimate Road Trip” contest presented by Bike Parks BC for the second year in a row. After its successful launch in 2007, the contest has expanded to awarding two separate road trips for contest winners.

For each trip, two winners and a guest will be awarded the chance to live like a professional rider for a week. Winners will be provided with full gear and ride Marin Quad XLT series bikes, the award winning suspension platform that won Mountain Biking magazine’s All Mountain Bike of the Year in 2007. The Quad XLT models are built on a robust hydroformed and extruded frameset, featuring 172mm of travel, and SRAM’s new Maxle 360 quick release thru-axle system.

To ensure the contest winners push their Marin Quad XLT’s to their limits, riders will receive professional instruction from reigning 2x Masters Downhill World Champion Shaums March and his Mad March Racing staff. During each contest, the winners will ride along with the MMR crew to visit Canada’s premier riding destinations. Riding the same bikes that March used to win his first World Championship title, contest winners will receive coaching on jumping, cornering and other bike handling techniques by the champion himself.

During each week long trip, contestants will visit Canada’s premier alpine resorts, with all lodging and meals provided for. The first trip, held July 26th to August 2nd, will cover eastern British Columbia, while the second trip will span from August 3rd through 10th, covering BC’s rugged west coast before ending at Whistler during the Kokanee Crankworx mountain biking festival.

For more information and to enter to win, visit the Marin Bikes website at www.marinbikes.com Contest registration is open April 15th until June 15th, 2008. General consumers and retail staff are eligible to win.

Marin Bikes, a designer and manufacturer of performance bicycles and bicycle accessories, is located in Marin County, the birthplace of mountain biking. Marin, founded in 1986 by Robert Buckley, who remains it principal owner, and the company’s employee/owners are as committed to high quality service and customer support as they are to the lifestyle of cycling. Distributed in approximately 40 countries with international offices in Canada, Taiwan and Switzerland, Marin continues to pursue its original mission of providing quality performance and product innovation.

www.marinbikes.com

source: Mark Vanek

Laguna Beach, California. May 1stth, 2008- Following a week long west coast premiere tour that has taken The Collective from Vancouver to San Diego, a Laguna Beach Show has just been announced for this Sunday May 4th.

 

The show will be at the Laguna South Coast Cinemas at162 South Coast Highway, at 7:30. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door.

 

Seasons is due to be shown in over sixty locations worldwide during the months of April and May. Available online at www.thecollectivefilm.com/tour, The Seasons world tour schedule includes stops in over 15 countries . Further details will soon be added and updated to the website.

 

SEASONS is the highly anticipated third mountain bike film from The Collective, who past work includes Roam, and the self titled The Collective.

 

 

SEASONS is supported by Specialized, Shimano, Adidas Eyewear, Helly Hansen, Whistler/Blackcomb, Dakine, Bontrager, and Pinkbike. The film will be released on DVD in mid May. It will be distributed Video Action Sports in the US, Ryeka Sports in Canada, and Extreme Video in Europe.

 

To learn more about SEASONS go to www.thecollectivefilm.com

source: Jonny Beer, SEASONS Tour manager / Marketing Co-ordinator