Cyclocross Season!

“DSC_0427” by Ironclad Cycling.

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FROM LANCE ARMSTRONG (PRESS RELEASE): October 2, 1996 is the day I was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer and began the fight of my life. This year on October 2, we celebrate LIVESTRONG Day. It’s the day members of our community celebrate the spirit of LIVESTRONG by organizing and attending hundreds of events and raising awareness about the fight against cancer in communities across the globe. LIVESTRONG Day is critically important—and I need you to step up.

Will you join us for LIVESTRONG Day? We make it easy to host and find events in your neighborhood with our map:

www.livestrongaction.org/map

By joining an international wave of coordinated grassroots activity on LIVESTRONG Day you can make world leaders and the media pay attention while educating your own community about the fight against cancer.

452 people just like you have already signed up for LIVESTRONG Day—but we need more. If we can generate hundreds of local events and thousands of RSVPs through our new, interactive map, we can dramatically show world leaders that cancer touches everyone.

Being a part of LIVESTRONG Day is simple. Our map also makes it easy to search for and RSVP to events already happening near you. And you can also host any type of event you want, whether it’s a bake sale or a bike ride, fundraising in your neighborhood or getting your co-workers to wear yellow.

By taking part in LIVESTRONG Day, you can help your friends and neighbors understand that fighting cancer isn’t just up to doctors and researchers—it’s up to all of us. Please take a minute to add or find an event, and join our cause.

INTERBIKE 2009 – Camelbak was showing off a handful of their new Podium Ice insulated water bottles.  Since we reviewed their current bottles, including the ChillJacket insulated version, with the summary of “Best Water Bottle Ever,” we may have to throw this one to the top of the heap when we get a chance to ride with it.

The Podium Ice uses Aerogel, an extreme loft insulation that won’t break down with movement (ie. you squeezing it repeatedly), so it’ll keep its insulating properties at 100% for the life of the bottle.  While the current ChillJacket version promises 2x the insulating power, the Podium Ice promises 4x.

Seeing as how the ChillJacket kept my water cold on a summer ride for more than two hours, this new one should be all you’ll need.  At $20 MSRP, it ain’t cheap for a 21oz bottle, but can you really put a price on a cold drink on a blistering ride?  We didn’t think so.  Other stats:

• Bottle Weight: 120g
• Water Volume: 620 ml (21 oz)
• Bottle Material: TruTasteâ„¢ Polypropylene
• Anti-Microbial: HydroGuardâ„¢
• Features CamelBak’s always open, always shut JetValveâ„¢
• Available in three colors: frost/blue, frost/black and frost/white
• Retail Availability: March 1, 2010

INTERBIKE 2009 – San Marco had two new saddles, the Regale Carbon FX and Regale Racing Team.  Both are based on their classic Regal seat but updated with the latest technology and styling.

The Racing Team (shown above) uses Ti Rails to come in around 220g (278 x 148mm) and is the more stylish of the two (in our opinion).

Hit ‘more’ to see the carbon-railed-and-shelled version and other photos…

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INTERBIKE 2009 – No one’s really even making a tubular 29″ mountain bike tire yet, but that didn’t stop Edge Composites from showing off a new tubuler 29er rim.

While they wouldn’t come clean with many details, they did say they were working tire manufacturer Dugast and that it’s likely they’ll have something to glue to this thing come Sea Otter next April, which just happens to be about the time they plan to actually release a wheel built on this rim.  So…start saving your pennies now, this bad boy is going to ring up for about $750 per rim, but at just 320g per rim, you’ll float all the way to the poorhouse.

It’ll be available in either 28 or 32 hole drillings and a wheelset built on these with DT Swiss 240′s should be about $2,100.  (somehow, the complete wheel price seems better than the sticker shock of a $750 rim…)

Edge also showed off some new Seatposts, Stems, Forks and Mountain Bike Handlebars, hit ‘more’ to see them all…

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Interbike 2009 – The new Assize AS528 computer ties into any existing bicycle saddle with piezo-electric sensors to determine your waist and hip girth or, technically, your “ass size.”

Technical designer Tumani Doenaughts had this to say of their new computer: “Using state-of-the-art technology, you input your height, weight and gender and the Assize automatically determines the size of your ass within one centimeter.  It’s perfect for those trying to see how cycling and exercise is getting them closer to fitting into their hipster skinny jeans.”

I made all of this up, but this is the Worst. Computer Name. Ever.

Darwin Hindman, mayor of Columbia, MO, is rolling pretty these days.  His city, along with Minneapolis, Sheboygan County, WI, and Marin County, CA, are part of a Federal Highway Administration pilot program aimed at making roads safer and more enjoyable for cyclists.

The four communities have a total of $90 million allocated to them, and Columbia is using the funds to transform itself into a world-class cycling community by adding bicycle lanes and racks throughout the city.  Hindman proves he ‘gets it’ when it comes to a sustainable future by saying “If we depend too much on cars, then we increase our reliance on foreign oil, childhood obesity goes up, and life just isn’t as much fun.”

Check out the full article at Parade.com.

All of SRAM’s BB30 road cranksets will now ship with a new bearing preload adjustment ring.  Rather than just spacers, the axle will now have an adjustment ring with set screw (pictured above, it’s the black part with the white arrow and “+” sign).  Simply twist to tighten, then dial down the set screw to lock it in place.

INTERBIKE 2009 – SRAM introduced two new Wireless power meter cranksets at Interbike, one geared for normal road riding and one single big ring for time trial bikes.

Both are built around Red-level crank arms and rings, but the spider is replaced with the power measurement device. Depending on the model, you’ll get either a Quarq or SRM spider, but both work on the ANT+ system and will work with a variety of receivers and computers.

Hit ‘more’ for additional photos and specs…

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“Street Wisdom” by El Duke Degreaser. Check out his website here.

I know, this picture doesn’t have much to do with bikes, but, I couldn’t resist it. And if you can’t get that song out of your head now, click more to see the video with lyrics–’cause some study somewhere said that if you can’t get a song out of your head, just sing it all the way through and that should do it. Let’s give it a try…

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“MDH PREVIEW-4” by GnatLikesBikes.

Check out his blog www.gnatlikes.com.

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There are a lot of new goodies from Ritchey in store for you, but we’ll tease with the fact that you can now put together a full cockpit in white with their affordable Pro Comp level line. Since all my notes are safely stowed in the overhead, if memory serves, post, stem and bar are $179 for the set.