PRESS RELEASE: PRO has identified a potential safety issue involving the PRO Hi-Comp road racing bicycle stems produced between November 2003 and June 2006. Due to fatigue these stems may crack and eventually break. If this happens during cycling, the cyclist may lose control of the bicycle, which could lead to serious injuries.

As all PRO products should meet the highest industry standards, as a precautionary measure, and in the interest of putting the safety of its consumers fi rst, PRO has decided to undertake a voluntary recall of all affected stems.

The models affected are all PRO stems branded with the “PRO Hi-Comp” logo as shown on the picture.

If you have a PRO stem branded “PRO Hi-Comp”, whatever the size or diameter, stop using it immediately. Please return it to the retailer it was purchased from for a full refund of the purchase price.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us or your local PRO dealer.  Retailers can download recall coupons and posters here.

Designer Olli Erkillä built this forkless cruiser bike as a graduation project for the Institute of Design in Lahti, Finland.  It uses a simple mechanical system to steer, but the flowing design is where his artistic side shows through.  And this isn’t the only bike he’s built…his creations include a Penny Farthing (giant front wheel, tiny rear), road and mountain bike fixies and more.  In fact, this is the second forkless bike he’s built.

More photos and video of this contraption riding after the break…

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The mountain bike park at Northstar-at-Tahoe resort will host the Race for Tara 4 on Oct. 2-3, 2010.

Tara Llanes and Andy Buckley, Northstar’s director of resort experience, made the announcement on Nov. 20, about a month after the 2009 Race for Tara at Northstar, located near Truckee, California.

The Race for Tara was started three years ago by Brian and Thayne Bolin after Llanes, a champion downhill mountain biker, suffered a horrific crash while racing at the Jeep King of the Mountain event in Beaver Creek, Colorado. A large portion of Race for Tara proceeds will be donated to spinal cord research and helping other athletes with spinal cord injury. A smaller portion will go toward the continued medical costs Llanes has had to endure.

According to a study initiated by the Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation, “there are nearly 1 in 50 people living with paralysis – approximately 6 million people.” Llanes is working to build a fund for athletes that have catastrophic injuries like hers.

“I want to be there for other athletes that are going through the same thing I do day in and day out,” she said.

The Race for Tara was started to help raise funds for Llanes and her ever-growing medical costs. During the race’s first year, Llanes was still in the hospital and only able to call in on the loudspeaker to thank participants. In the second year Tara was actually able to drive to the race and show her appreciation to everyone. In 2009, Tara was not only able to be at the event she was able to participate and race down the mountain in a 4-wheeler DH bike.

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BIKERUMOR.com REVIEW: Earlier this year, Chrome released their new shoe line with four models, the Arnhem mid-top, the Midway low-mid-top, the high top Saipan and the low-top Kursk.

I opted to review the Kursk since it fits my style a little more than the others, but they all share the same basic features.  Chrome’s shoes are designed to work well for cycling, of course, but also for daily casual wear.  Here are the quick specs:

• Made of weatherproof 1,000 denier Cordura with back-padding
• 100% vulcanized construction
• Low profile design to better fit into a toe cage
• Re-enforced nylon/glass fiber shank to support the midsole
• Board lasted sole to eliminate pedal hot spot
• Skid resistant contact rubber on the sole
• Polyurethane contoured crash pad insole
• Durable rubber heel cup with reflective safety hit
• Lace garage so laces don’t get caught in your chain
• Steel anglets to keep laces from fraying

The cycling inspiration shows through when you ride them, and features like the ‘lace garage’ and grippy outer sole make commuting or just spinning around a breeze.  I find myself wearing these three or four days a week, even when just sitting in the office or walking downtown.

Check out the full review and details, specs and pricing after the break…

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“Opus1” by ramjetgr.

To see more Pics Of The Day, click here.

If you’d like to submit a picture for our Pic Of The Day, click here.

Behold, the messenger bag that is a beverage cooler.  Wired Magazine lists it at number 98 of the 100 things its editors want for Christmas this year, claiming it’s new.  While the official press release on this apparently went out this past Summer (which makes sense…seems this sort of thing is more useful when it’s warm), this is the first we’ve seen of it.

It’s not made for carrying your laptop.  Or your books.  Or you notepads, cellphone, MP3 player or anything else.  It’s made for beverages.  The interior is insulated and lined with TPU, and it zips shut to keep things from sloshing out.  The outer flap covertly conceals any hint that there’s a party in your bag.

Check out a special feature and pricing after the break…

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PRESS RELEASE: USA Cycling announced today the return of the nation’s professional cross country mountain bike series designed to amplify athletes’ opportunities, increase exposure for mountain biking domestically and to maximize U.S. start spots on the sport’s highest stages. The 2010 USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour (Pro XCT) presented by US Cup will consist of six UCI-sanctioned events throughout the United States, providing world-class athletes with a consistent stage on which to accumulate UCI ranking points and top prize purses.

The UCI points up for grabs at each Pro XCT event are crucial in helping the United States qualify the maximum number of mountain biking start spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, as well as start order at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

“The Pro XCT not only creates opportunity and increases exposure for our athletes here at home but it also helps ensure U.S. athletes the maximum opportunity for success on the sport’s highest stage,” explained USA Cycling National Mountain Bike and Cyclo-cross Development Director Marc Gullickson. “The UCI points these events offer directly dictate the number of start spots the U.S. will receive in mountain biking events at the 2012 Olympic Games in London as well as improve start order at the Mountain Bike World Championships annually.”

Hit ‘more’ for the calendar and more info about the 2010 series…

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Brent Foes has done an extensive redesign on the Foes Racing 2:1 FXR trail mountain bike for 2010.  The 160mm (6.5″) travel bike drops a little weight while becoming stiffer and stronger by incorporating a new tapered head tube and new tube shaping.  Here are some of the highlights, per Foes:

• First, it looks beautiful; the monocoque has undergone a dramatic redesign which results in not only a stunning more elegant profile, but a lighter frame that curiously has shown in tests to be stronger and stiffer.
• The new 2010 has a tapered head-tube.
• Sleek new 2010 Swing-arm design with slender styling on the chain stays near the cranks for better foot clearance.
• Changes to swing arm design to create clear sight lines to rocker arm bolts to visually check status and provide easy quick access o those bolts.
• The frame comes complete with the Foes Racing proprietary replaceable ISCG mount.
• For 2010 the 2:1 FXR will be available with one of two different swing arm configurations; 135 quick release or optional 150 12mm thru axle versions (with the floating brake).
• On the 150 spacing rear version the floating brake arm neatly straddles the swing arm making removal neat and efficient (nothing falls off), the wheel will be a zero dish wheel on this version as opposed to the old off-set wheel.
• Hammerschmidt compatible.

Foes is taking pre-orders now for delivery in mid-December 2009, and for the first time ever, they’re offering full build kits that offer pretty substantial discounts off MSRP if you had to build it up yourself!  Hit ‘more’ to see some action shots and the specs and build kits with pricing…

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Bicio recently launched their $30 iPhone mount for the bike called the GoRide.

It uses a case for the phone (that can be left on as a protective case) that mounts into a bracket that’s zip-tied to your handlebar, stem or frame.  It’s designed to hold it securely and within easy viewing and reach, and the design is open so that you can easily control the phone.

At $29.95 USD MSRP, it’s the least expensive mount we’ve seen that’s made specifically for bicycles, and you can get additional brackets for $9.99 so you can easily swap between two or more bikes.

(NOTE: if you look closely at the photo above, yes there are some things that look a little screwy…it’s just bad silouhetting of the image, not some crazy new 3T stem or fork…or wireless brake, for that matter)

Hit ‘more’ to see additional photos…

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“Ruckus-Rack in Racktion” by ruckuscomponents. Check out their website–they make carbon chain guards, custom carbon parts, and rear racks such as the one above. They can even make repairs. Everything is made in the US, in Oregon. Click ‘more’ for their warranty disclaimer (funny) and another picture of the ‘rack’ up close…

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Johan Bruyneel, 2010 Team RadioShack manager, finalized the team roster. Team RadioShack, with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, will count on 26 riders coming from 16 different countries.

“It is a well balanced team”, comments Johan Bruyneel. “We have experienced riders – with some of them I worked already many years in my former teams – but we also have young talents who can develop in the perfect environment. I am happy that our sponsors want to invest in the future of cycling. Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well. I look forward to the new season with Team RadioShack and our first training camp.”

Title sponsor RadioShack Corporation looks forward to the 2010 season as well. “Johan and Lance have methodically assembled an enviable team of riders and staff as strong as any on the Pro Tour, and we are confident that Team RadioShack is positioned for tremendous success in 2010″, said Lee Applbaum, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of RadioShack Corporation.

See the entire team and director roster after the break…

(update: link above is a ‘fan’ site, the official homepage is teamradioshack.com)

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Dear BIG Members and Greensboro Area Bicycling Advocates,

As many of you know, BIG has operated a program called Changing Gears for several years now. Changing Gears provides a bicycle plus safety equipment and basic training in bicycle safety skills to socio-economically disadvantaged adults in our community. Changing Gears has been very successful in helping recipients improve their lives by providing them with reliable transportation and opportunties for regular exercise.

Until now, Changing Gears has been funded by grants from REI and the Moses Cone Wesley Long Community Health Foundation. But the last of the grant funding is about to end, and Changing Gears needs your help to continue! To give you even more incentive to contribute to this worthy cause, two generous BIG members have issued a Challenge Grant — they’ll match all monetary donations for the Changing Gears program, up to a cumulative total of $1,000. But this challenge only lasts until December 31, 2009!

Please take a few minutes to find out more about Changing Gears and how you can support this important effort, by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/ChangingGears

Thank you, and have a great Thanksgiving!

Jeff Sovich, President
Bicycling In Greensboro, Inc.
http://ww.bikegso.org