Taking the X-Dome technology from its XX component line, SRAM has debuted the XG999 9-speed cassette.

Set to release in mid-March, the XG999 is very light at 175g for the 11-32… a full 100g from their PG-990 cassette and about 50g lighter than a comparable Shimano XTR cassette.  Like the XX model, all but the largest and smallest cog are milled from a single piece of billet steel, forming a dome shape.  The large cog is a replaceable press-fit aluminum gear, and the smallest keeps it real with steel.

Because it’s mostly steel, SRAM claims it’ll be more durable, too, making it the obvious choice for all us weight weenies that are still on 9-speed bikes (ie. most of us).  Well, obvious if you can plunk down $300 and don’t need the extra range that a 34-tooth cog would provide.

Bikeradar quoted SRAM’s U.S. road products manager Mike Zellman as saying “our best technologies consistently find their way across our product platforms.”  And that March release date comes just before Sea Otter, where SRAM is known to launch most of their new goodies for the year, so our hunch is we’ll see something like this on the road side before too long.  Funny, just the other day we were just wondering how they were going to improve RED now that Force is so similar…

More pics after the break…

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Just delivered to Lance Armstrong from Trek’s team liason, here’s how the paint scheme translates to Trek’s Equinox TTX Speed Concept time trial (and triathlon) bike.  Check out the stubby seat!

UPDATE: Thanks to several readers for the correction on bike model!

Via RidingPretty, by way of BikeHugger, comes the story of a woman (Maria Michaelson, to be exact) whose riding her bike up the entire coast of California while pulling this talking art sculpture.  There’s a recorder embedded into the sculpture, but it’d be even better if they put Verne Troyer in there and had people talk to it.

Similar to the U.S. Nissan Rogue, team RadioShack’s European team cars (20 in all, including other models) actually look tighter than our version, which is a bit girly in my opinion.

Anywhoo, here’s what to look for caravaning around the pelotons in Europe this season. More pics after the jump…

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Electra Bikes has just produced their own iPhone/iPod (and now iPad) app to show off their bikes and help you find a local dealer.  Looks to be a great use of the technology by featuring a full catalogue with specs, colors and photos, plus the ability to get directions and contact info for dealers near you.  Pretty slick.

Download it from iTunes here. Two more screen shots after the break…

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Mission Workshop, which is sponsoring that silly contest we just mentioned last night, has a new, smaller cargo backpack called the Rambler that debuted recently.  The Rambler is the little (or medium, actually) brother of the Vandal.  If you recall, the Vandal is the bag that can carry a freakin’ keg, so perhaps the Rambler is better suited for people going to the party rather than bringing it with them.

It’s available in this green, plus black, silver (light gray) and charcoal (dark gray).  The Rambler is $199 and has all the same features as the Vandal, including an internal aluminum frame, EVA foam padding, breathable mesh back and stormproof urethane coated nylon fabric with water resistant coated zippers.

The front has a small pen sleeve and loop to clip your blinkie light on and a flap-covered external pocket. The pack expands to carry much more than this pic implies, so jump on past the break and see it opened up…

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Orbea, which makes some fast bikes for the likes of Julien Absalon, has for the past three years been building some fast bikes for the European gravity-oriented enduro crowd, too.

Designed for racing multi-stage rally-like races that have as much up as down (sometimes with a lot more downhill), their bikes race in the Avalanche Cup Enduro Series (see video for POV footage from an the Megavalanche. Brendan Fairclough is piloting, fast forward throughout, there are some sick technical sections they bomb over, but the start is pure madness.).

For 2010, the Rallon is getting a full makeover and moving from a single-pivot design that’s reminiscent of Marin bikes to a new, as-yet-undisclosed layout that Orbea USA National Sales Manager Ronnie Points says will have a very linear spring curve.

“Orbea started designing a bike for this type of racing three years ago.  The criteria these racers look for seems to be build up the lightest 6″ travel mountain bike that you can, then race it crazy fast in a rally / time trial setting,” said Points.

Contradicting the long travel, the new Rallon will have short chainstays and a 73º seat angle to climb well.  The frame is a triple butted, highly hydroformed coned aluminum frame.  Only about 500 will be made the first year, probably only 100 will make it to the U.S.  Target price is under $3,000 to start, and a little over $5,000 for better spec’d models, and there will be a Truvativ Hammerschmidt equipped version.

The new frames leave their factories in March and hit U.S. shores near the end of the month, look for it in dealers by first week of April.  We’ll have more finite specs and details, and maybe some pics, around the end of next week.

Rallon (ray-yohn), loosely translates to “rapid fire”.  Given the terrain in this video, the new Rallon better be like big-boy pants with wheels.  Someone needs to bring an event like this to the U.S…Mike, are you seeing this?

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Jeremy Powers at the 2009 USGP race in Louisville, KY. Photo by Ben Ross.

Road Trip! For the first time ever, the Cyclocross World Championships will be held in the United States in 2013 thanks to the efforts of U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross!

To be held in Louisville, KY, the USGPoC will get a trial run in 2012 as they host the masters ‘cross worlds, then a final shakedown for the masters event again in 2013 a few days before the worlds!

“After more than a decade of working closely with American promoters and the UCI to grow our international calendar of cyclo-cross events, Louisville’s winning bid is a testament to the success of those efforts and to the extraordinary quality of ‘cross racing in the U.S.,” USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said.

US Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross (USGP) promoters, Bruce Fina and Joan Hanscom, will produce the races in partnership with the Louisville Sports Commission and USA Cycling.

“This is thrilling news,” said Fina. “We have worked for six years with the USA Cycling National Team and six years on the USGP to further develop the sport in the U.S. to the point where our riders can be competitive on the global stage. Hosting the Worlds in the U.S. is the next logical step.  We hope to see a continued increase in the number of professional cross racers in the states and hope this venue will enhance that goal.”

Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com rider Jeremy Powers agrees, stating “The world champs are an event that everyone will compete in. Bart Wellens can’t say,’Oh, I’m not going to go.’ It’s going to pave the way for a lot of younger riders and going to give our country the depth and respect it deserves in ’cross. It’s also going to aid in the development of young riders and inspire them to want to race ’cross seriously and overall create something really special that I’m excited to be able to be part of. I’m looking forward to this with a lot of excitement.”

"We got the World Championships! C'mon, high five! Don't leave me hangin..." USGP's Joan Hanscom (left) rides with road champ Meredith Miller. Thanks to Wil Matthews for the photo.

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H. David Koßmann from pressedienst-fahrrad (German Bicycle Press Agency) sent us this photo after he saw our previous Pic Of The Day. Check out his website, www.pd-f.de, if you read German.

To see more Pics of the Day, click here, and to submit your own photo to be shown to the world, go here.

Mission Workshop, whose bags we showed you a bit ago, is offering one lucky winner a free Vandal Backpack just for spouting off about how much you love Smokey and the Bandit.  Now, I watched this movie countless time as a kid, but the only thing I really remember with any clarity is the ridiculously long brake slide Burt Reynolds performed, followed immediately by a tire-smokin’ 180 while remaining directly in the center of the road.

We found this by accident sheer luck on another website, so here’s the deal:  Mission Workshop, you will email us directly with your low brow humor and contests in the future.  In return, we’ll post them here.  Deal?

Click the image to enlarge for detail and entry instructions.

The North American Handmade Bicycle Show Inc., owner of the world’s leading custom bicycles show, has signed a one-year title sponsorship deal with Shimano American Corporation., the world’s leading bicycle components manufacturer. The correct title of the event is now: Shimano North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

NAHBS founder and show director, Don Walker, said, “Shimano has long been an industry leader, and I am thrilled to have them come on board as the title sponsor of NAHBS! Shimano’s involvement with NAHBS started at our San Jose show in 2006, and they are one of two major players that have been with us consistently since then. Their dedication to innovation and their support of the independent framebuilder is second to none. I couldn’t be happier that they wanted to step up their involvement. I hope this relationship will continue to blossom for years to come!”

Having been involved either as an exhibitor and lower-level sponsor of NAHBS for many years, Shimano recognizes the value in supporting the steadily growing handmade community through this show. NAHBS has served as a contact point for input and feeback from the myriad framebuilders – both commercial and hobbyists – who attend the show. Shimano welcomed the opportunity to step up to the role of leading sponsor.

Shimano’s brand manager Dustin Brady, said, “We are excited to once again be a supporter of NAHBS and see what gems these talented framebuilders have created. The show provides a grand stage for some of the world’s greatest framebuilders to showcase their unique works of art, and our commitment to this event helps support our customers in their creative endeavors. NAHBS also allows us to interact with the public and demo our advanced component systems like Dura-Ace Di2 and Ultegra, which customers can of course equip on their bikes.”

The Shimano sponsorship includes the Shimano Bike of the Day story for the NAHBS blog during the show, which will put the spotlight on innovative or stylish use of Shimano products in show bicycles.

NBC’s Universal Sports will be streaming same day coverage of the 2010 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic, this weekend!

While events run Saturday and Sunday, they’ll only be streaming the Men’s pro field at 12pm (noon) EST on Sunday, January 31.  Here’s the link to tune in:  http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=398217.html.  Watch as defending champion Niels Albert tries to make it two in a row!