Follow the Thor Hushovd, Carlos Sastre, Heinrich Haussler and the rest of Cervelo Test Team through the calendar of races in Beyond The Peloton: Season 2.

Yes, it’s true. AHTBM kits are once again available, as it turns out, after the minimums were met Voler was nice enough to push up delivery to the first week of June and extend the order window by 4 weeks!

So why do you need an AHTBM kit? Well for starters, it say es lebe der schwarzmarkt which means “long live the black market” in German(good catch TwoWheelJeep!), which is both funny and worldly. Also, last year at Interbike I met Stevil and it turns out I kind of knew him. Not in a hey, I know you sort of way but more like a 6 degrees from Kevin Bacon kind of deal, only this was one degree from Stevil Kinevil which in my opinion is much more amusing. Anyways, hes an awesome dude with ties to Santa Cruz, Swobo, and is also an artist known as the Mayor of Drunkingham. Bottom line, if you are already out there ruining the race for everybody, and the only one who understands the art of a beer hand-down, you owe it to yourself to do it in Black Market style.

Hit more to see the shorts and skin suits!

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Not much more to say.  Click the image to enlarge, or just go here to enter: Versus.com/ultra

A bicycle parts vending machine outside Traif Bike Gesheft. Photo: Colin Moynihan / NY Times.

Baruch Herzfeld, owner of Traif Bike Gesheft (Yiddish for ‘non-Kosher bike shop’) has installed New York City’s first bicycle parts vending machine.  The 24/7 retail box carries things cyclists may need in an emergency, such as patch kits, pumps, brake pads and other things for general repairs (fresh tires for fixie hipsters?).

“We see somebody with a flat, we try to help them,” said Mr. Herzfeld in a NY Times article.  “Now we have something that works 24 hours.”

Herzfeld’s shop holds free weekend repair workshops run by the environmental group Time’s Up, so newbies can learn how to use the stuff sold in the vender.

Check out the full story here.

“Bicycle Repair Man” by Psym:

- “Oh look… is it a stockbroker?”
- “Is it a quantity surveyor?”
- “Is it a church warden?”

- “NO! It’s Bicycle Repair Man!”

Check out this photo’s video inspiration which we posted a while back.

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

Shimano Coasting is dead. Well, for now at least. Originally designed as a way to get non cyclists – who were intimidated by shifting, Lycra, and competitive cycling in general, to get into riding a bike. The concept was basically to take all the “hard” parts out of riding a bike, the consumer could just jump on and ride. The bikes were much more than stylized single speeds though, and boasted a front wheel dynamo and speed sensor that then transmitted info and power to a shift CPU under the bottom bracket that then shifted the rear 3 speed coaster brake based on the front wheel speed. Coasting bikes were actually pretty fun to ride, and rewarded your effort with a comforting whirr when shifting gears. Some bikes like the Trek Lime boasted under seat trunks, customizable color plates, and nearly flat proof tires – all in trying to remove the inconveniences that could come with riding a bike. The only problem with marketing to non-cyclists though, is well, they are non cyclists.

Coasting initially had a strong roll out with the bikes being featured on talk shows such as Ellen, and featured in the New York Times. More than one manufacturer offered a Coasting bike as well, with offerings from Trek, Raleigh, Giant, Fuji and others. After the initial take off though, sales soon fell flat. Perhaps they will simply take a break from the auto-shift market, or maybe Coasting was a way for Shimano to test the waters with electronic bike parts. Either way it seems that this forward thinking marketing strategy in the world of bikes will be abandoned for now.

Thanks to Yannig Roth for the heads up!

VitalMTB has a sneak peak at 2011 Specialized P3 prototype dirt jump bikes.  These are so fresh that even our boy over at Big S doesn’t have photos of them, so we’re borrowing VMTB’s video.  Here are the bullet points:

• 2011 P3 will be frameset only, P2 will be sold as completes.
• Frame weight, 4.7lbs
• Frame price, $500, includes headset, seat, post and rear dropout hardware for SS or gears
• Tapered headtube designed around integrated headset
• 69 degree head angle, 1/2 degree steeper than 2010
• 12.25-inch bottom bracket height, raised from 2010
• They removed the 6mm offset from the rear end to better accomodate aftermarket SS rear hubs
• Strengthened junction at seat tube/top tube/seat stays
• Cable guides for full shifter and brake housing
• Lower standover than 2010 P series frames
• 22.5-inch top tube length

We did get word from Specialized that they’ll have a number of new goodies to show us at Sea Otter, including bikes and tires, among other things…stay tuned.

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel is reporting that Adam Schmidt has resurrected the event and that 24 Hours of 9 Mile is back on the books!

Called the Wassau 24, the new event is scheduled for July 31 to August 1, it’ll include both 12- and 24-hour events for solo and 4-person teams.  The 12 hour event will have 2-person teams.  Registration is set to open April 10 and starts at $75 per person.

Schmidt, the owner of Muddy Paws Racing and director of the Trek Big Ring Classic (a WORS race at Nine Mile), stepped in to pick up the pieces left behind by Granny Gear.

Schmidt’s quoted as saying “It’s done, it’s a go.  We want to be here for our fellow mountain bikers.”

Check out the Facebook event page for more details. Hat tip to Ryan for the heads up on this!

RELATED: Our feature article on the future of 24 hour racing covers the logic behind race entry fees.

Wheeltags has just introduced two new designs to add a little life, er death in the case of the Los Muertos skulls, to your deep dish rims and disc wheels.

Sets are available for 16mm, 25mm, 38mm and 60mm deep rims and full disc wheels. Check after the break to see the new Blades design, available in green, yellow and red…

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Cube has won a prestigious Red Dot award for the design of their Reaction GTC SL carbon fiber hardtail mountain bike.  Featuring a monocoque frame made using Cube’s Twin Mold process that prevents wrinkles on the interior of the frame, the Reaction GTC SL is set up for 100mm of travel and a Press Fit BB.

“The CUBE Reaction GTC SL is stuffed with technology without looking overloaded,” explains product designer Gregor Dauth, member of the Cube Innovation Center.

“The massive cross sections of the carbon frame look delicate emphasized through the use of dynamic, gently curved lines. Distinctive contour Lines make forces evident and visible.”

What that means in plain speak is that the real tricks that gave it the award are the subtle but functional frame features like an integrated seatpost binder, excellent tube shaping and more, all yours for the gawking after the break…

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What’s a Fred Bar? Well, there is a nice little write up by Brendan on the Siren Cycles’ blog about what they are and why he’s making them after the break…

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Mavic is seeking a PR and communications manager to handle their communications plan, budget and staff.  Key responsibilities include:

• Execute the communications portion of the marketing plan to meet company objectives
• Manage the Interbike trade show including booth, events and staff.
• Define and drive the strategies needed to promote product stories to the market.
• Directly communicate with consumers via social media, PR and events
• Manage and Optimize the communications portion of the marketing budget
• Work closely with the Sports Marketing Manager and the Sales team to deliver a truly integrated communications strategy.