Voler is probably best known for their team kits for teams like United Health Care and Team USA, State flag series and colorful graphics. They also have an Elite F.S. series that uses all their top of the line fabrics and technologies. You don’t see it offered at your local bike shop, but with a good mix of quality fabrics, proper fit and good looks, I found it to be a good value for the money. For a cycling clothing company that doesn’t end in ini, elli or some other Italian suffix, this combination is up to the task. Read all the details after the break.

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London’s Condor Cycles is celebrating their founder Monty Young’s 80th birthday with a special release.

The triple butted steel World Series frames will be made in a limited edition of just 150 frames. They’ll come in a mostly white paint scheme with six five different color highlights – red, blue, black, green and yellow – to call out the World Championship rainbow hues.

Based on their professional track team bikes used in the ’60s and ’70s, these modern incarnations will be available with either track or road dropouts. Each will come with a matching fork and 1″ headset, a Condor branded San Marco Concor saddle in black or white, Condor alloy seatpost and color-matched leather bar tape. Sizes available are 49, 52, 55, 58 and 61.

For those less familiar with the Condor brand, they’re the frame sponsor for the Rapha Condor Sharp cycling team. Jump past the break to see more photos of the World Series bikes…

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Skinz has new thermal C400 long bibs that use hollow core nylon to retain heat, which they say are 190% warmer than their standard material, but it has the same compression properties as their regular compression cycling wear.

For upper body, there’s a non-compression thermal vest, long sleeve jersey and jacket, shown covering the upper part of the bibs on the mannequin.

The light silver number on the right is their new cycling specific rain jacket made with Diaplex, which is 100% waterproof and windproof while also being 100% breathable. It works because Diaplex is temperature activated to open microscopic pores when you’re hot to let air in, then close when it gets too cool to block the wind. The holes are small enough that it always blocks rain.

If you’re not familiar with the Skins line, the “C” in a product name means its a cycling specific product, and “A” is active and applies to any sport. They also have “R” recovery specific items. And the website is skinsusa.com, lest you go guessing around at work and get some other “skin” related websites that are probably NSFW.

Kirk Pacenti, who’s been leading the 650B charge (read our interview with him here) while maintaining a catalog of lugs and frame parts for custom builders at the website Bikelugs.com, has decided to sell off the parts biz to focus on building his mainstream line of components in conjunction with while working at Lynskey Performance Titanium. Here’s the official story:

CHATTANOOGA, TN (BRAIN)—After more than a decade of producing proprietary lugs, fork crowns, BB shells and drop-outs, Kirk Pacenti has decided to sell BikeLugs.com to pursue other opportunities in the bicycle industry.

“I have really enjoyed serving the custom frame building community. But my goals have changed, and I want to focus on designing and producing more mainstream, consumer oriented bicycle components,” Pacenti said.

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Photo submitted by Eric J., who says, “Bought for $5 in a garage sale 18 months ago. Decided this would
be my first restoration. Just completed a week ago. Rides like a
dream.”

More glamour shots after the break.

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I hate to be the one to break it to you, but if you are a cyclist, going out for Halloween as…a cyclist is simply not an option. It’s like a ninja going out as a ninja. It’s like Lady Gaga going out as Lady Gaga.  It’s like the cowboy from The Village People going out as…the cowboy from The Village People. Of course it would be OK for the cowboy from the village people to go out as the construction worker from The Village People or vice versa. AND based on that model, perhaps you could trade everyday-outfits with someone you know (as long as he isn’t a cyclist too, no cheating!) and go out as each other. Hey, maybe you’re lucky enough to know a mental patient who runs around in an Iron Man costume year round, that would be incredibly sweet. Of course he might not get that hooked up in the exchange if you’re say, an accountant. Then again, he might end up being a real stand out at a Halloween party for the criminally insane dressed in your accountant suit. And you, you’d be a huge hit wherever you went in your Iron Man-suit-that-reeks-of-urine-and-whiskey-costume.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “But I don’t normally wear my cycling clothes out to social occasions, so it’s all novel and freaky.” No. Not really. It’s about as novel and freaky as someone showing up to a costume party dressed in golfing clothes or a Yoga outfit. But don’t despair too-too much, there is one way that you can venture out this Halloween season while wearing lycra and not getting horribly ridiculed and judged by jerks like me: you can dress up as your favorite DOPER! And what better accessory for a Doper costume than a big bag of watermelon or cherry flavored CANDY BLOOD?

More very tasteful pics of Doper costumes and info on Candy Blood after the break…

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Don’t buy that super expensive Campy 11 speed chain tool, just yet. If you’re ok with using a drive train that isn’t completely Campagnolo (I know, gasp!) KMC might just have the answer to your chain related issues. The KMC X11 series of chains is just that, 11 speed compatible, obviously for Campagnolo. The best part however has to be the 11 speed quick link that is included with the chain or sold separately.

What does a KMC X11 weigh? Is the 11 speed quick link reusable? Find out after the jump!

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Announced just before Interbike, Zipp Speed Weaponry had their new cockpit components on the loose, including new Service Course stems, handlebars and seatposts that now use 7000-series aluminum, along with the superlight Speed SL stem shown on the left, above.

With a carbon fiber body, the Speed SL stem is targeted to weigh in at just 102g for a 100mm. It has reversed bolts to attach the faceplate, and they thread into a titanium clamp band. The speed dimples should match your Zipp wheels nicely. Full specs on this and the rest of the parts, plus a little aero tire/rim tech, after the break…

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Found on MakeZine, this crazy tall bike was built by Peter Wagner, here’s the why and how:

My current main ride, with dreamed-of front end made real. The whole machine is bolted together..no welds or cuts at all. The wheel base expands about a foot in a deeep bounce.

It is a bit heavier than with a plain fork as I first built it, but the added weight makes unintentional wheelies lower and recoverable… So I feel it’s worth it.

The front ‘fork’ frame is a 12″ kids ‘Next’ bike, but its rear triangle is from a full-size 26″ bike. A stem into a fork-less “head stem” is again bolted into the fender brace hole of the stock fork…. And the top front fork drop-outs receive the big triangle’s crank bolts…. She’s a sweeter ride yet!

On the rained-on cloddy alkalai playa of ’10 Burning Man, the ride on this was glassy smooth…..

Stone cold legend Eddy Merckx is to ride the inaugural Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan, his son has confirmed on Twitter.

Ten-time Tour de France rider and Belgium national champ Axel’s racing record isn’t to be sniffed at either, and, as a long-time resident of British Columbia, he’s set up the Granfondo in the European style to build a cycling legacy for the beautiful region of green hills, mountains and river valleys.

The 150km ride will be based around the city of Penticton, and will take place on July 10 2011. Sign-up for one of the 2500 places is now open.

Visit the Granfondo Axel Merckx site for more details.

661 has always been known for having eye catching Interbike booths with the season’s hottest colors and coolest gear. This year was no exception, although I couldn’t help but notice there was something slightly different about the booth that I couldn’t put my finger on. Well, it turns out that 661 has new owners and hence the slightly different vibe. The new 661 is still very much the same company, it just seems slightly more polished possibly due to the company maturing over the years. The other thing I noticed was the lack of Royal Racing gear at the 661 booth due ti Royal sharing a booth with Urge Bikes on the opposite side of the show floor. I didn’t get the full scoop due to everyone at the 661 booth being crazy busy with appointments and meetings, but I’m guessing that there is no longer any connection between the two brands with no mention of each other on their sites. One Industries is still the owner of not only 661, but also Sunline components, Tag Metals, and Filtron Filters.

On the product size, the biggest bit of news from 661 is the long awaited release of the new Recon All Mountain helmet.

Wonder what a tattoo gun has to do with mountain biking? Find out, along with more on the Recon after the break!

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When speaking with Louis Garneau at Interbike last year, I asked their media representative what products she was most excited about.  While it’s not uncommon to hear in response to that question about a $200 jersey or $6,000 road bike, I’m especially interested when a company’s proudest achievement is a product obtainable to riders with more normally-sized budgets.  One of her highlights for 2010 (which carries unchanged into 2011) is Garneau’s Montana XT2 shoe.  Within a month, a pair arrived- and have stayed in heavy rotation ever since.  Click “more” to find out why.
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