The Langster has been a bit of a favourite around here since it was released, well now the fixie nerds/fashion victims (sorry, but riding about on 150 year old technology because couriers 'look cool' isn't something I've got to grips with) have got something new to get all dewy eyed about.
The 2010 Specialized Langster in steel (solid rubber tyres next!).
I'm ashamed to say that I do think it's a pretty looking bit of kit. No details as yet, we'll keep you posted.
Ryan Evans has just sent us a report of the recent brutal Xterra Tri in the Czech Republic.
Terrible pre-race weather conditions and plain old mechanical failure seemed to be working against him. Would he even make it to the starting line?
Somebody has directed us to the following site. This is the easily the best in an exhaustive list of ways to keep in touch with the Tour de France.
Just don't use it in work. No. As highly dedicated professionals ourselves we'd certainly not be able to recommend following the Tour in work hours. The thought of seeing how the team time trial is panning out, how Astana placed, whether Lance actually has the Yellow, whether Garmin destroyed the field... No. That doesn't interest us at all during office hours.
Click on the brilliantly titled www.steephill.tv and soak it up.
Yet more 2010 news: The new Trek Madone, a new 120mm all mountain bike from Cannondale and a singlespeed from Kona called the, wait for it, 'Band Wagon'.
No 2011 news as of yet, but we're on tenterhooks...
We've been building a few interesting bikes in the mechanics workshop just underneath our office recently.
The Kona Ute and The Charge Plug Freestyler spring to mind as two that made everyone just run downstairs to stand and stare and fight over who got to test ride them. They are unique bikes, but they split opinion - particularly the Freestyler.
The Trek District takes the prize as the bike that at time of writing, everyone who's seen one, wants one.
What a terrific piece of kit. Aside from the revolutionary belt drive it's brilliantly built, light, stylish and strong. It is, for the moment officially the bike that most Tredz staff members would like as a 'staff bike'.
The Tour de France kicks off tomorrow in Monaco, and after careful discussion with our top road racing experts we've come up with our rock solid predictions for the 2009 event:
Those lovely people at Sustrans have come up with a great little idea...
"Nearly one in four car journeys are less than two miles, so we're asking you to join with thousands of others and swap just one car trip between 29 June – 4 July 2009."
"Just walk, cycle, use public transport or
car-share instead. Amazingly, if we all take this one easy action,
together we'll reduce car traffic by 10% – healthier journeys, cleaner
air and quieter streets. Sounds like good car-ma to us."
Click on www.changeyourworld and to sign up.
Lots of stuff flying round at the moment about the Specialized 2010 launch in Snowbird, Utah. Assuming our invite and flight tickets to the prestigious event got lost in the post, we've been relying on the same sites you have for info.
And like the bike geeks/gossip queens we are we've been unable to stop checking out the pictures. On our lunchbreaks, obviously...
Best two places to go for Spesh '10 news are Bikeradar for their road coverage and Mtbr for the mountain bike pictures.
Our first thoughts? We're drooling.
Checkout the 2010 Specialized Enduro! A massive frame departure. One that had our general manager excited enough to start reminiscing about the Cannondale Killer V. Both the 2010 Stumpy and Enduro have got the very successful 2009 Epic shock position.
Not sure we're going to see any here, but that Epic 29er is something else too.
The Road frames are getting (again this is American news, not sure yet if we are getting this), an 'entry level Roubaix' in the form of the Secteur. Budget road comfort, as the geometry is the same as the more expensive and much praised Roubaix just in good ol' Alu.
The new time trial bike is a real attention grabber too. The Specialized Shiv is not only one of the coolest (and scariest) named bikes in recent memory, but it is also one of the most radical.
The summer holidays will soon be upon us. This doesn't mean much to those of us that don't have children (except quieter roads in the morning), but to those who do then now may be the time when you start to think of activities that will
be fun and involve the whole family, irrespective of age or abilities.
One of the answers is cycling; not convinced, check out our guide to cycling with children for some advice and hopefully inpiration.
First thoughts
It’s always nice to review a bike that people actually ride, something at the sensible end of the price range. Admittedly £1500 is still a lot of money but it’s a very popular price point for quality full-sus trail bikes and it mustn’t be forgotten that this bike delivers 150mm of travel, something that not very long ago would have cost twice as much.
This is a hotly contended market and you can get a lot of bike for your money. I have to admit that my favourite trail/All-mountain bikes at this price is the Specialized Stumpjumper comp, a bike capable of so much more than its price (and travel!) suggests, and the ‘bouncier’ Pitch.
With competition like this, the Reign has a lot to do to gain my respect.
Only a few short days away from the beginning of the world’s greatest sporting event (says us), the Tour De France.
So what's getting us worked up this time round?
A not very well kept secret, Team GB is on it's way. Yup, Millar, Wiggins, Thomas and Cummings - despite all being currently contracted to existing pro teams are going to race for 'Team Sky' .
Missing anyone? A certain world class sprinter? Apparently they haven't yet been able to persuade Mark Cavendish that it'll be a nicer home for him than Columbia. With his current winning streak on the American team, they might have a job on their hands.
Still, it will be cool to have a team that we can get behind on the pro circuit. If the same methodology that helped Britain dominate the track is brought to the grand Tours, the (B)Sky(B)'s the limit.
It has been anounced that round 1 of the UCI mountain bike world cup will be held in Dalby forest on April 24th. The idea of holding it at this new venue is to promote the sport in advance of the 2012 Olympics. Only the XC will be held in Dalby with the Downhill and 4 cross remaining in Fort William (thank god!) on June 5th - 6th.
It only remains for us to hope that Dalby can put on a decent event that will match the legendary atmosphere of the Fort William venue, they've a lot to live up to. The UK is the only country to hold two UCI world cup MTB events in 2010, this says a lot about Britains standing as a world leading mountain biking venue.
All that remains is for the likes of you and me to support the events and make them the success they could so easily be.
Speaking of bamboo bikes on blogs here's another yawn worthy item! Well I thought it was cool though I doubt it's legality... The idea is that a rear light/lazer show projects a bike lane around you, "providing drivers with a recognizable boundary they can easily avoid."
Hmmm.
Like I say I can't see this being legal but there are no signs of it making it into production, yet!
Not that there's any great need for another high quality quality bike blog written by erudite and knowledgeable cyclists (ahem), but we'll certainly be keeping an eye on the Guardian's new online bike blog and soon to be released podcast.
So far it just looks like mostly rehashed bike blog staples (bamboo bikes? Soo last year), but their general online content is a cut above, so we've high expectations.
Well it's that season again, news of new bikes breaking almost daily, it's becoming a pleasure to check my e-mails.
Anyway it's the turn of Commencal to get us excited about the coming new range. As usual with this sort of thing no details as yet but lots of very pretty pictures. There is too much to cover in one post so for now I'll concentrate on the tasty looking new carbon models.
First up is the all new carbon Meta 5.5.The current model is one of the best trail bikes available so loosing a bit of weight whilst (hopefully) retaining the same impeccable riding characteristics can only be a good thing. I'm V keen to throw a leg over one of these.
Next up is the Skin, a pure race-bred hardtail that's sure to appeal to the shaved of arm.
And last but certainly not least is the Super4, a super fast looking XC beast.
I think you'll agree that this is a pretty hot looking line up of bikes for Commencals first dalliance with carbon. We'll be bringing you news of the rest of their 2010 range soon.
One of our Cardiff shop boys got in touch recently raving about this video.
Ukrainian ' talent' show with some random cyclist in the background?
It is in fact a good example of why we usually ignore the Cardiff boys when they call us raving about videos. Anyway, turn up (or down) the volume and enjoy the insanity.
This one is so new it doesn’t seem to even have a name yet. It’s the new time-trial/triathlon frame that Giant have been working on for quite a while now. Whether it will replace or compliment the current Trinity range is as yet unclear, or for that matter even if it will ever be available to us mere mortals.
What is clear is just how good this bike appears to be, the prototypes have already claimed Tour de France podiums, national titles and world championships.
I’ll let Giant fill you in on the rest….
After exhaustive research and analysis of computerized data
on aerodynamics, the first physical model that Giant constructed resembled a
LEGO project. The plastic mock-up frame featured interchangeable segments that
could be swapped to determine which frame and component combinations provided
optimal aerodynamic function.
Once the ideal aerodynamic design was finally determined, the first rideable
prototype frame was constructed and taken to a wind-tunnel in Germany (are German wind tunnels better than average? -Ed) to
fine-tune efficiency and rider positioning.
“This whole project started with two guiding principles,” said Dennis Lane,
Giant’s global product development director. “One, the bike would be built
solely for function, without concern about design aesthetics. And two, it has
to be approved by the UCI, the world governing body of competitive cycling.
These two principles served the end goal of providing professional riders the
tools to win the most important races in the world.”
When the public got its first real look at the original prototypes last summer,
it was clear that Giant had created more than just a redesigned frameset. The
entire bike—including the stem, handlebar, seatpost and even the brakes—were
purposefully crafted to shave seconds off the clock.
Besides the frame shape, one of the bike’s most distinctive features is the
innovative Aerodrive handlebar-and-stem unit. This unique structure improves
aerodynamics and helps riders attain the perfect fit and position with its wide
range of adjustability. It also complies with stricter enforcement of technical
limitations that have been introduced by the UCI, cycling’s world governing
body.
As promised here’s a brief glimpse at another exciting new bike from Giant set for release for 2010.
If your not aware of the 2009 Anthem X’s then they are (were!) Giants lightest full suspension race bikes and under Giant rider Adam Craig have won numerous US national XC races.
Well, as a company dedicated to product development Giant didn’t hang about when it came to bettering an already great design, cue the Anthem X Advanced SL.
The interesting bit in the rather lengthy name is ‘Advanced’. This refers to the fact that the frame is now made of carbon fibre, and as Giant are just about the best when it comes to making a good carbon frame this is shaping up to be a very interesting bike indeed.
Never ones to hang around, Specialized have now released a whole bunch of 2010 models (yes it is still June 2009) on top of the new Allez and they will be available for purchase literally any minute now. Check out our overview of the Specialized 2010 bikes so far.
Also new out, on the shelves and ready for purchase are some of the 2010 accesories in the shape of new helmets and shoes.
We’ll keep you posted as and when we hear about any
further releases.
