Women on a Mission:
InCycle/Time To Track pb Empower Coaching Systems Strives to Walk the Talk
1/22/10- New elite women's SoCal cycling team looking to launch tomorrow's pros, veterans Bausch & Schuster lead effort to develop young female athletes. Seeing a void in the development of well-rounded female athletes in Southern California, a pair of veteran cyclists, Dotsie Bausch and Pam Schuster, have formed the InCycle/Time To Track presented by Empower Coaching Systems cycling team.  Although the elite eight-rider squad will primarily compete throughout California, the young riders will race in regional and National Racing Calendar (NRC) events while being mentored and groomed to compete on the national and international circuits as professionals and Olympians.  While success on the bike is important to the team, InCycle/Time To Track presented by Empower Coaching Systems will define success differently because the mission of the unit emphasizes fostering a fun, positive, respectful and nurturing environment to support young females in goal-oriented pursuits in cycling and life beyond athletics. more >

The InCycle/Time To Track presented by Empower Coaching Systems Women's Team.
L-Rt) Katie Donovan, Bonnie Breeze, Lea Adams, Pam Schuster, Dotsie Bausch,
Beatriz Rodriguez, Priscilla Calderon - Photo © Dennis Gonzales

Tom Schwartz, Nathan Webber and Reed Moore from the UC Cyclery/JW Flooring team
begin the 20-mile San Felipe Grade climb on their way to Borrego Springs from San Diego
during the team's annual training camp. photo © Mark Johnson/Ironstring.com

Nature Valley Pro Ride Is Amateur Cyclists’ Chance Of A Lifetime
1/14/10 - Six races sprinkled throughout the United States will comprise the 2010 Nature Valley Pro Ride, the qualifying events for amateurs to earn a trip to compete against the country’s top men and women professional bicycle racers at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The Nature Valley Pro Ride will select the top amateur men and women to become part of a pair of composite Nature Valley Cycling Teams for the 12th annual edition of the premier stage race on the 2010 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, held in East Central Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, runs June 16-20. Rider invitations will be issued following the six stops on this national tour: Hillsboro-Roubaix Road Race (April 10) in Illinois, Rock Hill Spring Bicycle Classic (April 10-11) in South Carolina, Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic (April 23-25) in Oregon, Barrio Logan Grand Prix/Mark Reynolds San Luis Rey Road Cycling Classic (May 1-2) in California, Bear Mountain Spring Classic (May 15) in New York and Mt. Hamilton Road Race/Criterium (May 30-31) in California. Nature Valley Pro Riders who are invited to compete in the Nature Valley Grand Prix earn free entries to the race, generous travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite teams. They will also receive pro-level recognition before, during and after the events, including pre-race call-ups and participation in promotional and media appearances. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an amateur to receive a ‘battlefield promotion’ to compete with the top professionals,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Executive Director David LaPorte said. ”Since its inception 11 years ago, the Nature Valley Grand Prix has emerged as the top women’s bike racing event and one of the top men’s races in the U.S.. The Nature Valley Pro Ride gives top U.S. amateurs a chance race in front of huge crowds, to be noticed by pro team managers and potentially to receive a pro contract.”   

Fly V australia Win Gold and Silver in Championships
1/10/10 - David Kemp claimed second place in the 2010 Australian Championships to claim Fly V australia’s second medal of the championships to go with Aaron Kemps Gold medal won earlier in the week at the Criterium. Fly V australia’s race plan was laid out for all to see within half a lap in the 16-lap 160 km road race. In a catch me if you can strategy Fly V Australia placed 3 riders into the first break of the day. 5 others joined David Kemp, Aaron Kemps and Hayden Brooks as they set about amassing a 7-minute lead. They got down to work in such a way that the lead they built up ultimately became insurmountable for the chasers. In a well laid out plan inform riders; Bernie Sulzberger, Jonathan Cantwell, Jai Crawford and Darren Rolfe were given a ‘free’ ride in the peloton. Team DS Henk Vogels said “Having three in the move took the pressure off us and allowed us to be in a position to follow the expected moves from the PRO Tour riders.” Vogels added, “With 10 laps completed and the break with still almost 7 minutes it became evident that the chasers had a big job ahead of them, then at three laps to go and still over four minutes in front we knew the race would be decided from the break.” David Kemp was granted the final position by the National Selection committee in the National Team to contest the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU) beginning in Adelaide on 17 January. Kemp will now join Fly V australia teammate Jonathan Cantwell in the National team to contest the TDU.

Mandeville Canyon Road Rage Doctor Sentenced to Five Years
1/8/10 - Doctor Christopher Thompson was sentenced to five years in prison for the road rage incident that occurred with cyclists, Christian Stoehr and Ron Peterson, on July 4, 2008 on Mandeville Canyon. Thompson was found guilty on seven counts including assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, battery with serious injury, and reckless driving causing injury. Cyclists from around the country and world urged for tough sentencing in this case in order to set a precedent for future driver / cyclist altercations.  During sentencing, Thompson was remorseful and cried as he apologized to the injured cyclists.

Tandem Riders got the chance to display their cross skills at Cross Fever.
Photo courtesy SoCalCross

Rock Racing Denied UCI Pro Continental Status
1/8/10 - The UCI has ruled on the appeals brought on by the teams that were previously rejected as Professional Continental Team. After a hearing involving the teams, the UCI Management Committee approved the registration for Androni Giocattoli (VEN) and Xacobeo Galicia Team (ESP) for the 2010 season, however Rock Racing was denied with no reason was given for the rejection. Riders Floyd Landis and Gilberto Simoni were both rumored to sign with Rock if the Team received Pro Continental status.

Brewery Broadens Social Bike Program
1/6/10 - The New Belgium Brewing Company has invested in an international social bike program to ensure it serves the Southwest of the United States. The Social Bike Business program creates jobs through locally manufactured transportation bicycles for disadvantaged people. Led by One Street, a global bicycle advocacy organization, the program is underway in Prague, Budapest and Los Angeles. The New Belgium Brewing Company prides itself on its sustainable operations through use of wind power, building with green materials, reuse of resources and recycling. Their parking lot is designed for bicycles. And their grant making program is one of only a few outside of the bike industry that specifically favors programs for increasing bicycling. One Street’s Social Bike Business program tackles poverty by providing affordable, quality transportation bicycles through locally-run bicycle community centers and bike shops that serve disadvantaged neighborhoods. One Street has developed the replicable program elements and helps local leaders raise the funds needed to open their bicycle community center. At their center, locals can take part in certification job training courses that also pertain to other business careers including business management, customer service and bicycle manufacture. This program offers a fresh look at solving the serious lack of access to bike shops and affordable, sturdy transportation bicycles for the majority of the world’s population. It offers a more efficient, global solution that keeps bikes close to where they are made as it lifts people from poverty forever. Through running their own bike business, or simply buying their own bike, people can save on transportation costs, increase their quality of life and create additional business opportunities.

SoCalCycling.com Elite Team Director, Frank Sarate, shows off the Team's new
dream ride for 2010 - the Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod.
Photo © SoCalCycling.com

Dave Wiens to Lead Fundraiser So Kids Can Have Safe Roads and Great Trails
1/5/10 - Six-time Leadville 100 winner, and former US Mountain Bike team member, Dave Wiens, will lead a new annual cycling event for the Bay Area, The Dirt Bowl, to be held on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th, 2010. The Dirt Bowl is produced by Marin County Bicycle Coalition in partnership with the The NorCal High School Mountain Bike League.  It is a benefit ride to ensure that kids have safe roads and great trails. Proceeds from the Dirt Bowl will support the ongoing advocacy work being conducted by both organizations. Dave Wiens said, “Great trails make for happy, healthy people. We cannot put too much emphasis on trail advocacy and our simple but important messages will spread further and become actionable to more trail users if we can educate our youngest trail users, such as members of the NorCal League." The ride is sponsored by Specialized Bicycle Components and Mike's Bikes and is for both recreational and competitive cyclists. Road cyclists are also invited to participate in the Dirt Bowl and will be supported by the Marin Cyclists. The start is at the San Geronimo Golf Course west of Fairfax, California. more info >

Adageo/Liquid Fitness Team Partners with iSportWest and Velocomp
1/4/10 - iSportWest in conjunction with Velocomp, the makers of the iBike line of power meters, will be sponsoring of the Adageo/Liquid Fitness professional cycling team for 2010. The Southern California based Adageo/Liquid Fitness team was recently included as one of only eleven UCI Continental teams for the upcoming year. Adageo/Liquid Fitness team members have already begun riding with their new iBike power meters.  Team member Matt Landers admits being surprised by his experience, “Not only was I blown away by the iBike’s accuracy, I was stunned by how much insight it offered me.” John Hamann of Velocomp was not, “We’ve worked long and hard to develop a power meter that not only addressed the issues of existing power meters (weight, inflexibility, complexity and cost) but most importantly to deliver on the imperatives of consistency, accuracy and quality”. “Partnering with the Adageo team will not only enable team members to increase their own fitness and abilities, but it will allow us to gather even more feedback from a racer’s perspective.  Training solely based on long miles and heart rate is now antiquated. If you are not training with power, you are limiting your potential.  iSportWest and Velocomp are excited to be working with the Adageo team for 2010”  says Eben Benade, owner of iSportWest. The Adageo/Liquid Fitness team’s preliminary race calendar includes a mix of regional and national-level events, including the San Dimas and Redlands Classic stage races in March, the Ventura County Stage Race in May, the International Championship in Philadelphia in June, the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic in July and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in August.

Contador Selects Specialized Bicycles as the Bike Sponsor for Team Astana
1/2/10 - After Alberto Contador requested the support of Specialized Bicycles in his bid to win his third Tour de France, the California brand will be the complete bike sponsor for Team Astana in 2010. In a video conference with Specialized Founder and President, Mike Sinyard, Contador said, “I am very excited. I want to have the best bike. It is very important to have the best if you want to win the Tour de France. This is why I made it a requirement to have Specialized as the team bike for my return to Astana.” “Team Astana, Alberto and Specialized share the same goal—to be the best. We are totally committed to supporting Alberto and the rest of the team in their pursuit of another Tour victory,” said Specialized Chief Brand Officer, Ben Capron from the company’s Headquarters in Morgan Hill, California. “Winning the Tour has been a dream of ours for many years, but even more important is the opportunity to work with riders like Contador and Vinokourov to help us create the best bikes possible and bring them to riders everywhere.” In recent years, Astana was sponsored by Trek, who is now sponsoring Lance Armstrong's Radio Shack Team. Likewise, Specialized is shifting gears and has ended their sponsorship of Tom Boonen's Quick Step Team in favor of the opportunity to work with Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and Team Astana. Fans can follow Alberto Contador and Team Astana throughout the 2010 racing calendar at iamspecialized.com.

Alberto Contador and Team Astana will be riding complete Specialized bikes in 2010.
Photo courtesy Specialized