BikeRadar.com

Pro bike: Tejay Van Garderen’s BMC Team Machine SLR01

Ben Delaney — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:21:00 GMT

At age 23, Tejay Van Garderen continues to quickly climb the ranks of professional cycling. After a starting with Rabobank’s U23 squad, Van Garderen moved over to HTC-Columbia before joining BMC for 2012.

The Amgen Tour of California is a big target for the American stage racers, who finished fifth last year. More recently, Van Garderen showed his ability by placing fifth at Paris-Nice this March.

Cyclingnews’ Laura Weislo caught up with Van Garderen to talk about his recent successes and his hopes for this year’s race in California.

Van Garderen is racing a BMC Team Machine SLR01, a frameset that's claimed to weigh a little more than 900 grams. As with BMC’s other bikes, the Team Machine is quite angular visually, including its proprietary seatpost that is wider side-to-side than front-to-back for compliance.

Although he stands 6'1" (1.85m) tall, Van Garderen rides a 55cm frame, in part so that he can get as low as he likes in front. Note the stem slammed all the way down on the frame. And speaking of the stem... he runs a 140 to get his position as long as he prefers. Many pros often go this route of sizing down on frames. Cannondale created a frame for Peter Sagan, triple-stage winner at the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, that achieves the long-and-low position using a long top tube and a 120mm stem.

Like many pros, Van Garderen uses an aluminum handlebar. This practice is often done for post-crash safety — meaning that a rider and bike can hit the deck and be up and running within seconds without having to strip off the handlebar tape to check for cracks in a carbon fiber bar. If an aluminum bar is broken, it is usually immediately apparent.

Check out the gallery at right for all the details on Van Garderen's rig. And be sure to follow all the action from the Amgen Tour of California on Cyclingnews.com.

Complete bike specifications

Frame: BMC Team Machine SLR01, 55cm
Stem: Easton EA70, 140mm
Handlebar: Easton EA70, 42cm (c-c)
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900
Shift/Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-7970
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-7970
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-27T
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace with SRM, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace
Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheelset: Easton EC90SLX
Front tire: Continental Pro Competition tubular, 22mm
Rear tire: Continental Pro Competition tubular, 22mm
Saddle: Fi'zi:k Antares
Seatpost: BMC Team Machine SLR01
Bottle cages: Elite
Computer: SRM

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 1.85m (6ft 1in)
Rider's weight: 67kg (148lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 78cm

Commencal Meta SL and AM 29 – First look

Faye Sanders in Orbey, France — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:35:00 GMT

The French town of Orbey in the Vosges mountains was the location for Commençal's 2012 mountain bike launch. Following on from last year's release of the Meta AM, this year sees an expansion of the Meta range, including a new 120mm-travel trail bike and 29er.

Developments have also been made to Commençal's 'gravity' range, with a new Supreme FR being revealed along with updates to the Supreme DH v3. More news about the bikes will be coming next week. For now, take a look at our image gallery for a sneak peek at what's to come.

You can view full specifications below, though prices, availability and claimed weights are still to be confirmed. For more information, visit www.commencal.com.

	Commencal Meta SL	Commencal Meta AM 29	Commencal Supreme FR (Marzocchi)	Commencal Supreme FR (FOX)	Commencal Supreme DH	Commencal Supreme DH World Cup
Frame	Meta SL V2	Meta AM 29 V2	Supreme FR V3	Supreme FR V3	Supreme DH V3	Supreme DH V3
Shock	FOX Float RP23 BV	FOX Float RP23 BV	Marzocchi Roco R w/ piggyback	FOX RC2	Marzocchi Roco R w/ piggyback	FOX RC4 Kashima
Travel	120mm	130mm	180mm	180mm	200mm	200mm
Fork	FOX 32 Float RL FIT, 15QR, tapered	FOX 34 Float RLC FIT, 15QR, tapered	Marzocchi 66 RCV, limited edition for Commençal	FOX Van FIT RC2	Marzocchi 888 RC3 Evo, limited edition for Commençal	FOX 40 RC2 FIT Kashima
Headset	Cane Creek 10 series	Cane Creek 10 series	Cane Creek 10 Series	Cane Creek 10 Series	Cane Creek 10 Series	Cane Creek 10 Series
Stem	Commençal VIP OS	Commençal VIP OS	Commençal OS, 50mm	Commençal OS, 50mm	Gravity Light direct mount	Easton Havoc direct mount
Handlebar	Commençal VIP, 1in rise, 710mm	Commençal VIP, 0.75in rise, 730mm	Commencal Supreme DH 7075 low riser, 760mm	Commencal Supreme DH 7075 low riser, 760mm	Commencal Supreme DH 7075 low riser, 760mm	Easton Havoc Carbon, 750mm
Grips	Commençal lock-on	Commençal lock-on	Commençal Deluxe lock-On	Commençal Deluxe lock-On	Commençal Deluxe lock-On	Commençal Deluxe lock-On
Brakes	Formula RX, 180/180mm rotors	Formula RX, 180/180mm	Formula RX, 203/203mm, reach adjustment	Formula RX, 203/203mm, reach adjustment	Formula RX, 203/203mm, reach adjustment	Formula Roval, 203/203mm, reach adjustment
Shifters	SRAM Trigger X9 2x10	SRAM Trigger X9 2x10	SRAM X7	SRAM X7	SRAM X7	SRAM X9 10-speed
Chain device	SRAM X9 direct mount 2x10	SRAM X9 direct mount 2x10	e*thireen LS1 w/ Taco	e*thireen LS1 w/ Taco	e*thireen LS1 w/ Taco	e*thirteen LG1 w/ Taco
Rear derailleur	SRAM X0	SRAM X0	SRAM X9	SRAM X9	SRAM X9	SRAM X0 DH
Cranks	SRAM S2210 Carbon, 42/28t	SRAM S2210 Carbon, 38/24t	FSA Gap DH, 36t, 170mm	e*thirteen LG1	FSA Gap DH, 36t, 170mm	e*thirteen LG1 Race
Chain	Yaban 10s	Yaban 10s	Yaban 9s	Yaban 9s	Yaban 9s	Yaban 10s
Cassette	SRAM PG1070, 11-36t	SRAM PG1070, 11-36t	SRAM PG950, 11-28t	SRAM PG950, 11-28t	SRAM PG950, 11-28t	SRAM PG970DH, 11-26t
Rims	Fulcrum Red Power XL	Fulcrum Red Power XL 29	Commençal by Alex, double wall w/ eyelet	Commençal by Alex, double wall w/ eyelet	Commençal by Alex, double wall w/ eyelet	Mavic EX 721
Hubs	Fulcrum, 15QR front, 142x12 rear	Fulcrum, 15QR front, 142x12 rear	Commençal sealed bearing 20mm front, 12mm rear	Commençal sealed bearing, 20mm front, 12mm rear	Commençal sealed bearing, 20mm front, 12mm rear	Commençal light version sealed bearing, 20mm front, 12mm rear
Spokes	Fulcrum	Fulcrum	Stainless, 3x lacing	Stainless, 3x lacing	Stainless, 3x lacing	Stainless, 3x lacing
Tyres	Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.25in	Maxxis Ardent 2.25in front, Maxxis Crossmark 2.1in rear	Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in 2-ply	Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in Super Tacky	Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in 2-ply	Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in Super Tacky
Seatpost	Commençal VIP	RockShox Reverb	Commençal Supreme	Commençal Supreme	Commençal Supreme	Thomson Elite
Saddle	SDG Circuit for Commençal	SDG Circuit for Commençal	Commençal Supreme FR by Velo	Commençal Supreme FR by Velo	SDG Circuit for Commençal	SDG Circuit for Commençal
Sizes	S,M,L, XL	S,M,L,XL	S,M, L	S,M, L	S,M, L	S,M, L
Colour	Matt black	Pure white	Matt light green	Matt cool grey	Matt light green	Matt cyan blue
Notes			Includes flat pedals		Includes flat pedals

The Supreme FR, Supreme DH, Meta AM 29 and Meta SL will also be available as framesets, including VIP versions with upgraded shocks (FOX DHX RC2, DHX RC4 and Float RP23 Boost Valve, respectively). Two 24in-wheeled bikes will be available for younger riders – the Supreme 24 and Supreme JR.

WTB Volt Team saddle review

Joe Rafferty, Mountain Biking UK — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Weighing 229g, WTB’S titanium-railed Volt Team saddle is designed primarily for road and cross-country racing. It has a dipped centre and slightly raised tail, and offers great support and comfort when tilting your hips forwards to put power down.

The Volt Team’s forward-forcing profile makes it easy to get into a chest-down climbing position, and also means it a great saddle for slack seat-angled trail bikes too. The titanium rails, leather cover and Kevlar corners mean it’s very durable, and we found the shape very supportive. For the added weight penalty of a packet of crisps though, you can nigh-on halve the price by choosing the alloy-railed Pro version.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Best road helmets

Cycling Plus — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:05:00 GMT

We’ve tested a wide range of road cycling helmets to find out if getting the right lid means spending big bucks or whether a more modest sum can buy the right fit, comfort and cooling for you. Here's our pick of the best helmets we've tested this year.

Best helmets for road cycling

Winner: LAS Victory Limited

£139.99 / US$

The LAS Victory Limited has a highly adjustable fit and comes with three different pad sets, a soft bag and a hard case for travelling. Extras are all well and good, but the Victory’s construction quality, high-coverage hard shell, strap material, pads, buckles and clasps are among the best we’ve seen. If your budget can stretch to £140, we strongly recommend you check it out and try it for fit.

Weight: 275g (L)
Vents: 25
Included: Bag, case, peak, pads
From: www.lashelmets.com / www.chickencycles.co.uk

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the LAS Victory Limited

Runner-up: Bontrager Circuit

£69.99

The Bontrager Circuit is seriously tough. Its hard shell extends right over the EPS core, minimising the likelihood of accidental damage, the fit is highly adjustable and it has good quality pads. The Circuit stands not just above similarly priced helmets – some of which are excellent in themselves – but puts plenty of pricier helmets in their place too.

Weight: 319g (L)
Vents: 21
From: www.bontrager.com

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Bontrager Circuit

Value award: Giro Savant

£59.99

The Giro Savant features the same ‘wind tunnel’ vent and Roc Loc retention system as the £200 Aeon. Combine this, the low weight, the all-round quality and its good looks and you’ve got our best budget helmet.

Weight: 260g (L)
Vents: 26
From: www.giro.com / www.madison.co.uk

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Giro Savant

Also consider

Specialized Prevail

£159.99

This range-topping lid from Spesh was partly developed using a wind tunnel, to create a standard helmet that not only offers great airflow but real aerodynamic advantages. We can’t confirm whether the Prevail will make you faster or not, but we can say it’s among the best-ventilated helmets available. Fit is superb, with 5cm of vertical adjustment and a tiny rotary cradle adjuster for excellent fine tuning. The bottom of the polystyrene core is less dense, reducing weight but also making it easier to damage, so for this price we’d have liked a hard case or padded bag to protect this excellent quality lid while travelling.

Weight: 228g (L)
Vents: 31
From: www.specialized.com

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Specialized Prevail

Giro Aeon

£199.99

Giro have taken what they learnt with their ProLight and applied it to the Aeon. It has a dual density EPS foam core and an internal roll cage that weighs less than half that of the Giro Ionos. Further weight is shed with the silk-thin webbing straps and a new version of Giro’s Roc Loc cradle adjuster. The Aeon offers an impressive adjustment range – 5cm horizontal and 2cm vertical – and that’s before you use the ratchet to tune the fit. The lightweight touches are great and add up to a helmet weighing just 224g, but the best part is that this is simply the most ventilated helmet we’ve tried. The worst part is the price.

Weight: 224g (L)
Vents: 24
From: www.giro.com / www.madison.co.uk

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Giro Aeon

LAS Infinito

£59.99

This helmet has a feature we like that’s rare on mid-price lids – a hard shell extending over every vulnerable part of the EPS core. The rear cradle’s three-point vertical adjustment provides 2cm of movement, with a micro-adjust ratchet for horizontal adjustment. The large vents pull plenty of air in and there’s a full one-piece pad with integrated insect mesh, though we’d like a non-meshed pad set for hot days. Fit is generous and comfortable, it’s light for the price, and the exterior is smooth, which is claimed to be better in a crash.

Weight: 285g (L)
Vents: 22
Included: Bag, peak
From: www.lashelmets.com / www.chickencycles.co.uk

Mavic Plasma SLR

£150

Mavic’s entry into the helmet market has gone against the current trend for ever lighter lids but it really scores with everything else. The full in-moulded shell is finished with absolute precision, the heavily vented outer design is mirrored inside with deep channels in the EPS core, and the inner pads, extending over three-quarters of the surface, are fully seamed and finished, the padding a low-density foam that draws moisture away from your skin and holds it in the pad.

Weight: 380g (L)
Vents: 23
From: www.mavic.com

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Mavic Plasma SLR

MET Estro

£89.99

The Estro combines a rounded internal shape, 19 good-sized vents and plenty of core material for protection. Airflow is good, though bettered by some of the more minimal helmets here, and it’s solidly put together, with a perfectly finished in-moulded shell. Anti-bacterial pads on the crown paired with a gel brow pad offer much more comfort than their appearance would suggest. The shape is rounder than most so it’s even more important that you try before you buy, and the interior is sculpted around the vents. The web strap adjusters are substantial and easy to adjust.

Weight: 312g (L)
Vents: 19
From: www.met-helmets.com / www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the MET Estro

Rudy Project Windmax

£150

Rudy’s latest lid has plenty to offer, as you’d expect at this price. It has 21 large vents and the foam EPS core is one of the best protected here, the hard shell extending over all the exposed edges. Its rear cradle has three vertical points of adjustment and is only anchored at the sides, making it a good choice for women because you can pull a ponytail through above the adjuster. It’s airy too: the huge front vents provide masses of airflow while the internal sculpting allows heat to escape rapidly. It comes with a mesh one-piece winter pad set, summer pad set and additional thicker side pads to tune your fit.

Weight: 255g (L)
Vents: 21
Included: Bag, 2 peaks, pads
From: www.rudyproject.com / www.yellow-limited.com

Scott Vanish R

£99.99

Scott have come up with one of the lighter lids at this price. With 24 vents – the largest of which is split by a slim reinforcing bar – ultra-thin, silk-like straps and a minimalist cradle, it’s easy to see how the weight has been kept to a minimum. But thanks to the sculpting of the EPS core, with plenty of space between your head and the helmet, it’s airy and well vented too. The hard shell does extend over the helmet’s edges, helping to reduce day-today damage, though ideally we’d have preferred a bit more coverage of the EPS core.

Weight: 249g (L)
Vents: 24
Included: N/A
From: www.scott-sports.com

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Scott Vanish R

Specialized Propero II

£70

Specialized's flagship Prevail is one of the best-performing road lids on the market. Those who find everything about it appealing except the heady price can instead look to the Specialized Propero II, which packs in almost the same performance and arguably better looks at less than half the cost. It's a brilliant lid for a fantastic price – all the helmet most of us will ever need.

Weight: 238g (S)
Vents: 31
From: www.specialized.com

Click here to read BikeRadar's full review of the Specialized Propero II

What to look for when buying a helmet

All helmets work in much the same way. During a crash the helmet spreads the impact area, through the expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner, to reduce the concentration of forces in a small area. Most modern helmets are manufactured using an in-mould system. This consists of an external hard plastic shell fused under pressure with the impact-absorbing EPS liner. Some more expensive helmets feature internal carbon fibre skeletons for extra strength, although these can add weight.

A helmet will only work if it’s a good fit, and as helmet shape varies between manufacturers, checking fit before you buy is crucial. If it doesn’t fit you properly, don’t buy it. The helmet must be secure when you’re wearing it too, with the straps snug under your chin. Most manufacturers make helmets in three sizes, with precise alterations made using a rear occipital cradle, with either a rotary adjuster or sliders. Some helmets feature cradles that encircle your whole head for more comfort.

After fit and protection, ventilation is the next most important aspect of a helmet. The number of exterior vents only suggests how well a helmet’s ventilation works. For a better idea you need to look on the inside. Deep and wide internal channels will not only allow air to flow through in straight lines, but will also keep more of the EPS foam core away from your head.

The current trend for helmets at the higher end of the market is for ever lower weights. That’s supported by the latest designs from Giro (Aeon 224g), Specialized (Prevail 228g) and Rudy Project’s new range-topping 255g Windmax. While lightness can offer more comfort, in our opinion airflow and fit are more important than chasing ever lighter lids.

How to care for your helmet

Don’t use solvents or strong chemicals to clean your helmet as these can damage the outer shell – we recommend cleaning with mild soap and warm water. Pads can be taken out to wash. Avoid exposing your helmet to high temperatures and replace it after any strong impacts. A well looked after helmet should last around eight years.

This article is based on reviews originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio, and here on BikeRadar.

DT Swiss Tricon M1700 mountain bike wheelset review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Outstanding stiffness and top quality hubs make the DT Swiss Tricon M1700s a super-responsive trail or cross-country upgrade but their axle options are limited and they’re seriously pricey.

Tricon wheels use a unique direct-pull spoke and rim anchoring system for exceptionally high tension that’s immediately obvious in the super-taut, pinpoint accurate ride feel. They’re too narrow for fat tyres but they’re designed more for cross-country than mountain hammering and they’re tubeless-compatible as standard.

The Star Ratchet clutch system gives super-fast engagement to flatter the responsiveness of the low overall weight even further. This makes them singletrack rippers with an obvious upgrade effect.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Campagnolo 2013 Athena, Centaur and Veloce now with triple cranksets

BikeRadar UK — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:16:00 GMT

Campagnolo have announced several additions to their 2013 drivetrains (available now) to cater for riders who want a wider range of gears.

First are the triple crankset options for Athena, Centaur and Veloce. These are available with 52-39-30 or 50-39-30 tooth chainrings,170, 172.5 and 175mm cranks with the Athena crank compatible with 11 speed sprockets.

If you're considering a triple, then make sure your rear derailleur can handle all the gear combinations. Campagnolo will have this information on their website.

Campagnolo Record 52-36 double crankset

For those wanting a wider gear range but who aren't prepared to go to three chainrings, Campagnolo's 52-36 double cranksets may fit the bill. These are being offered for Super Record, Record, Chorus and Athena (carbon) 11 speed, and you can choose crank lengths from 165, 170, 172.5 to 175mm. Claimed weights range from 607g (Super Record) to 690g (Chorus).

Finally, Campagnolo are making available two 10-speed sprocket sets for Centaur. 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25-27 and 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-27-30. Campagnolo say "these new combinations offer a broader choice of ratio range than was possible with the previous combinations in the range, for a sprocket solution suitable for all road types, from flat and level terrain to even the steepest incline."

12-30 10-speed sprocket set

Video: Moots Psychlo X with Trickstuff Doppelmoppel review

Robin Wilmott in Bath, UK — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

German performance specialists Trickstuff sent us this fully loaded cyclo-cross bike to showcase their latest products. Starting with a superb Moots Psychlo X titanium frame with disc brake mount, they added a carbon fibre Wound Up Team X Disc fork and then got to work.

Crying out for attention are the 58mm-deep Schwarzbrenner carbon rims, which spin on 24-hole Tune King and Kong hubs. Fitted with bulging Tufo Flexus Primus tubular tyres, they're impressively light, and accelerate superbly, their short spokes keeping them taut, even under extreme loads on tight uphill corners.

The Tufos offered excellent grip and stability throughout the dry conditions of our test period, their small block tread working well on mixed terrain, and there was little noticeable wear. Having disc brakes means that the carbon rims can be built lighter because they don't require a braking track, although the load on the wheels is arguably greater. The setup proved faultless.

Up top are a titanium Moots 27.2mm seatpost and stem, the former giving a fine pedalling platform while still offering shock reducing flex, and the latter manfully resisting twisting forces while complementing the Syntace Racelite 2 carbon bars in smoothing out the ride. But neatly tucked under the stem is the undoubted star of this show – the Doppelmoppel mechanical-hydraulic convertor.

The what? Trickstuff were one of the first companies (along with TRP and Hope) to develop an effective way to run hydraulic disc brakes from cable operated road levers. First seen in prototype form at Eurobike 2010, the Doppelmoppel mounts neatly under the stem (minimum length 90mm) via a steerer tube bracket, and is adjustable for best fit. Trickstuff recommend using it with Bowden cables (made by Nokon) to give the straightest possible run to the side-entry cable clamps.

A pull on the lever actuates a right-angled cam that in turn operates a hydraulic piston that activates the calliper. The idea is simple, but the operation is refined, with the system’s low friction giving wonderful feel and modulation. There is no sponginess or lag between lever and calliper, just infinitely controllable power.

Providing that braking power are Cleg callipers and Quad Pulse XC six-bolt rotors. With a 160mm rear disc and a whopping 180mm front disc that would be more at home on a mountain bike, the Clegs have power to burn. Brake fade is rarely an issue for a cyclo-cross bike, and even less so here. Trickstuff offer a wide range of discs, so more suitable diameters can be specced depending on the application.

Trickstuff specced their own Tricksatz headset on our test bike. With watertight bearings and clever integrated alloy stops on each side of the steerer that prevent the handlebars from hitting the top tube in the event of a crash, for around a 100g weight penalty this could be a very valuable investment.

The drivetrain is SRAM Force, which offers reliable off-road performance, but up front is a road compact chainset sporting 50/34-tooth chainrings. As a bike built to demonstrate the Doppelmoppel and not specifically for cyclo-cross racing this is fine, but conventional 46/36t ratios would be better suited to most off-road use.

With those rapid wheels and big volume tyres, it’s easy to gain speed quickly and maintain it, and with the stopping power on tap, braking can be left far later, grip levels permitting. There’s so much power that front wheel stoppies are all too easy, but the feedback is sufficient that they aren’t accidental. We did find the front end to be a little steep for our liking, though, and combined with a fairly long stem, this meant handling was less precise than on our favourite cyclo-cross machines.

Disc brakes require a different riding style, and with improved braking, higher speeds can be maintained for more of the course, although riding faster for longer may test your fitness. Compared to top-end cantilever brakes, the Cleg discs approximately halve braking distances, and have the added bonus of minimising the potential for grass and mud fouling the wheels and drivetrain.

Of course, there's a small weight penalty to pay for the extra hardware required, but comparing the weight of a Doppelmoppel convertor, two callipers and discs, Kevlar hoses and all bolts to a pair of Shimano Dura-Ace callipers and Bowden cables results in only a 284g increase. Our complete bike weighed in at just shy of 8kg (17.5lb), which for a machine with such a bombproof frame, top-flight wheels and astonishing ability to start and stop, is impressive.

So, what's the price?

The Moots Psychlo X frameset costs £3,265/$3,095 on its own, with the Trickstuff Doppelmoppel and brakes adding a further €690 (approx £550/$885). Add in the cost of the wheels, Wound Up fork and other high-end finishing kit and you're unlikely to get much change from £8,000/$12,000.

Gold Rush! Team Exergy’s custom Felt FCs

Ben Delaney — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:26:00 GMT

This year marks the first time Team Exergy has been invited to the Amgen Tour of California. For an American Continental squad, California is The Big Show. As such, reasoned team manager Remi McManus, why not make the biggest visual splash we can?

In the weeks leading into the race, McManus peppered his sponsors with one request: gold.

California officially adopted ‘the golden state’ as its nickname in the 1960s, but the moniker comes from the discovery of gold in the state in 1848.

“Every since I was a little kid I was interested in the flashy stuff, the good-looking stuff,” said McManus, a former pro rider. “I always admired Mario Cipollini. Now the world’s top teams do the all-yellow, the all-green kits for the Tour de France. Well, this is our Tour de France. For our first invitation to the Amgen Tour of California, what better way than to take the race by storm?”

Based in Boise, Idaho, McManus started calling sponsors when he found out his team was in. A few were excited. A few were unsure. But most were unsure they could deliver in time.

Normally, Exergy rides florescent green components and accents, and once a few sponsors committed to gold, he had to pressure the others — “the bikes couldn’t have half green, half gold.”

Seen these before? Most people haven't. microSHIFT makes shifters and derailleurs. The lower lever shifts the chain up the cassette; the smaller, upper lever shifts the chain down onto smaller cogs

Although there was some late-night working on the eve of the race’s opening stage in Santa Rosa — including some redecaling by Boise company Trademark Sign, which made the drive to apply custom Felt and FSA decals — Team Exergy rolled into its first Amgen Tour of California Sunday with gold a’ plenty.

Color selection aside, one notable brand on the Team Exergy bikes is microSHIFT, a relatively small and little known Taiwanese company that makes shifters and derailleurs. This is almost certainly the first Amgen Tour of California for microSHIFT, too.

Check out the gallery above at right for all the details. And be sure to follow all the live coverage, results and news of the Amgen Tour of California on Cyclingnews.com.

Preview: Gran Fondo’s NYC Bike Expo

Becky Ferreira in New York City — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:15:00 GMT

This weekend, Gran Fondo New York will be treating the city’s road cyclists to their 2^nd annual Expo. Taking place just two weeks after Bike Expo New York, which was geared more towards commuters, GFNY’s Expo aims instead to bring “Italian style bike racing to NYC.”

The Expo will be held from 11am-8pm on Friday, May 18^th and Saturday, May 19^th at the Penn Plaza Pavilion in Midtown Manhattan, and will lead up to the Gran Fondo New York on Sunday, May 20^th. More 5,000 riders are expected to partake in this 110-mile event, which leaves from the George Washington Bridge at 7am.

“We’re very focused on making GFNY an unforgettable experience for everyone,” said Uli Fluhme, who founded and runs GFNY. “It will be the largest road cycling Expo in NYC ever.”

Fluhme has decades of experience racing Gran Fondos, as well as an obvious passion for this particular racing style. To him, the distinction between a classic European Gran Fondo and the century rides that are more common in the U.S. include"massive police support, closed roads and competition with prizes worth over $100,000."

BMC pro George Hincapie gets to race on closed courses through beautiful areas as his day job; for the rest of us, events like the Gran Fondo New York offer a unique experience

“It's not just a ride in open traffic,” he said, “but it will have the feel of a big race where racers and finishers start at the same time and complete the same course.”

The four key climbs of the Gran Fondo, which are “Italianized” as Passo del Daino, Montagna dell’Orso, Colle Andrea Pinarello and Colle Formaggio, will be chip timed, and count towards the Fondo’s King and Queen of the Mountain competition.

Despite the intensity of the style, the event is not limited people who consider themselves racers.

“GFNY is open to all fitness levels. Some people will compete on the climbs at the Gran Fondo, others will just complete the course and enjoy the camaraderie,” Fluhme said. “There is enough space for everyone and everyone is welcome…That’s the true spirit of Gran Fondo.”

There is also a Medio Fondo, where more casual riders can complete most of the 60 miles of the New York City leg of the course

Fluhme has been planning to expand and improve this year’s Expo since last year’s inaugural Gran Fondo.

“Last year’s Expo was small because everything new is tough,” he said. “But we have 50 exhibitors this year and expect 12-15,000 visitors.

The race itself has also attracted a number of new participants.

“GFNY grew from 1,900 to 5,000 riders from year one to year two now,” Fluhme said. “We have riders from over 70 countries and 48 US states. We added even more police, so we now look at 150 officers with 100 cars.

Finally, Fluhme plans to close the event out in style.

“The finish will be in Weehawken with unparalleled views of Manhattan. The party and awards ceremony [will be held] right there,” he said. “After the event, riders get a free ferry ride back to NYC.”

GFNY as an organization has even bigger aspirations for 2013, including a pro race. But for the time being, Fluhme is just looking forward to “seeing 5,000 riders at the start on George Washington Bridge, all dressed in the GFNY jersey and ready to roll. It's very emotional to see after 12 months of hard work.”

Giro d'Italia 10: Joaquim Rodriguez claims pink jersey

Cyclingnews.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:37:00 GMT

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.

Spanish rider Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) took stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia in Assisi and also claimed the pink jersey as overall leader after an exciting climax to the afternoon’s racing in the historic Perugian town.

The final five kilometres provided some of the most intense racing of the season so far, with Rodriguez mastering the undulations best and coming home clear of Bartosz Huzarski (NetApp) and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar).

Race leader Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) fought bravely to the death but could only finish sixth, and the time bonus afforded to Rodriguez for the win meant that he leapfrogs the Canadian to the top of the overall GC by 17 seconds.

“It was an important stage win especially for the bonus,” Rodriguez said. “Some journalists told me about the finish here and I now realise that it is suited to me. When you get to a finish like this one you have to use it to your advantage.”

The locals found themselves slightly deflated at the start by the news that one of their heroes, Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), had been forced to pull out of the Giro with a broken hand. Pozzato had declared himself to be in good form and capable of a stage victory, but stage 9’s crash close to the finish spelled the end of his race.

At the 10km point, a small breakaway group had escaped, and they built up a gap of almost two minutes: Guillaume Bonnafond (AG2R); Miguel Mínguez (Euskaltel-Euskadi); Francesco Failli (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia); Matthias Brandle (NetApp); and Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM). With the top 13 riders in the GC all within one minute of race leader Hesjedal, the big guns appeared happy to play a game of cat and mouse behind the breakaway leaders, keeping their cards close to their chests as the race meandered up and down the rolling hills.

By the 50km point, the gap had increased to 4:50 and it stayed fairly constant for the best part of 40km. But as the riders approached the intermediate sprint the gap began to reduce and it was Keizer who took it ahead of Minguez in second place.

With a third of the race left the gap was down to two minutes, with Katusha doing most of the work in the chasing pack as they looked to help Rodriguez in his quest for pink. Garmin-Barracuda were live to the situation and they bunched around Hesjedal, knowing that the Canadian’s lead in the GC might be under threat.

The gap between the leading quintet and the peloton was being reduced as steadily as the excitement was building ahead of the finale. With 30km to go Keizer and Brandle had become detached from the leaders and Rabobank’s Stef Clement burst from the peloton to join them. Keizer and Brandle spent the next few kilometres over the uncategorised climbs and descents hanging on to the coat tails of the three-time Dutch national time trial champion as they tried to bridge the gap back to Bonnafond, Minguez and Failli.

But with just over 5km left, the peloton had engulfed all of the leaders and the stage was set for a breathless finish to the stage. The riders charged up the initial first climb back to Assisi, which reached a gradient of 15 percent at its steepest. Hesjedal, now without the protection of his teammates, was battling gamely at the front alongside the likes of Rodriguez, Michele Scarponi and Rabobank’s Tom Slagter, who attacked to no lasting avail.

Before the fans had time to regroup their senses, the climb turned into a sharp and fast descent, with Sky’s Rigobert Uran and AG2R-La Mondiale’s John Gadret sweeping round the outside and bursting clear. Within a matter of minutes they were climbing again and Rodriguez, aided selflessly by his teammate Daniel Moreno, positioned himself perfectly and powered away to the line for a cosy victory and possession of the maglia rosa.

Daily Deal: Multi-tool and puncture repair kit for £4.99

BikeRadar UK — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:27:00 GMT

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The deal gets you a multi-tool with 1/4" drive sockets, hex keys, socket adaptor, spanner, screwdrivers, puncture repair kit with glue and patches, two tyre levers, and a nylon storage pouch to keep everything safe from the elements.

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Interview: Gary Erickson, CLIF Bar founder

Matt Pacocha, US editor, from Boulder, CO — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Gary Erickson is an admirable man. He remains at the helm of CLIF Bar a company he founded 20 years ago, when he could have retired ten times over.

More than simply keeping things private, in a business sense, he’s cultivated a sense of family within CLIF Bar Company that is different from any corporation, public or private.

He and his wife (who shares the CLIF helm with Erickson) recently opened up 20-percent of CLIF’s shares to their employees in an effort to offer long-time employees the chance at a retirement that’s been long gone for most of American’s society. He believes that a 401k isn’t enough, and he put his money where his opinion stood. Subsidized day care and paid time to serve the community are a few of the other benefits CLIF offer their employees, and they’re all because of Erickson and his wife, Kit, who is also his business partner.

They’ve followed their gut, whether it be: massive commitments to community service, organics, bike racing, or wine, and it seems that it’s all paying off in spades. Erickson talks about growth frequently, but when pinned, he’s admitted it’s organic, and he doesn’t ever put a number out for his team to hit.

It’s this physical ground that may be the secret to his success. He genuinely seems to appreciate where he is, where he came from, and the people — including all of his employees — that have helped him get there.

Erickson enjoys the simple pleasures too. BikeRadar caught up with him at his camper at this past April’s Sea Otter Classic, where he camped for the entire event — where he also shared a glass of wine from his ‘Climber’s pouch’ each night with his friend camping next door, Robert Wilkins, a rep for Orbea bikes. Simple pleasures.

Erickson camped at Sea Otter this year, as he does every year

This summer he and his 18-year-old daughter will embark on a bike trip in the Italian Dolomites — one of his favorite places to ride — the amazing twist in this story, she asked for the trip. As any parent will attest having a teenager want to hang with you, means you are successful — at life’s most important job.

BikeRadar: So 20 years… CLIF Bar is 20 years old. Is it anything close to what you expected it might be when you started it?

Gary Erickson: It was hard to visualize 20 years when we first started. It’s like when you’re a young kid. You can’t think of what it’s going to be like when you’re 20, or even five. I don’t think we could see that far ahead. But I really do think if you can hang onto it that long that maturity really helps you to continue to remain successful. It helps you figure out how to remain successful and continue to grow, and remain growing.

It’s like a lot of things in life, you get to a maturity level and I see a lot of companies in the food industry that never get to 20 because they sell way before that. They never get to experience that maturity. When you’re in the thick of it, you’re not thinking about 20 years.

That said, this is 20-years and it’s a big marker for us. I’m so happy and proud of what we’ve all done to keep this thing going. I really do feel in the last five years we’ve reached a certain stride in that we’ve become exponentially better. Not just that we’ve been growing, but that all aspects of our business are at this cool, thriving, level.

Whether it’s our community service program, our sustainability program, and the benefits for our employees, our new headquarters — all these things have taken it…. There was a feeling when we were younger — we’re at about 300 employees, now — but when we were around a hundred employees, there were some feelings among them, because of maybe going through some hard times, that why can’t we go back to the way it was when we were 25 employees, or 50 employees; it felt more like a family back then. I feel like we got through that, and now at 300-plus, I think, we’re tighter now and more of a family feeling company than we were at 100 or 150. I can’t explain how we got there, but I didn’t think we could. I could be sitting here saying, ‘wow, 20-years, I’m burnt out.’ But it’s more thrilling now than it was 10 years ago.

What’s fostered that family feel? It seems like the company must be run with a fairly flat management structure.

Yeah, the ownership structure; I think the ownership structure is the starting point. If we were a public company, or a company owned by private equity, there would be another goal in mind — and that is to increase shareholder value or grow it as fast as possible because the equity guys want their money in five years.

We don’t have that pressure. My wife and I are here for the long haul, and now it’s 20-percent owned by the employees. That gives us a freedom to do it our own way. If we want to take a left turn, the venture capitalists or private equity guys might say, ‘you can’t do that. That doesn’t grow the company.’ We don’t have to answer to that.

We do stuff that doesn’t pencil out. We think it does, but it traditionally wouldn’t. The amount of money we’ve invested in organic; the amount of money we’ve invested in our employee’s benefits, the childcare center we subsidize; the community service — donating 7,000 hours of community service on company time [CLIF Bar has offered 40,000 hours of community service on company time since 2001; 7,000 is their budgeted goal for 2012] — that wouldn’t pencil out with a board of directors from a large company. We think it builds morale. We think it’s good for the community. We think we get a lot of benefit from that, but it doesn’t pencil out.

[CLIF Bar does a portion of their community service as a whole company, where all 300-plus employees descend on one project for a day, it’s a monumental task to organize and carry out but Erickson sees value in the camaraderie and team building a day’s labor offers; this year they’re working at a community garden.]

How involved are you and your wife in the day-to-day operation of the business?

We’re very involved in certain ways, and in others we’re not. We are not involved in the operations of the company, ordering and manufacturing, but I’m personally involved with starting manufacturing or starting a new product, and seeing it go online, and making sure it’s running right.

I’m still involved with product development and so is my wife. And every package and product that goes out the door has our signature on it. We get very involved in package design, we’ll see it all the way from start to finish and comment along the way; but we also have a great team of creative people that develop that packaging. We feel like, that and the product itself is the foundation of the company. The whole company doesn’t exist without great product and great packaging. From there it takes a great team to promote it, sell it, talk about it.

We’re also involved in the big decisions: converting the company to being employee owned. In moving our facility, we’re involved in every aspect of the building — there’s probably not a color or a carpet that we didn’t at least say, ‘yeah, we like that.’ And we’re just there every week, every other week for a few days, just around. I think it’s important for the employees to understand the agenda of the principals. And if it’s to grow it to sell it, then they can hop on board or not; but in our case our vision is to keep this company private, past our generation.

What pushed you to give up 20-percent of your company to your employees?

The number one reason we did that was because we were looking for a retirement benefit for our employees. We didn’t have anything — we have 401k — but it wasn’t enough for us. We want our employees… if they’re going to work 30-years for CLIF Bar they can leave with something that can look pretty close to a retirement package. There are other benefits that came along with that too: it’s a good incentive for people. It’s a good recruitment tool. It’s also a good incentive for people to stay at CLIF Bar if they know the longer they stay, the longer that retirement package grows. And they also feel a sense of ownership.

You’ve mentioned growth a few times, there’s this uniquely American drive for perpetual growth, but does a company like yours get to a point where staying a certain size is favorable?

I don’t have a great answer for that because I used to struggle with that. I didn’t want it to grow so fast it would get out of control. So our control, we call it natural demand. We don’t force people to grow to a number. We create great product. We desire to innovate, we hire the right people, and we come up with great plans for the next year and then a number pops out of that, which we think we can hit with all of those things. It’s a natural number that comes out, versus… the board of directors says: ‘you’re going to grow 20-percent next year, now tell me how we’re going to do it and make it happen.’

That doesn’t make sense if you really only have the potential to grow 10-percent. So then the pressure is on, and they’re trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

That said we’ve grown faster than we thought we were going to grow. We keep doing these good things. We keep making these great products and people are responding. We keep growing at a pace that’s, well, wow, hard to believe. So it’s exciting, but I don’t know if that’s the American thing you’re talking about.

Yes, I had in mind what you describe your peers being up against.

My peers are closer to the ‘have to grow.’ If next year someone came back and said, ‘even with all the new things we’re doing and all the new products we’re only going to grow two-percent,’ ok great. We’ll make sure that’s a profitable two percent, so we can pay our bills. If they said we’re going to decrease by 10-percent, I’d be concerned.

I think growth does excite people. I have friends in Italy with businesses, and they still want to grow.

As my wife says, and as our president, Kevin Cleary says, growth allows us to do more stuff. More good stuff; more community service, more organic, we can support the Luna team with more resources and all that stuff.

What’s driving the company in terms of development? Is product development also organic? Where do the ideas come from: Luna, Mojo?

They seem to come from everywhere. For example we have the 20^th anniversary Panforte bar. So that came out of this wine, at the CLIF family winery that we have, called Brute Blanc, it’s a Sauvignon Blanc, and it’s got a picture of myself on the Gavia in Italy. It’s one of those destination climbs for people to do. There’s now a tunnel there, and around the left side of the tunnel used to be the road; they’ve closed that off so that it’s not really rideable anymore, but back in the day that’s where it went.

I’ve got this shot that now you really can’t take anymore because the fence is falling down and stuff. So we made a wine with that label on it and it was really cool. We made another [wine] called the Climber Limited Red, which has a friend, Ron Kauk, climbing in Yosemite.

So we were talking about what we do for the 20^th anniversary, and I’ve been doing trips in Italy since 1982, and my friends in Florence, when I told them I was going to Sienna, they told me that they have this wonderful thing called Panforte; Panforte sienna or something like that. And I tried it and was, wow. This is 1980s way before CLIF Bar.

So I knew in the back of my mind, that it was probably still there, and as we started to develop [ideas] for a special flavor and I looked at the picture and just went: Panforte. It’s got to be Panforte, with that classic nut and fruit, simplicity, and spice, and cocoa powder, and all that. So we went to the kitchen, several of us, and created several different types of traditional Panforte [it comes originally from an 800-year old recipe]. The next thing you know we have Panforte [CLIF Bars] with that image on the front, and I have to say it’s one of the best bars we’ve ever done.

So that’s an example of where things just come out of nowhere. On the other hand we just came up with an extension off Luna bar called Luna Fiber. American’s don’t eat enough fiber; fiber doesn’t really taste very good, so how are you going to make something good? But women are buying fiber products right now, so that is more opportunistic, yet we wanted to create a great tasting product if we’re going to take advantage of an opportunity. So this [Panforte] is out of my vocation, my love to cook, and that experience and the package; that’s from me being a cyclist and a baker — boom. The other [Luna fiber] we know that there’s this trend, this need, so we’ve created a great fiber bar.

Why wine and the winery?

My wife and I moved up to Napa Valley, we bought our place in the ’90s, and moved up full time in 2003. Our kid was going to a small school there, and no joke, 90-percent of the parents there were into the wine business. So we just became friends with all of these wine makers, vineyard managers and all of these people, and they just floated this idea — why doesn’t CLIF come out with a wine? We said, well first off CLIF bar doesn’t have any vineyards. And they said, ‘you don’t need vineyards to start a wine, just buy grapes. We all buy grapes.’ Most wineries have their vineyards and they buy stuff. We said, ‘really?’ …. So we did 300 cases of Kit’s Killer Cab the first year.

We thought we’d just do it as a little hobby. You know, on the side, sell a few bottles, put some away, and make it a kind of CLIF Bar thing, and it just didn’t turn out that way. It kept growing, and growing, and growing. Next thing, I’m doing Gary’s Improv: a zinfandel, different blends, then we did the Climber a white sauvignon blanc blend, and a red zinfandel blend; we came out with the pouch last year, then we opened up Velo Vino, our tasting room, which celebrates bikes and wine, just a year ago.

So that’s our tasting room, it’s open seven days a week, we run bike trips out of there. You walk in there and it’s like, wow, this is a bike museum. We have old bikes, we have Catharine Pendrel’s Olympic bike, and we have pictures of cycling going back 50 years all over the walls.

It’s all about cycling and wine. We do bike rides out of there, we hold clinics, and it’s a home for CLIF too. Word has gotten out, and on a Saturday afternoon it’s wall-to-wall people. People say it’s the friendliest tasting room in the valley.

Where’s CLIF Bar 20-years from now?

Well, we’ll probably have more employees; we’ll probably have more products. I’m hoping I’ll still be camping here. There will also be the things we always do [community service, organics, providing for the CLIF family].

Always in cycling?

I don’t see us ever getting out of cycling — it’s been so good to us. It’s really why we’re here. We came up with the idea on a bike, and racing bicycles, it’s got to be our core sport.

2012 marks CLIF Bar's 20th anniversary: they're celebrating with a hearty 'thank you' and the new Panforte flavor

Interview: Gary Erickson, CLIF Bar co-founder

Matt Pacocha, US editor, from Boulder, CO — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Gary Erickson is an admirable man. He remains at the helm of CLIF Bar a company he co-founded 20 years ago, when he could have retired ten times over.

More than simply keeping things private, in a business sense, he’s cultivated a sense of family within CLIF Bar Company that is different from any corporation, public or private.

He and his wife recently opened up 20-percent of CLIF’s shares to their employees in an effort to offer long-time employees the chance at a retirement that’s been long gone for most of American’s society. He believes that a 401k isn’t enough, and he put his money where his opinion stood. Subsidized day care and paid time to serve the community are a few of the other benefits CLIF offer their employees, and they’re all because of Erickson and his wife, Kit, who is also his business partner.