Twisted Pip - And So It Begins

Each time I get a cycling publication there is something about:

• injury prevention
• greater endurance
• how to gain strength
• how to stay in the zone
• how to maintain an even pedal strokes
• bike and body adjustments
• how to gain core strength
• lactic acid

I have a twisted solution to help you on you way to being the bad ass rider you are meant to be. It is something that cyclist think they can not do. No, it is not riding until your legs fall off, ignoring back pain or making it up the hill of death.

Are you ready…

I am talking about yoga.

It is something that we all know we should do but the excuses flow out of us like a water spout. “I don’t have time,” “I will suck at it,” “isn’t that for girls,” and my favorite “I can’t even touch my toes.”

You gotta let go of your excuses. I realize the thought of your hamstrings ripping off your legs comes to mind as many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga. But that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to win The Tour in order to start racing.

Let’s start with the first step:

Show up to a class

I feel like my legs are about to explode! I feel my quads tighten…to the point of reminding myself “this is not permanent.” My once dry pigtails are dripping on my back, “this is not permanent” and then the dreaded happens. A river of sweat is mainlined into my eye. There is no way to rub my eyes…at least it made me not think about my legs. With each passing second I try to relax and not fight with my body. With each passing moment I remind myself to breath. As I become aware of my surroundings I hear thumps of music and a calm voice making me push my edge. I am screaming in my head but my face is calm with a slight smile.

"This is not permanent!!!”

Then it ends! I relax my legs, rub my eyes and come back to my breath. Then I am asked to do it again.

"This is not permanent.” Nothing is permanent…good or bad.

Then it finally ends! I roll up my mat and hop on my bike.

I have found two ways to push my edge: yoga and on my bike. For years I avoided yoga. ”Why would I want to sit in a room and….do nothing.” I grew up playing sports: swim team, track, basketball, cross country, soccer, mountaineering climbing and mountain biking. I didn’t have time for “stretching.”

But, I lost a bet and I had to pay up by taking a yoga class. When I walked into the studio I saw people with a “light” about them. I also noticed people had cut arms and strong cores. As the class began my feet settled on to the mat and I felt like I was home. I know what you are thinking, “Are you kidding me…How is that possible???”

Think about the first time you rode…it is the same thing.

It is said the way you react on your mat is the way you react in your life. Your mat (and your bike) will show you the thoughts you have when things are hard. Both will show you that it is easier to relax and let your body figure out where it needs to be. Both are a million times harder if you hold your breath. Both give you moments of no outside world, a place of being in the moment. Both take complete commitment and acceptance of where you are at this moment. Both will force your ego to take a back seat and let you know compassion with others doesn’t mean jack. It only means you’re not focused on what you are doing.


I had told Triplecrankset I would write about yoga and riding, but I dragged it out for a year and a half. I have been teaching yoga for six years; athletes tend to gravitate to my classes. I am flexible as all get out but I understand where and how athletes are tight.

The reason it took me so long to write about riding and yoga????

As my teaching schedule and my personal practice (we call it a practice because it ain’t perfect, plus it sounds cooler) took up my time I became a bendy yogini (female “yogi,” a person who practices yoga) who taught and forgot what it is like to be tight. Over the past year, I have done the reverse. I had my first cyclocross season (talk about ditching your ego), rode 250 miles on my fixie in a 24 hour period, and decided to fully commit to riding.

My views of yoga have changed over the year. It is the perfect partner to riding! When my hips are open I create more power. This is a little teaser of what I want to do. At least twice a month I will give you guys ways to add yoga to your training and focus on certain postures. I would love for all questions, goofy comments and concerns (if you can cruise around in spandex after a ride: YOU CAN DO YOGA! To kick this off, answer the following and send it to me:

1. Can you touch your toes?
2. What is this core thing they speak of???

All right my little yogis…until next time.

Namaste (the inner good in me honors the inner good in you…or my badassness honors your badassness)

Pip

Photos: Mike Hammer (middle)

Races Sought For Nature Valley Pro Ride Calendar

Minneapolis – A national program is offering race promoters the opportunity to send their top amateurs to the 2009 edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix (Minnesota, June 10-14) to compete against the country’s top men and women professional bicycle racers.

Entering its second year, the “Nature Valley Pro Ride” will select amateur men and women at regional races around the United States to become part of a pair of Nature Valley composite teams for the 11th annual edition of the five-day stage race that begins June 10.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix ranks as one of the premier events on the USA Cycling National Race Calendar (NRC) each year, attracting tens of thousands of cycling enthusiasts, pro athletes and avid recreational riders to Minnesota.

“This is a chance for a race promoter to raise the participation and visibility of their event at no extra cost,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Race Director David LaPorte said. “As for the riders who are selected, they can look forward to racing in front of huge crowds and being treated like a rock star at our event.”

Amateur racers (Category I men and Category 1,2 women) who qualify at a Nature Valley Pro Ride event receive a “battlefield promotion” that earns them free entry to the race, travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite team.

Races that become part of the Nature Valley Pro Ride schedule can expect an aggressive marketing and media relations campaign, as well as on-site sampling of Nature Valley Granola Bars and complimentary staffing of the booth by company representatives.

“We’re looking for the top regional races who want to take their game to a higher level,” LaPorte said. “We’ll consider road races, criteriums and stage races, as long as they get strong fields. And our promotional programs will make those fields even stronger.”

To be considered for the 2009 Nature Valley Pro Ride, a race must be permitted through USA Cycling and take place no later than June 7. Preference will be given to races that take place between February and mid-May.

Interested promoters must submit their application by Dec. 15. More details and a downloadable application can be found at www.naturevalleyproride.com.

The 2009 Nature Valley Pro Ride schedule will be announced Jan. 5, 2009.

2009 Amgen Tour of California Education Curriculum Released to California Educators

Endorsed by Governor Schwarzenegger, Curriculum for 4th-6th Grade Instruction Contains Lessons to Encourage Students to Practice Bike Safety and Live Healthy Lifestyles

LOS ANGELES – In preparation for the highly anticipated return of the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling road race in February 2009, a specially developed classroom curriculum has been developed for fourth- through sixth-grade students. The educational handbook will be distributed to schools in the 16 California cities that will host the 2009 Amgen Tour of California.

Already considered cycling’s most important and successful road race in the United States, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 800 miles over nine days. The event’s fourth running is scheduled for February 14-22, 2009, and will showcase some of the world’s top professional cycling teams. Traveling almost the entire length of California on a demanding course, the race will begin in the state’s capital, Sacramento, and end in San Diego County for the first time.

Through interactive lessons, the 2009 educational handbook will teach students about the history of cycling and includes bike safety and maintenance tips. Provided to more than 60,000 students, the booklet also provides information about the State of California, including targeted lesson plans that use cycling as a means to teach core subjects.

"We are proud to work with the Amgen Tour of California in bringing you an educational booklet for students in grades four through six," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in his opening note to teachers. “This informative handbook – which includes valuable lessons in bike safety and maintenance, history, geography, science and math – can help make our kids safer, smarter and healthier.”

Classroom activities such as weather charting and word searches allow educators to reach students with engaging material developed specifically to supplement the curriculum of students in grades four through six. The handbook also includes a lesson on world geography, as it relates to cyclists that have participated in the race, math, science and a cycling glossary to help students better understand the intricacies of professional cycling.

"Part of the mission of the Amgen Tour of California is to give back to the communities that we visit," said Andrew Messick, president, AEG Sports, presenter of the race. "We always see such an incredible level of support from young people throughout the state during the race, so we designed this curriculum to further engage young Californians; not only get them excited about cycling, but also educate them on how to lead an active lifestyle and ensure they have the necessary tools to develop healthy habits at a young age."

Host cities along the route will augment the curriculum with exciting activities targeted to students such as drawing, coloring and essay contests; bike safety and other bike-related school assemblies; as well as spirit and participation contests among local schools.

Building on last year's third annual stage race, which attracted 1.6 million spectators, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, with communities along the route getting the chance to see firsthand a lineup of some of the best and most recognizable teams in the world. Host cities for the nine stages include: Sacramento, Davis (new city for 2009), Santa Rosa, Sausalito, Santa Cruz (new city for 2009), San Jose, Modesto, Merced (new city for 2009), Clovis (new city for 2009), Visalia (new city for 2009), Paso Robles (new city for 2009), Solvang, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Rancho Bernardo (new city for 2009) and Escondido (new city for 2009).

Snap Judgment
The “Governator” certainly remains one of the more fitness oriented and progressive state leaders of our time. The incorporation of cycling into the educational curriculum is certainly something to be applauded. The interactive handbook is available for both English and Spanish speakers and is a wonderful resource for not only those students in 4th through 6th grades, but for anyone who wants to learn more about cycling and the sport of cycling.

For additional information on the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Storck Delivers for Vanderkitten

Lexington, SC - Storck Bicycle and Vanderkitten Racing have announced a multi-year sponsorship deal that will place the Elite Women’s Team on Storck road bikes beginning with the 2009 racing season.

“Our organization enjoyed a terrific 2008 season and we are confident that 2009 will be even more successful now that we will be riding Storcks”, said Robin Zellner, Managing Director - Vanderkitten Racing.

“We are delighted to be associated with this first rate team and are looking forward to a strong partnership which will benefit both our dealers and consumers”, said Dave Goeppner, GM for Storck in the US.

Liz Hatch and the rest of the -Kittens will make their assault on the
2009 circuit on Storck's Absolutist 0.9 (below)

Vanderkitten Racing was established in 2007 and finished the 2008 season with a first place team ranking in the USA Crits Series. The team has enjoyed immediate success and remarkable popularity. Plans for 2009 include the creation of Vanderkitten Club Teams in various cities across the US. The title sponsor, Vanderkitten, designs cycling apparel and lifestyle clothing for “women who kick ass” and is available direct, via retailers, and through The Hawley Company.
Storck Bicycle is a German brand that has experienced a surge in popularity in the US. Storck has a reputation for making the world’s lightest and stiffest bikes. The brand recently released the new Fenomalist and Absolutist road bikes to rave reviews.

Photo: Kurt Harvey

Rock Racing Announce 2009 Roster

Cooke, Dominguez, Gutiérrez and Mancebo among top names signed

Culver City, Calif. — Rock Racing bolstered its ranks for 2009 with the signings of European specialists Baden Cooke, Francisco Mancebo and José Enrique Gutiérrez, as well as top domestic talents Ivan Dominquez, Glen Chadwick, Chris Baldwin and Caleb Manion.

Rock Racing Owner Michael Ball also announced the re-signing of U.S. National Champions Tyler Hamilton (Road), Rahsaan Bahati (Criterium) and Justin Williams (Under 23 Criterium) as well as stalwarts Oscar Sevilla, Fred Rodriguez and Victor Hugo Peña.


“We have assembled a world class team and acquired a mix of tremendous talent and experience,” said Ball. “We have the strength, depth and tenacity to compete in any race around the globe.”

Rock Racing’s line-up for its third season includes riders from eight different countries who have won stages at all three of cycling’s “Grand Tours” – the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España – as well as multiple national championships.

“Last year was a year of redemption,” Ball said. “Given the opportunity to ride, we proved we were able to win. In 2009, we will continue our winning tradition, and from a branding and fan perspective, be the No. 1 team in the world.”

In 2008, Rock Racing scored 45 victories and 106 podium finishes. Every month brought a new highlight for Rock Racing fans: Santiago Botero won the Redlands Bicycle Classic in April and led a 1-2-3-4 finish in the prologue of the Vuelta a Colombia in May; Sevilla won the second leg of the Triple Crown of Cycling in June at the Reading Classic; Hamilton captured the Tour of Qinghai Lake in July; Bahati (criterium), Williams (Under 23 criterium) and Hamilton (road race) each won national titles in August. In the final two months of the season, the team came away with five medals at the 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships and Sevilla became the first non-Colombian in 48 years to win the RCN Classic.

Among those not returning to Rock Racing for 2009 is Botero, who represented Colombia at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The 2002 world time trial champion decided to race closer to home following the birth of his daughter earlier this year.

Rock Racing’s 2009 Roster:
Rahsaan Bahati, Chris Baldwin, Alex Boyd, Austin Carroll, Glen Chadwick, Baden Cooke, Michael Creed, Freddy Cruz, Ivan Dominguez, Danny Finneran, Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia, Cesar Grajales, José Enrique Gutiérrez, Tyler Hamilton, Sergio Hernandez, Sterling Magnell, Francisco Mancebo, Caleb Manion, Ian Moir, Víctor Hugo Peña, Fred Rodriguez, Oscar Sevilla, David Taner, David Vitoria and Justin Williams.

2009 Rock Racing Riders At A Glance:

Returning:
Rahsaan Bahati (USA) is the reigning U.S. National Criterium Champion and a two-time winner of the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. The 26-year-old won nine races in 2009, including two stages of the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic.


Austin Carroll (USA) is a track specialist who recently teamed with Guy East in the madison to give the USA Cycling Under 23 developmental program its first major success winning the UIV U-23 Dortmund three-day in Germany. The 21-year-old is also a former Under 23 national champion (2006) in the points race.

Michael Creed (USA) was one of the team’s most dependable stage racers in 2008, winning a hard-fought fourth place on the final stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California. The 27-year-old also finished in the top 10 at the U.S. National Time Trial Championships the past three years.

Freddy Cruz (USA) was a member of Rock Racing’s winning National Team Pursuit squad at the 2008 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships. The 18-year-old went through the Major Motion Cycling developmental program with current Rock Racing teammates Ian Moir and Justin Williams.

Danny Finneran (USA) was a member of Rock Racing’s winning National Team Pursuit squad and was the bronze medalist in the 3 km pursuit at the 2008 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships. The 18-year-old also finished third at the USA Cycling 17-18 Junior Men’s Criterium Championship.

Cesar Grajales (COL) missed much of the 2008 season with a knee injury sustained at training camp. The 35-year-old did return to racing in May and later won the Gwinnett Bike Fest. In 2004, he beat Lance Armstrong on the tortuous climbing stage up Brasstown Bald at the 2004 Tour de Georgia.

Tyler Hamilton (USA) enjoyed a storybook season in 2008 after nearly retiring from cycling in 2007. The 37-year-old won his first U.S. national road race title by two-thousandths of a second in a thrilling finish a month after winning his first stage race in four years at the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.

Sergio Hernandez (USA) scored a pair of third-place finishes in his second year as a professional. The 23-year-old joins Rahsaan Bahati, Austin Carroll and Sterling Magnell as third-year riders with Rock Racing in 2009.

Sterling Magnell (USA) enjoyed his most prolific season with five victories in 2008, including two at the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic. The 25-year-old was also a winner of the U.S. National Criterium Pro-Am Challenge a day before helping Rahsaan Bahati earn the national criterium championship in Downers Grove, Ill.

Ian Moir (USA) is a track specialist who finished third in the Madison at the 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships. The 18-year-old is one of three riders on the Rock Racing roster who is under the age of 20.

Victor Hugo Peña (COL) figured prominently for Rock Racing in stage races in 2008 while scoring a victory of his own in the seventh stage of the Vuelta a Colombia in May. The 34-year-old is one of three Rock Racing Riders (joining Tyler Hamilton and Michael Creed) who are former teammates of Lance Armstrong.

Fred Rodriguez (USA) showed no signs of slowing down in his 13th season as a professional in 2008. The 35-year-old finished third at the Commerce Bank International Championship in Philadelphia and was second in the ING Direct Capital Criterium in Washington, D.C.

Oscar Sevilla (ESP) delivered one of Rock Racing’s biggest victories in 2008 by winning the Commerce Bank Reading Classic. The 32-year-old also had a team-high 21 podium finishes, including overall victory at the RCN Classic in Colombia and second in the Spanish national road race championships.

Justin Williams (USA) joined Rock Racing teammates Rahsaan Bahati and Tyler Hamilton as individual national champions when he captured the USA Cycling Under-23 National Criterium Championship. The 19-year-old also excels on the track, where he won three medals at the 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships.

New Signings:
Chris Baldwin (USA) is a two-time U.S. National Time Trial Champion (2003 and 2005) who spent the past three seasons riding for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team. A stage racing specialist, he has 22 podium finishes to his credit the past two seasons.

Alex Boyd (USA) won the 2007 Collegiate National Road Cycling Championships during his freshman year at Midwestern State University and displayed tremendous potential in nine seasons as an amateur. The 21-year-old raced for Team Waste Management/Racelab U23 in 2008.

Glen Chadwick (NZL) won the Tour of Arkansas and Vuelta Mexico stage races in 2008 while earning King of the Mountain jersey classifications at the Tour de Beauce and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. The 32-year-old also represented New Zealand at the Summer Olympics and the UCI world road race championships in Italy.

Baden Cooke (AUS) is a past stage and green jersey (sprints) winner at the Tour de France (both in 2003) who has won six stages of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in his home country of Australia, including one in this year’s edition. The 30-year-old also earned a national championship in 2000 on the track in the Madison.

Ivan Dominguez (CUB) also known as “The Cuban Missle” is considered the top sprinter on the North American circuit. The 32 year old has won stages at all three of the U.S. “grand tours” (California, Georgia and Missouri) while racing for Toyota-United the past three years.

José Manuel “Chepe” Garcia (MEX) is the current Mexican National Time Trial Champion and winner of his country’s National Road Race Championship in 1996. The 35-year-old was a dependable teammate the past two seasons for former Toyota-United (and current Rock Racing) teammates Ivan Dominguez, Chris Baldwin and Caleb Manion.

José Enrique Gutiérrez (ESP) is a climbing and stage racing specialist who has participated in all three of cycling’s “Grand Tours” – finishing second at the Giro d’Italia in 2006 and winning a stage of the Vuelta a España in 2004. The 34-year-old comes to Rock Racing from the L.P.R. Brakes-Ballan squad.

Francisco Mancebo (ESP) won the 2008 Vuelta Chihuahua Internacional in Mexico for the second straight year while riding for the Portugese Fercase-Rota dos Moveis team. The 32-year-old has competed in all three of the “Grand Tours” and was the Spanish National Road Race Champion in 2004.

Caleb Manion (AUS) is one of four riders coming to Rock Racing from Toyota-United where he compiled nine podium finishes in 2008. The 27-year-old won two stages of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and the Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium on his way to capturing the overall win at Nalley/King Omnium.

David Tanner (AUS) is a one-day specialist who had nine podium finishes while competing for Barloworld in 2008. The 24-year-old is one of three Australians on the Rock Racing roster (all new to the team in 2009).

David Vitoria (SWI) compiled 10 podium finishes in 2008 while riding for the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia team. The 24-year-old also won a stage and briefly led the Under 23 version of the Vuelta a España. In 2007, he raced for the BMC Cycling Team.

Photos: Vero Image (first through third); Leonard Basobas (fourth)

On Tap...

Into the Fray
As the passerby, above, at the last Chicago Cyclocross Cup race can attest, its never too late to just jump in and have some good clean fun. Below is a listing of some weekend races in specific areas of the country.

11/15/2008
Bay Area Super Prestige Series #3-Sierra Point CX
Brisbane, CA
Tech Cross
Blacksburg, VA

11/16/2008
Sandhell in the Sandhills - NC Cyclocross Series Race
Southern Pines, NC
2008 Bike Authority Cyclocross Series # 3
Broadview Heights, OH
Urban Cyclocross Series
Irvine, CA
Lan-Oak Cyclocross Race
Lansing, IL

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com.


Up and Over
For upcoming cross races in and around specific areas of the country, see below.

11/22/2008
Nebraska SOBE No Fear Cyclo-cross Weekend
Lincoln, NE
Wonderland Cyclocross
Lancaster, PA
North Carolina Grand Prix Races #1 and #2
Hendersonville, NC
Superior Cyclocross
Catharpin, VA

11/23/2008
Spring Mountain Cross
Spring Mount, PA
Ed Brophy Memorial Cross For Life-Emricson Park
Woodstock, IL
Cap City Cross State Championship
Upper Arlington, OH
Wisconsin State Cyclocross Championships presented SunRinglé
Hales Corners, WI
Squadra Coppi Tacchino Ciclocross
Leesburg, VA

Photo: Amy Dykema

Slipstream Sports LLC Announces 2009 Team Garmin-Chipotle Launch Event

Proceeds will benefit The Children’s Hospital

Boulder, CO – Slipstream Sports LLC and its chief venture, the Garmin-Chipotle Professional Cycling Team, are providing fans with the rare opportunity to spend an evening with riders and staff at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Nov. 22. The event will feature the official announcement of the 2009 team roster, a silent auction, and an open forum Q&A with the riders. Additionally, guests will get a sneak peak at a feature length documentary from Nick Davis Productions about a year in the life of Team Garmin-Chipotle. The film will air on the Sundance Channel prior to the 2009 Tour de France.

Because Slipstream Sports is dedicated to philanthropy and the future, proceeds from the evening will benefit The Children’s Hospital Courage Classic, a three-day cycling event the benefits the hospital. Located in Aurora, Colo., Children’s is a leading pediatric network entirely devoted to the health and wellbeing of children. Cancer survivor and four-time Courage Classic rider Paul Lemieux, 17, will be a featured speaker of the evening.

A limited number of VIP tickets, which include a private cocktail hour with the team, special seating, and a gift bag, are available for $250.00. VIP tickets are available for purchase at www.slipstreamsports.com/gala. General admission tickets are available for $25.00 via the Boulder Theatre website. Each ticket purchased comes with one raffle ticket for a custom fit 2008 team edition Felt F1. The winner will be announced at the end of the evening.

Silent auction items will include:

• Christian Vande Velde's Felt DA time trial bike, used in the 2008 Tour de France.
• A leaders jersey from the 2008 Giro d'Italia signed by the 2008 team time trial squad.
• A 2008 Garmin-Chipotle team jersey signed by the entire 2008 Tour de France team.
• A Zipp time trial wheelset signed by U.S. Professional champion Dave Zabriskie.

Event Details:
WHAT: 2009 Team Launch
WHEN: Saturday, November 22, 2009 - Doors open at 6 pm
WHERE: Boulder Theater - 2032 14th Street Boulder, CO 80302
TICKETS: VIP or General

Rabobank Signs On As Founding Partner of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California

LOS ANGELES and ROSEVILLE, CA – Rabobank, N.A., a leading California community bank, and AEG announced that Rabobank will be a “Founding Partner” of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Under the three-year sponsorship agreement, Rabobank will be a Founding Partner and the Official Bank of the Amgen Tour of California beginning in 2009 and extending through the 2011 event.

The fourth-annual professional cycling road race will make its way through 16 host cities down the coast and through the Central Valley of California, which will include some of the state's most picturesque highlights, along a demanding 800-mile course. The nine-day race starts on Saturday, February 14, 2009 in Sacramento and concludes on Sunday, February 22, in San Diego County, with a finish in Escondido. The race passes through many of the communities where Rabobank currently has a bank presence or in which it plans to grow.

As part of the sponsorship, Rabobank will present the daily award given to the “best young rider” for the just concluded daily “stage.” Each day, all riders who are under the age of 23 compete for this special recognition. The recipient is determined by his overall placement at the finish line after each stage. During the daily awards ceremony, special recognition is given to the winner of the award as he is presented with the specially branded Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey. At the race’s conclusion, an overall winner of the jersey is also named. Coincidentally, a rider from the Rabobank team has been the overall winner of this jersey for the past two years.

“We are pleased to enter into this partnership with AEG and to become the official bank of the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race,” said Ronald Blok, chief executive officer of Rabobank, N.A. “In just three years, AEG has built the race into a highly professional and well-organized event that attracts millions of spectators and cycling fans in California and, increasingly, around the world. Rabobank has a long association with cycling and a century-old heritage of community banking, so our sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California is an ideal synergy between our commitment to cycling and the growth of our bank in California.”

In addition to active participation in the awards ceremonies, Rabobank also will have a significant presence at the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival, where thousands of fans will engage in various cycling, healthy lifestyle and sponsor-supported activities in the city where the race finishes each day. Rabobank will offer special co-branded banking products to promote the bank’s involvement with the Amgen Tour of California and will feature these products at the Lifestyle Festival, along with games, giveaways and other items that showcase Rabobank’s position as the bank of choice in communities throughout California.

Rabobank has been a sponsor of one of the world’s top elite cycling teams for the past 12 years. Having participated in the Amgen Tour of California the past two years, the team is expected to once again compete.

Additionally, Rabobank’s sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California will include VIP hospitality opportunities and promotional exposure through onsite advertisements, the Amgen Tour of California Web site, a commercial on the official television broadcast and all race marketing materials. Rabobank’s sponsorship will also include stage entitlement for a yet-to-be-determined stage of the race.

“The addition of Rabobank as a 'Founding Partner' of the Amgen Tour of California is a perfect fit,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “Rabobank's commitment to the sport of cycling through their sponsorship of this race and of their professional cycling team is important to the growth of the Amgen Tour of California and to cyclists everywhere."

During the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, elite international and domestic cycling teams will traverse the state from north to south with scheduled stops in the following host cities: Sacramento, Davis, Santa Rosa, Sausalito, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Modesto, Merced, Clovis, Visalia, Paso Robles, Solvang, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Rancho Bernardo and Escondido. A portion of the Tour proceeds will be dedicated to raising awareness and support for people affected by cancer.

For additional information on the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

“Ride The World Cup” Fundraiser #3 at Hellyer Velodrome Welcomes Track and Tour de France Veteran Frankie Andreu

Next Ride the World Cup (RTWC) Event Will Feature Nine-Time Tour de France Veteran Andreu and Local Hellyer Track Champions; Video Coverage by CyclistVillage.com

Marin County, Calif. – PROMAN riders Shelley Olds and Nicola Cranmer traveled to Manchester, Great Britain, to compete in the first World Cup track event in front of a sold out stadium and electrifying crowds. Olds was able to build on PROMAN’s growing prominence in track cycling’s most important international series by taking 6th and 8th in the Scratch and Points races, respectively.

“We are very excited,” reported Olds from Manchester. “Everything seems to be falling into place for our racing squads at just the right time. It is also humbling and inspiring to be here in Manchester, one of the world’s track racing Meccas. The British Track Program is absolutely without equal; after dominating the Beijing Olympic track events, they’ve swept the highest podium steps in almost every event.”

For PROMAN, timing certainly seems key, as Olds and 30+ National Team Pursuit Champion/General Manager, Cranmer, return to the San Francisco Bay Area just in time to prepare for the third Ride the World Cup fundraiser on Saturday, November 15th.

Like the first edition, the event promises to showcase some exciting track racing, as well as spotlight local Hellyer track heroes at the Junior, Elite, Masters National and even World Championship levels. Several 2008 champions have been invited to show up with their complete collections of jerseys and medals for group pictures, including Daniel Holloway, Shelley Olds and multiple masters world champion Larry Nolan and many others which will make for unique photo opportunities. The photo session (all photographers are invited) will take place before the racing begins sometime between 12 noon and 2pm.

In addition, PROMAN will be introducing four new team riders at the event, all Juniors: Ruth Winder, Nikka Van Den Dries, Claire Jenson and Christina Noelle Yglesias.


“This represents an important milestone in the team’s history,” explains Cranmer. “Not only will we be continuing our support of women who are working their way up through the ranks in the form of our development squads, but we will have the opportunity to mentor and support promising young athletes who can follow in the footsteps of Shelley, Cari Higgins (below), Rachel Lloyd and other ‘PROMAN Girls’ who have excelled at the National and International levels.”


Frankie Andreu and sponsor CyclistVillage.com are supporting the team’s fundraising efforts in the hope that PROMAN riders can participate in multiple World Cups over the next four years in order to properly prepare for track World Championships and the Olympics in 2012. Frankie got his start in racing on the track and also was the PROMAN team director at several races this year.


Organizers are planning to modify the race formats somewhat, running the points races first, followed by motor-paced scratch events for the finale. Visit www.ridetheworldcups.com for additional information.

There will also be a "Frankie Fun Ride" on Sunday, November 16th, at 9am starting from The Java Hut in Fairfax, Calif. (760 Center Blvd, Fairfax). It will be a 42-mile recreational ride where cyclists can meet and mingle with Andreu and other celebrities while on their bikes, as well as win prizes afterward. More details are available here.

After what promises to be a memorable event and hopefully a successful fundraising effort, Olds, Cranmer and teammate Cari Higgins – four-time Elite National Track Champion – will already be preparing for the next track World Cup in Melbourne, Australia November 20-22, 2008.

“I can't wait to tell everyone about England,” added Olds, now back in the US. “I hope a lot of people can make it to the fundraiser on November fifteenth. It will be a truly memorable occasion; I’m really looking forward to it!”

More information about Frankie Andreu is available here. For more information about PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team visit www.proman-paradigm.blogspot.com and www.promanracing.com.

Photos: Rob Evans

Team Type 1 Re-Signs Kobzarenko, Adds Slovenian Sprinter

Atlanta — Ukranian Valeriy Kobzarenko, who was one of Team Type 1’s most dependable riders in 2008, will return to the squad in 2009. At the same time, the second-year team announced the signing of promising young Slovenian sprinter Aldo Ino Ilesic.

The two join eight other riders already announced for Team Type 1, a team striving to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. Co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge are two of four riders on the men’s professional roster who have Type 1 diabetes.

Kobzarenko is a three-time Olympian and past Ukranian national road race champion (1997). His season highlights include winning the Frank “Nap” Torpey Memorial Hills of Somerset County Road Race and finishing second on Stage 6 of the Tour de Taiwan and second on Stage 4a of the Tour de Beauce.

Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said the 31-year-old has been the “rock” of the team that won 45 races as well as the team titles at the Vuelta Mexico and the Tour de Beauce.

“I honestly believe we would not have had the success that we enjoyed in 2008 without his undying, consistent, and selfless work and commitment,” Beamon said. “In every situation that I can remember this year where our leader may have been under fire, Kobza was always there to put out the flame. Valeriy can win when in the situation, but his experience and competitiveness make him one of the hardest workers on the team.”

Ino Ilesic, 23, was a late-season revelation on the U.S. racing scene, winning two races (Dylan Mitchell Memorial Criterium and the Vista Grand Prix) while finishing second in a third (USA Crits Finals) – all in a five-day period in September.

Beamon said Ino IIlesic’s tremendous finishing speed will be showcased in hard, one-day events and stages, as well as criteriums. In 2008 – his first season as a professional – he won 16 races and scored 23 podium finishes.

“He has extensive European experience coming from one of the top programs in central Europe,” Beamon said. “This was another move to improve our strength in the sprints and at the finish, especially in the harder internationally competitive finishes.”

Photo: Courtesy TT1

Yakima's Windmill and Foam Machine Bring Unique Spirit to 2008 Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships

The Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships were held in Portland, OR this past weekend, November 7-9. The course featured an extremely unique obstacle in the form of a huge windmill complete with a foam machine.

Yakima's company team, the Yakima Bike Vigilantes, developed the windmill for the event, which was perched at the top of the biggest run-up on the course. Racers had to dismount, run through as the blades tried to nail them, and then remount their bikes once they were through the contraption, all the while avoiding foam that was pumping out through a foam machine.

This is just another event where Yakima showcases their fun loving spirit -- it's about about having fun, making other people have fun, and Yakima is as authentic as it gets.



Cyclocross Magazine covered the event and shot the following video, which shows the windmill in full action.



Matt Karre filed the race report on the SSCXWC08 website. An excerpt follows.

...Olympic mountain biker Adam Craig hit the start line on a slightly modified version of his usual Giant ‘cross bike. It was, of course, single speed but Craig had a partner in crime. Attached to his bike was a tag-a-long trailer bike ridden by Tina Brubaker (who happened to be wearing his Short Track national champion skin suit). Technically not a tandem and not truly two bikes, the two raced around the course with surprising grace and speed, even trying to bunny hop the Vault. Trebon came to Portland with winning in mind. After winning two previous races, the Cross Crusade single speed race and Category A race, Trebon found himself caught behind the initial pile-up and was unable to catch the lead group.

While Craig may have had a unique racing bike, many other racers competed perhaps without speed in mind. One strong man raced on a Surly Big Dummy, a 45 plus pound long tail cargo bike converted to single speed. Another wore an outfit best called lots of moss. A crowd favorite wore PBaRmor, a knight suit made of PBR cans. Perhaps the slowest contender was Brody Boeger riding a plastic pony mounted to a 20 inch kid’s bike. Many donned bikini briefs. One man wore a women’s one piece bathing suit. Last year’s winner Wendy Williams wore her world champion bikini.

The women’s race saw crowd favorite Megan Farris take a huge early lead. Destined for victory, Farris suffered an untimely flat that allowed Butler and Williams to pass her. Over thirty racers qualified . Butler, Williams and Farris caught and passed most of the men’s field even after starting 30 seconds behind.

Trips for Kids to Host 11th Annual "Brews, Bikes and Bucks" Party

Quality drinks, food and mountain biking celebrities make this event the most fun cycling enthusiasts can have without being on a bike!

San Rafael, Calif. - Trips for Kids' annual "Brews, Bikes and Bucks" party will be held Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 at the Broken Drum Brewery (1132 Fourth Street, San Rafael, Calif.) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The popular event features local beer, terrific raffle prizes, delicious food and the chance to hobnob with famous mountain biking pioneers. Admission is free and all proceeds benefit Trips for Kids, the award-winning, Marin-based non-profit that has improved the lives of disadvantaged kids through trail rides and earn-a-bike programs for more than 20 years.

Now in its 11th year, this fundraiser has become a much-anticipated tradition. Mountain biking legends likely to attend include Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, Joe Breeze, Ned Overend, Scott Nicol, Jacquie Phelan, Otis Guy, Ross Shafer, Charles Kelly, Mert Lawwill and Chris Lang.

"Many of us take for granted the pleasure of getting out in Marin parks and wild areas and enjoying a bike ride. That simple experience isn't available to everyone, though - especially to a number of vulnerable, inner-city kids," says Marilyn Price, Trips for Kids founder. "Our goal has always been to help set that straight a little bit. This fundraiser lends a big hand by supporting our entire program!"

Bike-related prizes will be raffled throughout the afternoon. The grand prize will be a dual suspension Jamis Dakar XCR Sport mountain bike (MSRP: $1,475) donated by Jamis Bicycles. A silent auction will include other items such as a 2009 Marin Bikes Alpine Trail 29er mountain bike.

Advance raffle tickets are on sale at the Broken Drum Brewery and at the Trips for Kids' Re-Cyclery Thrift Shop in San Rafael. Raffle tickets will also be available at the event. Ticket holders need not be present to win. All event profits will benefit Trips for Kids.

Sheer and Much Tops at the Chicago Cyclocross Cup #7

By Imelda March

The 7th stop of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup traveled to the Village of Northbrook, a suburb north of the City of Chicago. The village has many charms, including that of Hollywood fame with several scenes of the movies Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science and Ice Harvest filmed at a hotel located in the village.

A damp and partly cloudy day brought out the dedicated to mix it up in treacherous cross conditions with temperatures that hovered around the 30 degree Fahrenheit mark.

Garner/Northbrook Bike Club and Flatlandia Cycling did a fantastic job setting up a cross course that would make the ancestors from Belgium very proud. The muddy course had no barriers; however, the two-stair run up was enough to keep the heart beats well elevated. The mud filled course kept many of the riders hitting the deck multiple times. The culprit was a section near and around the stair case run up section that got worse as the day went on.


The course design and amenities received rave reviews from the riders who finally were able to let the mud fly with a course that was very difficult both technically and physically. To top things off organizers ensured that hot coffee and coco was available for a quick warm up just steps from the finish line.

Elite Men
In the Elite Men’s race, Mike Sheer (Pony Shop) made the trip up from Indianapolis,IN to school the locals. He pressed on the gas early and got away very quickly. He was followed by yet another out-of-state visitor, James Lalonde (Ellis Cycles) of Wisconsin who took second. Locals Scott McLaughlin (SRAM), Kevin Klug (Killjoy), and Luca Lenzi (Pony Shop) rounded out the podium.


Results - Top 10
1 Mike Sheer (Pony Shop)
2 James Lalonde (Ellis Cycles)
3 Scott McLaughlin (SRAM)
4 Kevin Klug (Killjoy)
5 Luca Lenzi (Pony Shop)
6 Wayne Simon (Verdigris Custom Homes)
7 Christando Lombardo (Verdigris Custom Homes)
8 Michael Hemmi (Bicycle Heaven)
9 Kyle Jacobsen (Iscorp)
10 Matthew Stewart (Bicycle Heaven)

Elite Women
In the Elite Women's race, Rebecca Much (xXx Racing/AthletiCo), the current United States U23 TT Champion plowed through the field. Unmatched, Much arrived solo at the line to take yet another win in the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series.


The battle held by the chasers went to Holly Klug (Killjoy). The remaining podium spots went to: Jessica Hill (Trail’s End Cycling) in 3rd, Pam Loebig (Bike Reg.com) 4th and June Upshaw (Verdigris Custom Homes) in 5th.

Results - Top Ten
1 Rebecca Much (xXx Racing – AthletiCo)
2 Holly Klug (Killjoy)
3 Jessica Hill (Trail's End Cycling)
4 Pam Loebig (Bike Reg.com)
5 June Upshaw (Verdigris Custom Homes)
6 Debbie Pielet (Albertos)
7 Leah Sanda (Flatlandia)
8 Wendy Gaddy (Albertos)
9 Beth Christensen (xXx Racing - AthletiCo)
10 Heidi Sarna (xXx Racing – AthletiCo)

Upcoming Events
The next stop for the Chicago Cyclocross Cup is the Lan Oak Park #8 scheduled for Sunday, November 16. This race will feature collegiate racing for both men and women. Additional information about his race and the series can be found by visiting www.chicrosscup.com

Photos: Luke Seemann (first through fourth); Amy Dykema (fifth through seventh).

Chicago Cyclocross Cup to Host Collegiate Race

Chicago, Illinois – The Chicago Cyclocross Cup is pleased to announce the addition of a collegiate race for both men and women. The race is scheduled for Sunday, November 16 in Lansing, Illinois. The Lan-Oak Park Race #8 allows collegiate riders to earn points toward the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC) Cyclocross Series.

This is the first time the series has incorporated a collegiate race as part of the race offerings.

Individual series winners of the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC) Cyclocross Series earn front row privileges in the upcoming 2008 USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships scheduled for December 11-14, 2008.

Further information about the race and the series be found by visiting www.chicrosscup.com

On Tap...

Task At Hand
Cyclocross races dominate the calendar except for the Prostate Cancer Awareness Challenge. The track event will be held at the ADT Velodrome in Carson, CA on Sunday November 9th.

The event, founded by a friend of le Triple, Robert Hess, Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, "is a combination of the three-person Olympic Sprint and Individual 500 meter Time Trial.

Each team will ride two Olympic sprint heats and each team member will ride one 500 TT. Team standing will be based on combination of the total time for all five rides. The winner in each category is the team with the lowest total time.

It is also the First Ever joint Prostate Cancer / Breast Cancer awareness event. Keep that fitness you honed for the state and national championships and let's see which gender can get the most teams to the event and the most points on the board.

There are age graded categories for men, women, mixed teams. Get your teams formed and compete for a set of three tickets to the VIP tent at the final stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California!"

For more race in and around your area, scroll below.

11/08/2008
CICLE Cross
Los Angeles, CA

11/09/2008
Urban Cross at IX 3
Charlottesville, VA
Prostate Cancer Awareness Challenge
Carson, CA
Old Towne Vande-Cross
Moline, IL
Sacramento Cyclocross - November
Sacramento, CA
NCCX #5 Dobson CX Race - State Championship
Dobson, NC
Save Ferris Northbrook Cross
Northbrook, IL
John Bryan Cyclocross Classic
Yellow Springs, OH
Dam Cross
Hanson Dam, CA
Stoughton Viking Cross
Stougthon, WI

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com.


Up and Over
For upcoming cross races in and around specific areas of the country, see below.

11/15/2008
Bay Area Super Prestige Series #3-Sierra Point CX
Brisbane, CA
Tech Cross
Blacksburg, VA

11/16/2008
Sandhell in the Sandhills - NC Cyclocross Series Race
Southern Pines, NC
2008 Bike Authority Cyclocross Series # 3
Broadview Heights, OH
Urban Cyclocross Series
Irvine, CA
Lan-Oak Cyclocross Race
Lansing, IL

Photo: Junior Track Cycling

Trips for Kids Establishes First Overseas Chapter with Addition of Israel-based Chapter

A community group in Israel gears up, taking inner-city kids mountain biking through the Judean plains


SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Trips for Kids (TFK) today announced a significant milestone with the formation of its first overseas chapter - Trips for Kids Israel - Samson Riders Bicycle Club (TFK Israel-SRBC).

Located in Beit Shemesh, Israel, Trips for Kids' newest chapter provides disadvantaged Yehuda Plains youth a chance to experience the joy and challenge of mountain biking in nature, something they would not typically be able to enjoy.

"The Samson Riders Bicycle Club is very excited to become part of the Trips for Kids family!" said Renee Halpert, communication coordinator for TFK Israel-SRBC. "Many children and youth from our region will reach new heights of success because of this important association."

TFK Israel-SRBC was created on the foundation of the community group, the Samson Riders Bicycle Club (SRBC). One of SRBC's exceptional programs, Riding for Co-Existence, brings Israeli Jewish and Arab youth together to ride, learn about each other, break down social barriers, discover new interests and respect the land.

"We believe that with the support of TFK, we can continue to expand this program to involve youth from these and other ethnic communities in the planning and implementation of rides for their peers," Halpert said.

Across North America, and now in the Middle East, Trips for Kids chapters take low-income, inner-city and otherwise at-risk youth out of the city for mountain bike rides, which often turn out to be "the rides of their lives."

A simple concept with rich dividends, Trips for Kids chapters have touched the lives of nearly 50,000 young people during its more than 20-year history. Trips for Kids' organizes mountain bike rides to help youth have fun while gaining confidence, riding skills, a greater appreciation for the natural world and exposure to the lifelong benefits of exercise.

Each TFK Chapter is distinct, with different staffing and volunteer levels depending on the type and size of its program. Some chapters have been started by organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs, Police Athletics League and cycling clubs. Several have evolved from public and private non-profit organizations committed to serving underprivileged youth, e.g. charter schools, treatment centers and public health agencies. While the communities served by each chapter are unique, the youth share a common need - they are low-income kids facing an array of personal challenges.

For more information on Trips for Kids, including a list of chapters, please visit www.tripsforkids.org or call Marilyn Price at (415) 458-2986.

CHANGE

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent." - Martin Luther King, Jr.


It has been said that all politics is local. As such, not all cyclists were happy with the results from last evening's US Presidential Election. It’s probably safe to say, however, that a great majority of us were.

Admittedly, I haven't always been in that majority of which I speak. I have associated myself with the all too common societal group of "moderates who lean to the right" for the better part of my voting life.

But since the announcement of his entry into presidential politics, the man and the message that is Barack Obama appealed to those liberal, and dare I say, more honorable fibers of my experiential fabric. And as we saw last night, the same can be said for most Americans.

His demeanor, intelligence, and steadiness are all qualities that I espouse. His minority status serves to elevate all of us of color. His message of change, a call to arms to be "our brother's keeper,” and to be inclusive and not exclusive resounds and demands all to reach for something better and brighter, both within and in our fellow citizens.

YES WE CAN.

The man and the message enticed me to attend my first ever political rally, on the lawn of the statehouse in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend, and to vote for change yesterday. But not for the change that might seem so readily apparent.


The change I voted for yesterday was less of a referendum on the failures of the past eight years, than on the failures of past generations. As New York Times columnist, David Brooks, recently commented, “Despite decades of [private] affluence, longstanding [public] issues of health care, education, energy and entitlement debt have not been adequately addressed.” Coupled with the numerous social and civil rights issues that Brooks fails to mention, our country’s agenda has continually confounded the most logical and pragmatic among us.

YES WE CAN.

Barack Obama holds within him the promise for a transformational change that Americans have yearned for, while we hold within us the unwavering and tireless spirit to bring that change about.

Unfortunately, the world of professional cycling is without such a transcendent figure; one that could bring the sport out from under a pervasive unethical “win-at-all-cost” culture. But, that may also be good thing. Instead, cycling has chosen to roll forward on unpredictable wheels rather than wait for the "wheels of inevitability" to carry us to a cleaner and more beautiful sport. And in that, we can all be proud.

YES, WE CAN!

NOTE: If you like the design above, a series of CHANGE t-shirts are now available in the CRANK Shop.

Photos: Leonard Basobas

Wilson, MacGregor Returning To Team Type 1

Atlanta — Team Type 1 will be bolstered in 2009 by the return of stage racing specialists Matt Wilson and Ian MacGregor, as announced by Sport Director Ed Beamon Monday.

Wilson, 31, rebounded from breaking his right wrist in March to score stage wins at the Tour de Beauce and the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. The 2004 Australian national road champion also earned King of the Mountains titles at the Tour of Ireland and the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia.

MacGregor (inset), 25, was a pivotal contributor in overall victories at the Tour of Arkansas and the Vuelta Mexico, as well as the Team Type 1’s team title at the Tour de Beauce. The 2004 and 2005 Under 23 U.S. national road champion enjoyed a spectacular July, winning Stage 2 of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic and the Colorado road racing championship while finishing second at the Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hillclimb.

Beamon said the pair represent the core of the team’s general classification hopes in 2009.

“Matt was brought on as a leader, and certainly in the second half of the season, he displayed his leadership abilities and matured in that capacity,” Beamon said. “Ian continues to improve and he showed last year that his climbing abilities – when he is on form – are up there with the top guys in North America.”

Team Type 1 previously announced the re-signings of Mexican Olympian Moises Aldape, stage racing specialist Fabio Calabria and American climbing specialist Chris Jones. The team has also signed sprinters Ricardo Escuela of Argentina and American Kenneth Hanson as well as promising young Belgian all-arounder Willem Van den Eynde.

Calabria and Van den Eynde represent the athletes on the professional team who have Type 1 diabetes. They join team co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge, who led Team Type 1 to back-to-back victories in the Race Across America (RAAM) in 2006 and 2007.