TdF Stage 5 ? One Ugly Crashfest

Team RadioShack?s Slovenian Time Trial Champion Janez Brajkovic crashed hard just shy of the halfway point of today?s 165-kilometer 5th stage in the northwest Brittany region of France. After about 75 kms while tightly packed on the far left of the peloton he went down in a heap, hard and fast with little warning, [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tdf-stage-5-one-ugly-crashfest/

british cycling

Sun?s gonna shine on everything you do

I’m a busy bunny this week, and squeezing the riding in feels just like that – a squeeze.  Which is not an ideal frame of mind for riding.  But with the forecast deteriorating rapidly, the sun shining, and another gym session not appealing, I was determined to squeeze it into today somehow.  One major factor in making [...]

Source: http://www.thecyclingmayor.com/suns-gonna-shine-on-everything-you-do

craft cycling

CALIFORNIANS, Call Senator Boxer Today


California Cycling Friends --

Your Senator -- the Honorable Barbara Boxer -- is meeting with U.S. House leaders TODAY to decide the fate of biking and walking programs in Congress.

Will you call Senator Boxer at one of her district offices today and ask her to save local control of federal dollars for biking and walking?

Over the last few years, we?ve seen a few Members of Congress try to block funding for biking and walking again and again. People all over the country have sent emails, made phone calls, and organized events to ensure that Congress protect the funds that make our streets safer and more accessible to everyone.

So far, we have been successful at protecting the federal investments for cycling and walking that make streets safer and more accessible in our communities.

Now, biking and walking programs will be on the line in today's meeting between Senator Boxer and Representative John Mica, the head of the House Transportation Committee.

It?s easy to call Senator Boxer?s office. Choose an office from the list below and use the following suggested talking points.

  • Oakland: (510) 286-8537
  • Los Angeles: (213) 894-5000
  • Sacramento: (916) 448-2787
  • San Diego: (619) 239-3884
  • Fresno: (559) 497-5109
  • Riverside: (951) 684-4849
Suggested script: 
Hi, my name is [name] and I live in [city/town]. With whom am I speaking? 


I?m calling to ask that Senator Boxer maintain the Cardin-Cochran agreement and ensure that Transportation Alternatives not allow states to opt-out of local control over local transportation projects, including biking and walking improvements. The bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement in the Senate transportation bill would ensure that local governments can access 1-2% of federal transportation dollars for local projects.


Local officials, who govern closest to the communities they serve, need an opportunity to guide funding for local projects such as biking and walking improvements. It is essential that biking and walking programs not include a state opt-out provision. When the state controls all funding, small, local projects fall between the cracks and local officials lose the opportunity to use transportation funds to address local transportation needs.


Will Senator Boxer preserve the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement and ensure that Transportation Alternatives not allow states to opt-out of local control?

Thank you, my California friends, for standing up for biking and walking at this absolutely pivotal time.


--

JIM SAYER is the executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/californians-call-senator-boxer-today.html

womens cycling shorts

Sebastien Rosseler Wins Overall In De Panne

After riding pretty quietly for the first 3 stages, Team RadioShack?s Sebastien Rosseler (BEL) decided to put the hammer down and ate up the pavement in the afternoon?s individual time trail at the 3 Days of De Panne, beating the field by nearly 14 seconds on the 14.7-kilometer course with a time of 18:31.83. [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/sebastien-rosseler-wins-overall-in-de-panne/

castelli cycling

Blue Ridge Bliss: Best Ride Ever!


Adventure Cycling's 2012 Blue Ridge Bliss (June 2-8) underwent many revisions this year:

  • We added the beautiful Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to a shorter segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway without significantly decreasing the 4-5K of climbing each day
  • We simplified the start-of-tour logistics
  • Greg Edwards, a Roanoke native became the new tour leader on his maiden tour
  • An entirely new tour staff was assigned to the tour
  • Our traditional caterer Adam returned for another year.

What are the tour participants saying about our newly revised Blue Ridge Bliss tour? Participant Galit Sharon Marcus wrote us recently raving about the tour. Here is what she said:

"This was the best (of three) Adventure Cycling Association experience I've had. Adventure Cycling Association consistently has great tours with great riding and great scenery. The tours are always well-put-together with good food and great campsites. But Greg, Don, John, Bob, Dave and Tim made this tour much more than a great bike ride.

"You guys were great to hang out with, listen to live bluegrass at campsites with and just generally chill out with. You guys are just great people and it was really a pleasure to get to spend a little time with each of you. Stargazing with Greg, Don and Tim at Big Meadows and sharing cycling, camping and wild animal stories was one of the highlights of my trip. John, thank you for riding through a torrential downpour with me -- that rain shower was one of the best rides of the trip for me, definitely up there on the "Best Rides Ever" list. Don and Tim, thank you for waiting for me forever at the rest stop after the winery, and Don, thank you so much for riding with me onward to the campsite, and for the awesome riding conversation.

"And finally, thank you (and a big grin) to Don for the socks and for thinking out of the box -- you saved my hands and fingers from a cold mountain morning! Greg's touch of live bluegrass at Fancy Gap and Breaking Away at Floyd was just awesome. Greg, you are awesome. The live bluegrass at Big Meadows was the cherry on the sundae. Bob, your blue M&M shots not only fueled my rides but were color-coordinated with my outfits -- still brings a huge smile to my face! Dave, it was great chatting with you at the rest stops. I will shout from the New York City rooftops about how great each and every member of the staff was until they hear me loud and clear all the way in Missoula.

"I hope to see each and every one of you on another Adventure Cycling Association tour. Until then, I will think fondly of all of you. Happy riding!"

Galit, we have heard you and all the other participants LOUD & CLEAR! All of us at Adventure Cycling look forward to another great tour with you in the future.

Arlen, Tours Director

Photo: Claude Rioual, tour participant

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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team -- Mo, Paul, Madeline, and Arlen -- tours specialists and intrepid bicyclists, covering all things related to Adventure Cycling's Tours Department. Find your  dream tour now!

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/blue-ridge-bliss-best-ride-ever.html

cycling gear uk

Planet X Demo Bike Clearance ? Bag a Bargain NOW

We’re clearing out our entire stock of Planet X and On-One demo bikes. New and nearly new bikes at bargain prices. What’s more, we’ll include a FREE Level 1 bike fit with each bike if you collect from our Bristol Studio. Watch the website next week for BIG news about our new brands. Planet X Stealth [...]

Source: http://blog.bike-science.com/2012/04/07/planet-x-demo-bike-clearance-bag-a-bargain-now

descente cycling

Visit Adventure Cycling on Your Next Bicycle Tour

With summer weather finally peeking through the clouds here in Missoula, our office is in full visitor mode. On Monday alone, we had almost 40 visitors, including a big group from PUSH America. Throughout the season, we plan to have around 1,000 travelers stopping to say "hi" on their cycling adventures. Some of them are biking across the country on the TransAm, the Northern Tier, or their own route. Others are on a quick 4-day bike vacation with their family. Whatever their current adventure, they stop in to see the history behind our organization and bicycle travel, to sample the free ice cream and to rest.

If you visit our office, you will be met by one of our staff members who has volunteered to be the Official Cyclist Greeter for the day. They will have you log your trip in our visitor book, snap your photo for our visitor wall and offer you complimentary ice cream and beverages. You can also check your email, buy some gear or check out the collection of photographs and vintage bikes throughout the office. If you are not yet a member, you will get a free membership. If you are already a current member of Adventure Cycling, you will receive one of our new limited-edition bandanas. These were designed by co-founder Greg Siple specifically for our visiting members. They come in 6 different colors and all feature the same design which has the word "bicycle" in several different languages.  These bandanas are an exclusive momento for visiting member cyclists.

Our first visiting Member to receive the new bandana
So, if Missoula is on your route, be sure to stop in and say "hi".  We are open Monday - Friday, 8 - 5 and on the following Saturdays from 9 - 1: 6/16, 6/23, 6/30, 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, and 8/25.  If you have already stopped in to see us, you can find your photo in our visitor gallery to share with your friends and family!

Photo by Greg Siple.


 --

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS is typically posted every other Friday by Amy Corbin, Membership and Marketing Coordinator. Membership Highlights spotlights the various benefits of membership,our accomplishments thanks to member support, and even interviews with some of our most passionate and dedicated members, both individual and organizational.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/visit-adventure-cycling-on-your-next.html

pez cycling

Tough & Tender: The Stories That Move Us

Today's guest post was written by Martina Brimmer, owner of Swift Industries, to announce the 2nd annual Tough & Tender: A literary and photographic project celebrating women's experiences with the bicycle.

This year I broke a bicycle frame.

As I stripped the parts off the bike, I nostalgically calculated that I had pedaled well over 15,000 miles on that frame in the past four years. I?ve cycled coastlines and mountain roads, toured islands and farmland, and ridden the same mundane commuter routes day in and day out. I?ve pedaled alone and in company. What I found myself marveling at, as the bicycle was stripped for parts, was not the strength of the lugs that had endured for so long, but my own strength.


I have ridden the rough equivalent of crossing the United States four or five times over the past few years. Those 16,000 miles contained breathtaking scenery and killer climbs. They were marked with more tears than I?d like to admit, and a great deal of ?hanger? (hunger anger). Sometimes it felt like there were more relentless headwinds than encouraging tailwinds.

Just like any other enthusiast, I couldn?t wait for my next long day out, and was stoked that I could lure my riding buddies into bike camping. I stopped at breweries, I repaired my own flats with confidence and dexterity, and afterward, I wiped the grease off my hands and onto my pants. Over the past four years I have dedicated my career to bicycling and touring. It is through my experiences on a bicycle that I have grown into myself.

I am a cyclist. But what?s more, I am a female cyclist. And as many female cyclists know, our stories are not celebrated enough in mainstream culture and are not always told with as much joy and pride as they ought to be.

I don?t find myself reflected in most cycling publications. I don?t walk into a shop and receive the same treatment as my fellow cyclists, nor do my female friends who work as mechanics enjoy the same trust from customers as their male co-workers do. Sometimes I don?t only feel underrepresented, I feel invisible in the very community that I love.

But at the end of the day the joy and accomplishment of cycling is nested just as deeply in my heart, thighs, and calves as anyone else?s and I rejoice when I take to the open road. Because that?s what it?s all about.


I know from years of riding with my closest friends that my experiences as a female rider are not any kind of universal voice for women who ride bicycles. Our styles, and interest, paces, and experiences are many and diverse. Over the years it has been of particular inspiration to me to exchange stories and connect with female bicyclists. I am always inspired by the tenderness that women assume when they?re relaying an adventure, or better yet, a misadventure, from the road.

In 2011, Tough & Tender was born. Now in its second year, Tough & Tender is a literary and photographic project that celebrates women?s relationships with bicycles, touring, and the bike industry. Cycling empowers, inspires and challenges women in ways which are not often portrayed by mainstream bicycle culture. This project aims to fill that role. Please tell us how you experience strength, determination, joy, and satisfaction through bicycling and join this compendium of women?s voices and perspectives in the making. 

We can?t wait to share your stories!

For more information about contributing to Tough & Tender 2012, visit Swift Industries or check out their blog, Cycle Swift

Photos by Russ Roca

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MARTINA BRIMMER is the owner of Swift Industries, a small pannier company is Seattle WA. She rides a lot, sews a lot, camps a lot, and eats a lot. Choose you own adventures.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/07/tough-tender-stories-that-move-us.html

cycling

Team RadioShack?s Stable of Champions

Most of the National Road-Race and Time-Trial Cycling Championships around the world are now complete and once again, Team RadioShack has an impressive list of performances, many from some of its younger riders. From countries spread as far across the globe as The USA, Slovenia, New Zealand, Portugal, and Japan, many of The [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack%e2%80%99s-stable-of-champions/

cycling clothes