TdF Stage 4 ? Shoot Out at Mur-de-Bretagne

Many thought that today?s 173-km (107.5-mile) 4th Stage going from Lorient to the short but steep ramp up the Mur-de-Bretagne had Philippe Gilbert?s name written all over it. This is exactly the type of course that the current dominant Belgium national champion has built his reputation on. And given his latest form, winning [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tdf-stage-4-%e2%80%93-shoot-out-at-mur-de-bretagne/

descente cycling

The Morning?s Half-Stage at De Panne

Team RadioShack?s Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) hung tough today in cold, wet conditions to take 7th place in a furious bunch sprint finish to the 111-kilometer half-stage of the 3 Days of De Panne. With the unusual two event closing day format, like the Criterium International, this first half-stage started early and was over by [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/the-morning%e2%80%99s-half-stage-at-de-panne/

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TdF Stage 13 ? The Mighty Col d?Aubisque

Today?s 13th stage, a short mountain course starting in Pau, climbing over the mighty 1,709 meter Col d?Aubisque and finishing in Lourdes, France, saw many of the general classification contenders taking a bit of a break over the 152.5-kilometer, or 95 mile trek. After such a grueling first 2 weeks it was well deserved, [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tdf-stage-13-the-mighty-col-d%e2%80%99aubisque/

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2012 Summer Bikepacking Gear List

This will be my 4th summer of bikepacking and, as with every year, I've got some changes in my gear system. New stuff, old reliables, and some test pieces thrown in to make sure I don't get too comfortable.

The most noticeable change this year is the lack of a backpack. I've been trying to get that weight off for a few years and, unless I stumble into a situation which calls for more space, I think I've finally managed it. The only riding condition where this would normally be a hindrance -- technical singletrack -- isn't a factor because my bike is not designed to rage, but crawl. And, I don't mind walking.

Summertime in western Montana and northern Idaho rarely produces all day drizzles or intense thunderstorms. Instead we get light, quick drizzles, if anything at all. And because of this, my thought has always been to have a light, quick clothing selection. No waterproof jacket. No waterproof pants. I'm not trying to stay dry, just warm. I'll dry out later if necessary.

Items I wear while moving are a mix of wind layers, fleece, and wool, with the exception being neoprene or waterproof socks in case my feet get cold. These vapor barriers make feet sweat tons, but keep them warm.

The biggest change in my clothing system is the addition of a down vest which I'm using as I do a belay jacket in winter: my warmest layer for kicking around at camp, and to augment my sleeping bag's rating. In the past I've always used a synthetic piece for this function, but I decided to go with down this year (I may regret it).

Shoes will either be a minimalist trail runner with platforms or beefy mountain-bike specifics when riding clipless.

From there it's all the basics: tool kit, repair/first-aid kit, camera, map, Aqua Mira, bottles, fire starter kit, headlamp, etc.

Check out my full bikepacking gear list (PDF). Keep in mind, it's always changing. And, I'd be stoked to hear some suggestions.


Photos by Casey Greene

Photo 1: Packing up on Rock Creek. My bike on the right. Courtney's on the left.
Photo 2: Clothing choices.
Photo 3: Sleep and shelter: MH Mtn Speed 32 sleeping bag, Thermarest ProLite S, BD Twilight Bivy.
Note: A version of this post first appeared on Casey's blog

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BIKEPACKER is written by Casey Greene and Paul Hansbarger -- Adventure Cycling staff, part-time adventure seekers and gear nerds alike. It appears on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/2012-summer-bikepacking-gear-list.html

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Leading contenders for 2012 Tour de France championship

Well, sports fans, we got a big race coming up. The Tour de France rolls out of Liege, Belgium, on Saturday, June 30, for its finish in Paris on July 22. Who are the favorites to win?

For starters, we know who to eliminate. Alberto Contador is sitting out for cheating and Andy Schleck is …

Continue reading »

Source: http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/06/23/leading-contenders-for-2012-tour-de-france-championship/

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Team RadioShack Line-up in Paris-Roubaix 2011

Paris-Roubaix (France), 10/04/11 This Sunday one of the toughest spring classics, Paris-Roubaix, will see the riders go through 27 cobbled sectors. According to the weather reports, it will be a dry day like last year, which means less danger in the cobbled areas. Team Radioshack Line-up Riders: Fumiyuki Beppu, Ben King, Robbie McEwen, Nélson Oliveira, Gregory Rast, Sébastien [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-line-up-in-paris-roubaix-2011/

cycling gear

Alaska: Night Ride in the Light of the Midnight Sun


The photo above is of the moon over Denali, aka Mount McKinley, taken on the summer solstice of a previous year (as you probably know, the 2012 summer solstice happens tomorrow!) Wow. This week's Bike Overnight concerns a ride in the national park encompassing Denali; a ride made during the light of the night in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Kate Batten, a contributing author writes, "I have done this solstice ride for the past four years and can think of no better way to stay up and enjoy the 'longest day' in this beautiful part of the world. There's perhaps no better time to ride the Denali National Park Road than on solstice night -- when the buses stop running for the evening, you have the road to yourself ... well, there will probably be other riders and some wildlife!

Kate, with a Denali backdrop, at around 10 p.m.

"We take the last bus of the day in to Wonder Lake, mile 85, and ride through the night back out to the park entrance. We start riding at about 9 p.m. and watch the sun set -- and then watch it rise again just three hours later, with dusky light illuminating the ride in between. In the past few years while doing this ride we have seen grizzlies, wolves, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and numerous bird species."


The view from the saddle.

According to the national park's website, "Denali, the 'High One,' is the name that the Athabascan native people gave the massive peak that crowns the 600-mile-long Alaska Range. ... More than 650 species of flowering plants as well as many species of mosses, lichens, fungi, algae, and other flora grace the slopes and valleys of Denali. Only plants adapted to long, cold winters and short growing seasons can survive in this subarctic wilderness. Permafrost ground underlies many areas of the park, where only a thin layer of topsoil is available to support life."

Sounds to us like a bucket-list place to ride. To do so vicariously, read the rest of Kate's tale of the far north at BikeOvernights.org, then do it for real next year!

Our current Photo of the Week, shown below, comes from the May 14, 2012, post Bikepacking on Santa Catalina Island, by Errin Vasquez


BikeOvernights.org Photo of the Week, 06.15.12.

Top 3 photos by Kate Batten. 

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BIKE OVERNIGHTS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling?s media specialist, and highlights content from BikeOvernights.org. Previously, from March 2009 through January 2012, Mac posted weekly at Biking Without Borders. He also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to 45,000 readers worldwide.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/06/alaska-night-ride-in-light-of-midnight.html

tour de france live

Levi Comments: Radioshack?s Leader in Tour de France

There has been plenty of speculation in the media and among fans regarding which Team Radioshack rider will lead the team in it’s efforts in the upcoming Tour de France. Even though Lance Armstrong is no longer riding professionally, the team still have several profiles who would fit the bill. In an recent poll on this [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/levi-comments-radioshacks-leader-in-tour-de-france/

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