Source: http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/6265/cycling/david-millar-from-doper-to-uci-president/
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
David Millar ? From Doper to UCI President?
During the USADA publication on US postal, I was hoping to hear some intelligent and progressive views from current professional cyclists on the issue of doping. Unfortunately, such views were pretty hard to come by, and some comments left you despairing for the future of cycling. However, one of the few who spoke quite intelligently [...]
Are you going to cycle through the winter?
The leaves are coming down, the clocks have gone back and the weather reporters are presenting us with temperatures in the single figures. Some cyclists will slowly start leaving their bikes at home. The underground will become their new daily ritual. They simply don?t want to cycle in the dark or in the cold. There [...]
Source: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/cycling-through-winter/
The other shoe falls in Armstrong doping case
Athletic shoe and clothing marketer Nike announced on Wednesday it is ending its contract with Lance Armstrong, the same day that the embattled former pro cyclist announced he was stepping down as chairman of Livestrong. Armstrong business partners Trek and Anheuser-Busch soon followed suit.
The announcements come a week after the USADA disclosed the details of its doping case against the one-time Tour de France champion and stripped him of his 7 titles. Nike, a longtime supporter of Armstrong and the Livestrong foundation, had stood by him over the years. The company even issued assurances last month ...
The announcements come a week after the USADA disclosed the details of its doping case against the one-time Tour de France champion and stripped him of his 7 titles. Nike, a longtime supporter of Armstrong and the Livestrong foundation, had stood by him over the years. The company even issued assurances last month ...Source: http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/10/17/the-other-shoe-falls-in-armstrong-doping-case/
Winterize?
Well, it happened this morning... snow! Not a lot, not powdery, but icy, wet and on my bike. Due to a recent garage remodel project at the ranch, I decided to just leave my steed outside for the night, after all, the evening prior was mild with a soft breeze, and I was going to ride it in another 12 hours anyway. But, there I was, bouncing the tires, brushing off the seat, and wishing I had uncovered my gloves, hat, and headband the night before. Don't get me wrong, I was also a little giddy with the promise of a new winter season, even if the spoils were soaking into my seat.
With winter knocking on my bike, I decided to asked some local experts about winterizing bike tips, and I also mixed in some random thoughts:
Water, Earth, Fire, Air ... and Aether (salt?).
1. Water
Ice, snow, dew, condensation, rain, sleet, hail, well you get it, over the long term can cause corrosion. Keeping your bike under a roof and allowing components to dry, or at least wiping the bike down will keep everything running smoother. If you do store your bike outside then keeping it covered with a heavy plastic or at least under a little bit of shelter, even an eave can help keep some water at bay.
2. Earth
Think about getting some studded bike tires, or really, really fat ones! And, if your into DIY and have some older tires laying around, I have known a few folks to make screw tires, placing screws from the inside out, you will also need a liner though between the top of the screw(on the inside of the tire) and the tube to prevent movement as well as the heads of the screws from scraping the tube.
3. Fire (... like water for chocolate)
Clean your bike or at least have a cloth handy to wipe it down. Simple Green works well, or a little bit of dish soap and water. Getting off the grime and re-lubing the chain are the main ways of combating the winter goo. Think about spending a little bit of time cleaning, and remember -- just not too much high pressure near the cables. One good fried of mine, who lives in an apartment, uses a pump-style plant sprayer on his balcony to gently spray the mud and grime off. This can be really helpful in winter as well, especially if your pipes are winterized and all the hoses are inside. Car washes used wisely can be helpful after major mud, ice, sand, etc. just watch the pressure and try to dry things off, or wipe everything down. And, of course bringing your bike inside to sit with you next a warm crackling fire after the spray down, should make you both happier.
4. Air
Insulate! Winter riding can be fun! Dress warm and in layers. My favorite piece of gear is an ear band worn under my helmet, and i usually forgo my cycling shoes for warm fuzzy boots and flat pedals especially for just commuting and tooling around. Also those pogies and other brands of mitt-style gear shift covers are really nice. They allow you to wear a thin pair of gloves, which also allows you to shift and stay warm and they have an added bonus of keeping snacks warm! These are especially nice when the wind chill plummets.
5. Aether
Well, yes, we are all made of star dust but salt can be a real bother, wiping the bike down once a week (see Fire) can help dissolve this corrosive element. So again, wiping components down should be considered especially when it's really slushy and wet out. This fifth element though is dedicated to clear skies and fresh air, the closer you can get to the stars, the better.
Well if you want to just skip all those steps and avoid winter, check out Adventure Cycling early tours, or just head south ... well, not too far south ... possible snow-free adventures:
Southern Arizona Sunsets - March 9 -15, 2013
California Spring Fling - March 17 - 23, 2013
Death Valley -Van II - March 16 - 22, 2013
Me, I'm giddy and ready ... let it pour!
Photos by Mo
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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/2012/10/winterize.html
A fitting farewell to a fellow cyclist
MINERAL WELLS, Texas — With more than 150 bicyclists riding in tribute, cyclist and runner Iris Stagner was given a fitting farewell today less than a mile from the spot where she was struck and killed by a pickup truck … Continue reading 
Source: http://jimsbikeblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/a-fitting-farewell-to-a-fellow-cyclist/
Sing our own song
Rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine… Cube, Cinelli, Cube, Cinelli… Decisions, decisions… But there hasn’t been enough summer (ooh, marvel at the understatement), I haven’t had my new baby long enough to feel ready to put it away just yet, and besides there will be plenty of worse weather coming our way, when using the Cube will [...]
SUPERCROSS STAR VILLIPOTO USES SPECIALIZED TO RECOVER FROM TORN ACL
Three Part Video Series Documenting His Recovery Released.
Manuel Cardoso Takes Stage 4 at Catalunya 2011
After looking very strong so far in this year?s 91st running of the Volta a Catalunya ? he finished third in Tuesday?s 2nd stage – Team RadioShack?s Manuel Cardoso (POR) won Thursday?s 4th stage besting the field to the line in a bunch sprint in the town of El Vendrell, Spain. The 195 kilometer course, [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/manuel-cardoso-takes-stage-4-at-catalunya-2011/
A little bike racing advice?
I have been asked several times what advice I would give the up and coming cyclist. �Cycling is a beautiful sport. �Not only does it promote health and wellness, but it is also completely liberating. �When approached properly, it is a sport that has longevity and challenge. �It has purity and depth that not many other sports can give. Should you race? �If you want to. �If not, just challenge yourself each day with a goal, even if that goal is to do a local century or beat your friends...
Source: http://alisonstarnes.com/a-little-bike-racing-advice/
Tours Added: Death Valley Loop IV & Wild Country Utah II
It's not often that I get to write about tours, but a few of our trips are selling so fast, the tours team can barely keep their hands on their handlebars.
Our first three Death Valley Loop van-supported tours have already sold out and, after we announced Adventure Cycling's complete 2013 tours schedule last week, the new Wild Country Utah - Van tour sold out in just 36 hours!
Due to this extraordinary demand, we've just added two additional tours to the 2013 lineup: Death Valley Loop - Van IV, departing March 2, and Wild Country Utah - Van II, which will run September 25 - October 2. If you're interested in one of these tours, do not hesitate, book today!
Looking for something else? We're offering more than 70 tours this year and you're sure to find something just your speed.
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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team, except when they're too busy signing up cyclists for tours. Today's brief post was authored by Winona Bateman, media director for Adventure Cycling.
Looking for something else? We're offering more than 70 tours this year and you're sure to find something just your speed.
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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team, except when they're too busy signing up cyclists for tours. Today's brief post was authored by Winona Bateman, media director for Adventure Cycling.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/tours-added-death-valley-loop-iv-wild.html
Torq Recovery Products
Recently, I received three new Torq recovery products. I’ve been using them for past couple of weeks. Torq Recovery Torq Recovery Plus.� A hot cocoa drink – which is designed for more intense training sessions. TORQ Energy Natural Organic – higher in carbohydrates. Based on a flavourless maltodextrin. Designed to provide help in restoring glycogen [...]
Source: http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/6299/products/torq-recovery-products/
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Softshell cycling jackets
To say that the British weather is indecisive is an understatement. As such, a light waterproof jacket that can pack down in to a small size is a nice addition to anyone?s ever growing collection of cycling goods. When the rain comes down, you can pull over to the side of the road and put [...]
Source: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/softshell-cycling-jackets/
A photo that I had to share
Several of my bicycling friends carry cameras with them and post their photos on Facebook and Instagram. Here’s one that I particularly liked. It was shot by Dave Hickey on Sunday, a day of drizzling rain that kept many cyclists … Continue reading 
Source: http://jimsbikeblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/a-photo-that-i-had-to-share/
Wired for sound
Plans are flexible things. �For a whole heap of various reasons, including several plans falling apart, I ended up able to join Guy on his long planned long Sunday ride yesterday. �Along with Steve. �Three ACG musketeers. �Or something. �Anyway I’d seen his route beforehand. �I was scared. �Though not scared enough to stay at [...]
Lady CoMo of the Pyrenees
Day 1 Girona to Olot Aug 27, 2012. Spain. The first day, a big day. We were late getting away – to be expected. There are last minute decisions to make on the first day: what to leave in, what to leave out, how to pack, which route to take. I broke my pump while [...]
Kl�den, Horner Finish One, Two In Basque Tour
Team RadioShack?s Andreas Kl�den (GER) and Chris Horner (USA) finished off a great week of racing in warm and sunny Spain with powerful time trial performances that set them at the top of the general classification after the concluding 6th stage of the Tour of Basque Country today. Kl�den fell just shy of winning the [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/kloden-horner-finish-one-two-in-basque-tour/
Choosing a bike saddle for comfort
By: Zoey Lancaster
Choosing a bike saddle for comfort�is fun and can be used for stress relief. The last thing a cyclist needs is an uncomfortable saddle, as this will make riding an unbearable experience. Some people think that saddle discomfort has to be tolerated, but a proper bike seat is all you need to enjoy the freedom, convenience and pleasures of bike riding. The shape of a saddle is important in accommodating your anatomy. Women?s bicycle saddles are wider than men?s due to their wider sit bones. For a saddle that fits you perfectly, you need to consider your build, age, gender, weight, type of biking and riding time. A good bicycle saddle should be able to support your body weight while you pedal, balance and steer. When you hit a bump or cycle over uneven surfaces, the saddle must absorb the shock without transferring it to you. This way, you will not feel any impact.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyclingchatcouk/~3/FErQcszh-2k/
A little bike racing advice?
I have been asked several times what advice I would give the up and coming cyclist. �Cycling is a beautiful sport. �Not only does it promote health and wellness, but it is also completely liberating. �When approached properly, it is a sport that has longevity and challenge. �It has purity and depth that not many other sports can give. Should you race? �If you want to. �If not, just challenge yourself each day with a goal, even if that goal is to do a local century or beat your friends...
Source: http://alisonstarnes.com/a-little-bike-racing-advice/
Team RadioShack Moves 3 into Paris-Nice Top 10 after Stage 6
In Friday’s race of truth, the individual time trial at the 69th running of Paris-Nice, Tony Martin of HTC-Highroad, as expected by many, laid down a devastating effort over the 27 kilometer course, beating the next competitor by a full 20 seconds and scrambling the general classification from the previous day’s posting. However, Team RadioShack [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-moves-3-into-paris-nice-top-10-after-stage-6/
TdF Stage 3 ? WHY do They do That?
Monday?s 198-kilometer 3rd Stage of the Tour de France, from Olonne-sur-Mer to Redon, France was a long, flat stage that saw a 5-man break jump away from the peloton after just 1-� kms and stay away all day, entertaining – for more than 4 hours – the hope of winning one of the biggest prizes [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tdf-stage-3-why-do-they-do-that/
Radioshack, Trek & Nissan, Sponsors Two More Years
Here is a bit of great news to the fans of Team Radioshack. Johan Bruyneel has just released the following message on his blog. “Even before the Tour has started, I have some great newsfor you. RadioShack, Nissan and Trek have all renewed their sponsorships for 2 additional years! The riders and staff are extremely [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/radioshack-trek-nissan-sponsors-two-more-years/
Zubeldia Top 10 at San Sebasti�n
Team RadioShack?s highest placed finisher in the Tour de France, Haimar Zubeldia (ESP), finished 7th today in the 237-kilometer (147-mile) Cl�sica Ciclista San Sebasti�n contested in Basque country in the north of Spain. Omega Pharma Lotto?s Belgium star Philippe Gilbert continued his amazing streak this year walking away from some 20 top riders bunched at [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/zubeldia-top-10-at-san-sebastian/
I is for Iran - Eating London A to Z Video Post
We ventured west this week, to Olympia, in order to try the Iranian restaurant, Mohsen. Here is what we found.
Monday, 29 October 2012
The secrets to safe cycling
We have written a number of posts on safe cycling here on London Cyclist (7 mistakes you are making with your cycling and How to make your next bike ride safer than the last) and I?m glad to say they are always popular reads. This proves to me that you guys are interested in doing [...]
Source: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/the-secrets-to-safe-cycling/
A Bike Overnight in Minnesota -- Finally!
As an aside, there are around 15 other states not yet claiming even one Bike Overnight adventure. Among them are Maine, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Go figure -- or go to BikeOvernights.org and check out the "Categories" listing on the right-hand side of the page to see if your home state is represented. If it's not -- well, get riding, writing, and shooting photographs!
Anyway, thanks to Al Ringer, shown above, for breaking the Land of 10,000 Lakes drought.
"One of the advantages of living in rural northern Minnesota is the availability of many outdoor recreational options," writes Al, "and many lightly traveled roads. One loop I like to bicycle is close to our house and 50 miles in length. I've done it in a day, but this time I decided to camp overnight halfway.
"So, I loaded up my REI Novara Randonee and BOB trailer. BOB usually stands for "Beast of Burden," but on some uphills it felt more like "Bucket Of Bricks." My trip started at Hugo's Bar, from which point I headed north on County Road 44, passing the Cloquet River and Indian Lake Campground."
After visiting the old Toimi School, where he says folks can get a sense of what life was like at a Finnish School at the turn of the twentieth century, Al continued along Forest Highway 11, "reaching my destination for the night, Sullivan Lake Campground. Its forested setting makes you feel like you?re in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but with road access. There are eleven sites, most of them right on the water, and it?s usually very peaceful. There was only one other site occupied on this particular night."
Read Al's story in its entirety at BikeOvernights.org, where you can also scroll through our collections of stories and Photos of the Week -- including this week's image, which comes from the August 6, 2012, post Two Days on the Natchez Trace, by Robert Hendry, aka RandoBoy.
Top 3 photos by Al Ringer; bottom photo by Robert Hendry.
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BIKE OVERNIGHTS is posted every Tuesday 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 nearly 47,000 readers worldwide.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/a-bike-overnight-in-minnesota-finally.html
Team RadioShack in Scheldeprijs and Grand Prix Cerami
Here is an overview of the Team Radioshack line-ups for the next races: 99th Scheldeprijs / Schoten (Belgium), 06/04/11 Riders: Fumiyuki Beppu, Sam Bewley, Manuel Cardoso, Ben King, Robbie McEwen, N�lson Oliveira, S�bastien Rosseler & Bj�rn Selander Director: Dirk Demol Grand Prix Cerami / Frameries (Belgium), 07/04/11 Riders: Sam Bewley, Manuel Cardoso, Ben Hermans, Ben [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-in-scheldeprijs-and-grand-prix-cerami/
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 [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/levi-comments-radioshacks-leader-in-tour-de-france/
Video with Lance Armstrong: Is there a Cure for Cancer?
Jules organised for his mate Jim Stynes to catch up with cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. Jim is going through his own cancer treatment at the moment. For more information on Jim’s story go to http://www.reach.org.au or for more information on cancer visit http://www.cancerinstitute.org.au
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/video-with-lance-armstrong-is-there-a-cure-for-cancer/
Rast Within Inches of Podium at Paris-Roubaix
Beautiful blue skies, unseasonably warm shirt-sleeve temperatures, knowledge crowds thickly lining the roads, hard to see how it could get much better for the 109th running of the 258-kilometer (160 mile) Hell of the North. It?s been named that mostly because of the 27 cobbled sectors (51.5 kms) that the riders bounce over on bumpy [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/rast-within-inches-of-podium-at-paris-roubaix/
Is Addison Lee good for London cyclist?
At this stage I have to say RIP to all those who have lost there lives cycling on the UK roads at the hands of motorist. The Addison Lee debate seems to be the topic of the moment, its either the boss of Addison Lee �John Griffin is a genius or and absolute idiot. Griffin's original article had stirred up heated debate on the internet as it suggested that cyclists in London willingingly took their lives into their own hands by riding on roads. He said that cyclists should be properly trained and pay for using roads, summing up the article with "It is time for us to say to cyclists 'You want to join our gang, get trained and pay up'. I have come to the conclusion that he is a genius he is getting loads of free advertising when you think cab firm the 1st name that you will think of now will be Addison Lee. He has been in the printed press on the radio, Twitter, Facebook and now even I find my self-writing about John Griffin and Addison Lee. He is also good for cyclist and has highlighted the fact that cyclist need to stick together as we seem to be gaining more power in transport discussions in the city, we even have the London mayoral candidates fighting over or vote it is important that cycling stays free and free from the involvement of big business. It does not matter what John Griffin says about cyclist he is only a cab firm who wants to use the bus lanes and has been clever in the way he has diverted the attention of that topic and on to cycling and cyclist. What worry?s me if he get his way it would mean all cab firms and independent cab drivers will want to be able to use the bus lanes putting more cyclist in danger, a bus lane is like a secondary bike lane where as a cyclist.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyclingchatcouk/~3/oLK8BsgvSg0/
Another (surprising) reason to cycle
We?ve all heard of the common reasons to cycle. It keeps you fit, you avoid the congested underground and it?s cheaper. However, there?s a new reason I just came across, that I was wondering if you guys would agree with. I?m currently reading The Power of Habits. It?s a fascinating book that I?d recommend to [...]
Source: http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/another-surprising-reason-to-cycle/
Andreas Kl�den Out of the Tour
And then there were 5! After just a few minutes of pedaling into today?s Stage 13, Team RadioShack?s Andreas Kl�den was forced to abandon his Tour effort this year succumbing to numerous injuries from several bad crashes. With numerous bruises and bad scrapes the most serious injury was Andreas? back, which caused him severe pain. [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/andreas-kloden-out-of-the-tour/
Chris Horner out of Tour de France 2011
Chris Horner appears to have broken his nose and suffered a concussion with the nasty crash on stage 7 of the TDF that separated the main field about 37 mi from the finish. A concussion is a “jarring” of the brain caused by head trauma with the severity often being related to the time of [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/chris-horner-out-of-tour-de-france-2011/
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Tour de France Stage 14 ? The Big One
A beautiful day for a bike race! Blue skies and nice weather (a bit warm) greeted the cyclists at the start line in the city of Saint-Gaudens within sight of the mighty Pyr�n�es in the south of France. The 169-kilometer course had a shark?s tooth profile and with lots of categorized mountains, a bunched-up group [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tour-de-france-stage-14-the-big-one/
The Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), Sunday April 3, 2011
Warning: Cycle Crazy Week Ahead! A high of 13 degrees Celsius with showers in the morning becoming cloudy in the afternoon. That’s the forecast for Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) on the ProTour circuit. One of the five so called “monuments” in the sport, this 95th edition of the race will see many [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/the-ronde-van-vlaanderen-tour-of-flanders-sunday-april-3-2011/
The Faces of Bicycle Travel #1
I have thousands and thousands of images from my bicycle travels throughout the world -- boxes and binders filled with color slides and folders of digital images of street scenes, flowers, sunsets, roads, and landscapes. Each photo represents a moment in time and travel that I deemed worthy of capturing.
Yet, if you randomly selected an image and asked for my reaction, it just might be, ?I took that??
What may have been the last switchback on an epic climb has ten years later become simply a semi-paved road with some straggly-looking bushes and a washed-out sky. What was a unique, magical sunset is now generic -- only the date on the image would allow me to identify in what part of the world it was captured.
Sad but true, that is, unless the image is a portrait I?ve taken.
Show me a photo that includes a face and I can tell you not only where it was taken but how I was feeling at the time. I?ll recall the weather and the details of the day. Emotions and memories come flying out as if they?re escaping from a dark prison.
People. The true treasures of bicycle travel.
United States, 1981
I am so full I can barely stand up to take this photo. It is a small caf� in downtown Minneapolis. The night before, my buddy Thomas and I were desperately trying to find an inexpensive place to stay in the city.
We met Steve in a park, and he said we could crash at his apartment. In the morning, he gave us directions to the caf� where he worked as a line cook. We felt silly among the old-timers as we sat in our bicycle shorts. The coffee was weak and the cigarette smoke was strong. We ate ourselves silly and went to pay the bill. Steve had picked up the tab.
Canada, 1988
It is early morning on a small farm in the middle of Saskatchewan. There is the smell of cow manure and fresh hay. The couple in the photo invited me to tent outside their farmhouse and later invited me into their home to take a shower. In the morning, they woke me up for breakfast. We sat at their tiny kitchen table and I had fresh eggs and toast with homemade plum jam.
At one point over breakfast, the woman leaned over and said, ?Do you mind if I tell you something??
?Of course not,? I replied.
?You are the first stranger we?ve invited into our home,? she said.
?I?m honored. Do you mind if I ask, why me??
She pondered a while and then smiled. ?You were on a bicycle. You had to be a good person.?
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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS is posted every other Friday. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their adventures at http://yellowtentadventures.com/.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/the-faces-of-bicycle-travel-1.html
Poll: Team Radioshack Riders in Tour de France 2011
We are only a couple of weeks away from the biggest cycling event of the year. This year’s Tour de France starts Saturday July 2nd and ends Sunday July 24th 2011. This year the team will have to do without Lance Armstrong, but the team still has great podium potential. Which 9 riders do you [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/poll-team-radioshack-riders-in-tour-de-france-2011/
UCI upholds sanctions against Lance Armstrong
[Postscript: Oct. 23, 2012 -- Lance Armstrong removed "7-time Tour de France winner" from his Twitter bio.]
Officials for the governing body of cycling say they agree that Lance Armstrong cheated by using performance-enhancing drugs during his career and they won’t challenge the sanctions against him.
The Union Cycliste Internationale came to the conclusion after …
Source: http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/10/22/uci-upholds-sanctions-against-lance-armstrong/
TEAM SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 POSTPONES COMPETITION IN 2013
Management focuses efforts on 2014 goals
Johan Bruyneel Sums Up the Tour de Crash
In a post-race interview with Eurosport after Thursday?s Stage 12, Team RadioShack?s Director Johan Bruyneel summed up the frustration and disappointment felt by the entire team and its fans with the numerous calamities that have befallen the group so far at this year?s Tour de France. With the months of preparation and hard work every [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/johan-bruyneel-sums-up-the-tour-de-crash/
Tour de France 2011, Stage 1 Report
And so it begins, the 98th edition of the greatest show in cycling, a 3,436-km (2135+ mile), 21-stage professional cycling race consuming almost the entire month of July as well as most of the geography of France. That distance is the span from New York to California. The claim is that it is the largest [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tour-de-france-2011-stage-1-report/
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Bicycle Travel: Growing Scene, Support, and Economic Impact
Bicycle travel is growing in the U.S. While it's still considered a cycling niche, bicycle touring is slowly edging its way into view of the mainstream with growing participation, growing support and infrastructure for the activity, and a growing economic impact.
Growing Scene. In the U.S., bicycle travel has always fostered a super fun culture, and not always spandex clad!
In the last few years, we've seen the bicycle-touring scene expand and its subculture evolve and grow. Now, we get hundreds of emails from inspired cyclists planning to cross the country, or undertake a cycling adventure, who plan to produce some kind of a documentary piece capturing the spirit of their journey: Sometimes that means something literary, or a photo-essay, but very often they are documenting their journey with video.
Blanche van der Meer has cultivated a growing community of videographers interested in sharing their bicycle-touring video projects. Her Vimeo group, WorldCycle Videos now boasts more than 1,600 videos! She is also the co-coordinator of our first Bicycle Travel Video Contest. Here's her recent bicycle-travel video from her summer tour in Ukraine.
This fall, Michelle Cassel and Ryan MacAfee of America ByCycle are cycling the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route and you can follow their trip by tuning into the website series they are producing from the road. Watch the first two episodes below!
As we've reported the last few years, fundraising rides such as Climate Ride, Bike & Build, and the Jett Ride are growing, with thousands of college students and others crossing the country (or part of it) each summer. Event rides and guided cycling tours have grown too, and more and more regional and state tourism organizations are taking notice and promoting their areas' cycling opportunities, and we're not just talking about printing a bunch of "we're bike friendly" pamphlets!
For example, check out this inspiring video about The Old West Scenic Bikeway produced by Russ Roca and Laura Crawford of Path Less Pedaled for Travel Oregon. According to a story on BikePortland, "Kristin Dahl, senior manager of destination development for Travel Oregon, said they plan to do a similar video for each of the nine officially designated scenic bikeway routes and they'll be rolled out next spring."
Growing Support. Adventure Cycling Association's mission is to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle. In the last four years, we've enjoyed amazing support from our members and donors for that mission, seeing phenomenal growth in donations, tour participants, map sales, and visiting cyclists. We've also enjoyed enthusiastic support from cycling businesses that believe in the work we do. They've supported our programs such as the Adventure Cycling Route Network, the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System, and BikeOvernights.org, which provides resources and inspiration for 1-2 night adventures, and much more.
Growing Sales & Economic Impact. Of course, more cyclists mean more sales, and meals, and ice cream consumed! And from product sales to tourism dollars, bicycle travel is impacting the economy, particularly at the local and state level. Ginny Sullivan reported at length last week about the economic impact of bicycle travel in Europe and shared a great infographic displaying the impact in the U.S. from Bicycling Means Business (pdf), the League of American Bicyclists' recent report.
Photo from ddsiple on Flickr, taken by Ron McClure.
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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via email: pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.
Growing Scene. In the U.S., bicycle travel has always fostered a super fun culture, and not always spandex clad!
In the last few years, we've seen the bicycle-touring scene expand and its subculture evolve and grow. Now, we get hundreds of emails from inspired cyclists planning to cross the country, or undertake a cycling adventure, who plan to produce some kind of a documentary piece capturing the spirit of their journey: Sometimes that means something literary, or a photo-essay, but very often they are documenting their journey with video.
Blanche van der Meer has cultivated a growing community of videographers interested in sharing their bicycle-touring video projects. Her Vimeo group, WorldCycle Videos now boasts more than 1,600 videos! She is also the co-coordinator of our first Bicycle Travel Video Contest. Here's her recent bicycle-travel video from her summer tour in Ukraine.
This fall, Michelle Cassel and Ryan MacAfee of America ByCycle are cycling the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route and you can follow their trip by tuning into the website series they are producing from the road. Watch the first two episodes below!
For example, check out this inspiring video about The Old West Scenic Bikeway produced by Russ Roca and Laura Crawford of Path Less Pedaled for Travel Oregon. According to a story on BikePortland, "Kristin Dahl, senior manager of destination development for Travel Oregon, said they plan to do a similar video for each of the nine officially designated scenic bikeway routes and they'll be rolled out next spring."
I met up with several of our business supporters at Interbike this year to thank them and to talk with them a bit about why they offer support. I spoke with many industry supporters including QBP Sales and Marketing Director Jason Gaikowski, Primal Wear President Dave Edwards, Jay Ferm, advocacy director for Planet Bike, and Michael Gilstrap, president of Walz Caps. These companies are very committed to cyclists and to improving conditions for cycling. Here's a quick video playlist from Interbike in which they tell why. It's so inspiring to see the cycling industry's commitment to bicycle travel!
Growing Sales & Economic Impact. Of course, more cyclists mean more sales, and meals, and ice cream consumed! And from product sales to tourism dollars, bicycle travel is impacting the economy, particularly at the local and state level. Ginny Sullivan reported at length last week about the economic impact of bicycle travel in Europe and shared a great infographic displaying the impact in the U.S. from Bicycling Means Business (pdf), the League of American Bicyclists' recent report.
Of course for us, some of the best proof is that each year we're greeting more and more amazing visiting cyclists at our headquarters in Missoula, MT!
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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via email: pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/bicycle-travel-growing-scene-support.html
Tours Added: Death Valley Loop IV & Wild Country Utah II
It's not often that I get to write about tours, but a few of our trips are selling so fast, the tours team can barely keep their hands on their handlebars.
Our first three Death Valley Loop van-supported tours have already sold out and, after we announced Adventure Cycling's complete 2013 tours schedule last week, the new Wild Country Utah - Van tour sold out in just 36 hours!
Due to this extraordinary demand, we've just added two additional tours to the 2013 lineup: Death Valley Loop - Van IV, departing March 2, and Wild Country Utah - Van II, which will run September 25 - October 2. If you're interested in one of these tours, do not hesitate, book today!
Looking for something else? We're offering more than 70 tours this year and you're sure to find something just your speed.
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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team, except when they're too busy signing up cyclists for tours. Today's brief post was authored by Winona Bateman, media director for Adventure Cycling.
Looking for something else? We're offering more than 70 tours this year and you're sure to find something just your speed.
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ON THE ROAD is written by the tours team, except when they're too busy signing up cyclists for tours. Today's brief post was authored by Winona Bateman, media director for Adventure Cycling.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/tours-added-death-valley-loop-iv-wild.html
Tour de France, Stage 2- How Do They Do That?
55,645 Kilometers Per Hour! That?s 34.6 miles an hour. That?s the AVERAGE speed of Garmin-Cerv�lo in the short 23-kilometer (14.3 mile) Team Time Trial contested on the streets of Les Essarts, France on Sunday. Team RadioShack, just 10 seconds back, were close to that speed as well. Given the perfect convergence of a bunch of [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tour-de-france-stage-2-how-do-they-do-that/
Memorial ride for Iris Stagner
A memorial bicycle ride to honor Iris Stagner, a cyclist killed on Monday by a truck, will be held in Mineral Wells on Friday. For those who may not already have seen this on Facebook or other sites, here are … Continue reading 
Source: http://jimsbikeblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/memorial-ride-for-iris-stagner/
Why women wouldn?t cycle to work!
Written by: RHODRI CLARK OFFICIAL attempts to get more people cycling look set to fail - partly because women are too concerned about their safety or their image. Men and children appear to have responded to the message that cycling to work or school is good for their health and the environment. But new figures show a 29% drop in women cycling to work, although statisticians warn those figures should be treated with caution - because the numbers are so tiny. Just 0.5% of the female workers said the bicycle was their main transport to and from work. The reduction in female cyclists cancels out a 16% increase in men cycling to work. Overall, 1.4% of commuters normally cycled to work and the Government's target of tripling the number of people cycling to work by 2013 looks unachievable. Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyclingchatcouk/~3/83ZMU5XV4uM/
Tour de France?Without Lance
A few years ago the Tour de France experienced a time of transition. For seven years Lance Armstrong stood on the podium wearing the yellow jersey. When he announced his retirement we all new things would change. Americans loved being represented by such a dominant champion. The years between his retirement and comeback were interesting. [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tour-de-france-without-lance/
Team RadioShack Stars Come Out for Basque Tour
As in past years, the stars are in alignment and ready to shine for the 51st running of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pa�s Vasco, or the Tour of the Basque Country in northeast Spain. All of the riders of the entered teams have been announced for the 6-day romp in the steep Pyr�n�es Mountains including [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-stars-come-out-for-basque-tour/
Ben Hermans, Top 12 at Brabant Arrow
Team RadioShack?s Ben Hermans (BEL) showed excellent form in Wednesday?s 51st edition of De Brabantse Pijl, one of the Flanders Classics, which kicked off in Leuven, Belgium and finished in Overijse some 201 kilometers (124 miles) away. He missed a move by the eventual winner Philippe Gilbert?s Omega-Lotto team when they pulled hard to get [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/ben-hermans-top-12-at-brabant-arrow/
America ByCycle: Starting off with a Sh'Bang
As I mentioned in my last column, this fall, Michelle Cassel and Ryan MacAfee of America ByCycle are cycling the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route, capturing the stories and spirit of the route on video. You can follow their trip by tuning into the video series they are producing from the road. It's a great opportunity to squeeze in an extra bike tour, albeit vicariously.
Watch episode 3, Starting Off with a Sh'Bang, for a wonderfully unpredictable ride through a day-in-the-life of a bicycle tour, and to learn just how circus performers spend their down time. I expected the fire, but not the crazy bike-car race!
Coast Protocol Episode 3: Starting Off With a Sh'Bang! from America ByCycle on Vimeo.
Watch episode 3, Starting Off with a Sh'Bang, for a wonderfully unpredictable ride through a day-in-the-life of a bicycle tour, and to learn just how circus performers spend their down time. I expected the fire, but not the crazy bike-car race!
Coast Protocol Episode 3: Starting Off With a Sh'Bang! from America ByCycle on Vimeo.
Episode 4, featuring the bike and beer scene in Portland, Oregon, will be ready soon!
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NEWS, NETWORKING, AND NEW MEDIA is posted by Winona Bateman, Adventure Cycling's media director, and highlights cool media (articles, videos, photos, etc.) and meet-ups related to Adventure Cycling and bicycle travel. Writing a story about bicycle travel or Adventure Cycling Association? You can contact Winona via email: pressATadventurecyclingDOTorg. Visit our media room, view our news releases, or follow us on Twitter.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/america-bycycle-starting-off-with-shbang.html
Young Team Radioshack Fans
Keegan (6) and Quinn (2) Barry from El Dorado Hills, CA cheer on team RadioShack at the finishing circuit of Stage 2 Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento. The Barry family made a weekend out of the planned TOC?s festivities by heading up to Lake Tahoe to take in Stage 1 and the start of [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/young-team-radioshack-fans/
Bicycling with the return of weather and fall foliage forecasts
Gosh. I just love the sound my bicycle tires make as they zip through puddles and slosh over soggy leaves that fall on wet autumn days. That’s why it was so much fun to ride through the first decent rain of the season on Sunday.
OK. That’s a bunch of malarkey.
I never enjoyed bicycling …
Source: http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/10/15/bicycling-with-the-return-of-weather-and-fall-foliage-forecasts/
Friday, 26 October 2012
Team RadioShack?s Sophomore Season: Plenty of Reason for Excitement in 2011
The racing?s well underway in the 2011 ProTour season, and it?s clear that Team RadioShack (TRS) means to make its mark during its sophomore campaign. With the team?s well-known founder, Lance Armstrong, announcing his retirement after this year, and already concluding participation in international races for the season, there?s plenty of opportunity for the many [...]
Tour de France, Stage 2- How Do They Do That?
55,645 Kilometers Per Hour! That?s 34.6 miles an hour. That?s the AVERAGE speed of Garmin-Cerv�lo in the short 23-kilometer (14.3 mile) Team Time Trial contested on the streets of Les Essarts, France on Sunday. Team RadioShack, just 10 seconds back, were close to that speed as well. Given the perfect convergence of a bunch of [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tour-de-france-stage-2-how-do-they-do-that/
Winterize?
Well, it happened this morning... snow! Not a lot, not powdery, but icy, wet and on my bike. Due to a recent garage remodel project at the ranch, I decided to just leave my steed outside for the night, after all, the evening prior was mild with a soft breeze, and I was going to ride it in another 12 hours anyway. But, there I was, bouncing the tires, brushing off the seat, and wishing I had uncovered my gloves, hat, and headband the night before. Don't get me wrong, I was also a little giddy with the promise of a new winter season, even if the spoils were soaking into my seat.
With winter knocking on my bike, I decided to asked some local experts about winterizing bike tips, and I also mixed in some random thoughts:
Water, Earth, Fire, Air ... and Aether (salt?).
1. Water
Ice, snow, dew, condensation, rain, sleet, hail, well you get it, over the long term can cause corrosion. Keeping your bike under a roof and allowing components to dry, or at least wiping the bike down will keep everything running smoother. If you do store your bike outside then keeping it covered with a heavy plastic or at least under a little bit of shelter, even an eave can help keep some water at bay.
2. Earth
Think about getting some studded bike tires, or really, really fat ones! And, if your into DIY and have some older tires laying around, I have known a few folks to make screw tires, placing screws from the inside out, you will also need a liner though between the top of the screw(on the inside of the tire) and the tube to prevent movement as well as the heads of the screws from scraping the tube.
3. Fire (... like water for chocolate)
Clean your bike or at least have a cloth handy to wipe it down. Simple Green works well, or a little bit of dish soap and water. Getting off the grime and re-lubing the chain are the main ways of combating the winter goo. Think about spending a little bit of time cleaning, and remember -- just not too much high pressure near the cables. One good fried of mine, who lives in an apartment, uses a pump-style plant sprayer on his balcony to gently spray the mud and grime off. This can be really helpful in winter as well, especially if your pipes are winterized and all the hoses are inside. Car washes used wisely can be helpful after major mud, ice, sand, etc. just watch the pressure and try to dry things off, or wipe everything down. And, of course bringing your bike inside to sit with you next a warm crackling fire after the spray down, should make you both happier.
4. Air
Insulate! Winter riding can be fun! Dress warm and in layers. My favorite piece of gear is an ear band worn under my helmet, and i usually forgo my cycling shoes for warm fuzzy boots and flat pedals especially for just commuting and tooling around. Also those pogies and other brands of mitt-style gear shift covers are really nice. They allow you to wear a thin pair of gloves, which also allows you to shift and stay warm and they have an added bonus of keeping snacks warm! These are especially nice when the wind chill plummets.
5. Aether
Well, yes, we are all made of star dust but salt can be a real bother, wiping the bike down once a week (see Fire) can help dissolve this corrosive element. So again, wiping components down should be considered especially when it's really slushy and wet out. This fifth element though is dedicated to clear skies and fresh air, the closer you can get to the stars, the better.
Well if you want to just skip all those steps and avoid winter, check out Adventure Cycling early tours, or just head south ... well, not too far south ... possible snow-free adventures:
Southern Arizona Sunsets - March 9 -15, 2013
California Spring Fling - March 17 - 23, 2013
Death Valley -Van II - March 16 - 22, 2013
Me, I'm giddy and ready ... let it pour!
Photos by Mo
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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/2012/10/winterize.html
Could this be a new beginning for cycling?
The USADA has released it’s reasoned decision on Lance Armstrong and doping, and it makes depressing reading. But could it also, finally, mark a new era of completely clean and honest cycling? We have been here before. Cycling was supposed to clean itself up after the Festina scandal of 1998. The man that was supposed [...]
Source: http://magazine.bikeradar.com/2012/10/11/could-this-be-a-new-beginning-for-cycling/
Choosing a bike saddle for comfort
By: Zoey Lancaster
Choosing a bike saddle for comfort�is fun and can be used for stress relief. The last thing a cyclist needs is an uncomfortable saddle, as this will make riding an unbearable experience. Some people think that saddle discomfort has to be tolerated, but a proper bike seat is all you need to enjoy the freedom, convenience and pleasures of bike riding. The shape of a saddle is important in accommodating your anatomy. Women?s bicycle saddles are wider than men?s due to their wider sit bones. For a saddle that fits you perfectly, you need to consider your build, age, gender, weight, type of biking and riding time. A good bicycle saddle should be able to support your body weight while you pedal, balance and steer. When you hit a bump or cycle over uneven surfaces, the saddle must absorb the shock without transferring it to you. This way, you will not feel any impact.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Cyclingchatcouk/~3/FErQcszh-2k/
Team Radioshack Line-up in Tour of Austria
Team Radioshack is ready to ride in the 63rd edition of Tour of Austria (Internationale �sterreich Rundfahrt), which takes place July 3-10, 2011. Team Radioshack will start with a team of relatively young riders: Matthew Busche, Robbie Hunter, Ben King, Michal Kwiatkowski, Geoffroy Lequatre, Tiago Machado, Gregory Rast & Jesse Sergent Director: Jos� Azevedo Go [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/team-radioshack-line-up-in-tour-of-austria/
Video: Paris ? Nice 2011. Stage 5, Final 5km
This video covers the last 5 km of stage 5 in Paris-Nice 2011. This was a big day for Team Radioshack and Andreas Kl�den who won the stage.
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/video-paris-nice-2011-stage-5-final-5km/
New Forest Gridiron Ride
The Gridiron is getting to be a bit like Christmas – what that time again already? This is the fifth time I've done this ride and when combined with the ride to and from the ferry it makes a satisfying century. The forecast had been pretty iffy all week but then suddenly it was transformed [...]
Competition: How far would you have to ride to generate enough energy to power an electric oven?
Uniqlo have launched their ?convert your energy? campaign. Using kinetic energy pads, customers can generate power through movement. The promotion is related to the new HEATTECH gear that is now being sold in stores and online. Needless to say, the promotion is perfectly timed for the coming winter chills! (And will be particularly good for [...]
Official Team Radioshack Roster for Tour de France 2011
Team Radioshack has just announced their line-up for Tour de France 2011. Jani Brajkovic Chris Horner Markel Irizar Andreas Kl�den Levi Leipheimer Dmitriy Muravyev S�rgio Paulinho Yaroslav Popovych Haimar Zubeldia Team Sports Manager Johan Bruyneel, together with Team Directors Dirk Demol and Alain Gallopin will direct the team. ?It was hard to make the selection [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/official-team-radioshack-roster-for-tour-de-france-2011/
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Crossing England on the C2C
In this week's tale of bike-overnighting adventure, titled "The C2C is a Must to Cycle," Adventure Cycling life member Murray Fishel from Cleveland rides a famous route in England.
"The C2C is a 140-mile route that begins in the old coal mining area of West Cumbria," writes Murray, "and proceeds through the northern part of England?s Lakes Region, visiting Penrith and the Eden Valley before climbing the Pennine Mountain Range, best known as the 'roof of England.' After exiting the mountains the route goes up and down through historic lead-mining country until it descends to the Durham Dales and the old industrial area surrounding Newcastle, before ending at Tynemouth on the coast of the North Sea."
Murray is a retired political science professor (Kent State University) who, since leaving his day job in 1992, has "consulted with hundreds of candidates running for public office in 34 states." Given his background, it is perhaps not surprising that he employs a bullet-point method of storytelling.
"As I learned, there is much to recommend for this ride:
? The beautiful fells (hiking hills) such as the Buttermere Trio (Red Pike, High Stile, and High Crag);
? The namesake lakes of the Lakes Region;
? The descents on occasional grades of 20 to 30 percent, which I sometimes had to walk because of the smell of burning brake pads;
? Thousands of sheep, sometimes on the road and sometimes just looking silly in the fields and baaaaing as I rode past;
? Excellent and reasonably priced B&Bs;
? Most importantly, the English people themselves.
Read the rest of Murray's story, which includes even more bulleted items to recommend the ride, at BikeOvernights.org; and, while you're there, take a look through our collections of past stories and Photos of the Week. This week's image, shown below, comes from the post Adventure Down Under, In My Own Backyard, by Louise Sensi.
BikeOvernights.org Photo of the Week, 10.19.12.
Top 3 photos by Murray Fishel; bottom photo by Louis Sensi.
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BIKE OVERNIGHTS is posted every Tuesday 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 nearly 47,000 readers worldwide.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/crossing-england-on-c2c.html
Andreas Kl�den Wins Stage 3 of Criterium Int?l 2011
Team RadioShack?s Andreas Kl�den (GER), continued to show his strong form this spring by winning Sunday?s final 7.8 kilometer individual time trial stage at the Criterium International in France, by 4 seconds over second place finisher Bradley Wiggins (GBR) of Team Sky. Third place went to Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) of Leopard-Trek, 10 seconds back, and [...]
Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/andreas-kloden-wins-stage-3-of-criterium-int%e2%80%99l-2011/
Why Rhine Rhymes with USBRS
On Monday, I wrote about my experience riding a segment of the Rhine River Bicycle Route (in Germany), and while I did it for the sheer enjoyment, I also did it to see first-hand the parallels between European routes and those being developed as part of the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). The good news is that we know exactly what to do.
The bad news (in the U.S.) is that we are behind in securing the resources for a world-class official bicycle route network to connect cities, suburbs and countryside. Here are half-a-dozen critical areas for successful long-distance bike routes:
Collaboration: The Rhine River route (now EuroVelo #15) has been in existence for many years but is now the focal point for a consortium of 18 national and regional agencies devoted to improving and branding the route as an iconic cycle-tourism destination. The jurisdictions -- including Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland -- are putting up 2.3 million euros annually to carry on this work, plus local investments in signage and facility improvements. This kind of cross-jurisdictional cooperation is probably the key ingredient in successful route development. At Adventure Cycling, I feel confident we are making the most of this ingredient. We are fortunate to have Ginny Sullivan as our project director for the USBRS and she has built an incredible network of private and public supporters. Also, we are collaborating on development of a best practices guide in the coming year to help agencies and non-profits work together from a common platform. (More good news: Thanks to our members' support, we are hiring an assistant to help Ginny with this huge project.)
Local Buy-In: This has become a no-brainer along the Rhine as communities vie for the lucrative business that bike routes bring. However, there are still issues (call it "local pride") with getting communities to coordinate the look and placement of signage, as well as the development of online and print information. The Rhine River project -- along with new Euro Velo route standards -- is meant to overcome this coordination problem. In the U.S., local buy-in is a prerequisite for approval of a new U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) and it has been exciting to see dozens of communities (for example, in Michigan) sign up in support of these routes. However, now we are doing our first signage of new routes and will be looking to the incentives and stan dards provided in Europe as possible models for encouraging consistency in signage, route facilities and information.
Signage: As noted in my earlier post, signage is critical. It is always cited by cyclists as one of the top three things they consider for the quality of the route. Consistency of look and placement is paramount to an excellent bike travel experience. Again in the U.S., we are just starting but are seeing great strides along USBR 76 (aka the TransAm) and 20 (across Michigan). This is considered one of the biggest areas needing improvement on the Rhine -- and is scheduled for major upgrades in 2013.
Mapping: If the signage is good, the mapping isn't as critical but it helps to have good maps, especially for service information. In the U.S., many of the U.S. routes (so far) follow alignments for Adventure Cycling routes. On the Rhine, there are pretty good maps and some excellent (though cumbersome) guidebooks. The challenge is that they are only in German at this point. (In the long run, it will be interesting in the U.S. to see if we should translate materials out of English to serve the growing global bike tourism market.)
Monitoring: European countries are increasingly counting riders on paved and unpaved national routes (especially in Switzerland, more on that later). This has been a key tool in generating investment in the United Kingdom's National Cycle Network (NCN) and in French regional networks (for example, in Burgundy), and my understanding is that more of this will happen along the Rhine. In the U.S., we seem to be a long way away from establishing counts for cycle tourists. However, the good news is that cities like Portland, OR are doing more and more cycle commuter counts; as these techniques are refined, there is potential for transferring them to cycle tourism routes (and again, we can use some of the European techniques).
Funding: Here is where the U.S. is really far behind. In Europe, there are consortia of governments funding route development and promotion (as along the Rhine) and there are governments investing large amounts in national networks (more than a billion pounds in the UK's NCN). The European Parliament is investing in studies of bike tourism and its economics as well as in the Euro Velo continental system of bike routes (and even individual routes like the Iron Curtain). In the U.S., we have no dedicated national investments in national bike routes or bike tourism. We are scraping together some local grants (and thank goodness for Adventure Cycling members and donors who enable us to support the development of the USBRS!) and some states are stepping up their support for bike tourism (such as Oregon and Minnesota) but we are well short of the kinds of investment needed to develop and maintain a state-of-the-art national bicycle route system.
We've made huge progress over the last eight years, with 41 states now working to plan and implement USBRs, but my ride on the Rhine and contacts with EuroVelo organizers has shown me that we have a long way to go in creating the largest official national cycle network on the planet.
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JIM SAYER is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.
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| The Swiss section of the Rhine River route. |
Collaboration: The Rhine River route (now EuroVelo #15) has been in existence for many years but is now the focal point for a consortium of 18 national and regional agencies devoted to improving and branding the route as an iconic cycle-tourism destination. The jurisdictions -- including Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland -- are putting up 2.3 million euros annually to carry on this work, plus local investments in signage and facility improvements. This kind of cross-jurisdictional cooperation is probably the key ingredient in successful route development. At Adventure Cycling, I feel confident we are making the most of this ingredient. We are fortunate to have Ginny Sullivan as our project director for the USBRS and she has built an incredible network of private and public supporters. Also, we are collaborating on development of a best practices guide in the coming year to help agencies and non-profits work together from a common platform. (More good news: Thanks to our members' support, we are hiring an assistant to help Ginny with this huge project.)
 |
| A sign of the business power of bike tourism. |
Signage: As noted in my earlier post, signage is critical. It is always cited by cyclists as one of the top three things they consider for the quality of the route. Consistency of look and placement is paramount to an excellent bike travel experience. Again in the U.S., we are just starting but are seeing great strides along USBR 76 (aka the TransAm) and 20 (across Michigan). This is considered one of the biggest areas needing improvement on the Rhine -- and is scheduled for major upgrades in 2013.
Mapping: If the signage is good, the mapping isn't as critical but it helps to have good maps, especially for service information. In the U.S., many of the U.S. routes (so far) follow alignments for Adventure Cycling routes. On the Rhine, there are pretty good maps and some excellent (though cumbersome) guidebooks. The challenge is that they are only in German at this point. (In the long run, it will be interesting in the U.S. to see if we should translate materials out of English to serve the growing global bike tourism market.)
 | |
| The Rhine River signage system will be substantially upgraded next year -- while the U.S. gets going on its route network. |
Funding: Here is where the U.S. is really far behind. In Europe, there are consortia of governments funding route development and promotion (as along the Rhine) and there are governments investing large amounts in national networks (more than a billion pounds in the UK's NCN). The European Parliament is investing in studies of bike tourism and its economics as well as in the Euro Velo continental system of bike routes (and even individual routes like the Iron Curtain). In the U.S., we have no dedicated national investments in national bike routes or bike tourism. We are scraping together some local grants (and thank goodness for Adventure Cycling members and donors who enable us to support the development of the USBRS!) and some states are stepping up their support for bike tourism (such as Oregon and Minnesota) but we are well short of the kinds of investment needed to develop and maintain a state-of-the-art national bicycle route system.
We've made huge progress over the last eight years, with 41 states now working to plan and implement USBRs, but my ride on the Rhine and contacts with EuroVelo organizers has shown me that we have a long way to go in creating the largest official national cycle network on the planet.
--
JIM SAYER is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.
Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/why-rhine-rhymes-with-usbrs.html
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