Cycling Blog

The CYCLINGBLOG.COM Domain Name Is For Sale

2009-02-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

I no longer blog here because I don't ride anymore. Injuries ended my cycling career. If you are interested in the CYCLINGBLOG.COM domain name, you can bid on it here.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy cycling.

Cyclists in New Zealand Want to Get Rid of Helmet Law

2006-12-12T23:07:00.000-08:00

Wearing a helmet when cycling: the benefits outweigh the negatives, right? Well, not according to many cyclists in New Zealand. A group of New Zealand cyclists want to get rid of the law that requires cyclists to wear a helmet, which they feel is preventing many New Zealanders from enjoying the heart-healthy activity. Check out the story here.

Wounded Soldiers Bike Across America for A Good Cause

2006-07-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

It's called the Soldier Ride, and it involves injured soldiers biking across America in an effort to gain support and funding for wounded servicemen and servicewomen who have served recently in the Middle East. Further details below in the snippet from today's press release:

"Wounded servicemen and women cycling across the United States From Montauk, New York to San Diego, California to spread their inspirational message of courage and hope. The brave men and women participating in this event are cycling in support of their injured comrades recovering in military hospitals across the country. All of the participants are provided the adaptive equipment they need to cycle though missing one or more limbs.

Soldier Ride is a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for our injured soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. This organization is 100% non political. It's not about the war it's about the soldiers. Soldier Ride organizes cross country and local bicycle trips used as rehab opportunities for soldiers recovering from major injuries and also to raise awareness.

Funds raised go out to such organizations as the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) and Disabled Sports USA (www.dsusa.org) You can learn more about us at www.soldierride.org or please feel free to contact Nick Kraus at 516 994 5907.

Soldier Ride began in East Hampton , NY as an effort to raise money and consciousness for soldiers who were severely wounded overseas. Last year Chris Carney a local bartender embarked on his second cross-country Soldier Ride, cycling from Los Angeles to Montauk, New York. Soldiers from the current conflict and veterans, both disabled and not, rode with Carney on Soldier Ride. Over the last two years Soldier Ride helped raise millions of dollars for the WWP. These funds are being used to: Purchase thousands of comfort backpacks for wounded soldiers on their return (including guidebooks on discharge from service and entitlement benefits). These packs include such basic comfort items as phone cards, Fresh clothing, Portable CD players and small items that make a big impact for a returning injured soldier.

Hire full-time benefits counselors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical to distribute comfort backpacks to amputees.

Conduct adaptive sporting events and clinics to build self-esteem and independence for those who suffered catastrophic injuries, for example the Breckenridge Colorado Ski Spectacular and our recent Florida bicycle program.

Develop peer-mentoring programs where rehabbed soldiers can lend support to their newly injured comrades. Organize Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symposia to help the estimated one in six soldiers who suffer from this disorder. Transport soldiers and their families between home and hospital, as well as purchase a van to transport soldiers to functions in the Washington D.C. area.

Soldier Ride has received extensive media coverage in The New York Times, New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Newsday. The project has also appeared on NBC's Today in New York, The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Radio's Tony Snow Show, HBO's Inside the NFL and CNN's Larry King Live.

Several notable people have helped with Soldier Ride fundraising efforts, including Jimmy Buffett, Jon Bon Jovi, Pat Lofaintane, Gary Sinise, Alec Baldwin, Tony Snow, Harris Yulin, Stephen Lang, Bill O'Reilly, Congressman Tim Bishop, Senator Bob Kerrey, and many more.

www.soldiersangels.org

Soldiers' Angels will be hosting the closing ceremonies and beach party for the riders at Semper Fi Park in San Clemente on July 29, 2006 at 3 pm. Adam's Attic, The Bader Band, and Jillian Russell will be performing at the beach party. Mayor Wayne Eggleston and the community are excited and happy to help Soldiers' Angels honor these riders. Please join us in welcoming the riders by lining the streets and showing your support as they ride into San Clemente.

Soldiers' Angels is an all volunteer, 501 (c) (3) non-profit based in Pasadena, Ca. Donations to help offset the costs of the closing ceremonies can be sent to:

Soldiers' Angels
150 North Loop 1604 West, Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248
Attn: Soldier Ride

Please make checks and money orders out to Soldiers’ Angels. You can also donate on-line or adopt a soldier at www.soldiersangels.org. Include what your donation is for in the comments section."

If You Can't Get Over to France, You Can Follow The Tour with Google Earth

2006-07-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

This year, if you can't make it over to France to follow The Tour, the good folks @ Google are happy to provide you with 3D satellite maps of the course. Ain't technology wonderful?

More details below in the clip from today's press release:

"From July 1-23, cycling fans can visit every stage of the race virtually using Google Earth's satellite imagery, enabling users to fly over all 20 legs of the race, including the famous mountain competition.

Not only will users be able to view the course terrain in 3D, but with one click they can get information about the race of the day and the various stages (including the town hosting both the departure and arrival and the average time for each rider).

The Tour de France on Google Earth is available in French, German, Spanish and English so that worldwide cycling enthusiasts can follow this classic race and discover Europe.

The new service is available on the official website of Tour de France:

www.letour.com/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/400/r2_google_earth.html

For more information, please see today's Google Blog post at: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/"

Two Brothers Are Biking from Alaska to Argentina for A Good Cause

2006-02-21T05:50:00.000-08:00

Back in 2004, I trained all summer so that I could be fit enough to take on the challenge of riding 100 miles in Transportation Alternatives' NYC Century Bike Tour. I was only able to manage 83 miles.

The following week, I tried for 100 miles again, in The Twin Lights Ride, and, again, I was only able to manage a little over 80 miles.

My body just isn't built for long distance cycling.

So you can understand why the story I recently found about 2 brothers cycling 15,000 miles (approximately 70 miles per day for 280 days!) from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina to raise $50,000 for brain tumor research made me feel a bit insecure about my biking abilities.

The two riders are now in Acapulco, Mexico; they've completed 6,280 miles, and they have 8,720 miles to go.

More details about this heroic ride can be found below in the snipppet from yesterday's press release:

"Two San Francisco-born brothers flew to the upper reaches of Alaska prepared for nine months of rigorous cycling. John and Mike Logsdon will complete a 15,000-mile bicycle trip through 13 countries from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, averaging 70 miles of cycling per day for approximately 280 days. Paired with the National Brain Tumor Foundation’s Racing Ahead program, John and Mike aspire to raise $50,000 for brain tumor research in the name of their late mother, Jean Logsdon.

The impressive ride is the ultimate experience for two young men devoted to globetrotting. The brothers both claim to have inherited their wanderlust from their mother, Jean Logsdon, to whom the trip is dedicated. Conceived on the island of Java, born in Australia, and raised in Morocco and New York City, Jean knew the virtues of travel from an early age. When she was eight-years-old, Jean crossed the Sahara desert by Jeep with her mother; and as a young woman, Jean’s wandering ways brought her across Europe and Asia, before she finally moved to California, a trip Jean made solo from New York City in her convertible sports car.

As a parent, Jean insisted her own children learn about the world through travel from a young age. When the boys were barely out of diapers, the Logsdon family would cross the United States from San Francisco in an old Ford van that was fixed up to accommodate two young boys with boundless energy, “My father replaced the last row of seating with an old mattress where Mike and I would wrestle and play until we’d worn ourselves out, at which point the mattress was perfect for napping,” Mike remembers. Adds John, “Those summers opened our eyes to the rich cultural and natural diversity that existed within our own borders and fueled an enduring and insatiable curiosity about the world at large.”

In 1996, the Logsdon family was devastated when Jean was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor that took her life in the winter of the same year. After their mother’s death, both John and Mike instinctually found comfort in travel, the only activity that seemed to appropriately honor the enduring memory of their mother’s adventuresome spirit.

As soon as school break allowed, Mike went south to Mexico where he absorbed the language and the culture while building homes for needy families; John criss-crossed Europe and the U.S. during his summer breaks at Yale. Eventually, both John and Mike embarked on long cycling journeys: John led a bike trip across the United States with Habitat for Humanity and Mike rode solo across Ireland.

After traveling separately for years, the Logsdon brothers are now cycling together, southward on the Pan-American Highway, from the upper reaches of North America to the southern-most city in the world. The National Brain Tumor Foundation’s Racing Ahead® Program has paired with Spinning Southward on Jean’s Journey to create the Jean’s Journey Fund. The National Brain Tumor Foundation raises funds for research and provides support and information to patients and families. By promoting the experiential learning, fraternal unity, self-reflection and community outreach that Jean Logsdon encouraged in her sons, this voyage will undoubtedly transform John and Mike into the men their mother imagined they could be.

John and Mike are available for interview immediately and throughout their trip which will last from July 2005 to April 2006. Please contact Melody Meyer at 917.428.6692 if you would like to interview John or Mike via email from the road or if you would like to request hi-res photographs of the brothers on their route. To direct your readers/audience to help John and Mike meet their $50,000 goal, contact NBTF at 1.800.934.2873, or racingahead [@] braintumor.org or at www.braintumor.org.

For pictures, stories, video, and more from their journey please go to:
http://www.spinningsouthward.com/."

Is The Cycling World Ready for America's Version of The Tour de France?

2006-02-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's going to be big--huge, in fact--and expensive. It's an event as bold, adventurous and ambitious as the host state of California. It's America's version of The Tour de France; but can this nascent cycling event really compete with that grand old tour that winds its way through the picturesque French countryside? Only time will tell.

The fact that this new cycling tour is happening in The Golden State does give the event a fighting chance of competing with its French counterpart, as the state is blessed with the climate, the sights and the corporate muscle to get the job done.

Here's the latest press about the 600 mile, 8 day cycling race that starts this weekend: The Amgen Tour of California:

"Starting this weekend, some of California's most magnificent sights and settings will be displayed to the world as the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling road race embarks on its 600-mile, eight-day course. The California Travel and Tourism Commission is a founding partner of this historic competition and is proud to say that this race displays the variety that is California -- from the art, culture and technology of the big cities, to the famed wine regions, to the breathtaking coast.

'Not only is the Amgen Tour of California bringing world-class cycling competition to our great state, but it's showcasing some of the most beautiful places to visit in California,' said Executive Director Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC). 'This is a great event for not just cycling enthusiasts, but any type of traveler, and I urge spectators to take some time to explore cities along the course.'

What sets this race apart is that it's an annual event that will change course each year. This gives a unique opportunity to showcase yearly to the world the great places to visit in the Golden State.

The course, stretching from San Francisco to Redondo Beach and visiting 10 host cities, offers the world's best cyclists challenging terrain, while offering spectators the chance to see an elite race in some of California's brightest communities. The race can be attended free, followed live on the race's Web site or viewed nightly via broadcasts on ESPN2.

Each finish city will host the free race-day Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival presented by Health Net, featuring a health & fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food, entertainment and more.

Further information about the race is available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. Travelers looking for further visitor information about host cities can visit:

San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.sfvisitor.org

Marin County Visitors Bureau
www.marincvb.org

Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.visitsantarosa.com

Contra Costa Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.visitcontracosta.org

San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.sanjose.org

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.montereyinfo.org

San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conference Bureau
www.sanluisobispocounty.com

Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau
www.santabarbaraca.com

Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.seemyla.com

Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau
www.ventura-usa.com

Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
www.redondochamber.org

For statewide information, to view a digital visitor's guide or book travel, go to www.visitcalifornia.com. California is a year-round destination. Visitors to California enjoy our pristine beaches, snow-capped mountains, desert oasis, sophisticated cities, world-class attractions and the charming countryside.

About CTTC

The CTTC is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs -- in partnership with the state's travel industry -- that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. California is currently the number one travel destination in the country. According to the CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $82.5 billion annually in California, support jobs for nearly 900,000 Californians and generate $5.2 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about the CTTC and for a free California vacation packet, go to www.visitcalifornia.com or call 800-862-2543 (domestic) or 916-444-4429 (international)."

AEG Will Enhance The Coverage of The Amgen Tour of California with Google Earth, Google Maps, Google Local and Google Video

2006-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Some of latest (and coolest) technologies from the folks @ Google.com will be employed to enhance the coverage of The Amgen Tour of California, including Google Earth, Google Maps, Google Video and Google Local.

More details can be found below in the snippet from today's press release:

"AEG today announced that it will use Google technology to enhance the experience of live race fans and those interacting with the race on the official website or viewing nightly ESPN2 broadcasts of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California (UCI 2.1), an internationally sanctioned eight-stage professional cycling road race to be held throughout California February 19-26, 2006.

Owned and operated by AEG, the race joins the calendar as one of North America's most anticipated sports competitions for 2006. As 16 of the world's best cycling teams compete for eight days across 600 miles of scenic California roadway from San Francisco to Redondo Beach, those not able to watch the race in person will be able to follow the live action at the official race website or catch up on the day's events during a nightly 60-minute race recap on ESPN2.

Following their commitment to providing spectators with the highest quality experience, AEG is integrating various pieces of Google technology in broadcast, online and in-person formats. The nightly television broadcast will feature 3D satellite views of the stages using Google Earth. Those following the race on their personal computer will be able to watch live streaming Google Video and follow the race using Google Maps. Google Local for mobile will be available for spectators at the race who want to easily find the closest coffee shop, ATM, or the most direct route to either the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival presented by Health Net or the finish line.

'When we first envisioned the Amgen Tour of California, one of our primary goals was to maximize the fan experience. Google has enabled us to give fans who are not along the race route a view that is as good as if they were actually there,' said Bob Colarossi, managing director of the Amgen Tour of California. 'The integration of their products allows us to bring the race to a wide audience -- both in other parts of the United States and internationally -- in a dynamic and unique way.'

For more information on the Amgen Tour of California, and to experience excitement of the race first-hand through Google technology, please visit the race's official website at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About AEG

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, The Manchester Evening News Arena and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), five Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) owned by Philip Anschutz and the Amgen Tour of California to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. Additionally, the company has begun cycling road race debuting in San Francisco on February 19; AEG LIVE, the organization's live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to fully developing the 28-acre Millennium Dome and adjacent property located in the eastern part of London along the Thames River and will create the O2, a new arena within the 'Dome' and additional arenas, on a 50-acre site in the heart of Berlin and Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri; stadiums in Bridgeview, Illinois and Harrison, New Jersey. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com."

Orange County's 3F Bicycling Club Has A New Website

2006-02-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

The 3F Bicycling Club, located in California's Orange County, has a new website. The new website is chock full of great content including a nationwide cycling club directory, cycling news and special events, and an online bicycle parts catalog.

Further details can be found below in the snippet from today's press release:

"The 3F Bicycling Club, based in Orange County, California, has announced the official launch of their new website.

Club founder, Mark Warrick, an avid mountain biker who has been riding his entire life, spent over a year planning the website and making sure he had a first-hand account of all the best mountain biking trails in Orange County.

"In August, 2004 I purchased a book written by Randy Vogel and Larry Kuechlin, 'Mountain Biking Orange County California' (ISBN: 1575400111) which is considered around here to be the ultimate mountain biking guide printed. I set a goal for myself to ride every trail in the book. A year and a half later, I can say now that I've ridden all but the hardest trails several times. (The hardest trails traverse the entire Santa Ana Mountain Range.)", says Mark Warrick.

The 3F Bicycling Club was formed to fill a gap between beginner riders and experts. Their policy of "Nobody Gets Left Behind" is one that many beginner and intermediate mountain bikers can certainly appreciate.

"The three basic philosophies of the 3F are fitness, fun and most importantly, friendship", says Mark Warrick. "If you're left behind to fend for yourself every time you go out with a group of riders, you're going to feel completely unmotivated and ultimately you'll stop riding. A senior member of the 3F will always ride with the last person in line to make sure that never happens on our rides."

The 3F Bicycling Club encourages volunteerism. Many of the members of the club are docent volunteers for the Nature Conservancy and the Irvine Opens Space Preserve.

The newly launched website for the 3F Bicycling Club, http://www.3fbc.com serves as meeting place for riders all over the US. It features useful tools such as directories of bicycling clubs, bike shops, current cycling news, current events, and BMI and calorie counters. Visitors can also shop online by browsing through the online catalog of bike parts.

"Our rides are not timed, and we're not here to beat last week's time records. The key here is to have fun, make a few friends, and naturally you'll be in better shape as a result of the process", says Mark Warrick."

Bicycling Magazine Ranks Portland, OR As The Best U.S. City for Cycling

2006-01-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

According to Bicycling Magazine, Portland, OR, San Diego, CA, Madison, WI and Boulder, CO are the best cities in the USA for cycling, by size.

For more about America's best cities for cycling, check out the latest press release clip below:

"San Diego, Madison (WI) and Boulder (CO) Are Best among Cities of Their Size, While Atlanta, Boston and Houston Are Worst.

Portland, Oregon is still America's best cycling city, Bicycling magazine has determined.

Portland, which was previously named America's top cycling city by Bicycling in its most recent rankings in 2001, remained the top overall choice again in 2006, as well as the magazine's choice for top cycling city among those with a population of fewer than 1 million people. Bicycling's complete list of America's top cycling cities is featured in the March 2006 issue of the magazine, on newsstands February 1.

San Diego, CA was selected as the top cycling city in the country for cities with a population greater than 1 million, while Madison, WI (population 200,000 to 500,000), Boulder, CO (population 75,000 to 200,000) and Davis, CA (Best Small Town) were also named the nation's top cycling markets among their respective population sizes.

The worst cities for cycling, according to Bicycling's findings, are Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX and Boston, MA--which, ironically, is the city in which Bicycling VP/Editor-In-Chief Steve Madden grew up and learned how to ride.

Bicycling, the world's leading bike magazine, ranked the top five cities in each of four population groupings--cities with more than 1 million residents; cities with 500,000 to 1 million residents; cities of 200,000 to 500,000 residents; and cities with 75,000 to 200,000 residents--along with the best cycling "small town" (fewer than 75,000 residents) in the country. The winners are:

-- Best U.S. Cycling City (overall):
Portland, OR

-- Best Cycling City (population 1 million or more):
1. San Diego, CA;
2. Chicago, IL
3. New York, NY
Honorable mention: Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ

-- Best Cycling City (population 500,000 to 1 million):
1. Portland, OR
2. Denver, CO
3. Seattle, WA
Honorable mention: San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX

-- Best Cycling City (population 200,000 to 500,000):
1. Madison, WI
2. Tucson, AZ
3. Albuquerque, NM
Honorable mention: Minneapolis, MN; Anchorage, AK

-- Best Cycling City (population 75,000 to 200,000)
1. Boulder, CO
2. Eugene, OR
3. Ann Arbor, MI
Honorable mention: Chattanooga, TN; Cambridge, MA

-- Best Small Town for Cycling: Davis, CA (population 60,308)

To determine its list of the top 21 U.S. cycling cities, Bicycling
started with a list of more than 250 cities and determined the
winners and finalists using criteria that weighed factors such as:

"Cycling-friendly" statistics (numbers of bike lanes and routes, number of bike racks, city bike projects completed and planned)

Bike culture (number of bike commuters, popular clubs, cool cycling events, renowned bike shops)

Climate/geography (the quality of roads and trails for riding, and how frequently mother nature lets riders enjoy them.

Bicycling also surveyed experts at national bicycle groups such as the League of American Bicyclists, the Thunderhead Alliance and the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), while also polling more than 600 Bicycling readers.

"Rankings such as ours often provoke a lot of debate, which is understandable and, actually, welcome," said Madden. "Because the riding conditions and levels of cycling enthusiasm in these cities are so outstanding, they all deserve to gain some recognition as America's biking treasures.

"But the selection of Portland as the country's best city for cycling turned out to be maybe the easiest part of this process for us. It's been the top U.S. city in each of our previous three rankings (2001, 1999 and 1995), and cycling has only continued to improve there. The number of cyclists has tripled over the past ten years, city traffic congestion is down because of it, and it's the only urban area that's been able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the past four years (which they've done significantly) while national levels have risen 17%."

Portland and nearby Eugene give Oregon two entries on the Best Cycling Cities list, a number matched by Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson) and Colorado (Boulder and Denver). California had three cities (San Diego, Davis and San Francisco) represented on the list, the most of any state.

About Bicycling:

As the world's biggest bike magazine, Rodale, Inc.'s Bicycling is the voice of cycling, providing the stories on the personalities, trends, and techniques behind the sport. Appealing to readers of every ability and interest level, the magazine features expert reviews of the latest equipment as well as training and fitness tips. Published 11 times a year, Bicycling is the magazine for the athlete for whom the bicycle is the centerpiece of an active lifestyle."

BikeToursDirect.com Release 2006 Schedule of European Cycling Tours

2006-01-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

BikeToursDirect.com, the website that offers "One-Stop Shopping for Bike Tours in Europe," recently released their 2006 schedule of European cycling tours. BikeToursDirect offers over 150 European cycling tours in 27 countries, including the Florence to Rome tour, the Krakow Dunajec tour and the popular Danube Bike Path tour. Tours are also available in Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Sweden, France, Ireland, Croatia, Lithuania, Greece, Turkey--and the list goes on. Many self-guided tours are available.

If you are looking for a European adventure this year then you might want to check out what BikeToursDirect has to offer.

Fore more information, point your web browser to www.BikeToursDirect.com.

When The Ordinary Bike Shop Just Won't Do!

2005-12-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Has you ever dreamed of going to a top notch, by-appointment-only bike shop to get fitted to the perfect custom bike? Or maybe you just can't stand the banality of your local bicycle store anymore? Well, if you live in or near the Bay Area, PK Racing might be just what you are looking for.

Check out this snippet from a press release that was issued today:

"PK Racing Technologies, a company specializing in cycling consulting, adopts a non-cycling industry business model and delivers a high-quality and educational experience otherwise not found in a traditional bike shop.

PK Racing (www.pkracing.com) exists in a world far from a typical bike shop. With a retail space located just 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in swanky Marin County, California, PK Racing is at the forefront of the cycling industry and continually works to establish relationships with clients. Filling a need for superior service, greater expertise, and desire for an outstanding buying experience, PK Racing epitomizes what consumers desire by changing how one commissions traditional bike shop goods and services.

Approaching 8 years in business, PK Racing has seen dramatic growth each and every year and enjoys an excellent reputation in the cycling community. Like all great businesses, PK Racing seizes the opportunity to educate clients and consequently earn their trust and loyalty in the future. Success for PK Racing is further fueled by the collaboration of the owners which stems from their varying experiences and underlying areas of expertise. Clients recognize and appreciate this traditional business approach as applied to the cycling industry.

In fact, clients typically wait 2-4 weeks for a 2-3 hour appointment slot for services that include bike fitting solutions, pedal stroke analyses, and assistance with the design, order, and build of a high-end custom bike built specifically for them.

The retail space is open by appointment and is reminiscent of an architectural office with a sleek and modern feel, meticulous cleanliness, hardwood flooring, pleasant aroma, and Wi-Fi enabled waiting area. PK Racing is a pleasant environment designed to make clients feel welcome, appreciated, and at home.

'Our clients crave an alternative to the traditional bike shop—they appreciate excellence and value our quiet, clean, professional environment where we work to solve their problems and help make good buying decisions,' states owner Christopher Kautz, M.A. 'In fact,' C. Kautz continues, 'PK Racing employs a just-in-time business model which ensures all products and services will meet a client’s particular needs—and are never a reflection of what is in stock.'

And the business side of the company is equally as strong as the presentation to clients. 'From developing the business plan, projections, and funding, to fine tuning strategies to acquire market share backed by a solid marketing plan, a lot of time has been invested developing the foundation upon which every successful enterprise sits,' states Angie Kautz, M.B.A., PK Racing co-owner. 'PK Racing is successful,' A. Kautz continues, 'because we understand our clients in addition to their desire for great service and expertise in an uncompromising professional environment. We only offer the best.'

About PK Racing Technologies, LLC

Founded in 1999, PK Racing (www.pkracing.com) is a professional consulting company specializing in providing distinctive cycling solutions. Our professionalism, education, and industry leading protocols give us the expertise to help clients become more efficient, more knowledgeable riders and to provide them with information, products, and services that enhance their cycling experiences."

Bicycling Magazine & The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Provides Bikes To Help Fight AIDS in Africa

2005-11-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

200 specially designed bikes will be donated to help fight AIDS in Africa. Details below in the snippet from a press release issued today:

"Bicycling magazine Editor-In-Chief Steve Madden and Publisher Chris Lambiase announced today that the magazine will partner with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and the Kona Bicycle Company to expand internationally its acclaimed BikeTown program to the African nation of Botswana in Spring 2006.

The program, BikeTown Africa, is designed to provide 200 specially-designed bikes to health care workers who treat HIV and AIDS patients and need help in the delivery of home health aids and services in two Botswana cities, Bobonong and the capital city of Gaborone, beginning in late March 2006.

BikeTown Africa will be operated in conjunction with two initiatives of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation's SECURE THE FUTURE program, an unprecedented $150 million corporate commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS in Africa. SECURE THE FUTURE has established a number of HIV and AIDS treatment programs throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including Botswana, where the HIV rate among citizens is 38 percent.

Kona Bikes has generously agreed to specially design, construct and donate the 200 bikes to be utilized for BikeTown Africa, bikes that will be specifically tailored to best suit local conditions while also requiring a minimum of maintenance. Spare parts and the training of local individuals on the repair and service of the bikes will ensure the bikes are fully utilized.

'Since we created BikeTown three years ago, we've seen hundreds of lives markedly and positively changed through the simple gift of a bicycle,' said Madden, who created the program for Bicycling in Portland, Maine in 2003; the program since then has given away more than 1,300 bikes in 26 U.S. cities in an effort to chronicle the impact a new bike can have on the physical and emotional well-being of individuals, as well as their families and communities.

'BikeTown Africa is an opportunity for bikes to do more than just change lives. In this case, bikes can help save lives. So we're grateful for the very generous support of Kona Bikes, which has enthusiastically supported this effort from the outset, and especially thankful for the vision and partnership of Bristol-Myers Squibb, which through its longtime sponsorship of the Tour of Hope, as well as its life-saving bond with Lance Armstrong, has long understood the redemptive powers of a bicycle.'

'Bristol-Myers Squibb's SECURE THE FUTURE programs have included the training of home health care workers to bring life sustaining programs into rural communities.' said John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. 'One of the greatest challenges in sub-Saharan Africa is reaching those afflicted with HIV/AIDS and living in extremely remote locations with no means of transportation. The gift of a bicycle to a home health care worker and counselor will profoundly impact the lives in these remote villages, and increase the number of people who will have access to these vital support services.'

Beginning in late March, BikeTown Africa will distribute 100 of the Kona bikes to home health care workers in rural Bobonong, where SECURE THE FUTURE has established one of its six African community-based treatment support programs at Bobonong Primary Hospital. The Bobonong program provides medical treatment combined with care and support beyond the clinics, including home-based care, psychosocial counseling, food security, orphan care, and income-generating projects.

The other 100 bikes will be given to counselors with the Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP) in Gaborone, a SECURE THE FUTURE grant recipient that works to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS through integrated counseling strategies encompassing pre and post test counseling, home visitations and trauma counseling.

'We are honored and humbled to develop a bicycle that will address these unique conditions and important demands,' said Dan Gerhard, President of the Kona Bicycle Company. 'BikeTown Africa is an example of what we, as an industry, should be doing.

'It might be too strong to say that the bicycle can save the world, but we believe it can and should play an integral part in the fundamental improvement of society.'

About Bicycling:

As the industry leader, Rodale's Bicycling (www.bicycling.com) is the voice of cycling, providing the stories on the personalities, trends, and techniques behind the sport. Appealing to readers of every ability and interest level, the magazine features expert reviews of the latest equipment as well as training and fitness tips. Published 11 times a year, Bicycling is the magazine for the athlete for whom the bicycle is the centerpiece of an active lifestyle.

About the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and SECURE THE FUTURE:

In 1999, Bristol-Myers Squibb and its Foundation launched SECURE THE FUTURE (www.securethefuture.com) to help alleviate the HIV/AIDS crisis among women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the years, the program has funded more than 200 grants totaling $150 million to provide medical care and research, infrastructure- and capacity-building and community outreach and education in ten hard-hit countries in southern and West Africa. Through SECURE THE FUTURE, Ministries of Health, medical institutions, health care professionals, non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations have worked together to build sustainable models to address medical, educational and community outreach needs in southern and West Africa. In addition to the Children's Clinical Centers of Excellence, other programs developed and operated through grants include: a Community-Based Treatment Support Program for sustainable care, with sites in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Mali; and the BMS Foundation NGO Training Institute focusing on capacity-building in five southern African nations.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

About the Kona Bicycle Company:

The Kona Bicycle Company designs, manufacturers and distributes more than 60 models of purpose-built, high-performance mountain, road and urban bicycles. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Ferndale, Washington, USA, Kona bicycles are distributed worldwide in more than 60 countries through independent specialty bicycle dealers and networks.

Kona funds several professional mountain and cyclo-cross racing teams that include world cup champions, world champions and national champions such as Roland Green, Fabien Barel, Tracy Moseley, and Ann Knapp For more information, visit www.konaworld.com."

University Bicycles Will Host Party To Launch 3 New Cycling Books & An Instructional DVD

2005-11-28T22:14:00.000-08:00

Details below in a press release issued today:

"University Bicycles will host a party for Boulder's own master bicycle framebuilder Lennard Zinn on the evening of Wednesday, December 7. The launch party will celebrate the publication of three books and an instructional DVD that Lennard has authored over a year of almost non-stop writing and video production. The cycling community is invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided, and Lennard will sign books and DVDs.

Lennard Zinn, senior technical writer for Boulder-based magazines VeloNews and Inside Triathlon, published new editions of two books with VeloPress this season, 'Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance' and 'Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance.' These latest editions are a complete updating of Zinn's best-selling bike maintenance books, considered by bike techs and cyclists to be the most easily understood and comprehensive on the market.

This November, Zinn also produced an instructional DVD based on 'Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance.' Viewers can easily reference specific steps of a repair, watching Lennard's experienced hands and getting a real feel for how to execute repairs and upgrades. Disc brakes, wheels, forks, pedals, bottom brackets, and rear suspensions are all explained through clear audio and video.

In 2004, Zinn completed 'Zinn's Cycling Primer: Maintenance Tips and Skill Building for Cyclists.' Lennard teaches readers how to refine both bike and body for improved cycling performance on the trail, road, or for triathlon.

Lennard Zinn is one of the world's leading authorities on bicycle repair. A master framebuilder and an enthusiastic rider and mechanic, Zinn has also written 'The Mountain Bike Performance Handbook' and 'The Mountain Bike Owner's Manual.'

VeloPress is a sports fitness publisher and a trusted authority among cyclists, endurance athletes, and snow sport athletes on the subjects of training, nutrition, equipment, and performance. VeloPress also publishes a wide variety of titles outside the training genre, taking a closer look at the celebrities in our sports and their mark on history. VeloPress is the book publishing division of Inside Communications, Inc., publisher of VeloNews, Inside Triathlon and Ski Racing magazines.

University Bicycles is located at the intersection of 9th and Pearl Streets in downtown Boulder. More information is available at their website."

1 Week Until The 2005 Gap Gallop Century

2005-09-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

The 2005 Gap Gallop Century happens next Sunday. Route choices: 100 miles or 50 miles. You get a pasta dinner at the end of both rides.

This is a ride that I wanted to try last year, but I wasn't able to schedule a day off from babysitting. I was interested in this particular ride because the route runs along the Delaware Water Gap for quite some distance, and I know that area to be quite lovely. I was also interested in experiencing the 25 miles of downhill cycling that this ride promises. That must be fun!

Click here for more info...

1 Week Until The 2005 Twin Lights Ride!

2005-09-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

The 2005 Twin Lights Ride is one week away!

I did the Twin Lights Ride last year and it was very challenging, but a great time.

The tour is great for cyclists of all fitness levels, as there are a number of routes to choose from, from a 15 mile route to a 100 mile (century) route. If you chose one of the longer routes, you'll get to see much of Monmouth County, New Jersey.

I found the tour challenging because of the unnumbered hills which were very steep and seemed to go on forever. As soon as you conquer one killer incline, you are often presented with another one right away, with no time to rest and catch your breath. Best to take it easy on the hilly parts (unless, of course, you've been training on hills all year) as I witness many cyclists give up half way up one of these monsters. I am glad to report that I successfully climbed each and every hill, though at a very slow pace.

I also found the climate challenging. You are near the water for most of the tour, and that means breezes that are well chilled. The chill got into my lungs when I was about 20 miles from the finish, and I suffered with some severe shortness of breath for the entire final stretch. So, my advice: suit up like you're going on a winter ride and you should be OK. If you are asthmatic, carry an inhaler that is fully charged.

The rest stops were very well spaced-out with port-a-potties at each stop. After using one of the portable toilets once, I opted to pee in the bushes: those things are just too nasty for me.

Each rest stop had plenty of snacks, but none that I liked, so I had to rely on my emergency stash of peanuts, cold chicken and sweet potato (I can fit half my fridge in my Carradice Nelson Longflap!)

The Support and Gear (SAG) facility on the Twin Lights Right is first class. A SAG support van passed me on the road many times throughout the ride, often filled to capacity with cyclists who'd underestimated the challenge of the ride. About half way through the ride, I almost took the wrong road, which would have put me onto a interstate highway(!), but a very nice SAG support volunteer was there right when I needed her, and she put me back onto the right path. I was both impressed and relieved by the top notch SAG system they had going; relieved because I wasn't sure how long my lungs would hold out.

The driving directions that the Twin Lights Ride website provided were not very helpful, but I've recently revisited the site and I think they updated that section. Last year, I got lost for about half an hour, and started the tour late. It didn't matter in the end, because I wasn't going to be able to manage the 100 mile route anyway.

For those of you who don't drive, there's a ferry that can take you from Pier 11 in Manhattan to Highlands, New Jersey where the ride initiates.

I'm skipping this year's ride, as my neck problems persist, but I'm looking forward to doing the Twin Lights Ride in 2006.

The Monmouth County Twin Lights Ride: highly recommended!

http://www.bikenewyork.org/TLR.htm

1 Week Until The 2005 NYC Century Bike Tour!

2005-09-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

The NYC Century Bike Tour is easily New York City's best cycling tour. I did this tour last year and I had a blast. Unfortunately for me, I'm going to have to skip this year's tour because I'm having problems with the muscles in my neck (damn my skinny neck!)

Cyclists of all fitness levels can participate in The Tour as riders can choose from 5 different routes. If you are very fit, then you should certainly try the 100 mile route, which is the longest route. I had planned on doing the 100 mile route last year, but I didn't have top quality cycling shoes back then (it was that ride that prompted me to invest in some top quality shoes) so I was forced to quit @ the 80 mile mark, which cut out the Bronx portion of the tour. It really didn't bother me that much, as I had been living in the Bronx before I moved to Philadelphia, so I was quite familiar with it's sights.

If you have special dietary requirements, pack all the food you'll need. The tour offers some great snacks @ the rest stops (which as well spaced out) but you may find yourself in a bind if you are e.g. on a gluten-free diet as I am.

Click here for more information about The Tour:

http://www.transalt.org/calendar/century/

Cycling Blog: A Little Background...

2005-01-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

Just a little background to get this cycling blog off the ground.

Back in 2002, I was having a great time biking 4-5 times a week with my Cannondale Super V400 mountain bike all around New York City and parts beyond. I had purchased the bike back in late spring, 2001 and spent the summer and fall riding all over the place to get my "legs" back. I felt very fortunate that the winter of 2001-2002 was the warmest on record. I took full advantage and rode on any day where the temperature was above 42 degrees.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City, I took a night tour around town visiting lots of neighborhoods from the Bronx to lower Manhattan. Here's a small sampling of the pictures I took on that tour:

In almost every neighborhood I visited there were throngs of people either enthusiastically showing their appreciation for the local fire companies or quietly remembering a lost friend or neighbor at one of the hundreds of ad hoc shrines dotted about the city. Witnessing New Yorkers come together in this way was a moving and unforgettable experience. Now, I write almost every neighborhood because--and I feel I have to communicate this--as I passed through New York's wealthier neighborhoods, I saw no candlelight vigils, no one on the street waving flags: nothing. It seemed to be business as usual on Park avenue and the Upper East Side in general.

Let's fast forward to early summer 2002. I started to experience extreme pain in my neck and numbness in my left hand after 3-4 of riding. I thought it was just soreness from riding too much but the pain didn't get better. In fact it got worse and by June 2002 I wasn't able to turn my head to the left or right without experiencing excruciating pain. Furthermore, my left pectoral muscle and left tricep had become very weak and had diminished in size. I went to see a chiropractor which turned out to be one of the worst decisions in my life. I later found that I had developed a pinched nerve in my neck and I was in trouble! I had 2 options: surgery or let my body heal over time. I was not at all comfortable with the idea of having a surgeon messing with the vertebrae in my neck so I chose to wait it out. The summer of 2002 turned out to be the most painful summer my life. My condition took over 9 months to fully heal. The moral of this little story: if you are a mountain biker, watch out. I made the mistake of riding my mountain bike on the road for long rides. The extended riding in the mountain bike riding position caused my problem. Road bikes are for touring, mountain bikes for roughing it. I now ride a road bike and have recently completed 2 back-to-back 80 mile rides (that's over seven hours of riding) and I don't have any problems. You've been warned!

If you live in the North East and you are interested in purchasing my Cannondale Super V400 mountain bike please let me know by leaving a comment in this blog.

2003 I basically took off from riding. I wanted to give my body plenty of time to really heal up well so that I could get back into the game strong and ready to take on new challenges. Plus my first child was born in February 2003 and that kept me very busy.

By summer 2004 I was really itching to get back in the saddle. I was excited and ready to get myself a new road bike to commemorate my return to cycling. But choosing a new bike would be difficult. Sooooooo many brands and types to choose from! The most important thing was to get a bike that would be tough enough to take on some major touring. I did some research and came to the conclusion that I was looking for a steel frame road bike. Steel framed bikes are tough and long lasting and aren't prone to the vibrations and noises that are often found in bikes with aluminum frames. Carbon? Way too fragile!

I stopped by Performance to see what they had to offer and I was happy to find that they had the Fuji Roubaix Pro on sale. At $350 below suggested retail I bought it on the spot, along with accessories, Performance SPD pedals and some really cheap shoes (a regrettable decision. I now ride with Sidi Genius 4 Lorica shoes with what is left of my feet.) I didn't like the fact that the bike has a carbon fork but I this was something I could live with. The best thing about this bike is the Reynolds 853 steel tubing but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Shimano 105 components are really first class. Shifting is effortless with just one finger! I thought I would have to get the Ultegra or Dura Ace drive train to experience that kind of quality. The saddle, as expected, was total garbage and would have caused my narrow behind much pain. Fortunately, I have a Brook B-17 saddle which, at the time of my new road bike purchase, was almost perfectly broken-in (Lots of mountain bikers have had great success with the B-17. Not me. I personally don't understand how anyone can use a Brooks B-17 on a mountain bike. It's the best saddle in the world but it's not meant for a mountain bike. I tried to break-in my B-17 on my Cannondale mountain bike but was woefully unsuccessful after trying for over 250 miles of riding. The mountain bike riding position is just not a good match for the B-17, for me anyway. I finally got the saddle broken-in properly on my new Fuji.)

Now armed with my new road bike, I was ready to train hard and take on new challenges. I had never taken part in an organized bike tour and I decided that 2004 would be a great year to start. I did some research on the 'Net and found lots of great rides still available to me even though the summer was almost over. My new goal was to train for and do the New York Century Tour organized by the good people at Transportation Alternatives AND the Monmouth County New Jersey Twin Lights Tour which would take place a week after the New York event. I was a bit nervous about trying to do two century tours on two consecutive Sundays but I was confident in my ability to train hard and with discipline and get the job done.

I registered for both tours and began my training. I had moved from the Bronx to Philadelphia a couple of years ago so this is where I trained. Philadelphia has lots of special bike lanes which is great but they are disappointing in that they often don't last for more than 3 to 5 miles before they simply disappear. I needed to find the best roads for training and that took a few weeks. I eventually found that Route 13 and Route 413 were the best I could do in my area. Neither road has bike lanes but they each have a decent amount of shoulder space and offer relatively long stretches of smooth riding (smooth in the sense that the traffic lights are few and far between and the roads are relatively free of debris.) My chosen circuit also included a good number of steep hills which was something I knew I needed. I settled into a pattern of riding these two roads for a total distance of 40 miles per ride. I was doing 40 miles 3 to 4 times a week for 3 weeks. I trained at night because I don't do well in the heat and humidity. Heat, I'm fine. Humidity, I'm cool. Combine the two, and I'm garbage! I invested in a bunch of NiMH rechargeable batteries for my Vistalite system a last year so light wasn't a problem.

Finally, it was the night before tour day, September 11, 2004. I had rice, sardines and beans for dinner (solid and predictable-I didn't want any stomach problems on tour day) and I settled into bed at around 11:00.pm. This was really very late considering that I would have to get up at 3:00am in order to shower, eat a quick breakfast and make it to Central Park by 5:30am but my baby girl was having a "bad night" of mysterious crying and weird tantrums (I think maybe another tooth was sprouting.) I had just lost consciousness when at 2:00am I was startled out of sleep by the sound of my little KT (that's my baby's nickname) thrusting my bedroom door open causing it to crash into the closet door with a great noise. She couldn't sleep and now I was in big trouble! I did my best to get her back to bed and was finally able to do so by 3:00am. Yes, that's right: that was my wake up time! So on just about one hour's worth of unconscious sleep I headed to the shower and started my day. I was very worried about attempting a century ride on such little sleep but there was no way I was going to quit. I was very excited to participate in my first century bike tour and that helped to pump me up but I still had some butterflies in my stomach. I knew that drinking coffee would only exacerbate my nervous stomach but I had a cup anyway. Breakfast was Weetabix (a great whole grain wheat cereal that I loved from my boarding school days) and sardines. Yes, I can hear you saying to yourself, "yuck! Sardines for breakfast!?" Heh. Yeah. Good stuff those sardines.

My plan was to leave at 4:30 and I was running late. I stuffed my bike into the back seat of my car (instead setting up my Saris Bones transporter as planned-no time!) got the rest of my gear into the car in a hurry and set off. The morning air was cool and very dry and I thought this was a good omen. Thankfully, I had remembered to fill the fuel tank 2 days previous so I had no need to stop for fuel. My stomach was still nervous so I started contracting and relaxing my stomach muscles--kind of a short sit up, but sitting up--which helped to calm things down; the movement is not even close to a full range of motion but it really works with butterflies. By the time the sky started turning from black to a deep purple I was doing OK.

As I approached the final toll booth on the New Jersey Turnpike, I suddenly noticed two powerful beams of light shooting skyward from downtown Manhattan. The lights were so bright that they seemed to extend endlessly into space. I quickly realized that I was looking at the September 11, 2001 memorial. The lights mixed with the colors of the early dawn to produce a poetically beautiful image; two towering columns lighting the way for the murdered souls of 911. I found myself staring-instead of driving(!)-and thought about stopping just to take it all in for a minute but I decided that I really couldn't spare the time. I sped on, a bit disappointed for not stopping, but very glad to have been able to steal a few gazes.

NYC Century Bike Tour

I reached New York's Central Park at 6:00am. This was half an hour later than my planned arrival time but I was very fortunate to have found a prime parking spot just a few blocks from the start of the tour. Since I pre-registered I was able to make my way to the start without having to check-in. I performed a quick final check of my bike and set off.

The weather was quite perfect: cool, sunny and virtually no wind. The tour route starts at the north end of Central Park and continues down Fifth Avenue's famous Museum Mile. I was surprised at the number of cars and buses that early on a Sunday morning. Fifth Avenue wasn't choked with vehicles but there was enough traffic to make the riders come to a complete stop at almost every red light. It was stop and go all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge; there's a moderate incline half way up the bridge then a gentle downward slope into Brooklyn. It was single file over the entire span so the flow of bikes was slow; I was, however, glad that there was no stopping for I was getting tired of dismounting.