Aw, Too Bad.

Seven time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong woke up to bad news this morning. Someone broke in to the Astana team's van in Sacramento and stole his one-of-a-kind time trial bike along with three other bikes belonging to his team members.

Armstrong made the announcement on a post on Twitter. http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong

Sacramento Police confirm they are investigating the theft. The bike is a one-of-a-kind Trek Equinox TTX 9.9 time trial bike. According to Trek team liaison Ben Coates, three Astana team Trek Madone road bikes belonging to Janez Brajkovic, Steve Morabito, and Yaroslav Popovych were also stolen.
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Armstrong is taking part in the Amgen Tour of California. On Saturday, he came in 10th at the Amgen time trials in Sacramento on the bike that was later stolen. He is racing in Sunday 's stage from Davis to Santa Rosa.

Armstrong has posted a picture of the bike on Twitter and included this note, "There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn off; reward being offered."

NBC Bay Area

Chop Shop Stopped!

BIKE THIEF!

2009 Masi Randonneur

Masi has some fresh new models becoming available for 2009. Commute by Bike has more pictures and details.

Car-toon

A cartoon I lifted from QBP.

2009 Bianchi Dolomiti

Keeping with the current trend of retro themes Bianchi is introducing a steel lugged frame road bike.

New Flyer

WHY?

2009 Bianchi Flat Bar Pista

Found these photos on Bike Hugger

2009 Konas Are Up on Their Site!

Cop Decks Cyclist

Jul 29, 2008 11:06 AM

COLLEEN LONG
The Associated Press

NEW YORK – A police officer shown on video body-checking a bicyclist who was riding as part of a demonstration was stripped of his badge and gun Monday.

The incident occurred Friday evening in Times Square at the Critical Mass ride, a monthly protest of urban reliance on motor vehicles.

The video clip, posted anonymously on the Internet on Sunday, shows the officer standing in the street as bikes whiz past. The officer moves toward the cyclist, identified in a criminal complaint as Christopher Long, and violently knocks him to the ground in front of crowds of people. Another officer comes over, and the two officers wrestle with Long before handcuffing him.

Craig Radhuber said he was riding about 3 feet behind Long when he was hit.

"It was unprovoked," Radhuber said. "It was like the cop was waiting for him and then just checked him as he got closer. I couldn't believe it.''

The officer in the video was placed on desk duty pending the outcome of a police department investigation, chief police spokesman Paul Browne said.

The video, shot by a bystander, was posted on YouTube.

Long, of Hoboken, N.J., was arrested because he was obstructing traffic in the heart of Times Square, the complaint said. He was charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

The complaint said Long, 29, deliberately steered his bicycle into the officer, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

During his arrest, Long squirmed and kicked, saying to the officers, "You are pawns in the game. I'm gonna have your job,'' the complaint said.

There were no other arrests in the ride.

Long's lawyer said he hopes the Manhattan district attorney's office will drop the charges. The district attorney's office said it was investigating.

Meanwhile, Long's next court date was set for Sept. 5.

The Critical Mass bike rides started in San Francisco in 1992 and began in New York two years later. The New York rides, on the last Friday of every month, became large enough that police decided to crack down on them, leading to the arrests of more than 260 cyclists during a ride days before the GOP convention in August 2004 on charges of disorderly conduct and traffic offenses.

Dozens more cyclists have been arrested at subsequent rallies. In 2007, a federal judge ruled that the city could continue to regulate the rides despite a claim from riders arguing the rules infringe on their constitutional rights to free speech and to travel.

Associated Press writer Tom Hays contributed to this report.

Free Burrito

Anyone who rides their bike to the Chipotle at 8th and Congress, between
11-5 on Friday July 25th, will be given a free burrito, bowl, salad or
order of tacos. Notice they also have unbleached napkins, minimal
waste-generating meals, free-range chicken, green building practices and
I think recycling.

A Glimpse of Kona 2009 Line

Soulbiker posted some images of Kona's 2009 line up. I guess this is in La Molina, Spain. My German isn't so good, in fact it's non existent.
Below is the One20 Supreme (bottom) and the Shonky (top)

Tour De France and Stuff

So the Tour is in full gear now. The Aussie from Silence Lotto, Cadel Evans, is in yellow. Manuel Beltran of Liquigas has already been busted for EPO. Yet another former team mate of Lance brought down. The American, Christian Vandevelde, is 38 seconds off the lead
Still fun to watch.
Google has a cool street view of the tour.
As for me, I've been watching at the Crown & Anchor.

These Go to Eleven

CAMPAGNOLO HAS AN EXTRA GEAR
There is only one possible answer for those who ask why the 11-speed was born: why not? Cyclists, whether professional or amateur, are never happy. They always demand the most both from themselves and from the products they use. That's why the 11-speed was born.

Campagnolo created the 11-speed to give life to a new vision: realize an innovative, excellent and reliable product dedicated to those who never stop putting themselves to the test, conceived for those who never tire of exceeding their own limits. To do so, it introduced 3 innovations which make the Chorus, Record and Super Record groupsets unique in the market: the 11-speed sprocket set, the third Ergopower generation (Ergopower Ultra-Shift) and CULT (Ceramic Ultimate Level Technology). But that's not all.

11 means enhanced performance: every single groupset component has been redesigned to render it perfect in engineering terms, and guarantee users faster and more precise rear shifting, immediate front shifting, more fluid tooth engagement with the chain and total sprocket synchrony.

Bendependence Day

While Vytis and I were enjoying the fireworks and violence in Chicago, Ben Domingue was rocking Ozone's Jersey in Breckenridge for the Firecracker 50.
As you can see, the Soldier Crab was in full effect throughout this great nation for the Fourth.

DUMP THE PUMP DAY!

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has created a national awareness day to encourage commuters to ride a bus or take a train instead of driving a car.
We suggest you go one step further and ride your bike. If your commute is longer than you're comfortable, put your bike on the bus for part of your ride.

AT&T 2008 Crit Schedule

Thursday

* THE DRIVEWAY PRO NIGHT
* 5:30pm- cat ¾ women 1-3 race
* 6:15pm cat 4/5, Jrs open, women cat ¾
* 7:00pm – Cat Pro 1,2,3
* Post Race Cocktail Party 9pm

Friday

* Live Remote with 101x at Mellow Johnny Bike Shop 6 am - 10 am
* Packet Pick Up – Mellow Johnny Bike Shop 12-7pm
* Press Conference SIX Bar and Lounge roof top 7-8pm *
* Sponsor /Pro Race Dinner Cocktail Party - Lambert's *

Saturday

* Amateur racing starts at 2pm
* Meet and Greet with Pro Racers at the expo area 6:00-7pm *
* Pro 1-2 Womens race 7:00pm
* Pro 1 Mens race 8pm
* Post Race Dinner fund raiser Sullivans *

* Indicates a VIP badge holder event (available for sale on bikereg.com)
www.attcrit.com

Austinites Choosing Alternatives

Austin man sick of high gas prices, rides bicycle to work

10:40 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 17, 2008

By SHELTON GREEN
KVUE News

Had enough of the ever-climbing gas prices? Well one Austin man is now taking matters into his own hands.

Last week, Nelson Chafetz, an IBM employee put away his car keys and picked up his bicycle which he now rides 14-miles to work, and 14-miles home.

Chafetz says he's killing two birds with one stone by taking care of his health and his wallet.

"I can afford the 4-dollars per gallon, but if 2 or 3 million people across the country did this once or twice a week, I think demand would go down, supply would go up and that would effect the gas prices" says Chafetz.

The support planner for IBM packs his bike with water, his laptop, and a change of clothing because he showers once he gets to work.

Chafetz takes the back roads to and from Cedar Park on his commute.

He says he plans to keep riding as long as gas prices stay on their present course and he's hoping his example will encourage others to follow his lead.

"Take action. Do something, instead of riding a stationary bike at the gym or a treadmill at the gym get out and walk to work if it's close enough or get on a bicycle and start riding to work.

"I feel good about what I'm doing, I feel like I'm making a difference" he says.

Gas Prices Brutal, Bananas Not.

Got this image from Quickrelease.tv.

URBAN ASSAULT RIDE COMES TO AUSTIN JUNE 22ND

Beer, bikes, and big wheels are coming to town on June 22.
The New Belgium Urban Assault Ride will return to its roots on June 22nd with a stop in Austin, its home city. This will be the sixth year the Urban Assault Ride has taken to the streets of Austin.

The Urban Assault Ride is a funky bike scavenger hunt that sends two-person teams riding to checkpoints around town to complete crazy obstacle courses at each stop. Mental muscle is just as important as bike skills as teams of two choose their own course to checkpoints around the city. Obstacles are a surprise until participants arrive at the checkpoint and have included bike jousting, adult big wheel races, flying down an inflatable slip and slide, and much more. This pedal-powered urban adventure is an event that anyone can do.

The distance is around 25 miles and the ride takes two to three hours to complete. It is open to riders seven and older. The ride is followed by a huge after party with New Belgium beer, live music, and plenty of two-wheeled shenanigans. The ride starts and ends at RunTex on South Riverside Drive at 8:00 a.m.; checkpoints are Bicycle Sport Shop, Rowing Dock, Ozone Bike Dept, Jo’s Coffee, Jack and Adams, and Pease Park.
Austin is the most popular venue in the eight city series and routinely has the highest number of cyclists. Last year, more than 1,200 riders participated in this pedal-powered adventure, and more are expected this year. The secret to Austin’s success is its supportive cycling community and extensive cycling infrastructure.
Sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, the Urban Assault Ride is a green event designed to show riders that a bike is a great way to get around town. The event benefits Portland’s Bicycle Transportation Alliance charity – a group that opens and minds and roads to bike transportation. The Urban Assault Ride’s “green focus” extends beyond bike advocacy. The production powers the event with a solar generator, a bio-diesel truck delivers the gear to each city, and almost all event waste is composted or recycled.
--From a press release on April 17, 2008.