Hope integrated cassette and hub

With no freehub, Hope’s new cassette is designed to work with its Pro 2 hubs and is claimed to be lighter than an equivalent XX setup by about 20 grams and at about half the price.  At the show we were quoted at about GB£150 for the cassette.  The larger rings are machined from a single block of aluminium while the inner 5 are made of steel.  It should be on shelves early next year and while it will only fit Hope’s own hubs it is retrofittable.  Build quality seemed really good and at half the price of an XX cassette these should prove popular.

Fox rear lockout unit

Suspension maestros Fox introduced a new remote lockout unit to work with its cross country rear shocks.   Using the same unit as the excellent one developed to work with the front fork it is aimed at the RP2 and RL rear shock and fully retro-upgradable.  We were also told that it was retro-fittable to RP23s too.

Surly Snow bike

In the event of a similar winter to last year you may want one of these.  You heard it here first!!!

Omni-heat is a heat reflective insulation built into a number of Columbia garments.  It looks like a honeycomb foil membrane which reflects back the bodies heat.  At the same time it is fully breathable meaning that while you are kept warm you are not overheating or wearing a portable sauna.  Columbia claim 20% more heat is retained with their jackets and we have to agree.

We have been using a jacket utilising Omni-Heat when when on assignment abroad and on cold days for running and biking and have found it to be unmatched in terms of breath-ability.  It really does deal with sweat really well - no chills when you stop exercising and no clamminess.  Look for it this Winter.

In the ladies race last years silver medalist Maja Wloszczowska rode a commanding race breaking free with two laps to go.  The Pole had skipped the last round of the World Cup in Windham, USA to prepare for the race and it paid off with a 48 second buffer to second.  Behind her a titanic battle broke out between three riders with positions changing constantly.  Last years bronze medalist Willow Koerber broke away only to get caught in fencing and be reeled back by former World Champ Irina Kalentieva the diminutive Russian getting and maintaining a gap.  Koerber dropped to third behind native Catherine Pendrel but in a fit of will power managed to get past her to claim the bronze two years in a row.

Womans XC Results

1 Maja Wloszczowska (Poland) 1:48:21
2 Irina Kalentieva (Russian Federation) 0:00:48
3 Willow Koerber (United States Of America) 0:00:52
4 Catharine Pendrel (Canada) 0:00:54
5 Elisabeth Osl (Austria) 0:02:00
6 Heather Irmiger (United States Of America) 0:02:03
7 Anna Szafraniec (Poland) 0:02:16
8 Sabine Spitz (Germany) 0:02:32
9 Marie-Helene Premont (Canada) 0:02:43
10 Eva Lechner (Italy) 0:02:57

In the men’s race the weather saw 4 seasons in one day with fog, sunshine, rain and humidity all appearing at various times making the technical course all the more interesting as the rock slab descents became treacherous.  The lead changed a number of times as riders suffered punctures and mechanicals but an elite group containing Windham winner Jaroslav Kulhavy, Burry Stander, Nino Schurter, Julian Absalon, Ralph Naaf and Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos spent most of the day off the front.  An early crash between Absalon and Hermida saw them as far back as 10th and Schurter too had his share of drama with trips to the technical zone to get assistance with mechanicals and punctures.  For a long time it looked like Stander, Kulhavy and Schurter would duke it out but a late surge from Hermida Ramos saw the veteran Spaniard cross the finish line alone to claim the rainbow jersey.  Kulhavy held the chasers off for second with Stander third.  Last years Champ could only manage fourth with his nemesis Absalon in fifth.

Mens XC Results

1. Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP) 1h 52:26.
2. Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE) ˆ 29.
3. Burry Stander (RSA) 1:10.
4. Nino Schurter (SUI) 2:03.
5. Julien Absalon (FRA) 2:23.
6. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (ESP) 2:43.
7. Liam Killeen (GBR) 2:51.
8. Goeff Kabush (CAN) 3:58.
9. Florian Vogel (SUI) 4:14.
10. Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez (ESP) 4:30.

Today is the finals of the downhill competition.  High drama is expected in a race that could go to a number of riders.

Interestingly the team will be using Bontragers own brand helmets (Radioshack are sponsored by Giro).  They will also be using the Shimano Di2 electronic shifting groupset as standard and a full quiver of Bontrager wheels.  We will be keeping you fully up to date with the developments regarding the team as the rider roster is finalised. 

Press release below-

Trek and Luxembourg Pro Cycling Team Project Join Forces(Waterloo, WI USA : Luxembourg City, Luxembourg) - Trek Bicycle and The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Team Project have signed a long-term partnership agreement, announced today at Eurobike by Trek and Brian Nygaard of the Luxembourg Team. The new team, featuring brothers Frank and Andy Schleck, will be part of the Trek Family for 2011 and beyond.

As the official Equipment Supplier and Advisor of the Luxembourg based team, Trek will not only be responsible for supplying all team cycling equipment, but will also be day-to-day technical advisors, integrated into the foundation of the team. Trek will use its experience gained in winning 9 of the last 12 Tours de France to supply the team with technical direction ranging from race day wheel and component selection to fit and sizing guidance on its Madone and Speed Concept time trial platforms.

Though the full roster and title sponsor are yet to be announced, both Frank and Andy Schleck have confirmed that they are racing for the newly formed team, headed by Director Kim Andersen. Andersen elaborated: “We looked at a number of equipment suppliers, but our goals are to win the Tour de France and be the #1 team in the World. Trek has the best equipment, along with more experience and expertise to help make that happen.” Team General Manager Brian Nygaard continued: “We know Trek can help us go faster. Their expertise in aerodynamics and performance can make an appreciable difference in results. It is the right move to help the Schlecks and the whole team.”

Trek will be the complete bicycle supplier, using the full arsenal of Bontrager wheels, bars, stems and saddles to meet the specific needs of each rider. The team will also be wearing new Bontrager performance road helmets. The drivetrain/brakes will be Shimano Dura-Ace Di2. Hennie Stamsnijder, Shimano’s Sports Marketing Manager relayed, “Shimano is known for its reliability and precision, and that is something this new team and Trek identify with and will rely upon when the stakes are high. We look forward to working with Trek in this endeavor to support this highly anticipated team.”

John Burke, Trek President, added: “We have had great success at the Tour de France over the past decade, and this new team will help continue that legacy. This is the right team for Trek to partner with in Europe. From day one we realized that this team is full of Trek guys.”

The partnership with the Luxembourg team is in addition to Trek’s current relationship with Team Radio Shack. Both teams will be riding Trek for 2011.

About Trek Bicycle:
Trek Bicycle is a global leader in the design and manufacture of bicycles and bicycling related products and accessories. From Tour de France-winning road bikes to tricycles designed to introduce the next generation of riders to the possibilities of pedal-power, Trek has a bike for nearly every rider. Trek believes the bicycle can be a simple solution to many of the world’s most complex problems, including obesity, traffic congestion, and climate change, and is committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent people from using bicycles more often for daily transportation, recreation, and inspiration. For more information about Trek, visit www.trekbikes.com

Like the Edge 500 it will have customizable screens with up to 50 performance metrics to choose from but with the addition of colour maps.  We have to admit it looks pretty nice.  We are expecting a test sample shortly and will see it at its launch at Eurobike this week so more then but in the meantime you will have to make do with the press release below.  It is expected to be on shelves in October.

Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation, has today announced the feature-packed touchscreen Edge 800 for cyclists who want accuracy and simplicity when tracking their statistics and location for racing and recreation. Edge 800 seamlessly combines the most popular aspects of the industry-leading Edge 500 and Edge 705 while adding an intuitive touchscreen interface. An array of new mapping options including Garmin GB Discoverer^TM topographical mapping for Great Britain, developed in conjunction with Ordnance Survey, make it perfect for training, touring and riding on the trail. Find out more about how you can plan and view your routes, on road and trail, under ‘Mapping Options’ below. Edge 800 will debut at Interbike (Booth 2631) and Eurobike (Booth A5-201), where it won the coveted Eurobike Award for electronic components.

“Whether you’re on the road, in the mountains or around the city, Garmin’s touchscreen Edge 800 puts the most important information of your ride at your fingertips” said Andrew Silver, Garmin’s Sport and Fitness Product Manager. “Thanks to its simple mounting system, improved mapping and route-planning capabilities, and the GPS-based features that make wires and calibration obsolete, we can easily say that one Edge fits all.”Edge 800

Building on its popular predecessors, Edge 800 is smaller and sleeker than the Edge 705, yet features a larger 2.6″ display with a simple touchscreen interface. And while Edge 800 gets its streamlined design from the ultralight Edge 500, the colour display and versatile mapping options make exploration more enjoyable and efficient than ever.

In its third year as title sponsor of UCI Pro Team, Garmin-Transitions, Garmin has worked closely with the sport’s top athletes in developing Edge products that can be appreciated by cyclists around the world using a cycling computer, whether they’re using it for the first time or continually striving to beat their fastest time.

“At Garmin-Transitions, we’re going to be on the cutting edge of technology, in everything we do,” said Team Garmin sprinting sensation Tyler Farrar. “Edge 800 can track all of our performance data, and it also keeps things interesting on training rides because we can use it anywhere in the world to plan and follow new routes - on and off road - and always find our way back to the start.”

Cyclists can view Team Garmin’s featured rides - or download, analyse and share rides of their own - at Garmin Connect^TM (http://garminconnect.com), the free-to-join online community of more than 30 million activities from around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate through charts and a variety of map representations, including street, satellite, topographic, and elevation maps. Garmin Connect users can search for activities in their area and try them by uploading the data to Edge 800, which will guide the way.

“I can come back and do even more on the computer when I download it,” said Team Garmin’s Christian Vande Velde of combining Garmin Connect with the Edge products he used in consecutive top-8 finishes at the Tour de France. “It takes all the guessing out of everything in my training.”

Using information directly from GPS satellites, Edge 800 accurately tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent. For even more real-time data on display, Edge 800 syncs wirelessly through ANT+^TM technology with compatible third-party power meters as well as Garmin heart rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 800 incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.

Because Edge 800 requires no calibration, it can be switched quickly between bikes thanks to a low-profile, quarter-turn mount that fits easily on the stem or handlebars with tight-gripping rubber rings. Boasting a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFixTM that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception, Edge 800 displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically, lasts up to 15 hours on one charge and alerts riders if they’re moving but the timer has not been started.

As powerful as it is for performance cyclists and speed specialists, various mapping options make Edge 800 an ideal device for singletrack exploration, everyday errands and casual commuting.

Mapping Options

The new Edge 800 is designed to accept Garmin GB Discoverer^TM microSD cards for use on the road or trail.OS 50k Nav The 1:50k and 1:25k scale mapping for Great Britain is the same scale as Ordnance Survey Landranger and Explorer maps, giving you the equivalent of a paper map with the ability to search addresses, points of interest and get turn-by-turn directions whilst cycling on the road. Garmin EIRE Discoverer^TM is also available for the Republic of Ireland.

Automotive mode 2 City Navigator® Europe NT is ideal for touring as it gives the user street mapping for turn-by-turn directions for the whole of Europe. City Navigator street mapping is also available for every major part of the world.

Garmin TOPO is the ultimate mapping for off-road cycling in Europe and popular destinations further afield. These topographical maps will give you contours, trails, points of interest such as mountain peaks and crossings as well as hotels and restaurants. Everything is fully searchable which means you can find a place to stay for example and get directed there.Course Overview

All of these maps can be used with Garmin’s free BaseCamp route planning software (www.garmin.com/basecamp). This enables you to survey the terrain and plan routes. BaseCamp is an easy tool which lets users plan and preview routes - along with viewing elevation changes - and then send those routes to Edge 800.

Subscribers to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery can quickly transfer high-resolution satellite images to Edge 800 and seamlessly integrate those images into the onscreen maps to get a true representation of the surroundings. See https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=255&pID=70144 for more information.

Garmin’s free Custom Maps (www.garmin.com/CustomMaps) can bring the details, labels and landmarks of your existing paper or electronic map to Edge 800 in just a few simple steps. For example you can transfer a map of mountain bike trails to your Edge so you can see them on your screen and navigate with them.

To find out more about different mapping solutions visit www.garmin.com//garmin/cms/site/uk/mappingsolutions

Edge 800 is the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products, go to www.garmin.co.uk and http://garmin.blogs.com/uk/
For more about Team Garmin, visit www.garmin.com/teamgarmin, For more information on the Edge 800 please visit www.garmin.co.uk/edge800

Press release:Team Garmin-Transitions and Cervélo team up for 2011

August 27, 2010 - Team Garmin-Transitions and Cervélo SA will join forces for the 2011 season to create a new team that will be known as Garmin-Cervélo.

“Slipstream Sports and Cervélo share the key philosophies of developing the next generation of cycling champions and an unwavering commitment to ethical sport,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports and Director Sportif of Team Garmin-Transitions.

“We are happy to work with another company that, like Garmin, so closely shares our goals. We will be adding great talent to an already outstanding roster and we believe the new team will build on past successes and will produce incredibly exciting racing in 2011. The possibilities are endless - on the road and off - and we look forward to what we can achieve.”

“As we have often mentioned, our primary goal has always been to have some control over the direction that cycling will take,” said Phil White, Cervélo co-founder.

“With Slipstream Sports, we share common goals and values. Together we will be in a stronger position to keep moving the sport forward.”
Slipstream Sports pioneered the most stringent anti-doping program in all of professional sports and that will continue with Team Garmin-Cervelo. In addition to the new Team Garmin-Cervelo and the Holowesko Partners U23 Development team, Slipstream Sports will, for the first time, also run a professional women’s cycling team.

“The fit is a natural one,” added Vaughters. “We’ve wanted to become stronger in the Classics and we’re confident that we’ll come into 2011 with one of the strongest Classics line-ups in the peloton. Beyond that, we are extremely excited to create a very good women’s program.”

“In our eight years in pro cycling, we have seen the many possibilities cycling offers,” concludes White. “The very positive response to a focus on more than just racing has been great. The emphasis we have had on product R&D since 2003 will be integrated into the new team’s routine as well.

Transitions Optical is expecting to continue its sponsorship, pending final agreement, evolving into the Official Lens Supplier.

The creation of the new team is still under development. More information, including official team rosters, will become available in the October timeframe.