Cycling

Own your own limited edition short-sleeve 2013 Velo jersey. Graphic: Mike Reisel | VeloNews.comResults are in for the Velo Cyclist of the Year jersey contest and you can own the winning design at a discounted price for a limited time. Over 1,200 votes were cast in our first-ever awards jersey reader vote and the winner was Jersey No. 2, designed by Velo art director Mike Reisel. The top riders of 2013 will wear this jersey in our annual awards issue later this year, and you can wear the consumer version sooner. Velo and Panache Cyclewear are offering a short-sleeve version of the awards jersey now, priced at only $89.99. That’s 30 percent off the normal retail price of $130. Get an exclusive Velo Race Jersey and show everyone on the ride your favorite magazine and website for cycling news, race analysis, and bike reviews. The Velo Race Jersey is built on the Panache Race Jersey chassis, which the Boulder, Colorado-based performance clothing brand says allows riders to reach their potential in situations that require speed and endurance. It’s the chassis of choice for many of Panache’s amateur and professional cyclists. A close-to-body fit, fast-wicking fabrics, and high quality trims (silicone gripper and one-finger zipper) make this jersey a great option. Order your jersey today >>

A weary peloton will likely face more snow and rain later this week. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.comVALLOIRE, France (VN) — Riders woke up Monday for the final rest day of the Giro d’Italia happy to see sunny skies high in the French Alps. After horrendous racing conditions over the weekend, marked by rain, cold, wind, and snow on the upper reaches of the Col du Galibier, many were hopeful the worst was behind them. Forecasts, however, seem to indicate that spring’s return on Monday is only a short respite. More unstable, winter-like weather is expected to hang over northern Italy throughout the week. Forecasts indicate more rain, cold temperatures, and snow at higher elevations across northern Italy this week. Poor weather could force Giro organizers to reroute Friday’s and Saturday’s climbing stages, and perhaps throw a wrench into the overall battle for the pink jersey. “We hope the weather improves and we can race unhampered,” said race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). “The cold has been hard on everyone.” The Giro was lucky Sunday to avoid a major route change, though snowfall high on the Galibier forced organizers to lower the finish line several hundred meters below the summit. Snow could force cancellation of portions Friday’s and Saturday’s stages. According to race officials, it’s too early to make any decisions, but they are monitoring the weather. Things look bleak. Friday’s forecast calls for a 70-percent chance of rain and temperatures in the high 40s Fahrenheit at Bormio, the alpine village at 1200 meters, tucked between the Passo Gavia (2618m) and the Passo di Stelvio (2758m). Rain in Bormio means snow on the highest reaches of the climbs, meaning that they could be deemed impassable. Forecasts are similarly gloomy for Saturday’s 203km queen stage from Silandro to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (2304m), with cool temperatures and rain at Cortina d’Ampezzo at 1225m. The possibility of more horrendous weather comes as unwelcomed news inside the peloton. Riders have already been suffering with colds and allergy problems since the start of the Giro. “The weather’s been very hard on the riders,” said BMC Racing director Max Sciandri. “It’s not just this Giro, but the entire spring in Europe. The weather has been awful and many riders are at their limits.” The 2013 Giro could see a repeat of the epic stage over the Gavia in 1988 when Andy Hampsten rode through a blizzard to secure the pink jersey. The peloton is certainly hoping that is not the case.

Summer’s just around the corner, and Spring seems to be fluctuating between hot and cool and not much...

With six days remaining in the 96th Giro d'Italia, Vincenzo Nibali met the press to talk about the road to Brescia. Photo: Gregor Brown | VeloNews.comVALLOIRE, France (VN) — With six days remaining in the 96th Giro d’Italia, overall leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) is poised for his second grand tour win and said on Monday that he would go on the attack in the Dolomites. “And here is your pink jersey, Vincenzo Nibali,” began the Astana press conference on Monday’s rest day in the French Alps. The message could be the same when the Giro wraps up in Brescia in six days, such is the Italian’s lead. After 15 stages and 2449 kilometers, Nibali leads Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) by 1:24 and has shown no sign of letting up. “I’m not worried about this or that climb, the whole week is going to be hard,” Nibali said. “Let’s not talk about winning just yet; I’ve got to finish the race.” Nibali met the press on the second floor of the Pulka hotel in Valloire, France, where Sunday’s stage passed on the way up the Col du Galibier. He wore his Astana team’s turquoise-colored jump suit, which had no pink accents or hints that he was the race leader in the Italian grand tour. The Astana bus outside, however, gave it away. Eight stuffed pink jersey pillows were in the window, one from the race organizer for each day Nibali has led the corsa rosa. A matter of time Nibali took time on Evans in the team time trial (:23), the Saltara ITT (:18), and the stage to Jafferau on Saturday (:33). Evans has gained bonus seconds to trim that advantage, but not as often as Nibali, who has 12 more bonus seconds after two weeks of racing. With his time trial performances, his climbing exploits in the Alps over the weekend, and his solid riding on wet, technical intermediate stages, Nibali has proven the more complete rider thus far. He leaves many wondering how he can lose the race. Some have suggested that Evans, the 2011 Tour de France champion and 13-year professional, has more experience. However, even Evans has pointed out that Nibali is no debutant, having already won the Vuelta a España in 2010 and placed third in the Tour de France last year. The Aussie can hope that Nibali will begin to suffer in the final week and pay for the focus and dedication the Giro has taken. Evans, on the other hand, only decided in late March to race the Giro. The road to Breschia The mountains above Italy’s Lake Como and Lake Garda hold some answers. The corsa rosa heads east out of France and to Ivrea on Tuesday, sprints into Vicenza Wednesday, and hits the high mountains again starting Thursday. Those three mountain stages hold the key to Nibali’s second grand tour win. Thursday’s climbing time trial to Polsa will give Nibali a third opportunity to best Evans against the clock — or herald a fierce week-ending battle. “Uphill time trials are always difficult to manage, but I’d be more worried if it was a flat time trial,” said Nibali. “Evans goes much stronger in flat ones than I do.” Nibali said he may attack again in the mountains when the race hits Val Martello on Friday. He will not ride into Breschia on the defensive. “In this and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo [on Sunday], you have to stay alert and defend yourself,” he said. “However, if there’s a chance, I’ll even try to attack and gain more time on my rivals.” The Giro’s final decisive showdown comes on Saturday with the five-climb epic to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Riders will face the Cat. 1 ascents of the Passo Giau and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo finish climb in a fitting finale to a brutal Giro. “I raced there in 2007, the last time the Giro visited,” said Nibali. “The final three kilometers are very hard on their own, but you also have to consider before we race Costalunga, San Pellegrino, and Giau. You’ll really feel the pain in your legs.” Nibali said that, despite losing riders to crashes

Continental teams impress race organisers

Cadel Evans came to the Giro d'Italia to prepare for the Tour, but is fighting for his second grand tour title with six days to go. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.comVALLOIRE, Italy (VN) — Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) promised on Monday’s rest day to come out swinging in the final stages of the 2013 Giro d’Italia, and still holds out hope of winning the maglia rosa. Race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) looks rock solid, but he pointed to Evans, lurking at 1:26 back, as the lone rider who makes him uncomfortable with six days of racing left. Meeting with the press, Evans insisted everything was still possible. “It’s still not impossible to win,” Evans said. “I see a good Nibali. He’s been able to cover everything we’ve thrown at him so far. The final week will decide everything.” Evans has been one of the top surprises of this Giro. Under advice from team manager Jim Ochowicz, the 2011 Tour de France champion decided to race the Giro only five weeks before it started, in large part to get more racing miles into his legs before returning to the Tour. After falling flat in his Tour defense last year, Evans did not want to arrive to Corsica for the race’s Grand Depart under-trained. So the team took on the heavy load of racing the Giro, but with very modest expectations. “The reason for starting the Giro was to get a big block of racing before the Tour, and that’s what I needed,” he said. “Is it too much? I would rather have too much than too little. To go back to the Tour like last year doesn’t give me any satisfaction.” Now with only six stages left in the 96th Giro, Evans is still within striking distance. “After two hard weeks of racing, the third week is always another dimension, both physically and the fatigue,” Evans said. “Maybe Nibali is going to remain untouchable and I may have to settle for something less than the first position — c’est la vie.” Despite adding the Giro to his calendar late in the spring, Evans said he’s taken the race very seriously. After studying the route, he previewed some of the key stages, and held a Giro-focused training camp. Evans said the first two weeks of all-out, weather-battered racing have been some of the most challenging of his long career. The peloton has had to deal with everything, including rain and snow, heat and wind, a challenging route, and allergies. Evans and Nibali have largely been even throughout this Giro. The Italian took 23 seconds in the team time trial and 18 seconds in the individual time trial. Add some time bonuses, and what Evans called a “bad day” at Bardonecchia on Saturday, when he forfeited 33 seconds Nibali, and the differences made in this Giro have been minimal. BMC Racing is counting on having Evans back at his best for the final week, and is hoping that Nibali cracks. “Nibali looks very strong, but we will see what happens in the final week. There are still three very hard stages to come,” said BMC Racing director Fabio Baldato. “Evans is always strong in the final week of a grand tour. That is on our side. I know since the beginning of this Giro Cadel has said, ‘let’s make the best of it.’ He is racing to win.” Evans is also hopeful that Bardonecchia was merely a hiccup and he will be able to attack in the coming stages. Thursday’s 20.6-kilometer climbing time trial from Mori to Polsa will be critical. If Nibali can take even more time on Evans, then the differences will likely be too large to overcome. If Evans is able to take some time back on Nibali with a great ride, it will make things very interesting for Friday’s and Saturday’s epic climbing stages. “It’s not just waiting to see if Nibali has a bad day, maybe Cadel can have a great day,” Baldato said. “Cadel is very motivated and we can see that he is excited about being at the Gi

New Belgium Brewery is making its second stop on its 12 city tour in Washington DC on Saturday June 1st.Roughly two weeks ago the bicycle themed carnival that is Tour de Fat landed in Atlanta for its first stop of the season and well... the fun will not stop until they pack up the tents after the show in Tempe Arizona in October!That offers up a lot of time for bikes, beers, fun, and philanthropy!The other day I rode around and handed out flyers to a variety of people... not everyone... but people who seemed as if they may be interested in the Tour de Fat...bikes were the first thing that drew me inthen there were an assortment of other criteria that each individual had to meetthis woman in the black tank top was rolling at a fast pace on the Capital Crescent Trail headed from Georgetown to BethesdaI passed her a flyer on the movethen there was a short exchangeturns out she was German but loves Belgian beerswhich makes her a good candidate for attending the Tour de Fatnot everyone I passed on the trail got an invitebut several didwhat amazed me most is that DC had one of the largest showings for a first Tour de Fat in the history of Tour de Fatsand it is looking like DC should have record breaking numbers for grown and its second yearbut with this being the casehow come everyone I approach knows nothing about the Tour de Fat?why is it that the Tour de Fat is such a well kept secret?this group of bikers at Bike to Work Day got the full sale...and so did this other group!they were receptiveimmediately they put the event on their mental calendarhopefully they attend... I think they would enjoy itthis guy in the red shirt had heard of Tour de Fat, but had not known it was headed to DChe sounded like a strong maybebut we did not have much time to chatas our light was turning greenand I was running late for Bike to Work Daywhile he was trying to get into workThe Tour de Fat is Saturday June 1st at Yards Park in Washington DC!if the people who attended last year combined with the number of people who regretted missing the Tour de Fat in DC last year are to attend... well...it promises to be bigbut if we can get the word out to our bicycle minded friends well... TOUR DE FAT IN DC COULD BE HUGE!and well...there is an advantage to the Tour de Fat's growththe profits at this event go straight back to the Bicycle Advocacy Groups that volunteer at the eventwhich makes this a WIN WIN for the bicycle communitywe get to attend the bicycle themed carnival that is The Tour de Fat while building our bicycle advocacy organizations in the area!WHAT IS THE TOUR DE FAT?http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=tour+de+fatJOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGEhttps://www.facebook.com/eventstell your friends... then JUST SHOW UP!

Climb to Glory features 17 per cent gradient, wet cobbles, and funicular tracks to dodge... read more

The Business of Bike Sharing in the Postwww.washingtonpost.comBike Share on the Gwadzilla Pagehttp://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=bikeshare+

As I stood composing this shot, a woman passing by with grocery bags stopped beside me. Looking at the bicycle, she tilted her head to the side and smiled. "That bike!" she said, "It looks like... happiness." It was a funny outburst, no doubt inspired more by the sunny day and the quaint tree-lined street, than by the bicycle itself. But I knew what she meant. Because this particular bike fit into the idyllic backdrop perfectly. Simple, friendly and inviting, it looked like no more and no less than what it was - a yellow bicycle on a beautiful summer morning. Maybe Paul is onto something here, I thought.Even though Paul Carson makes bikes and teaches others how to, I do not really think of him as a framebuilder. He is more of an engineer, an experimenter, a problem-solver. Paul doesn't see what he does as a craft, but as production that he loves to simplify and optimise. You might not find him polishing frame joints for hours on end. But you will find him making ridable prototypes with speed and ingenuity ...as well as the tools, fixtures and parts to facilitate doing so. In a sense, Paul is like a magic genie who can turn wishful thinking into reality, and fast. On one occasion, I watched him make a rear rack in under 20 minutes, so that he could try out a pannier on his roadbike. Another time, I wondered how difficult it would be to make a double-plated fork crown from scratch. He asked me to elaborate. I explained and showed pictures. He thought about it, then ducked into a corner. Hack-hack-hack. File-file-file. Flames! Flames! "Like this?" And there it was - double-plated fork crown for oval blades, spaced for a wide tire, just as I described. "Glad you like it," he shrugged. "I'll get a batch of these machined." That's Paul Carson, in a nutshell.Unlike most other local builders, Paul is not part of the racing scene. He isn't even really part of the local bike scene so much; he is just his own entity. Perhaps that is why he gravitates toward making city bikes. City bikes have an immediate and obvious utility. And it is fun to see them cruising around the neighbourhood, ridden by ordinary people, carrying milk and potted plants. Over the past months, we've been discussing some ideas for step-through designs. We both like the feel of old English 3-speeds and we also like low trail. Wouldn't it be great to combine these? While our ideas diverge when it comes to wheel size and exact geometry specs, overall Paul's idea of a great step-through is not dissimilar to mine. When he asked me to try his prototype, I was eager to give it a go. Made of touring grade cro-moly tubing, the Paul Carson Step-Through is designed around 700C wheels with up to 35mm tires and fenders. It has a gently curved top tube, and is proportioned so that the handlebars can sit at or just above saddle height. 72° head tube angle and 73° seat tube angle. Trail in the mid-40s.These framesets will be made to order in a range of sizes and with a menu of options, with prices starting at $650 for a TIG-welded frameset with standard (lugged) fork crown, made for caliper brakes. The price includes powdercoat in a range of standard colours and a headset. Extras include the option of fillet-brazed construction, handmade double-plated fork crown, handmade stem, and cantilever/ v-brake bosses.Paul designed this frame with versatility of build in mind. Horizontal dropouts make it possible to use either derailleur or hub gearing. The bottom bracket height (300mm with 28mm tires) is sufficient to set up the bike as a fixed gear. Braze-ons include eyelets for racks and fenders. 440mm chainstays are long enough to carry panniers without heel strike. And the front-end geometry will handle a front load.The demo bike I tried was built in size 55cm and with all the extra options. Fillet-brazed joints, smoothly finished, but not fussed over. Canti-lever bosses and cable hanger. Twin plate fork crown.And fillet-brazed stem (threadless).Paul set this bike up with 28mm tires and