by

Pro Cycling on TV

A lot of recreational cyclists like to follow profession bike racing, myself included.  However, if you live in the US it can be frustratingly difficult to watch big bike races other than the Tour.  The only US channel that shows cycling is NBC Sports.  They do show quit a few races on TV like the Tour, the 2 big American races (Tour of California and USA Pro Cycling Challenge), then a handful of European stage races like Tour de Suisse, Paris-Nice, and such.  However none of the classics are on NBC Sports or the other two grand tours are shown and I have just don’t get why!

What really confuses me though is why cycling tries to use traditional TV channels in America.  The Tour of California, which started today, is broadcast on NBC Sports but is also available to view live on their iPhone and Android apps and on their website for FREE.  Why don’t all races do this in the US?  The races are already being videotaped because they are all live on European networks so why not get the rights at low cost to broaden the availably in the US?  Cycling is actually the largest sporting market in the World and is also a very targetable demographic group so commercials could provide the income.  Furthermore the UCI or USA Cycling could help fund the project initially to broaden the appeal of professional cycling in the USA.  The sport has shown huge growth in the recreational sector but I have to feel that the availability of TV coverage is far lagging behind.

In the meantime there are a few options to watch races not available in the US.  Steephill.tv has links to bike races live, although there are some really annoying pop up ads that will only disappear if you use full screen.  Cyclingfans.com pretty much has the same links with the same issues and both only seem to work about 50% of the time on mobile devices.  I usually try to watch on my phone at work.  Also, if you just give in and aren’t able to watch the races follow Sky Sports Cycling on Twitter for good updates or watch these hilarious and informative videos by Cosmo Catalano titled How the Race Was Won for a play by play of the decisive moves for each bike race.

by

New Review: SKS Slidecage Bottle Cage

SKS Slidecage Bottle CageIt is pretty hard to get excited about a water bottle cage, even one as cool as the SKS Slidecage bottle cage.  The SKS Slidecage is really cool for a water bottle cage, don’t get me wrong, but it is still just a water bottle cage.

What makes the SKS Slidecage different from most bottle cages is that it can be set up to allow the bottle out from a left or right angle and not just the traditional straight out.  It is meant to work well on mountain bike frames were the suspension limits the room for bottle cages.   However, I know I always pull my bottles out with my right hand so it just makes it easier to use the s SKS Slidecage bottle cage.  With a SKS Slidecage bottle cage if I pull to hard I don’t bang my hand against the top tube it just slides out to the right.  To note however, it can be set up to be used like a traditional bottle cage where you pull straight away and up instead of to the side…Continued Here

 

New Review: SKS Slidecage Bottle Cage

by

New Review: Mavic Draft Jersey

mavic draft jerseyI picked this jersey up for really cheap on JensonUSA.com partially to fill up the required $50 cart for free shipping and partially because I wanted to see what the quality was on a thirty dollar jersey.  My conclusion is although it is nothing super nice or special it is quit a bit of jersey for only thirty bucks.  My version is a bright red which is nice and visible to cars and other riders but doesn’t make your eyes hurt to look at so I actually kind of like the bright color as most of my other jerseys are subdued colors.

The Mavic Draft Jersey is a club fit or slightly looser cut than say a racing fit jersey.  This makes it nice and comfortable for longer rides but it can feel a little baggy.  I ordered a medium although on the inside of the jersey it lists it as a medium US or a large EU.  Most jerseys are just sized on the EU size, in which I wear a medium.  So maybe had I gone with the small US and therefore gotten the medium EU it would have fit like most of my other jerseys…Continued Here

3 stars

 

New Review: Mavic Draft Jersey

by

What I have my Eyes On

I have spent a solid chunk of the winter looking at new road bikes.  I am still relatively new and more importantly on a budget so I have looked at entry level aluminum frames but slightly better components.  I would like to either have at least SRAM Apex or Shimano 105.  I think we search has become narrowed down to either the Orbea Aqua TPX or the Specialized Allez.  They are almost identically priced and very similar on specs.  Both are also carried at local bike shops although the Orbea gets the slight upper hand in the shop category because local shop Spokes is one of the coolest bike shops I’ve ever been to and they have great people there.  If you are ever in Little Rock, AR Spokes is a must visit.  The Orbea also uses a SRAM crank where as the Specialized has a FSA lower level crank.  Although in the most important category the Specialized Allez has a better paint scheme.  I would appreciate any thoughts.

Orbea Aqua TPX

Specialized Allez – Apex mid-compact

by

New Article: Why do National Teams Exist?

cav in rainbowI think the national championships are one of the most interesting events of the cycling calendar.  To me it is an awesome event that crowns a World Champion; not to mention they get an awesome Rainbow Jersey.  The one part I don’t get is why the World Championships are raced by national teams instead of trade teams.  Now, don’t get me wrong I like the national teams but I feel like they already have an event, the Olympics.  I am still pretty new to cycling as I have always said so maybe it is just one of those things I haven’t had explained to me so I just do not get it.

I feel like the trade teams are really good why is there a need to change it up and ride national teams.  I feel like trade teams are more balanced to compete for race titles that national teams.  Furthermore, I don’t like that some national teams get more riders than others.  I do know that national teams earn their number of riders based on how that country has performed so it is somewhat fair but I don’t feel it is the fairest system out there.  Why should riders from powerhouse nations get a much higher shot at winning than really good riders who are from non-cycling nations….Continued Here

New Article: Why do National Teams Exist?

by

Nice Weekend

A lot of wind makes for some easy Personal Records if you ride the right direction.  Enjoyed a nice and surprisingly uncrowded day on the River Trail.  I was assuming on an 75 degree day for the trail to be packed and even though certain sections where extremely congested it was by and large kind of vacant.  Wake UP Arkansas!!! It is nice out so stop hibernating.  Although as I am writing this it is 24 hrs later; cold (45F), wet, and dark.  Maybe you can hibernate one more week.

View Ride Here

by

Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka) Wins Milan-San Remo

gerald ciolek Milan san remoGerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka) a South African pro-continental team won Milan-San Remo today defeating Peter Sagan (Cannondale) from the breakaway sprint.  Sagan was the overwhelming favorite for Milan-San Remo but started his sprint to early which allowed Ciolek to ride in his slipstream and come around at the right moment to take the victory.  Ian Stannard (Sky) should get an honorable mention because he single handedly drove the break on and prevented the peleton from catching them in the final couple of kilometers much to the chagrin of Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep).  Cav had downplayed his chances of repeating his 2009 victory but managed to stay in contact over the final climbs but unable to contest for the victory.

The big talk of the race though is the fact that the race had to be re-routed mid course around the Turchino pass because it was unsafe due to snow.  This led to a mid-race stoppage where the riders were put back on their team buses and buses around to a second start point to continue on the race.  Many riders didn’t restart including Tom Booner (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) as he wanted to save his strength for future races and he also blamed the race organizers. ”There are two reasons for me giving up. First I’m frozen and I don’t want to be sick. Second it’s a statement to the organizers,” Tom Boonen.

taylor phinny cold.jpg-largeTaylor Phinney in the BMC team bus awaiting the restart of Milan-San Remo

The 2013 edition of Milan-San Remo will definitely be one for the history books.