News

Tracey Sparling, a 19-year old student at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, was returning to campus after a lunch-break trip to her apartment. As she approached the red light at an intersection, she slowed, coming to a stop next to the front tire of the cement truck in the lane next to her. When the light changed, the truck driver began to turn right, unaware of the cyclist in his blind spot. Sparling shouted “Hey!” just before she was knocked from her bike and killed. The date was October 11, 2007.

Ritchey Design, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality road and mountain bike components, today announced it is working with Plus 3 Network, a beta social networking Web site, to increase awareness and fundraising efforts for the nonprofit organization, Project Rwanda. By selecting Ritchey Design as a sponsor, Plus 3 members can choose to raise money for Project Rwanda with every mile they ride, walk, run or swim. The relationship between Ritchey and Project Rwanda went live on www.plus3network.com on January 7, 2009.

Collegiate Cycling Volunteer Conference Director Volunteer Position/s available: Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference-ACCC (NC, MD, VA, WV, Washington D.C.) (Must be geographically located in the respective region) Volunteer roles:

Dear Explainer,
I’ve been a long-time fan of Jonathan Page. To me, he’s a workingman’s hero, the sort of guy who approaches cycling like a lot of us approach our jobs; he just puts his head down and does what he has to do to get the job done. He works hard and doesn't spend a lot of his time show-boating or boosting his ego. Now I hear that he may be facing a suspension because he missed a doping test.

The problem I have is trying to figure out why he might be suspended by USADA for just missing a test, rather that tripping the dope-meter with a positive result.

ROUTE details ANNOUNCED FOR EXPANDED 2009 Amgen Tour of California PROFESSIONAL CYCLING ROAD RACE Professional Women’s Cycling Race to Return to Santa Rosa During Stage One of the Men’s Race

Over two dozen professional cyclists and Millennium Cycling, LLC are pleased to announce the launch of TwoWheelTales.com, a collection of blogs written by professional cyclists. Our professional cyclists are giving cycling fans frequent doses of the inside scoop—it’s professional cycling “unplugged”!

The SRAM Cycling Fund is awarding a $200,000 grant to the International Mountain Bicycling Association, the second award given out by the advocacy fund the component company set up last year. During the next five years, the fund plans to award $10 million in grants to support cycling advocacy programs around the world that focus on improving bicycling. “It is hard to imagine where mountain biking would be today without IMBA’s trail building and restoration efforts over the last 20 years," said Stan Day, SRAM's president and CEO.

Kellogg to sponsor BISSELL® Pro Cycling Team   The Kellogg Company, the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, joins the BISSELL Pro Cycling Team as a key sponsor for the 2009 season. Kellogg’s commitment to nutrition and physical fitness is well aligned with the team and the sport of cycling. Alongside Kellogg, the team continues to be supported by longtime key sponsor, Advantage Benefits Group.  

USA Cycling is recognizing 13 regional athlete development programs with $20,000 worth of cash grants through its Centers of Excellence program. Rad Racing of Olympia, Washington, and the Young Medalists of the Lehigh Valley Cycling Club in Pennsylvania received top honors. The award winners were chosen based on organizational criteria and results in developing junior and U23 cycling athletes. Since the program’s inception six years ago, USA Cycling has distributed over $120,000 to grass roots development programs thanks to donations to the Development Foundation.

The BH/Pivot Demo truck is hitting the road with its expanded fleet of technologically advanced bikes. The 35-foot trailer will carry all the 2009 road bikes from Spain’s BH Bikes and all the 2009 mountain bikes from Pivot. The demo tour kicked off Sunday in Plano, Texas. The rest of the year it will travel to festivals, races, dealer demos and tech clinics across the nation.

Wilderness Trail Bikes, Inc., a global leader in bicycle components, is proud to announce a new partnership with legendary mountain bike racer Brian Lopes. Lopes will be riding and racing exclusively on WTB’s high-end saddles. Each of Lopes’ team-issue Ibis race bikes will be outfitted with WTB’s Silverado SLT saddles.

The BC Bike Race - The Ultimate Singletrack Experience is proud to announce the LUNA Pro Teams participation in the 2009 event scheduled for June 28th- July 4th.

The 2009 MERCO Credit Union Cycling Classic Presented by McLane Pacific in Merced, CA is pleased to announce that they have added and open Juniors’ Race at both the Downtown Grand Prix and the Foothills Road Race. A $500 Cash Prize list for each day will be awarded plus a champion’s jersey and rock trophy for the single winner of each day. Distances of the races are 20 miles (25 laps) in the Grand Prix and 48 miles (2 laps) in the Road Race.

Following an extremely successful 2008 season, the Webcor/AltoVelo racing team is expanding its Elite Amateur Men’s team for the upcoming 2009 season. The core of last year’s Pro/1/2 team remains intact, and will be bolstered by extremely talented additions to the roster. For the 2009 season, the Elite Amateur Men’s team will be divided into a National-level “NRC Squad” that will be focused on larger National Racing Calendar (NRC) events all around the U.S., and a “Regional Squad” that will focus on rider development and in-district racing.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE BIKE PURE organization: After the torrent of drug scandals damaging our sport, we have all become accustomed to the annual headlines of another disgraced professional. The image of professional cycling is repeatedly tarnished and the public at large, after being fed so much bad publicity, took it that all cyclists were dopers. Such was the frequency it was no longer clear who was clean and who is doping.

Touchstone Cycling enters the 2009 season with an expanded roster and additional sponsorship. After an impressive 2008 season, Touchstone looks to increase their presence and podium appearances. Kelly McDonald, 6th in the Mogollon Road Race at Tour of the Gila and 9th overall at Cascades, returns to the team and looks to add to her impressive NRC results.

Speedgoat Bicycles, Inc., a leading Internet retailer of bicycles, announces the appointment of Don Belt as Chief Operating Officer. Belt brings more than 20 years of corporate management experience, including 15 years with ServiStar and True Value, and President/CEO of Internet-centric start up procurement service provider, MRO Direct. His first assignment will be to establish the management and operational processes within the company to support the scalability objectives of Speedgoat Bicycles.

PRESS RELEASE In response to a tightening economy, the makers of specialty bicycle line Litespeed are launching the bicycle industry’s first ever direct-to-consumer rebate program. Specialty hangtags are being distributed this week to all Litespeed dealers to launch and promote the campaign, in which parent company American Bicycle Group (ABG) will send a rebate check for up to $350 to any consumer who purchases a qualifying Litespeed bicycle frame, frameset or complete bike.

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MILRAM newcomer Paul Voß had a perfect season debut on Sunday in the cyclo-cross race in Vechta. The 22-year-old 'cross specalist from Rostock, who last year won the silver medal in the U23 road world championships as his biggest success to date, brought in the first season win for his new team.

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For I have always lived violently, drunk hugely, eaten too much or not at all, slept around the clock or missed two nights of sleeping, worked too hard and too long in glory, or slobbed for a time in utter laziness.— John Steinbeck, “Travels With Charley”

Do you want to contribute to Mailbag, a regular feature of VeloNews.com? Here's how:

• Keep it short. And remember that we reserve the right to edit for grammar, length and clarity.
• Include your full name, hometown and state or nation.
• Send it to webletters@insideinc.com.