News

In my last “Inside Cycling” column about Lance Armstrong’s proposed comeback, I showed that his age (37 this past Thursday) and his three years away from the sport need not be a handicap. Then I posed the question: “Will the seven-time Tour champ be able to improve his likely ‘competitive’ condition in February to the ‘superhuman’ fitness he will need next July to win the Tour?” Not even Armstrong can fully answer that question, but it’s one that we can certainly address.

There is no shortage this year of new racers who have only a vague idea of what they’re doing. If you count yourself among them, or if you just want to hone your skills, the National Capital Velo Club will be holding their traditional marathon cyclocross clinic on Saturday September 27, the day before NCVC’s Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross, at Lilypons Water Gardens in Buckeystown Maryland.

An impressive field of racers will take to the field at Jonathan Page's Planet Bike Cup on September 27 and 28 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisc. Top racers from throughout the Midwest will contest the amateur events and will be joined by elite riders from throughout the Midwest as well as from California, Oregon, Colorado, Canada and Switzerland. The elite men’s field will be headlined by Planet Bike’s Jonathan Page, a multiple national champion and the 2006 world silver medalist.

Team Redline Factory Team, based in Seattle, WA announces its final rosters and sponsor lineup for the 2008/09 Cyclo-cross Season. Based out of Seattle, WA but covering multiple regions around the USA, the team will be led by elite team riders with grassroots development programs in each of the regions. Look for Team Redline at many of the USGP CX races, UCI races, National Championships and in your local race scene! The 2007-08 Roster: Kevin Bradford Parish – Spokane, WA – Elite Racer Kristi Berg – Seattle, WA – Elite Racer Chad Berg - Seattle, WA – Team Leader/Elite Master

The Chicago Cyclocross Cup is proud to announce that Monique Ryan, MS, RD, LDN will be leading a presentation on fueling for the cyclocross racing on Tuesday, October 7 in Chicago. Advance registration is required. Monique Ryan, MS, RD, LDN is a nationally recognized nutritionist with more than 24 years of professional experience. She is founder of Personal Nutrition Designs, a nutrition consulting company based in the Chicago area.

Dear Readers,
This week, I’ll be sharing some reader responses to my recent columns on road rage (See “Bikes vs. cars," “Summer of rage” and “More rage”). But first, as noted last week, I would like to invite those of you who can attend to visit with me at my next speaking appearance:

Saturday, September 20, 2008
Nashville, Tennessee

A self-propelled cycling art and fashion show, Interbike's latest addition brings the cutting edge of urban cycle culture to life Interbike, producers of North America's largest bicycle industry trade shows, today announced they have teamed up with Momentum Magazine to produce the first "Urban Legend Fashion and Art Show" at Interbike 2008 on Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.

Miles Ahead Events and Hudz Enhancement Brake Hoods are joining together to produce the first annual Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show. The November 1st and 2nd event - held in the Glenn Miller Ballroom on the University of Colorado campus - will showcase many of the best framebuilders in the country, and allow consumers the first chance to get their hands on the latest and greatest new components and accessories shown at Interbike.

Announcing the Spike Shooter Katie Compton Super Fan competition held at upcoming Cross Vegas, Wednesday night September 24th at the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex. See the Cross Vegas website for directions and race information. www.crossvegas.com Spike Shooter and Katie Compton are looking for Katie Compton Superfans. This year at Cross Vegas we are going to reward two superfans of Spike Shooter rider Katie Compton and women's cyclocross with a Superfan gift pack. We want to see painted bodies, screaming fans and happy people supporting our sport. Katie Compton superfans.

Olympians will not be the only ones walking around Interbike showing off new medals this year. Podium winners at CrossVegas and the USA CRITS finals, two evening races drawing some of the world’s best cyclocross and road champions, will also be able to sport medals, in the form of custom cowbell trophies by Cowbell.com, distributor of fun and cowbells to sporting events, fundraisers and businesses.

Last weekend, The Intermontane Challenge attracted people from all over North America to preview a part of one of the world’s most unique and lucrative mountain bike races. Some of the City’s dignitaries were also on hand to celebrate Kamloops introducing this world class event to the community.

SRAM T-shirt off your back giveaway - Day 2 of Interbike: Stop by the SRAM booth while supplies last. SRAM employees will be wearing a commemorative T-shirt Day 1 of Interbike's indoor show (Wednesday September 24th). If you want one and are willing to wear it in exchange for the shirt off your back, here's what to do: - Stop by the SRAM booth on Wed.,Sept 24th to check out the shirt and see how cool it is. - Come back on Thurs., Sept. 25th wearing a shirt your willing to part with. - take off your shirt. (ladies you can head to the restroom around the corner)

The MAC Cyclocross Series opens its 2008 campaign this weekend with a pair of established races that are new to the MAC.  The season kicks-off in the cycling hotbed of Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania with the Nittany Lion Cyclocross at Penn State University’s Fogelsville Campus on Saturday September 20.  The UCI C-2 event features over $4,000 in prize money.  Even though two other UCI races are being held in America that day, the Nittany Lion Cyclocross, by virtue of its earlier Eastern Time Zone, is laying claim as the first American UCI cyclocross race of the 2008-2009 season.

TREK BECOMES FIRST NATIONAL SPONSOR OF FREIKER BIKE-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAM Grant Enables Nonprofit Advocacy Group To Build Meters, Expand Program Trek Bicycle Corporation —through its 1 World 2 Wheels SM initiative—has made a major grant to Freiker a bike-to-school program based in Boulder, Colorado.

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