News

Wells takes third

Compton made it a solo ride on Saturday.

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Welcome to the latest edition of The Prologue, the weekly summary of news from the world of competitive cycling by your friends at VeloNews.com.

Compton was the woman to beat in Boulder last year, too.

Clif Bar's big green bus. Coming to cross race near you.

Clif Bar Development Team Manager, Ben Turner, working on the fuel pump that will power the green bus with bio-diesel.

The beer was flowing in Louisville...

... and so was the free coffee at the Thule tent.

Leipheimer is headed to the Olympics

Canadian Svein Tuft took top honors in the 2007 UCI America Tour

Intergalactic Single Speed Pilot Peter Webber refueling.

Chuck D, Flava Flav and Professor Griff can still rock 'da mic.

This note awaited me a host housing in Kentucky.

German police said Wednesday they had obtained search warrants for a university clinic and the homes of two doctors in the Freiburg region. The doctors are accused of having supplied doping products to cyclists in the area. "The doctors are accused of having used or rather provided banned substances to several sportsmen, including cyclists," said a police statement. The university clinic in Freiburg is one of the most reputed in the country and specialises in matters involving athletes but it has been dogged by adverse publicity since the spring when former Telekom riders shed light on a

JHK and other Americans would have to sweep the podium in each of three Chilean races in order to earn another spot in Beijing.

Short, fast time trials, coupled with four big mountain-top finishes suits Leipheimer just fine.

The logo is applied

The front derailleur and cranks.

Applying the clearcoat.

Stratics parts are in the foreground (black derailleur, brake, bottom bracket and shifter) and the more economical Showtime parts are in the background (polished brake and derailleur.)

The oven....

The internal mechanism is replaceable using two Phillips head screws.

... and the instructions.

The Stratics rear derailleur uses alloy pulley wheels with low-friction sealed cartridge bearings.

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now ready for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of our most recent contest. Okay. We admit it. We’re old. Maybe that’s why we kept drifting back to El Guapo’s “Where is my time machine?” Nice shot... there's a very "Breaking Away" look to that picture. Are those wood-soled Dettos? We had a pair of those. Please drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.comto work out the details and we’ll send you a copy of our new Coors Classic DVD. Meanwhile, go ahead and take a look at our latest gallery,

Painted frames ready for assembly.

Sampson’s new Stratics TT bar.

Ridley's Belgian headquarters are getting a bit crowded

Painted frames ready for a club in New York.

The alloy aero brake levers weigh 65-grams and cost $45. They have been designed to be comfortable as well as aerodynamic.

Belgium's biggest cycling star once rode a Ridley

A Fidea 'cross bike on the assembly line

Sampson’s $300 seat and new carbon Stratics seatpost.

The Mud Men - Ridley sponsors the Fidea 'cross squad

Happily working on the line at Ridley.

Basso says he's riding and staying fit.

McEwen's green jersey bike never saw the light of day.

A full spectrum of wheels to choose from.

Where is my time machine?

A Ridley designer works on custom paint scheme

Old Unibet frames waiting to be re-named.

Each frame is hand-prepped

The new replaceable drop-out/derailleur hanger on a 'cross rig.

Frames are each tagged for tracking purposes.

Ready to ship.

Raw frames ready for painting and assembly

Sampson’s new Diablo S outfitted with a prototype Stratics group.

A rainbow of colors to choose from.

The new Stratics 10-speed shifter.

The painting begins.

Notice the stacked shift levers; the large lever pulls cable and the small releases it.

Decal prep'

The aluminum and carbon rear derailleur.

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Indurain won the first of his five Tours de France in 1991.

And Powers’ alloy version.

Gould was trying out Mavic’s new tubular-carbon-spoked wheels in Louisville.

Jesse Anthony’s got to keep the package looking good, after all.

Gould chasing

A number of riders on SRAM drivetrains were running Shimano chains.

Danny Summerhill and the rest of his Clif Bar team are on Salsa bikes and components this year.

A little cowbell never hurt anyone.

Fans? Naw. Y'think?

A number of riders on SRAM drivetrains were running Shimano chains.

With team green Candy pedals to match.

Although this Red kit looks like it was packed in a sniper-rifle box.

Team Maxxis runs custom orange Raze tires and Paul cantilevers.

SRAM parts were seemingly everywhere.

Tim Johnson keeps it light before the women’s pro race with his wife, Lyne Bessette.

Many team riders also have Rotor cranks and bottom brackets.

A straightforward Avid Shorty 6 brake.

A national champ kit is fine, but Katie Compton should be wearing the UCI points leader skinsuit. The UCI had yet to send it to her. “I don’t think they’ve ever had to mail one to the United States,” said Compton’s husband Mark.

And Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrains.

And a high-zoot Dugast from Stu Thorne.

You can take the girl out of the mountain biking, but you can’t take the mountain biking out of the girl.

Adam McGrath runs a single chainring. (McGrath did not race the first USGP due to a death in the family.)

Ryan Trebon rides a 63cm frame.

Alison Sydor rocks the helmet visor.

The Rotor S1 stem features unique thread spacing: the faceplate has tight spacing, while the stem itself has wider spacing, resulting in a ramping effect when tightening the bolts.

With Dugast rubber on FSA’s deep-dish K-Force hoops.