Celebrity

How Pro Skater Stevie Cab Found MTB

by editors on April 19, 2021

Guess we all end up on bikes sooner of later. Here’s the story of pro skater Stevie Caballero’s path.

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Specialized, Lance Armstrong & VeloNews

by editors on July 21, 2020

While doing a little web cruising this morning, wondering whatever happened to some old media friends, we stumbled onto a press release from June 30, 2020 suggesting that Specialized and The Biggest Liar of All Time (aka BLOAT aka Lance Armstrong) have joined forces to possibly control the cycling narrative through media ownership.

Here’s how it goes: VeloNews (and Bicycle Retailer) owner Pocket Outdoor Media just purchased a boat load of “media” titles from another media/events company called Active Interest Media. Not that cyclists should care, but the titles Pocket purchased include: Warren Miller Entertainment, Ski Magazine, Backpacker, Climbing, Yoga Journal, Vegetarian Times, and more.

This got more interesting when Pocket Outdoor Media listed where they got the money to grab the titles. It came from a “Series A” round of funding from three different venture capital groups, namely JAZZ Venture Partners, NEXT VENTŪRES, and Zone 5 Ventures.

Who are these venture firms? Well, JAZZ is a bunch of neuroscience medical start-up brainiacs based in San Francisco, Next Ventures is the BLOAT and friends (yes, he still has some), and Zone 5 Ventures is Specialized’s early-stage investment arm which is run by former and current employees at Specialized.

We haven’t had reason to follow anyone from JAZZ, but before starting Next with the BLOAT managing partner Lionel Conacher was a senior advisor and operating partner at Altamont Capital Partners, LLC which has large stakes in the Billabong, Brixton, Fox (head), HUF, and Dakine brands. Lance’s other partner at Next is Melanie Strong, the former Nike vice president and general manager of Nike Skateboarding.

So why are all these corporate jocks suddenly interested in the action sports media world in general and cycling in particular? Is it because in these COVID times the only thing any of us can do is spend time outside? Is it because distressed action media brands are currently a bargain? Or is it because (as we suspect) The BLOAT and Specialized want to own the cycling narrative from beginning to end?

How do you feel about getting all your cycling news from Specialized and The BLOAT? It doesn’t feel all that good to us. Makes it even more difficult to know what to believe, doesn’t it? For instance, how long will this story on Specialized’s silly trademark lawsuit stay up on the VeloNews website? Click the link to see if it’s still there. 

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Matt Damon Goes Mountain Biking

by editors on January 17, 2014

Proving that nearly anyone can break their collarbone on a mountain bike actor Matt “garbage person” Damon explains what happened to Jay Leno as seen on PinkBike.com.

[Link: Pinkbike]

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The US Government Jumps On The BLOAT

by editors on April 24, 2013

lance-armstrongAccording to legal documents filed late last night (Tuesday, April 23, 2013) the United States Government has officially jumped on against the Biggest Liar Of All Time with a false claims suit, according to a story on CNN.com.

“The USPS paid approximately $40 million to sponsor the USPS cycling team from 1998 to 2004,” the court document says. . . The government said it was intervening to recover triple the amount of the sponsorship funds under the False Claims Act, which could bring a total of more than $100 million in damages.

Well, if the BLOAT was worried that he didn’t have anything left to fight for, this should keep him on point for a while. To read the entire US Gov’s complaint click here.

[Link: CNN]

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Bob Haro & The Ikonix Re-releases

by editors on March 19, 2013

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We’re rarely interested in anything to do with BMX, however, when BMX design legend Bob Haro talks it’s difficult for us not to listen, even if he’s talking to a local newspaper reporter for The Coast News. What’s he talking about? His limited edition 540 re-release of his original BMX freestyle bike designs under his new label Ikonix.

“IKONIX will be an iteration of the original bike, integrating technology to meet the needs of today’s hot, young riders,” he said, adding that the product line will include freestyle BMX bikes, racing bikes and BMX parts, accessories and apparel. . . “We are working with young riders who can give us input on the product,” he explained. “It is a definitely a collaborative brand that harnesses creative knowledge and expertise. The products are designed at my office in Cardiff and engineered and prototyped in San Diego. My goal is to make as many of them in the United States, preferably Southern California, because it’s the right thing to do.”

Yes it is. And the bikes will reportedly be dropping in September 2013. Watch for it.

[Link: The Coast News]

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A Bike Snob Abroad: The Book Trailer

by editors on March 18, 2013

After dying laughing several times while reading the Bike Snob NYC blog (and being brought back to life with a good jolt from some portable defib paddles), it was finally good to put a face to the name. His shoes shoes alone prove he’s part of the proper tribe. Now the snob is out on the road promoting his book Bike Snob Abroad (which comes out this spring). In the meantime, click the link to buy it his first book Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling, or here for his second The Englighten Cyclist.

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Lance Armstrong Signature Skateboard?

by editors on January 15, 2013

Livejuiced-Deck-Mockup2-2Just in time for Oprah Winfrey’s two-part confessional interview with the Biggest Liar Of All Time former competitive cyclist but now banned for life Lance Armstrong comes World Industries Live Juiced deck. According to Oprah:

Armstrong will address the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his storied cycling career. Winfrey speaks with Armstrong in the only interview since the seven-time Tour de France winner was stripped of his titles and dropped from millions of dollars in endorsement deals after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released an extensive report accusing the renowned cyclist of doping throughout his career. Armstrong was given a lifetime ban on competing professionally. Late last year, Armstrong resigned as chairman of the foundation he created, Livestrong, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in the fight against cancer.

Wonder if he will mention this new Live Juiced skateboard? The graphic, created by artist Ron Lemen, features what appears to be a man in cycling shoes, surrounded by bottles of urine, with a syringe in his mouth, tying himself off to shoot up with EPO, baby. Saying you don’t skateboard anymore? Well, just think of it as a great wall hanger.

For a closer look at the Juiced graphic, follow the jump. It’s good. [click to continue…]

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Will The BLOAT Confess To Oprah?

by editors on January 8, 2013

20050920 103-318X408That former Tour de France winner we’ve renamed the BLOAT (biggest liar of all time) will reportedly sit with Oprah Winfrey for a 90 minute interview airing on Thursday, January 17, 2013 on the OWN Network.

In the interview, Winfrey speaks with Armstrong at his home in Austin, Texas in the only interview since the seven-time Tour de France winner was stripped of his titles and dropped from millions of dollars in endorsement deals after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released an extensive report accusing the renown cyclist of doping throughout his career.

The good news is that the BLOAT may come clean on his past, the bad news is no one is watching the OWN network.

[Link: Oprah via Paved Mag]

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Will Lance Armstrong Confess Tomorrow?

by editors on October 18, 2012

Lance Armstrong 7.Jpg.Crop DisplayTomorrow (Friday, October 18, 2012), at the 15th Anniversary Livestrong Challenge fundraiser in Austin, Texas outlaw cyclist Lance Armstrong will reportedly make his “first public comments” since the USADA released its damning doping documents, according to a story in the Deccan Chronicle.

His speech on Friday will be witnessed by a nominally friendly crowd of Livestrong backers, with organizers releasing a video recording afterwards on YouTube — so there will be no tough questions about his fall from grace. . . Armstrong faces a speech before those who were his most inspired supporters, a group that might now be among those who feel the most betrayed to discover his spectacular feats were accomplished by doping.

During this speech Armstrong will have a choice: confess, apologize, and get on with his life, or once again ego up, play it off, and be forever damned in the face of the public as the biggest cheater the sporting world has ever encountered. Seems like a pretty simple choice to us, but then again, we thought it was a pretty simple choice back in August and Mr. Armstrong never fails to surprise us with his egoism.

[Link: Deccan Chronicle]

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Former Tour de France Winner’s Bad Day

by editors on October 17, 2012

Lance DidntOh, did you hear the one about the famous cyclist who stepped down from his cancer foundation and got cut by his major sponsor all in the same day? Our favorite was the brevity of the press release. Here it is in full:

Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him. Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner. . . Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer.

And he still says he did nothing to deserve any of this. We do however, agree with Deadspin’s Drew Magary when he says, “Hey, Phil Knight. We now have insurmountable evidence that you’re a dipshit.”

In other news:
Radioshack, Anheuser-Busch, Giro, and Trek Drop Armstrong

[Links: VeloNews and Nike]

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