Chris Horner, 2013 Vuleta a Espana champion who didn’t get to defend his title while with team Lampre-Meridal, thanks to some technical issues as a result of his nearly being killed by a hit-and-run driver last spring, has signed with the United States registered Airgas-Safeway Cycling Team.
“I am very excited to be joining Airgas-Safeway for 2015,” said Horner. “I have achieved a huge amount of success in my career and I’m incredibly proud of that. For me, the next chapter isn’t just about what I can do as an individual, but what I can give back to cycling as a sport. I had a number of options for this year and what really struck me about Airgas-Safeway was their utter commitment to giving the next generation of young riders the opportunity for success.”
Hopefully, this means we’ll see him around more often. For the official word from Airgas-Safeway, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
That first round of Felt F65X and F85x cyclocross bikes that have been on sale since June 2014 have some frame issues it appears. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says the frames on these aluminum bikes could break causing the rider to “lose control, fall and suffer injuries.” Felt describes the bike as:
The F65X is cyclo-cross ready but can do double duty for those rainy commute days. The Superlight Custom butted 7005 aluminum and a BB30 bottom bracket keep the bike light. The F65X is ready to jump the barriers, ride in the dirt, or tackle the urban commute.
Apparently that “superlight” frame was a little too light. The CPSC says “consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact their local Felt Bicycles dealer for a free inspection and frame replacement.” So far no injuries have been reported.
It’s hard to believe another Moab season is pretty much in the books, but maybe Ron Risman’s late night edit will help you make it through some cold winter nights. We know it’s gonna help us.
The last time we tried to put a tubeless tire (Specialized Renegade) on our Santa Cruz Highball. It didn’t go so well. There are many reasons. The tire was old, worn, and not ready for primetime, but we did some one really dumb stuff as well. In the end, we burned through seven CO2 cartridges, were covered in Stan’s No-Tube juice, and thought we needed to buy an air compressor. It was not pretty.
Today, before putting new Maxxis Crossmarks on our rig we watched this little video from Art’s Cyclery and it shed needed light on the entire DIY process. Following these directions we got things right the first time.
Some of the things we learned: remove the valve core before pumping, pump like a fiend until right about 30 lbs (you’ll know things are going well when you hear the beads popping into place), and only release the pump and squirt in some Stan’s after the beads are set. This is likely common knowledge, but we just wish we’d have seen this video months ago. Enjoy.
Still trying to figure out something that will explain why Ryder Hesjedal’s wheel keeps turning fast enough to spin his stopped bike around in the middle of the road after his Vuelta crash. . . any theories?
Lazer’s Cappuccinolock will keep someone from running off with you bike, but if the thief has a boxcutter they can take your bike and your helmet. None of this is pointed out in this oddly compelling new video promo. . . You’ll see.
Finally, someone is putting the charismatic, talented, legendary Shaun Palmer back to work in the mountain bike business. Thanks to Intense Cycles, Palm Daddy will be back discovering, nurturing (yeah, right?), and coaching a whole new team of mountain bikers and we can’t wait to see where this takes Intense. Watch and learn. Or click here for an interview with Palm Daddy on the Dirt Magazine website.
Meanwhile, back at the 2014 Vuelta a España, GC leader Nairo Quintana went down pretty hard in the Stage 10 individual time trial and turned the lead over to two-time Vuelta winner Alberto Contador.
He hit the side of the road off the pavement alongside a guard rail on a downhill which caused him to flip over his bicycle. (:24) After being tended to, Quintana got back on his bike to finish the stage. . . Prior to today’s crash, Quintana led the overall General Classification standings by 3 seconds. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) now leads the overall GC by 27 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Quintana dropped out of the GC top ten and now trails Contador by 3:25. Germany’s Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won the TT — a 36.7 kilometer time trial from Real Monasterio de Santa María de Veruela to Borja.
When we heard Chris Horner haven’t even been watching. Probably should be. The Vuelta airs every day at 7 AM PT on Universalsports.com. Check it out. [click to continue…]
Industry Nine’s new PillarCarbon mountain bike wheels will feature rims manufactured by Reynolds Cycling.
“We evaluated everything we have learned about rim performance, made improvements wherever possible and then put the wheels to test in the Pisgah National Forest, the ultimate proving ground for mountain bike equipment,” said Jacob McGahey, Industry Nine director of operations. “And with over 25 years of composites experience, Reynolds possesses the resources, experience, technology and manufacturing ability to build rims that complement Industry Nine’s quality hubs and spokes.”
The PillarCarbon series features four new wheel models — “the Ultralite Carbon 24H 29, Trail Carbon 29, Trail Carbon 24H 27.5 and Enduro Carbon 27.5—for which Reynolds produced rims with hookless rim channel design, optimized inner rim widths and directional rim stiffness around Industry Nine Torch series hubs and spokes.”
Chris Horner, 2013 Vuleta a Espana champion who didn’t get to defend his title while with team Lampre-Meridal, thanks to some technical issues as a result of his nearly being killed by a hit-and-run driver last spring, has signed with the United States registered Airgas-Safeway Cycling Team.
