The upcoming Tour de Georgia (April 21 – 27) will host a pro cycling team from China, marking the first time a Chinese cycling team has competed in the US.
Although it's the first licensed Chinese pro cycling team, the GE Marco Polo Cycling Team presented by Trek has cyclists from 5 countries.
Fifteen teams are racing in the 600-mile Tour. The entire list:
Astana Cycling Team (Luxembourg)
Saunier Duval-Scott (Spain)
Team CSC (Denmark)
Team High Road (USA)
Team Gerolsteiner (Germany)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Slipstream/Chipotle presented by H30 (USA)
Bissell Pro Cycling (USA)
Health Net presented by Maxxis (USA)
Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)
Jittery Joe’s Professional Cycling Team (USA)
Symmetrics Cycling Team (Canada)
Team Type 1 (USA)
Toyota-United Professional Cycling Team (USA)
GE/Marco Polo Cycling Team presented by Trek (China) …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/19/first-chinese-cycling-team-to-race-in-us-at-tour-de-georgia-all-teams-announced/
Ten months ago, I wrote the headline “Floyd Landis doping case begins today.”
Well, it's deja vu all over again. The Floyd Landis doping case begins again today, only it's in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and it's behind closed doors.
Although it's an appeal of the 2-1 split decision in the original case heard last spring, the Court will hear the evidence as if it's a new case. Those who study this case say both sides will probably make presentations similar to last time.
The hearing will last about five days, then Landis goes back to waiting again for a decision. If it goes against him, he can't compete until his two-year suspension is lifted in January 30, 2009. If it goes in his favor, he can compete as soon as he lands a team and gets back in shape for racing.
One of the best places to find out about the case is at the Truth But Verify blog. Landis has been Topic No. 1 there since the site was created shortly after the 2006 Tour de France. Check out the “Eve of appeal Q and A” for answers to frequently asked questions.
Personally, as I'm often willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt, this case has had more ups and downs than 200 miles of stage racing through the Pyrenees.
Here are some highlights of the case so far paired with my ever-shifting personal opinion at the time …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/19/floyd-landis-makes-bid-for-vindication-10-highlights/
This was not a comeback from retirement of Michael Jordan proportions.
With just one tour under his belt, Mario Cipollini and Rock Racing pro cycling has called it quits. Cipo says that he wants his return to cycling paired with management and development of a team.
As for riding in the upcoming Milan-San Remo, for instance, Cipollini said it “made sense if it was linked to a wider project of building and managing a new team and my return to racing was part of the project to create a dream team…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/19/mario-cipollini-and-rock-racing-deal-is-over/
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is launching a letter-writing campaign to prevent the Olympic National Park from banning bicycles on Hurricane Ridge Road for the next two years.
You can see from this photo why bicycle riders like to challenge themselves on the 17-mile ride from nearly sea level to the 5,420-foot elevation at the Hurricane Ridge parking lot.
Interim park superintendent Sue McGill has unilaterally decided to ban bicycles from using that road for two years while road repairs are being made to a section of the road. That ban even extends to weekends when road crews will not be working …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/18/olympic-national-park-to-ban-bicycles-from-hurricane-ridge/
National Park Service is banning bicycle use of a road leading to this site in the Olympic Mountains for two years while it repairs the road.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/18/view-from-lodge-at-hurricane-ridge/
The first thing I learned to fix on my bicycle when I was growing up was the kickstand. The friggin' thing seemed like it was always coming loose and my crank arm struck it on each pedal stroke.
Ten years later, my Fuji Dynamic 10 came without a kickstand, which I thought at the time was an amazing innovation (omitting a part an innovation?). The heavy kickstand seems to be pretty much a thing of the past, although I secretly yearned for one when touring or on mass rides where I couldn't find any lean-room.
Tom Nostrant from Aberdeen, Washington, must have been thinking the same thing. I met him at the Seattle International Bike Expo recently where he was showing off his Click-Stand, a simple, lightweight, folding bike stand.
Depending on length, the thing weighs about 75 grams — 2.6 ounces. It's made from aluminum, folds to 7 to 10 inches, and opens with a flick of the wrist…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/17/click-stand-alternative-to-bicycle-kickstand/
As seen at the Seattle International Bike Expo in 2008. Order at www.click-stand.com
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/17/click-stand-a-lightweight-alternative-to-kickstand/
One of those reports that makes me stop and go — huh? — has been issued by Global Industry Analysts.
In reporting continued worldwide growth of the bicycle market, it notes that bicycling is one of the top leisure sports activities in the US “with over 451 million users active cyclists in the country.”
That's an amazing statistic, considering the current US population is 301 million. Maybe the report means 451 million bicycles; I wouldn't be surprised if there were more bikes than people…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/17/global-report-forecasts-growth-in-bike-market/
Border Raiders bike tour in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri
The Biking Bis blog is listing 95 multi-day bike tours in 47 states in 2008. That's 7 more states and 13 more tours than last year. You'll find them at “2008 Across State Bicycle Tours.”
While I was digging around to update the annual rides and fill in some blanks, I was struck by the amazing artwork that some tours use to publicize their events. I'm particularly impressed by ones that keep the bicycle motif, but also lend a flavor from the state they represent.
Border Raiders, above, is probably the most unforgettable. John Brown is hoisting a wheel and a tire pump, looking a lot like an angry dude who has suffered his 5th blowout of the day. I also like the Legacy Annual Great Bike Ride Across Utah (right) because the red-rock arch completes the wheel.
I went back through the links and picked out my favorites. I hope you'll enjoy these too. But first, a few words about this list of state bike tours …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/16/10-amazing-logos-from-across-state-bicycle-tours/
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri. John Brown.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/03/16/border-raiders/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
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