Pinarello Prince Bike Review

This may very well be the best pro-level road race bike available.  The Prince track record certainly speaks for itself as it has been riden by some of  the best pros in the business and riden by teams like T-mobile.  The aerodynamic carbon fiber frame is faster than traditional round tube frame at the same wattage.  Not only is it more efficient, but the design simply looks really cool.  The drawback of course is the price tag.  Be prepared to drop some serious dough on this elite machine.

Merlin Cyrene Bike Review

Maybe one of the coolest aluminum frames ever with laser etched art work all over it.  It almost looks like the bike is tatooed.  Of  course it comes with decent components for the price point as is typical of Merlin bikes and would make a great bike for the recreational road rider who has a few tatoos too.

Calnago C-50 Bike Review

A carbon fiber bike made from the same carbon used in the Ferrari formula-1 race cars should be good right?  Ya, it is.  It is in fact the most popular carbon fiber bike in the Colnago line.  The frame is unique in that it has some cut-outs in the chain stays that reduce road vibration.  It is traditional in that it continues to use the usual rounded tube design rather than any sort of aero tubing.  We recommend a ride on this one if you are considering an upper level carbon bike.

2010 Road Bike Race Schedule

Here are quite a few of the upcoming, 2009, Road cycling races and events for the United States.  Links should take you to the official website for each event.  Bookmark this page and check back often as we will be updating this page as the year gets started. Many race dates are not yet published and some may not even take place due to funding issues. Check in frequently for updates. Most of these are NRC and other pro races.

Thanks for visiting and click here to get your custom training program so you are ready for these events.

February Amgen Tour of California Women’s Stage Race; Various, California

March Redlands Bicycle Classic Both men and women; Redlands, CA

April Sea Otter Classic Both men and women; Monterey, CA

April Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling Both men and women; Dana Point, CA

April -May Tour of the Gila Both men and women; Silver City, NM

May Sunny King Criterium Both men and women; Anniston, AL

May Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium Both men and women; Roswell, GA

May Joe Martin Stage Race Both men and women; Fayetteville, AR

May Oregon Pro Cycling Classic Both men and women; Portland, OR

May Bank of America Wilmington Grand Prix Both men and women; Wilmington, DE

May Kelly Cup Men; Baltimore, MD

May Tour de Leelanau Women; Leelanau, MI

May Tour of Somerville Both men and women; Somerville, NJ

May CSC Invitational Both men and women; Arlington, VA

May U.S. Air Force Cycling Classic Men; Arlington, VA

May Tulsa Tough Both men and women; Tulsa, OK

June Liberty Classic Women; Philadelphia, PA

June Nature Valley Grand Prix Both men and women; Various, MN

June Tour de Grove Men; St Louis, MO

June Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Both Manhattan Beach CA

July Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Both men and women; Fitchburg, MA

July The International Tour De Toona Both men and women; Various, PA

July Boise Twilight Criterium Men; Boise, ID

July Cascade Cycling Classic Both men and women; Bend, OR

July Chicago Criterium Men; Chicago, IL

July – August Tour of Elk Grove Men; Elk Grove Village, IL

August Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Both men and women; Charlotte, NC

August Hanes Park Classic Both men and women; Winston Salem, NC

August Tour of Utah Men; Various, UT

August Marion Classic Riverwalk Criterium Both men and women; Marion, IN

August ING Direct Capital Criterium powered by CycleLife Men; Washinton, DC

August Chris Thater Memorial Both men and women; Binghamton, NY

September San Franciso Twilight Criterium Both men and women; San Francisco, CA

September US 100k Classic Both men and women; Atlanta, GA

September Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic presented by SpectrumHealth Women; Grand Rapids, MI

September Priority Health Ann Arbor Cycling Classic presented bySaint Joseph Mercy Medical System Women; Ann Arbor, MI

Customized Road Bikes

You will find that no other bike is like one that is customized for you. It is the right fit for your body, including the right weight, height, and feel, and it is made with the right parts and components. A customized bike will be more expensive, but it will be well worth the money because it will ride better and be more comfortable.

One of the first things that you need to decide upon is the top tube. If you have a longer torso, then you will want a bicycle with a longer top tube. You can choose to get a handlebar stem that is longer, but if you do this, then you will need to sit so that your weight will be focused on the front wheel. This may affect the control and handling of your bike, so you may not want to do this. Choosing a bike with a longer top tube would be a much better choice for you.

Woman may find that longer top tubes are not very comfortable because it may cause them to have to stretch to reach the handlebar. This may cause them to turn the stem backwards or they can choose to get a seat post that is longer and a bike stem that can be raised higher.

Bicycles come in a few standard heights. The shorter height is approximately 47 cm and the taller height is 63 cm. You may find that some of the bicycle manufacturers make bikes that are 40 cm for women to ride, but the tubing is usually of a standard size, which makes the ride uncomfortable. To determine which height fits you the best, you will need to try out several of the bikes.

The frame is one consideration, but the handlebar can have a big impact upon the bike’s feel as well. The handlebar needs to be at the right depth and width so that it feels right and so that you can control the bike properly. It should be comfortable to ride during races and long distance rides as well. A 73-degree angle is the optimum angle for the head and seat tube for maximum stability.

You will also find that parts like hubs, the headset, bottom bracket, and the seat post are also important facets of your bike. By choosing more lightweight features, you will find that your bike is easier to control and it will go much faster.

Now that you have a bike that fits your body and your needs, you can also add in your personality to aesthetically make it into the bike of your dreams. Adding your own personal touches can be the most fun part of customizing your bike.

It sounds like a dream to have the bike that you have always wanted, but it can cost you quite a bit of money if you are not careful. The fitting costs and special components can cost quite a bit and add in the cost of assembling this custom bike and you could be looking at quite a bill. By making your decisions carefully, you will be able to get the bike that you want and that fits your budget.

By Andrew Caxton

Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like cycling for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com. Find more publications about road bike reviews at his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton

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Road Bike Riding at Night

If you are considering cycling at night or doing some long distance riding, then ilumination will of the road in front of you will be critical. This includes both front and rear lights on you and/or your bicycle.

You’ll need rear flashers to warn motorists and front lighting (headlights) to see the debris, potholes and road hazards ahead of you. Nothing is worse than an unexpected ‘cha-chunk’. Now days LED light are really the best option out there. They have relatively low watt output and therefore have long life without giving up the light intensity. There is a big difference between the functionality of these lights and things you need to consider.

Many of the smaller lights use AA Batteries and they only last 24-48 hours at a time. Some manufacturers advertise more, but generally they base this on a flashing white strobe for the run-time, which you cannot use while riding long distances. This obviously won’t work for night cycling. Furthermore, this is not evironmentally friendly and ultimately this can get costly. Who wants to shop anyway and the little suckers are added weight.

Some riders like the high-tech friction lights that work off the tires, but putting a drag on your tires slows you down. These lights are much more powerful and luminescent, but certainly not my first choice. The AA battery lights are decent and there are several brands, Trek makes one which has five LED lights and has a luminescent rating of 60, most of the 3-LED light units are 40 or less on the luminescent scale, neither of these works at speeds of 20-miles-per-hour or more on a moonless night. Now for riding in central twilight or as the sun is going down, they work wonderful and are legal in states that require bicycles to have lights if they ride at night.

There is another brand called Tri-Newt that has a LED light that scores 480 luminescent on the scale and has an ion-lithium battery, which Velcros to the top bar of the bike frame. The ion-lithium battery is re-chargeable, but this also means you need somewhere to re-charge it and you have to tote around the recharging unit. The cost of this lighting system is steep, $300-400, and the company has another similar unit that scores 200 on the luminescent scale for under $200. One cool option with these lights is that you can mount them on your helmet and run a cable to your water-backpack system where the ion-lithium battery is placed. I wish you well in all your cycling adventures.

Looking for LED lights for your bike?  Try our Bike Store.

Triathlon Preparation & Equipment

Triathlon athletes know that their discipline is unique in the world of endurance sports. Not only are these individuals fit enough to exert themselves for hours without rest, they are also trained in three different arenas. Swimming, cycling, and running are arguably the sports requiring the most perseverance and dedication to master and tri-athletes strive to do just that.

The sport also requires special equipment. For those serious about their performance here is a list of things you might want to consider.

Swimming:
Wetsuit. Preferably one made for triathlons. They are more suited for the movements of swimming than traditional suits.
Body glide or gel. This is helpful when applied before the wetsuit. It aids in quick wetsuit removal and then also reduced friction during the cycling and running legs of the race.
Goggles and Anti-fog. Good goggles are a must. Make sure they fit well and you have tested them in training before the race. Cold water swims will result in fogging which can make a difficult swim harder. Apply anti-fog before the race starts.
Swim Cap. These are generally provided for you in a specific color to denote your start wave. However, if the water is cold (say around 60-68 degrees) then you might want a thicker cap to double up with.

Cycling:
A good triathlon bike. These are different from a traditional road bike. There is no drafting allowed during triathlon races and so aerodynamics is critical. Triathlon bikes are built with different geometry to help with this. The more ‘forward’ position and ‘lower’ upper body profile reduces drag and increases efficiency. These bikes come with ‘aero’ bars that allow you to support your body in a narrower position. Traditional road bikes can be modified to work similar to triathlon bikes by adding aero bars to them.
Cycle shorts and Top. These should be slim and fit snug. This will decrease wind resistance while riding and allow you to wear them under the wetsuit. This makes for a quicker swim to cycle transition.
Aerodynamic Helmet. Again efficiency is everything on this leg of the race and every little bit helps.
Cycling gloves. A must in my mind. Crashes happen, and if you are protected it can make the unlucky setback far more bearable.
Bike mounted hydration system. You will need to drink much of your fluids and electrolytes during this leg. It is impossible while swimming and difficult while running. So, find a hydration system that mounts on your aero bars or frame with a straw-like device that makes it possible to drink while peddling.
Bike repair kit. There is no aid allowed on a race course and so if you run into bike issues it can end your race unless you are prepared to fix it. This also brings the need for a slim tool bag.

Running:
Shoes. This is the single most important piece of equipment for this leg of the race. They must be comfortable and already have gone through the ‘break in’ period. Tie them securely before starting out. Get a pair that you have used before, so that you trust them.
Sunglasses. Likely you will have used these during your ride as well. They should be light-weight and comfortable. UV protection is a must.
Running visor. While this is not a must it is nice on sunny days to have a little shade on your face and eyes.
Body mounted hydration. A great idea since it can seem like an eternity between aid stations. A soft belt or “waist-pack” like holder with a 1/2 liter water bottle will usually do it.
Clothing. Most people will run in the same clothes that they cycled in for shorter triathlons. Half-iron man and Iron man Triathlons require that a pair of comfortable shorts be changed into. Be sure to wear running socks with little or no seam. Other types of socks can result in blisters.

Being well prepared for the physical challenges of a triathlon starts with training, but on race day, equipment can play an equally critical role. I hope you found this helpful and informative. Visit our sponsor below to locate any missing pieces in your triathlon arsenal.  Or visit our Bike Store.

Winter Training

Winter.  It seems like the perfect excuse to ignore the bikes for a few months and go into hibernation.  After all, you deserve it after all the long months of hard riding and intense training.  It’s time to switch over to interval training between the couch and frig, right?  Wrong!  Unless you want to start your spring well behind your cycling comrades and spend the first few months in agony as you try to regain your former performance level you should consider at least a maintenance program.  Winter can be a time for rest for cyclist, but not total hibernation.  Here are some ways to maintain your cycling fitness and even make some improvements throughout the dark and cold of winter.

The first step in having a successful winter training program is formulating a plan.  Just like your spring and summer training program it really helps to sit down and set some goals with specific steps laid out to achieve those goals.  Writing them down is also important.  This makes them ‘real’ and will serve to remind you of your plan.  Take this written program and paste it somewhere you will see it everyday.  This serves to motivate and remind you.

There are all kinds of ways to continue your cycling fitness into the colder and shorter months of the year.  The indoor trainer is a ‘good old’ standby for those rainy, miserable days.  There are lots of trainers on the market and just about any of them will do the job.  Some are fancier than others, but they all essentially perform the same function.  The main differences in quality are that the more expensive models are quieter, smoother, offer a wider range of resistances, and may have adjustable resistance devices that allow you to change the intensity of the workout without getting off of the bicycle.  The most difficult part of exercise on an indoor trainer is the boredom.  I’ve found that watching TV or listening to an MP3 player can help, but it’s still painful.  Another option is to watch cycling videos.  This way you can ‘mimic’ the actions of the riders on the video.  In other words, if they are cruising then you cruise, it the are out of the saddle climbing, then you climb, it they are sprinting to a waypoint or finish, then you sprint.  It really helps to mix up the workout and keeps it interesting.

Spin classes are also a great way to turn the cranks during the winter.  I know that a lot of upper level riders feel that ‘spinning’ is simply below them, however, I think they are missing some of the benefits of this type of training.  Spinning is great for peer motivation.  After all, you’re in a room with a bunch of other riders and no matter how hard you try, its impossible not to be a little competitive.  This helps you push yourself harder than if you’re at home on your trainer.  You can also talk your summer riding buddies into going with you.  Now the competition really picks up.  They are also scheduled classes, which helps to add some structure to your winter training program.

Strength training is not something that we all want to do in the summer when its nice outside; and we shouldn’t.  Winter however, is the perfect time to spend some time ‘pumping iron’.  Strength training is often times overlooked by cyclists  because it associated with the steroid infused human mutants of the weight room.  Again, it is time to set aside judgments and do some leg presses and hamstring and quadriceps training.  By taking advantage of the winter weather and spending some of these days under the weight bar, you will find that the gear you push next season is one notch up from last year.

Cross training can also be a part of winter.  Let’s face it, there are a lot of other sports out there besides cycling (don’t hate me for saying it).  Good cross-training sports to consider are running, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, and swimming.  Do your best to stay injury free, but go out and expand yourself into some new areas.

So with all of that said, put down the remote control and make out your off-season training schedule today.  It’ll make for a better winter and an even better spring of cycling.

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