Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring and More

Mountain bike competitor dies at Sea Otter Classic

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:10:00 -0700

Updated April 22, 2008

Tragedy struck the Sea Otter Classic when an experienced mountain biker and component designer crashed and died during a downhill run on Saturday.

The man was identified by authorities as Mark Reynolds, 48, of San Jose. He was owner and product developer for Wicked Racin, a company that makes bike components for downhill, black diamond and free ride specialists.

According to reports, Reynolds failed to negotiate a narrow wooden bridge and struck a dirt embankment shortly after noon on Saturday. It was reported that he suffered head and neck injuries and was airlifted to Natividad Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

A medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death this week. ...

Sea Otter Classic rolls out Thursday in California

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:06:00 -0700

What started in 1991 as a gathering of about 350 mountain bikers to race in the hills near Monterey has grown into an annual event that's expected to draw 10,000 athletes and 50,000 cycling fans.

The 18th annual Sea Otter Classic runs Thursday through Sunday at the Laguna Seca Recreational Area (directions) with road, BMX and mountain bike racing and demos.

Fans also can visit a trade show featuring nearly 250 exhibitors that's open throughout the festival. Also, cyclists can participate in either a 15- or 100-mile bike tour on Sunday that passes through Carmel and Monterey ...

Boonen wins Paris-Roubaix; Hincapie finishes in 9th

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:44:00 -0700

Alas, 2008 wasn't the year for High Road's George Hincapie to win the Paris-Roubaix bike race, although the American scored another Top 10 win.

Belgium's Tom Boonen, left, finished in much the same way he beat Hincapie in 2005, by hanging on to the breakaway and sprinting for a win with less than a lap to go in the Roubaix velodrome.

Boonen's (Quick Step) victims in this 106th edition of the 161-mile race -- more than 30 miles over cobblestones -- were Fabio Cancellera (Team CSC) and Allesandro Ballan (Lampre). ...

Could this be Hincapie's year at Paris-Roubaix?

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0700

You know that Paris-Roubaix is the one spring classic that George Hincapie would like to win. He's often considered among the favorites, but bad luck always seems to ruin his day.

My son and I were watching the race on TV six years ago when Big George literally disappeared from sight when he slipped off the road and into a ditch.
In 2005 he was passed by Tom Boonen with a half-lap remaining in the velodrome.
In 2006, the steering tube on his Trek 5200 crumbled just 28 miles from the finish, leaving Hincapie sidelined with a seriously injured shoulder.

The American cyclist for the High Road team will get another chance this Sunday when the 161-mile race rolls through northern France and Belgium. The 106th anniversary of the race dubbed Hell of the North features more than 32 miles of cobblestones; if it's wet, that's 32 miles of mud as well...

Live video from Redlands Bicycle Classic

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:43:00 -0700

The Redlands Bicycle Classic, which runs today through Sunday in southern California, is featuring live video from the start house for the 5K men's and women's time trial.

Among those racing are Tom Danielson (above, Slipstream), Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing), Rory Sutherland (Health Net) and Chris Baldwin (Toyota). Among the women, High Road, Webcor, Value Act Capital, Aaron's and Cheerwine are supplying strong teams.

The four-day event isn't just for watching pro cyclists. If you're in the area and would rather ride than watch, you can jump onto the Redlands Bicycle Classic Rotary Ride. It offers 6- to 60-mile bike tour options throughout the countryside. Also, public races for ages 3 and up are offered on Saturday morning. ...

Tour of America bike race, maybe next year

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:26:00 -0700

As many predicted, the 2008 Tour of America tentatively scheduled for this fall has been cancelled. Organizers of the prospective cross-country bicycle stage race are now looking ahead to the fall of 2009.

Frank Arokiasamy, a management consultant, had unveiled plans for the bike race at last year's Interbike Expo in Las Vegas. The bike racing press immediately considered it an extreme long shot.

Meanwhile, the 2008 Tour of Virginia has been cancelled and the Tour de 'toona has been knocked back to just one day ...

Bicycling the Race Across America for a cause

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:02:00 -0700

Most racers do it as a team

RAAM team tactics

In 10 weeks, that great sleep-deprivation bicycling event known as the Race Across America gets underway as the 3,008-mile endurance race begins in Oceanside, California, setting off for the first time to Annapolis, Maryland.

In addition to the men and women who pedal and suffer in solitude, there are two-, four-, and eight-person teams that complete the race relay style. Most of these are raising money for charity, and quite few are comprised of older bicyclists, possibility inspired by images of Lon Haldeman and Pete Penseyres from more than 20 years ago.

The Aged Wisconsin Cheese Heads, for instance, is a team of five men and three women who average 59 years of age. They'll race four at a time, covering five miles before switching with their teammates ...

Mario Cipollini and Rock Racing deal is over

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:00:00 -0700

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...

Team CSC sponsor backing out after 2008

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:35:00 -0700

Joining an apparent stampede for the exit, Computer Sciences Corporation says it will end its sponsorship of cycling at the end of this season. It joins T-Mobile and the Discovery Channel among companies choosing to drop or not renew contracts with very successful teams in the past two years.

Team CSC is owned and managed by former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis, who immediately said he'll begin searching for a new sponsor for Riis Cycling A/S.

A company press release says the decision reflects "a shift in priorities as the company makes new investments to implement a strategic long-term growth plan."

Given the current doping suspicions in pro cycling and the tiff between UCI and the owner of the Tour de France over what teams can participate in that race this year, is it any wonder that sponsors are beginning to back away from the sport? ...

Memorial bike ride set Saturday for Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:09:00 -0700

Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson will be remembered by friends, family and fellow cyclists during a memorial bike ride through Stevens Creek Canyon in Cupertino on Saturday.

The bike ride has been organized jointly by their two teams, Team Roaring Mouse Cycles (Peterson) and Third Pillar Racing Team (Gough). Riders will meet at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos, at 2:30 for a 3 p.m. departure. They'll visit the crash site to share memories about the two before returning.

Meanwhile, a memorial service is scheduled for Matt Peterson at 7 p.m. at the Sports Basement, 1590 Bryant Street, San Francisco. As with the bike ride, everyone is invited.

You can check more updates and leave comments at two websites; Remembering Matt and Kristy Gough at Third Pillar Racing.