2006 archive

Bettini wins; Basso firmly in overall lead at Giro d'Italia

Paolo Bettini broke his dry spell at the 2006 Giro d'Italia bike race with a sprint win in Brescia.

The QuickStep cyclist's win didn't threaten anyone at the top of the overall classification, as Ivan Basso held onto the leader's pink jersey for the 8th day. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/22/bettini-wins-basso-firmly-in-overall-lead-at-giro-ditalia/

10 bicycle touring tips gleaned from cross-country trip

I remember reading some how-to articles about bicycle touring before my friend Bruce and I took off on our cross-country bicycle trip in 1984. Quite a few things I didn't learn until we got out on the road and talked to other cyclists or bike hosts, like the Cookie Lady or Lazy Louie, or experienced first hand.

Here are my suggestions you might not always find in a how-to bike tour book:

Keep clean, especially your most tender parts. Cycling shorts are a heated petri dish for bacteria …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/22/10-bicycle-touring-tips-gleaned-from-cross-country-trip/

No changes in top 10 in Giro d'Italia bike race on Sunday

Giro d'Italia bike race leader Ivan Basso finished nearly 8 minutes behind stage winner Luis Laverde on Sunday, but that margin did nothing to threaten his hold on the leader's jersey.

Laverde, a Colombian on the Ceramica Panaria-Navigare team, and Francisco Perez attacked the 11-man breakaway that had an 8-minute gap over the peloton. Laverde timed his sprint to beat Perez at the line, while the rest of the breakaway arrived 7 seconds later. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/21/no-changes-in-top-10-in-giro-ditalia-bike-race-on-sunday/

Ivan Basso gains time on challengers in Giro d'Italia bike race

Italian cyclist Ivan Basso put more time on his rivals for the overall lead as the Giro d'Italia entered the first mountain stage of the final week on Saturday.

Leonardo Piepoli of Saunier-Duval crested the towering Colle S. Carlo with Basso, but the Smiling Assassin let Piepoli take all the risks on the descent to win Stage 13 by 44 seconds. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/20/ivan-basso-gains-time-on-challengers-in-giro-ditalia-bike-race/

Getting paid to bike to work

Now that you've done your part by cycling to work for National Bike to Work day, wouldn't you like to get paid for it?

Back in March I wondered why bicycle commuters couldn't get a tax break similar to the ones bestowed on hybrid car owners. There are two bills in Congress that go further than that. One bill submitted in the Senate in April would enable employers to pay bicyclists up to an extra $105 a month, tax free.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/19/getting-paid-to-bike-to-work/

Spanish rider takes Giro d'Italia bike race stage win

A pair of crashes on steep descents helped decide the finish for a breakaway at the Giro d'Italia bike race.

Spanish cyclist Joan Horrach of Caisse d'Epargne won the 106-mile stage from Livorno to Sestri Levante on Friday as Ivan Basso arrived seven minutes later with his overall lead safely intact. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/19/spanish-rider-takes-giro-ditalia-bike-race-stage-win/

Jan Ullrich sends message at Giro d'Italia bike race

German cyclist Jan Ullrich used the Giro d'Italia on Thursday to tell us he's ready for the Tour de France.

Ullrich won the 31-mile individual time trial from Pontedera to Pisa and back again, beating the closest finisher, current Giro leader Ivan Basso, by 28 seconds, and everyone else by more than a minute. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/18/jan-ullrich-sends-message-at-giro-ditalia-bike-race/

Jan Ullrich at Giro d'Italia

Jan Ullrich preparing to ride in 2006 Giro d'Italia. More Giro pictures at T-Mobile website.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/18/jan-ullrich-at-giro-ditalia/

Ditty Bops go on (bicycle) tour

When the Los Angeles-based Ditty Bops say they're taking their show on the road, they're talking about a long-distance bike tour.

The girl band duo is known for their love of bicycles; now they're combining the tour to promote their new CD — Moon Over the Freeway — with a cross-country bike ride. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/18/ditty-bops-go-on-bicycle-tour/

Bike store robberies: Evidence that high gasoline prices make bikes more valuable?

Smash-and-grab thieves broke into three bicycle stores in the Silicon Valley area in the past few weeks.

A total $44,000 worth of bicycles and bike gear has been stolen in the burglaries — 2 the night of April 28 and one on May 3. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/05/17/bike-store-robberies-evidence-that-high-gasoline-prices-make-bikes-more-valuable/