I’ve stuck mainly to pro racing on The Inner Ring and whilst I’ve discussed related matters, like business and politics around the sport, there hasn’t been too much on bike kit on here. Kit matters and it’s often something many fans spend a lot of money on. But whisper it, a lot of bike kit … Read more
You might have read my earlier comments on Johan Bruyneel’s clothing range, I didn’t think much of the range of clothing and its design. There have been t-shirts with cobbles, tarmac and yellow jerseys. But now there’s a new one. Presumably this t-shirt allows fans to celebrate the latest chapter in Bruyneel’s glorious career, the … Read more
This is from the wonderful Italian Cycling Journal. In a tongue in cheek move, Specialized have unveiled their 2011 range, including this Roubaix SL3 complete with mock Duracell battery.
It might seem odd to talk about cyclo-cross in the middle of the European summer but there’s a good rule change: disc brakes will be allowed. Legalize my Cannondale Disc brakes replaced cantilevers on mountain bikes many, many years ago. But it’s only now that the UCI has got round to allowing discs for cyclo-cross … Read more
Recent images from the Dauphiné seem to have upset some TV viewers as both the broadcaster and the race organiser received complaints about some riders going bare chested. In reality the riders in question simply had the jersey zip undone all the way. Nevertheless French cycling supremo Laurent Jalabert – presumably sitting somewhere comfortable – … Read more
Here’s a screenshot of the UCI’s rulebook, online at UCI.ch. Note rule 1.3.010 was introduced in 2005. Propulsion from any source other than your legs is banned. Does motorised doping exist? Yes, it is possible the technology is out there. But is it being used in the pro peloton? Well there are only rumours and … Read more
I wrote about the rumours of Cancellara’s electric bike and it’s been one of the most popular postings here. Now further rumours of “motorised doping” exist. A TV report on Italian channel RAI, who cover the Giro, describes how their commentator tried the system. See for yourself here, it is part of the report (in … Read more
An anonymous visitor left a comment on the article about London’s Rapha café. I was wondering aloud what other clothing companies would do, “imagine what an Assos shop would like (I’m thinking polished concrete and Corbusier furniture)”. Only it turns out Assos have their concept stores and apparently you can stop by for coffee. See … Read more
I was asking this on Twitter during Stage 11 of the Giro. As the rain poured down, the desperate chase by the GC contenders and their team mates wasn’t helped by seemingly inflatable rain jackets. The same goes for the breakaway riders, when Dario Cataldo jumped away with 3km to go, he was wasting many … Read more
My piece on suspicions of Cancellara’s electric bike was a very popular read on here. And it seems even the UCI is taking the story seriously. In a piece that you’d normally expect to see printed on 1 April, cyclingnews.com reports: the UCI have confirmed to Cyclingnews that they are looking into a method of … Read more