Bianchi Infinito Ultegra 10sp Compact Review
Written by drbob on December 9, 2011 – 2:27 pm -Bianchi is a legendary Italian brand that has been making bikes since 1885. Many were the names that associated with it, like Marco Pantani, Felice Gimondi or Fausto Coppi, and since its inception Biachi has won 12 Giros d’Italia, 3 Tours de France, 2 Vueltas de España, 2 Tours of Switzerland, 2 Tours of Germany, 7 Paris-Roubaix, 4 Road World Championships and 6 Track World Championships.
Such a rich history really shows in the quality of the Bianchi bikes and it is felt when riding the Infinito Ultegra.
Bianchi’s Infinito Ultegra is a road bike which features the Infinito carbon frame, which is pretty light and includes Kevlar shock and vibration absorbing technology which works very well and soothes the ride, increasing comfort and performance while, at the same time, it reduces fatigue and provides a more relaxing ride while cruising on the road.
Tags: Bianchi Infinito Ultegra 10sp Compact
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SRAM Red Group Set Review
Written by drbob on December 9, 2011 – 2:15 pm -Now SRAM has released the Red group set, it was first used at the very top of the sport by the Saunier Duval pro team on their Scott bikes and now the new Astana team will be using the Red group on their Trek Madone frames for the 2008 season.
Tags: SRAM red crank, SRAM Red Group Set, SRAM red shifters
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Shimano Dura Ace 7850 Carbon Wheels
Written by drbob on December 9, 2011 – 2:10 pm -We like riding different wheels here at Bike Cycling Reviews and the lighter the better, so when we got the chance of a ride on a pair of the top clincher wheels from Shimano we jumped at it. They are light, rigid, look great and the ride they give is quite spectacular. Read on to see what we have found.
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Women’s Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra Review
Written by drbob on December 7, 2011 – 12:01 pm -With Cannondale’s Synapse line catering for the near entry-level end of the women’s market, the SuperSix is a step up with a decent spec, but it’s the man-size frame that will really get your attention. It's a satisfyingly butch bike that’s perfect for more powerful riders, yet remains charming despite incredible stiffness.
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Bianchi 928 C2C 105 review
Written by drbob on July 23, 2011 – 12:52 pm -By Mat Brett
Tags: bianchi, bianchi 928 c2c
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Time RX Instinct Black review
Written by drbob on July 23, 2011 – 12:48 pm -
Time RX Instinct Black
The RX Instinct is Time’s sportive-focused variant within its RX range.
With Time giving the range a complete revamp over the last two years, we had concerns that one of our favourite all-round race machines could be compromised by complex carbon shapes and new tube designs. Happily, our doubts have proved unfounded as the
Tags: time rx instinct
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Specialized Secteur review
Written by drbob on July 23, 2011 – 12:42 pm -Specialized have a habit of creating new bike niches, like the comfort-inspired Roubaix road bike and the TriCross with its Roubaix, cyclo-cross and tourer DNA. The Secteur range is named after Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled sections and is the budget-orientated, aluminium-framed take on the Roubaix theme, with the same emphasis on comfort over all-out racing performance and identical geometry.
Tags: speciaalized sectuer, specialized
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Cannondale SuperSix 105 Review
Written by drbob on July 22, 2011 – 2:44 pm -"Quality setup, beautiful ride – all at a reasonable price"
Last year’s Cycling Plus Bike of the Year was the Cannondale Six, so it should come as no surprise that its successor is another top quality performer with a refined ride. While £1,799 isn’t exactly cheap, you're getting an awful lot of bike for your dosh. A jack-of-all-trades? Perhaps, but the SuperSix has managed to master most of them. Super? We certainly think so.
As usual with Cannondale, stiffness and efficiency are the watchwords, from the SuperSix’s oversized ‘BeatBox’ BB30 bottom bracket to its tapered head tube and super-size down tube. This might make it sound like a ruthless race bike that’ll beat you up on the road, but the stiffness is tempered by the fairly svelte seatstays, and the use of different layups of carbon fibre in particular areas.
Tags: cannondale, cannondale supersix, cannondale supersix 105
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10 Americans in Tour de France, matching record
Written by drbob on July 12, 2011 – 6:11 am -A record-tying 10 U.S. cyclists spent the Fourth of July on the roads of the Tour de France.
American fans had even more to celebrate Monday when Tyler Farrar raced to his first individual Tour stage victory, becoming the first U.S. rider to win a stage on July 4.
''I certainly would have taken it on any day,'' said Farrar, a sprint specialist from Wenatchee, Wash., who rides for Garmin-Cervelo. ''But as an American, winning on the Fourth of July, it's the icing on the cake. ... Lucky me.''
Levi Leipheimer was the last American to win a Tour de France stage, taking an individual time trial in 2007.
Veterans such as BMC's George Hincapie and RadioShack's Chris Horner were among the U.S. riders taking stock of the bumper crop from America this year - and looking to some promising young compatriots.
This year's Tour marks the 30th anniversary since Jonathan Boyer became the first American `Giant of the Roads'', and it has been 25 years since Greg Lemond became the first American to win cycling's greatest race.
Also in 1986, a total of ten American cyclists competed on two teams. This year, just as many riders are competing - but this time there are four U.S. teams: RadioShack, BMC, Garmin-Cervelo and HTC-Highroad.
HTC-Highroad's Tejay van Garderen, at 22, wasn't even born when Lemond & Co. jumpstarted Americans' interest in the Tour, which got a huge boost by the record run of seven Tour victories by Lance Armstrong.
''He paved the way for us, and we just have to keep it up,'' Brent Bookwalter, a 27-year-old BMC rider, said about Armstrong. ''Last year was my first Tour, and I was overwhelmed by the support'' from American fans. You know this event kind of transcends cycling to the sporting world in general. It means a lot to be an American here.''
This year, there is no dominant American like Armstrong. RadioShack riders Horner and Leipheimer have ambitions for a top-10 finish - but that could change if they need to serve a teammate with the best chance for a podium finish when the race ends July 24 on Paris' Champs-Elysees.
Longtime Armstrong lieutenant Hincapie, competing in his 16th Tour, noted that he hasn't been home for July 4 in a long time - but said he feels the sport's growing recognition in America.
''Ten Americans at the Tour de France just shows you how much the sport has grown in the U.S.,'' he said. ''You know people are really starting to realize what a grueling sport this is, and starting to respect it.''
Christian Vande Velde said the main goal of his Garmin-Cervelo team Monday was a stage win by Farrar - one of the world's best sprinters - on the flat 123-mile trek from Olonne-sur-Mer to Redon in Brittany.
Garmin-Cervelo also was going to be riding up front to help protect Norway's Thor Hushovd, who took the yellow jersey after the U.S. squad won the team time trial Sunday, the Chicago native added.
''It's cool that we're going be an American team on the front,'' Vande Velde said at the starting line. ''But if Tyler could win today, that would be awesome.''
Consider it done.
Tags: tour de france
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Spain’s Contador crashes at Tour but recovers
Written by drbob on July 12, 2011 – 6:09 am -SAINT-FLOUR, FRANCE (AP)
Defending champion Alberto Contador crashed again in Sunday's ninth stage of the Tour de France, and the Spaniard is welcoming the chance to rest his bruised right knee on Monday's day off.
The Spaniard lost his balance and fell heavily with about 74.5 miles left in the 129.2-mile trek from Issoire to Saint-Flour in France's Massif Central - banging the same knee he had hurt in a fall last Wednesday.
''I had a problem with my handlebars, which knocked into another rider's saddle,'' Contador said after safely completing Sunday's stage in 12th place. ''It pushed me toward the spectators on the side, and I went into them and the bike hit me on the right knee again.''
The three-time Tour champion recovered quickly and was soon chasing down the main pack. He then had a mechanical problem forcing him to change bikes just as he was about to catch up.
That was a minor glitch and the Saxo Bank rider soon caught up again and rode on, crossing the line in the same time as his main Tour rivals Andy Schleck of Luxembourg and Australia's Cadel Evans.
''It was a bad day, I was in pain for the whole stage,'' Contador said. ''With a bit of ice and rest I can recover.''
Contador remains 1 minute, 30 seconds behind Schleck in the overall standings, and 1:41 behind Evans.
Contador also fell in Wednesday's fifth stage, where he was lucky to escape with just cuts and bruises.
''We are experiencing a very difficult Tour in terms of accidents, but you have to be optimistic,'' Contador said. ''I have to focus on my recovery. I think the rest day comes at a good time for me.''
Still, Contador was relieved to avoid more serious injury.
A mass crash later in the stage took down about 30 riders and forced Alexandre Vinokourov to withdraw from the race.
''The crash sent shivers down my spine when I saw all the riders on the floor,'' Contador said. ''The peloton slowed down a bit to see what was happening.
''It was a big crash, we were going very fast. I think this bend should have been indicated by the organizers.''
The 28-year-old Contador had more bad luck earlier in the race.
He lost more than a minute during the Tour's first stage when he was slowed by a crash that split the pack in two, and he found himself lagging behind Schleck, the Tour runner-up to Contador last year and in 2009.
Contador was cleared to race in the Tour by the Spanish cycling federation after testing positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol late in last year's race.
The International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency have appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Should they win the case, which is set to be heard in August, Contador faces the strange prospect of losing his 2010 title days after possibly winning another one.
Contador was roundly jeered by fans before the race when the teams were unveiled at the official Tour presentation, but before Sunday's stage he was cheered by many fans near the start line.
Tags: tour de france
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