While much is made about where some of the American uniforms and team kits for the upcoming Olympics were made, we have to say the cycling uniforms look very nice. The U.S. Cycling Team officially unveiled its uniforms this week. The road, track and mountain bike kits were designed by SKINS while Nike worked with freestyle legend Bob Haro to design the BMX collection. Continue reading USA Cycling Unveils Kits
Tag: Road
Made in America: Vuelta USA Bicycle Chainrings
Finding a bicycle frame made in America is actually pretty easy. Though most of the big names have sent production overseas, there always seems to be a new hand built frame maker popping up. The same used to hold true for component manufacturers, but it is much harder to find companies that still make their products in the U.S.A. Chris King, Paul Components and Wheels Manufacturing are just a few of the companies that remain, but there are even fewer who still make chainrings. Vuelta USA of Pacoima, California is one of probably less than five companies that still manufacture chainrings in America and may be the only one that offers such an extension selection of sizes. Continue reading Made in America: Vuelta USA Bicycle Chainrings
Thursday Reading List (11/10/2011)
Welcome to a weekly digest of web links I think are worth checking out. These items include articles, images, and video. Please comment on what you find interesting. If you have something to share, please submit links of interest to mike@kineticshift.com.
British TV Ad for Christmas
This week sees the Christmas installment of the British store Halfords ad ‘ That’s Helpful, That’s Halfords’ campaign, with a 30 second Bike TV commercial, designed to encourage parents to come to Halfords to buy bikes for their children’s Christmas presents. The young girl is shown riding and enjoying her new bike in all seasons and weather. So take a cue from her and get out and scream while you are at it.
Audi Sports ‘Wood’
Bicycles and automobiles are more intertwined that you may think. Several automobile manufacturers were actually started as bicycle manufacturers or key players dabbled with bicycles before becoming involved with automobiles. The now defunct Pierce-Arrow Motor Corporation started as a bicycle manufacturer and Carlo Maserati got his start in engines while working at a bicycle manufacturer near Milan, Italy. In recent year, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes have lauched their own line of bicycles to more than likely capture additional revenue after they have sold an automobile. The new car owner can buy the hat, jacket, pen, sunglasses…why not the bike? Saab was clever and sold a Saab bicycle that was folding so that it could fit inside your car just in case you could not park near your final destination. Most of the modern bicycles offered by automobile manufacturers are in reality designed and built by bicycle manufacturers. It is possible that the car company designs the bikes and specs the components, but they certainly are not making them. Continue reading Audi Sports ‘Wood’
UCI Provides List of Approved Cycling Equipment
What defines a bicycle? Let’s see, two wheels, seat, chain, pedals, frame, fork? Actually that might describe the parts on a bicycle, but it doesn’t mean those parts will be legal when it comes to international racing. This week our friends at BikeRadar UK noted that the UCI (International Cycling Union) have published its latest list of new items that a “legal” for racing this season. The two lists show which frames, forks and wheels have been authorized for road, track and cyclo-cross competition under the latest approval protocol.
So how important is this list? Well, so far five new frames (as well as their respective forks) have been approved, but one has reportedly met the criteria but not been added to the list. This is important to note as race bikes tend to go into production just after the first of the year, and must be submitted for testing. Consider that as we head to the second half of March that means bikes could already have been in production for nearly three months – and if not passed, they aren’t legal for any UCI sanctioned race! While this shouldn’t be an issue for the Scott Plasma 3 – the bike that is pending at press time – we can imagine it is a concern over at the bike manufacturer’s offices.