These chic's skid better than you

The urban kids can do some cool fixie moves. Some better than others. Trick riding has been going on for 100 years, so it's not surprising that there are some european girls that can do tricks that you haven't even thought possible. Something like doing a no handed over the bars wheelie with another person standing on your shoulders.



Now turn up the speakers and rock some real cycling tracks.

Sea Otter Dual Stunt

I'm not a huge fan of the sea otter, just a bit to big for my taste. I do have to say that the inclusion of the new events this year and the addition of the cool little side things like the pump track are very nice editions. Thanks to NSMB.com I just found out they are having a freeride style dual slalom course battle. That's sick. I just emailed them to find out availability of spots.

Sea Otter Classic launches SRAM Dual Stunt
New style of exhibition racing for this year's event in Cali

MONTEREY, Calif. - Competitive cycling will have a new name at this year's Sea Otter Classic. SRAM "Dual Stunt" adapts a Dual Slalom race format to a flat course featuring wood and dirt obstacles. How it works: two racers compete side-by-side on identical 400-foot long courses scattered with notorious North Shore-style elements like wooden bridges and dirt jumps.

The timed event pits competitors against each other where the maximum time differential can only reach 1.5 seconds. The slower racer either makes up the time and advances or concedes defeat – same as in Dual Slalom. The semi-invitational event kicks off on Friday, April 18 with qualifying rounds.


"This is a sport that originated in mountain biking and is specific to mountain biking," said Jeff Lenosky, who will build the Dual Stunt course along with fellow racer Kyle Ebbett and Ray Petro of Ray's Indoor MTB Park. "It really doesn't favor one discipline over another - you can have a podium filled with a trials rider, a dirt jumper, freeriders, or a world champion downhiller, it's really across the board. If you're a good bike handler, then you could really excel at this discipline."

Still unclear about Dual Stunt? Have a look here at an event that Lenosky designed, which is similar to Dual Stunt.

To race Dual Stunt, racers could compete on pretty much any kind of bike, according to Lenosky, but he adds that the ideal bike would be a freeride hardtail. To try it out, the Dual Stunt course will be open in between racing for practice sessions. 64 is the maximum number of racers allowed for the debut event. Contact Jeff Frost, director of athlete and sponsor services, at frosty@seaotterclassic.com for invitation information.

Dual Stunt continues on Saturday with elimination rounds and ends on Sunday, April 20 with finals.

LX out SLX in and 09 Dura Ace!

Can't read anything, but the images are there to tantalize you. If you can read swedish or would like to see some more pics, go to the link. happy mtb The only thing I've figured out, is that LX is becoming a comfort group and the SLX is replacing LX on the mountain side. It looks like it's getting a little beefier to keep up with the rigors of off road and get a cleaner more XTR look. We may have to consider offering SLX next year.

There has also been a few things floating around about the 09 Dura-Ace. Supposedly there will be 2 Dura-Ace groups. 1 being a standard Mechanical and the other Electronic. Yes, we are about to delve into the electronic system once again. I think Mavic scared everyone a few years back when they couldn't get there system to work. It crushed there efforts. Shimano and Campy are being much more careful about testing and ensuring there product is going withstand the tortures of the road. Here are some insights on the Mechanical system.

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 mechanical - I'm sure there are all sorts of do-dads that are great about the new Dura-Ace, but the one thing I like the best is the cables being under the tape and a newer ergonomical lever.

STI levers

* - New shapes, more ergonomical
* - Under-the-tape derailleurs cable housings
* - Bars/lever reach adjustement
* - Right lever shift engagement stroke 20% shorter
* - Carbon levers
* - Titanium hardware
* - Not compatible with 7800 derailleurs

Calipers

* - Improved geometry, more braking power
* - New brake pads, 210% better braking performance under the rain and 120% in the dry
* - Titanium hardware

Rear derailleur

* - Improved cable pulling system
* - Carbon pulley plates
* - Compatible with bigger gear range with no triple derailleur required
* - Not compatible with 7800 levers

Front derailleur

* - The plates geometry and width avoid you from trimming, whatever the gear used
* - No unwanted friction of the chain on the plates
* - Spring tension is optimized for very smooth chainring shiftings

Crankset

* - The carbon crankset seems to be abandonned
* - New alloy cranks:
* * obviously hollow, the walls thicknesses are reduced from the 7800 version
* * Claimed to be the lightest crankset made by a big manufacturer
* * Even stiffer than the 7800
* - New carbon/alloy bottom bracket for further weight save

Chain

* - New design:
* * quieter chain
* * Power transfer increased of 0.6% if used in combination with the newest 7900 chainrings
* * No rubbing with the front derailleur if used with the 7900 chainrings
* - Quick Link for super fast assembling and disassembling

Cassette

* - Shifting improved
* - Lighter cassettes thanks to the alloy cogs carrier
* - Wider offers (11-25, 11-27, 11-28 beside the current offers with 7800 Dura-Ace)

Flight Deck comptuter

* - Still integrated in the shifters
* - Additionnal functions:
* * hearth rate monitor
* * altimeter
* * slope indicator
* * wireless 2.4GHz frequency
* * wireless datas downloading to the PC

changing the standard again

New hub and fork design.

Cooperation Shimano & Fox

NUNSPEET, the Netherlands - In close cooperation Shimano and Fox have developed a 15mm through axle hub system to be used in combination with a 100mm Over Locknut Dimension (OLD). Shimano will be providing Deore XT and XTR level hubs as well as a Deore XT level complete front wheels with this system.

The main advantage of the new system is weight reduction while keeping almost the same rigidity. It allows not only a reduction in weight for the hub, but also the fork, while increasing the rigidity of the system. Fox claims the forks incorporating the 15mm through axle system to be 15% stiffer torsionally and 25% stiffer in transverse shear than a traditional quick release front axle system. This new 15 x 100 system is destined to be a completely open format so other fork, hub and axle makers can participate as well.

Recently Fox Racing Shox was sold to Compass Diversified Holdings (CODI), a private equity company. According to Fox founder Bob Fox the company was sold because of the growth over the past years that forced him to look for a financial partner in order to secure continued future growth.

-- bike-eu.com

Freddie's ready to Rock some Racing!

Emeryville local and shop spokesman Freddie Rodriguez stopped by the shop on Saturday so we took some photos for all to see. I am digging the Rock Racing Kit, skulls and barbed wire, have you ever seen such wicked lycra in your life? And look at that De Rosa!! Looks fast! Real Fast! must be fast! You got to love where Michael ball is taking this team. He's shaking up road cycling like a dirty martini. Its just the edge that Road cycling needs. Enjoy the photos.

WS apparel - Get some!

The requests for a kit has been going on for quite sometime. We have been stalling on doing it for various reason's, but not any longer. We have ordered our first run of kits and if your serious about getting one, I suggest getting an order in pronto as we have a very limited amount.

They are all made by Capoforma in Italy. The best bib, jersey, arm warmer/ knee warmer and sock they make. We didn't skimp anywhere. Plus, the kit looks super tight, quite frankly I think it's the best looking kit on the market. So you can have a limited kit, that is stylish. Don't hesitate, they won't last long.

Bibs $109.99 - Jersey $74.99 - knee warmer $34.99 - arm warmer $31.99














Not just kit's but jersey's and T's too. American apparel brand, with WS limited edition print. That's right, we will only be using this print until there gone. From there we will be doing a new limited edition print. So if you like this one, I suggest getting your name on it.

Hoodies are only $30! T's are only $10, I think that might be about the same as buying an american apparel hoodie and T with out the graphics. Get some.