Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro

Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will race in next year’s Giro d’Italia according to the news agency Reuters. This would be the firs time he has ever ridden the race. His reason for adding it to his comeback schedule say the organizers is that it fits in with his aim of raising awareness … Read more

Tour Series city centre crits announced for May ’09

Televised city centre crit racing will be back in the UK next year with the a new 10 race Tour Series. The races will happen every tuesday and thursday evening over five weeks starting in late May. Among the cities currently in line to host a round of the Tour Series are Darlington, Derby, Exeter, … Read more

Shimano launch electronic TT shifters

Shimano have just released official pics of the new electronic time trial shifters that will be part of their 2009 digital Di2 range. The shifters, which were snapped in the wild for the first time in this year’s Tour de France, can be controlled from the ends of the aero bar extensions as usual, and … Read more

Ryders eyewear

Ryders are a new glasses brand in the UK – at least in cycling, which is surprising since they hail from MTBing mecca Vancouver where they’ve been churning out specs since 1989; they’re the biggest sports eyewear brand in Canada, apparently. The watchwrd for the brand seems to be value: you’re getting plenty of good … Read more

BMC streampost

BMC were showing off their new Streampost seatpost system, and jolly clever it is too. Thought you’d seen the last of quills and wedge bolts? Well think again, cause BMC have used this old technology to create a new seatpost that’s simple to adjust and pretty much impossible to over-tighten. All you have to do … Read more

Gipiemme wheels are back

Gipiemme have had a low profile in the UK since the break up of Campagnolo but they’re still in the business of making wheels. Refreshingly, they’re still doing it like they used to, as well – all the wheels in their range are hand built in their Italian factory. The basic T-Due wheel, at £75/pr, … Read more

Opsal Sport T-shirts

The guys from Opsal Sport popped round to the stand to show us their new range of shirts. All the designs are by cycling artist Brian Opsal, and printed in eco-friendly water based inks on organic cotton shirts. There’s a range of Tour de France and generic cycling imagery. Pictured are a shirt based on … Read more

Cube Litening Super & SLR

Cube have updated their road bike range for 2009 and there’s now a couple of models above the previously top-of-the-range Litening. The Carbon Litening SLR is produced using a twin-mold process, which neither the Cube boys nor the hastily-translated Cube brochure were adequately able to explain, save for the fact that it’s some kind of … Read more

SE bikes fixed range

SE bikes have a long heritage in the BMX market with design classics such as the PK Ripper but they’re fairly new in the 700c fixed market, prototyping in 2007 and rolling out the range in 08. For 09 the beer-inspired range has three flavours: Draft, Lager and Premium. We suspect the £429 Lager will … Read more

Mavic wheels and shoes

Mavic were very keen to show off the new Carbone SLR wheel, and an very innovative bit of kit it is too. The rim extrusion and carbon section are lighter for 09, but the big change is in the spokes. Mavic have used a rim-to-rim build, so spokes start at one side of the rim … Read more