Friday, April 30, 2010

Men of Steel Racing Club De Rosa Corum Review


Last month we had a story about the Men of Steel Racing Club and the De Rosa "Corum" steel bikes they compete on. Here is a review of the frame bike published at RoadBikeReview.com:

From the pro peloton to local USCF races, carbon fiber is the material du jour these days. Forks, wheels, components, water bottle cages, headset spacers; they’re all made of carbon. And of course, the frame, the nucleus of every bicycle, is where most of the carbon fiber craze is focused.

But what about good old steel? Is there a place in the modern peloton for the tried and true material which has been manipulated by man since 1300 years before the birth of Christ? The Men of Steel Racing team, an Indiana-based USCF club thinks there is. And in order to prove it, they turned to one of the most legendary names in steel – DeRosa.

We recently got a chance to ride a Men of Steel Racing team bike on a rainy Indianapolis afternoon; a 2010 DeRosa Corum, TIG-welded by hand in Milan, Italy by Doriano DeRosa himself. If you want a custom, steel Italian race bike, it doesn’t get any better than this.

The Corum was introduced in 2003 during a time where most serious riders and racers had written off steel as a viable material for racing bikes. However, since its introduction, more and more cyclists who are reaching Masters-category age long for the days of their lugged steel beauties, and they’re turning to bikes like the Corum.

But the Corum isn’t just for older riders trying to relive the glory days. With a weight of just 16 pounds for a fully equipped 59cm bike, the Corum is catching the eye of younger riders who’ve grown up only knowing carbon fiber, titanium and aluminum. It’s also attracting riders who are tired of mass-produced carbon fiber bikes which are designed to the most common denominator – often times being too stiff or not stiff enough depending on rider weight and height.

You also get the peace of mind in knowing that if you crash, a steel bike won’t have a ‘catastrophic failure’, and you can repair it with confidence, especially considering the fork is carbon – an easy replacement in more serious crashes.

The race-ready, 16 pound Men of Steel Racing DeRosa we rode was equipped with a SRAM Red group, H.E.D. Ardennes wheels and carbon bits like handlebars and seatpost. At first glance, the oversize tubing and lugless design would indicate aluminum or titanium, especially when you lift the bike for the weight test. But make no mistake; this racing machine is TIG-welded by hand with Dedacciai steel.

What we noticed immediately upon rolling down the Monon Trail was the liveliness and responsiveness of the Corum. The feedback is like every steel frame – you feel the bumps in the road, but you don’t feel them all they way up your spinal column. The frame interacts with you; tells you what’s beneath your wheels without hammering it into your skull like aluminum does. Compared to the vivacity of the Corum, a carbon fiber bike feels as stiff and dead as a rigor-mortised corpse.

Out of the saddle, the bike springs forward without hesitation. It saddles a fine line between eagerness and jumpiness. This is definitely not your lugged Columbus SLX DeRosa. There is zero delay. When you jump, so goes the Corum.

The Corum’s aggressive geometry does not confuse matters; this bike was designed and built to be raced, but its forgiving demeanor also enables you to bang out a century and arrive home without looking like you got beaten senseless with a painter’s pole.

Team organizer Jim Kruse couldn’t be happier with how the team has grown over the past year. He and his teammates are proving that even in a carbon fiber world, steel is still a viable material for race bikes. In their inaugural year, Men of Steel Racing has proven that you can finish on the podium, even top it, as they did in their very first race. With racing season hitting full stride in the Midwest, Kruse expects the early success to continue.

“Our mission is to prove to people that steel is still alive and well. You can have a sub-16 pound bike which delivers the light weight of carbon fiber without sacrificing the incredible feel and handling characteristics of steel. And we’re elated to have such a legendary name in Doriano DeRosa helping support our mission.”

Even if you aren’t in the market for a brand new steel race bike, Men of Steel Racing is also a club, inviting riders of all ages to dust off their classic steel bikes and get them out on the race course. The club has vintage-specific rides and races, with a quickly-expanding calendar across the Midwest.

For more information on the team, their vintage races and how you can get your own DeRosa Corum, check out http://www.menofsteelracing.com/

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Reconnaissance of Plan de Corones








The final week of the 2010 Giro d'Italia is going to be brutal. In a seven day period there are six days of climbing as the Giro heads to the conclusion in Verona.

One of those very difficult days will be the Stage 16 San Vigilio di Marebbe to Plan de Corones individual TT of 12.85 km. The average grade is 8.5% and reaches a maximum grade of 24%; the summit is at 2,273 meters. To make things more interesting it just happens that the final kilometers are unpaved.

Yesterday, Cadel Evans and several Liquigas team members were at Plan de Corones doing their final reconnaissance.

Photos: by Bettini

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Rossin Limited Edition Nove Colli Bike


For the 40th anniversary of the Gran Fondo Nove Colli, the largest granfondo in Italy, Rossin has created a limited edition bicycle. The Gran Fondo Nove Colli will have 12,000 riders this year at the start on May 23rd in Cesenatico, home of Marco Pantani.

The Rossin Nove Colli bicycle will be limited to 40 copies. It is the top of Rossin model range in black and gold with special graphics. The components are Shimano Dura Ace, Selle Italy SLR Carbon saddle and a choice of two wheelsets: Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels or optionally the the Dura Ace 7850 C50 high profile wheels in carbon.

Prices: 4,600 euros with Mavic wheels; 6,400 euros with Dura Ace carbon wheels.

To order: call Gruppo bici srl in Italy at 0547-300170.

By the way, there is now a Marco Pantani museum, the Spazio Pantani, in Cesenatico.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

FSA Introduces Gimondi Signed Track Crank


FSA has introduced a retro square-taper track crank with 1973 world road champion Felice Gimondi’s signature. Gimondi also won the Tour, the Vuelta, and the Giro (three times), Paris-Roubaix on similar Campagnolo double cranks.

Photo: www.velonews.com

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Giro d'Italia Joins Impatto Zero® (Zero Impact) Project



For the first time the Giro d'Italia will join the Impatto Zero® (Zero Impact) project of LifeGate in which new forests will be created and protected in Italy to offset the carbon emissions generated by the stage race. The initiative is promoted by the Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare (Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea.)

Impatto Zero® estimated that about 1,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be generated during the the 21 stage race. This takes into account the entire race caravan, production of communications materials, electricity use, waste production, and water consumption.

The forest areas for interventions that have been identified in collaboration with the Ministry are the Parco Nazionale of Cinque Terre (in Liguria), the Parco Nazionale of Cilento e Vallo di Diano (in Campania), and the Parco Nazionale of Gargano (in Puglia).

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Giro d'Italia: Fight For Pink


Here is the "wallpaper" created by RCS, organizers of the Giro d'Italia, for their new advertising campaign for this year's event. The visual is of Ivan Basso and World Champion Cadel Evans chasing a symbolic rider in the pink leader's jersey.

The fight for the pink jersey begins on May 8th in Amsterdam and ends in Verona on May 30th, after three weeks of intense, exciting, and hard racing.

Click on photo to expand it.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Elite REALPOWER Trainer Contest



From Elite:
Fontaniva (PD), April 12th, 2010 - "Elite Sior presents a great opportunity for all two wheel fans. From March 1st to July 31st, 2010 when you buy a Sior water bottle cage you could win one Realpower (ed. note: see here) a month. That’s right, Realpower: the latest generation Elite electric trainer that can reach inclines of up to 20%, simulating all the sensations of an actual road race. To participate in the “Realpower every month” sweepstakes, just send proof of purchase of a Sior water bottle cage and a sentence describing what you liked most about this new entry in the Elite collection. Every month a winner will be announced on the website www.elite-it.com, and the Realpower roller will be sent directly to their home courtesy of Elite.

Sior is made in carbon fibre, guaranteeing high performance lightness and sturdiness. Thanks to its titanium structure, the water bottle is attached more firmly and can resist all the differences in terrain during competition. Inserting and extracting the water bottle becomes a simple operation, quick and safe, even during the most intense moments of a race. These enviable traits have made Sior the most widely used water bottle among professional teams.

The first Realpower has ended up in Girona, Catalunya, Spain, with a very happy Senor Manuel Dominguez Pereira, who was delighted with his prize. Congratulations, Manuel…happy pedalling with Sior and happy training with Realpower!

For information on rules and all sweepstakes details, visit our website: http://www.elite-it.com/ or click directly on: http://209.227.240.53/winrealpower/. Promotion available in all the world excepted the UK."

Photos: Elite REALPOWER trainer, Sior water bottle cage

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Claudio Chiappucci, Today



Claudio Chiappucci, "Il Diablo", will be the guest rider during the new “Le Strade di San Francesco” granfondo. Team Bike Ponte is organizing the event that will be held on May 1st. The photos are of Chiappucci riding the course recently with club members and promoting the event.

Chiappucci, who was born in Uboldo (Varese), was on the podium three times in the Tour de France general classification - second in 1990, third in 1991 and second again in 1992. He retired from racing in 1998.

The granfondo will begin in Ponte San Giovanni (Perugia, Umbria). The granfondo will be 139 km long with 1650m of climbing and the mediofondo will be 89 km with 690m of climbing.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

I HATED Climbing Until.....




My thanks to Jason, who does web development for Velo Veneto, for his story. Velo Veneto, since 1986, has made it easy for English-speaking riders to race in Italy, and ride Gran Fondos. Started by an Italian-American, Renato Palazzo, the camp has run strong for 25 years and today is led by Pat Carroll. Situated at the foot of Monte Grappa, the location is perfect for training and is central to the majority of Italian amateur racing and many of the famous Gran Fondo.

From Parma to Castelcucco, the long way

"I grew up in Parma, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. There's not much to say about that, other than there is a decent-sized Italian community there, which came in handy. It was there that I met Joe Bringheli . Sig. Bringheli was my first contact with Italian cycling, and a real cyclist in general. He took the time to teach me how to ride - to be comfortable on a road bike. He also regaled me with tales of classic Italian races and racers - most of what I know about Coppi, Bartoli, Saronni, and Moser is due to him. And in the tangible goods department, he also sold me my first pair of hand-built wheels (which, I might point out, I didn't need to true for almost 2 years!). To say that he was instrumental in getting me to love cycling, and Italian cycling in particular, is an understatement.

After college, I found myself in California, and despite the proliferation of beautiful hills, I HATED climbing. I got better at it over the years, but I still hated it. I LOVED descending, but no way did I want to go up. Along the way, I also became involved with Velo Veneto.

Anyway, my job was to help tell the story of this great camp, and build them a new website. Of course, ever the responsible professional, I said, "How can I tell the story of the camp, if I've never been?" So, 14 hours with KLM and some bad airport food later, I landed in Venice. As we headed north into Castelcucco, we watched an evening temperale bubbling on top of the Grappa, flashing the sky with lightning. But by the time we arrived in town, it was clear and dry. A quick ride, a tasty dinner at Hotel Monte Grappa, and I was ready for bed.

The next morning, wasting no time, I was thrown in at the deep end. On tap for that day was a climb of Passo Rolle, descent of Passo Rolle (I was definitely looking forward to this!), and a climb and descent of the Croce d'Aune. A short, and beautiful, drive north into the Dolomites got us to our ride kick-off location. We warmed up for the climb by riding up the valley into Fiera di Primiero and through Siror to start the climb. I've been in the Alps before, and spent a decent amount of time in the Sierra Nevadas, but nothing is like the Dolomites. They're not big. They're not massive. They are... dramatic. That really is the best word I could use to describe them. You really get the impression of their size and power when you're on the bike and you can just feel them towering over you. I could not get enough.

We continued to climb up, giving us not only dramatic overhead views, but gorgeous valley views opening below us now. I was achingly slow up the climb not because it's so hard (it's not), but because riding and taking pictures at the same time is quite hard! We passed through San Martina di Castroazza, where Danilo DiLuca had won a Giro stage only weeks before (and Ricardo Ricco just won a stage the other day), and kept on climbing. As we gained altitude, the climb began to feel familiar - the trees and shrubs are very similar to the high Sierras - yet not. The roads were smooth! The traffic was courteous! And always, the dramatic Dolomites above!

As we neared the top, the road levels out and I couldn't resist putting it into the big ring and taking advantage of the tailwind. We stopped at the summit to put on clothes for the descent and grab a quick hot chocolate. Asked how I liked the Rolle, I said, "Pat, I HATED climbing... until I came here. I LOVE it now! I can't wait to climb some more!" Riding the Croce d'Aune, one of the most historic climbs in cycling, was almost incidental to the day, as great as it was. The mountains had me at "Hello."

That is why, from here forward, you will find me in Castelcucco every summer, with a cast of characters our riders know well, and who can't wait to ride, race, and complete a Gran Fondo with someone new."

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Friday, April 23, 2010

2010 Giro del Trentino




Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) claimed his first general classification win since his comeback from a two-year suspension. "Vino" won the four stage race by 12 hundredths of a second over Riccardo Riccò (Ceramica Flaminia). Now, there are only 14 days to the start of the Giro d'Italia...

The race is held in the province of Trento, most commonly referred to as "Trentino". It's a beautiful area to ride in, and includes the upper portion of Lake Garda.

Photos: scenes from the race

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I Forzati della Strada




"I Forzati della Strada" is a new vintage bike ride scheduled for June 20, 2010, in the hilltop town of Montottone (Fermo) in the Le Marche region. The ride is dedicated to Fausto Coppi.

The Italian ride announcement referred to the journalist Albert Londres, and its from him that the ride title "I Forzati della Strada" originates.

Albert Londres was a foreign affairs reporter for Le Petit Journal of Paris. In 1923 he went to the French penal colony of Cayenne in Guyana. Describing the horrors, his reports produced reactions in public opinion and the Establishment:

"It must be said that we in France have erred. When someone - sometimes with our knowledge - is sent into forced labour, we say "He has gone to Cayenne". The penal colony is no longer at Cayenne, but at Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni first of all and later at the ÃŽles du Salut. I ask, by the way, that these isles be debaptised, for they are not the Isles of Salvation, but the Isles of Punishment. The law allows us to behead murderers, not to employ them. Cayenne is nevertheless the capital of the penal colony. (...) Finally, I arrived at the camp. The labour camp. Not a machine for producing well defined, regulated, uniform punishment. A factory churning out misery without rhyme or reason. One would search in vain for any mould to shape the prisoners. It crushes them, that's all, and the pieces go where they may."

Shortly after returning from Cayenne he was invited to follow and report on the 1924 Tour de France. His observation was that suffering of the riders and the convicts of Cayenne were similar. He referred to the Tour de France as the "Tour de Souffrance" (Tour of Suffering) and that the riders as the "Les Forçats de la route" (The convicts of the road; in Italian, I Forzati della Strada).

The "I Forzati della Strada" ride will offer two distances: 40 and 80 km. The routes will have many sections of "strada bianca" (white roads) in good condition. Although the event is open to non-vintage bikes there will be a separate classification for pre-1983 bikes and these riders should also use pre-1983 clothing and accessories. Several prizes will be available in this category.

There will be no technical support along the route; there will be a sag wagon to pickup riders that have difficulties.

Register before June 10th. For the 10 Euro registration you will receive a bottle of wine from Terre Picene with a label dedicated to Fausto Coppi; a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, an event t-shirt, and a silk screened print of Fausto Coppi by artisit Querelle.

For more details see: http://www.iforzatidellastrada.it/ (there are also English and French versions).

I have a calendar of other vintage bike rides in Italy for 2010 here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

1st Annual Gran Fondo Moab is in 10 Days


The 1st annual Gran Fondo Moab is in 10 days. Event details in here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Moser and Gimondi Choose Sigma


Advertisement for Sigma glasses featuring Francesco Moser and Felice Gimondi.

I can tell you that both are as stylish today as they were then.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

"Made in Holland" Miss Giro d'Italia


The Ciao Bella! reality show will select two of the remaining six Dutch finalists to be "Miss Giro d'Italia 2010". The show began with 100 participants on March 5th at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam and will conclude on May 5th.

The "Made in Holland" winners will join four Italian "Miss Giro d'Italia 2010".

They will join the Giro d'Italia ambassador, Yolanthe Van Kasbergen, as presenters during the race.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

NFL Linebacker Tackles the Gran Fondo del Monte Grappa



NFL linebacker Dhani Jones is best-known for his career in the NFL where, over the past eight years, he has played for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and, currently, the Cincinnati Bengals. He is also the host and protagonist in the Travel Channel show "Dhani Tackles the Globe".

In his current globetrotting adventure he tackles the Gran Fondo del Monte Grappa in Bassano del Grappa.

A short video (preceeded by a short advertisment) can be seen here.

The producer, Michael Strom, writes "The Italy shoot fell between the Iceland Strongman shoot and the Croatia Water Polo shoot. Even though this is Season 2 of Dhani Tackles the Globe, it still amazes me that Dhani can put his body through so much in such a short period of time, and do well no matter the sport. For Italy, Dhani was going to be doing cycling, something everyone thought might be a little bit easier on his body than let's say a wrestling type sport or a full contact team sport. Wrong.

Although it may not look like the "toughest" sport, it became clear that cycling not only would test Dhani's body to the limit, but also his mind. The Gran Fondo del Monte Grappa is 80 miles long, 17 of which are uphill at a steep incline. After one of Dhani's training climbs up Monte Grappa, it seemed like he'd rather be doing two-a-days in full pads.

Cristiano Citton, a two-time Olympic cyclist who was born in Bassano del Grappa, was Dhani's coach. He was a huge help in making Dhani feel comfortable on the bike, whether it be on training rides, steep climbs, or the intimidating Velodrome. Dhani and Cristiano formed a bond early on, being two athletes that, although they play different sports, share the same competitive fire and will to win that is inherent in most successful athletes.

Cristiano competed at the highest level of his sport, the Olympics, and Dhani has competed at the highest level in his sport, a Super Bowl. As Dhani says in the show, he couldn't have finished the race without Cristiano's help, and it seemed like on the race day climb up Monte Grappa, two athletes from different sports and different worlds were bonded together by a common goal and a shared experience.

While Dhani was struggling to get through the daunting race, the crew had some issues of our own to deal with. We had two main cameras. One would follow Dhani the entire way of what would be a six-hour ordeal. The other crew would get Dhani's start and finish, meet Dhani at points in between, and pick up some other footage of the race. The most surprising thing about race day, which made the shoot a bit more challenging, was that the roads were fully open. There were cars and other race vehicles following the cyclists as part of the event, while other cars and buses with no ties to the race passed the riders. Then there was oncoming traffic as well. Add those thin Italian roads to the mix and the result is a hectic and tight scene. But we ended up getting the footage we needed and there were no accidents to report."

Photos: training ride on Monte Grappa, with Cristiano Citton (pointing).

There are actually nine ways to the top of Monte Grappa, all challenging. Some of these are discussed in this previous story. More recent is a story about climbing the route known as the "Salto della Capre", read about it here. My own favorite story involving climbing Monte Grappa was a chance encounter on the bridge in the town of Bassano del Grappa.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Bianchi for the "Cobra"




Bianchi, supplier of the Professional Continental team Ceramica Flaminia, has prepared a completely new and custom made model for Riccardo Riccò (the “Cobra”). Riccò will use the bike at the Giro del Trentino stage race that begins tomorrow and ends April 23rd.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Pinarello KOBH 60.1


Information from Range re: the new Pinarello KOBH 60.1 which should be arriving in shops in July, 2010:

"Cycling fans were abuzz this week, as Pinarello officially unveiled the KOBH 60.1 frameset. It was seen during some of the more hardcore races, including the upcoming Paris-Roubaix, which punishes unprepared riders thanks to the cobble stone paths. KOBH is pronounced “cob”, which is short for cobblestones.

Apparently, the KOBH 60.1 has been developed in parallel to the Dogma. The 60.1 moniker means that it shares the same type of carbon fiber from Torayca.

The difference resides in the fact that the KOBH 60.1 was developed for some of the classic races of Northern Europe. The new geometry, which Pinarello have dubbed "CenturyRide", will provide more shock absorption. The KOBH has the same lateral stiffness as the Dogma. It’s got relaxed seat and head tube angles, as well as a longer head tube. The fork rake is longer too. The frame also has better wheel clearance, which means that it can accept 28mm tires.

The bike is designed to offer more comfort and be less harsh for longer races. Team Sky will be using the KOBH this year at the Paris-Roubaix. It will be sold starting in July and will be available with Shimano Dura Ace Di2-internal routing or traditional cable routing.

Visually, the bike differs from the Dogma most significantly by its seatstays. The Dogma has got a double s-bend Onda seatstays, whereas the KOBH has got flatter and radial curved stays. This is similar to the ones that are used by Cervélo in the R3, RS, as well as Ridley with their Excalibur. Pinarello calls them AFS, or asymmetrical frame system, meaning that they are asymmetric in order to maximize the KOBH’s resistance to flex under rider power.

According to Pinarello, the KOBH is 23% more impact-resistant than any other frame they make. Claimed weight of the frame is 1,100g. The frameset comes with a fork (360g), headset (80g), and seatpost (195g) for a total of 1,735g."

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Gilberto Simoni Returns to Lampre to Finish Career


Wearing the blue-fucsia jersey of Lampre-Daikin Gilberto Simoni won the 2001 Giro d'Italia. Today it was announced that the 38 year old rider from Palù di Giovo (Trento) will finish his career Lampre-Farnese Vini.

The climber and Lampre-Farnese Vini general manager Saronni signed the agreement that allows Simoni to take part in the last races of his career wearing the blue-fucsia colors. Giuseppe Saronni commented, "We've been talking for a long time about this project that would allow Gilberto to end his career in our team, surrounded by friendly people. The Galbusera family, owner of Lampre, always supported this idea and so the project was realized: Simoni will race for team Lampre-Farnese Vini starting in Giro del Trentino".

Simoni also won the 2003 Giro d'Italia with team SAECO.

The 2010 Giro d'Italia will be Simoni's last professional race.

Photo: Simoni back in the Lampre colors

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Ferrari and Colnago Release CFXX Limited Edition Bike


Colnago announcement: "Extending a collaboration that has existed for many years, Colnago have teamed up with legendary Italian car manufacturer Ferrari to produce the limited edition CFXX Fulcrum. The CFXX is everything you would expect from these two iconic Italian brands, matching stylish looks with state-of-the-art innovation.

This carbon fiber beauty draws on Formula 1 expertise and 3PRS technology to boost frame’s rigidity while keeping the weight down to just 6kg. Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 electronic groupset and Fulcrum’s Racing Speed XLR wheels add to the extra-special look and feel of the CFXX.

To make the CFXX that bit more special, Colnago and Ferrari are limiting the series to just 50 models. These are available only through the store on the Ferrari website at a cost of €12,500 ($16,700).

For that equally impressive price, each purchaser will get a bike that has undergone the ultimate personalization process, ensuring they have the perfect ride on what is sure to be the most eye-catching bike of the year.

For more details on the CFXX visit Ferrari’s website."

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Paso GranFUNdo, Part III


WHOA. I need to recollect my thoughts and reconsider how I should write about this California adventure. I am overwhelmed from the entire experience.

Great people, great rides, wine tastings, late afternoon presentations, incredible dinners, and grappa nightcaps. It was, in its own unique Californian way, an opposite-side-of-the-planet "Ben Vivere" (the Good Life) which was chronicled by Buzz Yancich in 2009:
Ben Vivere, Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV


The 2010 Paso GranFUNdo is finished. I am already looking forward to next year's.

Over the next few days I'll organize photos and stories.

Photo: Cross Canyon Road scene near San Miguel (Droid cell phone photo)

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Paso GranFUNdo, Part II

April 10, 2010: Beautiful 60 mile ride with 2800 feet of climbing today to Lake Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio, followed by Hare Canyon Road and then 10 miles into a very strong headwind for 10 miles along Indian Valley Road before reaching the city limits of Paso Robles. The day never really warmed up, remaining in the high 40s/low 50s, and and with the wind and some light rain in spots it wasn't "California Dreaming" for me. Especially since I packed T-shirts...what was I thinking?

Each morning begins with a rider assembly at 8:50 a.m. and we depart at 9:00 a.m. Today we also had the the rider introductions, which came from all parts of the USA, one Canadian, and Eros Poli from Verona.

Being a training camp the ride rolled along at a steady pace. There isn't time to stop for the best possible photos, unless you don't mind riding by yourself. The hills are still lusciously green and lush, it won't be long before they turn golden.

Back in time for quick shower and and a change of clothes and then off to a wine tasting.

Photos: coming in a few days

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Paso GranFUNdo, Part I

April 9, 2010: Italy meets California in Paso Robles, California, where the Paso GranFUNdo is taking place. The GranFUNdo is a one week training camp organized by Californians that are friends with Eros Poli. The big surprise is that Eros Poli, from Verona, was invited and is here.

Tonight, over much wine and merriment, Eros entertained the assembled GranFUNdo riders during the evening explaining how many spacers should be used on a stem. "Zero".

Photos: coming later

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Next: Not a Granfondo but the Paso GranFUNdo


I'm off for an adventure. Not sure how much blogging I'll do over the next days but stay tuned for some surprises!


Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Giro d'Italia: 100 + 1 Years


For the 101st anniversary of the Giro d'Italia the Gazzetta dello Sport is preparing a DVD that celebrates the past champions of the "Corsa Rosa". They have asked readers to vote on who the Gazzetta should consider. After 3,000 votes this is the result:
Pantani 24.6%
Coppi 13.7%
Bartali 8.5%
Merckx 8.5%
Indurain 5.8%
Cipollini 5.1%
Bugno 4.6%
Basso 3.9%
Chiappucci 3.8%
Simoni 3.5%
Gimondi 3.0%
Moser 2.9%
Contador 2.0%
Gaul 2.0%
Hinault 1.9%
Binda 1.6%
Saronni 1.5%
Anquetil 1.2%
Van Steenbergen 1.0%
Magni 0.9%

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Granfondo Città di Lazise by Paola Pezzo





The Granfondo Città di Lazise by Paola Pezzo is one of the youngest events in Italy. The first edition, last year, was immensely popular but the organizing committee decided to continue working on how to improve the event. Now the start will take riders 25km northward on the "Gardesana", the lake side road, that passes through Bardolino, Garda, Punta S. Vigilio and Torri del Benaco. It is a beautiful stretch of road that has Lake Garda to your left and the looming Monte Baldo on your right. Surely, there won't be any time for sightseeing.

After passing Torri del Benaco the route turns towards San Zeno di Montagna on Monte Baldo. Expect to see a 22% maximum grade in this section. The course then heads to the valle dell'Adige after which there will be more climbing fun...

The 2010 edition is scheduled for April 18th. Two routes are offered: the mediofondo (110 km) and the granfondo (150 km).

A good place to stay, near the event start, is the Sport Hotel Veronello. The hotel caters to cyclists, see this blog entry.

The event website, Italian only, is here.

Photos: 2009 event; last photo is of two time Olympic gold medalist in mountain biking Paola Pezzo (she owns a nice bike shop in Bardolino)

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Tour of Flanders: Extraordinary Fabian Cancellara


After winning his first Tour of Flanders this afternoon, Fabian Cancellara said his next goal is to win all five of cycling's monuments. Having now won three monuments, Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, and the Tour of Flanders, Cancellara now has the remaining two monuments in his sights: Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Giro di Lombardia.

Belgium's two-time winner Tom Boonen failed in his bid to become a three time winner, finishing just over a minute behind after being dropped on the Kapelmuur, the penultimate cobbled climb. It was here that Cancellara smoothly powered over the cobbles to drop Boonen. The TT world champion and Olympic TT champion then used his time trial skills to steadily increase his lead over Boonen until the finish.

"Cancellara gained twenty seconds in one kilometer so then you have to accept the facts. I rode away from the men behind me but he was riding a minute away from me. You don't need a drawing to understand that," Boonen said before pointing out there wasn't much else he could do against Cancellara. "What can you do? Shoot him to death?" Boonen joked."I was going 55 km/h down to Ninove, but he must have reached at least 60. Then you must resign yourself to the fact."

Italian team Lampre-Farnese Vini had a top 10 finisher in Danilo Hondo:
1. Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank)
2. Tom Boonen (Quick Step) at 1'12"
3. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma Lotto) at 2'10"
4. Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) at 2'13"
5. Tyler Farrar (Garmin Transitions) at 2'30"
6. George Hincapie (BMC)
7. Roger Hammond (Cervelo)
8. Maxim Iglinskyi (Astana)
9. Danilo Hondo (Lampre Farnese)
10.William Bonnet (Bbox Bouygues Telecom)

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Dedacciai STRADA Framesets


Back in October, 2009, we reported on the Dedacciai "BOLD" prototype that was on display at EICMA. The frame is characterized by oversized carbon everything with the exception of the seatstays which are titanium:

Now Dedacciai has decided to also become a frameset producer and the "BOLD" prototype has become the "Temerario" frame.

In addition, the Dedacciai "Strada" range of frames includes three other carbon frames in their lineup (Scuro RS, Assoluto, and Nero RC) plus a Ti frame (Titanum K-19).

From their website, where you can see all the frames and their various colors:

"Dedacciai has finally decided to take its experience directly to the cycling world.
After 20 long years of strong work, of incessant research and most of all, of big passion, Dedacciai took the important decision to introduce itself to the biggest athletes and to the most demanding passionates....."

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Tomorrow: Tour of Flanders


Tomorrow is the 94th edition of the Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen), a one day road race that is one of the "monuments" of cycling. The race distance is 262km with 15, mostly cobbled, climbs. It's a hugely important race for Belgian riders and a visual spectacle for fans.

Belgian riders have won 66 editions and the list of winners is rich of legendary names. Only four riders have won the Tour of Flanders three times: Belgians Achiel Buysse (1940, 1941, 1943), Eric Leman (1970, 1972, 1973) and Johan Museeuw (1993, 1995, 1998), and Italian Fiorenzo Magni (1949, 1950, 1951). Magni was the only one to achieve three consecutive victories. Museeuw was also on the podium another 5 times, three 2nd places, and two 3rd places. Belgian rider Alberic Schotte was also on the podium 8 times with 2 victories, two 2nd places, and four 3rd places.

Italians account for 10 victories. Magni's three plus those of Dino Zandegù (1967), Moreno Argentin (1990), Gianni Bugno (1994), Michele Bartoli (1996), Gianluca Bortolami (2001), Andrea Tafi (2002), and Alessandro Ballan (2007).

Two Belgian riders have a chance to win their third Tour of Flanders this year: Tom Boonen who won in 2005 and 2006, and Stijn Devolder who had consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009 and who could tie Magni's record.

Definitely a race not to miss.

Photo: one of the climbs in the race

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Friday, April 2, 2010

City Bike of the Future: by Alberto Del Biondi Industria Del Design


The Italian form "Alberto Del Biondi Industria Del Design", a design firm, has designed a futuristic, innovative, city bike which has no chain, wheels without spokes, and uses lightweight carbon and nivacrom (a lightweight steel).

The finished product is a bicycle with an innovative design whose weight is between 5 and 6 kg. Looking at the bicycle one might surmise that it is a prototype but in reality it is a finished product that combines design, lightness and technology.

The rear wheel is turned at the perimeter via a gear hidden in the frame. All cables are internally routed.

It is not the first project involving two-wheelers made by the "industrial design" division of the company which has among its customers names like Pirelli and Momo Design and Nerocarbonio DB7 supercar made entirely of carbon.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Granfondo and Giro d'Italia Ride Opportunities


My friend Nicola from the Sport Hotel Veronello (also Garda Bike Hotel), near the shores of Lake Garda, reminded me that they have several ride opportunities they are offering.

April 18: Granfondo Città di Lazise, with the start only 3km from the hotel.

22 to 31 May: Giro d'Italia week; watch the 14th, 16th, and 18 stages; and, ride the TT, and final stage into Verona before the pros do. In the days in between ride in Valpolicella, along the lake to Malcesine, ride Peri-Fosse, and participate in the Granfondo Zen.

Two separate weeks are offered in which ex-pro Eros Poli is the special guide:

Septembr 27 to October 4: ride two granfondos that week, the Granfondo Prosecco and the Granfondo South Garda Bike.

October 4 to October 11: ride the Granfondo Italia

The hotel has De Rosa bikes which can be rented.

To request further information contact Nicola at the hotel.

Photo: Malcesine

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.