News - Colin Lewis Cycle Chat April 2010

Cycle Chat 30.04.10

It's arrived and looks stunning!! It's the ground breaking as used by Rabobank going for £4,750 and worth every penny!!
The most advanced bicycle ever built to race against the clock. Equally adept at triathlons or time trials, the all-new composite Trinity Advanced SL features every aero advantage. It's stiff, agile and infinitely adjustable for the perfect fit.
Come and see!! There are not many around in the UK!!

Yanto Barker (Pendragon- Le Col) had a great 3rd spot being top Brit in last week's East Midlands International CiCLE Classic. This race looks to be the Paris-Roubaix of the Midlands around the lanes and farm tracks of Rutland.

These were Yanto's comments after the race:-
"It was very good by the team today. It was difficult to tell what was going to happen. Normally in a race like this we'd ride off the bigger teams because we're still a developing team and when the moves started to go on the first lap, it was kind like, we may as well get some guys in the move. When we started to go away and the group was working alright, I thought this is alright. When Simon and Malcolm got across, that was good because it gave the break a bit more impetus because it needed a selection."

"That worked perfectly and I made a big effort to eat and drink enough today and I'm gutted I didn't get it. I jumped into the last corner but I went with 500 to go which was a bit too much. It was hard to know what was going to happen in those closing miles because there were two of us, two Danes, three Sigma. Steve (Lampier) did a real good job for the team. He punctured with 50k to go and got back on and so he was going well."

Jon Locke is back in England after being delayed in the USA after the ash problem. He will be racing this weekend in the Chas Messenger Road Race and with all the hills it will suit Jon down to the ground.

Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) is still doing his altitude in the USA in preparation for the Tour of California on May 16th.

Until next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 24.04.10

We have the pleasure at CLCycles to announce that we now have in stock the ground breaking Trinity Advanced SL 2 as used by Rabobank going for £4,750 and worth every penny!!
The most advanced bicycle ever built to race against the clock. Equally adept at triathlons or time trials, the all-new composite Trinity Advanced SL 2 features every aero advantage. It's stiff, agile and infinitely adjustable for the perfect fit.
Add the groundbreaking Aero Drive stem/handlebar combination and aero tubing, its clear - the clock has met its match!
Look at the Spec:-
Sizes S (53cm), M(56cm), L(58.5cm)
Colours Silver/Composite
Frame Advanced SL-Grade Aero Composite
Fork Advanced SL-Grade Composite, Alloy Steerer
Shock N/A
Handlebar Giant Trinity Advanced SL- Grade Composite Integrated Cockpit System
Stem Giant Trinity Advanced SL-Grade, 3 positions
Seatpost Giant Vector SL Composite Trinity, adjustable offset
Saddle Fi'zi:k Arione Tri 2 w/ Manganese rails
Pedals Not Included
Shifters Shimano Dura-Ace TT 20 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Ultegra 6700
Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra 6700
Brakes Giant Trinity specific
Brake Levers Giant Trinity - aluminium
Cassette Shimano Ultegra 6700 11-23
Chain Shimano Ultegra 6700
Crankset Shimano Ultegra 6700, 39/53
Bottom Bracket Shimano Dura-Ace, Internal Press Fit
Rims Giant Carbon Matrix SL Aero 42mm
Hubs Giant/Formula Sealed Bearing, 16/20h
Spokes SAPIM Race, 14/15g
Tyres Michelin Pro3 Race, 700x23mm, Folding
Extras Saddle Two bottle cage holder, Stem Fitting system

Interested?? Call in our shop at Paignton or give us a ring on 01803 553095.
Or click this link Trinity Advanced SL 2

With our feet now firmly back on the ground have you seen the route for the Tour of Britain taking place 11-18 September? The West Country has been privileged again and it looks from the map to go past my house twice!!

The eight stages for the 2010 Tour of Britain are:
o Stage 1 - 11 September - Rochdale to Blackpool (126km)
o Stage 2 - 12 September - Stoke-on-Trent to Stoke-on-Trent (160km)
o Stage 3 - 13 September - Newton to Swansea (150km)
o Stage 4 - 14 September - Minehead to Teignmouth (171km)
o Stage 5 - 15 September - Tavistock to Glastonbury (176km)
o Stage 6 - 16 September - King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth (189km)
o Stage 7 - 17 September - Bury St Edmunds to Colchester (151km)
o Stage 8 - 18 September - The TfL London Stage (100km)

Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) is at the moment doing altitude training in the USA in preparation for the Tour of California and more importantly he hopes for the Alps in July!!

Until next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 11.04.10

Didn't they do well!! Roger Hammond and Jeremy Hunt of the Cervélo Test Team both rode the races of their lives last Sunday in the "Hardman's" Paris-Roubaix.
Team tactics were to get a rider in any break that went and Jeremy went with a group of 19 and raced away to a 4 minute gap over the Peleton. This was slowly pulled back with several of the lead group dropping off the pace. Jeremy stuck to it and was given superb coverage on Eurosport.
Finally Jeremy was in a group of 4 when caught by a 30 man group containing last week's Tour of Flanders winner Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) with second man and three times previous winner of the Paris-Roubaix Tom Boonen (Quick Step). Also in the group was Jeremy's team-mate Thor Hushovd and hiding somewhere Roger Hammond. Roger had kept a low profile and just appeared in the lead group.
Thor joined up with Jeremy and Jeremy worked for him until he had done his work then sat up and let them go.
Fabian as of last week put his foot down at the right moment and that is the last they saw of him. Thor was second 2mins behind with Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Sky Professional Cycling Team) 4th.
Roger was 4th along with Tom a minute further back with Jeremy 18th another 4 mins adrift.
A good day at the office for the Cervélo Test team with Thor getting back some form in the course of a week where he was left standing in the Tour of Flanders
Meanwhile Jon Locke is doing some more globe trotting this time to North America for the Tour of the Battenkill!! Looks an interesting race with some dirt sections in it?? Last week's Tour of the Ardennes was not a success for the team with sickness overtaking them and Jon having a stomach bug.
Until next week,
Bob

Cycle Chat 10.04.10

Roger Hammond (Cervélo Test Team) secured a great 7th last Sunday in the Tour of Flanders but it could have been a podium. The race was won in an authoritative fashion by Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) with Tom Boonen (Quick Step) second but third place was always up for grabs.
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) eventual third spot was hovering on breaking and Roger was with him. He went several times and pulled back marked by roger but the time he went Roger missed it and thus 7th.
Previously Roger along with the rest of the team including particularly Jeremy Hunt had worked hard for Thor Hushovd but it wasn't Thor's day and was dropped.
The "Main" race between CLCycles shop proprietor and son on the Saturday Simon and Jonathan was agreed to be a draw although Jonathan said he was better on the hills!!
On to this next Sunday there is of course the Paris-Roubaix with Roger and Jeremy going again with Cervélo. Both have had good success in this race with Roger a 3rd in 2007 and a 15th last year and Jeremy with an 18th last year after figuring much in the latter stages tacking Thor to a 3rd.
The question will be can Tom Boonen who was ground into the cobbles by Fabian Cancellara last Sunday in Flanders make it 4 wins in this classic??
There is full coverage on Eurosport stating at 1315 hrs. See you there!!
Good to see David Millar fighting back and clinch his first title of the year following a final stage victory in the Three Days of De Panne race in Belgium.
The Garmin rider secured the title by heading the field in the 14km half-stage time trial on Thursday.
Meanwhile up in Scotland last weekend Jon Locke in the Tour of DoonHame 2010 assisted in taking Chris Newton a Number one position. He and the Rapha Condor team are of this Friday to complete the Circuit des Ardennes.
There was very interesting article about Jeremy Hunt published last week which readers will be interested to see:-
Hunt can still sprint regardless of retirement thoughts!!
Jeremy Hunt is in his 15th season as a professional and 36-year-old looks more settled than ever as he embarks on another batch of Belgium races this weekend. The Cervelo rider will start both E3 Prijs and Gent-Wevelgem, and will throw all his effort into supporting team leaders Thor Hushovd and Theo Bos. It's a far cry from the Hunt that burst onto the scene in 1996 as a young sprinter for Miguel Indurain's Banesto team.
"I'm here to help Thor win, so we'll try and win with him. We'll see how we go but we're looking strong as a team," Hunt said at the team's base in Melle, Belgium.
In his career Hunt has ridden for many teams but his love for the Classics started in 2004 when he signed for a Belgian team and rode alongside Frank Vandenbrouke, Jo Planckaert and Roger Hammond.
"I discovered the Classics with MrBookmaker.com and realised I wanted to do them," he said. "It got me back on my back and gave me more ambition, and then I found this team where you can be a good helper for some of the best riders in the world."
Hunt turned professional in 1996. At the time the amateur had a choice between the Banesto team and waiting one year and signing with Motorola as a stagiere. The choice was an easy one and Hunt went to Spain. In hindsight it was the best move with Motorola folding at the end of 1996.
"I went to one of the best teams in the world and rode with Indurain but since then I've just ridden my bike and enjoyed it as much as I can."
"When you're watching guys like Indurain on television at the age of 15 and then you turn pro with them, it's like turning pro now and riding with Lance," he added. "Maybe a bit different because there was no internet then, so you'd just watch them on television during the Tour de France. There weren't different levels of racing like there are now, just pros and amateurs. Indurain was a hero so it was scary, you didn't know what to do but it was great to be in that team."
In his first two seasons Hunt won over 10 races, claiming wins over the best sprinters in the world and taking stages on the Tour de l'Avenir. Those legs may have slowed a bit when it comes to sprinting but Hunt is still confident that given the chance, he can still surprise people with his kick.
"I can win a sprint against some of the sprinters out there," he said. "If Thor is leading me out then I can beat them. I can't be Cavendish, Thor or Heinrich but I can beat the guys finishing fifth and sixth.
"I always wanted to be a Classics rider," Hunt said. "But I went to Banesto and became a sprinter but I didn't want to be in that mould. Sprinting was the way I won races but I could always climb and sprint and I would have rather come to a team like this if I could have my time again."
Hunt has raced all over Europe since his time Spain, but naturally matured as a rider in that time.
"You get stronger and you know how to race. But my role is different now to the Hunt back then," he said. "Now there are two captains in the team and it's about getting them to the finish first. It's not about dreaming about one day winning Flanders. I'm 36, I would have done it already if it was going to happen now.
"I can still win a bunch sprint," he said. "I've done it for the last few years but would I rather see Thor and the others win or get third or fourth?"
With time beginning to catch up with him Hunt admitted that retirement has crossed his mind but that it won't happen just yet. Not while he's still able to do a job for the team.
"I don't want to be riding around making up the numbers," he said. "I'm still racing, I'm still there, doing a job. Last week my job was to lead into the Cipressa with Thor and I did it. As long as I can keep doing that I'll be here."
So expect to see Hunt doing his job again this weekend.

See you next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 03.04.10

Jon Locke (Rapha Condor) called in the shop this week after just completing the Tour of Normandy where he finished 60th overall. His overall comments were that the Tour had been a useful experience and he had learnt much. He nearly got a stage win after being away on his own but was pulled back just before the finish.
Jon is off to Scotland this weekend for the 3 day The Tour Doon Hame taking place in Dumfries & Galloway.
Simon from CLCycles is taking a party including his son Jonathan to Belgium this Friday for the Tour of Flanders in the Colin Lewis Van (See Photo). No they are not competing but on the Saturday 5 of them from the Mid Devon Club will complete the route and then on the Sunday watch the race. So who will win?? No not on the Sunday. Who will take the honours in the Aske household between Simon and Jonathan?? (Or will they complete the course??)
They will of course be supporting the Cervélo Team and Jeremy Hunt as he flies by looking after Thor Hushovd. The Tour will be shown LIVE on Eurosport on Sunday from Midday until 4. One not to miss!!
Yanto Barker (Rapha Condor Sharp) got a 13 in the Tour of the Reservoir in the Lake District. An extremely windy day and if you missed the break that was your lot!!
There are 16 teams who automatically qualify for selection to the Tour de France starting on July 3rd. Then there are further wild card selections of 6 further teams. Team Sky along with Jeremy Hunt's Cervélo Test Team have both been selected. This will take Jeremy further towards his ambition of completing the TdF at 36.
Team Sky won their eighth win of the season in stage two of the Criterium International when Russell Downing won becoming the first Brit to win in the event. Incidentally after speaking to Colin Lewis last week Sky has ploughed 21 million into their team which compares to 11 million for Lance Armstrong's Radio Shack. A thought to ponder!!
Probably a disappointing weekend at the World Track Championship last weekend but Team Boss Dave Brailsford was happy how it turned out after coming 2nd in the medals tally. He said he was aiming for the Olympics in 2012 and he was pleased with the individual performances of the team.
That's it for this week.
See you next week,
Bob.

Colin Lewis Cycles Limited, 17 Dartmouth Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AD. Telephone: 01803 553095. Registered company number: 4095543.