News - Colin Lewis Cycle Chat May 2010

Cycle Chat 29.05.10

Great news for our former CLCycles shop worker Jon Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp) who has just won the 5th stage in the Tour of Ireland (FBD Insurance Ras). Jon was first to the top of the climb, spring boarding from the day's big break to find stage success, finishing nine seconds clear of compatriot Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta), with Kugler a further five seconds back in third.

There were seven riders together coming to the hill and Jon neutralised a few attacks and then got on the front. He thought it might be too early to go but it was so steep he decidedthat he would just go for it not looking back until he had dropped them.

Well done Jon. There are some good riders in this Tour with many good European Teams. This puts him in 7th overall just 1.45 down and 2nd in the King of the Mountains. With 3 more stages to go who knows??

Simon our shop boss returned safely from an exhilarating trip to watch the Tour of Italy. He was very excited about the whole few days and watched Stage 14 as it went over 1675 metres of Monte Grappa.

He was guest of Wiliers Bikes who had a tent about 5 kms from the top with a readily available barbecue!! But back to the racing!! Simon was able to see Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo) race to the top followed closely by Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo), Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team).

Top Brit with 3 stages to go is Bradley Wiggins (Sky Professional Cycling Team) at 26th after taking a pasting in Sunday's stage up the vertical Monte Zoncolan 37 mins down followed by Charles Wegelius at 41st 69 mins.

Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) had a torrid time on the Tour of California not finishing the final stage. The whole Cervélo Team struggled but Jeremy hopes he has done enough to get selected for the soon coming Tour de France. This would be a first for him.

I have recorded the Halford's Tour but have not had enough time to watch it yet. The results are hard to find via the internet but Yanto Barker (Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago) I understand has been doing well and his Team is placed 7th on 10 points with Rapha Condor in the lead on 20.

You can't keep the Rapha Condor Team down these days with all their successes so far this season. Leading me on to say that the Condor bikes are on order and should be in the shop next week. Join a winning team!!

Until next week,

Bob

Cycle Chat 22.05.10

We had a very successful meeting with the Condor Bikes last week and have agreed to become a stockist. Prices range from £500 to £1600 for the frameset. Call into our shop at Paignton else give us a ring on 01803 553095 for further details.

Simon (our proprietor) said that he thought that they were a very well made and engineered frame with the looks to go with it.

The Tour of Italy has continued its topsy turvy way with again crashes sorting out the leading positions. Simon is there over the weekend and will be watching Stage 14 as it goes over Monte Grappa with a height of 1675 metres.

Simon has climbed Monte Grappa before on a visit and it took him 1hr 40 mins!! He will be climbing it again this year to watch from the top. The road averages a tad under eight per cent for its 18km with ramps of 14 per cent, then drops steeply back to the plains before a short kick up to the finish in Asolo.

If you can't get to Italy you can have a grandstand and helicopter view on Eurosport starting at 1300hrs.

Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) is having a tough time in the Tour of California and is in 108th position. Brett Lancaster was leading the race for several stages but knew when the mountains came Brett would not be able to sustain his position. All credit to Cervélo they persisted in keeping Brett in the lead with 100% effort but had to concede to the inevitable.

But Brit girl Emma Pooley (Cervélo Test Team) successfully defended her first place GC ranking in the sixth stage at the Tour de l'Aude around Castelnaudary with a 17th place result in today's stage.

For the locals on Thursday 3rd June the Tour Series televised event returns to Exeter city centre. The race will feature the best riders on the British Criteriums scene and will be an exciting spectacle.

Until next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 15.05.10

Called in at CLCycles this week and met up with Jon Locke who had returned from the USA after being delayed in New York by ash. He is getting ready for the Tour of Ireland in a weeks time.
Jon's team Rapha Condor is proving to be the dominant team in British Cycling at the moment. After the 123 of the previous week they were back this week with another 1st with Chris Newton in the Lincoln GP. Jon was 17th.
I had a look at Jon's training bike which is identical to his competition bike which of course is a Condor a very smart technical machine. The rep for Condor will be visiting the shop this next week with a view of CLCycles being a stockist for them.
Condor Cycles, a British Company that's been producing bikes for 60 years and which are now manufactured in Italy, and the founder of Condor Cycles Colin Lewis was a part of the Condor Cycling Team a few years back when he was a professional cyclist.
We trust we will be able to do a deal with them!!
Jeremy Hunt is still in the USA continuing with altitude training but will be back in competition this coming Sunday for the 8 day Tour of California.
Jeremy's team mate and green points jersey from last years TDF Cervélo TestTeam's Thor Hushovd has had a set back to his training with a broken collar bone. His recovery phase has started already, with some indoor training at his home in Monaco. We still trust Jeremy will be his lead out man in the TDF.
Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) blasted his way to victory in the opening individual time trial stage of the Giro d'Italia in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon to claim the first maglia rosa of the race. The 30-year-old Briton, a multi-time Olympic gold medallist and world champion in the pursuit showcased his renowned prowess against the clock as he covered the 8.4 kilometre course in a time of 10:18.
Things have not been going too well since with a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and he is back in 48th some 4.36 back. Doing better is David Millar (GB) Garmin - Transitions who is 9th just 45 secs back. The crunch comes this weekend when the mountains start.
As usual there is full coverage every afternoon on Eurosport as well as highlights in the evening.
Until next week,
Bob.

Cycle Chat 08.05.10

We have just got in stock all our summer clothing. Star of the show is Yanto Barker's range of Le Col. This comes in an endearing blue as worn by Yanto in the Pendragon Team. Also in stock is the Scottish based Endura Equipe with 10% saving on RRP selection. Click to buy from the website exclusive and save 10%.

We have always known that our former shop employee Jon Locke (Rapha Condor) was a great climber but he showed in the Chas Messenger Road Race last Sunday that he is OK when it comes to the sprint as well!!

Jon's team-mates Dan Craven Rapha and Darren Lapthorne took the first two spots and Jon was in the following group sprinting for the line.

These are Jon's comments afterwards: - "I have a few tricks up my sleeve!" Talking about the chase group that crossed to the break, he explained "we wanted to have the numbers up there. It is a hard enough course that even if there is a gap of a few minutes, you can shut it down. It was good and at one stage there were four of us in a group of seven."

"With a few laps to go, we started attacking and then Dan's one stuck and seemed to crack everyone. They were thinking if we chase him, some one else is going to go and Dan was super strong. I'm enjoying being with the team, it's an awesome team. It's like a team of mates, not just team-mates so it's good."

Yanto Barker took his first win of the season at the Totnes Vire two day stage race as the winning streak for Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago continued. Pendragon was up against it from the start with a nine strong team from Willier - Big Maggies set against just six from the South West based squad. The race organiser Mid Devon CC were also playing host to French team Velo Club du Bocage which added a sprinkling of Galic flair to the proceedings.

Day 1, Stage 1 TT
The first stage being a 4.6 mile time trial with a long uphill finish saw joint leaders emerge - Pendragon's Rhys Lloyd and James McLaughlin of Guernsey. Yanto finished 11th on stage one with main rival Marcin Bialoblocki of Willier 15 seconds ahead of him in third.

Day 1, Stage 2
This was an uneventful stage controlled by Pendragon and Willier which resulted in any moves being neutralised with James McLaughlin taking the stage ahead of Rhys Lloyd of Pendragon.

Day 2, Stage 3
This proved to be the crucial stage with four ascents of Aylesbeare Hill with its long climb and false flat. Chris Opie and Will Bjerfelgt got away very early and stayed out front until the finishing circuit. They were then caught by a group with the final selection consisting of five Willier and three Pendragon Riders. Rhys Llloyd, having made a big effort to get across and join the front group earlier, was left behind as the attacks started going and it was left to Opie and Yanto to slug it out against Willier.

Well done the Mid Devon Club on their excellent organisation of this yearly event.

Until next week,
Bob.

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