Marco Pinotti is a Righteous Dude

For those not in the know, Marco Pinotti is a rarity. An old-school Italian road bike racer, who calls 'em like he see 'em. Marco has race with and against the best over the last ten plus years, and he is vocal of his disgust of doping! In the interview on this link, you get the feeling that he is close to exploding when speaking about the way the system lets dopers skirt or avoid testing or REAL sanctions. Enjoy, I did.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/marco-pinotti-exclusive-interview-with-italian-cyclings-voice-of-reason

Battle River Cycling Club!

Hey everybody, the new club now exists and is official. The Alberta Bicycling Association now has us in the registration system.

The BRCC offers the following benefits:

• No age limit, membership ages from 0 to 100!
• Grassroots development of the sport and activity of bicycling in Eastern Alberta
• Participation in all Club Rides, Races, and Events (Helmets mandatory)
• Skills training for road, track, mountain bike, and eventually BMX!
• Winter Group Training
• Volunteer opportunities, including developing potential charity events
• Athlete support & access to club equipment
• Ability to purchase quality club clothing at great prices
• Access to Sanctioned Races & Events, Commissaire and Coaching courses, and affiliation with the Alberta Bicycling Association (ABA) & Canadian Cycling Association (CCA)
• ABA Liability and Accident Insurance during all sanctioned and scheduled BRCC, ABA, & CCA events
• “Club Members Only” 20% discount at Richter Bicycle Services (repairs, maintenance, and coaching)

BRCC Core Values & Program Goals:

• Promote family oriented bicycling activities
• Inclusive of all and any bicyclists – no bike snobbery in this club!
• Grassroots development of the sport and activity of bicycling in Eastern Alberta
• Develop children’s and junior programs
• Support athletes of all ages
• Winter Training including on and off bike training
• Spring Camp in 2012
• Promote commuting and its environmental & health friendly benefits

BRCC Ride Schedule:

• Mondays – An early morning training ride, times get earlier with the rising sun!
• Tuesdays – Every second Tuesday is the BRCC’s “Toonie Tuesday” race series to teach and develop racing skills in a friendly atmosphere
• Thursdays – Ladies night group ride, Daddies & Kids ride
• Saturdays – Group Ride (broken into fast and slow or short and long groups)
• Sundays – Group rides as per Saturdays
• Monthly – Random events that appeal to the club membership, suggestions are welcome

How to Become a Member:

• Fill out and return the BRCC Membership application & waiver with membership fee ($40 for 12 and under, $50 for 13-17, and $60 for 18 and over)
• Go online to the ABA website and following the membership instructions, join the ABA through Zone4 online membership registration – pick your club affiliation as the “Battle River Cycling Club.” Register as an ABA General Member for $40, or obtain a race license for $75 to $135. You can register more than one individual at a time through the ABA website/Zone4. The BRCC President needs to sign all ABA memberships to indicate that ABA insurance will be paid through the club.
• Enjoy riding and socializing with the club, purchase BRCC gear, and volunteer to build cycling in Eastern Alberta!

Thanks for reading and if you are in the Wainwright area, please consider joining!

Liege - Bastogne - Liege

OK sports fans, La Doyenne of the Classics, the last but not the least runs on Easter Sunday.

News here  http://www.cyclingnews.com/liege-bastogne-liege

Live internet coverage here  http://www.cyclingfans.com/

While our man Ryder Hesjedal was sick with stomach problems last weekend during the Amstel Gold race (he even ducked into a house on the side of the road for relief...he has bounced back and finished in the top 15 at Fleche Wallonne. He is looking at some heavy hitters as competition, Philippe Gilbert, on a rip of late and wanting the L-B-L win, Alexander Vinokourov - defending champ, and a pack of other possible contenders.

So if you are up waaaayyyearly on Sunday, tune into cyclingfans.com for live coverage links.

And eat and drink something Belgian, Hoegartten and waffles!

Canada's Team Spidertech Podiums

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/routley-delivers-spidertechs-first-podium-in-europe

Our national champ, Will Routley, scores Spidertech's first European podium with a second at Tro Bro Leon. Team Spidertech, for all of my readers, is a Professional Continental team, which competes world-wide against other pro-conti teams as well as Pro-Tour teams. Spidertech goes into the Tour of Turkey next, but the next big goal is going to be the Tour of California in May.

http://cyclesportmanagement.com/

oh, and Team Spidertech is managed by cycling God, Steve Bauer.

Amstel Gold!

Philippe Gilbert repeats and wins Amstel Gold.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/philippe-gilbert-repeats-at-amstel-gold-race_169132

One of my favourite riders on the Pro Tour, Philippe Gilbert has in the past also been very outspoken about clean riding. He routinely denounces the dopers, and proves that a pro can ride clean.

One our big guy Ryder, he ended up in 141th place (last year he was second to Gilbert), citing stomach problems.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hesjedal-slowed-by-stomach-problems-at-amstel-gold-race

Let's hope Ryder can bounce back and  do some damage at the Tour of Califorina next month.

Richter Bicycles is in Business!

OK, officially I start on Saturday, 16 April 2011. But we are taking appointments anytime now!

So if you are in need of giving your bike some love, call and book your service today! (does that sound like a good pitch???)

Anyways, with snow flying over today and probably tomorrow too, I don't think anybody is thinking about a bike right now. Maybe rage and frustration, but not our bikes. Hoping everybody has a great weekend,

Dan

PS--Basic tune ups start at $45 bucks....

Paris-Roubaix 2011!!!

COBBLE TIME!!!!

OK, for all of my millions of fans who do not regularly follow the pro cycling scene, tomorrow at about 0400 Mnt Time, the greatest one day race begins. The Queen of the Classics, Paris-Roubaix is the ultimate test of suffering over 27 sections of ancient cobblestone roads for 256 kms. A strongman's race, P-R has produced some of cycling most memorable moments. At times the peloton will be strung-out over many kilometres as speeds with rise over 50 kph. If it rains (or snows!), the roads will turn into a quagmire for ankle-deep muck that will break all but the most dedicated of racers. If it is dry, the clouds of dust will choke all but those at the very front. Needless to say, it will suck for the pros. But that will make great racing for the fans. Rabid drunken fans.

Last year's victor, Fabian "Spartacus" Cancellara will remain the favourite to win with heavy rivals being Tom Boonen, Heinrich Haussler, Baden Cooke, and big George Hincapie. Other hopefuls include other strongment, Thor Hushovod, Roger Hammond, and Tyler Farrar - all teammates of Haussler (Garmin-Cervelo). Also we have Juan Antonio Flecha, Boy-Wonder, Mark Cavendish, Andre Greipel, and the old man of the sprint crew Robbie McEwan. Actually anything can happen at P-R, and that is part of the magic.

Of note, we have three Canadians in the race tomorrow - veteran Michael Barry will be expected to keep Flecha clear of danger for Team Sky, David Veilleux will be riding for Team Europcar, and most exciting!!!! Dominique Rollin is the only non-Frenchman (barely as a Quebecois) on FdJ. The Domster has the ability to be an outside surprise as he performs in bad weather. At the 2008 Tour of California, he out muscled a chasing peloton in harsh rains to take the win. So Rollin is my long-shot prediction, with Spartacus repeating if the contenders make the race.

For news on the race, see http://www.cyclingnews.com/paris-roubaix

For live Internet video, see http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/1816

Everybody, enjoy the pain!