Cycling News Roundup - 7 January 2007
Team News: Lampre, Hincapie Path, Jobs: NorCal Mtn Bike League, USA Cycling Collegiate, 2009 Black Tire Affair ® Events, Pedal to Pier Benefit, Bike Biz News: RealRyder, BH Bike Demo Tour. FDA Diet Pill Warning.

"I like to ride and race my bike because it is a kind of freedom for me when I train through beautiful landscape without traffic and sometimes just by myself. A day without my bike is a lost day. " Andre Greipel Team Columbia

 Lampre/NGC
Cunego Re-locates to Sunnier Climes
Cunego Cunego had to emigrate. Because of frozen winter and snow in the north of Italy, the Giro di Lombardia winner preferred to move to a zone characterized by better weather conditions, so that he can train in a more consistently in view of 2009 season: he chose to move to San Vincenzo, near Livorno.

With team mates Marco Marzano (in photo, training with Damiano) and Mirco Lorenzetto and with Lampre-NGC's sport director Brent Copeland, Cunego will be hosted in Residence Riva degli Etruschi, where blue-fucsia team organized last years training camps. The three cyclists and Copeland will reach San Vincenzo this evening and will be in Tuscany until the weather in the north of Italy warms.

"I've been training after the pause for many weeks, but this winter is too cold - Cunego explained - Now it's snowing too, so it's hard to train in a proper way. I thought it could be better to move to a better place to go on training in better conditions"

"Damiano told us about his idea and we received it in a positive way - Copeland explained - I'll be with Cunego, Marzano and Lorenzetto for some days, in order to follow the training and to give assistance. Maybe some other team mates will join the group".

First 2009 Lampre-NGC's training camp will take place from the 19th to the 27th of January, probably in San Vincenzo.
 

"Inspiration and motivation comes from within. Fear of failure is one thing that gets me out training. Also the fear of letting down my team mates and team managers helps me keep my body and mind in great shape. I would hate someone working for me to turn up to work lazy so I will never do that myself. The thrill of winning or the desire to win and be the best is one of the major factors that gets me out on the road in the mornings." Greg Henderson Team Columbia

George Hincapie Path Dedicated
The City of Greenville dedicated a newly completed section of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in December to George Hincapie in recognition of the contributions that George and Hincapie Sportswear have made to the cycling and business communities in South Carolina. The "Hincapie Path" is now open and being used by cyclists and pedestrians for recreation and commuting in George's hometown of Greenville, SC.

Once completed, the Swamp Rabbit Trail will be a 22-mile greenway that parallels the Reedy River from Travelers Rest to Lake Conestee. Some portions of the trail follow abandoned railroad corridors while other sections meander through wooded flood plains. The Hincapie Path section of the Swamp Rabbit Trail is a continuation of the trail system south of downtown Greenville, Falls Park and Cleveland Park. George made a statement at the dedication ceremony and led the first ride on the Hincapie Path.

"I'm proud to have the trail named after me," said Hincapie. "I love living in Greenville and I’m really proud of the city for developing these trails. People want a safe place to ride and be outside, and trails like this are an important part of our community."

Jobs:
USA Collegiate Conference Director
NorCal Mtn Bike League Paid Internships

Collegiate Cycling Volunteer Conference Director
Volunteer Position/s available:
Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference-ACCC (NC, MD, VA, WV, Washington D.C.)
(Must be geographically located in the respective region)

Volunteer roles: This is an unpaid, volunteer position/s, assigned by location with an operating budget provided by USA Cycling for administering Collegiate Cycling to collegiate members, promoters, and collegiate clubs within the respective collegiate conference. Volunteer/s must possess high levels of customer service, managerial skills, and motivation with the desire to develop and/or pre-existing working knowledge of race promotion, rules and rankings, and all disciplines of cycling. Depending on applicant’s skill-sets and time availability, multiple co-directors may be appointed to best serve the collegiate members. Working as a team player to promote the growth of collegiate clubs and individual collegiate members is a must.

What the volunteer/s can expect:

• Affiliation with USA Cycling to promote the growth of the dynamic of collegiate cycling through individual membership growth, member retention, club stability, and new club development.
• Provided pre-determined budget to attend conference related races, events, and schools to aid in collegiate support.
• Compensated annual USA Cycling membership. Provided USA Cycling business cards indicating your volunteer position and affiliation.
•  Invitation to USA Cycling’s annual Leaders Summit.
• Provided conference medals and trophies for administering to individual and team conference champions.
• Working closely with all other Volunteer Conference Directors and the Collegiate Manager to maintain an open line of communication between conferences via conference calls. Coordinating conference scoring, results, and rankings for each race, event, and season.
• Contribution of conference news to be posted on USAC website, conference website and/or distributed by e-newsletter or other media coverage to market collegiate cycling.
• Ensuring a safe and fun racing environment at conference events.
• Proactively propose new programs that will further enhance promoter and member satisfaction. Aiding in development of new leaders within the conference.
• Coordinating conference website and information list serve. Upholding USA Cycling and Collegiate Cycling rules, regulations, and code of conduct.
• Liaison to escalate event, scheduling, membership or promoter issues to the appropriate USA Cycling department. Budget management to ensure the provided budget is used in most productive fashion within the conference.
• Assist members with licensing and education of member benefits. & Assist Athletic Departments and/or Clubs and Recreation Departments at colleges and universities with requirements of founding cycling clubs.

The Bottom Line: This is a demanding, but rewarding volunteer position that requires time during and away from normal business hours to serve as the Collegiate Manager’s liaison within each conference. If interested please contact Daniel Matheny at 719.866.4664 or submit resume and cover letter to dmatheny@usacycling.org.

NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League
Paid Internships Open
The NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League now taking applications for the Winter/Spring Internship position

The NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League is now accepting applications for the Winter/Spring Program Internship position. The Program Intern will be responsible for helping with program coordination, distribution of materials, event planning, office needs and general office and field projects.

Kyle Wright, who filled the position in 2008 commented: “I loved working for the League. As the Intern I did just about every job there was to do, newsletters, lots of errands, helping plan events, course design and building, and League promotions. The best part of working for the League was that it never felt like a job.

"Working for the League taught me everything from writing to organizational skills; whether I was packing my car with race supplies or writing an email, organization was key. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that Oakland has some sweet Mountain Biking!”

“Ideally this opportunity would have been announced months ago,” stated League Assistant Director Justin Morgan, “but thanks to a generous 11th hour funding source we can now seek a new staffer to help launch the 2009 season. We are excited about this opportunity optimistic that the right person for this job will emerge.”

Full Job Description and how to apply: http://norcalmtb.org/about/temp/Internship_Job_Description.pdf

About the NorCal League - The NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League, founded in 2000, is a non-profit organization open to students from both public and private schools. The League exists by virtue of a range of fundraising activities as well as generous donors and sponsors including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, founding sponsor of the SoCal League, Easton Sports Development Foundation II, Clif Bar, Inc., Fox Racing Shox, Gary Fisher Bikes, Bikes Belong, Ritchey Bicycle Components, Crank Brothers, Creation Engine, Hincapie Sportswear, Mike's Bikes, The Pedaler, Paradigm Cycles, HappyGoFun, Mountain Hardwear, WTB, and Touchstone Climbing Gyms. The League provides coaching and camaraderie to help students achieve both competitive and non-competitive cross-country mountain biking goals in a safe and enjoyable manner. Each season includes a Coaches Training Conference, winter riding camps, the six-race series, and a variety of summer camps. For more information visit www.norcalmtb.org or call (510) 653-2453. 412 Piedmont Ave. #1, Oakland CA 94611

Track Cycling
The Annual Black Tire Affair® Corporate Challenge Velodrome Series
November 9th, 2008 witnessed seven three-person teams compete for annual rotating trophies. Our 2009 event at the ADT velodrome is scheduled for Sunday, November 8th. You do not need to be a skilled or highly competitive track cyclist to participate in this event. Track riding is a wonderful exercise program and many riders participate simply for great exercise and fitness improvement in a controlled indoor environment. If you can ride a bicycle on the road (or a mountain bike) you can ride the track. One of teams in this year’s event comprised three generations!

The track director, Roger Young, is a former Olympic coach and is one of the finest teachers in the US and Connie Paraskevin, the youth cycling coach, is a former US Olympic medalist and world champion. There are frequent introductory classes that will get on the track in no time at all.

2009 Pedal to Pier Benefit
Ride the California Coast With Team Columbia
Ride the scenic Central Coast with members of Team Columbia and other cycling enthusiasts to benefit San Luis Obispo ALPHA, Inc. The metric century and half-century stretch from Avila Beach to Cayucos and San Luis Obispo, respectively, beginning and ending at the promenade in Avila Beach. Event registration allows riders to also purchase lunch for family and friends who are welcome to join riders after their ride. Included in registration is a meet and greet coffee with professional cyclists, t-shirt, goodie bag, rest stops, and the rider’s lunch. Ride support will be available until 2 p.m. or until the final rider finishes, whichever comes first. Registration is fully tax-deductible and non-transferable.

The metric and half-century courses are moderate rides, though winds can be brisk in the northerly direction. We may have a nice tailwind coming home!
Date, Time, Location, & Registration:
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Time: 08:00 AM
Venue: Avila Beach Promenade
Address: 443 Front St.
Avila Beach, CA 93424
Distance & Start Times:
* 9:00 am Start – Metric Century
* 9:15 am Start – Half-Metric Century
Registration Fees:
* Registration - $100 until 2/4/09 at 5:00 pm
* Lunch Only - $20 until 2/4/09 at 5:00 pm
(If available, late registration includes an added $10 fee)
Extras Available: Extra meals - $20.00 each
Register Online
More Information
 

RealRyder
New type of indoor cycle that replicates the feel of the road.  New Trainer allows a rider to train indoors with the feel of being outside swooping through turns or standing to climb as one would on the open road. The trainer also recruits all the muscles you use training out doors maintaining balance. Watch the video: Video
www.realryder.com

BH Bikes/PivotCycles Launches 2009 Demo Tour
he BH/Pivot Demo truck is hitting the road with its expanded fleet of technologically advanced bikes. The 35-foot trailer will carry all the 2009 road bikes from Spain’s BH Bikes and all the 2009 mountain bikes from Pivot.

The demo tour kicks off January 4 in Plano, Texas. The rest of the year it will travel to festivals, races, dealer demos and tech clinics across the nation.

“The demo tour is a huge for both brands and our dealers. Consumers want to ride before they buy and this gets thousands of people on our bikes. Dealers love it because the results are immediate,” said Adam Vincent, BH/Pivot sales and marketing specialist. The 2009 demo program will again be led by BH/Pivot Technical Representative Jason Mead. Mead drove the demo trailer some 38,000 miles last year, set up thousands of people on test bikes and gave hundreds of tech clinics.
1/11 Demo: Cycle Progression Austin TX
1/17 Demo: Chainwheel Little Rock AR
Tour of California all stages
Complete Schedule
 

BH/Pivot will continue to update the schedule as the season progresses. For updates, check out www.bhbikes-us.com or www.pivotcycles.com

FDA Warns Consumers About Tainted Weight Loss Pills
 Agency seeks recall of products that pose serious health risks The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers nationwide not to purchase or onsume more than 25 different products marketed for weight loss because they contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that may put consumers' health at risk.

The tainted weight loss products are:

An FDA analysis found that the undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients in some of these products include sibutramine (a controlled substance), rimonabant (a drug not approved for marketing in the United States ), phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication), and phenolphthalein (a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer causing agent). Some of the amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients far exceeded the FDA-recommended levels, putting consumers' health at risk. These weight loss products, some of which are marketed as "dietary supplements," are promoted and sold on various Web sites and in some retail stores. Some of the products claim to be "natural" or to contain only "herbal" ingredients, but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the product labels or in promotional advertisements. These products have not been approved by the FDA, are illegal and may be potentially harmful to unsuspecting consumers.

The FDA advises consumers who have used any of these products to stop taking them and consult their healthcare professional immediately. The FDA encourages consumers to seek guidance from a healthcare professional before purchasing weight loss products.

"These tainted weight loss products pose a great risk to public health because they contain undeclared ingredients and, in some cases, contain prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed their maximum recommended dosages," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. "Consumers have no way of knowing that these products contain powerful drugs that could cause serious health consequences. Therefore FDA is taking this action to protect the health of the American public."

The FDA has inspected a number of companies associated with the sale of these illegal products, and is currently seeking product recalls. Based on the FDA's inspections and the companies' inadequate responses to recall requests, the FDA may take additional enforcement steps, such as issuing warning letters or initiating seizures, injunctions, or criminal charges. The health risks posed by these products can be serious; for example, sibutramine, which was found in many of the products, can cause high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, heart attack or stroke. This drug can also interact with other medications that patients may be taking and increase their risk of adverse drug events. The safety of sibutramine has also not been established in pregnant and lactating women, or in children younger than 16 years of age.

Rimonabant, another ingredient found in these products, was evaluated, but not approved by the FDA for marketing in the United States . The drug, which is approved in Europe, has been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe over the last two years.

Health care professionals and consumers should report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, fax or phone. 

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