Khabar Bike : Stratslinger's Road/Mountain Biking Resource

THE BEAT
(home-cooked music)
Free MP3s:


RS + Archtop Soul at Download.com

Abysm (guitar fusion)at Download.com

synthdude at Download.com

Los Tenggas at Download.com

Hindi Moogy at Download.com

Tribute To Mardana at Download.com

Bass Zen at i-bands.net, Download.com

Che Ahmad, Kelantan rebab master

Just RS...Links to free music & other useful stuff

RS recommends these cool bands & artists (free MP3s):

Lovetones' 'Meditations' /Ultimate John Fogerty / Dr. John / Goldfrapp /Beatles 'Rubber Soul' tribute / Neil Young's 'Prairie Wind' / Eric Clapton's 'Back Home' / XTC / Suzanne Vega / Paul Kelly at Download.com / 4 free Allan Holdsworth
trax 4 streaming

/ Quixote (proggy hardcore trio) / Jihad (incendiary hardcore quartet) / Fabulous free MP3s (jazz/blues/funk by terrific indie acts) / Free classic rock downloads of concert recordings from the '60s to '90s
/ Sweep The Leg Johnny (avant-garde guitar rock) / Durian (inventive guitar rock) / Early Day Miners (brilliant guitar-driven mood rock) / Ivan Smirnov (Russian acoustic guitar maestro) / Dimitar Nalbantov (Bulgarian shredder) / Trek Liquid Soundtrack (Free MP3 downloads)

THE RIDE
(Dec. 12, 2005)


Grand tours say bye to ProTour

Healthy desserts for the holidays

Fix your shoulders, fix your running

Maintaining fitness on the road

Ibis and Swobo launch for real

Before you buy an indoor trainer

Gaul: The Angel leaves this life

Lance Armstrong: Unfettered and unfiltered

Arenberg restoration gets big boost

Multi-sport race tactics

Upgrading your equipment

Grappling with disc brake screech

US$8 for a Taiwan-made alloy frame?

Fox Launch knee/shin guards

Basso aims for Giro-Tour double

WADA symposium mulls gene-doping threat

6 steps to a strong year in triathlon

Cyclocross: A race like no other

Alison Dunlap to retire

Power training for mountain bikers

How to plan 4 your first MTB race

The real story behind Hinault v. LeMond in '85

piuk Dual jersey and Top Ten shorts

Installing a bike computer

UK's top MTB stunt team

Bike-a-thon raises US$23m for charity

DRM Protest

Monsoon Madness 800

Cycle touring in Malaysia

Experiencing Endau-Rompin

Hutchinson Bulldog 2.3 tubeless tyre

Holiday survival guide

Cycling with music

Hamilton, Heras wait for verdict

Top 5 gifts for cyclists

Simple Green destroys chains?

Book review: 'The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles'

BikeTown scheme for Botswana

Ibis launches 'retro' Website

Unique Kona bikes stolen

Jeep Hurricane with carbon fibre body

No more wild rhinos left in Malaysia?

Robbie McEwen: Oz cyclist of the year

Motion Capture Remote Bike Alarm

Nobody bikes in L.A.

Fuji & SE Bikes donate

Sheryl Crow on bike

The Heras affair

The Bicycle Diaries

In Praise of Open Source

Fitness gadgets

Cycling quotes

Celebrities who cycle

Tour de Lights

Jingle Cross Rock

Madonna on MTB / More

Tour de Lance

80-year-old bike shop

Be careful buying online

America's longest cycloX race

Bike, box and a quarter hour

Vanilla bikes

The rise of carbon

Tested: Planet-X Pro Bars, stem & seatpost

Giant's Magenta Reign

Weight weenies' road bikes

Weight weenies' hardtails

Weight weenies' fullies

Weight weenies' singlespeeds

Carbon bike porn

Road bike gallery

Carbon fibre shortage in bike industry

Bolts on carbon frames

Rumsas trial begins in France

Heras miffed over B-sample test delay

Kona expands 'punk kids' bike line

First look: Futura and Xeddex

Tested: Zipp 303 'cross wheels

Why is 24-Hour racing so hot?

Tested: P.B.R. Singlespeed

Garmin buys MotionBased Technologies

Louis Garneau's fall/winter jackets

Ritchey Design wheel recall

Tested: IRD Compact Drivetrain

Tested: Setavento Ti

EU denies Giant China plea to end anti-dumping duties

Mt. Shasta police launch free bike registry protection

Polish show organizers add bike salon to agenda

How many bikes do you have?

Specialized Tarmac

Taiwan makes better bikes than US?

Barry Wicks' Kona The King

Kore launches Taiwanese spokes with Sandvik Wire

Bomb explodes at Spain's BH Bikes

Running, cycling top US sporting list

Another cup o' Joe?

Road bike: Stevens Vuelta SL

Tour de Okinawa photos

Suspension care

Shimano DX pedal overhaul

Race-prepping your bike

MTB masterclass

Headset installation

LeMond, Hinault and the Tapie connection

Freeriding tips

2006 SRAM X.0 Trigger Shifters

Tap water OK?

5 do-all bikes

Rain jacket basics

Shimano SH-MP66 shoes

Primal Wear Tiger Lily

Shebeest Aerosport bra and SSS short

First-ever test on sun-damaged skin

Tested: Hutchinson Bulldog Air Light 2.3

Interview: Paul Sherwen, Pt. 2

Syncros Mental Pedal Stainless 2

Two world records set with chariot carriers

Clinchers or tubulars for 'cross?

Video: EICMA 2005 highlights, Pt. 1

Video: EICMA 2005 highlights, Pt. 2

Remembering a true bike buff

Paul Sherwen interview, Pt. 1

Time's Best Inventions 2005 list

Bike shop dudes who sold stolen gear online

Cannondale fabric makes Time's 'Amazing Inventions' list

Tested: 2006 Manitou R-Seven Platinum Fork

Traction on downhill turns

Tearing down Costa Rica's trails

Biking the Andes

Tested: Pedalite pedals

Resting Metabolic Rate

Perfect tri bike?

Pro shop with Julich, Hincapie

Poll: Did Armstrong use illegal drugs?

Tips for riding a Gran Fondo

Bike store owner dies on ride

Frischy wins La Ruta

Home gyms

2006 Diamondback bikes

La Ruta: Frischy flats, Campo cruises

2006 Kona bikes

Single Speed World Championships

2006 Giro route unveiled

Hitmen on bicycles

Bicycle culture & sex

13th La Ruta de los Conquistadores / Photos

Riser or flat bar?

Cycling shorts with thin chamois?

Tested: Blackburn Frame Pump CF

DNA Newton baggy shorts

Beater bike tips

Why wear bike clothes?

Water bottle basics

Recovery ride tips

Road bike test: Serotta Nove

Road bike test: KANE K Team Carbon

Road brake test: M5

Calfee's carbon-frame repair service

Brake pads 4 carbon rims

'o6 Trek road rigs

Gary Fisher bikes '06

Supplement test: First Endurance Multi-V

Armstrong settles suit with ex-aide

Bicycling mag to sponsor pro team

Haro restructures

Disc brake test: IRD Dual Mechanical

Leopard Cycles carbon framesets

Velonews photo contest/gallery

'Mike & The Bike' game

MTB test: Ellsworth Moment / Closeups

Eating right

Which MP3 player for riding?

Heras Vuelta sample positive

What's new at Moots

Speedgoat bike gallery

R U eco-efficient?

Road bike test: Lapierre 999 X-Lite FDJ Team Replica

Rockwell smokes Red Bull Rage comp

Myles Rockwell triumphs

Vibrating saddle key to comfort?

Cycling author Tom Cuthbertson dies of cancer / A Ride in Tom's memory

Atlanta critical mass pix

Recalled: Picasso 2-bike folding rack

Lapierre road/MTB framesets

Bike headbadges

Long training rides 4 strength?

Better 2 work out morning or night?

'Down That Damned Mountain'

MTB test: Cannondale Prophet 800

CrankWorx photo gallery


Pedro's Master Tool Kit 2.0

World's toughest MTB race

iFirstaid for mountain bikers

Slick-root riding secrets

Reynolds' new cutting-edge steel

The best lids for about US$100

World's lightest bicycle components?

Van Road wheel test: Zipp 404

Waist tells tale of heart risk

Rasmussen's dilemma / Rasmussen's Colnago C50 / Colnago Extreme C Special Pois

Who will be the next Lance?

Jan Ullrich's Giant TCR Advanced

Tour of California route

How to Fit a Bicycle

Team Marco Polo diary

2006 Orange bikes

Patching tubes

How to pack your bike

Do you need disc brakes?

Road Bull Road Rage

SACA road race photo gallery

That bloated feeling

Koga Miyata's 2006 bikes

Tired of tyres?

Road shoe test: Specialized S-Works Boa

Zero G cranks

Road bike test: Blue Competition Cycles RC4

Is pro cycling serious about its drug problem?

Armstrong spoofs doping rap on SNL

Steve Jobs buys a bicycle

China has chance for 2008 gold

High pump prices make cycling a gas

Mid-life cyclists

Cycle safe!

The cycling life

Tour takes to the high mountains

Choosing a bike for triathlon

The lightest frame on the planet?

Local 2005 Powerman photos

Growing rift between UCI and ProTour teams

Saddle test: Specialized Avatar

MTB shoe test: Shimano M180

MTB tyre test: Intense CC 2.25 tyres

MTB tyre test: Schwalbe Big Betty

MTB stem test: Syncros Bearhug Hinged

MTB helmet test: Specialized Decibel

Rear shock test: DT Swiss HVR200

Bike test: Giant Reign 2

Fork test: Manitou Nixon Platinum

MTB shoe test: Specialized Pro Carbon


MTB pedal test: Crank Brothers Mallet C

Six things to know about saddles

What to look for in tyres

2006 Campy record

2006 Campy Chorus

2006 Campy Centaur

Lance already forgotten?

Road bike test: Pinarello F4:13

2006 Campy groupsets

2006 Campy wheelsets

Shimano's Hone groupset / More

Indurain's heirs?
2006 TdF route

Javelin's '06 rides

Must read!: Disk brakes and quick releases

Facts on carbon fibre bike componentry

Cycling landscapes

Cycling surge in London

French mountaineering team killed in Nepal

More saddle time leads to more straddle time

Diamond-studded Armstrong Trek sells for US$75,000 / Photos

Lyon's city bike scheme wins award

Doping: Frigo gets 6-month suspended sentence

Cervelo... lighter, stiffer, stronger

10 ways to restore your MTB

Road frame test: Airborne Lancer

Frameset test: Kinesis EVO2

Secrets of waterless bike wash

How to water-proof your bike

Changing headsets

When to replace cassette

Trainer test: Elite Wireless 'turbo'

Light test: Light and Motion's Vega

Road shoe test: Specialized S-Works Boa

Road tyre test: Schwalbe Stelvio Evolution

Park Tool School

Brake test: Avid Mechanical Disc

MTB bar/stem test: Flight Bar-Stem

Brake test: IRD Dual Banger

Fork test: RockShox Pike Team U-Turn

Pump test: Pedro's Super Prestige floor pump

Time RXS Carbon pedals & shoes

Colnago C50 vs. C40

Colnago C-40 vs. Pinarello Prince

Phil Liggett interview

Roadie interview: Roberto Heras

Lance talks bikes & babes

US Bicycling Hall Of Fame dinner

Roadie interview: Gord Fraser

Best of Interbike 2005

Road bike test: De Rosa Tango

Long-term steroid abuse may reduce sperm count

Pets can do more for your health

Bontrager Wheelworks sweeps 24 Hours of Moab

Photos: 2005 24 Hours of Moab

Bike Fitting: The Cyfac Philosophy

Road wheel test: Neuvation M28

Road bike test: Seven Elium Race

Road wheel test: American Classic's 1223gm clinchers

Zipp bars & stem

Northwave Aerator shoes

Zero Gravity brakes

More stuff from Interbike 2005

Bike test: LOOK 585 climbo-sprinter

Wheel test: ZIPP 303 clinchers

The deal with Maxxis tyres

Bike test: Scott CR1 Pro Centaur

New stuff from Easton

On test: Shimano Saint groupset

Helmet test: Fox Flite

New lightweight Titus & Scott offerings

2005 World Human Powered Speed Challenge

The world's fastest bike

Shimano 2005 brochure downloads

Dura-Ace wheelset WH-7801

New Deore groupset

Shimano plug on 105

Alivio MTB components go stylish

Road tyre test: Dedatre RS Corsa

Dealing with backache

Road bike test: Canyon Carbon F10 Ultimate Pro

Road tyre test: Continental GP Attack/GP Force

Road bike test: Endorfin Speed III Special

Carbon seatpost: To grease or not to grease

Discovery heads into Post-Armstrong season

A look at some new rubber

More on SRAM's road shifters

Bike review: Trek Remedy

Trek's '06 10-inch travel bike

Abandoned bicycles of New York

Airborne Lancer

Shimano FC-R700

Road bikes at Interbike '05

New shades from Oakley

Bike test: Bianchi 9-2-8

Bike test: Moots Compact SL

Bike test: Trek 2000

Wheel test: Jan Ullrich's Lightweight

Tool review: Specialized Micro Multitool

Bike test: Giant OCR1 '05

Seatpost test: Thomson Elite

Bike test: Specialized Roubaix

Shimano '06

Tyre test: Michelin Pro Race 2

Book review: Marco Pantani by John Wilcockson

10-speed 105 has landed

Go somewhere far and ride

Avid booth at Interbike '05

Rock Shox booth at Interbike '05

Loght & Motion booth at Interbike '05

Marzocchi booth at Interbike '05

Hayes booth at Interbike '05

Titus booth at Interbike '05

Syncros booth at Interbike '05

Fox Racing Shox booth at Interbike '05

Leaving Las Vegas

Specialized goes carbon

Bike test: Haro Escape 8.3

Fork test: RockShox Pike Team U-Turn

Marla Streb's MTB Diary

How to do an MTB tour on singletrack

A hairsplitting MTB ride down Mt. Fuji

Tales of the one-legged Wolf

Salida: A mountain biker's mecca

Exploring the Canyonlands' backcountry by mountain bike

Bicycle sales boom in US amid rising gas prices

Interbike kicks off with Outdoor Demo

If this bike gets any lighter (3.3kg), it'll self-destruct!

Real-world road bikes

Armstrong accuses lab of sabotage

Mountain Biking in Himachal Pradesh

Outside mag's Gear of the Year pick: Giant TCR Composite

The science of Lance

What's with the long stems & upside down shades?

Australian cycling ace killed, 5 hurt in Germany


Julich Takes Paris-Nice


Basic training diet


Armstrong to go for No. 7


Shimano issues brake cable recall

Perfect shoe-pedal combo?

Cipo still a star attraction

Fi'zi:k Arione Carbon

Armstrong wins first legal battle in libel case

Down memory lane

Self-inflater

Armstrong named 2004's top athlete

IOC chief defends tough anti-doping measures

Pantani's girlfriend charged

Tyres, stems & big riders

Doping downhiller suspended

Cheating athletes

Armstrong to wait and see

Phonak dumped from ProTour

Look KX Lite for sale in Penang

Kona Roast for sale in PJ

Classic Corgi toys

Busty mousepads

Free cycling videos

Floyd 'Wall' kids want royalties

4 x 4s should carry health warning

Best gear for the rainforest

Robin Williams cycling pix

Melting glaciers threat to Everest

Bush planning oil dig in Alaska

Energy hunger

Global warming or CW?

Nasa jet pushes Mach 10

The Crank Brothers crank

Arctic Thaw

Ironman winner tests positive for EPO

2005 LeMond steel steeds

Arctic undergoing 'big melt'

Armstrong may skip 2005 TdF

NASA studying 'Rain Man's' brain

Wear your music, dude!

Dura-Ace 10-speed real-world test

25 essential books for explorers

The latest in waterproof shoes will surprise you

Space-age sneakers

Biker chicks

Star feature on 'Notes from Home'

Minimalist Edge

My Review of Steely Dan's 'Two Against Nature' at SD Media Archive

Rock Shox Torture Testing

John Kerry's $8,000 bike

Bontrager X-Lite seat post

My Review of Tupac's 'Resurrection' at teenmusic.com

My Review of Phish's 'Round Room' at Phish site

RS PAGES

Blog: Just RS

Stratslinger's 2002 Top 10 CDs

RSM's Home Recording Resource

Soundtoyz: Music Gear Resource

Archtop Central: My Archtop Guitar Resource Page

2002 Archive (I)

KB Road Cycling

Feedback, Rants, Riffs, Q&A, Etc.

'01 Archive 2

2001 Archive
(Jan-June)


2000 Archive

Asian Bike Sites

Useful Bike Pages

Other Hot Bike Pages

My Fisher Hardtail

My GT LTS

A Parable of Pedaling

In-Sites

Bike Care Tips

Recent Local Races

Bike Image Gallery

Top 10 Rock Albums of 2000

Great Reads

Rated RS

More Rated RS

Jazz & Beyond

Jazz & Blues Resource Page

Video/DVD Reviews

Autobionotes

MAPS



Road map of Malaysia

KTM railway map

World Atlas

FOR LAFFS

Pug Bus

Reality Blurred

GOOD GUYS



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Dec. 12, 2005

Khabar Bike has moved! Go HERE for updates.

ARCHTOP SOUL's 'Traintown Blues'

Bell X-Ray: The funky, electric blue Bell X-Ray may be old in design, but it holds its own against the latest generation of swoopy, swiss cheese-looking, cross-country lids.

Health Net's Cannondale Six13: The Six13 frameset is the same that the Lampre ProTour team rode in 2005, featuring a carbon and aluminum design.

Trek cracks the urban cycle: Trek is hoping its collection of urban warriors will appeal to riders who want a rig that's specifically suited to the city street.

Charly Gaul dies at 72: One of cycling's greatest-ever climbers, Charly Gaul of Luxembourg, died on Tuesday, two days short of his 73rd birthday.

Holiday shopping list, Pt. 1: What's Holiday Season if it's not the time of year to get others to buy you cool gear? / Holiday shopping list, Pt. 2

December beauties: Desktop calendars of Indian babes to inspire you to ride more, longer, harder.

Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc: If you've been thinking about getting a new set of disc brakes, the Avid mechanicals should be near the top of your shopping list.

Downhiller shines on the streets of La Paz: In the super high altitudes of the streets of Bolivia's capital city, La Paz, 18-year-old Kyle Strait (Specialized-Oakley-Red Bull-Fox Shox) finished off a fine 2005 season with a win in the inaugural Red Bull Descenso del Condor.

Specialized S-Works shoes: These incredibly light, and quite expensive, shoes are Specialized's best-fitting yet.

Crank Brothers Candy SL: 'Easy in. Easy out. Mud, dry, or whatever. Oh yeah, you can choose between a generous 15 and 20 degrees of float, depending on how you orient the cleats. Cool.'

Cateye Double Shot & Triple Shot: The Triple Shot and Double Shot, which replace the Stadium, strike a balance between light output and weight, so the Shots use rapidly emerging white LED technology to put out the light, powered by NiMH battery packs.

The White Knight of Dirt Jumping: He biffed the landing of a 56-foot launch, snapping his sternum in '03. That crash changed Chris Duncan's life--now it can change yours.

Daily distractions: The fringe benefits of cycling... for those who're lucky!

Marla Streb on the elusive Costa Rican singletrack: 'Been hanging out with a local pro mountain biker down here in Costa Rica... At this year's La Ruta, Rom placed 12th.'

Samsung SC-X105L camcorder: Smaller, lighter, and more crash tolerant than a regular video camera -- but buy extra batteries.

WTB Devo carbon saddle: A great road seat, but even better off-road and trail saddle.

Times Ironman Triathlon Sleek: The revolutionary design of the Ironman Triathlon Sleek puts the display in your natural line of sight, without breaking form.

Jared Graves' Yeti 303: Custom made in Yeti's Golden, Colorado factory from Reynolds 7005 (front triangle) and 6061 (rear triangle) aluminium tubing, Graves says he's had a lot of input in the 303's geometry.

Kuips Phey carbon seat post: The Kuips Phey is long, black, and looks the part. It provides for a reasonable amount of fore/aft and saddle angle adjustment, and rode well without slipping.

Tara Llanes' Giant STP1 hardtail: Painted in the theme of the U.S. flag, Tara Llanes' Giant STP1 is a pure example of a mountain-cross machine; stiff geometry, clean lines, and shrewd component choices.

Timex Expedition Watch: Heavier than even most cycling-specific heart rate monitor watches, but it's got a flashlight!

Carbon fibre shortage to affect bike sales?: Dr. Kuan Chun Weng, a former rocket scientist who now part-owns the Taiwanese composites factory which makes frames for Giant and Colnago, speaks on the subject.

Wonderful Oz: Ten abso-bloody-lutely awesome Australian odysseys -- from Sydney to the bush -- plus locals' picks and all the beta you need to get there.

Bike fit for comfort and power: It is remarkable that the large majority of cyclists go through their entire careers setting up their bike by little more than trial and error.

Carbon tubular shootout: Carbon tubulars are better than clinchers. Tubulars (wheels and tires combined) are lighter, handle better, are more comfortable. And with the advent of deep profile carbon wheels, tubulars are more aerodynamic and thus faster.

Pedro's Super Prestige Floor Pump: Sure, there are cheaper, sexier models on the market, but if you have a hankering for a reliable pump that will stand the test of time, the Super Prestige shakes a defiant handle at Old Man Time and then some.

Bush takes on Chinese pro riders: 'Mr. Bush rides really fast, on flat and hilly roads alike,' said 27-year-old Li Fuyu, one of the six hopefuls for China's Olympic mountain biking team. / Dubya's US$3,000 bike

Fondriest TF1 Evoluzione Griffe: The Tf1 is often referred to as the formula one of bicycles as it is made with the same carbon fiber used in formula suspension and is engineered by Mario Calderoni, the former Minardi carbon expert.

Ban Rays: Eyeball protection that works great... and looks good off the bike.

GPS for MTB: Like its companion product, the Forerunner 201, this Garmin is the perfect record-keeping and route-finding device for cyclists.

Fast, Faster, Fastest: In just four insanely short weeks, Trek's Advanced Concept Group completely redesigned the time trial bike that Armstrong rode to victory in his 7th Tour de France. Here's how they did it.

Goin' coconuts: Cannondale's upcoming Carbon LE line of cycling wear is cut from a new kind of cloth: moisture-wicking, odour-absorbing, UV-ray-protective polyester. What makes it so? Carbon from coconuts.

High performance air shocks: Treat yourself and your bike right with the latest shocks and essential tuning tips.

Suspended innovation: Much as front suspension revolutionized the sport back in the early 90s, rear suspension technology is changing the face of the mountain bike industry and there's clearly no turning back from here.

Perfect pedal/shoe combo?: Success in switching from stirrups to clipless pedals adheres to simple math; if it takes your bike 0.5 seconds to topple over and you 0.4 seconds to extricate yourself, why, then, you've done it.

Moab babe Rebecca Rusch: 'I dropped my bike, scanned my computer timing device and draped myself over the timing table. I had posted my fastest lap time and the fastest women's lap time for our whole division.'

TdF cyclist sets: Diecast models of cyclists, hand painted, with each cyclist approximately 2 inches in length and 1-1/2 inches in height. The sets are packaged in an attractive gift box with vintage cycling graphics.

Thru-axle necessity: The Hurricane Fork Up is actually very simple. Its steel barrel essentially approximates your hub shell. The barrel is TIG-welded to two legs that slide into your fork mount, just like a set of non-thru axle fork legs do.

A short walk in the Wakhan Corridor: Cross into this forgotten valley and you'll trade the insanity of modern Afghanistan for a far wilder frontier: a last-ditch, back-of-beyond outpost of breathtaking beauty, ancient strongholds, and 25 centuries of war.

Sharkfire Moto-Cruiser: Custom 6061 aluminum alloy frame, Morpheus VRT (Variable Ride Technology) fork, alloy rims with Oversized Kenda 3.0" Flame tyres...

Rage riders: After watching the first few riders shoot down Malibu's twisting Tuna Canyon during the Red Bull Road Rage time trial, all this reporter could offer up was a dumbfounded, Keanu Reeves-like expression. Whoa-HUH!

Bike builder profile: Thousands of shop rats and bike lovers dream of being frame builders but few of them make it happen. Joseph Ahearne is one who did, but it wasn't easy.

The Pied Piper Of Singletrack: Life after racing can be hard for some. For Tom Masterson it was just the beginning.

Tone your bones: Cycling can't help you build tough bones but jogging and rope-skipping can.

Kirk Frameworks: Hand built custom bicycle frames made by David Kirk to fulfil the needs, specifications and dreams of the rider.

Dissecting the Tour course: As if under pressure to keep up with the amount of leaked information regarding the Valerie Plame affair, all of France was abuzz with rumours about the course for the 2006 Tour de France.

Giant's 2006 TCX Cyclocross: Compact cyclocross frame design with reinforced Aluxx SL butted aluminum frame for added strength and taller head tube.

Crank issues: Can the average mortal - or pro for that matter - actually flex a quality crankarm?

Ritchey WCS Logic Headset: So, what exactly makes it a premium product? Lightweight, machined aluminum cups (7075 aluminum) are paired with durable angular cartridge bearings.

Spinner Aeris folk: As an everyday trail fork, there are certainly other forks on the market that are better workhorses, but the Aeris is an exceptional race fork.

Surly Pugsley: The premise behind Pugsley's design is based on the allowance of tires with a larger-than-average footprint. The frame and fork will accept 4" tyres on 26" rims.

Sheldon Brown at Interbike 2005: 'The first thing that caught my eye at the Outdoor Demo was the Exycle, a two-weel drive bike with arm power for the front wheel, leg power for the rear.'

XT after a year of abuse: Shimano Deore XT groupset used and abused all over the UK, but particularly in the abrasive hell hole that is the Peak District as well as extensively on the dry loose technical trails of Spain's Sierra Nevada.

More to life than bikes?: Anke Wilken of Mannheim has a husband obsessed with bikes. So as a self proclaimed 'bike widow' she has produced a sensual 2006 calendar dripping with long-legged models draping themselves over high-end bicycles.

Arty way to store bikes: Innovative storage ideas from a company that names its products after art masters.
Upbeat music to boost performance?: Dr Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University has released research that found listening to the right music before and during training boosts performance by up to 18 percent.

Mavic Ksyrium ES: ES is Edition Speciale, new for 2006 and a tribute to the hallowed Helium wheelset with oversized, bladed Aluminum Zicral spokes and Maxtal rims.

Lactate Threshold 101: When it comes to training, LT is the new max heart rate. Understand it, find where yours is, then raise it for better performance.

'All Your Base' Boh-Rhap video: Animated video based on the 'All Your Base' intro from the Sega game 'Zero Wing' with a neat take on Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

A pack for freeriders?: The Havoc is an impressive pack that's rugged enough for freeriders, versatile enough for commuters and just plain well thought out.

The Kingfisher Swimsuit Gallery: Eye candy to inspire you to ride harder, faster, longer!

Brake options for 'cross: Center-pull cantilever brakes, once common on mountain bikes, enjoy the spotlight in cyclo-cross.

Haro Escape 8.3: Jack of all trades? If you are looking for a beginning bike to get the feel for jumps and street riding, without giving up trail capabilities, then the Haro Escape 8.3 should be a strong contender.
Sights from Interbike 2005: Bikes, bikes, bikes & babes. And plenty more hot stuff to drool over!

2006 goodies: EICMA show offers plenty to admire.
Will a 31.7mm bar fit a 31.8mm stem?: You may not have a valid warranty on either item if you mix and match stems and bars.

Wheel test: Shimano R550 wheels: The ride on these wheels feels sharp when sprinting and climbing hard.

Split-tail saddle trouble: A reason not to face your bike rearward on a roof rack.
Podium Girl interview: Marina is a trained Graphic Designer who loves painting and hand drawing, but at the moment she is training to be a flight attendant and wants to see the world.

Meet the new Boxxer Ride: The Ride uses RockShox new 133-178mm (5.25-7inch) U-Turn Travel Adjustment to make it happen.

Bike Test: Santa Cruz Blur 4X: It's light, stiff, and snappy, and lends itself well to hard pedaling over rough terrain.

SRAM's road brake/shift levers: These could turn out to be the easiest and fastest to use of all.

Death of a Legendary Rider: Endurance cyclist Dr. Bob Breedlove was one of the sport's most beloved figures.
Bikes of the Year: Giant TCR Composite 2 & GT i-DXC 1.0
Zero Gravity OG-05 Ti: Two Zero Gravity brakes weigh as much as one Dura Ace front brake. The Zero Gravity brake is more powerful than the Dura Ace 7800 brake. That's all you need to know... end of review.
Trek SPA: Prototype bike with Suspension Performance Advantage for rough roads.
Park Tool's TP holder: Just what the ride-ruminating cyclist needs for private time in the john.

Danger in drinking too much water: Cyclicts and runners should think twice before reaching for that water bottle: A study confirms that drinking too much can be dangerous, even deadly, for endurance athletes.
Notes from 2005 Taipei bike show: Colnago and top Italian brands to start manufacturing frames and parts in Taiwan.

Manitou's 2006 forks: With its 2006 R-Seven fork, Manitou aims to bring the latest suspension technologies to the cross-country set.
SRAM 2006 sneak peek: Carbon-studded derailleurs and shifters top the Chicago bike parts firm's latest offerings.
Harmonic what?: Bontrager's Buzz-Kill harmonic handlebar dampers are plastic and brass or aluminium widgets that fit inside the ends of the bar to cancel high frequency vibration and improve comfort.
Legend of a tragic champ: VeloPress' 'Marco Pantani: The Legend of a Tragic Champion' chronicles the highs and lows of the Italian cyclist's charismatic career and ill-fated life.

John Gibson's MTB photos
Pike Air: RockShox's Motion Control Damping system is designed to provide on-the-fly, tool-free adjustments, light weight and easy serviceability.
Armstrong gets cross: When Lance Armstrong showed up at a cyclo-cross race recently, he was piloting a stock Trek X0 1 'cross bike.
Ritchey WCS Carbon: Ritchey alloy bars on Viagra?
Gary Fisher Bike Archive (1998-2002): Looking for specs on that second-hand Fisher you bought?

Food Guide: Off or on the saddle, don't forget that you are what you eat.
Kona Major Jake: A cyclocross beauty with a scandium-aluminium tubeset.
Which espresso machine is best?: While most pump-driven machines will set you back hundreds of dollars, even the most expensive machines will pay for themselves in less than a year.
Classic ride: Schwinn reissues Sting-Ray.
La Ruta torture: Modern conquistadors take on the challenge of a brutal, three-day, 300-mile trek from coast to coast in Costa Rica.
Political Dudes Who Ride: For the first time in history, both major U.S. presidential candidates are serious about action sports.
Wine and grind: Hop on a bike for a long, winding tour through the gourmet sweet spots of southern France.

Thinking about machine-man: If nerve were Hermann Maier's only attribute, he would not have possessed the means to become the best all-around skier in the world.
Death of an innocent: How Christopher McCandless lost his way in the wilds.
Himalayan Heaven: Bhutan is the new home of two ultra-indulgent lodges.
Ouback freight train: Top freestyle bikers ride Australia's Nullarbor Plain.
The 'O' Files: True stories of dark doings, loose ends, and unexplained terror that scare the living daylights out of us.
Crazy Mofos: Adventure sings a bewitching song and a few undaunted individuals hear the call and say, "Why not?"

The Giro podium girls: They're an important visual element in the race.
Performance Underwear: Base layers gone wild—techy underwear that's fun to wear.
Guilty Pleasures: Fitness and clean living feel good, but being bad feels really good.
SC's Blur is Outside's Bike of the Year: While many dualies get mushy and squirrelly on climbs, the Blur is solid, biting in and offering extra traction.
Outside Mag's 2004 Bike Buyer's Guide: Where a decade ago the twin trunks of road and mountain biking each sprouted just the occasional new branch, your local shop now carries rides for every subtle interpretation of the sport.

Bontrager Writes/Rides: For what is turning out to be an annual pilgrimage for Keith Bontrager, this year's legendary 3 Peaks Cyclocross race in England's Yorkshire Dales gave him exactly what he wanted.
Have your Cake and let it eat dirt too: The Gary Fisher Cake 3 comes with five inches of cush out back and four up front to blaze through trails.
Outside's Bike Of The Year: The Santa Cruz Blur is solid, biting and offers loads of extra traction.
Killer Value Roadster: Schwinn's Fastback boasts alu pipes butted and shaped to balance stiffness with compliance.
Lennard Zinn does it again
Mongoose Freedrive
Look's 2004 offerings
Zipp rolls out fast new wheel for Tour prologue
Bikes of the 2004 Tour de France: Part I
A Cyclist's Guide to Depression: Many people who exercise (including cyclists) feel that the exercise itself decreases stress.
Tubeless Road Tire Update: Seating and inflating issues discussed.
Manitou in the Lead:Manitou has been hard at work further refining its extremely popular SPV technology.
Thomson Masterpiece Seatpost: Weighing in at 193 grams for the 330mm post, it's ideal for cross-country or road riding.
Avid SAAGO Stem: Clamps evenly around and on top of the steer tube so the clamping force is evenly distributed.
SmartWool RBX Ultra Light Socks: Socks that use wool, nylon and elastic to give the wearer a sock that won't shrink, itch or stink.
Braking News: Magura now offers high- and low-speed compression damping for its line of suspension forks and rear shocks.
Carbs Before Exercise: It is important for you to appreciate that anytime you eat before exercise, some insulin is secreted.
Roof Racks and Carbon Forks: The tough German TUV standard for fork-mount roof racks requires that they be able to support a fork with a 60kg side load applied to its steerer tube at a distance of 400mm from the axle.
Carbon Forks: For carbon forks in general, there should not be any limited life span, as carbon composites themselves are not subject to fatigue failure as metals are.
Thomson Masterpiece Review: As the finishing touch to a top-end, super-light machine it'd be a perfect choice.
Giant Woes: The NRS is a single-purpose rear suspension design that trades full time suspension performance for a system that pedals as firmly as a hardtail.
The Fat You Need: Eating a diet too low in fat can actually make you fatter.
Vegas Hangover: Random highs and lows of the 2003 Interbike trade show.
3 Ways To Kill Your Gut: Stop worrying about the weight of your bike; think about your body.
Fox Talas R: The Talas R shows why Fox is quickly becoming the leader in trouble-free, easy-to-use suspension.
High-normal or Low-normal: The pros and cons of Shimano's reverse-shifting rear derailleur.
Giant’s 2004 Line-up: Lighter, leaner and meaner, with solid hits in every mountain biking category.
Fix for XTR Disc Brake Howl: Switching to Deore XT Center-lock disc brake rotors silences noise.
Fox’s Travel-Adjustable-Linear-Air-Spring Shock: Animated cut-away of the TALAS shock to illustrate how it works.
Coolness for the Eyes: Sunglasses that offer durable optics and drastic plastic.
Hands On: ITM's exotic new bar/stem combo has an old-school shape.
MB Editor's Choice: The best gear and trends of 2003.
Mad, Bad Marla: What's a brilliant woman like this doing in a rough-and-tumble sport like downhill mountain-bike racing?
Have Your Cake...: And ride it, too! Fisher's '03 Cake, that is.
Aron Ralston's Adventure Race: Just five months after amputating his own arm when it was crushed by an 800-pound boulder, Ralston resumed his career as an outdoor athlete.
Italy's Grand Finale: Because this is Liguria, a region rife with wild herbs, crashing in the bushes is like diving into a spice rack.
The Race of Truth: Graeme Obree invented a new kind of bike and a whole new way of riding, inspired millions, and rode faster than any human ever had, but he could never quite escape himself.
The Outside Adventure Canon: The 25 (Essential) books for the well-read explorer.
Radical Spinning: The PowerCranks way to changing the mechanics of the rider.
A Journey of Self-Discovery: The racing cyclist must be a Nietzschean hero without an idea in his head.
Chrissy Redden Likes Cash: 'I really like Johnny Cash' says Redden who is fast on bike and car.
New Pedals And Big Bars: Time ATAC XS incorporates features designed the few downsides to an otherwise excellent pedal.
Ride To Work Day: A ton of energy burned fat, not gasoline.
GT Reveals Latest Innovation: GT is rolling out the next generation of i-Drive full-suspension bikes for 2004 with its introduction of the IDXC series of lightweight, full-suspension bikes.
'04 Dura-Ace Delights: VeloNews test-drives Shimano's latest and greatest.
Free Ride With Saint: A first test ride of the new Shimano component group.
RockShox World Cup SID: With a considerable dip into the coin purse, the rest of us can enjoy this flashy, high-performance racing fork.
Wade Simmons Interview: The return of the man many argue is one of the most influential riders of the freeride movement.
2004 Shimano XT Revealed: It's pretty much a takeoff on the 2004 XTR styling. Pix & Forum, More Pix
Force Majeure: Is Lance Armstrong a super-efficient machine or a driven athlete with a heart?
Centre-Locked Hubs: The new Hügi 240s hubs are compatible with Shimano's Centre Lock disc brake mount.
Mountain Man: Sir Edmund Hillary made one of the century's landmark feats seem properly human and straightforward.
Adventure Electronics: Whether you're a geek or a technophobe, recent advances in technology make it amazingly easy to find your way on land or water.
A Chat With Michael Rasmussen: Former mountain-bike world champion Michael Rasmussen is now firmly entrenched on the road.
Locked-Out: Front lock-out is probably even more critical to efficiency than rear lock-out is.
Braking News: The latest in hydraulic disc brake technology.
2003 Gear of The Year: Outside magazine's picks of real cool stuff.
When Carmakers Make Bicycles: Something about bicycles gets auto manufacturers excited. Maybe it's because they get to show off their engineering chops in a purer medium.
Winning Machine: Lance's new Trek ride, complete with 10-speed Shimano Dura Ace components. Dura Ace 2004 Tech Shots
Cold Steel and a Welding Torch: In the age of plastic and soft metal, Coconino keeps it real.
Cool Stuff: Tech notes from the Fruita Fat Tire Festival.
Manitou SPV Minute: New line of forks with a compression damping technology called SPV (Stable Platform Valve).
Campy's Second Generation Electric Gruppo: Saeco's Giosué Bonomi has been using Campagnolo's Electric group in its first-ever professional racing test.
The Salvation of Roland Green: From juvenile delinquent to world-class racer.
Riding for Glory: Jimena Florit, the reigning queen of US mountain bike racing, is hard-working and down-to-earth.
What Scares Us: Singular, irrational, inexplicable anxieties that creep you out and propel you into the panic zone.
Shock Therapy: Have mountain-bike designers finally solved the riddle of the perfect ride?
The New Wool Order: Long overshadowed by poly-based pile, a more athlete-friendly, itch-free wool is back-and everywhere.
Morningstar R2.O.C.-TECH: This tool brings the ability to pinpoint high and low spots on disc-brake rotors and correct them to .001-inch accuracy.
The World According to Brian Lopes: When it comes to 4X and downhill, few, if any, have more experience than Flyin' Brian Lopes.
Tales of a Metal Cowboy: It's a well-known fact that the more time you spend riding, the more outrageous tales you'll have to tell.
Shazam! (In A Can): Getting in the Red Bull spirit -- wooooo! -- a roundup of a few newer players for the zest test.
Slow Training: For a faster, stronger you, take it slow (with a grain of salt).
25 Trips of a Lifetime: Bold, epic, soul-nourishing experiences that every true adventurer must seek out.
Rock Legends: The pioneers of the modern era hit the heights with grit and determination.
Adjusting Dual Pivot Caliper Brakes: A guide to getting a good grip on your roadbike wheels.
Blur vs. Epic: Between the Santa Cruz and Epic, the latter seems like the better racer.
Giant's TCR Composite Gold Road Bike: Giant produces a very limited edition of 35 $10,000 bikes decorated with real gold plate.
What's in Store: A look at the shimmering swag of tomorrow.
Darkness Visible: The next wave of night-vision and sports-lighting systems equips you to explore more and sleep less.
Hopey Steering Damper: The Hopey is a hydraulic cartridge that fits inside your fork's steerer tube, replacing your star nut.
Magura USA Introduces Disc Wheels: Magura's line of disc wheels provides the solid characteristics crucial for maximum brake performance.
Sci-Con Aero Comfort Bike Bag: Easy to use travelling cyclist's friend with handy.
K2 Enemy Cyclo-Cross Bike: A bike that's more a 700c MTB than a pure cyclo-cross machine.
Sheldon Brown's Interbike Report: 'This may be the year for auxiliary brake levers to come back for drop-bar bikes...'
FSA BB Failure: A product that fails after a couple of hundred miles for a 70 year old tourist does not inspire confidence.
Selling Your Used Bike: If you make effective use of the Internet you can find a buyer for almost anything.
The Birdman drops in: For Tony Hawk, the meaning of life is defined by just one principle -- defying gravity.
Fading stripes: A trek through the jungles of India for a rare glimpse of the Bengal tiger.
'I-ran's Not Such a Bad Place': Crumbling castles and lots of friendly folks in the land that invented terrorism ten centuries ago.
Soul climber: With his extreme rock-climbing skills, hypercompetitive drive, and new-age spirit, Dean Potter scrambles up big walls faster than any man alive.

PAIN-KILLING POINTERS (updated Nov. 4, 2005)

Preventing Overuse Injuries
Dealing with knee pain
Common knee problems
Acclimatising to altitude
Dealing with lower back pain
Tips on pain-free pedalling

CRASH COURSE (updated Nov. 7, 2005)

Take a dive: To crash without hurting yourself, practice falling.
St. John Ambulance iFirstAid: Free MP3/AAC/Real downloads of first-aid advice.
Cycling Injuries: Compared with most other sports, cycling is remarkably free of non-traumatic injuries. However, traumatic injuries are probably more common than in, for example, running.
Cycling injuries & treatment
Treating abrasions & road rash
A doc's take on bike injuries
Helmet Related Statistics


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© 1998-2005 by R.S. Murthi, Comments to stratslinger@yahoo.com