A Break in Transmission

So you may have noticed things have been a bit quiet around here lately.

It's been a big summer and I've been riding a whole lot more really trying to improve as a cyclist. In addition my day job (as opposed to the pro-cycling fantasy I live in my head) has been unbelievably busy, together with Mrs Liberte and I deciding to take on the challenge of building a house.

On top of all that, I've recently taken ill in a pretty serious fashion;  all of which has sadly resulted in  negleted blog in recent times.

Hoping to be back on the horse and posting again shortly.

~VL

Totally Rad Friday: Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Goes Track Cycling

How good is this... as part of the 2013 team presentation, QPQS held a team track racing championship at the Eddy Merckx velodrome in Gent.

Tom Boonen was the eventual winner taking the title ahead of Mark Cavendish.

I'm so excited to see what results the star studded team can produce this year.

~VL

Photo Credit: Omega Pharma Quick Step / Tim de Waele tdwsport.com

Garmin Edge 810 & 510 - The Edge

Garmin has just released this snazzy little film to coincide with the release of their new 510 and 810 GPS cycle computers.

I'll take a look at the 510 and 810 devices in more detail when I get my hands on them in the next few weeks. In the meantime be sure to check out this beautifully shot film, it's well worth a look.

~VL

Video Credit: Garmin Ltd

Firefly Bicycles - Titanium Road Baby Blue

I'm totally digging this Firefly Titanium Road in baby blue. I especially love the colour treatment on the decals and the use of the H Plus Son Rims is a nice touch.

If by chance you're not familiar with Firefly, they are a relatively new bicycle manufacturer specialising in handmade titanium and stainless steel bikes. You can check out more over at fireflybicycles.com

~VL

Photos: Firefly Bicycles, Flickr

Rate This Bike - S-Works SL4

I wanted to try something a little bit different with the blog in support of a side project I'm working on. I'm looking to develop a bit of a rating system for bikes based on a simple 1-10 scale and a poll something akin to what I one I have inserted below.

I'll start with my SL4 as a test mule (please be kind); if you have a moment it would be great if you could give the bike a rating and if so inclined,  add any you comments you wish below.


Thanks for your help, I'm looking to work on testing and developing this further over the next few weeks.

~VL

Neon Yellow 2013 Sidi Wire Road Shoes

I'm totally loving the new hotter than hot 2013 Neon Yellow Sidi Wire Road Shoes.

RRP $499... a small price to pay for the street cred that comes with rocking these bad boys.

Foot note: the pair above are owned and modelled by my friend and cycling style icon KGB.

~VL

Totally Rad Friday - S-Works Project Rainbow Venge

Um... I don't even know what to make of this custom S-Works Venge. Kinda awesome, kinda not?

Have a totally rad weekend!!

~VL

Photo Credit: Pro Bike Roma

2013 Specialized Venge Pro & Allez Race

Not that I'm really in the market for a new bike at the moment, but here are a couple of lower-mid tier bikes that have caught my attention from the 2013 Specialized road range.

The first to take my fancy was the 2013 Specialized Venge Pro. In addition to the Venge Pro OSBB frameset, the bike comes with SRAM Force, 60mm Roval carbon clinchers and Specialized's FACT carbon crankset... overall an excellent package considering the $3,000 saving on the cost of a S-Works Venge.

The second is the 2013 Specialized Allez Race. With it's trick new smartweld E5 alloy frame, SL4 carbon forks, OSBB, FSA carbon cranks and SRAM Rival components; this looks the business and could be a candidate to take up the role of my future winter training bike.

In addition, the Allez is sporting the hotter than hot black on black look, and by all accounts rides just like Tarmac SL4.

~VL

Photo Credit: Specialized Bicycle Components

Todd's Baum Corretto Lightweight Obermayer Gold

Wolfpack Regional Vice President Todd has just finished another collaboration with Baum Cycles, the result of which is this spectacular Baum Corretto produced for Eurobike 2012.

Vinokurov Wins Olympic Gold

Reformed cycling bad boy and soon to be Kazakh politician Alexandr Vinokurov broke the hearts of Mark Cavendish, Team GB and pretty much the rest of the British population yesterday when he won the gold medal in the Olympic Mens Road Race.

Vino and eventual silver medalist Rigoberto Uran of Colombia survived a breakaway to duke it out for the 1-2. The bronze medal went to Alexander Kristoff of Norway who outsprinted the chasing group.

Personally I found the race a bit dull, thankfully Specialized added a fair bit of pizzazz by providing bright neon red Tarmacs and Venges to all the Specialized sponsored pro riders (including Vino). The color of the bikes really popped on TV and I for one are hoping they consider doing a limited run of Vino Olympic Neon Red Tarmacs.

Dan Craven's (Namibia) Olympic Bike

~VL

Photo Credit: Reuters: Paul Hanna, 161211.com