Every week we’re taking a look at what’s new, exciting or coming soon to PerformanceBike.com – here’s a quick roundup of our first 4 weeks of videos, featuring bikes and gear for every cyclist.
Week 1
This week’s gear: Sidi Wire Carbon Road Shoes, GORE Oxygen SO Women’s Jacket, Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Drink Mix and the Charge Filter Apex Cyclocross Bike.
Week 2
This week’s gear: Louis Garneau Course SpeedZone vest, Giro Sonnet Women’s Helmet, Shimano Dura-Ace ST-9000 Shifters, Zipp 202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Road Wheels and the Charge Cooker Single Speed Mountain Bike.
Week 3
This week’s gear: Charge Bikes Mortar Pub Bike, Feedback Sports Recreational Work Stand, Sidi Drako Mountain Bike Shoes, Light & Motion Seca 750 Headlight and Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 Brakes.
Week 4
This week’s gear: Dakine Juniper Women’s jersey, Dakine Tempest Women’s Short, Dakine Shield Jacket, Dakine Charger Crew Jersey, Time ATAC XC8, XC6 & XC4 Mountain Bike pedals, and the Van Dessel Gin & Trombones Disc Cyclocross Bike.
For 30 years, Louis Garneau has stayed the course with race-inspired, high-tech cycling clothing. Now, they’re introducing their Limited Edition, premium Course line that delivers even more technology and performance than ever before. You can find the entire Course collection on Performancebike.com, but here’s a breakdown of a few of the innovative new products from this collection of high performance cycling gear.
Winner of the 2012 Eurobike Award for design excellence and innovation, the Course SpeedZone cycling vest was developed in cooperation with Team Europcar to provide great utility and protection. Louis Garneau’s patent pending opening on the rear of the vest allows access to your jersey pockets and provides visibility if you are wearing a race number. The ultra-light, stretchy fabric moves with you, offers wind and water resistance and breathes extremely well, plus an inner flap behind the full zip gives further protection while the mesh back panel prevents overheating.
The Course Race cycling bib shorts are a perfect example of a product that has been specially constructed to shave seconds, maximize muscle performance and keep you going strong, long after you’ve dropped the rest of the pack. Tight-fitting, high-compression fabric supports your thighs for powerful pedaling efficiency and is embedded with sun-reflective, coldblack technology to prevent overheating. Minimal seams increase aerodynamics, Power Mesh bibs keep you cool and a “nature calls” panel makes for easy pit stops. The new 5Motion chamois closes the deal with the amazing comfort of 3D pre-shaped wings, vented mesh, pressure relieving zones and antibacterial protection.
Designed to help you ride better, faster and stronger, the Course Race cycling jersey is a great looking piece packed with serious high-tech features. Three innovative fabrics move with your body, increase aerodynamics and wick moisture, plus coldblack technology dramatically reduces the jersey’s temperature to prevent overheating. The Course Race jersey is full zip and features pre-shaped shoulders and a wide silicone gripper hem to keep the jersey in place when you’re down in the drops. Textured sleeves give you an aero edge and triple back pockets with MP3 compatibility hold your race essentials.
Gloves that combine a firm grip with the right amount of padding and aeration for competition can be hard to come by. But not anymore, thanks to Louis Garneau’s Course cycling gloves. Their progressive padding process relieves pressure on the ulnar and median nerves, plus eliminates sources of friction for an amazing level of comfort. Then they added a sun reflecting, coldblack finish to the upper, so your hands won’t overheat. Finally, they seamlessly integrated their Ergo Air Zone system for effective temperature regulation and moisture evacuation. Hands down, this is a hard glove to beat. [Note: Course cycling gloves are available for pre-order, and will be in stock at the end of November]
Louis Garneau pulls out all the stops in their most competitive footwear, the Course 2LS road shoes. They’re equipped with a thinner, lighter and stronger Exo-Jet carbon outsole, plus Garneau’s HRS-300 internal polymer system which effectively transfers all your energy into pure power. Multi-vent technology circulates air throughout the interior to keep your feet feeling dry and fresh. Insert the red insole for extra warmth in cold conditions or the blue insole with refrigerant for cool comfort in hot weather. Double BOA L5 closure system evenly distributes pressure, offers infinite degrees of fine-tuning and lets you customize the level of security and tension. [Note: Course 2LS road shoes are available for pre-order, but will not be in stock until early 2013]
Shop the entire Limited Edition, premium Course collection on Performancebike.com.
Since there is almost no way to see everything at the annual Interbike trade show, in our wrap-up we’re just talking about the interesting bikes and gear that caught our eye as we walked the convention hall floor or the Outdoor Demo. Check out our photo album on Facebook for even more shots from the show, and if you missed Part 1 of our wrap-up, you can find it here.
When we visited the Outdoor Demo at Interbike, the bikes we really wanted to check out were the new carbon mountain bikes from Devinci - they’ve updated their entire lineup, from the World Cup winning Wilson downhill bike, to the nimble 29er Atlas to the super fun Dixon all-mountain 26″ ride. We had a blast testing out their new bikes, and even got suspension designer Dave Weagle to break down the 2013 lineup for us:
And since he was hanging out, we even got Dave to explain how Devinci’s patented Split Pivot rear suspension works, and what makes it great:
While we’re talking bikes, Fuji has a great lineup of road, mountain and cyclocross bikes on tap for next year, with updated graphics and components. One of our favorites was this gorgeous 13.2 pound Altamira road bike with Oval components tubular wheels:
This new Outland 29er mountain bike also caught our eye, with its flashy paintjob and short rear chainstays, for great handling:
One of Fuji’s most interesting new bikes was this Altamira CX Disc model, featuring cable-actuated disc brakes – almost every bike manufacturer featured either a cross or road bike with disc brakes:
Giro was at Interbike with an updated 2013 lineup, but their new Air Attack helmet was drawing lots of attention. Its aero shape may look odd, but Giro designers claim that it is almost as efficient at cooling your head as their standard helmets, yet almost as efficient aerodynamically as their time trial helmets:
Meanwhile their new Empire shoes are all about style, adjustability and fit – laces are back, and they’ve never looked so good:
Pearl Izumi was busy at Interbike showing off their Project X mountain bike shoes, which are as colorful as they are well thought-out. The heart of these new shoes is the sole, which features a flexible carbon shank embedded in the bonded outsole.
This shank is designed to be stiff while pedaling, for maximum efficiency, while still retaining sufficient flex for comfortable walking – a great combination for cyclocross or mountain biking:
Louis Garneau debuted their lightweight Course lineup of shoes, helmets and clothing at Interbike – including this great-looking new helmet and Boa lace-closure cycling shoe:
Louis Garneau won a design award for this Course vest, which features a gripper hem and open back panel so that you can reach in your back jersey pockets – one of those “why didn’t anyone think of that before” moments:
Ergon was on hand with new grips and packs, but their most interesting new gear was this intriguing CF3 Pro Carbon seatpost. It is designed to act as a leaf spring to absorb shock while riding – and it’s intended for use on the road:
And finally, just to show that even the hottest new trend has been tried before, check out this pair of 650B (or 27.5″) mountain bikes from Ritchey – the one on the left is their latest and greatest creation, while the one on the right is Ritchey’s first foray into the 650B world… from 1977!
For today’s product profile, we’re talking about Louis Garneau cycling gear. Founded in 1983 (incidentally, only one year later than Performance Bicycle), Louis Garneau has worked hard to create innovative cycling apparel, as they so aptly explain on their site: “It has and always will be our mission to conceptualize, design, and engineer technological products that will provide racers a competitive edge and recreational cyclists an improved experience.”
Of course one of the racers they were thinking about was Thomas Voeckler, leader of Team Europcar at the 2011 Tour de France. Here’s a shot of Voeckler during his gritty ride to hold on to the yellow jersey during Stage 18 of the Tour, on the slopes of the Galibier.
And just to show how passionate the Garneau folks are about their gear, look no further than this video ode to creating the special customized gear for Voeckler’s days in yellow:
Of course we said that we were going to talk about new 2012 Garneau gear, so what better place to start than with their Corsa cycling kit. As you can see below, the Corsa line was designed for ultimate cycling performance, with features such as the Aero Lazer Band at the arm and leg openings plus a “next to skin” fit so you can stay sleek and streamlined, and Carbon-X mesh for optimal muscle compression and support. The designers at Garneau even went so far as to use special Speed Tech shoulder panels to reduce frontal pressure and cut wind resistance while you are in a riding position.
The Louis Garneau Mondo kit includes many of the aerodynamic features of the Corsa line, including the Aero Lazer Bands and “next to skin” fit, along with nifty little details like a dedicated music-player pocket. The Equipe line of cycling wear is designed around an ultra-lightweight and breathable jersey, to maximize cooling, while the Equipe bib shorts offer a compressive fit (these shorts are a definite favorite around our office).
Like we said, the people of Louis Garneau are passionate about their work, and it shows in the details of their products. This passion can be directly traced back to the company’s founder, the eponymous Louis Garneau himself. A former elite cyclist, Mr. Garneau still plays an active role in the development of his company’s products, for, as he says, “Our innovations exist because we create products that function, perform, and are proven on the bike. We ride, we ride, we ride again, until we are certain a product will provide our customers a competitive advantage, and I have never removed myself from that group of test riders.”
As a final note, it was also interesting to learn that Mr. Garneau is a bit of an artist, creating a series of canvases as a fundraiser for the Fondation du Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec (although with his company’s emphasis on design, maybe this shouldn’t come as a surprise):
Eric, the product buyer for our components division, loves racing cyclocross. In fact, he plans his whole cycling year around the few short months of the cyclocross season. And since North Carolina is a hotbed of sorts for ‘cross on the East Coast, there’s rarely a weekend when he’s not donning the kit of our Garneau Custom team and pushing himself to the limit for an hour on the pavement, grass, sand, mud or whatever else the course has in store.
Eric’s definitely a guy who knows his cyclocross, so we asked him to give us his top 5 component picks for ‘cross season, and why he picked them. Will your next ‘cross race still be one of the most painful hours you’ve ever spent on a bike if you get this gear? Of course! This is cyclocross after all – but you might as well look for every advantage you can get.
1. DV3k Tubular Wheelset – This wheelset is lightweight (sub 1400 grams), plus it has an advanced carbon layup, 46-mm rim depth to slice through the mud, and the smooth ride of a tubular (although you can also get the wheeelset in a clincher version).
2. Avid Shorty Ultimate Cantilever Brakes - They don’t call these brakes “ultimate” for nothing; they can be adjusted to have a wide or narrow stance, have ample mud clearance, and just plain look good (plus it doesn’t hurt that the world champ races with them on his bike).
4. Challenge Grifo Tubular Cyclocross Tire – Cross racers are serious about their tires, from the tread patterns to the tire pressure to the history of the manufacturer. The Grifo is still made by hand, with a versatile tread design and the supple performance that only a high-end tubular can deliver (but a clincher version is also available).
5. Shimano CX70 Crankset – Part of Shimano‘s first foray into the world of purpose-built cyclocross components, this crankset excels with a 46/36T gearing combination mated to Shimano‘s reliable and efficient 2-piece design with smooth-shifting Hyperdrive chainrings.
It’s a new month, and a new chance to win! One lucky winner of our Louis Garneau Kit Contest is going to ride away in a high-performance, head-to-toe road kit consisting of a bike helmet, cycling jersey, bib shorts, and bike shoes. This kit has a total retail value of over $915! Enter today, and it could be you.
Louis Garneau Kit Highlights
Corsa Bike Jersey – The study of wind resistance specific to a cyclist’s position led to the design and technology of the Corsa Jersey. The re-engineered jersey has multiple zones and adaptive technology to correspond with airflow direction and penetration, including Speed Tech shoulder panels, Aero Lazer band on the sleeves and an underarm cooling zone of Carbon-X Mesh. Retail Value: $199.99
Corsa Cycling Bib Shorts – The Louis Garneau Corsa Bib is engineered with Speed Tech fabric that has a dimpled mesh construction aimed at improving aerodynamics and offering moisture management. A laser-cut, seamless Aero Lazer band provides a second skin feel, smooth transition, and performance enabling muscle support. The 4Motion Chamois’s innovative design combines 3D preshaped wings and deep split at the back bridged by multidirectional motion and amazing comfort. Retail Value: $224.99
Diamond Road Bike Helmet – The Diamond Helmet is Louis Garneau’s top-of-the-line helmet. At 285 grams and with over 40 vents, the Diamond helmet has an absurd amount of ventilation while still meeting safety standards. Worn by Chrissie Wellington in her record-setting 2009 Ironman World Championship title. Retail Value: $189.99
CFS-300 Road Bike Shoes – The CFS-300 shoes offer a new perspective on custom fit with a 100% heat-moldable system that is user-friendly and can be repetitively molded by conventional household means. Adjustable EVA foam padding is laterally and vertically adjustable with ratchet repositioning to optimize the fit. Two Coolmax Ergo Air insoles are provided to either allow through ventilation on hot days or block air on colder days. For the ultimate in power transfer, the shoe offers an Exo-Jet Carbon outsole with carbon molded arch support. Retail Value: $299.99
For this week’s Product Profile, Ali, from our Clothing division, is here to talk about the brand new 2011 Louis GarneauMondo bib short & jersey. The new 2011 clothing lineup from Louis Garneau is packed with advanced technology to enhance fit and performance, plus look great while you ride (as you can see in the cover shot above, from the April 2011 issue of Road Bike Action magazine).
The Louis GarneauMondo bib short is a really neat piece of equipment. The power band at the leg openings is the most comfortable leg opening you’ll find on any short! There’s no hair pulling or bad “sausage-leg” from a tight silicone gripper, only an aerodynamic fit with a second-skin feel.
Besides the fact that the Ceratek fabric on the hips looks really cool, it has a great purpose; the abrasion resistance it offers is huge. No picks or snags.
Detail of Ceratek material
The bib uppers are Louis Garneau‘s Carbon-X Mesh fabric; it has a high spandex content so if you’re tall, medium or average height for your size, it will fit like it was made for you. And as a bonus, all of the fabrics in the Mondo bib short are UPF/SPF 50 so you don’t have to worry about getting a funny tan on your thigh from a panel here and there that aren’t the same UPF/SPF as the others!
Detail of Carbon X Mesh
Of course all of this high-tech design and fit would be no good without an excellent chamois. But Louis Garneau has done their homework with the Mondo bib short, as their 4 Motion chamois is great. It has 4-way stretch so it moves with you; preshaped wings so there is no bunching, pinching or weird folding of the pad; high density foam in all of the right places and strategically placed mesh vents to keep you comfortable.
With all of the comforts of a high performance bib, plus a great chamois and technical fabrics, the Louis GarneauMondo bib short is a piece I believe you’ll find to be worth its weight in gold when you get out on the saddle in a pair. And to complete this high performance kit, Louis Garneau offers the matching Mondo jersey, featuring the same performance fabrics and fit found in the Mondo bib short.
GT Factory Racing take 4th and 5th in Round 1 of Enduro World Series 16 year old Martin Maes put in a sensational weekend’s riding to take 4th place in the opening Round of the Enduro World series at Punta Ala, Italy with team-mate and mentor Dan Atherton taking an impressive fifth. Local organisers claimed that the race would be “The hardest on… Read more […]
This weekend Gee Atherton and Marc Beaumont head out to the IXS Dirtmasters Festival in Germany where they will race the German DH Cup. The team will be missing Taylor who is at home in South Wales in the midst of his GCSEs and Rachel who’s chosen to sit this one out to concentrate on her rehab following the chest… Read more
It’s here! The Opening Round of the Enduro World Series, Round 2 of the SuperEnduro Pro Series at Punta Ala. This week Dan Atherton, Martin Maes and mechanic Matteo Nati are in beautiful Punta Ala preparing for “The biggest Enduro Race the world has ever seen.” The Enduro World Series works by linking existing races into a cumulative points Series.… Read mor […]
Louis Garneau pulls out all the stops in their most competitive footwear, the 
Shop the entire Limited Edition, premium Course collection on 
And just to show how passionate the Garneau folks are about their gear, look no further than this video ode to creating the special customized gear for Voeckler’s days in yellow:
