3.10.08

ที่ 13:27

Following its debut in the Beijing Olympics, the sport of Bicycle Motocross (BMX) is seemingly on the rise. The recent Interbike trade show had more than usual BMX frames, full bikes and components on offer and it was hard to avoid the hype surrounding the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics.

Latvian pro rider Maris Strombergs rode a One BMX bike to victory in the men’s BMX final in Beijing. We’ve just heard that One Bicycles are to be exclusively sold in the UK by Posh Bikes.

“We have been waiting years for the BMX racing scene to gain real momentum in the UK again and in the last few weeks we've noticed the whole scene go mad," Andy, designer at Posh Bikes told us.

"Since the Olympics our customers’ interest in BMX racing has totally overtaken all other areas of cycling. Most seem to be 30-40 old-school BMXers that burst back into life after the Olympics and want to buy all the cool stuff they couldn't afford as kids.”

These things aren’t pocket money prices either, with frames at £385, complete bikes from £580, and if you want the Olympic-standard outfit it’ll be a cool £1580. Posh Bikes say they’ve already specced BMX bikes at £2000-£2500.

If you would like to see Maris Strombergs and the One BMX in action, check out: http://www.bmxaction.net/item/olympic-bmx-video-men-final

So, will you be returning to your youth and adding a BMX to your stable? Let us know in the comments box below.

ที่ 13:25

Italian cyclist Riccardo Ricco was on Thursday banned for two years by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) after he tested positive for EPO during the Tour de France.

Ricco, 24, was suspended from riding by CONI in July after admitting to using the banned blood-booster. He was kicked off the Tour de France and sacked by his Saunier-Duval team after testing positive following the fourth stage time-trial.

Ricco today admitted he was "very disappointed and bitter" at the ban, and said he had hoped for "more understanding" from CONI.

He initially protested his innocence but following a meeting with CONI officials, he admitted to his offence, even criticising testing procedures because he had passed many tests despite being doped.

Ricco's sanction entails bans of 18 months for the EPO doping offence and a further six months for having consulted disgraced doctor Carlo Santuccione, the Ansa news agency reported.

Santuccione is suspected of playing a key role in a doping affair that came to be known as "oil for drugs", and was served a life ban from working with athletes in December 2007.

According to Ansa, Ricco will be free to ride again from July 30, 2010.

Until recently, the new strain of EPO used by Ricco, called CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), was notoriously difficult to detect. Since July, French experts have also pioneered a blood sample test for CERA, which they say is even more efficient.

ที่ 13:18

Former mountain bike pro and current Trek test bunny Travis Brown raced a prototype belt-driven Trek cyclo-cross bike at CrossVegas September 24.

The bike has unique tension adjusters built into the dropouts. Brown was equipped with a few "cog" options so he could make a final gearing selection at the race once he saw the course. The bike was built off a standard Trek XO2 cyclo-cross platform and had the rear dropouts and chainstays replaced to accommodate the belt. The chainstays are off a Trek T900 tandem; their heavier gauge minimizes lateral flex and compression loads that could make the belt skip.

Trek's Advanced Concept Group has been tinkering with how belt drive bikes can fit into the line. Right now belts are on a few commuter models (including the Trek District) and some other prototypes running around the office but watch for them on more and more bikes in the future.

According to Trek's brand manager Scott Daubert, the dropouts are eccentric.

"If you are familar with Trek's ABP suspension set up you understand how it works," he said on Trek's "Up The Road" blog. "The inboard eccentric plates are slotted to accept a conventional hub. A "QR" threads in from the non-drive side and pinches everything together."