City Cycle Takes Masters 4/5 Race at Cat's Hill

City Cycle takes to the streets of Los Gatos during the 38th running of Cat's Hill Classic. Here's the run down from winner, Patrick Ruggles.

Weather: 65 Degrees, no wind
Main obstacle: Cat's Hill, 17% grade up one residential block.

At the onset of the race a Los Gatos rider went off the front and stayed away for 4 of the 12 laps of the race. When that rider was brought back I marked him. During the race I tried to be as close to the front as possible and felt it was harder to get to the top of the climb if I was to far back. With 2 laps or trips up Cats Hill I was sitting 2nd wheel at the base of the climb and 10 meters from the crest the same Los Gatos rider who was off the front at the beginning of the race rushed up the right side and I jumped on his wheel and we sprinted over the crest and down the back straight of the course with a 5-7 second gap right away. I said 'it's you and me and we have a good gap" so we put our heads down and stopped looking back. I led through the finish line on the bell lap and up to the crest of the climb when I let the Los Gatos rider take the lead down the back straight. 3 deep breaths. I looked back only to realize that the peloton wasn't closing in so I let him have a couple of lengths going into the last turn so I could accelerate towards him going into the final turn. I got the jump in the sprint before we entered the last 100 meters and passed him as soon as we came out of the final turn and realized that I was free and clear of him with nothing but beautiful clean day light between me and the line. A clean pair of wheels. Success! Cat's Hill is a super fun race to be in and watch and was my big objective for this year.

Cucina Ride May 21, 2011

You loved the Risibisi Ride, you are going to fall head over heels with the Cucina Ride! We’re out there again after a holiday hiatus: Saturday, May 21th, 2011. The tradition continues right here in your backyard.

Come join the family of friends and have a great time.

Join us for the monthly Cucina Giro de Marin Ride sponsored by: City Cycle, Cucina Restaurant, and Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12 women's cycling team.

Don’t forget your helmet, your cycling legs and your appetite.

Program/Schedule

8:00 a.m.-9:00a.m. Coffee & Bagels at City Cycle

702 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo

8:30 a.m. Marshall ride leaves (60 miles)

9:00 a.m. Bakery Loop ride leaves (35 miles)

11:30a.m -2:00 p.m. - Lunch! We're heading back to Cucina! Register for lunch here.

Looking for a challenging ride? The Marshall loop will be a faster pace with few stops to regroup. Be prepared to carry your own tools, food, tubes…etc. Plan to do the ride in 3.5 to 4 hours. Remember we got be back in time for lunch!

Looking for a doughnut? The Bakery loop will be a comfortable pace with a good number of stops to regroup.

Have any questions? Shoot us an email... eddy@citycycle.com

Team City Cycle Races the Santa Cruz Crit

On Sunday April 17th, our two very own City Cycle racers Ryan Moore and Patrick Ruggles, took to the streets to race the Santa Cruz Classic Criterium. Both did very well and have provided us with reports so you can re-live all the action. Look for them and other City Cycle racers in our new team kits soon! Great racing guys!

From Ryan:

Race Conditions: 11:00am Sunday April 17th temp: 65 cloud cover wind: n/a
Cat 5 (For the last time!!!)

I wanted to make a big impression on the USA cycling officials for this race because I planned on petitioning for an upgrade to Cat 4. After lap 1 I jumped out in front and began to push the pace. With two laps out in front I found myself over 45 seconds ahead of the peloton with three other riders. I kept the pace high for the next 5 laps or so, working well with my other breakaway compatriots. With 3 laps to go we were down to just three riders total. I began to suspect that the other two riders in the my group were becoming fatigued. With 2 laps to go I allowed our pace to calm down a bit knowing that the we were well out of reach of the peloton by now, and to allow myself to recover for my big push I was planning for the last lap. The course had a decent climb that lead to a false flat before reaching the straightaway at the finish line. I knew this was where I could win. On the final climb I jumped out of the saddle and punched it up the hill, accelerating up it and in to my sprint, leaving the other two riders well behind me and winning by several bike lengths. After the race my upgrade request was approved. With a little luck I hope to reach Cat 3 by September.

From Patrick:

Race conditions: 10:00 sun April 17 Temps 63-65 cloud cover, wind N/A.
Cat 4 35+

I sat in the group mid pack for much of the first 8 laps. There were no break away attempts because the front was controlled by two teams with multiple riders in the field. At 4 laps to go, I felt fully recovered as I entered the back side of the course before the uphill section towards the finish straight and knew that I would be able to be a factor in the finale. I had to drift back in the last 3 laps and would re position myself in the front with a short effort on the back side of the course. A block from the finish line there was a crash 3 riders in back of me as we approached the bell lap. I heard to “keep it straight” twice in succession and then the sound of ruining bikes followed with a pronounced snap as I passed the official while he was ringing the bell. Position is so critical in this race and I have blown a good spot before so I was extra aggressive going into the final turns. After the downhill I pulled in about 12 back and sat for a second and saw that the best spot that would give me inside position in the last 3 right turns and passed on the outside- slotted in 4th wheel going into the to the final turn with 200 meters to the line. Drafting 3rd wheel for along as I could to try to pass at the line but he proved to be two pedals stroked better than I and the win was 4 lengths ahead. First place was first out of the last turn we all finished in the order we left the turn. It also was his first win. Two team mates came up with second and third. I was fourth. I was greatly pleased with the result after not racing a crit in over a year and hope I can go this well at Cat’s Hill in May but next stop will be Wente Road Race.

PB Girls, Cucina Report & When the Cat's Away...

So, even though the PB Girls flaked on us this past Saturday (joke), the Cucina ride was a really nice time...

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Actually, wait a second! Before we report on Saturday's ride, let's pause a second and cover a detail or two with regard to the PB Girls.

It came up (and this is just conjecture, but...) that one reason the lovely ladies might not have attended the ride this past weekend, is that when they've come along in the past, there has been an inclination on the part of some of our guests (or maybe it's just people who have latched onto our peloton?) to try and attack/out-ride them. Ok--well, it should be said that when the PB Girls come on our rides, we're looking to be nothing short of gracious hosts. That said, perhaps with this short message you can help us along the way with some social enforcement of our agenda...

The deal is that these are professional cyclists who are joining us on their "day off." So we like to keep that in mind and it should be clear that this sort of behavior is just not necessary. We'd simply like to have the ladies along for the ride so that we can all enjoy their company, and so that we can all benefit from their certain ability to contribute to what we advertise as a group ride with a "brisk pace." It's not intended to be a race ride. Thanks again for all your support, and hopefully, their pro bike racer schedules permitting, we'll see the ladies out there again soon. :)

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The weather Saturday was glorious. Just a tiny bit of crispness in the air as we gathered, and as we rolled out, but for the most part the riding conditions were ideal. This month we had a fun group mixing both Marin and San Francisco peeps--thanks to all for joining. It's always a pleasure!

Cory (one of the City Cycle chiefs) was out riding with us on his ultra sweet Trek Madone (a custom Project One bike)...Meanwhile, the crew back in SF got up to their typical shenanigans. When Cory returned to work on Sunday the entrance to his office space looked like this...And his desk...
So, I guess the moral of this story is that even if you're the boss, sometimes you have to pay to play. :)

Join the Peanut Butter & Co for Their Winter Training Camp

Come ride in support of Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12, the premiere women's development cycling program in the United States.

You are invited to join them on either a VIP ride or an intimate dinner(or both) in conjunction with their Spring Training Camp held this year in beautiful Mill Valley, California on February 26, 2011. Meet World Time Trial champion and Gold Medalist, Kristen Armstrong, Coryn Rivera and the rest of the team.

Join members of the team for a light breakfast followed by a 50 mile ride on beautiful back roads of Marin County fully supported by Paradigm Cycles. After the ride, all riders will enjoy a Peanut Butter Picnic hosted by Peanut Butter & Co. Explore the world of peanut butter in a whole new and exciting way!

Later that evening, the team will host a dinner at Mill Valley's Frantoio Restaurant. The meal will include authentic Italian cuisine that is both organic and locally produced.

Special Italian and California wines will be served.

Also a bicycle will also be donated to World Bicycle Relief.

Space is limited so register early here.

For those coming from outside the area, the host hotel, Larkspur Hotel, Mill Valley, is offering a 20% discount. Call the shop at 415 454-9534 and ask for Eddy for the coupon code.

Redwood and Branson High School Sunday Ride

A glorious day on the bike indeed! Is it really January?

Today Redwood and Branson High Schools met and rode on their weekly team ride. My group did a Pine Mountain loop with a bit of Tamarancho thrown in for a little fun. Arm warmers and knee warmers came off, as it felt like a sweet, spring day in mid April.

Two and a half hours of fun and sun… If this was a dream, don’t anybody wake me.

Want to come out and ride with the teams? Give us a ring. Shoot me an email.

Eddy.

eddy@paradigmcycles.com

Trek Project One Bikes

We just received and are riding a 2011 Trek Madone 6.9 SSL Project One, with Campagnolo Super Record. Wow! A great looking frame, light and lively, fast and comfortable. A wonderfully balanced ride.

Out of the saddle, the frame is as stiff and responsive as anything we've ridden...as good as a lighter monococque race frame from another maker...which is something we couldn't say about the last Madone we rode. The bike makes you want to stand up.

The handling is predictable and a complete bike weight that tips the scale at a scant 6.375 kilograms (that's just over 14 pounds) speaks for itself. The custom paint is beautiful and shows especially well in the sunlight. The ride is a bit stiffer than the non-SSL Madone over rough pavement but the responsiveness of the newer carbon makes it a good trade-off. The internal cable routing is intelligently done and the Duotrap sensor (integrated sensor and sending unit built directly into the chainstay) works great with our Garmin 705.

The lead time was beyond reasonable...just two weeks! Some production bikes we sell take nearly that long to reach our shops...and this Madone SSL is full-custom in all the aesthetic details, painted and built to our spec and our order!

The 2011 Campagnolo Super Record shifts significantly better front and rear than 2010, and it's lighter...quicker in the front, more accurate and crisper in the rear. Improvements that make the entire package that much more desirable.

The Bontrager Race XXX-Lite wheels feel great...light, not soft, snappy. A pretty traditional design other than the OCLV rim. There is a slight braking performance penalty with the carbon rims but there is no pulsing or any other negative feedback that we've experienced with all-carbon rims from other makers.

The Bontrager bar is very light... lighter than the Easton we've ridden in the past. The carbon stem is actually a bit lighter than a light aluminum stem and it's nice and stiff. They are a nice compliment to the all-American, Wisconsin built Madone SSL.

From a mechanic's standpoint, the bike goes together with no hassle or head-ache. Everything is well thought out and the quality is apparent when compared to competitor's bikes that are made in Asia, especially in the details.

If we had to say one thing about the Madone SSL that sets it apart: it is the first carbon bike we've tested that we feel we could really get attached to. It was made in the U.S., by hand. It was painted in the U.S., by hand... difficult to define details that set this thoroughbred race bike apart from its competitors and that give it a priority place in our corral.

Mad Fiber Wheels

As a shop that specializes in hand-built, custom wheels, we usually don't care much for wheels that we didn't build ourselves. But it looks like that might change with the recent launch of Mad Fiber Wheels ( www.madfiber.com ).

Wheel master, Ric Hjertberg (co-founder of the original Wheelsmith Fabrications), has surrounded himself with experts in the design and manufacture of structural carbon fiber to create a truly unique wheel set that has our attention...the first "new" wheel that really is NEW.

Mad Fiber wheels are unique in every aspect of their design and manufacture. They take full advantage of carbon's potential and integrate all of its capability into the design concept from the start. The wheels are unique looking, crazy light (1085 grams for the PAIR) and have no rider weight limit! The only drawback (and that is a temporary one, according to Mad Fiber) is that they are available only for tubular tires, but we're told that a clincher version is a top priority for new product development in the coming months.

We just received our first pair of demo wheels but have not had a chance to roll on them yet...however, that will happen very soon. The wheels we have are actually demos that YOU will be able to ride, too! So, come in, take a look, marvel at Mad Fiber Wheels' light weight and stunning look and (eventually) take them out for a spin. We'll get tires installed and take them out on the road soon and will let you know how they roll. If they're anywhere near as fast, stable, stiff and comfortable as the design specs say they should be, we expect that we might be "cheating" on our hand-built wheels with Mad Fiber, at least for a while.

2011 Time Frames

Ladies and gentlemen, the Time has come. No, quite literally: we've added Time bikes to our stable of fine road racing machines. These fine French bicyclettes will be joining our already fast selection of bikes by Scott, Cervelo, and Colnago. We've always wondered where the name "Time" comes from: is it a reference to the seconds and minutes you will save whilst riding one? Or perhaps it's a reference to how long you'll spend admiring these gorgeous bikes? Regardless these carbon beauties look, feel, and simply are fast.

Unlike some manufacturers that have hundreds of models from mountain unicycles to recumbent tandems, Time only builds three bikes. That's correct- THREE bikes. The model lineup for 2011 is as follows: RXRS Ulteam, NXR Instinct, and RX Instinct. All of their R&D and bike-building expertise has poured into just these three models, so you can be sure that each is a knockout. All share Time's proprietary Resin Transfer Molding ("RTM") assembly technique, wherein strands of carbon fiber and shock absorbing Vectran and Kevlar fibers are weaved and braided into tubes. Kevlar and Vectran are gold colored composite fibers that absorb more vibration than carbon fibers alone. If you take a peek at the steerer tube of any of Time's SAFE+2 forks, you can see the gold threads intertwined with the black. The finished "sleeves" of fiber are then fitted to a mold, saturated with resin, and baked at high temperature and pressure. Because Time custom braids their own fiber layups, their bikes have more fibers where you need them and less where you don't.

Time offers its 3 models in a number of iterations: besides shipping as a complete bike, the RXRS Ulteam and NXR Instinct can be delivered as a Module or a Module+. A Module includes the frame, fork, headset, carbon bottle cage, Translink seat mast and cap, and Time's MONOLINK full-carbon stem. A Module+ includes everything that the module has but adds Time's ERGOFORCE carbon handlebars. The RX Instinct is available as a complete bike or a frame kit that includes the frame, fork, headset, carbon seat post, and carbon bottle cage.

On to the bikes: The RXRS Ulteam is Time's flagship model, using all of their proprietary technology including the aforementioned RTM and SAFE+2 fork, and is available in 6 sloping sizes from XXS to XL. The fully lugged carbon frame looks and rides nice, with the added advantage that Time can replace any damaged tubes. Time forks have a patented multidiameter steerer tube that matches the oversize bottom bearings of the QUICKSET headset, keeping the front rigid and fast. An oversized, full carbon bottom bracket featuring BB30 integrated bearings ensures maximum power transfer from the cranks. The RXRS modules are also available in a Di2 edition, with integrated wiring throughout and a spot for the battery under the bottom bracket. Available in 4 colors, including the impressive "VIP" edition in gloss black and silver. Published weight (with pedals and a SRAM Red gruppo): 15.2 pounds. All in all, the RXRS uses the latest technology (Di2 wiring, seat mast, BB30, assymetric stays) to translate maximum power from "the pedals to the pavement", and guarantee an explosive ride.

"Instinct" is no doubt a reference to the effortless acceleration of the NXR and RX models. Both strive to offer race-worthy speed but with a slightly less aggressive geometry than the RXRS. These two models accomplish this through "ERGODRIVE" positioning, where a taller headtube raises your stance on the bike whilst eliminating the need for excess spacers. Time's RTM carbon braiding process is still present in these models, as is the SAFE+2 multidiameter carbon/vectran fork. While the RXRS is fully lugged, the NXR Instinct and RX Instinct have a monocoque front triangle with lugs attaching the chain and seat stays. The RX has a standard seatpost, while the NXR has a seat mast, saving some weight overall. If you take a closer look, you'll notice that the NXR also has a carbon front dropout and seatpost collar, formed at extremely high pressures using a process known as CMT. Both ride fast and are a little friendlier to your back and your wallet.

If you're looking for a complete bike out of the box, Time ships all three with either SRAM Red, Campagnolo Record/Super Record, or Shimano Dura-Ace/Di2 and Ultegra gruppos. Various editions of Mavic's Ksyrium wheelset come stock, though for bikes this nice we suggest that our hand-built wheels are more complimentary, and we can always provide custom selected groupsets. Time's other products may be worth your time, especially the brand new iClic pedals: the world's first pedal that uses a flexible carbon blade as opposed to metal springs to keep you locked in. The iClic pedal with titanium spindles weighs 175g a set! A nice addition to any Time bike...

So...do these bikes get better with age like a fine French wine? Only Time will tell. Ok, enough puns... Just come check them out.