Latest media release from WTB.

As UK and Italy ambassador for WTB and Freedom, SaddleDrunk is please to announce the following:

WTB and Freedom Merge to Form Wilderness Trail & Freedom

MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – April 1, 2014 – Long standing mountain bike brand Wilderness Trail Bikes, known throughout the industry as WTB, announced today that it will be merging with its urban counterpart, Freedom.  Effective immediately, the two separate brands will form one, Wilderness Trail & Freedom, rebranded as WTF.

“We’ve asked for WTF for quite some time now,” elaborated Justin Kirkwood, WTF’s creative director.  “The ThickSlick tire’s overwhelming success is irrefutable.  Now under one roof, WTF will offer a staggering portfolio.  From 16 versions of the WTF ThickSlick to 11 different WTF Vigilantes spanning 26, 27.5, and 29”, WTF has augmented its reach.  The future is bright for WTF.”

All existing WTB and Freedom products will immediately transition to WTF products.  Tires will clearly display WTF lettering on sidewalls and saddles will also broadcast the new WTF acronym.  The wolf head logo will stay while the lettering will change to appropriately display the new brand, WTF.

About WTF

Founded in 1982, WTF was formed in the birthplace of mountain biking to design better bicycle products.  Through durable, affordable, and effective bicycle products as well as countless hours spent advocating on cycling’s behalf, WTF continues to promote bicycle usage as the way of the future.

Have a good day and Let's get SaddleDrunk.

SD

Yak Attack Nepal 2014 report from Cory Wallace

Hi all, I have managed to get in touch briefly with Cory Wallace from Nepal, reporting from Day 1 at the Yak Attack North Face 2014.A multi stage MTB event held in the beauty of the Himalayas.

Cory and I in Taiwan for the KOM 2013 last November.

This is what Cory had to say:

Day 1 we road across some terraces overlooking the Kathmandu valley. Later on we descended into a valley of chaos with Lose dogs, farm animals, people and cars everywhere. It was half bike race, half dodging the chaos. It is beautiful here racing below 7000 Meter mountains

A view of the track.

Scenery form the top.

Here at SaddleDrunk wish Cory a good luck during this amazing challenge.

I will keep you posted with more photos.

FLABBERGASTED by TAIWAN

Definition of Flabbergasted is "Informal overcome with astonishment". This is what my short Trip to Taiwan (thanks to the Taiwan Cycling Federation) has left in me.

Amused by the immense mountains, by the warmth of the people, the deep blue waters of the coast line, the delicious cuisine, made me think all the way back on a 15 hours journey back to London that I am looking forward to go back to Taiwan. It is strange for me to say this due to the fact I have visited 55 countries around the world and on the way to reach 100 (sometimes in my life time),but this remote Island in the South China Sea has completely deserved the name given by the Portuguese colonies in the past to call it "Formosa", which it means beautiful island.

Night Market.

Yin Chih Wang,Adam Semple,Andy Von Bergen(Cycling Tips Australia),Craig Symons enjoying a game at the night market.

Glasses could be wear with no lenses,it is the new trend in Asia.

In Taiwan you can cycle anywhere,you can use your own bike,or take one of the city bike to move around.They are great and cheap. To all you people, I have discovered that cycling is the best way to see the world starting from the busy cities to the open empty fields.Forget the sticky public transport,the queues and the rucking( rugby terminology,Packed crowd of people) to get on them.

We got lost while training.

From scooters at the front,cycling in the middle,and airplanes at the back.

MTB star Cory Wallace and TK from Japan,next to the red spotted shirts.

Cyclist can ride all this climbs in Europe, Stelvio,Mortirolo,Zoncolan and many others that have made history in cycling, and you felt proud to achieve the top.You felt like the Pro when you reach the summit,but this KOM Taiwan Challenge up the Taroko Gorge is for real the tougher.

Day 2 KOM Taiwan Challenge

Today it has been a day which all of us manage to warm up the legs for tomorrow morning with an early start at 0630 from the grid. The KOM event staff arranged a press conference at the start line for the race,which it is about 5km from the hotel by the beach.

We all fully kitted up and rode to the beach in a big peloton.We all took pictures with each others,wearing lycra, and chatting away to make the time pass under the sun rays with an amazing temperature of nearly 30 degrees Celsius.

Again with Tiffany Cromwell

David Mc Cann 3 Times Irish Olympian.

 Chatting in Italian with Simon Clarke, and discovering little secrets.

Elite RIders.

After the presentation we all decided to go for a ride,in groups we took different directions to discover this amazing country side.We rode through down town,hills,and open fields,motorways and much more astonishing scenery.

Cycling Tips Australia also with us.

In the middle of nowhere.

Ordering a Bubble Plum Ice Tea with Pearls with Adam Semple and Craig Symons.

Finally we were back at the hotel, after chasing and racing each others on the road like kids with new toys to be able to attend the riders meeting inclusive of a local dance from aborigine women from Taiwan.

To finish off the afternoon, it was nice to catch and talk with a great MTB rider and friend Cory Wallace,two times Mongolia Bike Challenge Champion,and various podium finishers at the most hardest MTB races in the world.Cory has been invited by the Taiwan Cycling Federation to take part at the event and to challenge the Elite riders.I can see Cory placing himself very well in tomorrow race.

Cory Wallace.

Good Night