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

The season has finally begun!

The month of March is the month where the pros start to rivet for the oncoming season.

We had an amazing Tirreno-Adriatico with great cycling accompanied with great weather, and some great climbs.Forget about the winner..Already too many people talk about the winner of this event.

Then few days later we had la"La classicissima" Milano-Sanremo, where the weather was not the best for cycling, as 86 riders retired from the horrendous weather? I would ask myself why? did not have enough clothes to warm up,or was it too cold, or they don't get paid enough..whatever..Hat off to those have finished the race.

Instead thinking the reason behind all this DNFs,  I rather watch this nice video from 1922 and many other from "La classicissima" or any other races where nature prevailed on the riders.Where those from the past, carried on with no problem at all with their "man bits" up to the throat for the cold.

Still my favourite.

No turbo trainers in the past.

Then we are at the beginning of the season, everyone will be talking about the same stuff in and out, left and right,top and bottom like the last 15 years or more.

Cross Training.

The main concern that everyone should talk about and reflect,it is that cycling has become a "prima donna" sport like many others.

A lot of cyclists like to follow the Velominati rules,but they buy turbo trainers and train with Sufferfest. Having tons of bicycle for each occasion.This is not cycling.I would call it differently.But I have to stop myself.

All of this has to be taken in consideration, that if we carry on with this mentality, cycling will be destroyed by literally nothing.

My final conclusion is that the season has begun, how many races will we watch with nearly half of the riders with DNFs?

Cycling is for passion. Cycling is the connection between the human body with nature.

Let's get SaddleDrunk.

Racing at 1877 Preston Park Velodrome in Brighton

Last Sunday I had the pleasure to race in the oldest cycle track in world, the Preston Park Velodrome was dug out by hand by the British Army in 1877.The length of the velodrome is only 580 metres, the thought of racing around it for 40 plus minutes gave me a feeling of boredom. Therefore I have decided to enter first race of the "Apres The Hot Recovery Drink Wacky Races Series".

One of the false flats.

Surprisingly, my boredom kicked in really quickly,I recall checking my computer at only 13 minutes into the race.Through my mind a lot thoughts were flying, from my father passing away to the way of pulling out to this boredness.

Following my father advise during my life, I did not want to give up so I have turned up the engines and start riveting.

Another great view from above.

The field of 32 was a good quality of riding,there were few slow ones,but that is part of the game.I was quite impressed to see few guys with turbo trainers before the race to warm up then I did not see them at all during the race.Usually those are the ones who push.But obviously not in this case.

Racers getting ready to go on track.

The speed and pace was high for a cat 4 race,but I was comfortable so I stayed always at the front and made it up if I lost a position due to wrong position or coming out from the front pack.Few guys that we lapped, suddenly were with us again racing for a postion.

That was a bit of shock for few of us that overlapped them twice, but interesting on sportsmanship conduct principles.

Well done to the Blazing Saddles Team to work as a real team and to get all the 3 steps in the podium.

It was a good result and also good to gain the first 2 point after 4 races for this season with a finish in 8th position.

Those photos were taken in the warm up lap.

Someone shouted at me to keep hands in the handlebar,I nearly choked.

Until next time enjoy riding.Keep getting SaddleDrunk.

Ciao.

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.

La Bellissima Tiffany Cromwell & "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad"

I had the chance to catch up with Tiffany, after a long time and I have kindly asked her to tell me more about tomorrow race the "Omloop Het Nieuwsbald' 2014.

Tiffany wearing the flabbergasting kit.

Tiffany will be defending her title from last year win in one of the most acclaimed races at the beginning of the season.This season she rides for the Team Specialized-Lululemon.

Especially the first in Europe for the riders after the different tour around the sandy,windy and hot Middle East races.

Following are Tiffany explicit words:

Het Nieuwsblad is one of my favourite races not only because I won it last year but it is just a cool and exciting race. It is the opening race of the classics and a great warm up to Flanders, there are plenty of cobble sectors and tough climbs to punish the legs and really sort out the tough from the weak.

I expect the women's race to be a hard fought battle. The course has slightly changed this year, we have lost one climb but added more cobbles which I think will make it more challenging. It certainly will be a race of attrition being the first European race of the season combined with the cold weather and difficulty of the course.

I expect it to be an aggressive race and the racing to first heat up over the Cote de Trier (not sure of spelling) and the Pateberg and continue all the way to the finish where we will see a small group or a late attack going for the victory.

Personally I have high exceptions for the race being defending champion, I want to be strong and have a good race as I am targeting a lot of the early season classics so it would be nice to start strongly but not peak in the first of them as I did last year. My Specialized-Lululemon team have a strong squad here and we're looking towards the win.

If amateurs have the chance to do a similar race or ride the roads of the Omloop I would highly recommend it, then you get a true sense of the feeling it is to ride these roads and just how tough the cobbles are on your body and how difficult they can be to ride. It's a fantastic challenge.

SaddleDrunk wish Tiffany and her Team good luck for tomorrow and a big Thank you in sparing some relaxing time before the while doing her nails, which a peculiar charateristic of her.

Ciao e Grazie,let's get SaddleDrunk.

SD.