Product Test: KMC X10SL Colored Chain KMC 2009 Official Chain Sponsor

Our friends at KMC Chain sent us a new gift to test out. We are currently testing the new KMC X10SL chain... now in Color! KMC currently offers several versions of single speed chains with colored finishes, but currently only offers their road chains in either silver or gold (see our previous article for pics). In the world of bike bling, who would not want to ride up to their next club ride or criterium sporting a new KMC chain in blue, white, yellow or pink in our case? The color possibilities are limitless. While the team may not be riding pink chains next year, as is our test chain, you may see some red or white versions on the 2009 Gary Fishers.

KMC has entered into their third year as the official chain supplier for the Hincapie/Gary Fisher Team presented by Barkley, during the upcoming 2009 season. We appreciate their support and look forward to an awesome season of wins on KMC chains. Their products are incredibly durable and shift very smoothly. I recommend a KMC Chain as your next bike upgrade purchase.

On Test: KMC X10SL colored chain

Various color options offered from KMC Chain

Our chain is made of an alloy steel that has been powder coated, pink. Over the next months we will be logging as many miles as possible to test the shifting, durability and lasting color finish on the X10SL chain. We will regularly clean the chain with Finish Line Super Bike Wash and Multi-Degreaser, and keep the chain lubed with Finish Line Dry Lube. We cleaned the new chain and applied lube prior to our first ride. During the first test ride we put the chain through multiple shifting through the gears, the chain shifted smoothly and the finish on the chain looked just a good after the ride as it did at the begining. Stay tuned for more updates.

"Missing Link" for easy removal and cleaning

Hollow pins and hollow X-Bridge outer plate

The KMC Test Group! Making your ride a little more colorful!

"How can I get my own colored chain?" Great question...for now you will have to wait if you are looking for a 10 speed version of this chain. However, you can visit your local shop to order a colored KMC chain for your fixie, track bike, single speed MTB or BMX. To learn more, visit http://www.kmcchain.com/ "Don't hate me because my chain is beautiful."

Short-track MTB Race #2: 2 more WINS in the Dark

Tonight was the first of the 2 Nite Races in the Fall Shorttrack series. The course was fast and smooth after 2 days of raining, an suited us roadies well. It was pretty cold and windy, and starting a race in the dark at 9:00pm is, lets say, interesting! Lori and Lisa had a great ride doing a repeat Win and 2nd place. Ol' Adam also had a great ride to Win the Super Sport division. Chris "I like to do squat workouts before racing" Harkey had to settle for a well fought 3rd place tonight after closing a big gap after Justin crashed out of the lead group on the back side of the course. On a side note: Two of our training partners, Danny and Daniel also took 1st and 2nd in the beginner class after riding away from the other racers. Looks like the winter training plan is paying off.
1st - Lori Harkey (Wms Sport)
Adam Little (Super Sport)
2nd - Lisa Preaslar (Wms Sport)
3rd - Chris Harkey (Expert)
Thanks again to our sponsors for their support...even during the "off season".

BARKLEY Pledges 2009 Team Support

After a great season at the Team's presenting sponsor, BARKLEY has pledged continued support of the Hincapie / Coca-Cola / BARKLEY Team for the 2009 season. BARKLEY's support has allowed the team to enjoy several successes on the road throughout the season spreading the word of the benefits of healthy living. We look forward to racing in the Kansas City area, their home base, and connecting the cycling communities of the midwest and southeast. We would like to thank Andy Woolard, IV Whitman and the Senior Staff at BARKLEY for their efforts in allowing us to represent BARKLEY for another great year! Look for great things to come!

2 WINS on the Dirt - Shortrack Race #1

Saturday marked the first of the Harrisburg short track MTB races, so we figured we would get a little dirty...Lori and Lisa started off the winning streak by taking 1st and 2nd place in the Women's Sport categories. Chris, Justin and Darren rocked the Expert race with Chris lapping most of the field of racers for the WIN with Justin 4th. Adam also had a good time on the mountain bike riding to 3rd in the Super Sport race. We look forward to racing in the dark this Sat in the first series Night Race...stay tuned, see you on the trails.
1st - Lori Harkey (Wms Sport)
Chris Harkey (Expert)
2nd - Lisa Preaslar (Wms Sport)
3rd - Adam Little (Super Sport)
4th - Justin Beard (Expert)
8th - Darren Fuller (Expert)

VA Cycling Cyclocross Weekend

Hincape Team Rider, and VA Tech student, Reid Beloni is helping put on a cyclocross race this weekend in VA for all you cross crazy fans. Check it out and show some love. Proceeds go back to the VA Cycling program. Here is the link to the flyer...

The Importance of Sponsorship

Our team could not exist without our awesome sponsors. We would like to take a minute to thank all of our friends and sponsors who helped make 2008 a great year for the Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley Team. A special thanks has to go out to Hincapie Sportswear, Trek, Coca-Cola, Barkley, Speedplay, The Bobby Labonte Foundation, SRAM and VETTA for your continued help throughout the year.

Many thanks to Andy and the crew at Barkley for putting together this promotional video. The support from Barkley has allowed us to further our program and have many successes this season.

We are currently in the process of securing our sponsors for the 2009 season. We are excited to have a majority of our sponsors returning to the team (look for a post shortly to announce 2009 sponsors). If you are interested in joining our program as a NEW financial or equipment sponsor for 2009, please contact Adam Little at http://www.info@hincapiecycling.com/

"Off-season" Update

Now that the official road season has come to an end, we have started to turn our attention to other aspects of life that we have neglected a little by being on the road so much this season. For me that is family. My girls and I have a trick-or-treating date planned, and lots of playtime at the house. Along with this time of year, comes work around the house on those projects that you just never got around to. Mowing, yard work, and organizing the garage...again. However, after you take your traditional week or so off the bike, there still exists the urge to train and keep your body moving around. Luckily most of us can follow a less structured training plan for now with some fun stuff thrown in there for measure.

Most of the team has been playing around with the mountain bikes for a week or so now. We have all taking our share of tumbles, but we are pumped to be out riding in a different environment. There are some short-track races here in Charlotte coming up in Nov. that we plan to tackle to keep our competative bug at ease.

Several of our folks are also having fun with other pursuits as well. Our longtime friend and Regional Sales Manager for Trek/ Gary Fisher and Bontrager, Jeff "eat my dust" Haase took the Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley Team's first cyclocross WIN. Jeff crused to a win out of a pretty deep field of racers in the MSCross masters race 2 weeks ago. Jeff started racing cross close to 15 years ago on an old Schwinn road bike and has been hooked ever since.

Bridgette McClean, our jr womens racer, has turned her Winter training focus to her High School Cross Country team. Bridgette's school won first place in their Conference Championships today at McAlpine Park in Charlotte. Bridgette had a great run, taking 3th herself with one of her best times.

I am sure that on your next group ride you are going to hear guys talking about core training - this, and gym workouts - that, but remember that the off-season is also a time to focus on family, health and home. At least for now...all those workouts will come sooner than later.

Thanks to all of our sponsors, supporters, training partners, friends and family for a great 2008 season. Adam

Interbike Goodies pt 1: New Goodies from SRAM

Rumor was that our friends and long time supporters of the team from SRAM had some new products to introduce for 2009...so we had to check out the buzz. Sure enough, we were pleased to see their new inovations for 2009 and you will be to.

New for 2009 is the SRAM line of wheels. The S40, S60 and S80 wheels are a combination of technology from SRAM and their partners at ZIPP. All three sets of wheels feature a deep carbon rim (40mm, 60mm, or 80mm hence the names) married with an aluminum clincher braking surface. The rims are laced with bladed aero sapim spokes to a ZIPP hub found on the current Flashpoint wheelsets with sealed bearings. Smart and stylish wheel graphics finish off the total package.

Our team has been fortunate to use the SRAM Force groupo for the 2008 season with great success. It was great to see that some of its features have trickled down to the 09' SRAM Rival Groupo. The new Rival hits the streets with a new black gloss finish on all components and carbon brake levers, mirroring the Force groupo.

Those hardcore freeriders out there will also be blow away with SRAM's new Truvativ Hammerschmidt crankset, which uses internal gearing to switch chainring gear ratios while using only one chainring...I know, I had to see it to beleive it too! Even got a chance to ride it. The 1:1 and 1:1.6 overdrive internal gearing give you the security of a single chainring and the shifting abilities of a double. Technology that will prove to revolutionize the ideas of shifting and gear ratios for the MTB crowd and beyond.

The Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley Cycling Team is pleased to continue its partnership with SRAM as our official groupo provider for the 2009 race season. Check them out at http://www.sramnation.com/ and make the leap.

Team takes on the Dirt...and WINS!

We put up the road bikes for a weekend and whipped out the mountain bikes to get a little dirty at the 6 hour and 12 hour Tree Shaker Endurace Race in Rock Hill. Turns out, we had a blast, and did great on the trails. Deb won the solo 6hr race, while we took 2nd place in two 12hr races and 3rd in the 6hr mens duo. Everyone had a blast. Harkey got to take a little swim in the after drifting off course, jumping an eight foot bank and landing in the middle of the river. Blair and Shane had a clear lead of more than 30 minutes in the mens 6 hour duo event, but slipped to 3rd with only 2 laps to go after Blair breaking his chain and having to run several miles of the course.

On the same weekend, John tackled the Poor Mountain Hill Climb. This event was won by, and a record time set by our very own Scottie Weiss back in 2002. The Hill Climb is a mountain bike event with 4000 feet of climbing over 7 miles of dirt road/trail...super tough. Yeah, but not for John, who decided to make it even tougher by racing his road bike rather than a MTB. Other than a 28 cassette and a wider set of tires, he rode his bike stock. John won the "AnyBike" category and took 2nd OVERALL!

Results for the weekend:
*Fastest Lap - Darren Fuller
1st place - 6 Hour Women's Solo - Deb Elliot
1st place - Poor Mountain Hill Climb (AnyBike) - John Delong
2nd place - Poor Mountain Hill Climb Overall - John Delong
2nd place - 12 Hour Men's Trio (Harkey, Fuller, Harkey)
2nd place - 12 Hour Women's Trio (Lori, Lisa, Lauren)
3rd place - 6 Hour Men's Duo (Blair, Shane)

Marianne WINS NC State TT Championship, Bruce takes 2nd

Big congrats go out to our very own Marianne Holt for winning the North Carolina Womens Pro 1,2,3 Time Trial State Championship. A little history here...Marianne won the Masters National TT Championship in 2007 and wore the stars and stripes most of the year. She suffered an unfortunate crash in the Bristol Criterium one month prior to this year's National Championships and broke 2 ribs along with a punctured lung. While still attending Nationals to support her teammates, Marianne dreamed of the day she could get healed up and race again. After a short recovery, and some secret training (don't tell her doctor). Marianne's mounted a strong comeback, taking 2nd place in her first criterium back on the bike (Lexington Crit). The NC State TT was a great chance for her to demonstrate that she is still the fastest gal on the TT bike.

We have to also give a shout out to Bruce Humpries for taking 2nd place in the South Carolina State TT Championships. Bruce had a great ride...you need to check out the custom painted Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley TT bike he used to pilot his journey. Great job Bruce.

Bunch-O-Results: Blair 4th in Fort Mill, Justin 2nd at Columbia, Girls rack up!

Fort Mill, SC 9-19: This was the first event of the Dylan Mitchell Memorial Criterium sponsored by John Deere. Dylan was a local category 2 racer who was killed by a motorist while on a local training ride. Know by his characteristic strong riding style and that cool tribal flame tattoo, Dylan was a good friend to the local cycling community. Eric Peterson, Dylan's coach on the John Deere Development Team, organized and funded the event. Great course, great prizes...great folks to support. Spread the word on this event and lets make it bigger and better next year. Our rider Reid Beloni (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley) and Alder Marcs (Hot Tubes Development) were both teammates with Dylan before he was killed. It was awesome to see them racing in their old John Deere team jerseys to honor Dylan in this event...class act!

Gals did an awesome job in their 1,2,3 criterium. Marriane and Lori got in the lead break of 7 girls, and took 5th and 6th. Deb and Lisa were at the front of the chase group taking 8th and 9th.
After missing the lead break, the men's team dug deep to chase it back. With 10 laps to go, we abbandoned the win and started setting the field sprint for Blair. The boys did a great leadout with Bruce punching up the back hill and Justin turning on the gas to the finish. Blair won the field sprint for 4th, while Justin (only passed by one other rider) took 6th. Chris Knetche came just behind for 9th.

Sunday's Criterium in Columbia was a great ride for Justin, who took 2nd place in the Pro 1-2 event just behind a member of the Slavanian National Team after lapping the field.

Sat: Women's Pro 1,2,3
5th -Marianne Holt
6th - Lori Harkey
8th - Deb Elliott
9th - Lisa Preaslar

Men's Pro 1-2
4th - Blair Craig
6th - Justin Beard
9th - Chris Knetsche

Sunday: Men's Pro 1-2
2nd - Justin Beard

Interbike Preview - Product Goodies you really need

On the eve of the famous Interbike Trade Show (starts next week) in Vegas, lets take a look at some of the new products that you are going to start hearing a buzz over. May not be a bad idea for your early Christmas lists either.

SRAM, who we all know are already for producing the best, lightest groupos on the planet, have recently added to their lineup for 09 with race wheels. After purchasing ZIPP a month ago, SRAM has decided to dress up the Flash Point line from ZIPP as the new SRAM aero wheels for 2009. The wheels come in 40mm, 60mm and 80mm depths with an aluminum braking surface and carbon deep rim. We have tested the 60mm version and found it to be an awesome wheel. See Link for pictures. Booth 1339

BELL Sports introduced the new Volt road helmet at a little race called the Tour de France this year. Remember that Sastre guy? With massive vents, it's structure is built around sculpted Composite Fiber Intakes to keep the air flow coming. The Volt is made even more comfortable by Bell’s new Twin Axis Gear (TAG) fit system that allows riders to both dial in the exact fit as well as adjust the mechanism’s horizontal position on the back of the head. Booth #3553 http://www.bellbikenews.blogspot.com/

VETTA: Inside sources tell me that VETTA is planning to unveil a new computer for 09 that will detect power functions. The top secret computer is designed to work with both Quark and Powertap powermeter systems and uses the ANT+ technology to pick up all the digits you need. You heard it here first! Booth 4819

Timbuk2 must have forseen the hike in gas prices on the horizon. Already know by racers, commuters and bike messengers as a go anywhere, do it all bag, Timbuk2 raises the bar with the new Covert bag. The bag features the new Covert Reflective Fabric on the center panel to show those gas guzzlers where you are. Check out the video of the bag in action.

If you are lucky enough to attend Interbike this year, take a close at the "superlight" display bikes that various vendors build up for show. You will notice that nearly all of the 9-10lb bikes on display will have the super light KMC X10SL-TI Gold chain. At only 240 grams, this is the lightest production race chain on the market. Its easy to use "missing link" quick link lets you pull the chain off easily for repairs or cleaning. Hollow pins, machined links and smooth shifting make it a great chain for your own super bike. If you are lucky you might get the gold one. Also look for the DX10 chain with solid pins and solid links for a bombproof training and race chain. http://www.kmcchain.us/ Booth #2951

Liquid Gold

Ok, let's all try to commute to work next week at least once...you in with me? $0.00/gal

Winning Streak Continues! Conn Wins at Wake Forest. Weiss 4th in Asheville

After very successful weekend for the Hincapie/Coca-Cola/BARKLEY Team, Jeremy Conn ensures that the winning streak is kept alive Sunday. Jeremy lapped the field with a small group at the Wake Forest Pro 1-2 Criterium and then jump free to solo in for the WIN! Don't let the smile fool ya, Jeremy is one tough cookie on the bike. Great job "Conn Man" for the well deserved win.Saturday the Team had a great race at the 1st running of the Asheville Grand Prix in Asheville close to the Biltmore Village. The team was very active from the gun in the hilly, technical course. Scottie got in a break chasing down three leaders (Toyota, Jittery Joes, T-type1). Scottie hit it to the line from his group to win the field sprint for 4th place. Other results for the team - Justin 12th, Harkey 14th, Monte 18th.

Harkey 3rd at 100K Classic (NRC Road Race)

7:00am - Line up with a sea of close to 200 Pro and Elite racers from the US and abroad.

8:00am - Toughing it out over the climbs in the main loop as 10,000+ runners race by cheering you on. Justin and Chris are in a break up the road.

9:12am - Flying into last lap. Chris is going on his 2nd lap off the front with one Time Pro rider, Jelly Belly Pro rider, and Bajadali from Kelly Benefits Pro team. Colavita Pro Team and Jittery Joes Pro Cycling have missed the move and are chasing fast!

9:23am - Field closing down, but Chris is still away through the feedzone, dropped the Time rider, now only 3 up the road. Justin, Blair, Knetch holding position.

9:24am - Final last turn, left onto the finishing 3/4 mile.

9:25am - Harkey leads it out...sprint for the chicken. Jelly Belly and Kelly Benefits on his wheel down the final desent(look closely behind the Publix flag). Field only 100 ft behind, closing fast. Blair is in the grass. Crashes start.

9:25:27am - 3 up sprint at the line. Baj. and Jelly Belly jump Chris and start to come around.

9:25:31am - Harkey takes 3rd at the 100K Classic! Field only feet behind as Huff, Heckman, AC, HealthNet, Barajo and Travisio duke it out for 4th place. Lemond bikes finish 2nd(Baj) and 3rd(Harkey)10:05am - Podium pictures on stage...opening act for Jordin Sparks (Blair starts dancing at this point) 50 screaming teenage American Idol fans go nuts. Harkey can't put down the 100K Cup.

10:08am - Hammin' it up with some Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley fans (Bruce jumps in on the dancing kick) Local Coca-Cola fans Cornelia Nicholas and Tammy Wright jump in the pic after running their 6th 10K Classic in ATL. Note cup flex pose.10:09am - Everyone dancing! Go Jordin

10:48am - 6 mile bike ride back to the hotel never seemed so easy.

Congrats to Chris and the Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley Team doing us proud in the heart of Coca-Cola country Atlanta, GA. Thanks to Cornelia for some great pics. See you next year! Andy, wish you could have been there. Next year you are road-tripping with us.

Super Big weekend - 5 WINS!!!

Saturday:
-1st place Pro 1-2 TN Omnium Road Race - John Delong (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)
-1st place Cat 3 TN Omnium Road Race - Roger Troyer (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)
-1st place Pro 1-2 Walnut Cove Criterium - Chris Harkey (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)
-2nd place Wmn's open Walnut Cove Criterium - Marianne Holt (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)

Sunday:
-1st place Pro 1-2 TN Omnium Criterium -Geri Mewett (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)
-1st place Wmn's Cat 4 Carolina Cup Criterium - Bridgette McLean (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)
-5th place Pro 1-2 Carolina Cup Criterium - Chris Monteleone (Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkley)

...nuff said?