In addition to training camps, it’s also the time of year we look for the release of new products. Campagnolo showed off their new electronic group and Shimano is said to be rolling out 11-speed. One other component company is doing the same – SRAM.

You might remember around the beginning of this year SRAM teased us with images of their Red group with a difference. The Chicago based company released photos of just a small section of the component – a jockey pulley, a portion of the big ring – not the entire component.

In the case of this year’s earlier roll out of the “new” Red group it turned out that the new feature was its availability in black. No other upgrades – just black. Prior to the full launch SRAM’s sponsored pros were using available social media platforms to alert the public with a daily teasing of the new group. Now SRAM is at it again.

As you are probably aware SRAM sponsored pros stared tweeting about the new 2013 Red group. Some riders have taken the time to personalize the SRAM message while other looked to have just cut and pasted it into their status update box.

Charlie Wegelius, the new director of Garmin-Cervelo tweeted,

“Some of the sponsor promotional tweets by riders that I have read lately have been pretty lame.”

Admittedly Garmin-Cervelo is using select Shimano components starting next year so there might be a bit of a bias.

Honestly I can see both sides of the marketing coin. I thought the “I choose SRAM” campaign was off the mark as everyone knows that professional riders don’t choose their components. Sure, auxiliary sponsorships can be an individual rider’s choice (optics, shoes and in the case of Alberto Contador, Giro helmet). But groups – that’s a team sponsored deal. That said, I have to hand it to SRAM for this latest slow roll out of the new Red group. It has created some buzz – good or bad it’s personal perception – they have managed to get daily coverage of this new group.

But I’m curious – what do you think? Personally I always thought SRAM was by far way ahead of any other bike company in regards to social media. Is SRAM smart in building hype or is it just needless teasing? Do the SRAM sponsored athletes’ tweets ring true or do they just read like a contractual obligation that needs to be fulfilled?

Five years removed from SRAM’s road componentry launch, the company that changed the game continues their upwards arc with their 2010 professional team line-up. With best-in-class ergonomics, weight and efficiency, SRAM RED is the choice of six ProTour programs, plus the Pro-Continental Cervelo Test Team. Additionally, the last 11 Tour de France champions will race RED in 2010, including Armstrong, Pereiro, Sastre, and Contador.

AG2R La Mondiale (FRA): The French-based team managed by Vincent Lavenu took the yellow jersey in the 2009 Tour de France and held it for eight stages. For 2010 the team is excited to save significant weight, improve their ergonomics, and have more precise shifting performance with their upgrade to SRAM RED.
FRAME: Kuota GRUPPO: SRAM RED

Cervelo™ Test Team (SUI): The second year squad, defined by innovation and product development, is a UCI Pro Continental team that features former Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre. Loaded with prolific winners the team won individual stages in every 2009 Grand Tour. The combination of Cervelo, Zipp, and SRAM will certainly provide for bikes that are at the forefront of innovation.
FRAME: Cervelo GRUPPO: SRAM RED WHEELS: Zipp

Team Astana (KAZ): The Kazakhstan team concluded 2009 as the number one ranked UCI ProTour squad in the World. Alberto Contador, who reminded us that his SRAM RED componentry has improved his climbing with its world’s best weight and ergonomics, has won each of the Grand Tours over the past two seasons with it. He remains a formidable favorite for the Tour.
FRAME: Specialized GRUPPO: SRAM RED WHEELS: Zipp

Team Footon-Servetto-Fuji™ (ESP): A new sponsor and new opportunities for the Spanish team in 2010, who will race in sixteen countries and on four continents. The Fuji SST frame, the latest offering from the legendary brand, will be equipped with SRAM RED and will certainly push the 6.8 kg (15 lb) weight limit standard of the UCI.
FRAME: Fuji GRUPPO: SRAM RED

Team Milram™ (GER): It will be the second year on SRAM RED for the opportunistic German team, whose riders always deliver a few surprises with their aggressive racing. Twenty-four athletes including 16 Germans comprise the squad that will once again be lead by captains Linus Gerdemann, a former yellow jersey wearer, and Gerald Ciolek.
FRAME: Focus GRUPPO: SRAM RED

Team Radio Shack™ (USA): The new super squad features eight of the nine members from the 2009 Tour de France winning team and strikes a perfect balance of veterans and neo-pros. Lance again made the choice to ride SRAM RED and will shoot for his eighth Tour de France title and while Leipheimer aims at Tour of California. Expect a lot from this dream team that will be directed by Johan Bruyneel.
FRAME: Trek GRUPPO: SRAM RED

Team Saxo Bank™ (DEN): Consistently one of the World’s very best teams, Team Saxo Bank came to SRAM early in 2009 requesting an upgrade. SRAM delivered. Never looking back the team took several top classics and featured heavily in the Grand Tours, and returns on RED for 2010 with some lofty Classic and Grand Tour aspirations.
FRAME: Specialized GRUPPO: SRAM RED WHEELS: Zipp

SRAM enters its fifth year boasting some incredible racing accomplishments, including victories in every Grand Tour. That trend will continue in 2010 and, despite our competitors’ best efforts, nothing has approached the weight, functionality, and ease of use of SRAM RED.

Riders praise RED for its positive shifting, courtesy of DoubleTap and Exact Actuation technology, its incredible light weight thanks to an array of advanced materials, and superior comfort and control are the product of masterful engineering.

Best of luck to every SRAM equipped team in 2010.



Contador and Astana riding SRAM RED in 2010

Since 2008, SRAM has partnered with Team Astana and their star rider Alberto Contador to clinch the three Grand Tours: The Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta Espana and the Tour de France.

For 2010, SRAM has renewed its agreement with Team Astana and will continue as offi cial drivetrain supplier. Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador stated: “I started riding SRAM in 2008, and even if at the beginning I had my doubts as I did not know how it worked, I got used to it immediately. The components are very intuitive and since the start I am more than happy with the groupset.”
Top riders such as Alberto Contador, Alexandre Vinokourov and newly signed Oscar Pereiro will take full advantage of SRAM RED components to secure many more successes. With 1800g* on the scale, SRAM’s flagship groupsets is by far the lightest in the race scene offering superior ergonomics and unchallenged shift/brake lever adjustment features.
SRAM’s Global Marketing Director, David Zimberoff said “We are super excited to have the Team including Contador on SRAM again. Having won the Tour and Swept the podium in 2009 was a great milestone in SRAM’s history.”

RadioShack rides SRAM's Red group

As a stock holder of Trek Bicycles it was a no-brainer that when Lance came out of retirement he’d be once again on a Trek bicycle. What wasn’t so obvious was what components were going to hang on the Trek frames. Alex Wassmann of SRAM took the time to talk to me about how this relationship began before he headed down to the RadioShack team camp in Tucson.  Apologies for the poor audio quality.

I racked my SRAM Rival equipped Scott ‘cross bike to the top of my Scion and headed to Orange County to ride the Fullerton Loop. My previous trip out to the Loop resulted in three flat tires. I don’t mind getting an occasional flat, but THREE in one ride! That was too much for me to stand. Because the 12-mile Fullerton Loop is great for ‘cross training and testing, I need to return. The Loop is comprised of dirt and street paths, short steep ascents, and not too technical descents. I need to go out there for two reasons; I’m still testing the Rival group and I also changed the front ring to a more reasonable 46 tooth from the 50 I was pushing. I raced last Sunday in Palos Verde and the 50 front ring was leaving me way too over geared. But for whatever reason I puncture every time I ride the Loop! And true to form, I puncture the front wheel about 20 minutes into the ride. God, I hate this Loop!! This time I’m a little more prepared and I’m carrying several spare inner-tubes. A quick change and I’m on the dirt again. The Rival group still takes a beating with shifts under pressure as well as riding some of the climbs with the chain in the big rear cassette and big front ring. On my BMC I honestly have never missed the ability to trim the front derailleur in the big ring, however on my ‘cross rig I have noticed some rubbing when I’m riding in the forbidden big/big gear ratio. The 46 front ring is working like a charm and I wish I’d been using it earlier in the season. The other piece of equipment I keep waffling on is my choice in tires. Do I ride with the knobby Hutchinsons I’ve been using these past few weeks, or with the Ritchey Tom Slicks, which has chevrons in the middle and knobbies positioned on the side? The course runs through a considerable amount of grass, a bit of concrete, hard packed dirt, and a sand pit. Maybe I’ll do a knobby up front and slick in the back?

I’m racing this Sunday in Glendale, so if you see me out there, please yell encouragement – I’ll need it!

I’ve had some bad riding days on the Fullerton Loop, but not as bad as this guy

Location: Palos Verde
Style of turning: Tripod – put most of your weight on the front tire, unclip a leg and let the back slide

The SRAM booth continues to have a lot of traffic due to their road group. Last year it was the buzz because they had just unveiled it. Now that it is avalible people seem to be clamoring for it. We were wondering how far FSA is in making their own group…

We picked up pair of tubless tires from Hutchinson. Shimano is making a tubless wheel, but Mavic and FSA is taking a wait and see aproach to the tubless tire. People who have riden the new tubless tire say it’s the best thing since sliced bread. As soon as I get home I’m mounting them onto the pair of Shimano wheels and see if the hype is true.

On Wednesday night was the Sinclair Party and it lived up to its reputation as the party to be at. Everyone who is anyone is there. I was in classic form which means drinking martinis for way too long and waking up in the morning thinking I’m getting too old for this! So Tim and I took a more conservative approach last night. We ate dinner at a nice Italian restaurant and went to bed watching Charlie Rose.

I’m interviewing Mario Cippollini in a few hours and I’ll let you know how it goes.