Litespeed Titanium Blade

Santa passed by Precision Bikes and left this beauty at the shop. I have been eying this bike since I saw it first at the 2008 Interbike show in Las Vegas.
It is the Litespeed Blade, one of only 3 made and considered "prototype".
Due to the high production cost, no more of these stealth bikes will see daylight.
Many man hours go into building a titanium aero frame like this one.
We are in the process of building her up and as soon as we can we'll test her on the road and post results.

New Litespeed Archon 1

The new build from Litespeed is now in the shop. This is the Archon 1 which is a high modulus frame. All cables and wired through the frame. The frame is a aero road frame which will retail for $3000. Litespeed also offers the Archon 2 which is a complete bike in a couple of different builds. This frame has cables on the outside of the frame and the carbon is not high modulus. Stop by when you get a chance to view the road rocket!

20 Miler at Chicot State Park

Keith Pappy Manuel, Trevor Casper,The Flash Brad Delcambre and I ran Chicot today and it was a great day to be in the park. Brad is running great and so is Keith. Today was Trevor's first ever 20 and it just goes to show how great an athlete he is! I was the guy on the back end of the group. After 4 falls and 1 missed route I was glad to see the car and head home. Keith and Brad and Smitty are all signed up for the Leadville 100 in Colorado, so the training has begun!

A health care plan you can bank on....

Photo credit: Angiographer
Worried about the new health care plan???
Get a bike from PRECISION BIKES and get on it....!!!

Specialized 2010 Aero Helmet

This is the 2010 Specialized Aero Helmet. Slick disign incorporating front and rear ventilation slots.
Retail: $250.=

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS from all of us at PRECISION BIKES!

Happy Birthday Trevor

Yea he is old but he still can (ride) walk!

All I want for Cristmas...

Just want to express my sincere thanks to all the support you have given me! It has made the travel through this rough spot in my life journey lighter. Hope to see you out on the road soon.
Merry Christmas+Happy New Year from the one-armed part-time webmaster Ruud;)

Waiting on Santa and Christmas Eve

Hope everyone has a great Christmas with their family. I would personally like to thank everyone for all the support this year. My customers are the ones who make Precision Bikes go. Have a joyous Christmas. Thanks again, Mark Miller

Dave and Brenna have a early Christmas Gift

Jaxon Drake Suter was born Dec. 21st and weighed in at 7lbs 1 oz. Both baby and Brenna are doing well. Dave now has enough boys for a Tri Relay team. Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your gift from God.

Wednesday Hours

For last minute shopping....
We will be open on Wednesday from 10 to 5,

Thursday we will will be open from 10 to 2.

Thanksgiving Day 20 Miler

We are a little slow with the picture but here is the shot of the guys who ran 20 Thanksgiving morning. The reward was the Pecan Pie courtesy of Charles Decker. It was a Beautiful Day!

Rouge Roubaix

We have a couple of guys getting ready for Rouge Roubaix and the roads and weather have not been kind to the bikes!

Ruud Vuijsters back at Home

I was able to visit Ruud today at his home. I know he is still in pain but he is back in the comfort of his home. He looks much better even though his shoulder and chest area is still very swollen. We are thinking about you and you are in our prayers. mm

UPS Bikes in Silicon Valley

The UPS regional office in Silicon Valley has employed around two dozen bike delivery people to deliver packages during the busy holiday season. As an alternative to their usual solution of renting Budget trucks, the office purchased a fleet of bikes with trailers this past year to handle the holiday overflow. The bikes will save UPS approximately $45,000 to $50,000 in fuel and maintenance costs while reducing pollution and creating goodwill in the community. Good stuff.

Ruud Vuijsters had a Rough Day

Visited yesterday and this morning with Ruud in the hospital.
His surgery lasted over three hours.
Everything went OK but as of this morning he is still in a lot of pain.
He is supposed to get discharged today but I am not sure it will happen.
Our hopes are with you, Godspeed on your recovery. mm

Team SKY Pinarello Dogma

Not the highest quality shot, but you get the picture...
Team Sky’s official website is up and running, though with limited info.
Their official online launch is January 4th.

Recent photo taken in Groningen, Netherland

Photo credit: Sanne Menning

It could be worse....

Garmin Edge 500 Bundle

In store now, just in time for Santa to come in and pick one up!

Includes Heart rate monitor and Cadence sensor.

Retail: $350.=

Webmaster down...

This Friday my Friend, Physical Therapist, training partner and Website Designer, Ruud Vuijsters will undergo surgery on his shoulder. It will be a rough surgery and the rehab will be long, 3 months at best. The incident stems back to the same race that I went down in. Also with Ruud and I, Saul Dupuis crashed during the road race. Ruud has fought it off as long as can, but in the end reconstructive surgery is needed.
Please keep him in your prayers.
Best of luck Ruud, we will be thinking about you, Mark Miller

Contador: "Astana weaker than Team RadioShack"

PISA, Italy – Tour de France winner Alberto Contador admits his Astana team is weaker with Lance Armstrong's departure and the exodus of riders who followed the Texan to RadioShack.

"I know that right now we're not at the level of Armstrong's RadioShack (team), but the atmosphere is great and the desire to work hard is there," Contador said at a preseason training camp Friday, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport's Web site. "Let's discuss it again in a few months."

Contador wasn't interested in rehashing his intra-squad rivalry with Armstrong.

"I'm focused only on 2010. The past is past," he said. "I'm not interested in the polemics."

Of Astana's nine-man team at this year's Tour, eight left for Armstrong's new RadioShack squad. Contador's team includes Alexander Vinokourov, who is back from a two-year doping ban, and 2006 Tour de France winner Oscar Pereiro.

Armstrong's top teammates include Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden.

Contador said Andy Schleck was the "one who made me sweat the most. But I'm going to keep an eye on Leipheimer."

Former Astana team director Johan Bruyneel also moved on to RadioShack, and Contador did not appreciate how Bruyneel and Armstrong plotted their new team throughout last season.

The Spaniard said he would prefer a transfer system similar to that in European club soccer, where teams pay transfer fees to acquire players.

Contador said he would make his 2010 debut by attempting to defend his title at the Tour of Algarve in Portugal in February.

"Rocking Steel Horse"

Everything is possible with training and practice

Early Christmas...

Mary McCarron was pleasantly surprised with an early visit of Santa. A brand new Argon Krypton, build up with Campagnolo Athena and Fulcrum Racing wheels will make her fly on the roads.

Ironman Kona on TV

2009 Ford Ironman World Championship NBC coverage:

Dec. 19, 2009 from 3:30 - 5:00 PM (check local listings)

Comeauxtians: Medicine Show 13!

While we have reached the $1,000,000 mark and are in the process of reviewing applications for the new chair in the Study of Traditional Music, we want to keep the memory of Tommy Comeaux going by continuing the Medicine Show tradition. So come out for an evening of great music for a great cause. The proceeds will be used wherever needed to help the mission of the new area of study such as scholarships, grants, etc. So, put on your dancing shoes and come out for another great Medicine Show. You never know who might show up! and check out the very cool poster that Megan Barras did for the show (attached). These will be available signed at the event.

Medicine Show 13

A benefit for the Dr. Tommy Comeaux Memorial Endowed Fund for Traditional Music at UL Lafayette

8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18

Grant Street Dancehall, Lafayette, La.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

A smoke-free event

Advance tickets are $15 and will be available soon at the AcA box office downtown or charge by phone by calling (337) 233-7060

Artists, in order of appearance:

Roddie Romero & Beau Thomas

Steve Conn, Sonny Landreth & Friends (Doug Belote & H.B. Smith!)

The UL Lafayette Faculty Jazz Ensemble

The Sons of VooDoo

Rouleur #15

Just in time for the holidays!

Lance Armstrong tells Italian newspaper he'll compete through 2011 before retiring

The seven-time Tour de France titlist said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport he'll compete during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

If he does retire in 2011, Armstrong will have competed as an amateur and professional cyclist for 20 years.

Armstrong, who will make his 2010 debut with his new team RadioShack in the Tour Down Under, Jan. 17-24 in Australia, will turn age 40 on Sept. 18, 2011.

"I’ll go on for another two years but this time I’ll have the experience of this season behind me and I’ll be better because I’ll also have the best team in the world," said Armstrong.

Armstrong also said he will no longer travel with a personal drug-tester nor would he continue to publish his test results on his personal website.

Last August, a few weeks after finishing third overall in the Tour de France, Armstrong won the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race. Armstrong's coach Chris Carmichael, who also attended the event, confirmed to reporters in Colorado that Armstrong also plans to compete in the 2011 Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Like the Tour de France, the Hawaiian Ironman, a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike and marathon, is triathlon's most prestigious event. If Armstrong competes in 2011, he will have just turned age 40.

(Source: The Examiner)

PHAT Cycles not just for PHAT RHINO's....

Jason Meaux aka 'Phat Rhino' on display with his new machine!
Come check out the line up at
PRECISION BIKES...

Sunday Morning Ride

We are riding, leaving from 118 Demas Drive, tomorrow morning @ 7:00AM. This will be an 'easy pace' ride, distance yet to be determent...

Location:Demas Dr,Lafayette,United States

Tomorrow we'll ride

Temperatures: upper 40's
Winds: 7 MPH E (90°)
70% Chance of Rain
We are leaving at
>>>>>6:30 AM<<<<<
from
Red's

Bradley Wiggins signs on with Team Sky

Bradley Wiggins has signed for Team Sky under a four-year deal starting with its debut season in 2010.

He brings huge experience from eight years as a professional on the road and has won wide recognition for his Olympic and World Championship achievements on the track.

Brought up in London, the 29-year old is the highest placed British rider ever at the Tour de France - jointly with Robert Millar - after his 4th-place at the 2009 Tour.

Announcing the signing, Dave Brailsford, Team Principal of Team Sky, said; “Brad will be at home in Team Sky. It is the perfect fit and he will be a marquee rider for us.

“He is an exceptional athlete - a great performer at a great age. And he will get better still. At Team Sky he can continue to develop, surrounded by some of the coaches and performance experts who have worked with him for years as part of the British Cycling set-up. With his experience he will help us to develop our great young talents too.

“Brad was a real revelation at this year’s Tour de France, has been hugely successful for British Cycling and his Olympic success has brought wide recognition. His presence will not only help us on the road but with the wider aims of inspiring people to not only follow the team but to get out and ride, whatever their age or ability.”

Team RadioShack Sneak Preview

Early edition Shack Jersey

Trek Madone Shack Edition

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

(Photo credit: Ruud Vuijsters)
Mark and Michelle are taking a well deserved break and are traveling to Chicago, IL.
They'll hook up with long-time friend
and owner of 'The Bike Shop' in Glen Ellyn, IL, Rich Ducar.
Hope you guys
-have a blast
-travel safe
-come home safe!

Phat Cycles at PB

Phat Cycles have arrived at Precision Bikes. Retail: $280.=
This is an ideal cruiser to put-put around the neighborhood.

Wind Tunnel Results

This is the new aero-look of Mark Miller!
The numbers calculated by John Cobb,
during Mark's run in the Texas A&M wind-tunnel on his Ceepo Viper
indicated a tremendous drag, caused by the enormous amount of hair sported by Mark.
The new haircut was designed and wind-tunnel tested by aero-dynamics guru John Cobb!
__________________________

While on the subject of John Cobb...
John recently underwent surgery on his left shoulder.
It involved repair of extensive damage to his Rotator Cuff.
John currently is in the recovery/rehabilitation phase as we speak.
John, we wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you 'up and around' soon.
Precision Bikes is very grateful for who you are and all the help you are to us!

Take Your Cycling Shoes Swimming

The Lunocet Fin is something you will just have to see to believe...

(uploaded from Ruminations on Life and Cycling)

When the economy is bad and you have time on your hand...

Phil Wood Spoke Cutting and Threading Machine

The Phil Wood Spoke Cutting and Threading Machine is designed and manufactured to provide an invaluable tool to manually size, cut, and place a factory-quality thread on a spoke within a few seconds. The thread is rolled/cold forged onto the spoke, which does not remove material and would occur if the thread were cut into the spoke.

The machine performs through the operation of a manual crank. One revolution of the machine handle both cuts and threads the spoke. It is designed to cut and thread 1.8 mm (15 ga.) ad 2.0 mm (14 ga.) spokes and place 10 mm of 56 tpi thread on the end of each spoke. A spacer to set the machine to cut 2.3 mm (13 ga.) is available, though is not offered as a standard component.

Our machine is capable of cutting carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, anodized, and powdercoated spokes. Butted and aero spokes can be cut and threaded on the full diameter portion of the spoke.
_________________

PRECISION BIKES
is profiling itself as
"On the Cutting Edge"

The experience and expertise of head mechanic Nick Smith will come in handy building or repairing any training, fixie or race wheel to your specifications.
This Spoke Cutting and Threading Machine makes keeping a multitude of different sized spokes obsolete. Therefore it'll speed up the process of building or repairing wheels.
Just one more example to show Precision Bikes is on top of their game, as far as customer service is concerned...

Make Winter Gloves Touchy-Feely With Your iPhone

Want to make your winter gloves touch-screen ready? Simply sew a bit of conductive thread to the tip of your glove so that your finger touches the thread on the inside–the thread connects your finger to the screen. The cheapest conductive thread online I could find was at SparkFun or RobotShop for $19.95–maybe you could buy a spool and share with friends… Found this on CraftyCrafty via Craft.

CycleOps SuperMagneto Pro

The CycleOps SuperMagneto Pro trainer is built for Tri-geeks, podium chasers and first-time finishers alike. It combines versatility with an authentic roadlike feel.

• Between seasons, use SuperMagneto Pro to get in great shape—and stay that way
• Offers 4 resistance curves; easy, road, interval and mountain
• Resistance curves adjust to fit a conditioned rider or someone less physically , or modify the curves to fit big and small riders
• Each resistance setting is controlled by the internal movement of 4 rare earth, spring-loaded magnets; magnets enhance the natural progressive-resistance power curve
• Flywheel is designed to deliver a smooth ride and a realistic, roadlike feel
• Wide stable platform; quick-lock cam lever allows quick and easy bike installation; install and remove bike with a simple 90° turn of the handle
• Convenient skewer clamp centers your bike from just 1 side and holds it securely
• Handy, single-leg leveling adjusts for riding on most any surface
• Also fits 29er wheels using the 2-position mounting bracket
• Includes Realrides Race Day
• RETAIL: $399.=
  

WHO DAT??? 12-0

Ever wonder why they named this team "THE SAINTS"???

Million Car Challenge: Bicycles Allowed Full Use of Lane

Starting December 15, the Million Car Challenge starts. The challenge: To get bumper stickers (above) on one million cars. The goal: To effectively reach millions of drivers with the message that bicycles are allowed full use of the lane and that they should change lanes to pass.

Their website states the goal is to inform drivers of the law, and that their research indicated that bumper stickers are in fact an effective way to reach drivers. So, I wondered, is it “law” that we’re allowed to use the full lane when riding our bike?

Well, CVC 21202 gave me the first clue…that’s California Vehicle Code 21202, which states:

(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a “substandard width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997

Section (b) comes closest to a solid interpretation of the claim, but the rest of it does state cyclists are entitled to the full lane under certain circumstances, so BAUFL is just summarizing. Heck, there’s only so much that’ll fit on a bumper sticker, right? Whether that applies nationally, I’m not sure, but a little misinformation that leads to the desired result without hurting anyone can’t be too bad right? Just ask Phil Jones.

You’ll be able to get your sticker on December 15 right over here.

(Uploaded from: Bike Rumor)

Tomorrow we'll ride

We'll be riding tomorrow,

Saturday 12-05-2009

Roll out from Red's at

>>>>>> 7:00 AM<<<<<<

Winds: 6MPH NNE (20)

Temperatures: Upper 30's

Chance of rain: 10%

Garmin Edge 500 Bundle; Being shipped to PRECISION BIKES

Sharpen your cycling performance with Edge 500, a lightweight GPS-based cycling computer for performance-driven cyclists. Loaded with data, Edge 500 tracks your distance, speed, location and elevation with high sensitivity GPS. Add an ANT+™ compatible heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor or compatible power meter for a finely-tuned analysis of your ride.

Jumpstart Your Training

The Edge 500 attaches easily to the stem or handlebars of your bike with its low-profile bike mount. The Edge attaches easily to the mount with a simple quarter-turn. When you're ready to ride, just power on your Edge, acquire GPS satellites and go. Edge 500 features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix™ satellite prediction to calculate your position faster.

Get the Data You Need

During your ride, Edge 500 measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 500 also incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.
All Edge 500 versions work with third-party ANT+-enabled power meters to display your power output in watts as you ride. This valuable data shows you how hard you're working, regardless of conditions affecting your ride, so you can train smarter. Some versions also ship with a digital heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor.
Other helpful training features include a Courses feature, which helps you compare successive rides over the same route, as well as Auto Pause, Auto Lap and temperature readings. Edge also alerts you if you’re moving but the timer is not running.

Track Your Heart Rate

When paired with a Garmin heart rate monitor, Edge 500 tracks heart beats per minute and uses your heart rate for advanced calorie computation, so you know how many calories you're burning. Train in a certain heart-rate zone to improve your fitness level or compare your pace and heart rate to past performance over the same ride.

Analyze Your Ride

Once your ride’s done, connect Edge 500 to your computer with the included USB cable to analyze your performance. With a simple click, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect™, a one-stop site for data analysis and sharing.

____________________________

Several units (w/heart-rate and cadence sensors)

have been ordered and are underway to the shop.

Get fast and place your order, before they're out the door!

Retail: $345.= USD
(This is for the bundle, which includes heart-rate- and cadence sensor).

Stocking Stuffers at Precision Bikes

Skull cap - $15
Specialized deflect glove - $40
Giro leather glove - $50
Bellwether arm warmers - $20
Riding in
STYLE and COMFORT
During The Winter Season:
PRICELESS!!!

Campy makes life a little easier with 12-29 cassette cogs for 11-speed groups

A little help up the hills never hurts, says Campagnolo with their new 12-29 cogsets.

Anyone who lives in or near the mountains knows: the only way to defy gravity on a bike is with large cogs and small chainrings. Campagnolo raised the bar in 2009 with multiple 11-speed groups, with closely spaced cogs to cater a perfect spin to suit the terrain at hand. For 2010, Campy kicks it up again with 12-29 cassette cogs for the 11-speed groups, with the added benefit of easy rear derailleur compatibility.

The new cassette exceeds the 28 teeth of the sprockets offered by SRAM and Shimano, and enables the 11-speed drivetrain to be even more versatile. In fact, the new 12-29 cogs paired with a compact 50-34 crankset permits gear combinations similar to those of a 53-42-30 triple crank. Further, the use of a compact crankset rather than a triple makes it possible to obtain better chain alignment and a big reduction in weight, a crucial factor when you’re confronting those really demanding climbs.

But the really big news is that Campagnolo has managed to keep a single rear derailleur configuration, thereby avoiding the problem of the double option: a rear derailleur with medium or short arm. With 11-speed groups there is just one rear derailleur and it can work precisely and optimally from sprocket 11 to sprocket 29 with all the combinations of Campagnolo 11-speed cranksets available. You won’t have to purchase a new 11-speed rear derailleur: just fit the 12-29, take off with your bike and challenge the big climbs.

The 12-29 cassettes will be available in November 2009 for the Super Record™ and Record™, and in February 2010 for the Chorus™.

Cycling Muscles

Just something to think about when working-out in the gym....