Tech News – February 7, 2008 Edited by James Huang Got tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech desk. Sidi offers limited run of Bettini edition shoes The Bettini edition shoes feature a gold finish Photo ©: Sidi The shoes also feature the UCI's rainbow world champion Photo ©: Sidi Sidi has announced that it will offer a limited number of its Ergo 2 road shoes in Paolo Bettini replica colors for 2008. Sidi will reportedly manufacture fewer than 2000 pairs of the flamboyant limited edition shoes which will include the World Champion's now-trademark rainbox stripes, a gold finish on the toe, tongue, and outer edge, and silver detailing elsewhere. Each pair will come in a specially designed box along with a drawstring bag and a signed letter from the Italian Quick Step rider. "In the course of a career a cyclist changes many things: jerseys, bicycles, direction, often teammates and opponents," reads the letter from Bettini. "Only one thing has never changed in all this time, the shoes I use. Yes, I am speaking of my beloved cycling shoes." "My Sidis have followed me to every corner of the world as my trusted companions, the fruit of the experience and the creativity of Dino Signori, Mr. Sidi," he adds. "I am sure that you, like me, will be seduced by the technical qualities and feel the passion that only this exclusive and extraordinary cycling shoe can offer." The 33 year-old rider turned professional in 1997 with MG-Technogym before taking his first professional win the following year with the Asics outfit. The Italian moved to Mapei - Quick Step the following year, the same squad he continues to ride for, before taking his first Grand Tour stage win at the Tour de France in 2000. Bettini has won six Grand Tour stages throughout his career - with at least one victory at each of the three Grand Tours - and also claimed the Italian national championship in 2003 when he also won Milano-San Remo. Asthetics and packaging aside, Sidi's Paolo Bettini edition Ergo 2 shoes will be identical to the standard Ergo 2, but at US$549, will be roughly US$100 dearer than the standard version. The special edition Ergo 2 is expected to start arriving in bike shops around the globe in late May-early June according to the company's American distributors. Crankbrothers merges with Selle Royal Crankbrothers announced Tuesday that it has merged with Selle Royal. The US-based component company now joins Selle Royal's group of other premium cycling brands which include fi'zi:k, Brooks, and the Selle Royal line of saddles. "Crankbrothers has always been a very distinctive brand, with great people, strong distribution, and a unique focus on design," said Massimo Losio, Managing Director of Selle Royal. "The team at crankbrothers has demonstrated their ability to create and grow an authentic brand. The company has enormous potential, and is an excellent addition to Selle Royal." "Selle Royal has an incredible authenticity and heritage," said crankbrothers partner Andrew Herrick. "They are an amazing team, very much in line with us culturally. Selle Royal understands the importance of design and shares our vision that the industry is fast becoming equal parts innovation, luxury and lifestyle." Consistent with Selle Royal's philosophy, crankbrothers will remain a unique entity within the group. Herrick and his other crankbrothers partners, Carl Winefordner and Frank Hermansen, will become shareholders in Selle Royal. Herrick will also join Selle Royal's board of directors. All three will continue to operate out of Laguna Beach, California, which will also continue to host the crankbrothers design center and existing management team and staff. "Things aren't going to change for the sake of change, but the future will take a new evolutionary path that it wouldn't have been able to otherwise," Herrick said. "We're not looking for synergies, nor is this some type of consolidation. We're looking to grow these wonderful, genuine companies independently yet as a collection of brands that have strong relationships with and a passion for their customers." This is a similar strategy to Selle Royal's addition of the storied Brooks England company in 2002. Selle Royal management retained Brooks' original factory in Birmingham, England, as well as its people and its historic integrity, all while restoring the brand to its former glory and finding new audiences for Brooks products around the world. Crankbrothers products will continue to be available through its USA distributors. As part of this merger, crankbrothers products will also be available in the US market through Highway Two, the sales and distribution company co-owned by Selle Royal and Continental. Crankbrothers' international distribution does not change. Garmin sponsoring Team Slipstream Team Slipstream/Chipotle has added GPS specialist Garmin to its list of sponsors for 2008. According to the agreement, Garmin will provide the riders with its latest Edge 705 GPS-enabled cycling computer and team support vehicles will be fitted with Garmin's nüvi 770 navigation systems. "Garmin is thrilled to be joining forces with Slipstream, a team that exemplifies sportsmanship and integrity in this new era of competitive cycling," said Jon Cassat, Garmin's vice president of communications. The new Edge 705 builds on Garmin's existing Edge 305 with the addition of a larger 2.2-inch full color LCD screen and new joystick-style interface. AS with previous versions, the Edge 705 display fields are customizable to suit the user's preferences and a built-in altimeter records current elevation. New to the Edge 705, however, is its ANT+Sport wireless communication protocol which can be paired with the team's power meters for an all-in-one display. The ANT+Sport system can also be used to shared information directly from unit to unit. "Technology plays a key role in our training, traveling and communicating as a team." said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO/President of Slipstream. "Garmin is the perfect fit for our team's needs, and we are very excited to work with them this season." Slipstream cyclists and coaches will also be able to analyze their performance post-ride on Garmin's new online training site, Garmin Connect™, where they can track their progress, share workouts and participate in an online community. Garmin Connect also displays measurements such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate through an array charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps as well as the popular Google Earth application. Workouts can also be 'replayed' on-screen. Descente names Veltec as licencee Clothing manufacturer Descente has announced the appointment of Veltec Sports as its licensee in North America and Europe for the brand's cycling, triathlon, running and fitness products effective February 1, 2008. "Descente's rapid growth in the cycling, triathlon and running markets is a testament to the strength of the brand and the quality of the people and products," said Descente North America president Hideo Kioshige. "We are confident that Veltec's financial strength, strong marketing, sales and distribution capabilities will take the brand to the next level." Descente cycling, triathlon, running and fitness apparel will be a part of Veltec's newly formed soft goods division, which has had Hugh Walton appointed as the portfolio's manager. Walton was a co-founder of Pearl Izumi and over the last five years was responsible for rebuilding the Descente brand in the cycling market. "The combined strength of the Descente line of cycling products with the sales, marketing and distribution power of Veltec, allow us to offer world-class, high-performance cycling apparel, developed by a team of cycling industry professionals," said Walton. Veltec currently owns Shebeest, a supplier of women's cycling and athletic apparel, and both brands are expected to benefit from operational synergies, strengths and resources created under the new soft-goods division. Shebeest will maintain its focus and independent product design, development and brand identity. "Descente is an excellent fit with Veltec's line-up performance cycling products," said Veltec CEO Manfred J. Krikke. "As always, we aim for the highest quality products in each category and believe Descente is precisely that. We are also excited to bring on board an excellent team that has significant experience in the apparel business and are passionate about cycling." Pedro's launches Love Tour Bicycle care products company Pedro's has become an industry leader in recent years in the area of environmental awareness and sustainability. This year, the company will kick off its third annual 'Pedro's Global Bicycle Care Revival, Mother Earth and Dealer Love Tour' in San Diego, California. "Last year we bought wind credits to mitigate our CO2 emissions from the three vans," said Pedro's managing director Christopher Zigmont. "Credits are OK, but they're too ethereal and people don't believe they really make a difference. This year we wanted to do something more practical, more real world. We also wanted to involve others and help demonstrate one of the easiest ways to lighten the green house gas burden on the planet." Instead, Pedro's tech reps will be leaving a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) with every dealer they visit in 2008 to help reduce the company's carbon footprint. According to many published figures, compact fluorescent bulbs require 70 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than the typical incandescent bulbs they replace. Pedro's estimates that it will ultimately deliver 1500 CFLs during the tour, saving approximately 1200 tons of carbon emission. In contrast, the three bio-diesel fed Sprinter vans used during the tour will generate just 53 tons, according to Pedro's. Sheldon Brown passes away at age of 63 By Gary Boulanger, Bikeradar.com Sheldon Brown, the human encyclopedia of bicycling knowledge and a famous employee of Harris Cyclery in Massachusetts, died of a massive heart attack Sunday evening, February 3, according to his wife Harriet. The 63-year-old bicycle expert was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in August 2007, limiting his prior upright bicycling and workload. His many trademarks include a longish gray leprechaun beard and shaved head. He was also well-known for patiently and thoroughly answering his 500 - 1000 daily e-mails. Our thoughts are with Brown's family during their time of loss. His contributions to the bicycle industry were great, and his enduring legacy shall be greater. Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Sidi The Bettini edition shoes feature a gold finish on the toe, tongue, and outer edge, and silver detailing elsewhere. The shoes also feature the UCI's rainbow world champion stripes. The limited run, set to be less than 2000 pairs, will come with a draw-string shoe bag, a letter from Bettini and some fancy packaging.