Tech News – December 20, 2006 Edited by James Huang Got tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech desk. SRAM Technical University offers dealers free in-depth training Students at STU work on a wide range of SRAM product Photo ©: James Huang With the advent of online retailers, many smaller brick-and-mortar bicycle shops have realized that they often can't compete on price alone in order to stay afloat. As such, quality customer service has become more important than ever, along with having a knowledgeable and skilled sales and service staff. SRAM is doing its part to provide its dealers with that knowledge and skill base by virtue of its SRAM Technical University, or STU, program. Now in its fourth season, the program offers dealers in-depth training on its full range of supported products, including new and several-year-old offerings from its SRAM, Avid, Truvativ, and Rock Shox lines. STU instructors Herc Castro and Jim Mathis supply attendees with a wealth of theory behind each piece of technology covered, and then follow with extensive hands-on overhaul and teardown instruction on actual product. Towards the end of each four-day session, students are also given the opportunity to interface directly with several of SRAM's product managers, including Sander Rigney of Rock Shox and Paul Kantor of Avid, to provide feedback and ask questions. The SRAM Technical University 'classroom' Photo ©: James Huang Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the program is that SRAM supplies the service completely free of charge. Dealers are merely responsible for transporting its registered attendees to SRAM's Colorado Springs development center, and SRAM provides accommodations and lunch for each day. In spite of the significant costs associated with the program, SRAM still feels that it has as much to gain from STU as its attendees, in particular in building tighter relations with its dealer base. According to Kantor, "We get to have direct contact on a weekly basis with more shop guys than we could ever get to visit, to find what they like, and what they don't like. Conversations are wide and varied, and sometimes we get railed for an hour, which is really good, because these guys are working on this product day after day. The best thing we can do is keep in touch with those guys, and it does guide us in developing our products". Not surprisingly, the program has been wildly popular. Only ten sessions are held from November through April, with a limit of 16 students per session (two per dealer location). As of late November, the entire schedule had already been nearly booked. New STU programs have recently been started in Europe and Taiwan, and SRAM may soon add a center in China to the list. Past attendees of the program are encouraged to attend abbreviated follow-up classes that cover new product only, and a list of graduates is available on SRAM's web site. /JH New demo day announced for Eurobike 2007 And the saga continues: Messe Friedrichshafen will add an Interbike-style demo component to its popular Eurobike trade show for 2007. The first-ever demo day will held just before the start of the show on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, about 40 minutes drive away from the exhibition grounds. In keeping with the Eurobike convention, the demo will be held in the picturesque village of Eichenberg (Oak Mountain) in the Vorarlberg region of Austria, complete with views of nearby Lake Constance. The alpine setting is said to be ideal for testing both road and mountain bikes, in addition to recumbents, accessories, and other parts and gear. According to Eurobike Project Manager Stefan Reisinger, "We're thrilled to have found such a perfect location for our bike camp event." /JH Smith Optics V Ti sunglasses receives 'Best of Adventure Gear' honors from National Geographic Adventure magazine Smith Optics' V Ti glasses were honored Photo ©: Smith Optics National Geographic Adventure magazine recently selected 35 pieces of outdoor equipment for its "Best of Adventure Gear" awards, including Smith Optics' V Ti, the only sunglass on the list. The V Ti features a titanium/beta titanium and Grilamid TR90 frame along with interchangeable Tapered Lens Technology (TLT) lenses that eliminate distortion, according to Smith Optics. Steve Casmiro, National Geographic Adventure's gear expert and editor described the V Ti as, "best for cycling or running, the feathery frame has all the heft of a butterfly wing, the lens optics are crisp, and venting is so good that fogging is rarely a concern." Naturally, Eric Carlson, Smith Optics' director of product and merchandising, was excited: "Simply put… we're stoked. The reception to the V Ti continues to be overwhelmingly positive from our athletes, from our retailers, and now from one of the most respected media companies in the world." National Geographic's selections were based on direct feedback from 45 leading US outdoor retailers, in addition to the publication's own editorial staff. The glasses will be featured in the December issue of National Geographic Adventure magazine, and will also be displayed at Adventure magazine events from January through March 2007. /JH Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears team to wear Giro helmets for 2007 season Cycling phenom Alejandro Valverde and the rest of his Spanish Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears team will be wearing Giro helmets for the 2007 racing season, beginning in January. Road stages will find the riders protected by Giro's lightweight Atmos helmets while the aerodynamic Advantage 2 will be used for time trials. According to Tom Larter, Giro's Vice President of Marketing, "Everyone at Giro is ecstatic to kick off our partnership with the Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears team. We look forward to working with the team to pioneer leading edge technology and product." DeFeet greens up The Eartheator is made from a corn fibre. Photo ©: Mark Zalewski Shane Cooper, founder and president of the clothing company that is famous for its socks, showed Cyclingnews what will be on his feet next year. Cooper had three very different socks that could almost complete the old traditional bridal superstition. For 'something old' DeFeet has the Classico, a merino wool retro style sock that any bike messenger would love to have as the weather turns cold. 'Something new' should really be 'renewable' with the Earth-e-ator - a sock that is partially made from PLA fibre, a form of corn maze, which is a renewable resource and very earth-friendly (though cotton and wool can also be considered a renewable resource under this definition). The material feels quite soft and seems durable enough to withstand regular use. 'Something blue' can apply to the new version of the popular Levitator line, the Levitator Lite, a slimmed-down sock equipped with Air-e-ator mesh around the whole foot surface. As for 'something borrowed'… er, loaned socks can be rather smelly. We did, however, forget to ask Cooper whether or not the Earth-e-ator can be used as an emergency food supply in case one gets lost on a ride - though that never happens... /MZ Tasty energy from ProBar Two will be enough for just about any ride. Photo ©: ProBar A new option in the energy food department comes to us from a Utah chef named Art Eggertsen, founder of the Utah Wellness Center. The ProBar is what the company calls 'whole food nutrition' that comes from 17 whole foods, 70% of which are completely raw. This is because the ProBar is not baked, but is blended, allowing it to retain enzymes found in raw food and keeps it from melting in your pocket when it is warm. In addition, it uses no chemical preservatives. One of the attributes about the ProBar is that it focuses on carbohydrates and then fats for energy in lieu of protein. This is one of the multiple factors that illustrate the dual-purposes of the bar -- for athletes looking for energy and non-athletes looking for a nutritious way to avoid cravings between meals. That is why it comes in the huge 85g double-serving bar. Enough to beat the cravings or enough for an entire ride eaten in portions. First tastes by one Cyclingnews "domestique" give the Berry Blast flavour a big thumbs up! Two other flavours are also on the menu, including Original and Banana Nut. /MZ Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Each student at STU is assigned a fully stocked workbench, complete with general and specialized tools, and all necessary fluids. A projection screen up front allows attendees to see exactly what their instructor is doing. Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com The SRAM Technical University 'classroom' is a mix of English lecture room and Auto Shop workspace. Hands-on work at STU is prefaced by background theory. Students at STU work on a wide range of SRAM product, both new and old, including this top-end Avid Juicy Ultimate master cylinder. Images by Smith Optics Smith Optics' V Ti glasses were honored by National Geographic Adventure magazine in its "Best of Adventure Gear" awards ceremony. Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com The new DeFeet socks for 2007. What's old is new again! The Levitator Lite - same taste, less filling. The Eartheator is made from a corn fibre. An up-close look at the corn sock. "Think green!" The all-natural Pro Bars are hefty. Images by ProBar Two will be enough for just about any ride.