Tech News – March 24, 2008 Edited by James Huang Got tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech desk. McGrath signs with Fuji Professional Canadian mountain biker Seamus McGrath has signed on to ride exclusively on Fuji bikes during the 2008 season. McGrath will compete in cross-country events in North America but will also join Fuji team-mates Austrian national cross country champion Christophe Soukup and German U23 national champion Robert Mennen for the European World Cup circuit. "We’re thrilled to have 12-time Canadian National Team member Seamus McGrath join the Fuji team," said Fuji marketing director Karen Bliss. "He will help showcase the quality and innovation of our mountain bikes especially here in North America. We’ve had tremendous success with sales of Fuji mountain bikes in Europe but in the U.S. and Canada I believe we’ve been a bit underrated." McGrath will race on the Mt. Fuji SL hardtail and the Outland RC full-suspension models this year but the Canadian will also assist Fuji’s product managers by testing a new carbon hardtail prototype before it goes into full production. This yet-to-be named model is expected to be released in 2009 and incorporates new carbon technology that is expected to be strong, lightweight and ultra-responsive. "I am really excited to be racing on a Fuji for 2008 as they build a competitive World Cup-ready bike. Along with that, they have a great team infrastructure in Europe," said McGrath. Elite warns of imitators Bottle cage manufacturer Elite has issued a warning to consumers not to buy items from Asian-based websites that are said to be from the well known manufacturer. According to Elite, some of those sites are actually selling lower quality replicas. "The imitation copies of our bottle holders look very similar to our original merchandise but obviously without the same properties and characteristics that make all of our Elite and Ozone-Elite products unique and thankfully inimitable," read a statement from Elite. To avoid the counterfeit products Elite recommended buying its products directly from better-known shops and online retailers. For further information or to report a counterfeiting incident contact: contatto@elite-it.com Eurobike to go longer Eurobike has announced this year’s event, to be held from September 4-7, Photo ©: Eurobike European cycling trade show Eurobike has announced this year’s event, to be held from September 4-7, will feature longer hours than ever before. The show will move its opening time ahead by one hour and the closing time back by two hours, making each day’s new 10am-to-8pm exhibition an hour longer in total. The revised opening hours are a part of the Friedrichshafen, Germany show’s new marketing campaign. The campaign also includes a revised logo and a new location for its website: www.eurobike-show.com. "With our new image, we also aim to increasingly underscore the major significance of Eurobike based on the visual perception of the event," said Eurobike marketing director Ludwig Meier. "We need the right brand profile to match the worldwide leadership objective of the trade show." In 2008, the international bicycle trade show will once again be a large-scale event with over 800 exhibitors, 30,000 trade visitors and 1,200 journalists from around the world. "Eurobike is the international meeting place for the worldwide bike scene," said Messe Friedrichshafen CEO and show operator Klaus Wellmann. Due to the tight schedule of sporting events this year, including the European Football Championship, the Olympics in China, the Tour of Germany and the Tour of Spain, the annual Altstadt Criterium in nearby Ravensburg has been cancelled. Instead, the organizers in Ravensburg plan to launch a new bicycle racing event in 2009 with support from Eurobike. 400 demo bikes at new May Bank Holiday bike show By BikeRadar A new style of bike show is coming to Nottingham racecourse in the UK on Sunday 25 May and Bank Holiday Monday 26 May. The Get Cycling Try-Out Show will feature over 400 demo bikes distributed among seven themed riding arenas. There will be city bikes, folding bikes, family cycles, fast road bikes, mountain bikes, tandems, recumbents, fun bikes, special needs cycles and even the world’s first ever pedal-powered dodgems (otherwise known as bumper cars for you non-UK readers). Other attractions include a stunt show; pedal-powered Scalectrix™ racing; seven-seater CircleCycles and other ‘megabikes’; penny-farthing demos; competitions to win bikes; a bike doctor; and free fact sheets on all cycling subjects. Organisers Company of Cyclists are billing the Get Cycling Try-Out Show as a family event and have priced it accordingly. Entry is just £5.00 for adults and £3.50 for children with discounts on top for booking online. For more information: www.getcyclingshow.info Halfords to sponsor Great Britain Cycling Team By Matthew Cole, BikeRadar.com British Cycling has announced that massive UK retailer Halfords Photo ©: British Cycling British Cycling has announced that massive UK retailer Halfords will sponsor the Great Britain Cycling Team, marking the first time a commercial logo has been worn on the team’s kit. The move extends Halfords’ existing involvement with the British team, having sponsored the road squad (Team Halfords-Bikehut) earlier this year. The new deal now covers the entire cycling team. "The Team Halfords Bikehut Partnership has already proved a great success. We have the shared goal of promoting world-class GB cycling, so this sponsorship seemed the logical next step in our partnership with British Cycling," said Halfords’ Paul McClenaghan. The British team is currently in training for the track world championships which take place at the Manchester Velodrome at the end of this month, where they will also compete for valuable qualification points for the Beijing Olympics. The sponsorship deal also includes a commitment by Halfords to raise the profile of British Cycling and Cycle Sport in the UK, and to encourage more people to participate in organised cycling activities through the Everyday Cycling program, and through British Cycling-organised events. Cycle clothing coming to Aldi UK By Matthew Cole, BikeRadar.com Aldi stores across the United Kingdom will soon be releasing the company’s latest range of budget cycle clothing - usually a big hit with leisure cyclists, commuters and other riders who are keen not to break the bank. Aldi’s Coolmax shorts are priced at an impressive £4.99 (roughly US$10/AUD$11 at current exchange rates) and are available in spandex or woven materials. An antibacterial seat pad, gripper elastic on the legs and reflective prints for safety are also included. The woven shorts have the added bonus of a removable liner and are available in black from sizes small to large for women and sizes small to extra large for men. Those riders looking for bibs will be able to find the same features at just £2 more. £4.99 will also purchase a short-sleeved jersey built with breathable fabric and equipped with a zip neck and reflective piping. A bargain-priced £5.99 unisex vest is an ideal 'keep-in-your-bag-til-it's-needed' item while the full jacket is quoted at just £9.99. Both are made from windproof and water repellent fabrics with reflective piping and mesh paneling for breathability. Sizes for either the vest or jacket run from small to extra large and a wide variety of colours will be on tap. Aldi will also have many cycling accessories and essentials available, including lightweight cotton cycling socks at £2.49 per pair, cycling gloves at £2.99 per pair and cycling underwear at £3.99. When is all this available, I hear you cry? From Thursday, May 1. Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Eurobike Eurobike has announced this year’s event, to be held from September 4-7, will feature longer hours than ever before. Images by British Cycling British Cycling has announced that massive UK retailer Halfords will sponsor the Great Britain Cycling Team