Team Globalbike is pleased to announce a new partnership with Lazer Sport to supply the team with helmets and eyewear for 2012. Lazer is a Belgian company started in 1919. They offer a full line of helmets, from high performance racing to stylish urban commuter versions. Lazer helmets have been worn by some the greats in the sport. Paolo Bettini won the Olympic games in Athens and two world championships wearing a Lazer helmet. Tom Boonen has been a lifelong Lazer wearer and has won numerous titles under the Lazer lid.
The team will be rocking the Lazer Genesis on the road. The retention system of these helmets is one of the most comfortable we have ever tested. The helmet is very versatile with 3 different padding options including the normal summer pads for maximum air flow, a bug net pad system, and a more enclosed winter pad set to hold in heat. We will also get the optional aero-shell cover which is a thin plastic cover that can be used in winter or rain rides when you want to close off the vents.
Lazer Tardiz
In Time Trial events, the team will don the Lazer Tardiz. We wonder if the origin of the name Tardiz came from the British hit science fiction show - Dr Who. The doctor traveled through time in a space ship / time machine called the Tardis that looked like a small police box on the outside, but was much bigger inside. Can we alter time with these helmets? I think we can.
Lazer Electron
New to the Lazer line up for 2012 are a complete line of optics. Globalbike will be sporting 5 different models on the road and around town. We’ll have photos and reviews when they come in.
Tanzanian Rider Richard Lazier - Arusha Cycling Club
During our trip to Africa last spring, we had the chance to meet up with the Arusha Cycling Club in Arusha Tanzania. Immediately we were impressed by the talent of these riders. As they joined us for 3 days of our trek to Kilimanjaro, they hammered along at the front, forming perfect echelon pace lines in the cross winds. On the 7mile climb up to the Marangu gate on the edge of Kilimanjaro, they quickly dropped us as the road pitched up.
One rider there in particular has shown remarkable talent. Richard Laizer is the strongest rider in Tanzania and one of the strongest in Africa. The Arusha Cycling Club is aiming to secure him a spot in the U23 world championships.
Laizer recently returned from a prominent African race in Rwanda, the UCI ranked Kwita Izina Cycling Tour. At the event, the Arusha Cycling Club raced well, placing Laizer in 18th overall and 3rd in U23.
From our visit with the Arusha Cycling Club and their riders back in March, it was evident that these talented riders lacked much of the basic equipment that we take for granted here in the USA. We were able to supply the club with 2 proper race quality bikes and some cycling kit from Team Globalbike to help out. In this photo, Laizer is proudly holding one of the nicest bikes in all of Tanzania, donated by a member of the Globalbike team.
This is a handlebar video of Team Globalbike executing a near perfect 4man leadout for the final sprint in a 60lap points race at the “mellowdrome” in Asheville, NC. This is a great video to see how a leadout gets organized and is executed. For this sprint, Kyle Knott is the designated sprinter and is already leading the points race. The last sprint is double points, so it is critical for Kyle to do well in this sprint to maintain his lead. Leadouts are all about making it as easy as possible for the sprinter and as difficult as possible for everyone else.
Here are the steps to this leadout:
1. Josh Whitmore (with the camera) collects Kyle from the middle of the group
2. Josh leads Kyle towards the front to get in position. Big effort by Josh, Kyle gets free ride.
3. Boyd Johnson and Noah Metzler are already near the front
4. When Josh gets up to Boyd, he and Kyle slot in behind Boyd. Josh gets to rest a bit now, Kyle still getting free ride.
5. Boyd moves the 3 of us farther forward in the group
6. When the 3 of reach Noah, we all slot in behind Noah
7. Noah goes to the front and ramps up the pace as much as he can
8. Globalbike is in control now, 4 people on the front and increasing the pace
9. Other riders behind now need to make big efforts to move up in the group or come around our leadout train
10. Noah goes as hard as he can for a lap then pulls off, Boyd goes as hard as he can for a lap then pulls off, Josh goes as hard as he can for 3/4 lap. The pace is steadily increasing this whole time.
11. With 200m to go, the speed is 36mph
12. Kyle comes around with fresh legs, the starting speed is so high, it is nearly impossible for anyone to come around him at the line.
Josh had the opportunity to tell some stories from the Ride Climb Transform trip in Africa on the Two Johns Podcast. He was on just after “Western Superfan” and before Dave Towle. If you’ve been wondering what the trip was like, have a listen. Click on the image below.
Listen to Josh's interview on the Two Johns Podcast
We enjoyed a full house at the Hub Bub Showroom in Spartanburg as the first Ride Climb Transform Presentation went live. The presentation included a complete description of each of the segments of the trip in Africa, including the 400km bike ride from Nairobi to the south slopes of Kilimanjaro, the 5 day trek to the 19,300ft summit of the mountain, and the transformative power of the 115 bicycles that we gave away during the trip. Check out the news article in Spartanburg Herold Journal.
More presentations are being planned for Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC in the coming month. If you missed the event in Spartanburg, come check us out at the other locations.
The Rock Hill Classic is always an important event for the team. Throughout its 31 year history, Rock Hill has remained one of the biggest and most prestigious races in the Southeast. In 2010, the team played the road race perfectly, delivering sprinter David Forkner to victory. Returning for 2011, the team knew there would be targets on our backs.
Fielding 9 people in the race, Globalbike meant business in the Winthrop Lake Criterium. A series of counter attacks saw Thad Dulin away with two other riders. The lap counter showed 25 to go. The gap slowly grew as the rest of the team busied itself shutting down chase attempts and tacking themselves on the back of any group attempting to bridge. In true Thad style, he attacked with 2 laps to go, taking the win solo. FINE JOB THAD!
Check out the video of Thad coming across the line and video of post race interview
