Pedal Dancer®: Brent Bookwalter

Showing posts with label Brent Bookwalter. Show all posts

12 May 2013

California Cruisin' - Stage 1, Tour of California

Pedal Dancer Cruising California - at the race

Stage 1, Presented by Nissan: Sunday, May 12 – Escondido
2013 ATOC Stage 1: route map, profile, and stage information

Stage Length: 104.3 miles

KEY FEATURES: Climbing began on day 1 at mile 12, the riders took on the climb of Mt Palomar (from the eastern slope), hit the summit by mile 50, followed by a steep climb up Cole Grade Road, a fast descent and a final sprint in town. Start and finish were from the same block in the city of Escondido.

Stage 1 ATOC 2013, (zoom in on route map and profile)

The city of Escondido is in southern California

STAGE 1 HIGHLIGHTS

Stage 1 Results

Lieuwe Westra won the stage; see my results and finish photos here: Amgen Tour of Califronia - Stage 1 Results

Lieuwe Westra, Vancosoleil, wins Stage1. ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

At the Race

Today was one of those rare times when a stage started and finished in the same town. We happily gathered in Escondido after applying copious amounts of sunscreen and grabbed our first free swag, the annual Breakaway from Cancer musette bag. I remained at the Start/Finish area with my brother and sister-in-law, both expert professional cycling fans. Willie headed to both Ramona and to the Coal Creek Road climb.

See Willie Reichenstein's album of photos from Stage 1, Amgen Tour of California: Escondio-Escondido. Like this one:

At Stage 1 Start

City of Escondido ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Nothing like a fresh line-up of team bikes ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

How to fuel team Bontrager ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

It was definitely a day for sunscreen. ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tejay van Garderen came out to give an interview to Bob Roll ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

But forgot his shoes (and it was hot pavement!) proving that he has no ability to feel pain. ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Lieuwe Westra (left) and Bert-jan Lindeman heading out on what would be a very successful Stage 1.
©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Peter Sagan came out to give an interview to Bob Roll and sign autographs, he also offered Bob Roll an lesson in how to pronounce his name - "Sah-gone". FAN TIP: if you find Bob Roll near the team buses, follow him, he is on the interview circuit and riders will come out of the bus to talk with him. ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Did you know that Frankie Andreu is Team Manager of 5-Hour Energy? ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Thomas de Gendt #71 ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

You'll recognize Thomas by the scorpion on his leg ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Brent Bookwalter (BMC) ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Thor Hushovd ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Sylvain Chavanel outside his team bus ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Rohan Dennis of Australia ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Dave Zabriskie with two young fans ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Fans I met

Thanks to so many friendly fans I met throughout the day, in the Lifestyle Village, near the team buses, in the Michelob Ultra tent watching the race live, along the barricades, and the DuVine Cycling Adventure Co tour group from Australia - you made the day special. Sorry @DanielParker Orr that I did not meet up with you, I looked for you three times in that fancy AEG VIP tent.

Willie found the Timmy Duggan fan club was out in support of our current American National Champion Road:

The Go Timmy Duggan Fan Club

Race Day Photos and Stories

My brother Mike and Sister-in-law Suz live in Laguna Beach, CA, so they came down to Stage 1 today. Between us, we have been to the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Tour of Switzerland, Criterium Dauphine, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, plus we've been coming to the Tour of California since it started. Basically it seems we have chased these races and riders around the world. Suz has a long tradition of getting her photos with the riders.

Suz is gutsy and she knows how to get a photo op done. I very rarely have photos taken with the riders when I am on my own, only occasionally my favorites. But today when Suz started her fun, I couldn't stand by and watch, so I kept diving into her photos with the guys. We had so much fun laughing and enjoying ourselves. The riders were amazingly kind. Here we are....

Sylvain Chavanel, Suz, and me

me, Johan Vansummeren, Suz

Suz, Dave Zabriskie, me

And if you notice how thin Bob Roll is this year, he shared with us that he just had 4 molars removed, ouch, that'll decrease your appetite. The comment of the day was the women next to us who commented in her British accent, "My he has quite a nice bum, you can't tell that on the tele."

Finally my brother had to do his own photo bomb ...

Get out of the way of my photo of World Champion Philippe Gilbert!

No worries, Mike got his own picture of Philippe

Escondido and the race

We enjoyed a lunch in the French cafe in town near the start-finish line. A very convenient and air-conditioned place to relax and enjoy a meal between the depart and return of the riders into the same location. We also toured the Lifestyle Village to collect our customary Breakaway from Cancer Swag, and of course, had a cold beer under the shade of the Michelob Ultra beer tent (featuring large screen TVs carrying race coverage live!).

Shade, beers, and fun new friends at the Michelob Ultra tent in Escondido - 105 degrees!

Willie, Suz and Mike at the Breakaway from Cancer tent in the Festival Village - good swag!

Lunch at the French Bakery, right along the route in Escondido.

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and all moms

It was Mother's Day today. I met a mother, whose son had planned for her the "perfect day," as she called it. She told me she had been a bike racer herself, back in the day she raced with Connie Carpenter Phinney (Taylor's Mom). She and her son were happily enjoying a post-race lunch and tea in downtown Escondido right along the race route.

A happy Mother's Day

Stone Brewery

We finished the night with dinner and a beer at Stone Brewery, in Escondido, with Willie, my friend and photographer for Pedal Dancer®, and family/friend and our host during these southern stages - Jeannie. Great conversation to finish a good day in a spectacular setting. And a tasty Stone Brewery Arrogant Bastard Ale! Yum.

The gardens of the Stone Brewery ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

TOMORROW'S STAGE 2

Stage 2 : Route Map | Route Profile | timetable | ATOC Stage 2 page

Stage 2, Presented by Visit California: Monday, May 13 – Murrieta to Greater Palm Springs
2013 ATOC Stage 2: route map, profile, and stage information
Start Location: Murrieta City Hall/Town Square Park
Finish Location: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (short steep hilltop finish)
Start Time: 10:20 a.m.
Stage Length: 124.3 miles
Live Viewing: 2pm PDT NBC Sport Network
CITY HIGHLIGHT: Route & City information about Murrieta
CITY HIGHLIGHT: Route & City information about Palm Springs
KEY FEATURES: Rides through Temecula Valley wine country, climbs up the San Jacinto Mountains to the hamlet of Idyllwild, stage will finish up Tramway Road climb to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway parking lot. The last 3.8 miles gains 1,880 feet of elevation (average over 9%) – "one of the toughest climbs anywhere".

27 September 2012

Image of the Day: shoes

Cycling Shoes

Photo © Karen at PedalDancer.com

I've been learning more about photography...

These were the shoes (and legs) of Brent Bookwalter (BMC) prior to the ITT at the 2012 Tour of California.
.

28 May 2012

US National Championships

Watch the race live streaming online today

USA Cycling Professional Championships: at USA Cycling website: http://media.usacycling.org/2012ProRoadAndTT-NatsStream.html

Schedule: Monday, May 28, 2012 (Memorial Day) - Tune in to see who the next US Champion will be ....

Road Race Championships presented by TD Bank
Defending Champion: Matthew Busche
Distance: 115 miles
Start Time: 12:00pm (ET)
Estimated Finish Time: 4:30 pm (awards immediately following)

Road Race Startlist provided by VeloNews

Yesterday in Greenville, South Carolina, David Zabriskie defended his title as the US Time Trial Champion. Earning his 7th title, and the right to wear that Captain Marvel time trial suit of his for another year.

The podium from the 20.7-mile time trial course:

Gold-medal: Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) 00:40:41:44
Silver-medal: Tejay van Garderen (BMC) 00::40:47:90
Bronze-medal: Brent Bookwalter (BMC) 00:41:08.06

Excerpt from RoadCycling.com (read more) ... "Wearing the Stars-and-Stripes does not get old," Zabriskie commented after the finish and added "The last few years I've brought it with me, even though I know I can't wear my Stars-and-Stripes on this day, but I hang it up in my room to remind myself how much I like it and how people want to take it away from me. I enjoy wearing it."

David Zabriskie Photo © by PedalDancer.com/Willie Reichenstein

Timmy Duggan is the 2012 USA Cycling Pro Road Champion!

Results:

Timmy Duggan (Liquigas-Cannondale)
Frank Pipp (Bissell Cycling)
Kiel Reijnen (Team Type 1-Sanofi)

Timmy Duggan last week in California Photo © by PedalDancer.com

Go Timmy Go!

We have had three excellent weeks of recent bike racing. Anyone who watched Sylvain Georges solo breakaway ride on Stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California, and then saw Thomas de Gendt's incredible breakaway ride up Passo de Stelvio in Italy during the Giro last Saturday, and then today watched Timmy Duggan stay away at the front of the laps at the US Road Championships could not be disappointed or assume that the solo ride always gets caught shortly before the line. These men proved that the chasing group does not always catch the breakaway rider. I love to see a ride go for it, and not look back!

If you missed these other incredible stages or races, watch the video now via Steephill.TV:

Stage 20 2012 Giro D'Italia:

Stage 20 Highlights (02:45 English, restricted to U.S.) — universalsports

Last Km of Stage 20 (15:29 Italian) — rai

Stage 6 2012 Amgen Tour of California

Last Km of Stage 6 (02:25 English) — nbcsports

See a full list (with images) by Pedal Dancer of the other current national champions of cycling from around the world: 2012 National Champions and their jerseys

10 November 2011

BMC bikes

Bicycle manufacturers are good for this sport

BMC has an impressive cycling team, never once have I heard this team sponsor waver in their steadfast sponsorship of their professional cycling team. The team is not BMC dash anything, the team is simply BMC Racing Team.

BMC stands for Bicycle Manufacturing Company and was founded by American Bob Bigelow in 1986 to assemble bikes for wholesale distribution under the Raleigh brand. He later lost the Raleigh contract but developed the BMC brand slowly, missing a number of major developments in the cycling industry, but surviving. In 2001 Andy Rihs bought the company and redirected the focus back to design, emphasizing the companies Swiss roots.

Although started by an American, BMC is a Swiss bicycle manufacturer located in Switzerland. They have supported their title ProTeam since 2008. What began as a Professional Continental team, officially became a UCI licensed ProTeam in 2010. I am sure we can all remember the shock in hearing that George Hincapie had signed with a team that had no guarantee of being invited to the Tour de France. He obviously believed in the vision, because in 2011, BMC won the Tour de France. For the 2012 professional season, they have amassed quite a team.

BMC pro riders: Cadel Evans, George Hincapie, Alessandro Ballan, Yannick Eijssen, Greg Van Avermaet, Manuel Quinziato, Taylor Phinney, Ivan Santaromita, Amaël Moinard, Johann Tschopp, Marcus Burghardt, Timothy Roe, Chris Barton, Brent Bookwalter, Chris Butler, Mathias Frank, Martin Kohler, Karsten Kroon, Steve Morabito, Mauro Santambrogio, Ivan Santaromita, Micael Schar, Johan Tschopp, Danilo Wyss, Simon Zahner. New to the team in 2012: Thor Hushovd, Philippe Gilbert, Marco Pinoti, Tejay van Garderen, Klaas Lodewyck, Adam Blythe, Steve Cummings.

BMC recently announced that they have joined with Hincapie Sportswear, and Holowesko Partners in support of a professional Under 23 development team for the 2012 racing season. The new BMC-Hincapie Sportswear Team is registered with USA Cycling as a UCI Continental team and is the official development program for the BMC Racing Team.

Now let's look at the bikes of BMC. When I was at Interbike in Las Vegas, Nevada, last September, I spent quite a bit of time looking at the BMC time trial bikes. The design and geometry are unique to BMC.

BMC team bikes: The frames ridden in 2012 will be the same as in the 2011 season. The riders will have a choice of 2 road bikes and a time trial bike. Each rider will make the final decision on what he wants to ride in each race. His choices are:

Impec road bike
Teammachine SLR01 road bike
Timemachine TM01 time trial bike

Below BMC riders at the stage start of the Amgen Tour of California in Livermore, CA, in 2011, where some clearly chose the SLR01 frame, while others chose to ride the Impec:

BMC road bike frames - SLR01 and Impec
© by PedalDancer.com

BMC ROAD BIKES

BMC Impec - road bike The Impec was re-launched again at Eurobike 2011 (and supposedly at Interbike) and will be offered in a third (white) color in 2012. Frames have new graphics/colors and upgrades on the complete bikes (Easton stem and Easton Bar, wheels). Prices for the Impec frames starts at $5,500, $7,999 for a SRAM Red up to $14,999. The Impec is available in Dura Ace Di2, Dura Ace, Ultegra Di2, Sram red, Ultegra, and Super Record. The colors offered are red, white and black. Impec is available in two different fits termed "race" and "performance," with five sizes in each line.

The major engineering advancements in the frame of the Impec was in the manufacturing of the carbon tubes and joints. Those bulky joints are referred to as "high-density half-shells" or " Shell Nodes" and reportedly result in flawless frame joints on the Impec. Marketing on the Impec seems to have more to do with construction of the carbon frame, and less about how that technology transfers to performance, although words such as comfort, stiffness, low road noise, and fast descents are associated with the design. According to Bicycling. com, one of the design decisions in making the frame was to have a complete bike weigh in right at the 6.8-kilogram (14.99-pound) UCI limit.

BMC impec Super Record in red

BMC impec Ultegra Di2 bike in white


BMC Impec high-density half-shells Photo by BikeRadar.com

BMC - the impeccable Impec road bike 2011
© by PedalDancer.com

BMC Impec at ATOC 2011
© by PedalDancer.com

The second choice in road bike for the team:

BMC Teammachine SLR01 - road bike: The SLR01 is the bike frame that Cadel Evans rode to win the 2011 Tour de France. The BMC website describes this bike as, "It’s all about efficiency in propulsion and maximum stiffness at minimal weight." The Teammachine SLR01 is available in Ultegra Di2, Sram Red, and Ultegra in red. The (SWA) models come with Dura Ace Di2, Dura Ace, and frameset only. The SLR01 has a BMC special edition Easton wheel EA90 SE (red nipples - black spokes - upgraded hubs). The final price depends on what wheels are chosen, Zipp 404 or Mavic Cosmic Carbone, and which saddle - 3 options from Fizik. Prices range from $3400 for a frameset, $3800 to $6900 for a build.

BMC Teammachine SLR01 Ultegra Di2, Cadel Evans TDF bike
© by PedalDancer.com

BMC teammachine SLR01 (SWA) race series, Dura Ace
© by PedalDancer.com

A bit of trivia: BMC never made the SLR01 frame in the World Champion stripes for Cadel Evans, because the UCI would not allow BMC to make a full World Champion model using the WC colors/stripes in 2011 for sale. However 141 Tour de France Teammachines were made, signed by Cadel Evans, and sold worldwide (in honor of Cadel Evan's #141 dossard number at the 2011 Tour de France). Twenty-five of the 141 bikes were available for sale in the USA, and still might be found for sale if you must have one.

Cadel Evan's yellow SLR01 2011 Tour de France model BMC bike
© by PedalDancer.com

Other BMC frame models: BMC also offers a few other frame models for consumer sale including:

racemachine RM01
roadracer SL01

RM01 The racemachine RM01 is available in Ultegra D12, Sram red, Ultegra, and as a frameset only in white, red, and team colors depending on build. RM01 in blue will not be available for the 2012 season. RM01 has the EA90 SL wheelset (last year it was the EA70). Prices range from $3000-$3800.

BMC racemachine RM01 Sram red
© by PedalDancer.com

SL01 The roadracer SL01 is available with Ultegra D12, Ultegra, 105, and Tiagra in white, read, and naked. (The SL02 is no longer offered, it was the same frame as the SL01 but with a different build). Prices range from $2100-$3300.

BMC roadracer SL01
© by PedalDancer.com

Changes to the bikes in 2012: The Impec was re-launched again in 2011 and offered in a third (white) color. In addition to the new frame graphics/colors, there are upgrades on the complete bikes including stems, bars, and lightweight wheels. Also the seatposts have changed for 2012 back to a normal clamp system seatpost. And of course most models offer internal Di2 cable routing. Visit the BMC Bikes official website for complete specs.

BMC TIME TRIAL BIKES

BMC TM01/TT01- time trial bikes

Timemachine TM01
Timemachine TM02

The unique frame design of the BMC time trial bikes certainly stand out in a sea of bikes. The difference between the TM01 and the TM02 is the TM01 has the new Carbon - Integrated Aero Hinge allowing for greater adjustability per rider at the stem and handlebars. Also upgraded componentry with Dura Ace Di2 / Sram Red / Ultegra, in red or blue highlighted black frames.

The timemachine TM01 is the model that the BMC ProTeam used in the 2011 Tour de France. The geometry of the frame of the TM01 is configured for extreme time trials and for Ironman distances. With a steep riding angle of 77°, the BMC website states that the TM01 permits a suitable triathlon seated position that stretches the rider less and is thus more comfortable. Cadel Evans used the TM01 at the 2011 Tour de France and at the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado.

BMC 201 timemachine TM01 time trial team bike - BMC team model

The BMC timemachine TM02 is available in Ultegra / 105, in silver or white frame colors.

BMC TM02 with the more traditional headset and stem

More images of the BMC timemachine TM01 (taken at Interbike 2011 by PedalDancer.com)

Adjustable fitting

The big deal about the TM01 is the flip-flop stem heads in different sizes and interchangeable shims and wedges allowing for a variety of bar position adjustments to fit the individual rider on the BMC Timemachine TM01. There are over 32 different positions possible to achieve a just right fit.

BMC Timemachine TM01 adjustable stem

BMC's older version time trial bike was the timemachine TT01 a custom made time trial bike with a more traditional TT bike look. It took 3 years of design and analysis for the engineers at BMC to redesign this time trial bike into the new TM01 for "maximum speed." Although the TM01 might be the latest engineering, the old TT01 was still in use in competition during the 2011 season.

the older version - BMC TT01 custom made time trial bike


an older model of the BMC timemachine used at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in 2011 © by PedalDancer.com

According to BikeRadar, the TM01 will be available in January of 2012 to consumers, available as both a frameset or complete bike. At the high end, the TM01 will be equipped with Dura Ace Di2 and Zipp 808s at the retail price of $12,999. Available in either red or blue. SRAM Red and Ultegra Mechanical will also be offered.

Another bit of BMC trivia: BMC used to sponsor the old Phonak pro cycling team. Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France (later revoked) on BMC bikes.

BMC bike reviews:

BMC Impec – First ride review by BikeRadar
The BMC Impec Review - Cycling Tips
BMC TeamMachine SLR01 review by BikeRadar
Tour de France tech: New aero kit at team time trial review by James Huang

More PedalDancer.com photography of team BMC:

Other picture galleries: Bike Gallery and 2012 BMC TM01 Time Trial Bike by BikeRadar
Forum discussions: RoadBikeReview (road bikes) and Weight Weenies (TT bikes)

Update 01/19/12: BMC Racing: 2012 team bikes By CyclingNews

Update January 2012: An amazing line-up of racers for 2012 - behind the scenes at the BMC camp By VeloNews, or BMC training in Denia By CyclingNews.com

Philippe Gilbert 2012 Custom BMC bike

Related posts by Pedal Dancer:
View all the other ProTeam Bikes from 2011
Learn about Specialized bikes
Learn about Colnago bikes
Learn about Pinarello bikes: Pinarello Dogma2

See some wonderful photographs by PedalDancer.com of Team BMC in Belgium the day before the Tour of Flanders here: BMC solid through 2016

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