Friday, April 29, 2016

Stradalli – Bike Aid Team Dominant On Their Adopted Continent Of Africa

It’s funny how things work out. The Stradalli – Bike Aid team from Germany loves to race in some of the most beautiful locations in Europe. Their trip to Spain is a great example as they raced in Mallorca and saw some of the most amazing sites in the world. But there’s only one place this team truly feels at home and it is the last place you would expect.

Africa is the adopted continent of the Stradalli – Bike Aid team as their charity efforts have helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help young African cyclists realize their dream of becoming pro racers. The program has so many success stories but the one thing people weren’t sure of is if it would lead to wins and podium appearances for the race team.

Not only is the team off to maybe it’s best start ever, but they are dominating races throughout Africa and it continued this week at the Tour of Eritrea. But it’s not just the Germans who are doing well. Of the 6 young African racers on the team, 3 of them are from Eritrea and all have either won or placed in the top 10 already in this early season. This includes Amanuel Meron who rode his Stradalli Cycle Aversa full carbon road bike right to the podium in the Tour of Eritrea already.


Amanuel is joined by teammates Amanuel Mengis Ghebreindrias, Meron Teshome and German riders Dominik Merseburg, Daniel Bichlmann and Matthias Schnapka who all have experience riding in the heat of Africa. Great teamwork is the reason for the early season success of Stradalli – Bike Aid, however, it is also a great reminder of the hard charitable work put in by the organization. When you have 3 stellar racers return home to Eritrea and perform the way these young men have you know that the program is working and the efforts are paying off. 

Stradalli Cycle Mountain Bike Team will be taking on the Trans – Epic stage race this coming July in preparation for World Cup events.

The Trans – Epic stage race takes place over 7 days in the mountain bike capital of Pennsylvania on trails that are commonly reviewed as some of the best the East Coast has to offer. The races feature everything from flowing singletrack days to days with which focus specifically on enduro skills.

The race truly provides a battleground for mountain bikers of all skill sets to come and test their abilities. The racers cover 225 miles and over 28,000 feet of climbing in around 20 hours of racing.

Stradalli Cycle will be in attendance with owner Tom Stradalli and several professionals riding the Stradalli 650b full suspension mountain bike. Cesar Grajales, former downhill mountain bike champion of Colombia, will be riding all stages of the week long race. Grajales is famous for winning the mountainous of the Tour of Georgia ahead of a group containing Lance Armstrong and Chris Horner and several other top riders in the world at the time.

Bob McCarty, World Cup Mountain Biker Racer and former United States National Champion, will also be in attendance to compete for the overall at Trans – Epic Mountain Bike Stage Race. McCarty said the Trans – Epic will be a new experience and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

“This will be the first time in my career where I will compete for the overall title in a 5 day stage race,” McCarty said. “I have been slowly, but surely making my way back from my injury which had me hospitalized a few months ago and now it is time to really test myself. I am not back to 100 percent, but I am confident I can do something great at the Trans – Epic.”

The Trans – Epic Single Track Summer Camp begins May 29th, 2016.

Tom Stradalli, CEO of Stradalli Cycle, and the Stradalli - Bike Aid Team have spent the week 
preparing for Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn - Frankfurt. This UCI 1.HC race is one of the toughest races in 
Germany and attracts many World Tour teams. 
Eschborn - Frankfurt past winners include Alexander Kristoff of Team Katusha and the legendary 
Erik Zabel of Team Telekom. 
The Stradalli - Bike Aid Continental Professional Team will use the Aversa carbon aero road frame 
for this weekend's race. The guys are coming off some great wins and podiums at the Tour of Eritrea and are 
ready to continue their European UCI racing campaign.
The Tour of Eritrea began with a bang for Stradalli – Bike Aid after they put Amanuel Meron on the podium after 117 kilometers of racing, but Stradalli – Bike Aid’s time in Eritrea began far before the 2016 edition was even thought about.

Stradalli – Bike Aid is well known for their charity work in Africa and much of the work is done inside the borders of Eritrea. Before the race, Stradalli – Bike Aid spent time exploring the roads of Eritrea and spending time with local youth.

Eritrea is known for its difficulties regarding poverty and war. Most wouldn’t guess Eritrea is a cycling-crazy country. Americans dream of being professional football players or perhaps going to the NBA. In Eritrea, the dream is cycling and those that reach the World Tour are forever heroes in their country.

3 of the 6 African riders on Stradalli – Bike Aid are from Eritrea and all 3 were present every day to race in their home country. These Eritrean riders are not just filling the pack. These are young rock stars. These are the top athletes Eritrea has to offer and they proved it every day in Eritrea with a podium or top 10 finish.
Amanuel Meron opened the account for Stradalli – Bike Aid with a 3rd place finish in a very tight sprint finish in stage 1. Amanuel Meron repeated this finish on stage 2 in the process of helping Meron Teshome of Stradalli – Bike Aid take a commanding win in the sprint finish in Agordat. Stage 3 was more mountainous and less suitable to the team of expert sprinters at Stradalli – Bike Aid, but Amanuel Meron still finish at the front of the main group. However, the team didn’t take it easy for long.

Stage 4 was a déjà vu for the peloton as Stradalli – Bike Aid again took 2 of the top 5 spots. Amanuel Meron and the team knew the sprint leaders jersey was well within reach. Meron Teshome returned the favor helping Amanuel Meron onto the podium while finishing fourth on the day.

The sprinters may be the stars of the race, but they could not accomplish these results without top notch teamwork. The rest of the team, which includes Eritrean rider Amanuel Mengis Ghebreindrias, and German riders Dominik Merseburg, Daniel Bichlmann and Matthias Schnapka worked tirelessly to put the team in the best possible position for the win. They do it all on the Stradalli Aversa to handle the tough roads of Eritrea.

Such is the case for Stradalli – Bike Aid on and off the bike. The team works constantly to continue their mission in Africa to provide opportunities for less-fortunate people. Many Africans would never have the opportunity to be educated, let alone have easy access to clean drinking water and nutritious food.

Stage 5 ended in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. The team had done more than enough to cement their victory in the sprint points competition. The team took home the green leaders jersey and gave Eritrean cycling fans the opportunity to spend time with their cycling heroes. Now the team is in Germany to continue their European campaign.

Many say the level of cycling in Africa is not as high as Europe, but this is not the case. African cycling is full of incredible athletes and the team is well prepared for Eschborn – Frankfurt after a long stint in Africa and several tune up races in Germany.

The Tour of Eritrea was a success. Wins aside, the team got back to its roots and it was a healthy reminder to the riders why they race. Stradalli – Bike Aid does not race their bicycles just to race. Stradalli – Bike Aid Continental Professional team is a family and they are proving every day they have the work ethic to succeed.

Stradalli Two 7 Full Carbon Fiber Dual Suspension Mountain Bike. 27.5" MTB 650b

FullCarbon Fiber Dual Suspension Mountain Bike. 27.5" MTB 650b Shimano XTR 9000 11 Speed. Dt Swiss Suspension. Industry 9 Ultralite Wheelset
Stradalli – Cycle professional ambassador and reigning Florida State Mountain Bike Champion Doug Deweese is now in off season, but Deweese is stronger than ever and is training diligently to prepare for the upcoming Florida Mountain Bike Series Racing.

Deweese splits his time between training on the mountain bike and on the road bike to ensure he has the best fitness and the best skills to compete at the top level. Deweese currently rides the 29er Full Suspension Frame and the Aversa Carbon Road Frame.

Competing in a way that Deweese does requires serious dedication to training. For his off season training, Deweese has been taking his Aversa out on the road for rides as long as 170 miles.

The Aversa is used by the Stradalli – Bike Aid European Continental Team for long stage races due to its performance in a variety of conditions. Deweese said the Aversa lets him train as long and as often as the European professionals because of its performance.


“I love my Aversa road frame. It has the right amount of stiffness to put big power to the ground, but it is still compliant enough to put in long, long training rides and enjoy every mile of it. It is tough competing at the top level, but the Aversa allows my training to go smoothly.” Deweese said.

Stradalli Cycle Race Teams Head Into Speed Week

Speed Week begins Saturday April 30 in Charlotte, North Carolina and Stradalli Cycle will be at the front of the race in full force.

Stradalli – Safetti will be present along with Stradalli – Finish Strong Elite Cycling Team, Texas Roadhouse Elite Cycling Team, Stradalli – Papa John’s Women’s Elite Team and Stradalli – Wizard Development Cycling Team. Stradalli Cycles will be heavily represented in the men’s professional category race and in the women’s professional category race Saturday evening.

The Charlotte Criterium, which is widely known as one of the toughest races in the United States, kicks off a week-long series of races held throughout the Southeast. Speed Week will see hundreds of professional riders race in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

The Stradalli – Papa John’s Women’s Elite Team began their USA Criterium campaign at the Sunshine Grand Prix and took several podium spots over the week of racing.

Stradalli – Wizard Development Team also had a successful beginning in top level racing with Justin Pfaff taking a top 10 placing in the first USA Criterium Series race of the year in Tampa.

Stradalli – Safetti took multiple podium finishes during Speed Week in 2015 and will be looking to repeat the same success in 2016. Stradalli – Finish Strong currently has two riders in the top 10 of the overall standings in the Tufmed 2016 USA Criterium series after the first round of USA Criterium racing and will bring a full team to continue their success in 2016.


Riders from Stradalli teams will be using a variety of frames for the event. Stradalli – Finish Strong and Texas Roadhouse are using the AR7 for 2016 due to its high performance in high speed criterium racing. The Stradalli – Papa John’s and Stradalli – Wizard teams will be using the light weight R7, the most popular frame ever released from Stradalli.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Looking For An Incredible And Affordable Mountain Bike Adventure This Summer?

When it comes to mountain biking, finding the best trails and best places to visit over the summer is at the top of the priorities list for most riders. However, if you are on a tight budget and you want a great experience it can be a little challenging to go anywhere out of state. But that’s because so many people go to the same trails over and over again and see the same sites. This summer you need to change things up, you need to check out something different, meet new people and have some real fun.

The Trans-Sylvania Epic of Pennsylvania is the mountain bike event you’ve been looking for. First, look at the facts about the event; it’s held in Pennsylvania, one of the cheapest states to travel too. It’s a weeklong series of races in some of the most beautiful and thrilling trails in North America and the best part is the mountain biking is only one of the perks.

This is an opportunity to meet awesome new people from all around the world who love mountain biking as much as you. Every year the event has been on the numbers have grown dramatically so they must be onto something. You have your choice of camping out or staying in a nice RV so it’s literally perfect for anyone.

Another great opportunity the Trans-Sylvania Epic offers is the chance to meet and spend time with some of the top MTB riders around. It’s a great chance to learn a few tips that will help you improve your riding experience. Some of the riders in the Epic have raced in UCI races all over the world and for them going to events like this is an opportunity to get back to the roots of why they love this sport, meeting great people and having a lot of fun.


So whether you need to get out of your MTB funk, need something to do this summer or you want to try something new but not break the bank doing it, the Trans-Sylvania Epic is the mountain bike event you need to do this summer. Find out what all the fuss is about and why it is quickly becoming the most popular MTB event in Pennsylvania. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Stradalli – Bike Aid Continental Professional Team has been on a hot streak the past few weeks in Europe and Africa.

Stradalli – Bike recently travelled to the Tour of Eritrea, where they not only took many podium places, but finished off a successful week by taking home the green jersey with Amanuel Meron for the best sprinter competition. The team worked flawlessly throughout the week to position their sprinters to give them the best possible chance at stage wins.

Though the team did not win every stage, the team was the most consistent giving them the reward of the green jersey in the UCI 2.2 Tour of Eritrea. This was a huge success for the team.

Immediately after the finish of the Tour of Eritrea, the team returned to Germany to prepare for the upcoming UCI 1.HC Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn – Frankfurt. The team has been participating in races around Germany to and most recently put two riders on the podium the Uberherrner National German Professional race, the team’s opener for Eschborn – Frankfurt.
Eschborn – Frankfurt is one of the toughest races in Germany. The previous edition was won by Alexander Kristoff, classic specialist from Team Katusha who has won Milan – San Remo and The Tour of Flanders.

Former winner John Degenkolb of Giant – Alpecin will make his return to racing at Eschborn – Frankfurt this Sunday after recovering from injuries suffered from a terrible accident whilst training in Australia early in 2016. Degenkolb, who won Milan – San Remo and Paris – Roubaix in 2015, has been off the bike since January and enters Eschborn – Frankfurt with the intent of finishing the race.

The 27-year-old from Gera, East Germany has been with Giant – Alpecin since it was in its professional continental form, Argos – Shimano in 2012. Since he has won 10 stages of the Vuelta a Espana and several important spring classic races. Argos – Shimano was also the home for our recent podium finisher Niko Holler. Holler and Degenkolb were teammates in 2012 and will race together this weekend again at Eschborn – Frankfurt. Since 2012, Holler has grown to be a team leader and challenge the general classification in UCI races all over Europe, Africa and Asia.


Eschborn – Frankfurt will be televised throughout Europe this Sunday and will feature other UCI World Tour teams such as Etixx – Quickstep and AG2r La Mondiale as well. Stradalli – Bike Aid will use the carbon aero Aversa frame exclusively for this race. The temperatures in Germany have been freezing and below for the past week, which means the racing this weekend will see the riders compete in some of the toughest, snowy conditions Germany has to offer.



Rain, Snow, podium and barbecue – an interesting first race for the guys from Rwanda in cold Germany at pro race 

Nikodemus Holler and Janvier Hadi convinced despite horrible weather conditions with place 2 and 3 at the team’s home-race in Überherrn.

We all know that in April there is a special situation with our weather conditions here in Germany. Due to influences from the wind we can have warm conditions (if we have south winds) or get all the cold weather from the Nordics and polar area (with winds from the north). For sure everybody hopes that the wind will always blow from the south but unfortunately we all got disappointed that day. A drop of 20 degree celcius compared to only 2 days before and also a mix of snow and rain should make this day unforgettable for the two guys who just arrived from Rwanda that week. Thankfully their Stradalli Cycle Aversa road bikes have performed amazingly despite the different weather conditions the team has faced.

Janvier Hadi and Jean Bosco Nsengimana. Two young riders, who come from the same small village in Rwanda and both of them know perfectly when it rains, as it sometimes rains a lot in Rwanda. But there it just feels like taking a warm shower while here they felt like sitting in a freezer. Due to this situation they had to learn quite quick that in Germany are couple of seasons, even if we should not have this kind of low temperature anymore. And at the end it should also have an impact on the race, as it was impossible for Janvier Hadi to eat enough as he couldn’t move his fingers anymore, as he told later after the race.

But at the beginning the impact should be not really visible as he took the chance and went into a break-away right from the start of the race, accompanied by his team mate Nikodemus Holler. Nikodemus just arrived 15 minutes to the start with his fancy VW Polo that let him suffer a little bit due to a technical problem but finally bring him safe and sharp to the start. Just in the bib-shorts and also shoes and jersey and off to race! Obviously Niko had the right level of adrenaline due to this incident and went also directly in that break-away that should work together quite well and stay out until the end of the race.

As the deciding moment arrived it was at the hill to Rammelfangen where the two guys from Stradalli – BIKE AID split the break again. After Nikodemus’ attack it was only Fabian Genuit and Janvier Hadi who could follow and made 3 out of 8. A perfect tactical situation for the team, as they had two out of 3 riders in the front.

But Janvier should feel the impact of the cold weather now in the final lap as he could not follow anymore after another raise of the tempo in the climb. So he got a small gap to the two guys in front and the perfect situation became a little bit worse as all knew Fabian was the better sprinter. So Nikodemus tried all he had to drop Fabian but he was staying on his wheel and took his chance to win in the final sprint.

Short after them it was Janvier Hadi who arrived at 3rd place only couple of seconds behind. A great first race for him in Europe and especially with these conditions he is not used to. Congrats to him!


Also great performance by Nikodemus and the whole team to made an impressive race on this day. After this suffering all the riders well deserved an awesome barbecue with the BIKE AID community and letting an incredible day come to the end together!

Monday, April 25, 2016

Stradalli – Bike Aid Team Visits History Sites Of Germany During Training

During their time in Germany the Stradalli – Bike Aid race team has enjoyed their time of team building activities and site seeing. One of the great benefits of being able to train and race in Germany is that you are able to visit so many historic sites like the ones pictured below including Devils Castle near the French border and more.




Of course it wouldn’t be a trip to Germany without seeing some pretty unique cars including this one made by the Morgan Motor Company which has been around since 1909.




Of course as great a car as it is, it has a long way to go to match the Stradalli – Bike Aid Team Car 


Friday, April 22, 2016

Trans-Sylvania Epic Creates New Opportunities In Mountain Biking


The cycling community is big on fundraising and charity efforts but one of the most impressive organizations has to be the Outdoor Experience Organization (OEO) of Pennsylvania. In a short period of time the OEO helped to advance mountain biking throughout the state, create big events that help local economies such as the Trans-Sylvania Epic, a 7 day mountain bike race in central PA that generates tens of thousands of dollars for the organizations efforts.

“PA has some of the best mountain bike trails in the country but it wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved because we didn’t have the events or funding needed to promote the sport here. That’s the goal of OEO and with races like the Trans-Sylvania Epic we now have MTB racers from all around the country flying into our state to race. That’s money being put into our local economies, that’s money that creates new jobs and that’s money that helps us build new trails and make the sport even better in our beautiful state.” Spokesperson for OEO

Cycling is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the state with events in cyclocross, road and criterium racing, triathlons and much more getting bigger and bigger each year. The focus of OEO was to make sure that mountain bike racing wasn’t left out of the mix and thanks to the Trans-Sylvania Epic and other races, it hasn’t.

“Summers in PA are not only beautiful but they are perfect for attracting cyclists from all around the country. We are a short plane ride away from Canada and all four corners of the continental United States, low cost for tourists and great opportunities to promote the sport. Can you imagine the cost of flying to and getting a hotel during the summer for big races in Las Vegas, California, New York, Florida, Texas or anywhere else big? It would be too much for most to spend. We put the money back into the state and back into the sport where it belongs. That’s why each year this event is bigger than the last and we hope to not grow outside other types of cycling, we hope to help grow the sport of cycling throughout the state.”


Trans-Sylvania Epic (TSEpic) begins at the end of May and consists of multiple stages with dirt roads, big climbs, great sites and trails. It is a truly epic race to be a part of and cyclists from around the world have added it to their season schedule each summer. Find out more about TSEpic and learn how you can be part of the best mountain bike race of the year. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Stradalli – Bike Aid wins stage 2 of the UCI 2.2 Tour of Eritrea.


The 179 kilometer stage from Tesseney to Agordat featured significant elevation change, but that didn’t deter the peloton from riding hard. Attacks started as soon as the riders left the start line. Stradalli – Bike Aid controlled the race with excellent teamwork throughout the day.

After Amanuel Meron’s podium finish in stage 1, the team knew he could provide a result. Amanuel Meron would be the most protected rider throughout the day due to his high general classification placing. Meron Teshome, however, is the better sprinter.

The two riders worked together to shepherd themselves in a fast final after a tough day of racing. Meron Teshome took the win, proving his sprinting ability at the highest level. Amanuel Meron followed closely behind in 3rd place giving Stradalli – Bike Aid two riders on the podium of stage 2 of Tour of Eritrea.

The Eritrean riders have special motivation to race well in their home country, but the entire Stradalli – Bike Aid team and their management are working hard to ensure success at the Tour of Eritrea. Many of their riders are native to Eritrea and it is the place where the Stradalli – Bike Aid mission of creating a better future for those who are less fortunate began.

The Stradalli – Bike Aid team is currently using the full carbon Aversa frame because of its ability to perform well under a variety of conditions. The Tour of Eritrea will feature technical roads, fast sprint finishes and high mountains.

The Tour of Eritrea continues tomorrow with Stage 3 from Keren to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. The stage will cover 93k, but it is mountainous. This stage will be the first opportunity for the real climbers of Stradalli – Bike Aid to show their talent.


Monday, April 18, 2016

Stradalli – Bike Aid has started their time in Eritrea well with a podium spot in the UCI 1.2 Massawa City Circuit Race.

Meron Teshome found his way to 3rd by winning the field sprint after two riders broke away in the closing kilometers.

Stradalli – Bike Aid and Amore & Vita Selle SMP started attacks early to try to force the pressure onto other teams. Several breakaway attempts were made in the beginning of the race, but the race was too fast and difficult for anything to stay away.

Stradalli – Bike Aid riders are very motivated for this tour of racing in Eritrea because of the mission behind the team. Several of the Stradalli – Bike Aid riders are native to Eritrea and spend much of their time traveling to other countries for races. The opportunity to race in Eritrea for Stradalli – Bike only comes by on a few occasions, so the riders are putting all of their effort into getting a good result while in Eritrea.

Meron Teshome, Eritrean rider for Stradalli – Bike Aid, has had several podium finishes this year and said this finish was the best yet.

“I have had results in other countries, but for me to get on the podium in Eritrea is extra special.” Teshome said. “The Aversa rides so well and super stiff  in the sprint, so it is no surprise to me to be able to be this consistent.”


In Massawa City, the riders of Team STRADALLI – BIKE AID had to expect a unique atmosphere in a city that they surely will never forget. At the end, the result well rounded up this awesome and spectacular day.

Meron “Sunshine” Amanuel takes 5th place at UCI 1.2 Fenkel Challenge in Eritrea



Races in Africa are always something special for our team. We already have been reporting a lot about that and due to the special mission of the team – to develop African cycling and athletes – races on this continent are a special interest. This time there is no more superlative. The team is now in Eritrea which has a very special meaning indeed to the team. Eritrea is unique, it is a special country and a huge adventure. The first riders from Africa in the team were riders from Eritrea. It has a bit from: back to the roots!

What makes it so special to be in Eritrea? This small country is located on Africa’s east coast, right at the Red Sea and shares border with countries such as Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia but has a big and unique cycling tradition and history. The Italians brought this culture to this country during the colonial times beginning of the 20th century. Nowadays cycling has a similar or even bigger meaning to the people in Eritrea than Football in our country. You can imagine that every little kid dreams of a big cycling career and talks about their legends and heroes. Not only names like Eddy Merckx or Miguel Indurain are popular, it is more the fact that their own heroes such as Daniel Teklehaimanot and our other former rider Mekseb Debesay – who made it from BIKE AID to the World Tour – are the idols of today’s generation in Eritrea.

Now our guys are there and are allowed to feel this special atmosphere and enthusiasm that is not easy at all to describe. The riders experience many nice and positive people in a country, which gives you astonishing moments.

The first of 4 UCI races has been held yesterday and led over 113 kilometers from the city of Foro to Ghindae. There is always an estimation in Europe that races in Africa are not on a high level, but this is completely wrong when you have ever done races there. In countries like Eritrea, Rwanda or in Northern Africa you find a huge potential and huge talent of riders who all grow to fulfill their dream of becoming a famous cyclist outside of their country. The only thing they don’t have: experience and the opportunity to show their talent outside or in Europe. From a point of motivation, there is no single word to describe that as this kind of motivation and passion simply not exists in our countries. Only in Eritrea there are 1.000 junior riders dreaming to become stars in the cycling world.

 If you take the conditions for instance, it is also very hard for European riders to compete as the capital Asmara is located on altitude of 2.400 m sea level.  Not that easy to get enough of oxygen that is so important to deliver a good performance.

Fortunately there are also 3 Eritrean riders in our team Stradalli – BIKE AID who are perfectly adapted to those conditions. Yesterday it was Meron Amanuel who managed the conditions the best of the team and finished on a great 5th place just beaten by 37 seconds back on the winner!


Also Meron Teshome delivered a good performance on 11th place. All in all a good opening of an interesting and unique week that needs to be followed!
Another big day for the Stradalli Cycle – Papa John’s Women’s Team as they are the 2016 Masters Ladies 35 Plus Team Time Trial National Champions.

Interview With Stradalli - Bike Aid Rider Meron Teshome


Meron Teshome of Stradalli – Bike Aid German team may only be 23 years old but he is already gaining attention around the European Cycling community. Trying to give sprinters from Eritrea a great reputation, Teshome is also trying to become a great representative for the rise in African cycling.

During an interview with Teshome, we were able to get to see how impactful the Stradalli – Bike Aid efforts truly are in the lives of many young African cyclists.

When you grow up in Eritrea you grow up a fan of road cycling. It’s just the way it is back home. It doesn’t matter if you race or not, over half the population of Asmara uses bikes to commute. My uncle and great uncle were also cyclists and they influenced me to do it. I grew up wanting to be just like Tom Boonen, cycling is in my blood and it is a passion I have had my entire life.
Comparing African Cycling To European
Some people don’t realize how much of a challenge it is to reach the top in Africa as compared to Europe. There are fewer opportunities in Africa, for example in Eritrea cyclists like Daniel Teklehaimanot or Nathanael Berhane will get more looks because they are very talented climbers. Daniel is already proving to the world the level of talent there is with Eritrean climbers but that doesn’t help me to move forward to where I want to go. Cycling is so big in Europe but I think Africa is finally catching up. The fan base is great and we have a great group of highly talented cyclists coming up and winning in Europe.
Despite such a young career, Teshome has picked up victories in the Tour of Rwanda, the Tour of Eritrea, the Eritrean National Championships, the African Games ITT in 2015 and the African Continental Championships TTT in 2013.

It’s not that I look at one win to be more important than another. They are all important to me. However, one that I will always cherish is the stage I won in the Tour of Rwanda, as Rwanda is a full of mountain country.
That and the African Games ITT win was also special to me because I worked so hard to improve my TT skills. When I was with the MTN team in South Africa I learned a lot about being a professional racer. This is a sport centered around family because your team is your family but also because it really does take the support of your family back home to help you become the best possible cyclist.

Being a part of the Stradalli – Bike Aid family is very special for me. This has been a tough season to start, especially the Mallorca Challenge. However, when I look back to how far I’ve come in such a short period of time, I am now racing with a great team in some of big races and I get to race on the beautiful Aversa road bike from Stradalli, I know I’m very lucky to have these opportunities and I hope to make the most of them.


Friday, April 15, 2016

2 new teams have confirmed their entry for the May 22nd start of An Post Rás.

The France Amical Vélo Club Aix-en-Provence and Germany Stradalli - Bike Aid have joined teams from Australia, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and the USA. The line-ups from both teams will raise the quality of racing even higher.
 The eight day event is Ireland’s toughest and most prestigious cycling race on the calendar.
France Amical Vélo Club Aix-en-Provence will include: Florent Castellarnau, Grégoire Tarride, Matthieu Converset, Alexis Dulin and Loïck Lebouvier. It is a team loaded with talent including Castellarnau who recently won Monaco – La Turbie. Tarride has picked up stages wins in the Vuelta Madrid and the Tour d’Alsace as well. Dulin has the most number of wins including the Trophée Roger Walkowiak, Circuit de la Drôme and Boucles du Haut-Var.
The Germany Stradalli - Bike Aid team, has been working towards the noble goal of developing young African cyclists. To date, they have raised over €200,000 in donations for social projects which support numerous young athletes.
The team for An Post Rás will include the Rwandans Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Janvier Hadi, as well as the Germans Nikodemus Holler, Timo Schäfer and Joschka Beck, all of whom have had great success to start the season.

Nsengimana took three stages plus the overall in last year’s Tour du Rwanda won a stage in the Tour du Cameroun this season. Hadi won the All African Games Road Race in 2015 while Niko Holler was second in the 2012 German championships. This year he also picked up fifth on a stage of the 2.1 ranked La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
The An Post Rás will total 1240 kilometres and include 25 climbs. The race will roll out from Dublin Castle on Sunday May 22nd, with the venue chosen to mark the 2016 Easter Rising commemorations.
The world-ranked event will feature stage finishes in Multyfarnham, Charleville, Dingle, Sneem, Clonakilty, Dungarvan, Baltinglass and Skerries.

Stradalli 29er Black / Yellow Full Carbon Fiber Dual Suspension

Stradalli 29er Black / Yellow Full Carbon Fiber Dual Suspension Cross Country Mountain Bike. Shimano XT. Magura TS8 Suspension. Stans ZTR Crest Wheel Set.

Welcome to UCI Tour of Eritrea, Africa

Stradalli – Bike Aid has landed in Eritrea to prepare for the upcoming Tour of Eritrea. Eritrea sits on the East Coast of Africa. The race will explore the entire country, from the mountainous inlands all the way to the Red Sea in the east.

Stradalli – Bike Aid will be using the Aversa for the Tour of Eritrea due to its versatility. The bike climbs well, but is also suitable for sprint finishes. More importantly, the frame will keep the riders comfortable on the rough roads of Eritrea.

The Tour of Eritrea covers 669 kilometers over 5 days of racing. Mekseb Debesay, formerly of what is now Stradalli – Bike Aid, won the Tour of Eritrea in 2013 the last time the race was hosted.

Stradalli – Bike Aid riders Meron Amanuel and Teshome Meron took 3rd and 4th place on the general classification during their last attendance at Tour of Eritrea.

Eritrea has historically been a country of turmoil, but the country is responsible for some of the most successful riders to arrive at the World Tour from Africa. Daniel Teklehaimanot, who has ridden for teams such as Orica GreenEDGE and is now currently with Dimension Data, is arguably the most successful Eritrean rider in history. Mekseb Debesay recently switched from Stradalli – Bike Aid to join Teklehaimanot at Dimension Data.

Stradalli – Bike Aid is now the team which hosts the most exciting, young talent to come out of Eritrea. Meron Teshome and Amanuel Mengis Ghebreindrias are just two Stradalli – Bike Aid riders from Eritrea, but they have already had many podium appearances in 2016.

The team is now doing race reconnaissance on the mountainous roads of Eritrea before beginning the 5 stage UCI 2.2 race which begins on April 19th.

STRADALLI PAPA JOHNS GIRLS GETTING READY FOR PRO NATIONALS CRIT RACE


http://cyclingtips.com/2016/04/video-live-streaming-coverage-of-the-womens-usa-cycling-professional-criterium-national-championships/

Stradalli Cycle Looking For New Cyclists

Stradalli Cycle has been experiencing great success in the mountain bike market thanks to people like Bob McCarty , Cesar Grajales , Doug DeWeese , Fabio Leopoldo and other pro mountain bikers who represent the brand so well.

As a result we are looking to expand our athlete representation and initiate our mountain bike brand ambassador program. Whether you are a customer or a brand ambassador, you will have all sorts of new Stradalli mountain bike product to look forward to in the future. Join us as we open the next chapter at Stradalli Cycle. We enjoy working with every customer at Stradalli Cycle and now we are offering the chance to work with the company on another levels. We are looking for men and women who maintain themselves professionally on and off the mountain bike. Please contact us if you are interested.

Please send your MTB or Cycle Cross resume to
Bob@Stradalli.com
Thanks

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Hell of the South


Texas Roadhouse traveled to Lewisburg, Tennessee for the Hell of the South Road Race this past weekend. They brought a full masters elite squad for a race through the rough, hilly roads of Tennessee.

This race traditionally has had the worst weather the South has to offer. Both previous editions were held in wet, freezing temperatures. The winner of the Hell of the South receives a giant cobble to honor the tradition of the Hell of the North, the most famous one-day race in the world.

Paris – Roubaix is referred to the Hell of the North because of the incredible conditions the racers have to endure in order to have a chance of even finishing the race. The race passes over 27 cobbled sectors, each of which forces riders to compete for top position to lessen the chance of crashing, but even then the riders need luck on their side.

Texas Roadhouse currently rides the AR7, a frame built for tough sprinters and powerful riders. The AR7 has been one of the toughest frames to be released by Stradalli Cycle. It is currently being used by Texas Roadhouse and all other domestic elite teams sponsored by Stradalli Cycle for technical criteriums and rough cobbled races.


The Hell of the South seeks to imitate similar toughness with a course that keeps riders attentive at all times. Texas Roadhouse brought home two wins with Dirk Pohlmann in the 45+ Category and Curtis Tolson defended his 2015 win in the 50+ Category make it back to back wins for Texas Roadhouse.

The Markham 100 finished this weekend with Bob McCarty of Stradalli Cycles taking the top step of the podium.

The Markham 100, which took place at Markham Park in South Florida, featured some of the most technical trails ever featured in a mountain bike race in Florida. The race saw over 250 starters for the 100 kilometer race making it one of the biggest mountain bike events in the history of South Florida.

Markham Park is known for very technical trails and the Markham 100 included many of these. The event even went so far to run one of the trails backwards, which threw even local riders into a difficult situation. The course included everything from very steep, rooted uphills to winding, tight single track.

All individuals from all categories would start the race at the same time, meaning it was a mad dash to enter the trails first.

McCarty, riding the Stradalli 650b full suspension, was at the front of the race with 1 other rider for the entirety of the race. However, McCarty's race was not as easy as he made it look. A fork malfunction on lap 4 meant McCarty rode the entirety of the race with a nearly rigid fork.

This created many difficulties in tight corners and fast downhill sections, but McCarty and the Stradalli 650b performed flawlessly throughout the race.

McCarty's experience would see him not only lead the entire race, but also post a blistering lap time of 20:24 on his 12th lap to cement his 1st place finish at the Markham 100.

The Bill Bone Pro-Am Florida Series races continued this past weekend at the Brooksville Cycling Classic. The Stradalli - Safetti Team split this weekend to cover multiple races, but Stradalli Cycles were still out in force at the Brooksville Cycling Classic thanks to the Stradalli - Wizard Development Team.

Justin Pfaff, star rider for Stradalli - Wizard, added another win on Saturday to his track record for 2016 in the Pro/1/2 Brooksville Criterium. Pfaff has won several races this year and placed top 10 in his first USA Criterium Series race.

Pfaff followed up his Saturday criterium win with another win in the Brooksville Road Race. The Brooksville Road Race is notoriously windy and hilly. Pfaff is now has 4 wins in two weekends of racing and 5 total wins in 2016 on top of multiple podium finishes.

Pfaff is the reigning U23 Florida Time Trial and Criterium Champion and has done it all riding in the orange and black colours of Stradalli – Wizard Racing. Pfaff currently rides the Stradalli R7 and is currently the leader of the Bill Bone Pro-Am Florida Series.

Stradalli Cycles were taking wins in several states this weekend, but the Raw Revolution Miami Criterium Classic Sunday saw a podium sweep from Stradalli - Safetti Team in the Pro/1/2 category.

Stradalli - Safetti started a team of 4 of their top riders, two of which found the podium the previous weekend at the Florida State Criterium Championships.

Akil Campbell, young rider for Stradalli - Safetti, worked for the team throughout the race. Campbell was constantly covering attacks and flying off the front of the race. Campbell worked well with Enrique Lopez to drive the pace of the race and ensure other teams had to work hard in order to stay in contention.

Jose Frank Rodriguez raced a masters race early in the day and immediately followed his first race with the Pro/1/2 race. Rodriguez also worked for the team throughout the duration of the Pro/1/2 race chasing and riding in breakaways.

Despite other teams doing their best to get away from the field, Stradalli - Safetti controlled the race and set up the finish for a field sprint. A small group of 4 would get away from the field in the closing meters which included Stradalli - Safetti rider Alex Mclaughlin

Mclaughlin would sprint from that group to take 1st place. Campbell and Lopez would lead the charge from the field sprint to pass Mclaughlin's late breakaway companions to take 2nd and 3rd places making for Stradalli - Safetti's first podium sweep in 2016. Despite having raced two races, Rodriguez would still finish top 10 in the race.



The Bill Bone Pro-Am Florida Series races continued this past weekend at the Brooksville Cycling Classic. The Stradalli - Safetti Team split this weekend to cover multiple races, but Stradalli Cycles were still out in force at the Brooksville Cycling Classic thanks to the Stradalli - Wizard Development Team.

Justin Pfaff, star rider for Stradalli - Wizard, added another win to his track record for 2016 in the Pro/1/2 Brooksville Criterium. Pfaff has won several races this year and placed top 10 in his first USA Criterium Series race.

Sebastian Morfin, another young rider for Stradalli - Safetti Team, followed closely behind in second place making it a Stradalli Cycle 1-2 finish in Brooksville, Florida.

Pfaff and Morfin were on the podium together two weekends ago at the Florida State Criterium Championships U23 race.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Stradalli Cycle Papa Johns Women's Elite Team Pan Florida Challenge


Video of the Stradalli Cycle Papa John's Women's Elite Team as they get ready to ride in the Pan Florida Challenge from West Palm Beach to Naples to raise money for hungry kids all over South Florida.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Stradalli – Bike Aid – Mont Ventoux training camp racers are preparing


The European racing schedule is intensifying. We are in full swing with the spring classics well under way. The Tour of Flanders finished this past weekend and Paris – Roubaix is nearly upon us. Many of the classics riders are in top form this time of year, but the general classification riders are just getting started.

Stradalli – Bike Aid began their season early in Africa , Germany and in Spain as do most UCI teams. Since they have taken several podiums in Africa and are now preparing for the important stage races with a team training camp.

Places such as Tenerife are famous for their high elevation and tough training conditions. Teams such as Sky and Astana frequent the area to prepare their riders for the high elevation of big stage races. This year Stradalli – Bike Aid has chosen the battleground for many Tour de France routes as their choice for high mountains training, Mont Ventoux.

Mont Ventoux has long been a mainstay of the Tour de France route due to its beauty, but also its diversity. The variety of conditions riders experience on Mont Ventoux makes it incredibly difficult. It begins as a sheltered, gradually rising road through the green forests of France, but finishes at the top of a barren and windy mountain peak with incredible steep roads which switch back and forth up the mountain.

Mont Ventoux has featured in the Tour de France 15 times over the years, 10 of which were summit finishes. In 2013, Chris Froome of Team Sky won atop Mont Ventoux on his way to winning the yellow jersey. The difficulty of the mountain has made those who win legends of the sport. Richard Virenque, Marco Pantani and Eddy Merckx are all on the list of riders to win atop Mont Ventoux.

Stradalli – Bike Aid will face similar challenges in Africa, Europe and Asia in the coming months. The Tour of Eritrea will reach 2,500 meters, a height surpassing that of Mont Ventoux. The team has been training all over the world in preparation for upcoming races in high tech facilities such as the STAPS facility in Koln, Germany. Now the team is bringing their fitness to the road and putting themselves to the test on the toughest mountains Europe has to offer.


Stradalli – Bike Aid’s next race will begin April 19th in Eritrea. 

Blog Archive