The talented field of riders in the Challenge Mallorca may be intimidating for some, but not for Stradalli-Bike Aid rider Daniel Bichlmann. In the first stage Bichlmann formed the breakaway which stayed away for the majority of the day.

Bradey Wiggins, former Tour de France winner with Team Sky, is racing in the Challenge Mallorca to prepare for Track Worlds, which takes place in London England. After Track Worlds, Wiggins will begin to focus on 2016 Rio Olympics coming this summer. He fully intends to win what would be his last Olympic Gold medal.

The high winds and open roads make this the perfect race for riders to get their legs for the new season. Wiggins is not the only high profile professional cyclist riding the Challenge Mallorca. Fabian Cancellara uses this race to get to a high level of fitness early in the year.

The Stradalli – Bike Aid riders are using the Challenge Mallorca as a springboard for a successful 2016 season and to get an idea of the team's strengths.

Stradalli-Bike Aid pro rider, Niko Holler uses the Challenge Mallorca to test his legs early in the season and compare his progress with some of the top riders in the world. Going up against world tour professionals early in the season allows riders to build a successful platform for later in the year.

The second stage of Challenge Mallorca, Trofeo Pollenca – Port de Andrax, Stradalli – Bike Aid rider Daniel Bichlmann successfully started the first good breakaway of the day that would stay clear for the majority of the stage.

A simple breakaway which began with 9 riders quickly turned into a large group of 32 that would remain clear until the closing kilometers of the stage. Timo Schafer successfully bridged across to form the large group of 32 which would stay in the clear for most of the race. The course had over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, but the bumps in the road didn’t prevent the top group from hunting down the breakaway and finishing the 162.6 kilometer stage in 3 hours 32 minutes.

The final group of riders included Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain, Alex Dowsett of Team Movistar and Niko Holler of Stradalli – Bike Aid finished the race a few minutes down on race winner Gianluca Brambilla of Etixx – Quick Step. Out of 168 starters, 109 finished the intense race day in Mallorca.

Michal Kwiatkowski, 2015 UCI Road Race World Champion, placed second for Team Sky. Zdenek Stybar, former UCI Cyclocross World Champion, finished on the podium in third place. The Challenge Mallorca continues with the 149.9 kilomteer Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana.

Good Start To Challenge Mallorca For Stradalli-Bike Aid

The start of the Challenge Mallorca went great for the Stradalli-Bike Aid team. French rider Damian hopped in the first breakaway of the day and rode strongly, but the peloton was not happy with that breakaway combination. They were immediately pulled back and the attacks started again. Stradalli-Bike Aid rider Daniel Bichlmann was in the third breakaway and seemed to have a chance to stay away before Lotto Soudal and Team Sky changed that.

On the final hill Team Sky and Lotto Soudal set a relentless pace at the front of the peloton to set up the finale. Soudal protected Andre Greipel in the final push which set him up for the sprint win with a lead out train. Sam Bennett of Bora – Argon 18 and Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Dimension Data rounded out the podium for a great day of competitive racing.

Tom Steinbacher, CEO of Stradalli Cycle, said he couldn’t be happier with how the team has performed in Mallorca thus far.

“We were competitive all day long. It was great to see the Stradalli-Bike Aid team stay competitive against some of the best teams in the world. It's not easy when you are going against teams like Movistar and Team Sky but we definitely held our own."

Being around impressive teams and talented riders is certainly an experience the Stradalli-Bike Aid riders are not taking for granted. Dominik Merseburg, the 24-year old first year pro is taking in as much as he can at Mallorca.

"It's pretty cool to ride next to Cancellara, Greipel and Wiggins. When you see them on the road you realize how amazing an opportunity you have in front of you and it's very humbling. I'm also very grateful for this awesome teammates I have, I couldn't ask for a better team."

The racing in Mallorca continues tomorrow with the 162.6 kilometer (101 miles) Trofeo Pollenca – Port de Andratx.

Stradalli – Bike Aid to start 25th Playa de Palma Challenge Ciclista Mallorca

Stradalli-Bike Aid will begin the Playa de Palma Challenge Ciclista Mallorca at 25th. There will be plenty of competition in the field with UCI World Tour teams; Team Sky, Cannondale Pro Cycling Team, Francais de Jeux, Trek – Segrafredo and Movistar Team among some of the names.

Get The Same Bikes Used By The Stradalli-Bike Aid Conti Team

Looking for a new bike to race with next year? Why not use the same full carbon road bike used by the pros and it's available for less than $4,000! The Aversa is one of the best quality full carbon road bikes sold by Stradalli Cycle and is currently on sale for less than you would imagine.

Stradalli-Bike Aid Team Enjoys Training Day In Mallorca

Preparing for the UCI 1.1 Challenge Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca race is a lot of work but it also is a lot of fun, especially when you are doing it in beautiful Mallorca, Spain.

The Stradalli-Bike Aid conti team is currently training there in preparation for the upcoming race where they will compete against world tour teams including Team Sky, Trek-Segafredo, Movistar Team, Etixx-Quick Step, FDJ, Cannondale Pro Cycling Team, Lotto Soudal, IAM Cycling.

Stradalli - Bike Aid Pro Cycling Team Enjoys Ride In Mallorca

The Stradalli - Bike Aid German Conti Team was able to take a ride around Mallorca, Spain in preparation for the UCI 1.1 Challenge Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca race.

The sites around the island are beautiful and the race will feature some of the toughest competition including Team Sky, Trek-Segafredo, Movistar Team, Etixx-Quick Step, FDJ, Cannondale Pro Cycling Team, Lotto Soudal, IAM Cycling.

Stradalli-Bike Aid Heading To for Palma de Mallorca

Stradalli CEO Tom Steinbacher and execs left Miami airport heading for Palma de
Mallorca to join the Stradalli - Bike Aid conti team. 

The Challenge Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca is 4 days of UCI 1.1 races around the island Mallorca off the coast of Spain. 

Tom and Peter will be arriving early for the pre-race press conference and photo
shoot leading up to the race.

The competition will be tough. 

Lining up alongside Stradalli - Bike Aid are World Tour teams with star
riders finding their feet for racing in 2016. Lotto Soudal will be present
with a full team Andre Greipel and Jurgen Roelandts. Trek - Segafredo will
be present with a full team including Fabian Cancellara and Frank Schleck.
Team Sky, Movistar and Cannondale Pro Cycling Team will also be present with
top riders. 

The Tour of Majorca began in 1992 and is world renowned for being the biggest race
for professional riders to find their early season form. 

Past winners of the general classification include Alex Zulle, Alejandro Valverde and Philippe
Gilbert. 

Stradalli - Bike Aid is currently racing and having success in the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and have found their way to the podium. The Tour of Majorca will be only the
second of over 100 UCI races for Stradalli - Bike Aid in 2016.

The German Team Stradalli - Bike Aid Racing Gabon Africa UCI Race

January 18, 2016 marked the start of the 11th edition of the Tropical Amissa Bongo (18-24 January) for the second consecutive year. Led by a former French professional, Yves Beau, the Stradalli _ Bike Aid team has the distinction of hosting the last three years of top African athletes and allowing them to compete with professionals in European and African races.

Stradalli - Bike Aid completed stage 3 of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo today placing Niko Holler riding the Stradalli carbon Aversa in fifth place on the most grueling, hilly stage of the 7 day UCI 2.1 race.

The race finished in an uphill sprint with Adrien Petit of France’s Direct Energie, formerly Europcar, taking first place. The sprint was very close with Jarrier Benoit of Fortune – Vital Concept finishing on the wheel in second and Andrea Palini of Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team rounding out the podium in third.

Former riders such as Namibian Dan Craven were spotted by Bernaudeau for Team Europcar two years ago. Recently, the Eritrean Mekseb Debesay was recruited by Team Dimension Data, South Africa’s UCI World Tour Team with team mate mark Cavendish

"With the energy and effort of our sponsors we are able to combine the sporting progression of our riders and our involvement in educational projects in Africa,” Stradalli – Bike Aid staff said.

The Stradalli - Bike Aid team also continues humanitarian work for children in Africa. The success of Mekseb Debesay in 2014 when he was named Best African Cyclist of the year and 2015 with 8 wins UCI obtained the highest score by an African rider on the mainland last year, gave ideas to leaders of the German Continental professional team who have decided to move to the next level with six African riders in 2016.

Three will be present this week on roads of Gabon with former Eritrean national champion Meron Teshome, Tanzanian Richard Laizer and Jean Bosco Nsengimana of Rwanda who in November won brilliantly the Tour of Rwanda.

Stradalli Cycle y el equipo continental Bike Aid unen fuerzas para el 2016

El fabricante estadounidense de bicicletas de carbono, Stradalli Cycle, anunció la semana pasada su vinculación al equipo alemán profesional Bike Aid como patrocinador y proveedor oficial de material. El nombre del equipo para el 2016 será Stradalli-Bike Aid.

El equipo correrá con objetivos como la promoción del juego limpio y la ayuda a ciclistas del continente africano para que se conviertan en corredores de la categoría World Tour. El equipo además de correr apoyará el trabajo social y la beneficencia en comunidades alrededor del mundo.

http://carbonroadbikebicyclecycling.com/news-blog/

UFC Fighter Gilbert Burns Begins Using Stradalli Full Carbon Road Bike to Train

There is a new member of the Blackzilians MMA Team using a Stradalli Cycle full carbon road bike to train for cardio. 3-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and UFC fighter Gilbert Burns will be training on the Stradalli Cycle full carbon Trebisacce SL1 road bike in preparation for his next fight. Burns currently trains at the JACO Hybrid Training Center.

It was at the JACO training facility where Burns was told about the benefits of training on a full carbon road bike as an alternative to running. It is challenging to strengthen your legs and endurance with cardio without putting pressure on your knee joints. Professional cyclists are able to strengthen their legs without the same wear and tear as running because cycling has less of an impact on the body.

“The trainers and other fighters talked to me about the benefits of cycling when you want to improve your conditioning. Running can mess up your knees and back, but you still have to strengthen your legs when you are in MMA. I noticed that a lot of the guys don't even drive to the gym, they ride their bikes and when I asked about it they told me to go to Stradalli.” Burns said.

Finding the right bike was quick and simple for Burns thanks to Stradalli Cycle's experience with MMA fighters.  

“When you walk in and meet Tom he already has an understanding of the type of training you need and how the bike is going to help you. Then he explains how a bike should fit you, how to properly ride and get the most out of a workout. I was even able to meet with 3 Time World Champ Grant Potter who invited me out for a training ride. I'm very thankful for how much they helped me out.” Burns said.

There has been a long relationship between Stradalli Cycle CEO Tom Steinbacher and JACO Training and Clothing as they are sponsors for a number of race teams and many of the fighters who train at JACO ride Stradalli carbon road bikes.

“When we have a fighter from Blackzillians come in we know that they are going to need to find the right bike. The bike has to fit them properly and we make sure they get the best deal on whatever bike they want. It's important that theylearn how to incorporate training with a bicycle with they other training they do. They have to get the most out of a workout just like everyone else.” Steinbacher said

50 Or Older? No Excuse Not To Be In Shape With A Stradalli Cycle

Blain Reeves is proving age is just a number as the newest member of the Stradalli - Safetti men's team is proving. At age 50 he's still entering races all around the world where he often finds himself near the front of the leaders, not just in his age category either. 

A member of the United States Army, Reeves has been a longtime customer of Stradalli and owns multiple full carbon road bikes which he rides over 300 miles a week while working for the United States Southern Command. Winner of the best ranger competition in 1993 and a member of the US Military Cycling Team, Blain has always had an interest in racing. What he loves about cycling is the team aspect of it and how it relates to the military. 

“People think of the military as having the most advance forms of physical training. While they have some great programs the real focus is on the mental side of it. How do I become mentally tough enough to push myself past the limitations I create in my head? When you are in the Army you are trained to push yourself and if you find a method of exercising you like, then apply what you learn to it. But it's not like we are only allowed to do one form of exercise. They encourage us to try new things. For me I love racing because it combines competition with teamwork.” Blain Reeves

Riding full carbon bikes appealed to Reeves because it reduces the wear and tear on the body compared to other forms of training. Every type of cardio beats up your body but cycling is the best way to get the heart rate up without putting huge strain on your legs and back. 

Stradalli Cycle CEO Tom Steinbacher knew that adding Reeves to the team was an obvious move as he was looking to strengthen team mentally as well as the talent level. 

“We have tons of talent in Stradalli and we want to continue to add to that. But you can have all the talent in the world but who is going to mentor and coach them? Who has experience racing at some of the spots these kids will be racing at? Blain is a very talented and experienced racer and his experience in the Army as well as teaching classes makes him the perfect teammate and mentor for our young guys.” Said Steinbacher

With great talent and multiple race teams Stradalli needs mentors and people to train and lead the way but reinforce the mentality of teamwork. 

Finding The Right Time Trial Bike For You

The right time trial bike can make all the difference in the world more than how cool it may look. Being on a great frame, having the proper arm position and comfort and overall position on the bike can feel amazing. When you put it all together and you are riding correctly you can find yourself in a comfortable position but also minimizing wind drag. 

Believe it or not your bike only accounts for 10 percent of the surface area that the wind hits. The other 90 percent is you. Having good position on a frame that fits you correctly is more important that spending an insane amount of money on an expensive frame that doesn't help you to go any faster. 

Another important tip is flat time trials and how aerodynamics count for much more than you would expect. The lighter you are doesn't necessarily equal a faster time. TT bikes are actually heavier than most road bikes because they often have a thicker and wider frame. 

When you are choosing a bicycle position and comfort are always important but you want to make sure you can adjust the front end which a lot of riders fail to do before making a purchase. The front end of the TTR-8 for example was engineered to be as stiff and clean as possible and while also being adjustable. 

The trick was to do this and still provide a time trial frame that was suitable for riders of all shapes and sizes. We did this by keeping the top tube length shorter than a traditional time trial frame, but only slightly, which has most riders looking like a speeding bullet on a bike. 

This bike was not designed with any particular group of riders in mind. Some companies, such as Cervelo, design frames specifically for courses such as the Hawaii Ironman which was flat and windy. They are great bikes, but Stradalli has a different customer in mind. The Phantom 2 and the TTR-8 were design to meet every rider’s needs, whatever their situation may be, to ensure they achieve the best possible position. A good bike should be a bike that helps the rider perform well under any circumstance.

Having a great frame with quality is paramount for any rider but never assume that in order to pay that you have to pay top dollar. Look for the right bike for you, not the most expensive. That's where you will find the best time trial bike for you to race on. 

The Best Deal Ever On A Full Carbon Fiber MTB - Only $1499

It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or expert racer. Every rider struggles with the same question. No matter how many bikes you own, the problem always seems to be which bike you are going to buy next. It is always about the details, how much weight you can save and some will say the most important factor is the cost.

Mountain bikers, and entry level racers especially, have the toughest time when it comes to choosing a mountain bike. The difference in performance between a 27.5 and a 29er mountain bike are huge. Your bike choice could turn your racing season into a disaster if you pick the wrong bike. Your bike choice could turn your wallet into a disaster if you pick the wrong bike.

There isn’t a rider out there who wants to heck around a monster all season, but entry level riders often find the cost of preventing this is out of their price range. The goal as an entry level racer should be to save your wallet, but make the right choice to make your first season a positive one.

Full suspension bikes may look cooler, but a hard tail mountain bikes teach you to ride smoother and think about your next move on the trail. This is an aspect of mountain biking everyone needs to learn early on. It isn’t about crushing your pedals all the way through the trail. It is about how smooth the rider is. The smoothest riders often post the best times with little effort.

The most technical trails require the best handling skills. Often a 29er mountain bike is too large for the rider, too bulky and hinders maneuverability out on the trail. For the entry level racer, a 27.5 is going to do you a world of favors. A 27.5 will be responsive and save you significant amounts of weight. You can save up to two pounds on a bike build by just switching from a 29er to a 27.5. Two pounds is a lot in the cycling world. Every gram of the 2 pounds of weight savings will seem like a miracle when you are at the end of a mountain bike race, totally worn out and covered in mud from the trails. 

The wheel set alone can save weight as much as 7 percent going with a 27.5 instead of a 29er. The fact is a light wheel set will provide you with better acceleration, which can save you precious time in your first mountain bike race.

Mountain biking is tough and making the right bike choices early on is very important. For the entry level racer, the 27.5 hard tail mountain bike is the way to go. The Stradalli Blue Yellow 27.5 mountain bike for $1499 is the best bang for your buck you will find in the market. This bike is durable, lightweight and saves your wallet from the blown up price tags you will find on carbon fiber 27.5 mountain bikes with full Shimano components. Even if you are a road cyclist just looking for cross training, this is the perfect bike. Great performance. Low cost.

Get your season off to the right start. The money you save on this bike is money that can be put towards your race entry fees, your post race trip to Starbucks or a nice vacation for you and your friends or family. The ride quality from this bike is the best you will find for the money and will have you owning the trails on the way to your next win in no time.

Stradalli - Bike Aid Gears Up For La Tropicale Amissa Bongo

The beginning of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo is closing in. January 18, 2016 the UCI 2.1 status race features some of the best teams in the world. More importantly it is the most prestigious race in Africa and it is the first race on the calendar for Stradalli-Bike Aid.

         For the 10th straight year the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo will be held in Gabon, Africa.  This race consists of 7 stages. 3 stages that will take the riders on a tour through the hillier parts of Eastern Gabon. 1 stage is an individual time trial and the rest of the stages will be held near the flat coastline of West Gabon.

          Competing with Stradalli-Bike Aid for the race are teams representing countries from each region of Africa as well as Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team.

          La Tropicale Amissa Bongo is one of the few races during the season that amateur African cycling teams have the chance to race with professional teams who race a full UCI calendar. The race focuses on developing African cycling, which makes it a large target for Stradalli-Bike Aid.

          Timo Schafer, team leader for Stradalli-Bike Aid, said La Tropicale Amissa Bongo is the perfect place to begin the season and debut the new racing team.

          “This was the most successful and exciting off season in team history between training in the United States and all around Europe, the new racers we have added to the team and the new sponsorship with Stradalli Cycle. Having the support of a great sponsor makes you even more optimistic about the upcoming season and we are excited to see what the new members of the team can do as well. Now we get to go to Gabon, Africa to show how serious we are about our mission to develop African cycling.” Schafer said.

          Stradalli - Bike Aid has had several success stories including Mekseb Debesay, a Eritrean professional cyclist. Dimension Data, UCI World Tour Professional Team, bought Debesay from Stradalli-Bike Aid because of his performances over the course of 2015. Debesay is just one success story of the Stradalli-Bike Aid team and Dimension Data are not the only major players who have noticed.

          Matthias Schnapka, professional rider for Stradalli-Bike Aid, feels that the new sponsorship which includes Aversa full carbon road bikes, is going to make a big difference for the upcoming season.

          “We have been training with our new bikes for a couple of months and they are fantastic. Every pro cyclist in the world will tell you about the importance of having reliable equipment when competing at such a high level. I know I speak for the whole team when I say the support from FSA - Full Speed Ahead has been outstanding. I can say the same for Prologo Seats. Having these big companies like those go out of their way to support us is very special.” Schnapka said.

          

Stradalli Cycle – Bike Aid Add 2016 Rio Olympics Bound Janvier Hadi To Roster

If you were curious whether the Stradalli Cycle – Bike Aid Conti Team from Germany would be lacking depth and talent for the upcoming UCI racing season due to the loss of Mekseb Debesay who signed with the Dimension Data World Tour Team last month. Well there is nothing to be concerned about as the team has rounded out its field of African riders with Janvier Hadi who will be representing Rwanda in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero and the 2015 Tour of Rwanda winner Jean Bosco Nsengimana.

“When Mekseb left there was a gap but we knew there was an abundance of talent waiting for an opportunity.  There are world-class athletes looking for a chance to race in Europe. We have guys who are going to the Olympics and are winning the Tour of Rwanda yet they have a hard time getting on a conti team. That doesn’t make any sense and it shows why the Stradalli Cycle – Bike Aid cause is so important. It gives these outstanding cyclists the chance to compete at the top levels of cycling.” Stradalli Cycle CEO Tom Steinbacher

The story of Hadi and Nsengimana is truly inspirational as they come from Rwanda, a country devastated by genocide, poverty and war. While many wonderful charities have sent food, money, medicine and other methods of assistance there is one thing that is desperately needed as well, opportunity. The people of Africa are in desperate need of a chance to better their lives and that is what the goal of Bike Aid is all about, giving young African cyclists the chance at a better life.

“For years if you won a big race in Africa it was nice but it didn’t mean you would even get an interview with a conti team because of the cost it requires to get you into Europe to race. We are changing that but we haven’t reached our goal yet. If our roster has 1 or 2 success stories this year there are people who would think that we succeeded. We want multiple success stories each year to show continued progress and this year we are proud to announce we will have 6 riders from Africa on the roster. That is a huge leap forward for us and we are excited about the progress we are making in such a short period of time.” Eric Haus (Founder and CEO of Bike Aid)