Im guessing Lance will be ok and you can bet a fresh pair of shoes and cleats were ready to go.

Makes you wonder if they have a pair already broke in or if  they anticipate needing to switch out foot gear in the middle of a race? I searched around google images looking for a shot of the crash and very few are available and it’s impossible to find a cracked cleat shot. They must treat his shoes like drug tests… hush hush.

So what does a former Tour champion lace up after a tough day of cobblestones and crashes? Some sweet custom Nike kicks of course!  Apparently these are Team Radio Shack shoes made for Lance and Co by Nike. I like the high tech gray and red motive and the red eyelets look great. The soles almost put  these over the top for me, but Im sure I could get used to them

And, what a difference it makes. having a good pedal-shoe-cleat system that is working properly can change your ride experience from a tolerable one to an enjoyable one. I have let go of  trying to know how everything works and every detail of technology. I depend more and more on my local shop and mechanics. It’s not the mechanics fault that I grabbed the wrong cleats off the shelf. It’s mine. It’s a good idea to read the instructions or at least bring your bike or shoes with you and get the right part the first time. That way you can spend more time enjoying your ride .
I recommend the Speedplay Zero pedals, easy to get in and out when you want (as long as you have the right clips), float adjustment, light weight and low maintenance. Read more about them here >

The Minnaar’s will feature the same Stealth Rubber soles that make FiveTen sought after. This legendary sole is wicked popular among gravity riders. But Minnaar’s will be for riders who want to ride clipped-in with SPD’s. With the sticky sole you’ll be able to find the pedal and bang-in to the clips smoothly. The Sam Hill Monster shoes also have the S1 version of the sole without SPD compatibility.

The sole is not particularly flexible, but feedback is positive enough to know where you are on the pedals, and power transfer solidly delivers without energy loss.

FiveTen could have featured both Minnaar’s and Sam Hill’s name more prominently but a lot of racers in the Pro field want to ride them so they pulled back only printing his name on the back of the shoe near the ankle.

The Sam Hill Monster shoes are available now, and the Greg Minnaar Clipless Shoes will be hitting stores in late Spring in the middle of May 2010.

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Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis/Rocky Mountain) adjusts himself to the race conditions

FONTANA, CA – The US National Mountain Bike Race Series kicked off in Southern California this weekend just an hour and a half outside Los Angeles in the industrial belly of Fontana, California. The Spring weather sunny and clear… but windy. The temperatures actually got above eighty degrees by race start time but the wind played a more major race factor blowing sand all over the course and into racer’s teeth. Some of the elite women were even blown off their bikes on the steep sandy climbs.

The wind was blustery enough to give Canadian racer Geoff Kabush a surprising slap in the face while he was trying to chill-lax pre-race outside his custom U-Haul trailer that acts as his team rig for Team Maxxis/Rocky Mountain. The experience left sand all the way from his lawn-chair to his sandals.

Upon getting up close and personal with a gail-forced dust devil he exclaimed, “I’ve been getting that from time to time all morning.” Kabush concluded that the wind might actually groom loose sand from the sketcher portions of the tail, “the corners might get a little more sticky,” he noted. Kabush was looking to win in Fontana for a fifth-consecutive year.

The wind gave it’s biggest due to the women sending their more petite frames scattered across the course. “I got blown off my bike on that one climb,” Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary reported after finishing third in her Shimano WM80’s.

Lene Byberg (Nor) racing for Specialized won the women’s field handily by over a minute. After the race she had a slight scratch above her left ankle but her Specialized Women’s BG Pro MTB Shoes looked unscathed.

From an overall footwear standpoint at this National level of Elite Pro Racing there were two surprises. One being how many feet Bontrager RLX race shoes were supporting, by far the most dominating shoe in both men’s and women’s Pro fields. Probably because Trek and Gary Fisher continue to be devoted to mountain bike racing in the US and sponsorships go further than just bike frames and jerseys.

There was also a surprising lack of Sidi shoes on Pro feet at this US National. While Sidi is currently the most popular shoemaker sold in the US, they aren’t appearing on Pro feet as much. So much so that you have to hunt to find them.

As the afternoon developed the wind subsided and the Elite Pro Men were called to the line. All the North American stars were in attendance including Jeremy Hogan-Kobelski, Ryan Trebon, Sid Taberlay, Todd Wells, Geoff Kabush, Eric Batty, Carl Decker, Barry Wicks and legendary veteran Tinker Juarez.

Just before staging I spied a sweet looking pair of Specialized S-Works on Todd Wells’ feet. I asked him if they were brand new but he confirmed that they were already three races old. Even though he was about to be called to the starting line he took time to explain how much he was enjoying his light-weight shoes and how easy they were to clean and keep their fresh look.

I asked Todd what size he wore. “I think they’re a 44,” he replied. Funny, I didn’t expect him to not be sure about his shoe size but he knew he was number one when he capped off his day with a big win.

It was a big day for Specialized and their shoes, both enjoying victories in the women’s and men’s elite races.

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US Pro XCT #1, Fontana, CA March 27, 2010

Men’s Results

Women’s Results

First they gave Twitter the figurative bird with a special sock that asked “who gives a f***?” on the instep.

Then their other pair honored the artwork of Hawaiian tattoo legend Sailor Jerry and his spiced rum. Wearing these socks are the ultimate chance to give your riding buddy a little FU on the final climb when you pass him and offer this “Aloha.” The socks are still white but hardcore enough for a little pre-ride posturing at any club ride lineup.

This isn’t the first time Sockguy has been known for hilariously commenting on cycling and society, their Dr. Fuentes classic would still be worthy of mainstream production. But unfortunately these special edition socks only show up once a year for insiders only and won’t be found for sale anywhere except in a lucky search on eBay.

Still, these socks are an example of Sockguy’s comfort and craftsmanship. A pair of Sockguy socks will keep your feet super cozy and cranking for years. Their crew socks like the Sailor Jerry’s wick away moisture keeping feet dry even when the heat is on. They are knit to eliminate wrinkles and hot spots so they feel as good as they fit. Besides a little more cuff up the leg is sometimes more fashionable and fun instead of common cycling sock. They are also a little warmer for early mornings and cooler temperatures.

Plus these socks are all examples of Sockguy’s ability to create a custom look for any shop or team kit. But Sockguy makes a wide range of colorful and fun footwear. With so many sock designs to choose from you’ll be sure to find a favorite style. Their socks come in two sizes and all Sockguy socks are made in the USA.

Sizes: S/M, L/XL
Price: $9.95

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The new service allows you to map turn by turn cycling directions, see the trails and bike lanes directly on the map, and drag and drop points to customize your route. Now you can avoid congested streets and large climbs on your commute. Check out this detailed video of the features. Happy Riding.

“Every ride starts with those slow steps to the bike – even for Tom Boonen and Co. The only difference? Tom Boonen has World Champ socks. Perhaps Optimus Prime is good for the legs.”

Made in Biella, Italy by Vittoria.
Available from in white, black, red, yellow, and blue colors.

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