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Toolbox: Beat the Heat - With Your Brain
We have just passed the summer solstice and most of us in the northern hemisphere are facing long and hot days on the bike. There are lots of ways to improve our physical capacity in hot conditions, but can we improve our riding through improving our psychological response to heat stress?
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Equipment Nostalgia - The Clothes We Would Rather Forget!
Retro Clothing Feature: After taking a close look at the bike equipment of the past, Ed Hood turns his eye on the clothing we tolerated back in the day. The Continental riders could turn just about anything into sartorial elegance - the rest of us looked and felt terrible. Don't live in the past.
EUROTRASH News Round Up Monday!
June 26, 2017 - National championships weekend; all the news, reports, results, quotes and video. Eddy Merckx Cycles saved-Top Story. Other cycling news: Trek-Segafredo, Astana and Lotto Soudal announce Tour teams, Dimension Data app, Valverde talks Tour, Monk to stagiaire, Bahrain-Merida up-date and Sunweb Tour video.
The “Route Du Tour” Label On The Col D’Izoard
Tour de France 2017: With less than a week to go to the Tour de France 'Grand Départ' in Düsseldorf; ASO have taken a close look at the mythical climb of the Col d'Izoard with its lunar landscape. On the 20th of July, the 18th stage of the 2017 Tour will finish on the summit of the Col d’Izoard for the first time.
Top Grand Tour Sausages!
This time next week - Saturday the 1st of July - the 2017 Tour de France will set off from Düsseldorf in Germany for the three week wheeled battle. As the 'Vaterland' is the home of some of the best sausages in the World, we look back at the Pez Grand Tour appreciation of the sausage.
Hein Verbruggen: Constructive And Controversial Legacy
The passing of Hein Verbruggen on the 14th June went without much ceremony, with barely more than a mention in even the Dutch press. The ex-UCI president was a controversial character and less than popular in many circles. Joe Harris and Steve Maxwell of The Outer Line had a long interview with Verbruggen.
BMC's Silvan Dillier Talks Route Du Sud Win!
Rider Interview: Giro d'Italia stage winner Silvan Dillier has taken his winning ways a step further with the overall victory in the Route du Sud in France last weekend. Ed Hood has the exclusive chat from the multi-talented Swiss rider.
Daily Distractions
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PeloPics
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Tech N Spec
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Castelli Perfetto Light Jersey Review
With each piece of gear I test or review, there's usually a eureka moment where I "get it".  For Castelli's Perfetto Light jersey, mine came at the Cyclosportif Megeve in France - on an overcast day in the French Alps where rain came and went.
American Classic ARGENT DISC Wheels Review
The popularity of mixed terrain riding coincides nicely with a slew of new disc brake equipped wheel options designed to offer you a one-stop solution to any mix of road and trail you might care to ride. The American Classic Argent series may be among the most versatile, so let’s put them to the test…
Primal QX5 Inertia Jersey & Bibs Review
For 25 years now, you might know Denver-based Primal better as the kit supplier to large-scale charity rides across the US, you've likely seen their top level race kit at all of the top US races too. Their Inertia QX5 kit sets the bar as part of the top-line Helix Race Collection - here's a closer look.
Devinci Hatchet All Road Bike Tested!
Do you remember the joy of that first bike as a kid? That wonderful feeling of freedom as the world opened up before you? That has pretty much been how I felt each time I have pointed the Hatchet, Devinci’s new entry into the All Road/Gravel category, down a new road or trail I’ve yet to explore.
Feedback Sports SPRINT Workstand Review
You know a piece of gear is good when it's the choice of top level pro teams like Trek-Segafredo & Lotto-Soudal.  And FeedbackSports.com Sprint workstand is one item that works at the pro level and can work at your level too - since you can buy the very same work stand for your own workshop.
Tech Tidbits: New Gear at Sea Otter '17
Hands on with FSA’s WE Group, Velo’s new Angels, Topeak’s Ninjas and Swing-Up stand, Vittoria’s Terreno Dry Gravel tire, Hiplok’s Z Lok and AirLok, Elite’s Fly bottle and Vico Cage.
Race News
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Tour of America’s Dairyland 2017 St.7
Lizzie Williams (Hagens Berman - Supermint) rolled away from a small breakaway on the third lap and never looked back to take her third win of the Tour of America’s Dairyland at Port Washington.
Tour of America’s Dairyland 2017 St.5
Stage 5: Downtown West Bend Concourse: Overall series leader Josie Talbott (ISCorp p/b Progress) won a thrilling sprint finish on a wet, slick course in West Bend for the fifth stage of the Tour of America’s Dairyland.
Tour of America's Dairyland 2017 St.4
Carl Zach Cycling Classic: Skylar Schneider (ISCorp p/b Progress) won a close two-up spring over Aussie track cyclist Rebecca Wiasek (Fearless Femmes) in Women Pro1/2 in stage 4 at the Tour of America’s Dairyland Carl Zach Cycling Classic in Waukesha, WI.
Toolbox
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Toolbox: Beat the Heat - With Your Brain
We have just passed the summer solstice and most of us in the northern hemisphere are facing long and hot days on the bike. There are lots of ways to improve our physical capacity in hot conditions, but can we improve our riding through improving our psychological response to heat stress?
Toolbox: Know What You Are Using
It's the rider's responsibility to know what products they can use within - and outside of the rules. USA Cycling hosts several “Talent Identification Camps” each year for riders ages 14-19 years. Athletes are exposed to skills, tactics, and power testing, but perhaps the most important presentation is from USADA - the U.S. Anti Doping Agency.
Toolbox: Training Priorities
It’s easy to become enamoured with the latest piece of training advice, or the new gadget adorning your team-mates machine, but which aspects of your training are the most important according to the evidence?
Toolbox: Building VO2max Capacity
Cycling is an aerobic sport. Sure, it’s nice to have a strong sprint, but climbing with the pack, riding in the break, and getting to the finish line with the leaders are all crucial to success. How do we go about building the aerobic engine and VO2max beyond simple “endurance” rides?
Features
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Equipment Nostalgia - The Clothes We Would Rather Forget!
Retro Clothing Feature: After taking a close look at the bike equipment of the past, Ed Hood turns his eye on the clothing we tolerated back in the day. The Continental riders could turn just about anything into sartorial elegance - the rest of us looked and felt terrible. Don't live in the past.
The “Route Du Tour” Label On The Col D’Izoard
Tour de France 2017: With less than a week to go to the Tour de France 'Grand Départ' in Düsseldorf; ASO have taken a close look at the mythical climb of the Col d'Izoard with its lunar landscape. On the 20th of July, the 18th stage of the 2017 Tour will finish on the summit of the Col d’Izoard for the first time.
Hein Verbruggen: Constructive And Controversial Legacy
The passing of Hein Verbruggen on the 14th June went without much ceremony, with barely more than a mention in even the Dutch press. The ex-UCI president was a controversial character and less than popular in many circles. Joe Harris and Steve Maxwell of The Outer Line had a long interview with Verbruggen.
Pez Videos
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USA Cycling Pro Road Championships - Live Stream
The USA Cycling Pro Road & Time Trial National Championships will be held for the first time in Knoxville on June 24-25. You can watch the road races live here on PEZ on Sunday the 25th of June. Also see the rider start list here.
Rapha Rides Seattle: "you don't know what you don't know..."
Until this one, the San Francisco Rapha Rides video was my favorite, but I'm really digging the moody vibe Seattle is bringing on the latest edit, as narrated by Rapha Continental rider Aaron Erbeck.
What's On PEZ: Arundel Bike's 'Shameless Plug' Plug
June 19-25, 2017 - My first look at Arundel Bike's SHAMELESS PLUG, a cool mini-tool that plugs for your bar ends, and holds three bits plus a philips head screwdriver - great for emergency repairs. Also Ed's look at the gear we used to use, Toolbox covers riders' responsibilities for what goes into your own body, TOAD'17 daily pics, results and race reports.
NewsWire
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Victory in German and Swiss National Road Races
The Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling Team’s dream season continued today after winning two national road titles in Germany and Switzerland. Lisa Klein was confirmed the winner in the sprint in Germany after a photo finish while Nicole Hanselmann out-sprinted a group of six riders to win her title.
Reis storms home for 2nd in Portuguese TT Championships
Rafael Reis claimed his best result of the season today when he finished 2nd in the Portuguese National time-trial championships in Santa Maria Da Feira.
Preview Belgian Championships with Herman Frison and Lotte Kopecky
Next Sunday the road race at the Belgian Championships takes place. The course in Antwerp is seventeen kilometres long. The women need to cover six laps (= 102 kilometres) and already start at eight o’clock.
Sixteen UAE Team Emirates’s Riders in National Championships
On Friday 23rd June and on Sunday 25th June, 16 riders from UAE Team Emirates will pedal on their Colnago bikes in the national championships in 4 Countries.
Interviews
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BMC's Silvan Dillier Talks Route Du Sud Win!
Rider Interview: Giro d'Italia stage winner Silvan Dillier has taken his winning ways a step further with the overall victory in the Route du Sud in France last weekend. Ed Hood has the exclusive chat from the multi-talented Swiss rider.
LottoNl-Jumbo's Alexey Vermeulen Talks Dauphiné
Rider Interview: The 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné was one of the toughest, but a young LottoNl-Jumbo team came away with the KOM jersey and a stage win. Alexey Vermeulen played his part in helping the dutch team add to its growing palmarès. We caught up with the young man at home in Girona, Spain right after the race.
Rás Winner James Gullen Gets PEZ'd!
Rider Interview: The Irish stage race, the An Post Rás is a tough race. Not just because of the terrain and the weather, but due to the tough riders who battle it out in the Emerald Isle. The most recent winner was JLT-Condor's James Gullen, Ed Hood caught up with the victor not long after the final stage.
Readers' Rigs
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Readers' Rigs: Falco Custom Ti
Many of us ride Chinese made bikes but not many of us actually bought them in China like today's Reader, Phillip from Australia did. Whilst working and living in Shanghai Phillip decided to get himself a custom titanium 'Falco' that he now is enjoying back home on the country roads of Victoria, Australia.
Readers' Rigs: Calfee MantaFly 101
Today's Readers' Rig is a totally custom rear suspension Calfee MantaFly 101 owned by PEZ fan Andrew. Individual colors, Durace Di2, a selection of nice wheels to choose from and plenty of custom touches means Andrew and his Calfee get plenty of attention on his home roads of Colorado.
Readers' Rigs: Alumni Returns
Since the Readers' Rigs column first came to life in 2012 we've published more than 60 bikes from PEZ fans all around the world. But it was PEZ-Fan Todd from California who first applied with his then favorite Parlee bike. Since then, his collection has grown by almost 20 more bikes - here's an update on this impressive stable.
Travel
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Top Grand Tour Sausages!
This time next week - Saturday the 1st of July - the 2017 Tour de France will set off from Düsseldorf in Germany for the three week wheeled battle. As the 'Vaterland' is the home of some of the best sausages in the World, we look back at the Pez Grand Tour appreciation of the sausage.
PEZ Rides the Col Du Glandon
TOP RIDE: Inside the last 3km to the summit of the 21.5km Col du Glandon, the air gets thin as we approach 1924m elevation, the road tilts to 11% grades, and each meter seems longer than the last one. There's a reason they call this one 'Hors Category'.
Ride London With Sports Tours International
Prudential RideLondon is the world’s greatest festival of cycling, taking place on the 28-30 July 2017.  Created as a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games to inspire more people to take up cycling and showcase London and Surrey, if offers seven different cycling events to participate in or watch over the three day festival.
Back to Barolino: Marco's Negroni
Negroni Week on PEZ wouldn't be complete without homage to a true maestro of mixology. I speak only of Marco - proprietor of the legendary Barolino in Levanto Italy. I vowed after first discovering his bar at the 2009 Giro to return one day with Mrs. Pez - and order two of Marco's best Negronis.
Eurotrash
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EUROTRASH News Round Up Monday!
June 26, 2017 - National championships weekend; all the news, reports, results, quotes and video. Eddy Merckx Cycles saved-Top Story. Other cycling news: Trek-Segafredo, Astana and Lotto Soudal announce Tour teams, Dimension Data app, Valverde talks Tour, Monk to stagiaire, Bahrain-Merida up-date and Sunweb Tour video.
EUROTRASH News Round Up Thursday!
June 22, 2017 - National champs week and Tom Dumoulin retakes his Dutch TT title. Team previews for the weekend and we look forward to the Tours de France and Pologne. UCI presidency battle-TOP STORY. Other cycling news: Skujins returns, Deutschland Tour, Hammer to Norway, Vuelta song and Bahrain-Merida Giro video.
EUROTRASH News Round Up Monday!
June 19, 2017 - Rafal Majka showed his form in Slovenia, outside bet for the Tour de France? All the news from the Tours of Suisse, Ster ZLM and Slovenia with reports and video. No names from Operacion Puerto-TOP STORY. Other cycling news: Lotto Soudal Up-date, Backaert extends with Wanty and Peter Sagan climbs a fence.