RYAN TREBON JOINS THE ABBC: HC!!!

Mountain bike and cyclocross star Ryan Trebon, who just captured the Short Track National Championship will join the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on September 4. To join Ryan in making a difference visit http://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/.

More information coming.

SoCal Training Ride this Wednesday and every Wednesday from here on out.

Join the Women's Cycling Challenge for women's specific training ROAD rides departing from InCycle – Pasadena every Wednesday evening beginning 7/25 and departing promptly at 6:00pm during daylight savings time.

Ride: Pasadena and surrounding areas. Ride varies each week and will cover different riding aspects as we train for the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle or if you simply want to improve your cycling… PLEASE JOIN US!

When: Every Wednesday starting on 7/25 and will start promptly at 6:00pm for approximately 1.5 hours. ** Meet at InCycle Pasadena (Green Street Parking lot).

Where: All training rides will depart from InCycle Pasadena.

**Helmets required. Bring plenty of water, spare tube/tire kit for quick repairs.

Lots of fun events can be found at: www.WomensCyclingChallenge.org
Questions: Contact - Dorothy Wong - 626/797-8950

InCycle Pasadena
E. Colorado Blvd #1
Pasadena, Ca 91106
Cannondale Test Ride Station- Full Service Repair Shop Ladies Only 10% Discount for all WCC Ride Participants!!!

Your thoughts on the Tour

Did it seem like they were going to bust a different contender each day?

Was it the best Tour de France ever?

Who looked like a star of the future?

Favorite team?

Best stage?

Who was the star of this year's Tour de France?

Are you more likely, less likely, not at all likely, very likely or have no opinion toward obtaining your own homologous blood transfusion?

Let us know!

Riders - reserve your transportation today

Please take a minute to fill out this form to reserve your transportation options. The following is the schedule of available options.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7* - Best Buddies is offering a shuttle for rider coming from Southern California. The shuttle will depart from the Hearst Beach parking area in San Simeon, located directly across Highway One from the Hearst Castle, (overnight, secure parking is provided) at 12:00 PM going directly to Carmel where riders will have an opportunity to register. This shuttle will then depart to Monterey making one stop at the Casa Munras and Travelodge Hotel (please visit our Lodging page for hotel contact information) all riders taking this shuttle should make plans to stay at one of the above hotels. We will also have a shuttle that picks these riders up at 4:45 AM on Saturday and brings them to the start line.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 - In addition to the traditional 9:00 PM, post party shuttle back to the 15 and 100-mile Start Lines, Best Buddies has added a 5:30 PM return shuttle* to both the 15 and 100-mile Start Lines. Please note that the 5:30 shuttle does NOT allow any time to attend the post-ride BBQ and concert.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 - Just as in the past Best Buddies will have a 1:00 PM shuttle back to the 15 and 100-mile Start Lines.

*Both the Friday Shuttle and Saturday's 5:30 PM shuttle have limited availability and will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

SoCal Training Ride - Saturday, July 28

The SCNA Women's Cycling Challenge is holding a Training Ride and cycling clinic this Saturday, July 28.


The event, held in conjunction with Jax Bicycle Center and Best Buddies will be held at the Jax Bicycle Center in Long Beach at 3000 Bellflower Boulevard. It will feature a 8:00 am Ladies Ride (Beginner & Moderate Paced) followed by a 10:30am continental Breakfast & Tech Tips Clinic that will cover topics such as how to fix flats fast, bike check 101, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle and women specific training tips from Carmichael Training Systems. Special guests include Paramount Racing Women’s Team. Afterward there will be a benefit drawing and silent auction.

Sponsors of the ride and clinic include Jax Bicycle Center, Best Buddies, ClifBar, Carmichael Training Systems, Detroit Coffee and Kool n' Fit Sport.

All levels of riders are encouraged to attend and helmets required. Bring a friend and be automatically entered into our grand prize drawing!


Hope to see you SoCal riders there!


Contact Dorothy for more information.

What a day

Quite the Tuesday--Alexander Vinokourov and Lindsay Lohan were both busted earlier today.

Tour officials revealed this morning that the 31-year-old Kazakh's blood test, taken after his victory in stage 13's time trial, revealed signs of homologous blood transfusion. Vinokourov and his team, Astana, were promptly ejected from the Tour in yet another sad recent chapter in the cycling the world.

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Los Angeles Police Department announced earlier this morning that Lindsay Lohan, and actress from movies such as "Mean Girls" and the upcoming "I Know Who Killed Me" was arrested early this morning and charged DUI and possession of drugs. She was released earlier today on $25,000 bail in yet another obvious chapter in the celebrity world.

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ABBC: HC calendar

Get on our , and keep up to date on training rides and other important dates for the 2007 ABBC: HC.

Merckx update, shoddy tactics by Astana

In today's stage 11, Axel finished with the second group 3 minutes and 20 seconds down on stage winner Robbie Hunter as the peleton was split by echelons some 50 miles out from the line. He's now in 75th place, 58 minutes and 59 seconds behind yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen who comfortably finished in the front group.

The big loser today was Frenchman Christophe Moreau of AG2R. Moreau, who in June won the prestigious Dauphine Libere had been displaying some excellent form and was a clear favorite for the overall. It was Moreau who lit up the race in stage 8, repeatedly attacking the leaders on the final climb only to be chased down by Alejandro Valverde of Caisse Espagne and Cadel Evans of Predictor-Lotto.

The big victim of Moreau's relentless attacks on stage 8 was race favorite Alexander Vinikourov who was the victim of a crash earlier in the week that left him bruised and bandaged.

Earlier in today's stage Moreau tangled with one of his own AG2R teammates and was at the back of the field being attended to by the doctor's car when Astana, the Kazakhstan rider Vininkourov's team, lit up the front and split the field. Astana continued to drive the pace and were soon joined by the likes of Discovery. By the end of the stage Moreau, along with CSC co-leader Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, had lost over 3 minutes and he tumbled down the standings to 14th place, 6 minutes and 38 seconds back.

As fellow Kazkah Borat might say "Very nice.....NOT!!"

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What do you think, were Astana's tatics fair? Do they need be fair? Let us know by Commenting here.

Update on T-Mobile Training Ride - Saturday, July 28

Here are all the details for the T-Mobile get together/ training ride from Michael Edwards. Remember all are welcome.

NOTE: START TIME CHANGE
Remember this is not a race, just training. Ride at your own pace.

We’ll meet at the Orinda Bart Station (www.bart.org) around 8:30am for an 8:45 start time.

This route is about half the distance (49miles) and over half the climbing (3500+) of the Best Buddies 100m route. THIS IS NOT A FLAT RIDE.

Be sure to bring the following:
- Spare tube and/or patch kit
- Bike Pump
- Helmet
- Water
- Snacks i.e. Banana, Bar, Gels or whatever.

All are welcome.

Also, on Saturday August 4th, the Marin Cyclist is having their annual Marin Century Ride. If you’ve never done a large organized ride before, here’s a good on to start with http://www.sextonarts.com/marincentury/ . It has different routes for different experience levels.

Comment or Email DylanTaylor@BestBuddies.org for Route guide and more info.

Merckx and T-Mobile Update

In the wake of team leader Michael Rogers loss and the inexperience of the talented youngster Linus Gerdemann, Axel has taken over as captain of the T-Mobile.

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Axel finished stage 10 comfortably and now sits in 73rd place, 55' 39" back of yellow jersey Michael Rasmussen of the Rabobank team.

In other T-Mobile news is was announced this morning that German rider Patrick Sinkewitz falied an out of competition doping test. The test was taken June 8 during a T-Mobile training camp. Sinkewitz's A sample returned a raised testosterone level. He was immediately suspended indefinitely by T-Mobile. Sinkewitz was already out of the Tour having collided with a spectator following Sunday's stage 8.

While this is undoubtedly more bad news for T-Mobile, having lost captain Rogers to a crash while he was virtually leading the Tour, it's even worse for German cycling fans. The country's TV networks have suspended their coverage of the Tour, making good on a threat they'd voiced at the beginning of the race.

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