Vos Wins CX World Cup #6!

26th December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

In just her second World Cup start of this 2012-13 cyclocross season, defending world champion Marianne Vos made it all the way to the top step of the podium. Racing a special midweek race in Zolder, Belgium, on Wednesday, the day after Christmas, the Rabobank rider piloted her Giant TCX Advanced SL to a convincing win, proving she’s right on track for her goal of collecting yet another world title at the 2013 Cyclocross World Championships in January.

Vos was joined in the top-10 by her Rabobank teammate Pauline Ferrand Prevot of France, who finished eighth. And in the elite men’s race, Lars van der Haar had another consistent top-10 performance, finishing eighth and holding his sixth-place overall World Cup standing.

Three days ago Vos lined up for her first World Cup race of the season, round 5 in Namur, Belgium. And despite crashing three times in the mud of Namur, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in road racing still finished third behind American Katie Compton. This time the tables were turned, as Compton crashed several times on the sandy course in Zolder. Vos, meanwhile, led from start to finish, saying afterward that her confidence is building for the upcoming worlds in Louisville, Kentucky.

Van der Heijden Wins CX World Cup #5!

23rd December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Led by Michiel van der Heijden’s win in the men's Under-23 race, Rabobank-Giant riders had a solid showing at Sunday’s World Cup cyclocross race in Namur, Belgium. Also making the podium was current women’s world champion Marianne Vos, who finished third in the elite women’s race.

Van der Heijden rode his Giant TCX Advanced SL to the win on a wet, slippery course in Namur. The course, which passes by the citadel of Namur, is one of the most difficult on the World Cup circuit.

In the women’s race, Vos was making her World Cup debut this season. After a long road racing season, she is racing just a handful of ’cross events. She fell twice on the muddy course but still managed to finish third. Her teammate, Sanne van Paassen, finished sixth to hold her overall ranking of second.

Later in the day, Lars van der Haar battled his way to eighth place in the elite men’s race on his TCX Advanced SL. The two-time Under-23 world champion is racing his first year as an elite and is currently sixth overall after five rounds. Van der Haar's teammate Niels Wubben finished 10th in the elite men's race Sunday, and is now 15th overall in the World Cup.

The World Cup series continues this Wednesday, with Round 6 in Zolder, Belgium.

Happy Christmas from Giant!

21st December 2012 - filed under Giant

Thanks to everyone who has made Giant's 40th year a special one and thank you to all our friends and followers at www.facebook.com/giantuk and www.twitter.com/giantuk for joining in the fun.

We've got lots of exciting plans for 2013, with exciting new teams and riders, Real Riders and other great competitions and promotions, events - more news coming in the New Year - we can tell you this: it's going to be epic!

Happy Christmas from everyone here at Giant - come and join us for the ride in 2013.

Ride Life. Ride Giant.

Giant Factory Team Expands for 2013!

20th December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

With a former World Champion, a U.S. Olympian and multiple national champions in every off-road discipline—from World Cup downhill to enduro and XC events—the Giant Factory Off-Road Team is looking toward one of its most exciting seasons yet in 2013.

Returning to lead the DH squad next season is 2011 World Champion Danny Hart. The 21-year-old Brit is looking forward to picking up where he left off after an injury cut his 2012 season short last summer. Hart scored three podium finishes and was fourth overall in the 2012 World Cup when a separated shoulder forced him to miss the final two World Cups and the World Championships.

“I was disappointed to miss some races last year, but that’s giving me more motivation this winter,” Hart said. “I can’t wait till that World Cup opener on my home turf in the U.K. I’ll be fired up and ready to go.”

Joining Hart on the DH roster is returning Giant rider Andrew Neethling of South Africa. Neethling rode consistently well in 2012 with four top-10 finishes and a 12th-place overall.

New to the DH squad this year is 22-year-old Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas, a four-time elite national champion in Colombia who finished 10th at the 2012 DH World Championships in Austria.

On the enduro/XC side, longtime Giant rider Adam Craig is making the jump from the Rabobank-Giant team (now the Giant Pro XC Team), which focuses on World Cup XC racing, to the Giant Factory Off-Road Team. Craig, who won the 2012 U.S. Super D title on his Trance X 29er, is looking forward to a greater focus on enduro racing in 2013.

“I have a pretty sweet schedule lined up, pretty much hitting all the most interesting races out there,” Craig said. “Enduros, XC, all the types of events that most riders are stoked about these days.”

Craig will be joined by fellow Oregon resident Carl Decker, the three-time defending champion of the Downieville All-Mountain World Championship, as well as Kelli Emmett, the current U.S. women’s Super D national champion. And Australian Josh Carlson, a breakout talent on the enduro-racing scene last year, rounds out the enduro/XC arm of the 2013 team.

“This is a group of riders that’s fun to watch,” said Giant Global Marketing Director An Le. “They’re champion racers, but they’re also just amazing mountain bikers period. Our XC racers are ripping downhillers, and our downhillers train with power meters. Their versatility and style reflects the progression of mountain biking, as well as the bikes and gear we develop for the everyday rider.”

Once again, the team has a variety of Giant bikes in its arsenal, covering every type of course and all types of terrain—from lightweight composite hardtails to full-suspension XC, enduro and DH bikes.

For World Cup downhill and gravity events, riders will compete with the Giant Glory and Reign X. Enduro and cross-country riders will start the season on Anthem X Advanced 29er and Trance X 29er bikes, as well as XtC Advanced SL 29er hardtails. And as always, Factory Team riders will be involved in the development of new bikes and technologies, including prototype racing machines, throughout the season.

All Factory Team bikes will be “Powered by SRAM” featuring the latest cutting edge components including SRAM drivetrains, Truvativ componentry, Avid brakes and RockShox suspension. Other sponsors include DT Swiss wheelsets and Schwalbe tires. Fox Head will supply apparel for gravity and enduro events, and DNA Cycling will supply XC race kits.

For photos, videos, news and other inside information on the Giant Factory Off-Road Team, follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/giantfactoryteam.

2013 Giant Factory Off-Road Team
Josh Carlson (Australia), Enduro, XC
Adam Craig (USA), Enduro, XC
Carl Decker (USA), Enduro, XC, Marathon
Kelli Emmett (USA), Enduro, XC, Marathon
Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Colombia) DH
Danny Hart (Great Britain) DH
Andrew Neethling (South Africa) DH

Team Sponsors
SRAM drivetrain
Truvativ cockpit
Avid brakes
RockShox suspension
Schwalbe tires
DT Swiss wheelsets
Fox Head apparel
Contour cameras
DNA XC race kit
MRP chain guide
Fizik saddle
Crank Brothers pedals
ODI grips
Honey Stinger nutrition
Park tools
Finish line lubrication
Thule racks
NoTubes.com tubeless technology

Giant Guide: Computers, sensors and training apps

19th December 2012 - filed under Product

Cadence, heart rate, speed, distance – there are a whole lot of stats that you can track to keep an eye on your performance – during the ride and as part of a training programme – a quick search on Google for ‘cadence training’ brings up countless articles for improving performance. We were recently asked at www.Facebook.com/GiantUK how an iPhone could be linked up with Giant RideSense, which got us thinking that this same info would be useful to share with our website users;

Giant ANT+ compatible computers;
Giant Neos ANT+ computer is compatible with any ANT+ device (ANT+ is a standard connection which uses 2.4GHz frequency – you’ll find it across a range of devices making them compatible across brands) – click here for a full feature list for the Giant Neos ANT+ including the ability to track heart rate by purchasing the Giant ANT+ Heart Rate Belt.

Giant Neos Pro computer is also compatible with any ANT+ device – with some added features over the Neos ANT+ including altitude and the ability to link your Neos Pro computer to your PC using the PC Dock – you can then down load Giant’s free RideSync software to manage your own training programme.

RideSense – Giant’s neat ANT+ sensor solution;
RideSense is Giant’s neat solution for sending cadence (how fast your cranks are rotating) and speed data to any ANT+ device. RideSense is already equipped on many 2013 Giant models with an ergonomic RideSense sensor that fits inside the chainstay.

Some Giant models are ‘RideSense compatible’ – these have a slot in the chainstay for a RideSense sensor. The sensor picks up info from a magnet on the inside of the crank (cadence) and a magnet on the spoke (speed) and transmits this wirelessly to your ANT+ device.

ANT+ Sensor for bikes that don’t have RideSense;
You can still send data to any ANT+ device, even if you don’t have a bike with RideSense – simply fit Giant’s 2 – in – 1 Sensor and you will be able to transmit speed and cadence. For those lucky enough to have a separate Winter bike or training bike this enables you to use one computer with ‘dual bike recording’ to track stats on your new bike with integrated Ridesense, and your training bike fitted with the 2 in 1 Sensor.

Connecting your iPhone to RideSense;
There is already a choice of products for integrating your iPhone with Giant's RideSense and ANT+ Heart Rate belt.

You can get the Wahoo, Digifit or a Garmin ANT+ plug ins. They all plug in to the bottom of your phone and they all offer speed, cadence and heart rate which will work with Giants RideSense and our Heart Rate Belt and anything else ANT+ (including Giant's 2-in-1 Sensor)

The Wahoo has a lot of Apps to choose from and the RRP is £49.99, the Digifit can utilise Wahoo’s Apps and the RRP is £49.99, the Garmin will work with the Garmin Fit app and the RRP Is £49.99; you do have to buy the Apps for them all (there may be some free but we couldn't find any) but we found the Garmin App for £0.69.

Other Accessories;
Giant’s ANT+ Heart Rate belt is compatible with any ANT+ device capable of reading Heart Rate including Giant Neos Pro and Neos Ant+ computers.

Giant’s Neos Extension Mount allows you to centrally fit your Neos ANT+ and Neos Pro computers.

Giant’s RideSense magnets can be purchased separately – so if your bike came equipped with a RideSense sensor but you don't have the magnets, or you have lost them you can add these magnets to allow you to pick up speed and cadence data.

Giant Store Liverpool Christmas Hampers!

18th December 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

There is still time to get yourself on a Giant Store Liverpool Christmas Hamper for the cyclist in your life!

 

‘Keep it clean’ Hamper - £60 (Saving 10%)

Gear Floss, 20 Microfibre Ropes.

White lightning Clean Ride (Self cleaning wax lube)

White Lightning Wash and Shine.

Giant Toolshed HD1. (17 function folding multi tool)

White Lightning, Trigger Chain Cleaning System.

 

‘Keep Warm’ Hamper - £75 (Saving 11%)

Endura Deluge Gloves.

2 Pack of Endura Thermolite socks.

Baa Baa Merino Arm Warmers.

Baa Baa Merino Skip Beanie Hat.

 

‘Keep Dry’ Hamper - £105 (Saving 16%)

Womens Endura Gridlock Jacket.

Womens Endura Gridlock Overtrousers.

Waterproof Road Overshoes.

Bigger, Faster, Better: Trance X 29er is a What Mountain Bike winner!

18th December 2012 - filed under Product

What Mountain Bike tested £1849 - £2500 full suspension 29er trail bikes in their January 2013 issue seeing Giant's new Trance X 29'er pitted against some serious competition from Cube AMS 120 PRO 29, Ghost AMR 2955, Specialized Camber Carbon Comp, Santa Cruz Superlight 29 D and Avanti Coppermine 29.2.

Having already given too many great reviews to list to Giant's Anthem X 29er, the Trance X 29er's shorter travel sibling, could the Trance X 29er match the blistering rocketship performance of the Anthem combined with the extra trail taming ability of longer suspension travel?

"If the 100mm travel Anthem X 29er is a very capable bike, this Trance X is bordering on unstoppable. And it's not shy of the climbs, either."

With a great spec including 'the cherry on the cake' in Giant's Contact Switch Dropper Seatpost, smooth and progressive suspension performance on a bike that's 'a riot to ride' - Trance X 29er comes out on top with 4.5 stars, making it a What Mountain Bike Winner!

Catch the full review in the January 2013 issue of What Mountain Bike Magazine and tell us what you think at www.facebook.com/giantuk / www.twitter.com/giantuk - or try one for yourself at www.test-ride.co.uk.

Ride Life with Giant Store Liverpool

17th December 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

DAVID KENNY – TEAM GB NEW ZEALAND 2012

"Ride Giant, Ride life, Fulfill your dreams."

How it started

I became part of the giant family just over a year ago after taking part in the Liverpool Triathlon as a fundraising exercise for the Epilepsy Society UK.   I had managed to complete the Liverpool Triathlon on a circa 1970s steel road bike, with the combined weight of a small horse!  I had been researching new bikes for quite a while and the one thing that every one I talked to agreed on was that I needed a new one.  As with all those new to the world of cycling I was faced with a mind blowing selection of brakes, group sets, frames, makes of bikes and of course aluminium versus carbon.  When it came to tyres and wheels, well I was on my way to my first nervous break down!  I had been to a number of local bike stores and had been disappointed with the help and advice given.   During my research I had become aware of the Giant store Liverpool located near the bottom of Upper Parliament Street, housed in a fantastic old warehouse.

Welcome to the family

I had originally avoided the Giant store as I believed an” own brand” store would not give the level of impartial advice and support I felt I needed; how wrong could I have been!   From the moment I stepped inside the store I was given friendly information and sound technical advice with no hard sell.  They helped me to better understand the quality of different components and gave me options related to the packages that they had to offer as well.  I was that impressed that after a further fortnight’s deliberation I returned to purchase my first Giant bike, the “blue bullet” that is now my Giant Trinity.  I received a full and comprehensive bike fit, and the after sales service has been nothing short of fantastic, including a last minute service prior to this years Wilmslow Triathlon when I called in on the off chance.  I went on to achieve second place in my age group with Giants’ help.

Giant dreams (for the more mature rider)

My Giant Trinity was now helping me cycle faster and stronger and In July of this year I took my Trinity down to the Bristol Harbourside Triathlon.  It was a highly competitive race and was a qualifier for the Great Britain Team.  I finished third in my age category and as a result have been invited to represent team GB as an age group international at the World Triathlon Championships in Auckland New Zealand! Not bad for a 54 year old.   I am still in shock at what I have achieved and I honestly believe that without my Giant bike I would not have achieved my dreams.  I cannot thank Giant enough and especially the staff at Giant Liverpool.   I am now in training, which of course means riding my Giant bike as often as I can.

Vos Honored for her Historic Season!

17th December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

With 2012 nearing its end, cycling publications around the world are looking back and honoring the year’s best racers. Topping the list for many of these awards issues and stories is Rabobank-Liv/giant's own Marianne Vos.

Vos didn’t just have a good year, or even a great year. With two world championships and Olympic gold on her list of accolades, Vos had a historic year.

“Vos won the world cyclocross championship, five stages and the overall at the Giro Donne, the Olympic road race, the World Cup overall title, and the world road championship,” wrote the U.S.-based Velo magazine. “She won the nine-event women’s road World Cup series, her fourth title, even though she skipped three events; she won three of the six races she started, and finished second at another. Of the six World Cup races she entered, she never finished worse than third.”

All of those results earned the 25-year-old Velo's International Cyclist of the Year award. In Australia, Vos earned the year-end cover in Ride Cycling Review, which labeled her "Miss World."

And it wasn’t just editors heaping praise on Vos. In Cyclingnews.com’s 2012 Reader Poll, she was an overwhelming favorite for Best Female Road Racer with more than 51 percent of the vote.

What will Vos do next? For 2013 she is back with Giant, leading the Rabobank-Liv/giant women’s road team. She plans another full season of road racing with some select cyclocross events and, perhaps, she has hinted, even a mountain bike race or two.

Stay tuned!

BikeMagic First Ride: Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er 1

14th December 2012 - filed under Product

Giant's Anthem X Advanced 29er 1 carbon 29er XC race bike features in BikeMagic as tester David Arthur gives us his First Ride review.

First impressions are good - impressive looks given a smooth carbon makeover and hidden cables for an even faster, even sleeker outlook.

Anthem X has always been versatile, even more so with the rolling power of 29 inch wheels and with a dropper seatpost testers think "this could prove to be the ultimate super fast trail bike setup".

Overall it's a First Ride thumbs up from BikeMagic;

"My first ride left me really impressed. I’m going to ride it some more, and will take it to some races in the coming weeks, and see how it fares."

"On first impressions, it’s a seriously good 29er."

Read the full BikeMagic First Ride review of the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er 1 and tell us what you think at www.facebook.com/giantuk and www.twitter.com/giantuk

Triathlon Plus Gold Award for 2013 Giant Defy 4

13th December 2012 - filed under Product

Looking for a road bike that offers the perfect balance of performance and value? Giant's 2013 Defy 4 just scooped the Triathlon Plus Gold Award in their January 2013 issue!

In the 'Swift Thrift' Bike Test, testers put 4 models head to head that 'can help you smash your personal best without breaking the bank' - perfect for getting into road riding, tackling your first triathlon or road race or even commuting to work every day or a bit of lightweight touring.

With tough competition from Felt Z95, Merida Race Lite 900 and Genesis Volant 00 the Giant Defy would have a lot to prove. But with an AluxX aluminium frame designed and engineered in Giant's own production facilities giving an outstanding ride quality - it was the Giant that came out on top.

"The Giant accelerates well - it's the lightest here - and handles impeccably, giving the rider endless bounds of confidence."

Not only was the bike the lightest on test, Giant's wheels were also the lightest on test contributing to it's blistering acceleration, and coupled with comfortable but reponsive frame it's perfect for reducing fatigue when you are going long distance.

Check out the full article in the January 2013 issue of Triathlon Plus Magazine and see what gves Giant the edge.

Join in the conversation and tell us what you think at www.facebook.com/giantuk and www.twitter.com/giantuk

 

Giant Announces New 2013 Teams!

13th December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant announced today that it is elevating its support of professional cycling with multiple teams that were formerly under Team Rabobank management. The partnerships include the Blanco Pro Cycling Team (formerly the Rabobank Team), the Rabobank-Liv/giant women’s team, the Rabobank Development Team and the Giant Pro XC Team.

Giant and its women’s brand Liv/giant will supply bikes and apparel to the teams and will continue to work with these top-level pro athletes to develop new technologies for a competitive edge.

“Our new partnership with Giant shows that this is a very good relationship,” said Blanco team director Richard Plugge. “We get the chance to build and foster great cycling talent and we will inspire a new generation of riders and fans.”

With Rabobank ending its title sponsorship of the men’s pro road team, the name Blanco was chosen to symbolize the team's "white jersey" status. It also alludes to the beginning of a new era, of starting with a blank slate.

Full details for Team Blanco, which will include its core of talent from Rabobank including Robert Gesink, Lars Boom and Theo Bos, will be announced in the coming days. The team will once again focus on cycling’s biggest events, including grand tours, classics and other major stage races and single-day races. The riders will compete on TCR Advanced SL, Defy Advanced SL and Trinity Advanced SL bikes, along with a number of new products in the near future.

“Team Blanco represents a fresh start for this young and talented squad, and we’re excited to play a vital role in developing the next generation of stars,” said Tom Davies, Giant Sports Marketing Manager. “Through cutting-edge bicycles and apparel, we’ll be providing riders the advantage they need to win at the highest level.”

The second team in the 2013 lineup is the Rabobank-Liv/giant women’s road team. Liv/giant has stepped in as a co-sponsor to ensure continued support and development of women’s cycling. Home to the current Olympic gold medalist and Road World Champion Marianne Vos, the team was launched at the beginning of 2012 and experienced great success in its first year on the circuit.

Vos, who won nearly every major title in 2012 including Olympic gold in London and world championships in cyclocross and road racing, will lead the team at stage races, World Cups and other major events around the world. The team will play a key role in developing Liv/giant bikes and apparel.

In off-road competition, Giant has become the title sponsor of the former Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team. The Giant Pro XC Team will bring back the bulk of its World Cup XC mountain bike riders, including rising star Fabian Giger of Switzerland, who this year finished fifth at World Championships, the best result of his career. The team will also feature former Jr. World Champion Michiel van der Heijden, along with two top female racers: former World Champion Maja Włoszczowska and reigning Under-23 World Champion Jolanda Neff. The XC-focused riders will start the season racing a variety of Giant off-road bikes, including the XtC Advanced SL 29er and Anthem X Advanced 29er.

Finally, Giant will continue to support the Rabobank Development Team, a Netherlands-based program that gave rise to current pros Gesink, Boom and Bauke Mollema. The Rabobank Development Team also oversees the cyclocross squad, including two-time Under-23 World Champion Lars van der Haar and other top young talents.

All team bikes will be equipped with Shimano/PRO components and wheels, along with fi'zi:k saddles. Team Blanco and Rabobank-Liv/giant will race on Vittoria tires, while the Rabobank Development Team and the Giant Pro XC Team will use Schwalbe tires. DT Swiss has also stepped in as the new suspension partner for the Giant Pro XC Team. Giant will also partner with performance apparel specialists Etxeondo to develop high-performance rider gear for the teams.

Craig Podiums at USGP Finals!

10th December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant cyclocross rider Adam Craig scored back-to-back podium finishes at the two-day Deschutes Brewery Cup race in Bend, Oregon, over the weekend. Craig, racing on home turf in Bend, showed his best ’cross form of the season in the final two races of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross series, finishing third on his Giant TCX Advanced SL on Saturday and Sunday.

In Saturday’s race, Craig fought his way up through a crowd of the top U.S. pros, spending most of the day in a chase group just behind the leaders. Late in the race, which was held on a fast course with cold temperatures in Bend, Craig used his superior bike handling skills to escape the rest of the chasers and land the podium placing.

“This was always the goal, to be in the mix,” Craig told Cyclingnews.com. “It’s awesome to be on the podium and I didn’t expect this at all.”

The following day saw clear skies and slightly warmer temperatures in Bend—and the same result for Craig. He finished third again, 19 seconds behind Tim Johnson and Ryan Trebon, who were first and second respectively.

Craig, who is racing only select cyclocross events this year, ended up eighth overall in the final USGP standings.

VIDEO: Giant Moments 2012

10th December 2012 - filed under Giant

On the road, and in the dirt. From the smooth, banked walls of the velodrome to rocky desert cliffs. Riding, racing, having fun.

Every day of the year, someone, somewhere, is getting after it on a Giant bike.

From the Tour de France to a tour of the neighborhood. World records to weekend adventures.

In 2012, Giant riders won Olympic gold, world championships and countless pro races around the world. These are the moments that inspire us to ride.

Join us as we continue the ride into 2013. Connect with us and share your stories on the Giant Facebook page.

Giant Real Riders - 12 places up for grabs!

7th December 2012 - filed under Product

Want to be a Giant cycling gear product tester for a year?!

We will be choosing 12 Real Riders who will get a gear item each month in return for a monthly blog where you review the products you receive - and we will feature you on our Facebook page, Twitter feed and website throughout the year.

We will choose our lucky 12 on Monday 7th January - so you have until January 6th to tell us why you should be one of our Real Riders crew! We want to know about you, where you will ride, what you will ride, any events you will do and who you will ride with.

Tell us why you should be one of our 12 Real Riders at www.facebook.com/giantuk or www.twitter.com/giantuk - we can't wait to hear your stories! Good luck and get writing :-)

Giant Indoor Training Tips

7th December 2012 - filed under Giant

We were asked about turbo trainers on the Giant Facebook page - so we thought we would share our tips with you here. At this time of the year no matter how much you love riding your bike, you just won't fancy heading outside - but if it's dark, icy and snowing you can still clock up plenty of miles in the comfort of your own home.

Follow these simple tips for getting your indoor trainer setup to avoid any damage to your pride and joy;

- Always follow the turbo trainer setup instructions carefully
- Always use the steel skewer (normally supplied with) your turbo - otherwise when you clamp the wheel you might damage your nice quick release skewer
- Use a sweat blocker or towel - with no wind to cool you and a warm room you will lose a lot of liquid - which is also full of salts - this will corrode bolts etc if you don't protect them - also give the bike a wipe down afterwards
- Use a chopping block to raise the front wheel so the bike is level
- Make sure your tyre pressures are correct and that the contact between the tyre and the roller follows the instructions to avoid shredding your tyre (you can get turbo trainer specific tyres)
- A soft trainer mat will help reduce movement, noise and protect your flooring

Then crank up the music or put an inspirational movie on the TV, setup a fan to keep you cool and enjoy the ride!

If you are looking for some indoor training inspiration - why not check out this great Turbo Trainer Workout Guide from BikeRadar

Giant Rutland Workshop Evening

6th December 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Rutland are hosting a Workshop Evening on Thursday 17th January, 7pm at Giant Store Rutland.

Come along to find out how to set up your bike and maintain it whilst having a chance to pick up exclusive on the night special offers. 

Learn the essential tools to keep you riding through the winter and beyond with Giant UK’s Product Manager. 

Spaces are limited to 30 people - so contact us now to avoid disappointment - to book simply email info@giant-rutland.co.uk - we look forward to welcoming you.

GIANT STORES 2012 SALE

6th December 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

Grab yourself a bargain in the Giant Stores Sale!

Giant Stores have a selection of 2012 models with up to 40% off while stocks last - your chance to get a Giant bike with a huge discount in time for Christmas.

Contact your local store for full details of remaining models and sizes available and the latest offer prices. 

Van Paassen Podiums at Roubaix

3rd December 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant cyclocross rider Sanne van Paassen remains second overall in UCI Cyclocross World Cup standings after a podium finish in Sunday's elite women's race in Roubaix, France. The 24-year-old Dutch rider rode her Giant TCX to second place on the famed Roubaix velodrome, where the Paris-Roubaix spring classic also finishes each year.

In an exciting race on a fast course that saw several crashes among the top contenders, van Paassen remained near the front of the action. She led solo for much of the race until she was finally caught during the final lap by the day’s eventual winner, World Cup leader Katie Compton. Van Paassen ended up finishing 8 seconds behind Compton to secure her second-place overall standing after four World Cup races.

Afterward, van Paassen said she was pleased with her performance, which made up for a disappointing sixth-place ride at the previous World Cup.

"Last weekend I had problems with my pedals" she said. "Today I showed myself that I can still do it."

In elite men’s racing, two-time Under-23 World Champion Lars van der Haar continued his solid rookie season in the pro ranks, finishing fifth. The young Rabobank-Giant rider battled among the world’s best in a chase group and outsprinted a five-man group at the finish to take the fifth-place points on his TCX Advanced SL. Van der Haar is now fifth overall in the series.

The UCI World Cup cyclocross series continues December 23 in Namur, Belgium.

Giant Leap - MBR Magazine Trance X 29er First Ride

29th November 2012 - filed under Product

Giant's Trance X 4 has won back to back 10/10 ratings in MBR Magazine and was their Bike of The Year in 2011 - so testers were keen to see if the new Trance X 29er was made of the same stuff. In the December issue, MBR travelled to Canada to find out.

"Stability was good and it was easy to crank the bike over and rail the plentiful sequence of sweeping turns"

Testers found overall suspension performance 'among the best of any Maestro bike' they had ridden - high praise following back to back 10/10 scores for the last two Maestro equipped models they experienced. Also noted was the Trance X 29er's 'top notch' finish and attention to detail.

"it proved a worthy companion on the flowing trails of British Columbia's wilderness"

Next month MBR are back to Britain testing the Trance X 29er on home soil.

You can read the full MBR TranceX 29er First Ride in the December Issue of MBR Magazine.

Multiple Paralympic Champion Receives Honorary Award

27th November 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

The University of Hertfordshire has awarded Paralympic and World champion Jody Cundy MBE, an Honorary Master of Science in recognition of his outstanding services to Paralympic sport.

Jody has gone on to become a multiple Paralympic champion and holds a string of world records, including breaking the world record for the kilo while winning gold at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Most recently, he won a bronze medal in the men’s individual C4 pursuit race in front of a home crowd at London 2012.

At the ceremony on Friday 23 November – held in the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans – Jody, who has had an eighteen year sporting career, received his Honorary Degree alongside over 4,500 new graduates celebrating academic success.

Commenting on receiving his Award, Jody said: “Having had a close relationship with the University of Hertfordshire for many years – especially during my swimming career – I feel honoured to be awarded an honorary master’s degree. It has been such a special year for sport and I am very grateful for all the support”

In reading the citation, Nick Brooking Director of Sports at the Sports Village, said: “As well as competing, Jody believes that nobody is limited by their disability. We are extremely pleased to give him an Honorary Award in recognition of raising the profile of Paralympic sport.”

Congratulations Jody!

Vos Returns with CX Podium!

25th November 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant cyclocross riders had a busy weekend in Europe with a World Cup in Belgium on Saturday and a Superprestige race in The Netherlands on Sunday. Racing both men’s and women’s events, highlights included Olympic gold medalist Marianne Vos’s return to ’cross racing and several podium performances by her Rabobank-Giant teammates.

Saturday’s World Cup event in Koksijde, Belgium—site of the 2012 World Championships last January—took place on a wet, sandy course. Dutchman Michiel van der Heijden kicked off the action in the men’s Under-23 race, which saw him surge from well outside the top-10 to a near win. The young Rabobank-Giant rider caught the leaders and attacked on his TCX Advanced SL during the last lap, but was outsprinted at the finish by Belgian Wietse Bosmans.

In the elite women’s race in Koksijde, Sanne van Paassen defender her high overall World Cup standing by finishing sixth behind the day’s winner, American Katie Compton. That put van Paassen second overall in the World Cup series after three races.

Finally, in the elite men’s category at Koksijde, Lars van der Haar rode his TCX Advanced SL to a top-10 finish. In his first year racing in the elite category, van der Haar is eighth overall in the World Cup series.

Sunday’s Superprestige race in Gieten, The Netherlands, saw Marianne Vos, the defending cyclocross World Champion, return to the dirt for the first time this season. After winning the 2012 World Championship and the Olympic gold medal on the road, Vos started her abbreviated cyclocross season late. She looked sharp on her TCX Advanced SL, finishing second behind Brit Helen Wyman.

Budget Brilliance - Giant Defy 4 is Cycling Plus winner!

24th November 2012 - filed under Product

While Cycling Plus tested the Giant Defy Advanced 2 in their December issue awarding it 4 stars and Road.cc featured Giant Defy Composite 3 in their buyer's guide - Cycling Plus testers also took a look at their AluxX aluminium sibling - the Giant Defy 4.

Testers took the Giant for a 130km charity ride to Bournemouth - over some less than smooth Winter ravaged roads to give it a thorough grilling - and the lightweight Giant came out on top with an incredible 4.5 stars!

Lighter than a bike costing over 3 times more that featured in the same issue, Giant Defy 4 also had the lightest weight wheel and tyre combination on test - but it was the frames' ride quality that really made it stand out;

"Versatile, with a quality frame and great ride"

The latest Giant Defy has been years in the making offering the perfect balance of weight, performance and comfort.

"It's the lightest, balancing great performance, comfort and nifty handling with year round versatility. Road bike, commuter, light tourer, sportive machine or Winter trainer - the Defy will do just about anything"

Check out the full review in December's Cycling Plus Magazine.

Giant Defy Advanced 2 is a Cycling Plus showstopper!

23rd November 2012 - filed under Product

"One of the best all-round framesets ever created"

Cycling Plus took a look at Showstoppers in their December issue - bikes that had caught their eyes at the product launch back in Summer and that they couldn't wait to get testing in the real world.

Giant's Defy Advanced 2, a 'classic carbon sportive bike' had testers piling on the praise, rating the Defy's smooth and supple frame as one of the best ever created!

"Giant's designers have achieved alchemy with the Defy's ride. It's among the most comfortable and composed endurance-minded machines we've ever tested, yet it's exciting and handles sharply whenever you want to push it."

Testers also rated Giant's P-SL1 wheelsystem as smooth, stiff and light, and Giant's P-SL1 tyres which were 'equally impressive, offering bags of grip and supple casings that cushion the ride, while still offering puncture protection'.

'An all round ride that impresses whether you're going fast or slow', with Cycling Plus 4 stars Giant's Defy Advanced 2 is a showstopper.

Want to try for yourself? You can try the Defy Advanced on Test Ride.

Catch the full review in December's Cycling Plus Magazine.

GIANT STORE RADLETT TURBO TUESDAYS

22nd November 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Great news! It might be cold and dark outside but Giant Store Radlett Turbo Tuesday's are back - all the motivation you need to keep moving and keep fit this Winter.

Every Tuesday, 7pm at the Giant Store on Watling Street, Radlett - completely free - all you need to bring along is your bike and a turbo trainer (and you can get 10% off turbo trainers in store on the night)

For more details and to book your free place call the store on 01923 850327 or email info@giant-radlett.co.uk.

So come along and keep the legs spinning!

Road.cc rates Giant Defy Composite 3

22nd November 2012 - filed under Product

The website for pedal powered people Road.cc revealed their choice of The best £1,000 to £1,500 road bikes in their latest buyers' guide.

Tester David Arthur recommended Giant's Defy Composite 3 - featuring a handcrafted Giant Composite Technology frame with OverDrive tapered headtube for precision handling, and PowerCore bottom bracket for exceptional power transfer.

Check out the full review right here on Road.cc

Giant Aids in Hurricane Sandy Recovery

20th November 2012 - filed under Giant

Giant USA is donating 100 bikes to people in the New York City areas hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. “Ride NYC Forward” is a partnership effort between Giant and two New York bicycle advocacy groups—Transportation Alternatives and Recycle-A-Bicycle—to improve mobility among residents in the stricken areas. Giant is sending 100 of its Revel 2 mountain bikes, as well as helmets and locks, to help people move about their neighborhoods and commute to work by bicycle.

"We want to help move NYC forward in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy,” said An Le, Giant Global Marketing Director. “Bikes can play a huge role in providing a sustainable mobility solution, and that’s what the Ride NYC Forward initiative is all about. With our partners Transportation Alternatives and Recycle-A-Bicycle, we are delivering Giant bikes and gear to the people who need them most."

The Revel 2 bikes, Giant Talos helmets and Giant U-locks have been shipped from three Giant distribution centers to Recycle-A-Bicycle’s warehouse in Long Island City, Queens. The non-profit organization—which uses bicycling to foster youth development, environmental education, community engagement and healthy living—has a large instructional facility where experienced volunteers are building the bikes. Recycle-A-Bicycle and Transportation Alternatives, New York City’s leading transportation advocacy organization, will work together to place the bicycles with affected residents in neighborhoods around the five boroughs most impacted by the storm, specifically Rockaway, Red Hook, the Lower East Side, and coastal Staten Island.

“Ride NYC Forward” stickers will be placed on the top tube of each bike, showing that it’s from the partnership of Giant, Transportation Alternatives, and Recycle-A-Bicycle.

"We're incredibly grateful to Giant USA for their very generous donation of 100 bikes for communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy," said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "Thanks to the hurricane, it's clearer than ever that a robust variety of transportation choices—including bicycles—makes New York City stronger and more resilient. We'll be working hard with Recycle-a-Bicycle to get these bikes where they're needed most."

"Now more than ever, the bicycle is the way to go,” said Pasqualina Azzarello, Executive Director of Recycle-A-Bicycle. “We are grateful to partner with Giant USA and Transportation Alternatives to bring these bikes to people who need them most. Such a generous donation will serve to further relief efforts by providing transportation and delivering food and supplies. With the help of a dedicated team of mechanics and tremendous goodwill, we'll get neighborhoods and businesses growing again."

Giant Defy 4 gets 4.5 stars on BikeRadar.com!

15th November 2012 - filed under Product

"If you’re a beginner looking for your first road bike, you need look no further."

Giant's 2013 Defy 4 steps up to the plate on BikeRadar - the highest scoring road bike in the £500 - £600 category with a whopping 4.5 stars! We can't wait to read the full review when it appears soon in Cycling Plus.

Read the full BikeRadar.com article.

High Marks for Avail Advanced SL!

13th November 2012 - filed under Product

Liv/giant introduced the Avail Advanced SL, a high-performance women's endurance road bike, earlier this year, and BikeRadar recently put it to the test on the roads of Colorado.

After two days of riding the Avail Advanced SL 1 model near BikeRadar’s Boulder, Colorado, office, Lorna Adley reported: “We found ourselves easily pushing the limits of our comfort zone at high speed, beautifully carving what are typically white-knuckle corners. In fact, we even hit a personal record on the descent without even trying—not bad for a maiden voyage on an unfamiliar machine.”

In this “first ride” review, BikeRadar concluded: “Overall, we found the Avail Advanced SL 1 to be a good all-day machine, with solid handling, light weight, and a smooth feel at speed that should make it suitable for Roubaix-style racing.”

To read the complete review, go to BikeRadar.com.

Mountainbike.com Praises Trance X 29er!

12th November 2012 - filed under Product

The Mountainbike.com website had a chance to test the new Trance X 29er over the past couple months and this week it posted an in-depth review of Giant’s versatile new trail bike.

The verdict? “One of the most capable 29ers we’ve ridden.”

Editors pointed out the fact that, before it was available to consumers, the Trance X 29er had been piloted to the 2012 U.S. Super D National Championship by Giant rider Adam Craig.

“No matter what package you choose, the Trance X 29er is a superb all-around trail bike,” Mountainbike.com editors concluded. “Its efficient suspension and dialed geometry create a well-balanced ride—no matter the terrain, I always felt comfortable and in control.”

To read the full review, click here.

Van Paassen Wins Again!

11th November 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant cyclocross rider Sanne van Paassen returned to the top step of the podium Sunday, winning the third round of the Superprestige series in Zogge, Belgium. The 23-year-old Dutch rider was unstoppable on her Giant TCX, beating Pavla Havlikova of the Czech Republic and Sanne Cant of Belgium to take the win.

Van Paassen was one of three Giant riders to make the podium Sunday. Fellow Rabobank rider Lars van der Haar finished third in the elite men’s race, and Mike Teunissen was second in the men's under-23 race.

Van Paassen joined a lead group early in the women’s race and remained near the front throughout the first half of the race. With two laps to go Cant slipped on a run-up section and van Paassen and Havlikova made their move. A lap later van Paassen shed Havlikova and went clear. She ended up winning by 8 seconds.

In the elite men’s race, first-year pro van der Haar was once again at the front of the action. The two-time Under-23 World Champion was marking the veteran Sven Nys until he slipped on a short, steep uphill and lost contact with Nys. Van der Haar recovered and went on to finish third on his TCX Advanced SL. Van der Haar’s younger teammate Mike Teunissen, who last week won the U23 European Championship, finished second in his race.

In other cyclocross action, American Adam Craig rode his TCX Advanced SL to an impressive fourth-place finish at the Derby City Cup in Louisville, Kentucky. The veteran mountain biker is racing a select number of cyclocross events this year, including the Louisville race, which took place at the host venue of the upcoming 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships.

GIANT STORE YEOVIL OPENS WITH TRIUK

9th November 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

The Giant Store – Yeovil has opened for business, run by existing independent bicycle retailer Chris Boon.  The latest edition to the Giant Store family is situated in South Somerset positioned on the outskirts of the vibrant market town of Yeovil.

Ian Beasant Managing Director of Giant UK commented “Giant Stores focus on understanding the customer and their cycling experience ensuring that the end user gets complete satisfaction from their purchase...”  Beasant continued “this is the first Giant brand store we’ve opened that’s in an existing, established business, we believe the partner and location provides the perfect environment for a Giant brand store.”

The store, positioned on the edge of the town within easy reach of the beautiful countryside of Somerset, occupies 375m2 of prime retail space offering a unique shopping experience as well as something for all customers. 

Independent bicycle dealer and founder of Tri UK Chris Boon said “we are so excited about the Giant Store, we believe it offers our customers both existing and new a completely different appeal and retail experience”

Giant Stores offer a professional retail outlook in a friendly and approachable environment, the store offers something for all whatever the discipline from performance enthusiasts to leisure cyclists, junior riders and everyone in between.

Boon continued “our business is established in the Triathlon market and we believe the Giant Store will serve this and so many other customers, with Giant we have a bike for all.”

The latest edition to the Giant Store family accompanies stores across the UK; to read more about Giant stores or to find a store in your local area visit www.giant-stores.co.uk

Giant propose to roll out further brand stores in key target locations.  Further potential stores are already being planned and Giant are in discussions with independent partners.

Carlton Reid blog: To Las Vegas via Lady Park

7th November 2012 - filed under Blogs

I write about bikes, but I'm not a bike tester. Or, to be more accurate, I no longer write test reports. Back in the 1980s I wrote a few test reports that were so bad it got a bike shop technician to become a journalist. This is true. John Stevenson left Two Wheels Good of Leeds and became tech editor at MBUK, then went to Oz to start work on Cyclingnews.com, then came back to the UK to head up Future's cycle mag division. And all because my bike reviews were so bad. This was for a magazine called Bicycle Times: I soon left the tech stuff to others and concentrated, instead, on the business side of bicycling, later founding BikeBiz.com and the monthly trade magazine that goes with it.

While I enjoy writing bicycle industry articles, the best bit of the job is the bike testing. I know I don't have to create technical write-ups on the test bikes so just go out and enjoy myself. And I go out and enjoy myself in some exotic locations. The annual Interbike trade show is held in an air-conditioned convention centre in Las Vegas but there's a satellite show called the Interbike Outdoor Demo. This is a two-day festival of all-things bike, trade-only, and is held in small town in the Nevada desert, about 45 minutes drive from the Strip. Boulder City has a world-class mountain bike trail on the doorstep and I spend one of the two days on the dirt.

The other day I spend on felt-smooth asphalt. The kind burghers of Boulder City close a wide main road for the duration of the Outdoor Demo and bike industry folk shoot up and down a two mile stretch of tarmac, trialling high-end bike after high-end bike. Naturally, it's truly fantastic to get the opportunity to ride the world's best bikes, in the heat, on a beautiful road. But this isn't reality, this is fantasy riding, no rain, no cars, no potholes. And so much heat; did I mention the heat? Exotic high-end bikes seem even more exotic and high-end given the location. I'd hazard a guess that even mid-range or low-end bikes would feel pretty good in such a stunning place.

And this is where I tip my hat at bike reviewers. They ride hundreds of bikes and are able - like that princess and the pea - to spot the tiniest of differences between rides. Well, most of them can anyway. Some test reports are almost as bad as my first bike test scribblings and I'd have to agree with bike designer Mike Burrows - creator of the compact road frame - when he said:

"Cycling magazines [write] drivel about comfortable frames."

He can't say that about me because this blog posting isn't a bike test review, it's a review of a ride and I'm finally getting around to the subject. I'm the lucky owner of a new Giant Defy Advanced and I can proudly boast that its vertical compliance, overall stiffness and torque ratio are top-notch and make me fly up a hill close to my home faster than I would otherwise be able to ride. See, told you I was rubbish at bike testing. I haven't a clue what I'm talking about.

But I know when a bike feels right, and I know when a bike feels faster up hills.

Thing is, "feels" can be misleading. I'm not as fit right now as I was last year (too much writing about bicycles, and not enough riding them) and so any benefit gains I "feel" as though I'm getting from the Defy Advanced's stiff bottom bracket cluster (is there such a thing?) are likely to be illusory. I like illusions. I like the fact it "feels" as though I'm going faster up a certain tough climb. In past years I've used a smartphone app to track my progress on my favourite route, a one hour loop via Gateshead and Lady Park. I could have easily opened this app on yesterday's ride and done the exact same ride as I've done previously. I could then dig out last year's stats (ridden on my old Giant Advanced) and see whether the new bike was as fast as it felt. I didn't do that. First, because I'm lazy; second, because such a comparison, to be fair, would have to be done in the exact same weather conditions, with the exact same tyres, with tyres pumped up to the exact same pressures, and with me wearing the exact same clothes, including the same shoes.

Maybe magazine test review journalists go to these sort of lengths (I know some German mags do) but I can't be arsed. I just want to ride.

And yesterday was a particularly beautiful day to ride: it was bitterly cold, but the late afternoon sunshine, the blue skies and the autumn colours were uplifting. Who needs Las Vegas when there's the climb out of Lady Park to tackle?

About the blogger: Carlton Reid is the executive editor of BikeBiz.com and author of forthcoming book Roads Were Not Built for Cars. All pix taken by Carlton's iPhone 5.

Dave Mellor Cycles Winter update

5th November 2012 - filed under Retail

Dave Mellor Cycles sent us this report including a great image of rider Ewan Grivell-Mellor in action at the National Trophy Cyclocross Series in Ipswich;

"The West Midland league has now completed 6 rounds and we approach the mid season November league break due to 3 National Trophy races scheduled during the month and the Inter Regional Championships at Milton Keynes.

Ewan Grivell-Mellor is in a commanding lead of the under 16 league with a nice total of 5 wins from 6 races and lies 9th in the National Trophy series after two solid 9th places at Abergavenny and Ipswich. Ewan leads the West Midlands Youth Team in the Inter Regional Championships at Milton Keynes on November 11th.

The West Midland League has seen bigger numbers than ever taking part and as well as Ewan, under 12 girl Mali Jones has been consistently on the podium. Mali is new to cycling following on from the summer of GB success and is now looking to ride on the road in the 2013 circuit race season.

On the track U16s James Elmore and Beth Coupland have been regular visitors to the Manchester Velodrome after gaining selection to the West Midlands Regional School of Racing. Video analysis has been a big talking point with skills sessions filmed and then broken down to see what improvements can be made and they are both loving it.

Olympic success has certainly seen an increase in participation at our Saturday Club and even though it's getting colder we are seeing up to 50 under 12s turning up on a Saturday mornings. The future is certainly very bright."

If you are looking for a club to improve your cycling or you have a budding youngster looking to get ino riding then your local retailer is  a great place to start - you can find your nearest Giant Retailer here.

Giant Duo Shines at Euro CX Champs!

4th November 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant cyclocross racers Mike Teunissen and Sanne van Paassen lived up to the high expectations for the Dutch riders at this weekend's European Cyclocross Championships in Ipswich, Great Britain, scoring gold and silver respectively for The Netherlands.

In the men’s Under-23 race Teunissen followed in the footsteps of fellow Rabobank-Giant rider Lars van der Haar, a multiple European champion and world champion in the U23 ranks, as he raced to gold.

Teunissen, riding his Giant TCX Advanced SL, controlled the race from the start and then outsprinted his Dutch compatriot Corne van Kessel (second) and French rider Julian Alaphilippe (third).

In the women’s race van Paassen rode her Giant TCX to second place behind Brit Helen Wyman. Van Paassen battled Wyman throughout the race as the duo distanced themselves from the rest of the field and then sprinted for the finish.

In other weekend cyclocross action, van der Haar battled to a fifth-place finish in round 2 of the Superprestige series in Belgium. The two-time U23 World Champion moved up to the elite men's ranks this year and now sits fourth overall in the Superprestige series. And in the U.S., Giant rider Adam Craig rode his TCX Advanced SL to a strong second-place finish in Sunday's Cycle-Smart International in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Share and Win on Facebook!

1st November 2012 - filed under Giant

A new photo gallery and contest was launched today on Giant’s global Facebook page, where fans can share photos for a chance to win a new top-of-the-line Giant road or off-road frameset.

The Ride Life photo contest, introduced to celebrate Giant's 40th anniversary, will take place throughout the month of November. Entering is simple: You just post a photo that illustrates your “Ride Life” and the photo that receives the most votes between now and November 30 will win one of two all-new 2013 Giant framesets: the Anthem X Advanced 29er off-road model or the TCR Advanced SL road model.

Click here for your chance to win!

RoadCyclingUK report on Giant's 2013 on-road line-up

1st November 2012 - filed under Product

Road cycling website RoadCyclingUK.com visited Giant this week to take a look at the latest 2013 Giant road bike line-up.

Reporter Timothy John gave the full Giant on-road range a detailed once over and published over 50 photos including some close up details you can't see in the brochure.

See RoadCyclingUK's full write up ad image gallery of Giant bikes at RoadCyclingUK.com

BikeMagic.com get up close and personal with Giant's 2013 off-road line-up

1st November 2012 - filed under Product

When RoadCyclingUK.com came to visit they brought partner site BikeMagic.com who are all about bikes of the off-road variety.

BikeMagic.com Editor John Stevenson took a particular interest in his 'favourite 100mm travel 29'er' and it's latest incarnation - in Advanced composite - the all-new Anthem X Advanced 29er.

Including an up close and personal gallery, check out BikeMagic.com's report of Giant's 2013 off-road line-up.

Guide to buying a kids bike

30th October 2012 - filed under Giant

 “I’m looking for a kids bike for Christmas, where should I start?”

If you are looking for a girls bike or boys bike this Christmas, we’ve created some kids bike buying tips to help you choose the right bike - afterall there’s nothing more disappointing for a young rider than getting a new bike for Christmas that doesn’t fit or falls apart on the first ride.

Here are some simple do’s and don’ts that can help make choosing a new bike for your child fun and safe;

Buying a kids bike – DO’S;

1. Go to an independent bike retailer to buy your child’s new bicycle for three reasons: (1) The independent bike shop will make sure the bike is the right size for your child (2) the bike will have been assembled by an expert bicycle mechanic – not by someone who usually sells sat-navs or installs car stereos (3) You won't find yourself trying to learn how to assemble a bike - buy from an independent bike shop and it will be fully assembled by a qualified mechanic, completely ready to ride and enjoy

2. Get your child to straddle the top tube of the bike (the tube that runs from behind the handlebars to beneath the saddle) with his or her feet flat on the ground. This top bar should have at least one to three inches of clearance from your youngsters body

3. Get your child to sit on the saddle and hold the handlebar. The ball’s of your child’s feet must be able to comfortably touch the ground (so they can balance correctly when they roll to a stop or when they are getting moving)

4. When your child grabs the handlebars, check to see if there is a slight bend in his or her elbows – make sure their arms aren’t stretched out (or they won’t have full control or range of movement when steering the bike)

5. Make sure your child can operate the brakes – be certain that your child can reach the brake levers comfortably, and pull them with enough force to stop the bike

6. Get a new cycling helmet at the same time. If your youngster has outgrown an existing bike, chances are the helmet they were wearing is also now too small

Buying a kids bike – DON’TS;

1. Don’t buy a bike that your child will ‘grow into’ – buy a bike that your child can ride safely now

2. Don’t assume your child will like the bike you like. Colour and style are important to you, and they are important to kids too! Let your child help pick out the bike they like to make sure there is no big day disappointment.

3. Don’t buy the cheapest bike you can find. A quality bike has a better resale value when your child outgrows it. Even better a quality kids bike will last longer and can be handed down to younger brothers and sisters as it is outgrown.

For more advice then speak to your local independent bike shop – use the Giant Find A Retailer tool to find your nearest independent Giant Retailer.

GIANT STORE DUBLIN LADIES RIDE

29th October 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Dublin are running ladies rides, every Friday at 7pm from the store.

Bring along your racing bike for 90 minutes out to Killiney Hill for a lap, beginner through to advanced.

For more details please contact the store.

Van Paassen 2nd Overall in CX World Cup

29th October 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Dutch cyclocrosser Sanne van Paassen rode her Giant TCX to a top-five finish at Round 2 of the UCI World Cup series Sunday in the Czech Republic. The 23-year-old Rabobank rider put in a strong effort on a cold day in Pizen, remaining in the hunt for the overall standings after the first two rounds of the series in October.

Van Paassen started off fast on the wet, slippery Pizen course, joining a lead group with Brits Helen Wyman and Nikki Harris. The trio was eventually caught by a chase group including American Katie Compton, who went on to win the second round. Van Paassen battled to a fourth-place finish to end the day just 10 points behind Compton in the overall standings.

In the Under-23 men’s race in Pizen, Rabobank-Giant rider Mike Teunissen finished sixth on his TCX Advanced SL and now sits second overall in the series

Keep Riding Through Autumn: Your Cycling Tips

25th October 2012 - filed under Giant

Thanks for letting us know your Autumn Cycling Tips on the Giant Facebook Page and Giant Twitter Page. Here’s a selection of your tips for helping you get through Autumn and into Winter on the bike – just in time for the clocks going back this weekend!

Luke Ludwell: “My best tip? Just get out and ride! Take every opportunity to get out now so your good habits carry you through the winter.”

Terri Tez Wallace: “Change to grippy types for slippery trails!”

Lee Peters: “Just getting my lighting sorted for my TCX3 - make sure you can be seen by drivers.”

Frank Parkes: “I have purchased some overshoes, leg warmers, arm warmers and a hi viz jersery which I wear under my usual "cool looking" strip, so when it gets darker on the 3hour afternoon rides I pull over and put the hi viz on the outside. Also bought one of the Lycra hats to go under the old brain protector keeps the cold and rain at bay. Waterproof but thin gloves are the essential with the index and middle fingers with gripped tips. And my cycle computer has a backlight :) ... Not to mention just added caution for wet grids and slippery leaves.”

Mike Jubb: “Wrap your bike pump in metal foil to stop the winter wet and grit from getting into it and ruining the seals.”

Helena Romanowska: “Carry a lightweight spare set of lights just in case the original ones stop working. Also useful to attach to your clothing, bags or helmet for added visibility.”

Paul Williamson: “Get a nice lightweight head warmers- forget fashion keep warm and enjoy!”

James Dalton: “Take an old t shirt and cut it into a large triangle or a long strip. Use this as a bandana to keep your ears warms. It's always the extremities that get cold.”

Bob Spencer: “As at any time of the year, be prepared. Get some warmer clothing, carry some waterproof clothing, definitely get some wind and waterproof gloves and some shoe covers and enjoy what Autumn has to offer. You could get a beautiful crisp sunny ride (the best of all I think) but enjoy the rain and the wind and use it to feel good about yourself and your ability to do it whatever the weather throws at you. My weekend ride over the Pennines in the wind and driving rain was tough but exhilarating and I as sat down in the evening with a pint of beer and lounged in front of a movie I felt good about myself.”

Dave Town: “Keep riding this Autumn by choosing superior Giant cycles, components and clothing that won't let you down how many miles you do.”

Thanks for the tips and don’t forget to keep us updated on your riding throughout Autumn and Winter at Facebook.com/GiantUK and Twitter.com/GiantUK.

Jody Cundy gears up for a Revolution

24th October 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Excitement is building ahead of Revolution Series Round 1 this Saturday night in Manchester and Paralympian cyclist Jody Cundy can't wait to do battle in the elite team competition.

A Bronze medalist in the 4km pursuit at the Paralympics in London, Cundy will ride in one of 12 elite teams at the Manchester Velodrome as the 10th season of the Revolution Series begins and the national appetite for track cycling continues to grow.

He'll compete against team pursuit Gold medalists Ed Clancy (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Steven Burke (IG-Sigma Sport), while British Time Trial champion Alex Dowsett will ride for Team Sky. Maxgear return to defend their title while Team Raleigh, IG-Sigma Sport and Endura-NetApp debut at the Revolution.

The 34-year-old Cundy was infamously disqualified from the C4-5 Men's 1km time trial at the Paralympics back in August, but bounced back with Bronze in the C4 4km individual pursuit the following day, and he's raring to compete in the world's only elite track cycling league.

"The chance to race in able-bodied events really drives me as there is always someone better than me to race against," Cundy said. "That takes me out of my comfort zone and helps me raise my game. It's great to race people head-to-head and really get stuck in.

"Testing myself against Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant and Steven Burke will be exciting, especially when you know how fast they are in a team pursuit. Hopefully I'll be up to the challenge but it's formidable for anyone. Especially for a sprinter like me in an endurance racers' world!"

As for his outburst at the Paralympics, when a faulty start gate appeared to cost him a Gold medal (his first 1,000m in the 4km pursuit was fast enough to win 1km Gold), Cundy added:

"Every time people have talked to me about London the response has always been the same, they've been very supportive ... some have said I was restrained compared to what they'd have done. Which I have to say is slightly worrying!

"The interest in cycling at the moment is sky-high, especially in Great Britain as we've dominated on the road and track," Cundy added. "The Revolution Series is also a brilliant way for fans to experience cycle racing live for the first time. There are sell-out crowds, frantic racing, the chance to see some of the best riders in the world along with a lot of promising young riders, all potential stars of the future. It's the perfect blend of action to ignite anybody's interest."

ITV4 will show Revolution Series Round 1 highlights next Wednesday, 31st October at 8pm and the show will be available for catch-up in ITV Player.

Revolution Rounds 1-3 are sold out but tickets are still available for the fourth and final round at the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow on 2nd February 2013 - buy tickets here.

GIANT STORE SHOREHAM ROAD BIKE RIDE - SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER

21st October 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

SUNDAY MORNING RIDE WITH THE GIANT STORE SHOREHAM

Join the staff & customers of the Giant Store Shoreham for a road bike ride around the beautiful Sussex countryside.

Meeting on Sunday 28^th October at the Giant Store, Shoreham at 08:50am for a 09:00am roll out, the ride will take in 30 – 40 miles of gentle country lanes (& maybe a quick coffee stop) before returning to the Giant Store for approximately 11:30am. 

Please note that this is the day the clocks go back one hour, so you can make the most of an extra hour in bed & get a morning ride in – Its win-win! 

To make the ride manageable and enjoyable for all, the maximum group size can be no more than 30 people. Therefore, please e-mail the store at info@giant-shoreham.com as soon as possible to reserve your place!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Giger Wins Langkawi Stage Race!

21st October 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant XC racer Fabian Giger wrapped up the overall title at the six-day Langkawi International MTB Challenge Sunday, adding a major late-season victory to his successful 2012 campaign that saw the Swiss rider rise to fifth in the UCI world rankings.

Giger’s teammate, Swedish champion Emil Lindgren, finished fourth overall and won a stage at Langkawi, a third-year event that featured an international lineup of World Cup talent competing in a variety of stage formats, including two marathon stages. Giger and Lindgren both reached the podium riding the new XtC Advanced SL 29er.

After finishing eighth in the opening day prologue, a short 1.8km dash, Giger took over the lead in the first long stage, a 65km race on Round Island. Fresh off his victory two week earlier at a World Cup test event in China, Giger showed he still has top form late in the season. He took the lead early in Stage 1 and went on to win by 37 seconds over Kristian Hynek of the Czech Republic.

Giger won again on Stage 2, extending his GC lead to over two minutes, then rode defensively over the final three days to take the win. Stage 4 was particularly sweet for the Rabobank-Giant team, with Lindgren winning and Giger finishing second.

"This is a memorable win for me," Giger told Cyclingnews.com after winning the overall. "It is quite tough throughout in the overall race in Langkawi considering the heat, humidity, rain, deep trail, slippery tracks and all. But now I am super-happy about winning it today."

Giant Riders Shine at CX World Cup No. 1!

21st October 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant’s World Cup cyclocross team got off to a sizzling start at Sunday’s season opener in the Czech Republic, with the Dutch duo of Sanne van Paassen and Lars van der Haar lighting up the elite men’s and women’s races, and Mike Teunissen winning the men's Under-23 race.

Van Passen, in her first World Cup race for the Rabobank Women's team, scored the win in the women’s race; and van der Haar, in his first World Cup race in the elite men’s category, finished second.

Van Paassen waged a tough battle with American Katie Compton from Trek, then outsprinted Compton to take the win and the early series lead. The 23-year-old Dutch rider started strong, joining a lead group of three on the first lap, then latched onto Compton as she surged off the front later on.

Van Paassen, riding her Giant TCX team bike, doggedly marked Compton until the final lap. Entering the final stretch, Compton jumped first but van Paassen came around the American to take the win.

In men's racing, Van der Haar’s first World Cup race as an elite category pro turned out better than he dreamed it could. The two-time Under-23 World Champion said he was hoping for a top-five on his TCX Advanced SL, but he did better than that, landing on the podium in second place.

“I can’t believe it,” said the young Dutch rider after his surprise finish. “I didn’t expect to go so fast.”

Van der Haar rode aggressively form the start, joining a lead group of four that lasted until there were just two laps to go. Outmanned by the Sunweb-Revor team, which had two men in the lead group, van der Haar did well to finish behind Belgian winner Kevin Pauwels, last year’s World Cup champion, in second.

The World Cup cyclocross series continues next week as racers tackle another round in the Czech Republic, this time in Pizen for round 2.

Giant Shoreham Ladies Night a hit!

17th October 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Thursday saw a large group of female cyclists attend the Giant Store Shoreham Ladies Night - with champagne, nibbles and a goody bag for everyone who attended.

Giant's globe-trotting Product Manager Dave Ward was on hand through the night offering the best nutrition, training, technical and bike fit advice in Giant Shoreham's welcoming retail environment which stocks the widest range of Giant bikes and cycling gear.

Speaking after the event Giant Shoreham owner Rod Lambert said;

"We can't promise big Dave every week but the usual helpful and knowledge Giant Shoreham staff are always on hand till 8pm on a Thursday night!"

Thanks to everyone who attended and be sure to check the Giant Facebook Page for future events.

Giant Partners with Rabobank on Apparel

12th October 2012 - filed under Giant

Starting with the 2013 race season, Giant will be the official apparel sponsor for all Rabobank pro cycling teams. These include the Rabobank men’s road and cyclocross team, the Rabobank-Giant Off-Road team and, with its Liv/giant women’s brand, the Rabobank women’s team led by Olympic and World Champion Marianne Vos.

Giant returns next year as the official bike sponsor of the Rabobank teams for the fifth consecutive year, and, with this new agreement, will also supply all team apparel—including racing, training and casual gear—for Rabobank riders and staff. It also means that Giant, with its extensive global network of retailers, gains the exclusive rights to market and sell Rabobank team apparel worldwide.

“Rabobank and Giant have been great partners since 2009,” said Tony Lo, CEO of Giant. “We build bikes that help them win world championships, and their feedback pushes us to develop world-leading technologies. We’re excited to now extend that partnership into apparel. Giant is committed to elevating our Rider Gear offerings, and this will help pave the way for us to reach the highest level.”

As part of its initiative to expand its rider apparel development, Giant recently appointed industry veteran Stan Mavis as its new Global Executive Director of Rider Gear. Mavis, who co-founded Pearl Izumi in the U.S. and served as president of the Sugoi apparel brand, is spearheading the design and development of apparel for the team.

“Over the last four years Giant has developed cutting-edge bicycles for our riders to win at the world’s most important races,” said Harold Knebel, General Manager for the Rabobank cycling teams. “We’re excited to extend the relationship to include apparel as well as bikes.”

To help produce the highest quality racing kits and give Rabobank riders a competitive edge, Giant has partnered with performance apparel specialists Etxeondo. The Spain (Basque country) based company has a well earned reputation for quality and reliability that pro riders know and trust.

The final development and production process for Rabobank team kits is currently underway. Giant and Rabobank will unveil the new apparel later this year during their 2013 team presentations.

Liv/giant Anthem X 29er W gets the Singletrack thumbs up

10th October 2012 - filed under Product

Singletrack.com's Emily Zinn was the first magazine tester to ride the world's first full suspension 29er designed specifically for women - the all-new Liv/giant Anthem X 29er W.

"Leading the charge in women’s-specific full-suspension 29ers, Giant used the popular Anthem X as a model for the bike billed as the world’s first. Giant, and more specifically Liv/Giant, the women’s segment, is devoted to being cutting-edge in women’s cycling, in tune with what women want."

Giant Factory Team rider Kelli Emmett was instrumental in the bikes development - ensuring a race tuned ride dialled perfectly for female riders.

Read the full write-up at Singletrack.com and check out the full Liv/giant line-up of bikes designed by women for women.

PIT PASS: Kurt Sorge's Giant Glory

10th October 2012 - filed under Product

Even for a fearless big mountain freerider like Kurt Sorge, the recently crowned champion of the 2012 Red Bull Rampage, the terrain at the world’s most extreme MTB contest is beyond intimidating.

That’s why Sorge, who burst onto the scene four years ago when he finished second at the Rampage at age 19, came to this year’s contest in Utah with a few new tricks up his sleeve.

One of those tricks was a new bike. Every year the Rampage terrain gets more extreme—bigger drops, steeper chutes and jaw-dropping jumps. In years past, Sorge competed on his Giant Faith all-mountain machine, but this year he switched to the Giant Glory DH bike—the same one that Giant Factory Team downhillers, including 2011 World Champion Danny Hart, use to beat the terrain and the clock at World Cup downhill races.

“The courses are getting bigger, so I decided last year to make the switch to the Glory for most of the big-mountain competitions,” Sorge explained. “Plus a lot of the riding I do back home in British Columbia is full-on DH stuff, so the Glory is the perfect bike for me.”

Handcrafted with radically shaped ALUXX SL frame tubes to form a lightweight, super-strong chassis, plus  the versatile Maestro Suspension system to handle both high speeds and harsh landings, Glory gives Sorge the added control and stability to soar off cliffs and land mind-boggling tricks like the backflip and Superman seat grab that helped him win the Rampage title.

Sorge, now 23, spent the early part of the 2012 season riding for film shoots in far-reaching corners of the world. He traveled to China, Nepal and Utah to ride some of the most epic terrain on the planet. Midway through the season he injured himself in a crash, and was forced to take six weeks off his bike to recover.
He admits when he arrived and took a look at the new Rampage course, he felt some nerves.

“It’s kind of overwhelming when you first get there,” Sorge said. “That new drop-in was super gnarly, and by the time I got there, some guys had been there for days, or weeks, scouting it out. I had to hike around for a couple days and work it all out. My support team was awesome, helping me build and dial in my lines and get my bike set up perfectly.”

And on race day, everything came together.

“I got out there really, really early that morning,” Sorge said. “The stars were still out. I took two runs, and on my second run I nailed all of the jumps.”

When asked how the win rates among his career accomplishments, Sorge says there is no question: “It’s the biggest accomplishment of my contest career, for sure,” he said. “I really love that style of big-mountain contest. The celebration started the minute my run was over. My team and I partied the night and now I get to come home and chill.”

Here’s a closer look at Kurt’s winning machine:

Kurt Sorge's Giant Glory

Model: 2013 Giant Glory frame polished/black/blue
Frame: ALUXX SL Grade Aluminum with 8-inch Maestro Suspension

Fork: 2013 RockShox Boxxer Solo Air Black Custom Tuned for Rampage

Shock: RockShox Vivid Air custom tuned for Rampage

Handlebar: Truvativ BooBar, 740mm x 30mm

Grips: ODI lockon grips

Stem: Truvativ Holzfeller direct mount 50mm Black

Seatpost: Truvativ Holzfeller straight

Saddle: Fizik Flash Saddle

Pedals: Crank Brothers 50/50

Shifters: SRAM XO 10-speed trigger shifter

Rear Derailleur: SRAM XO DH 10-speed short cage

Brakes: Avid Code

Cassette: SRAM PG1070 11-23

Chain: SRAM PC 1091, hollow pin

Crankset: Truvativ Descendant 170mm
Chainring: Truvativ DH 38th
Chain device: MRP G2 SL

BB: Truvativ GXP 83mm

Rims: DT Swiss FR600

Hubs: DT Swiss 240

Spokes: DT Swiss Competition

Tires: Schwalbe Muddy Mary VertStar First Ride 2.35

Extras: Crank spin restrictor

SUNDAY RIDE WITH THE GIANT STORE RADLETT

9th October 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

This Sunday its the perfect time to stay committed to riding through Autumn - what better way to motivate yourself than a nice road ride with like minded cyclists?

Giant Store Radlett are running a road ride this Sunday - starting and finishing at the Giant Store on Watling Street. Here are the details;

Road ride.

- Start time: 9.30am (Giant Store open from 9am)

- Distance: 20-40 road miles depending on the group - no-one gets left behind

Duration: 2-3 hours depending on the group

Meet: Giant Store Radlett

Finish: Back at the Giant Store Radlett

From this Sunday we are also starting our new Sunday opening hours - from Sunday 14th October the store will be open from 9am - 2pm - so you can pop into the Giant Store before heading for your Sunday lunch. 

The popular Turbo Tuesdays will start again on Tuesday 6^th of November - more details nearer the time.

We look forward to seeing you on a Sunday ride soon - for more details contact the store at info@giant-radlett.co.uk or 01923 850 327 - and don't forget to follow us on Twitter @GiantRadlett

NEW OPENING HOURS AT GIANT STORE TWICKENHAM

8th October 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

The Giant Store Twickenham have new opening hours, you can now book a bike service in Twickenham and browse the latest Giant bikes and cycling gear during these hours;

 

Mon: 9-6

Tues: 9-6

Weds: 9-6 

Thurs: 9 -8

Fri: 9 -6

Sat: 9-6

Sun: 12 -5

Keep Riding Through Autumn Mountain Biking Tips: Part 4

8th October 2012 - filed under Giant

Mountain biking through Autumn can reward you with some of the most stunning scenery and best riding of the year - think crisp sunny mornings, golden woodlands and quiet trails - but it’s also colder and wetter so planning ahead and making some simple changes to your routine are essential to get the most out of your rides. We’ve picked some key tips to keep you riding through Autumn;

- Stay safe: Autumn means rapidly changing weather conditions and short days – what started out as a nice crisp morning can soon become a cold, wet, windy afternoon getting dark fast. If you are heading out then plan your journey, ideally ride in a group and let someone know where you plan to ride and when to expect you home. If you are heading further afield then don’t rely on a phone signal or GPS – carry a map and make sure you know where you are – Autumn woodlands are notoriously difficult to navigate as fallen leaves obscure paths and landmarks. Make sure you carry emergency food and supplies in your pack in case your ride lasts much longer than expected and learn essential ‘get-me-home’ maintenance for your ride.

- Riding technique: when conditions are wet, ride with more care – ride at slower speeds with a more cautious approach to obstacles and turns and remember that wet roots and rocks can become very slippy so pick your line well. Trail centres are a good option at this time of year – they are designed for year round use and drain better than natural trails – so you are less likely to round a bend and be faced with a huge pool of mud to negotiate. Stay in the saddle as much as possible for better rear wheel traction – and lower tyre pressures slightly or consider switching tyres – but remember mud specific tyres are not good for use on tarmac.

- Maintenance: prevention is always better and cheaper than cure – so keep your bike clean and lubricated. Use a bike specific cleaner, and never use washing up liquid which contains corrosive salt. Following a good clean use a wet lube but avoid over application – too much lube and your chain will simply attract dirt. Remember that brake pads wear a lot quicker in the wetter months so make sure you check them regularly. Check your shock and fork pressures to make sure your ride is running at its optimum and if you are unsure of what pressures to run speak to your local Giant Retailer  who will be able to help. It’s also a great time to book a bike service to make sure that any moving parts aren’t worn out or concealing hidden dirt that will accelerate wear.

- Mudguards: the number one essential for Autumn mountain biking has to be mudguards – a decent set of clip-on mudguards will protect your bike, back and face from the worst of the mud, while allowing enough clearance to prevent clogging.

- Clothing: layers are key to comfort and warmth in Autumn – wear lightweight, breathable layers that trap pockets of air and keep you warm rather than fewer layers of heavy weight material which allow less adjustment out on the trails, starting with a good quality baselayer. Avoid cotton tee-shirts that tend to soak up sweat making you get cold and uncomfortable if you slow the pace. Wind / waterproof gloves are essential for keeping fingers warm and dry. Carry a lightweight waterproof which even if unused during riding is useful if you need to stop and will offer protection in a sudden downpour.

- Hydration: even though it’s colder, hydration is still essential for performance during colder months. You are likely to sweat slightly less so might not need to take in quite as much fluid, but your energy consumption will be at least as high – so mix energy drinks using a higher concentration to compensate and carry extra energy gels, bars or natural snacks such as dried fruit to keep yourself fuelled. A hydration pack allows you to carry more liquid combined with extra storage space for clothing end essentials – an integrated mouthpiece cover prevents your drink being contaminated by mud thrown up from your tyres. A high quality reservoir is easy to clean post-ride.

Here are our tips but we would love to hear yours!

Tell us your Autumn Cycling Tips on the Giant Facebook page or on Twitter @GiantUK by Monday 22nd October for your chance to win one of 10 pairs of 1 x white and 1 x red Giant Numen Touch Strap Lights.

Coming up - Your Autum Cycling Tips! We will publish our favourite tips on Monday 22nd October so get posting them now on our Giant Facebook Page.


Useful Links

Commuting by bike

British Cycling Autumnh Ride Guide

British Cycling Club Finder

RoadCyclingUK wet weather riding tips

Active.com wet weather riding tips

BikeSkills.com wet weather riding tips

Sorge Wins Red Bull Rampage!

8th October 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Four years after he exploded onto the international mountain bike scene with a second-place finish at the 2008 Red Bull Rampage, Giant rider Kurt Sorge returned to the red rocks of Virgin, Utah, and went one better. With a jaw-dropping run on his Giant Glory, the 23-year-old Canadian captured the biggest prize that exists in big-mountain freeride competition, first place at the 2012 Red Bull Rampage.

“It all came together,” Sorge said after his win. “The run was gnarly but I’m just glad I got it together for myself and for first place. It was actually fun, one of the funnest runs I’ve ever ridden in my life.”

The finals came down to two runs, with the best score counting. With the extreme red rock cliffs, desert terrain, and biggest jumps in the history of the event serving as their stadium, Rampage riders can choose, and even build, their own lines. Sorge and his crew spent the days leading up to the finals dialing in his line.

“Yeah, this is not a one-man team for Rampage,” Sorge said, crediting his Giant mechanics and crew for giving him the support to tackle the extreme terrain.

Sorge hit the course charging, dropping a fearless line and launching a no-hander off a precarious drop. He wowed the crowed with his aggressive lines, showing confidence in his Glory bike to stay on track. The two clinchers for taking the top score were a huge backflip into the Fang Snakepit and a stretched out Superman seat grab.

Keep Riding Through Autumn Road Cycling Tips: Part 3

7th October 2012 - filed under Giant

Keeping up the training as the weather gets colder and wetter is tough – when the wind is howling, it’s cold, raining and still dark outside it’s difficult to face getting out of bed some days – let alone head out for a few hours on the bike. But once you are out there you soon warm up and feel glad you aren’t missing riding time – it’s only water! Here a few key tips to make sure your training stays on form through Autumn;

- Strength in numbers: what better for motivation than not wanting to let others down? Organise regular rides with your friends, choose a specific time and day and stick to it whatever the weather, or to take your training to the next level join a local cycling club (find yours on the British Cycling Cycling Club Finder). At this time of year clubs who race in the Summer will normally be happy to take it a little easier especially if there is a newcomer – a few weeks of riding in a group will really improve your fitness and pace, plus you will learn new routes you never knew existed and hot drinks stops invaluable as it gets colder – it’s easy to forget hydration when the weather is cooler but becoming dehydrated will seriously hamper your performance so make sure you carry a couple of water bottles.

- Fenders: if you follow the first tip – these are essential – you won’t be asked back if you spend a few hours throwing water and dirt into the faces of your friends! But a pair of full wrap fenders are time and time again rated as the number one Autumn and Winter cycling essential – keep yourself and your bike cleaner.

- Tyres: all condition tyres with puncture protection and some tread are essential Autumn gear – offering improved grip and resistance to road debris and pothole punctures. Lowering tyre pressure 5-10 psi improves contact with the road surface but also makes them more puncture prone so find your perfect balance and check tyre pressures before every ride. Always carry a seat pack with a couple of spare inner tubes, puncture repair kit and mini pump and if you are unsure, check out an online video for quick tyre change technique so you can get straight back into your ride.

- Lighting: the days get shorter and no matter how well planned your rides are, chances are if you have a puncture or ride further or longer than expected then you might get caught out by low light conditions. Fit a good front light and rear light and as a minimum make sure you always carry some lightweight lights that can be fitted in low light conditions to ensure you are seen by other road users.

- Riding technique: Avoid road markings and manhole covers – if you can’t avoid them then avoid changes of speed or direction while passing over them – stay in the saddle to keep your centre of gravity low and pedal with a smooth gentle action. When it’s safe to do so steer clear of puddles and gathered leaves which may be slippy and conceal hidden hazards such as potholes and drain covers – if you can’t avoid them then approach them with caution in a similar way to road markings and manhole covers. If you are riding in a group be sure to warn fellow cyclists of any dangers with a hand signal and a call and be alert to the warnings of others – and everyone’s braking distances increase in the wet so ride smoothly, consistently and considerately. Treat bends with extra caution.

- Keep it clean: your pride and joy is bristling with expensive components that help make gear changes, steering and braking smooth and quiet – a little TLC goes a long way as the weather begins to throw more dirt and water at these pricy parts – road salt eats bikes. Remember that prevention is better (and far cheaper and quicker) than cure. Clean your bike regularly using a bike specific cleaner – never use household washing up liquid because this contains salt which speeds up corrosion. Allow your bike to dry completely before lubricating – use heavier weight chain oil such as Finish Line Wet Lube and avoid applying too much, wipe away any excess – leaving too much lube on the chain simply attracts dirt.

- Keep training: if the weather throws its worst at you and you really can’t face heading out on the bike then a good turbo trainer can be a great alternative – spinning while you catch up on the weeks telly in warm comfy surroundings with hot drinks on tap isn’t all that bad! It’s also a great time of year to mix up your training – running, swimming and gentle cycling specific gym work will all help build strength and maintain fitness.

Here are our tips but we would love to hear yours!

Tell us your Autumn Cycling Tips on the Giant Facebook page  or on Twitter @GiantUK by Monday 22nd October for your chance to win one of 10 pairs of 1 x white and 1 x red Giant Numen Touch Strap Lights.

Coming up - Autum Mountain Biking Tips

Keep Riding Through Autumn Commuting Tips: Part 2

6th October 2012 - filed under Giant

Commuting through Autumn can be really rewarding – you ride to work for a reason so why let the changing weather change your habits in Autumn. There are lots of online tips for Autumn commuting and your local Giant Retailer is a great place to visit for advice, but we have picked some key tips for commuting by bike through Autumn;

- Tyres: when roads are cold and wet it’s time to switch to a suitable tyre that offers all condition grip. It’s also worth considering running slightly lower than usual tyre pressure – around 5-10 psi lower than you normally use when riding in dry conditions. Remember tyre pressure is a balancing act – lowering pressures slightly means more rubber in contact with the road for improved grip – but it also makes them more susceptible to punctures – so a good winter tyre with puncture protection is essential as there is more debris and hidden dangers such as potholes heading into Autumn.

- Lighting: if you’re commuting to and from work then chances are during Autumn you will be riding in low light and dark conditions. Fit reliable front lights and rear lights, consider additional lighting such as a helmet light which is higher to increase visibility and ensure any luggage doesn’t obscure lights – remember that lighting doesn’t necessarily help you see – but it is essential to make sure other road users can see you.

- Clothing: it’s a tricky time of year to choose what to wear and this comes down largely to personal preference (Some people like lycra even if it’s wet, some people prefer waterproofs all round). But the most important thing is being bright and visible and being able to adjust on the move as conditions change – so layers are important, starting with a good baselayer, and it’s always worth keeping a compact waterproof, if nothing else for the protection it offers from chill when the wind picks up. Consider water / wind proof gloves for rainy days.

- Luggage: If you prefer travelling light then a waterproof seat pack is a must, but if you are riding most days and have more to carry then it’s worth taking a look at a rack and waterproof panniers – far comfier than carrying a heavy backpack or shoulder bag. Commuting bikes like the Escape City and Escape City W come fitted with racks and fenders, and others such as the TCX 2 come with mounts capable of fitting racks – your Giant Retailer will be able to advise you.

- Fenders: these will make the biggest difference – it’s surprising how much water and dirt is thrown up off the road surfaces by your tyres – choose a well fitted pair of full wrap fenders. An extra tip for wet weather commuting is to use a section of discarded inner tube as a rubber barrier around the junction of your seatpost and frame – this helps prevent water and grime seeping inside the frame, reducing the likelihood of corrosion. Keep your bike clean, lubricated and regularly serviced to reduce wear and tear on components and keep moving parts working smoothly and quietly.

- Riding technique: as roads become cold and wet they become slippery so you should adjust your riding style accordingly. Approach bends with more caution, try and avoid puddles when safe to do so as these may conceal hidden dangers such as potholes, and drain covers, in the same way avoid gathered leaves which are also likely to be a skidding hazard. Be extra aware of painted road markings and manhole covers – if possible avoid these, especially when turning. If you can’t avoid them, then try and stay seated to keep your centre of gravity low, pedal smoothly and softly (no punchy movements or hard pedalling which can cause loss of traction) and avoid braking and changes of direction or speed while passing over the slippy section. Remember that your braking distances will be longer as will the braking distance of other road users.

- Planning ahead: in the Autumn you are more likely to get wet and dirty riding to work, so make sure you have plenty of clean and dry clothes at work, some people even carry in days of clothing in advance when it promises to be a dry day. Find a place at work which is warm and dry where you can hang riding clothes to dry and keep a spare set of riding clothes at work so if by the end of the day wet clothes from the morning haven’t dried, you aren’t forced to start your ride damp. If you do ride home in the same kit use a good quality chamois cream or Sudocrem to prevent chaffing and soreness.

Here are our tips but we would love to hear yours!

Tell us your Autumn Cycling Tips on the Giant Facebook page or onTwitter @GiantUK by Monday 22nd October for your chance to win one of 10 pairs of 1 x white and 1 x red Giant Numen Touch Strap Lights.

Coming up - Autumn Road Cycling Tips and Autum Mountain Biking Tips

Win With Giant - The truth about road frame testing.

5th October 2012 - filed under Product

We're not going to be silent any more.

We’ve never before presented the data you find here. These are the test results comparing our premium road bicycle frames against those of our relevant competitors.

We purchased their full production framesets– the same framesets anyone can buy - and tested them alongside our handcrafted TCR Advanced SL, TCR Advanced and TCR Composite full production framesets. We test in three key areas: Weight, Steering Stiffness, and Pedalling Stiffness.

Some of our competitors have done these same tests but they don’t include Giant in their published results. That’s because the Giant bikes are superior, and they can’t figure out a way around that superiority. So they just leave Giant out.

Visit www.WinWithGiant.com and view the video now, and download the test data here.

Video: CX World Champ Lars van der Haar

5th October 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

After dominating the Under-23 cyclocross scene the last two years, winning the World Championship twice, as well as the World Cup overall and the Dutch and European Championships, Rabobank-Giant rider Lars van der Haar is making the move up to the elite category this year.

Lars started his 2012-13 season in mid-September at the CrossVegas UCI race in the United States. Before that race, which he won in 2011, the 21-year-old talked about his racing background, why he loves ’cross, his new TCX Advanced SL bike, and his goals for the upcoming season.

It’s all in this video, check it out!

Keep Riding Through Autumn Cycling Tips: Part 1

4th October 2012 - filed under Giant

It’s that time of year; the weather is getting colder and even wetter, the days are getting shorter. There are loads of great reasons to get out on two wheels through Autumn and let’s face it - after this Summer’s washout, riding in Autumn can’t be much worse than cycling in Summer anyway!

Winter miles make Summer smiles as the old saying goes – and Autumn counts too in our book – carry on riding through Autumn and into Winter and before you know it you will be heading back towards warmer weather feeling fitter than ever – it beats dusting off the bike in Spring to find that you have some Winter padding to shed.

Fitter people tend to be healthier and avoid picking up as many bugs – a recent LSE study calculated that cyclists take on average one less sick day a year than non-cyclist colleagues.

You will be uniquely positioned on two wheels to enjoy the striking scenery Autumn offers, and with shorter days you’ll enjoy dramatic sunsets and sun rises while others miss out tackling more stressful and less energetic commutes – even better you won’t have to scrape the ice off your car windscreen and of course you can continue to save fuel and therefore money.

General Autumn Bike Riding Tips

There is a lot of advice available online, but it’s always worth speaking face to face with cycling experts – the team at your local Giant Retailer will undoubtedly have at least one person who rides right through Winter (maybe they all do!) – here are a few simple tips to get you thinking about riding this Autumn;

- Lighting: even if you aren’t planning riding after dark, shorter days can catch you out so always carry some lightweight lights, just in case.

- Clothing: layers keep you warm by trapping air but can be removed if you warm up. Use a good quality baselayer and wrap up just enough so you feel cool for the first 10 minutes or so of cycling – otherwise you will get too hot quickly. Use wind / waterproof gloves as your fingers get cold quickly. Carry a lightweight waterproof and make sure you use bright and reflective clothing especially important in low light. Avoid wearing cotton tee-shirts as they tend to hang on to sweat and get cold and uncomfortable if you slow your pace.

- Mudguards: it’s surprising how much water and dirt is thrown up off damp or wet roads even when it’s not raining – keep yourself dry and protect your bike by fitting a decent pair of full fenders / mudguards.

- Pre-Winter Service: you’ve put the miles in over Summer, so now is the perfect time to get your bike thoroughly checked out, cleaned, lubed and if you are lucky enough to own a separate Winter bike then it’s time to get it ready. If you use the same bike year round, take special care to keep your bike well cleaned and lubricated during Autumn and Winter. Contact your local Giant Retailer for a service and remember they may be fully booked so speak to them soon to ensure you get the slot you want.

- Plan ahead: whatever bike riding you are into – Autumn can throw nasty surprises at you weather wise and closing light can easily catch you out. Plan your journeys, plan for changing conditions, be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on weather forecasts.

Here are our tips but we would love to hear yours!

Tell us your Autumn Cycling Tips on the Giant Facebook page or on Twitter @GiantUK by Monday 22nd October for your chance to win one of 10 pairs of 1 x white and 1 x red Giant Numen Touch Strap Lights.

Coming up - Autumn Commuting Tips, Autumn Road Cycling Tips and Autum Mountain Biking Tips

Giger Wins in China!

30th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank-Giant cross-country racer Fabian Giger chalked up a late-season victory Saturday at the Guiyang MTB Invitation race in China. The 25-year-old Swiss rider, currently ranked fifth in the world, used his new XtC Advanced SL 29er to score the win at a venue being considered for World Cup competition next year.

Giger’s teammate Emil Lindgren also had a strong race, finishing fourth.

Racing on a 4.1km course that could see World Cup action as early as next year, Giger broke away early with fellow Swiss rider Martin Gujan and Frenchman Maxime Marotte. The three stayed together for the first three of seven laps, then Giger made his move on lap four. He fought off the chasers all the way to the finish, beating Gujan by just under a minute.

Lindgren finished fourth, 2:10 back, and a third Rabobank-Giant rider, Henk Jaap Moorlag, finished 10th.

Matt Bottrill's TCR Advanced SL

28th September 2012 - filed under Product

National 100 mile time-trial champion Matt Bottrill recently gave UK cycling website www.VeloUK.net the lowdown on his Giant TCR Advanced SL.

Normally Matt's weapon of choice is the Giant Trinity Advanced SL time-trial machine, designed to slice through the air and provide him with the optimum aerodynamic position - crucial when racing the clock. But when he needs to put in some serious training miles its the TCR Advanced SL he turns to.

Fast, light, stiff, with laser precision handling, TCR Advanced SL has an extra string in it's bow - it's also comfortable.

Click here to read Matt Bottrill's full review on VeloUK.

Strong Reviews For New Trance X 29er!

25th September 2012 - filed under Product

The all-new Trance X 29er was unveiled in August, and first ride impressions have been appearing on websites and magazine pages over the past month. Editors from some of the world’s top cycling publications have been weighing in on Giant’s new trail machine, praising its agile trail manners and confident ride.

“First impressions suggest the big-wheeled Trance will be an ideal trail-munching machine,” reported Bikeradar.com editor James Huang after a test ride in the rugged backcountry of British Columbia, Canada. “[With] 29-inch wheels, big tires, excellent suspension, solid build kit and stock dropper post, it’s quite the machine for devouring long stretches of singletrack.”

Pinkbike.com also posted a review from Brad Walton, stating: “Giant has gone 29” with the 2013 Trance X 29er, designed to be a wicked fast 5” trail bike for the Enduro, Super D, or epic trail rider. Giant’s concept for the Trance X 29er spurs from a melding of the benefits of the 29” wheel with a more aggressive geometry, creating a fast and flickable chassis for the ultimate trail bike.”

And just last week, Dirt Rag posted its review after testing out the new 29er at the Outdoor Demo tradeshow event in Bootleg Canyon, Nevada. “I walked away impressed with the Trance X 29er’s efficiency while pedaling, and its lively handling,” reported Stephen Haynes.

For more information on the Trance X 29er, click here. And to read the complete reviews, check out these sites:

Bikeradar.com

Pinkbike.com

DirtRag

A HATRICK OF 100 MILE TT TITLES

24th September 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

This weekend saw Giant Shoreham's time trial specialist, Rob Pelham add the East Sussex Cycling Association (ESCA) 100 Mile TT title to the Southern Counties Cycling Union (SCCU) & Sussex Cycling Association (SCA) titles he has already picked up this season;

"During the SCCU race there was a fierce electrical storm with the heaviest rain I have ever raced in. Fortunately this was quite localised & I finished in glorious sunshine." said Rob.

"On the startsheet for the SCA 100 there were quite a few 'big names' from around the country, all in search of a fast 100 time for their British Best All-Rounder qualifiers so I was particularly pleased to be the only rider under 4 hours & in doing so winning the event by nearly 7 minutes from second place."

The race Rob really wanted to do well in was the ESCA.

"Part of the course uses my clubs home 10 mile course. It also passes within a mile of home so my Wife & Son were able to come out & cheer me on in the closing stages. This was probably the hardest I have ever raced. The temperature on the day in the 80's really added to the difficulty & without my helpers on the day handing up drinks bottles I'd never have finished. In the end it turned out to be a close race between me & Andy Miles who'd travelled over from Kent. My finishing time of 3:54:52 was 1:03 quicker than Andy. 3rd place was another 7 minutes back."

Congratulations Rob on a great season!

Gold Again! Vos Wins Road Worlds!

22nd September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

The 2012 dream season continues for Marianne Vos, who on Saturday rode her Giant TCR Advanced SL to victory in the UCI Road World Championships. The 25-year-old, who just last month won Olympic gold, won the world championship on home turf, riding for The Netherlands team and launching her winning move on the famed Cauberg climb.

Vos, who had finished second at five World Championship road races in past years, came into Saturday's 129km circuit race motivated to break through for gold. The leader of the first-year Rabobank Women’s Team has been unstoppable all year long, winning the cyclocross world championship, the road World Cup, the Olympics in London, and now the rainbow jersey.

“This is so amazing,” Vos said after the win. “That last climb of the Cauberg was incredible. I was in so much pain but the crowd was amazing. I wanted to attack so bad, and when that ends up working, it’s really super. London was nice, and I thought it couldn’t get any better, but this does get pretty close.”

The Dutch women’s team rose to the occasion with a smart, powerful display that set Vos up for the win. Her teammate Anna van der Breggen joined an early breakaway of five riders, and Vos bridged up to the leaders with two laps to go. One lap later, Vos made her move on the Cauberg.

“The team did a really good job,” Vos said. “Everything was right today.”

Vos said that even with all her recent accomplishments, she was extremely motivated to win the rainbow jersey in front of her home crowd.

“The last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to take London’s gold out of my mind and just focus on this championship,” she said. “But now I can finally start looking back at those beautiful races.”

Winning Debut for Van Paassen!

20th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant kept its Las Vegas win streak alive Wednesday night, as 23-year-old Dutch cyclocross racer Sanne van Paassen won the 2012 CrossVegas cyclocross race in her first appearance in the Rabobank-Giant colors. In the men's race, 2011 men's winner, Under-23 World Champion Lars van der Haar, finished fourth under the lights in the Nevada desert.

CrossVegas, a midweek event that’s part of the Interbike bicycle industry trade show, is the annual American cyclocross season opener. Once again, large crowds gathered Wednesday night to watch the first UCI Category 1 race of the season.

Van Paassen, a new addition to the powerhouse Rabobank-Giant team, was racing her Giant TCX Advanced SL team bike for the first time. It was also her first time racing in the U.S.

The 2010-2011 World Cup champion came into the race as one of the favorites, and she kicked off her season on a winning note. Marked by her competitors, van Paassen rode a tactically strong race, staying out of trouble near the front and attacking at precisely the right moment.

“It was like a road race,” van Paassen told Cyclocross magazine after her win. “I waited, waited, waited because it was so hard but it [the course] looked easy.”

The Dutch rider said she enjoyed racing under the lights at her first American event: “It’s beautiful, the crowds are wonderful. It’s almost like Belgium!”

The men took to the course after the women, with van der Haar in Las Vegas to defend his title from last year. The U23 World Champion showed strong early-season form on his TCX Advanced SL, animating the race and finishing fourth, just 3 seconds off the podium and 30 seconds behind winner Jeremy Powers of the U.S.

Giant Twist Express W: A lot of e-bike for not much money.

19th September 2012 - filed under Product

Giant Twist Express W pedal assisted bike features on the website for pedal powered people Road.cc - with testers awarding Giant's Hybrid Cycling Technology equipped commuter bike 4 stars.

"It's a great bike for the money and one you should consider if you like the idea of cycling to work but you're not quite ready to commit to the effort of doing it all under your own steam."

With a huge choice of 'electric bikes' now available it is more difficult than ever to choose the right one for your needs - but Giant have invested heavily in their Hybrid Cycling Technology and a reputation for high quality bikes sets Giant apart from many competing options. Giant own the production facilities that produce it's bikes so it can control the process from start to finish and Giant's innovative technical features ensure that power is delivered when it is most needed to give you greater range.

"From the ground up this feels like a quality bike. The AluXX frame and form are tidily welded and nicely finished, and the frame design (this is the step-through version, a men's diamond frame is also available) is clean and hides the electric equipment well."

If you are thinking of taking up cycling to work then a pedal assisted bike could be the perfect option, working seamlessly with your own ability to help flatten hills and ensure you arrive at work fresh for the day ahead - it's a great way to get started.

"the new benchmark for cycle-to-work-friendly e-bikes"

Read the full Giant Twist Express W review on Road.cc.

Giant TCR Advanced - "A superlative ride"

18th September 2012 - filed under Product

Giant's TCR Advanced 2 recently featured on BikeRadar.com, described as "super light, powerful and ultra precise" - if you are looking for the best carbon road bike out there right now you need look no further;

"A superlative ride with confident handling that will take your riding to a new level"

It's been a great year for Giant with some brilliant test results and the Triathlon Plus / Bikerad.com review of Giant's TCR Advanced is no exception;

"If you’ve been studying bike test form recently, then you’d be daft to bet against Giant when it comes to ride quality at any price. The TCR Advanced is a proper thoroughbred that will delight both experienced race jockeys and those just moving from a canter to a fast gallop."

Testers once again used the phrase most associated with Giant's TCR Advanced bikes - 'confidence inspiring' - with Giant's hand woven, hand crafted Advanced Composite technology and a host of cutting edge performance technologies Giant road bikes give you the confidence to climb, descend and corner faster than ever befor.

Read the full BikeRadar review of the Giant TCR Advanced here, and check out the full 2013 Giant TCR Advanced line-up.

Jon Tiernan-Locke wins Tour of Britain

17th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Endura Racing's Jon Tiernan-Locke sealed victory in the 2012 Tour of Britain, becoming the first British winner in the modern history of the race. The win is Endura Racing's 43rd of the 2012 season which Tiernan-Locke kicked off back in February with a stylish win in the Tour Méditerranéen.

The Tour of Britain's final stage from Reigate to Guildford was a lively one. Bobridge (Orica GreenEDGE), Kreder (Vacansoleil), Richardson (IG Sigma Sport) and Williams (Node4-Giordana) broke clear early on and they stayed away until the final classified climb at Barhatch Lane. At the foot of the climb, with just under 50km to go, Team NetApp applied significant pressure and briefly fractured the peloton. Tiernan-Locke remained calm and controlled, waiting for his team-mates and the re-grouping that came over the following kilometres.

Bobridge made a long break for the line, but Endura Racing and Sky ProCycling worked to bring that move and another couple of late attacks back for the bunch sprint. Mark Cavendish (Sky ProCycling) marked his last race in the World Champion's jersey with a stage win and Russ Downing finished a close fourth in front of a huge crowd in Guildford. Jon came home safely towards the front of the bunch to secure IG Markets gold jersey.

1st Jon Tiernan-Locke
13th Paul Voß
33rd Russ Downing
52nd Jonny McEvoy
62nd Ian Bibby
DNF Zak Dempster

Speaking after the race Jon Tiernan-Locke said;

"We had a relatively comfortable day of it up until the last KoM when NetApp pulled a full on lead-out into the climb and tried to split the bunch to pieces. I knew that Sky would want to bring things back for Cav, so there was no point in really going for it then as they'd be riding so quickly that nothing could stay away. Paul [Voß] looked like he wanted to go for it, but we decided just to wait for it to re-group."

He continued;

"It's been a great week and thanks to the whole team for making it happen. It's not really sunk yet to be honest - guessing that will come over the next few days."

Check out the gallery of images from the 2012 Tour of Britain.

Endura Racing ride the Giant TCR Advanced SL frameset and use the Giant Contact SLR stem.

Giant reveal full 2013 line-up

15th September 2012 - filed under Giant

Giant's full 2013 line-up is the result of 40 years experience producing the very best bikes and cycling gear to make your journey, adventure - whatever your reason for riding - that bit more special.

This year Giant introduces the all new Trance X 29'er - the ultimate trail bike. Featuring 5 inches of plush, progressive Maestro Suspension Technology travel and a premium AluxX SL aluminium frameset with cutting edge technologies all optimised for faster rolling 29 inch diameter wheels.

Also new is theLiv/giant Anthem X 29er W - a 4 inch XC race bike optimised for faster rolling 29 inch wheels and specifically designed to meet the needs of female riders. Check out a video of the new Anthem X 29er W here.

The Giant Glory downhill bike is completely revamped for 2013 - designed for Danny Hart and featuring World Champion stripes graphics.

On the road there are now more bikes featuring electronic shifters, like the Giant Trinity Composite 0 carbon triathlon bike that will help make your tri times faster,Defy Advanced 0 endurance bike featuring a lightweight and compliant Advanced Composite technology frame perfect for the demands of long challenge rides and sportives, and the flagship Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 - fetauring 11 speed Shimano Dura-Ace electronic shifting.

The multiple test winning Giant Defy road bike series is back along with the Liv'giant female specific Avail - made from premium lightweight aluminium tubes and produced in Giant's own forging facility so quality and performance can be controlled from start to finish, it's the best road bike available - handling better than bikes costing thousands more - if you are looking for your first road bike with serious potential or looking to get into road cyling following the Summer of sport - look no further.

Giant has also launched a new range of off-road 29'er wheelsystems - including carbon rims - the Giant P-XCR 0 29'er - featuring cutting edge technologies and reliable DT Swiss hub internals. There are more tyres available in 2013 and completely revampedhelmet, inflation and bottle and cage line-ups.

Hop in now and take a look through our new improved range and tell us what you think on the Giant Facebook page and Giant Twitter feed.

Keep an eye on the official Giant online shop where the new Giant range will be available soon and find them in your nearest Giant retailer.

Jon Tiernan-Locke takes lead in Tour of Britain

14th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Endura Racing's Jon Tiernan-Locke swept into the IG Markets Gold Jersey in the Tour of Britain today in Wales with an impressive display of climbing in the race's Queen stage.

The Endura Racing team were instrumental in bringing back the break of the day, which had slipped clear early in the 190km stage from Welshpool to Caerphilly, and delivered the rider from Devon in exactly the right spot to launch his assault on the overall classification.

The six strong break - Backstedt (UK Youth), Bialoblocki (Node 4-Giordana), Briggs (Raleigh-GAC), Craven (IG-Sigma Sport), Ghyllebert (An Post-Sean Kelly) and House (Rapha Condor) - were swept up by the chase group on the lower slopes of Caerphilly Mountain and that was the cue for Jon to launch a blistering attack. He overhauled the last of the escapees just before the summit before Briggs managed to latch on to his wheel and the pair swept down the mountain together. Briggs dropped back as they headed to the second passage of the Mountain and at the same time, Leo König (Team NetApp) bridged up to Jon from the chaser group.

König jumped Tiernan-Locke with a few hundred metres to go and rode on to take the stage with Jon close behind in second. Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp) led in the remains of the peloton some 18 seconds down on the winner. Jon's gap over the bunch and the six second bonus gained for second place saw him assume the race lead with a 13 seconds gap to Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEDGE) and 18 seconds over Haas in third.

Saturday's stage sees Jon defend his lead on his home roads in Devon over a gruelling 173km route from Barnstaple to Dartmouth. The stage starts at 10:15 GMT and will be shown live on ITV4 from 13:15 GMT.

Speaking after the stage Jon Tiernan-Locke said;

"The stage went almost exactly as we'd talked about this morning. As we headed into the last part of the stage, Jonny [McEvoy] and Russ [Downing] rode hard on the front before Paul [Voß] took me right start of the climb and I took it from there."
 
He continued;

"The descent off the top was tough as it's not that fast and you have to pedal it, so I knew the bunch would be able to close the gap. Very happy with how the stage went and it's going to be awesome to race in front of my home crowd tomorrow, but I've got to take some more time from those around me on GC."

Jon Tiernan-Locke extends Tour of Britain lead

14th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Endura Racing's Jon Tiernan-Locke takes an 18 second lead into the final stage of the 2012 Tour of Britain after a fascinating day of tactical racing in front of huge crowds in Devon.

The 173km stage from Barnstaple to Dartmouth started at a ferocious pace and within 20km of the start Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEDGE) had whittled three seconds back from the overnight leader by winning the first intermediate sprint in Great Torrington. A five strong break then established itself, with five more riders bridging up to take the lead group to 10 and Endura Racing moved to the front of the peloton to control the gap.

Ian Bibby Jonny McEvoy, Russ Downing & Paul Voß were rarely off the front of the bunch and they brought the lead down to a manageable level of around two minutes allowing the escapees were allowed to mop up the time bonuses available in the last 20km of the stage.

With around 10km to go, Jon burst from the front of the peloton, dragging a small group of riders clear on the tough run in to Dartmouth's promenade and they worked hard to distance the peloton. Up front, the stage was won by Pablo Urtasun Pérez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) from Marc De Maar (UnitedHealthcare) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) in third. Jon's group came over the line 47 seconds further back and he now holds an 18 second lead over Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp).

Speaking afterwards Endura Racing Sports Director Alex Sans Vega said;

"The stage went well for us today, although it was a little stressful after the first KoM of the day as the pace was very high and it looked like the bunch would fracture very early. However, it regrouped and once the break were able to establish a decent lead it settled down again. We came to the front to keep things under control. NetApp worked with us to get Leo König [winner of stage 6] up to the break, but the guys did most of the work and did a great job. In the last 10km the fight for GC started again and Jon went on the attack to gain time and managed that too."

He continued;

"Tomorrow we need to ride intelligently and make sure that we keep Jon in the right position. Everyone is riding well and we're looking good."

Sunday's final stage takes the race from Reigate to Guildford over 148km and features four categorised climbs in the Surrey Hills.


GP Impanis - Van Petegem (UCI 1.1)

Ian Wilkinson finished in an impressive 6th place against a top class field as Andrè Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) won in a bunch sprint in Belgium.

Vos Wins Holland Ladies Tour!

10th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Olympic gold medalist Marianne Vos of the Rabobank Women’s Team added another major win to her incredible 2012 season, taking the final stage and the overall title at the Holland Ladies Tour, a six-day stage race that concluded near Limburg Sunday. It was Vos’s fourth consecutive win at the biggest women’s stage race in The Netherlands.

Vos took the overall honors by winning the final stage on her TCR Advanced SL. She started Sunday’s final stage, the Queen’s stage through South Limburg, in second place overall, 24 seconds behind German Charlotte Becker of the Specialized-lululemon team. The Olympic champ went on the attack, joined by Becker’s teammate Evelyn Stevens, who was further down in the GC. The two frontrunners gapped the rest of the field, and Vos won the sprint at the line to take the overall win.

“I’m very happy with this win,” Vos said. “In Dutch stage races you have to give it your best, you cannot relax at any time.”

Vos's Rabobank team put in a solid team time trial on the second stage of the race, finishing third but conceding 57 seconds to Specialized-lululemon. Vos spent the rest of the week trying to gain back time. She won Stage 4, and then finished off the winning effort in the final stage.

The Rabobank Women's team will stay in Limburg, site of the upcoming 2012 UCI Road World Championships, to prepare. Competition kicks off next weekend, and lasts through September 23.

Carlson Wins Oregon Enduro Series!

10th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Josh Carlson of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team captured the overall series title of the Oregon Enduro Series in the U.S., winning the September 8-9 Finals at Mt. Hood and Sandy Ridge to earn the championship. Carlson’s teammate Kelli Emmett took top honors in the women’s overall series finals.

Carlson, an Australian now based in Vancouver, Canada, came to North America this season to focus on the growing off-road discipline of enduro racing. The Oregon series draws many of the top North American pros in a season-long points competition.

“I’m so stoked to win the series,” Carlson said. “This is my first year acing enduro, I was hoping to place top-five for the year and maybe crack the podium at a few races. Every race has had a stacked pro field and racing times have been ridiculously tight.”

Carlson dominated the final weekend of racing, which featured seven stage in two days. Day 1 had three stages descending Mt. Hood, and Day 2 had four stages on the windy, wooded trails of nearby Sandy Ridge.

“I chose to race my 5-inch-travel Giant Trance X, which was the perfect choice,” Carlson said. “Every stage was rocky and fast, so I went for a heavier tire set up.”

In the end, Carlson won four of the seven stages in the final weekend at Mt. Hood and Sandy Ridge.

Emmett, who won several races throughout the year in the five-race series, took the overall title in the pro women’s category. She won the final weekend's race at Mt. Hood riding her Anthem X Advanced 29er.

Van der Heijden, Giger Shine at Worlds

9th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Michiel van der Heijden led a strong effort by the Rabobank-Giant cross-country riders at the 2012 Mountain Bike World Championships, taking home the silver medal in the Under-23 mens’ XC race. Van der Heijden’s Swiss teammate Fabian Giger also had a terrific race in the elite men’s XC event, finishing top-five for his best Worlds finish ever.

Van der Heijden, the 2010 junior men’s XC World Champion from The Netherlands, rode aggressively on his Giant XtC Advanced SL, attacking the course in Saalfelden, Austria, and leading for much of the six-lap race. The 20-year-old made his move on the second lap, leaving three others in the lead group to try and chase him down.

“I felt strong,” van der Heijden told Cyclingnews.com. “But the last lap was too much.”

Ondrej Cink of the Czech Republic chased van der Heijden down on the final lap, beating him to the line by just 14 seconds.

“I’m satisfied with second place but my first reaction was a bit of disappointment because I was so close,” van der Heijden said.

The young Dutchman will have another chance at the U23 title next year in South Africa, while Cink, who is older, will move up to the elite ranks.

Van der Heijden’s U23 teammate Henk Jaap Moorlag was slowed by a crash on a rooty, technical descent, but still managed a top-20 finish, coming in 17th.

In Saturday’s elite men’s race, Giger had his best performance of the year on his XtC Advanced SL 29er. Riding on the dominant Swiss men’s team, Giger was one of four riders racing in the red-and-white to finish in the top five.

Giger got off to an incredible start on the opening circuit, grabbing the wheel of early leader Nino Schurter, also racing for Switzerland, and hanging with the leader for the first half of the eight-lap race.

“I planned to do a good start and it worked out,” Giger told Cyclingnews.com. “I was in with the lead at the beginning.”

The Swiss rider was eventually caught by several chasers, settling into fifth place on the final lap. He ended up finishing 1:16 behind eventual winner Schurter, the fifth-pace result ranking as the best of his career.

Giger’s teammate Emil Lindgren, the Swedish National Champion, finished 21st.

In the elite women’s XC race, Rosara Joseph of New Zealand had the top finish for Rabobank-Giant, coming in 22nd.

Matt Bottrill: Champions never quit

8th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

National 100 mile TT champion Matt Bottrill, who was unable to compete in the recent National Time Trial event due to tonsilitis decided to give his season one last race to remember - riding to victory in the Mercia CC 30 mile time trial in 57 minutes 44 seconds.

Speaking after the event Matt said;

"It was a really hot hard day, and I produced my worst power of the season, so I can only think how fast the time could have been! But I can definitely say it's been one hell of a year."

Matt Bottrill Results 2012

National Individual Championships

1st Men's National 100 mile's British Time Trial Championships
2nd Men's National 50 mile's British Time Trial Championships
2nd Men's National 10 mile's British Time Trial Championships
3rd Mens National 25 mile's British Time Trial Championships

National Team Championship Awards
 
1st Men's National 50km Team. British Time Trial Championships
1st Men's National 10 mile's British Time Trial Championships
1st Men's National 50 mile's British Time Trial Championships
1st Men's National 100 mile's British Time Trial Championship

National Time Trial series

1st Rudy Project round 1, Northampton and District. Course record by 6 minutes
1st Rudy Project Round 4. Doncaster Wheelers
2nd Ron kitching Trophy based on results on 10,25 & 50miles
3rd Rudy Project Round 5, Wyre forest cc

Competition Records

25miles team award

Season Personal Best

25 miles - 46.47 ( 5th fastest time every recorded by an individuel rider)
100 miles - 3.37.13

Results

1st Kettering cc 20mile time trial (Course record)
1st A5 Rangers 31mile hilly time trial
1st Rudy Project round 1, Northampton and District.19miles
1st VTTA 25 mile time trial
1st Buxton cc 33 mile time trial
1st Leicestershire Road club 29mile hilly
1st VTTA South Wales CC, 25mile time trial 46.47
1st VTTA Nottingham and East midland's 25mile time trial
1st South Pennine 25 mile time trial
1st Rudy Project round 2,Doncaster Wheelers
1st Mapperley cc 10 ( Course record)
1st North Nott's Olympic 25 (Course record)
1st Derby Mercury 25mile time trial

2nd Leiceter forest cc 10 mile time trial
2nd Verulam cc 25 invitation event
2nd BDCA 25mile time trial
2nd North Road Hardriders 25 miles

Bos on a Roll, Second Win in a Week!

6th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank sprinter Theo Bos continued his hot streak Thursday with his second win in less than a week. Five days after he won a stage at the World Ports Classic, the Dutch speedster added the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen race to his wins list, dashing to his seventh victory of the season on his Giant TCR Advanced SL.

Bos’s Rabobank teammate Mark Renshaw, the lead-out man in charge of delivering Bos to the line, also managed to make the podium, finishing third to complete a successful day for the Rabobank squad.

The two podium placings in the 195km race in Laars, The Netherlands, came as a result of a solid team effort. Led by Maarten Tjallingii, the team controlled an early breakaway of four riders, then helped lead the chase to set up the final sprint.

In the final kilometer Renshaw did his job to set up Bos, who edged out 2011 winner Kenny van Hummel for the win.

Giant Trance X 29er gets test editors grinning

5th September 2012 - filed under Product

Giant's all new Trance X 29'er full-suspension trail bike has already been ridden by two big bike websites, BikeRadar.com and PinkBike.com.

Featuring a radically shaped AluxX SL frameset optimised for fast rolling 29 inch wheels, Giant's renowned multi-award-winning Maestro Suspension Technology and a host of features to help you transfer more energy straight into forward motion it's the must have bike for performance minded trail riders in 2013.

PinkBike.com summarised the Trance X 29'er as;

" fast and flickable"

and BikeRadar.com said;

"First impressions suggest the big-wheeled Trance will be an ideal trail-munching machine"

The full 2013 line-up goes live on our new look website on Friday 14th September, be sure to check out our best line-up of bikes and cycling gear yet, the result of Giant's 40 years of experience.

Read the BikeRadar first ride review of the Giant Trance X 29er

Read the PinkBike first ride review of the Giant Trance X 29er
 

Endura Racing prepare for the Tour of Britain

4th September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Endura Racing have confirmed their squad for the 2012 Tour of Britain, which starts in Ipswich this Sunday.

Ian Bibby (UK)
Iker Camaño (Spain)
Jon Tiernan-Locke (UK)
Paul Voß (Germany)
Russell Downing (UK)
Zak Dempster (Australia)

The team go into the race after a phenomenally successful season, with over 40 stage, team and overall victories so far on the continent and at home. The team are the highest ranked Continental outfit in the UCI Europe Tour rankings in 7th place and Jon Tiernan-Locke is now in 3rd place in the rider rankings. The riders have recently returned home after a high altitude training camp in the Pyrenees to hone their form for the 9th edition of Endura's home tour.

Alex Sans Vega (Sporting Director) said;

"As a Scottish team this is the most important event of the year for us and our hopes are high for results where we're aiming for stage wins and an overall podium spot."

He continued;

"We have had a great season so far and we have selected a strong, balanced team. We have riders for sprints (Downing and Dempster), breakaways (Voß and Bibby) and riders for the GC (Camaño and Tiernan-Locke), this means we will be covering all the areas and everyone will support each other to get the best result every day."

Bos Sprints to World Ports Classic Win!

3rd September 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Theo Bos of the Rabobank team beat out two of the sport’s top sprinters, German André Greipel and Belgian Tom Boonen, to win the second stage of the two-day World Ports Classic stage race in The Netherlands Saturday.

This was the first edition of the Dutch-Belgian World Ports Classic, and Bos’s Rabobank team worked hard to set him up for the win in Rotterdam. Australians Graeme Brown and Mark Renshaw helped lead out Bos, who sprinted to the win on his TCR Advanced SL.

“We tried to get the lead quite early in the final,” Bos said. “It had a lot turns and the wisest thing to do is to stay out in front so that you can take the turns first. It was a gamble because it was a bit early, but it worked out beautifully.”

Video: 2012 Nine Knights Freeride

30th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

The results are in from the 2012 Suzuki Nine Knights freeride contest, and the second edition produced some amazing photographs as well as this recap video.

This unique contest, sponsored by Giant and hosted by Giant rider Andi Wittmann, took place at the Wildkogel ski resort in the Austrian Alps. Over the course of a week, some of the world’s best freeriders competed in a number of different categories. Wittmann and his Giant teammate, Canadian Kurt Sorge, won the “Highest Hip Air” category, while Swedish rider Anthon Thelander was chosen as “Ruler of the Week.”

Some of the sport’s best photographers shot the event, and you can see some of the incredible images here.

For more information on the full Nine Knights series of events, go to nineknights.com.

Lindgren Scores Muddy Win in Germany!

27th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team riders Emil Lindgren and Michiel van der Heijden finished first and third respectively at Sunday’s third round of the German National MTB Series. Lindgren, the current Swedish men's XC National Champion, came from behind on the final lap of a muddy course in Saalhausen to score the win on his Giant XtC Advanced SL.

“I had a solid race without any problems,” Lindgren told Cyclingnews.com after the win. “Ralph [Näf] was very strong in the downhill but I kept on going when he was in front. I’m happy to get the win, Saalhausen is always a good place to be for me.”

Lindgren’s teammate van der Heijden, the recently crowned Under-23 World Cup series winner, also conquered the slick, muddy conditions in Saalhausen, moving his way up through several riders who crashed or had mechanicals, to take the final podium spot.

Vos Wins, Wraps up World Cup Title!

25th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Marianne Vos of the Rabobank Women’s Team wrapped up the 2012 World Cup title with a win in Saturday’s GP de Plouay. The recently crowned Olympic Road Champion still has the form that propelled her to the gold medal in London a few weeks ago, as she proved with a dominating solo win on her TCR Advanced SL team bike.

Vos’s win wasn’t the only good team for the Giant-backed Rabobank Women’s team. The first-year squad also took the World Cup series team classification, a major accomplishment in its debut season.

Vos won Saturday's 135km race in France, the finale of the 2012 Women’s World Cup, in typical form. On the second to last lap she bridged up to a breakaway duo of Australian Tiffany Cromwell and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini. On the last lap the 25-year-old Dutch rider launched the winning move, going clear on the final climb to win by 35 seconds. Cromwell finished second, followed by Longo Borghini.

Vos came into the final World Cup of the season with an insurmountable lead, and her main motivation Saturday was for the team.

“The team classification was most important today,” Vos said after the win. “I wasn’t feeling really super and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was having difficulties as well, so it was a bit exciting to see if we could manage. In the beginning of the season we had not anticipated that we could easily win it in our first year. But the team has been doing really well since the start of the season. Not only during World Cup races, actually we are a team to be reckoned with for all races.”

Video: Giant DH Team 2012, Episode 2

23rd August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

What's it like to travel the World Cup circuit with the World Champ? Never a dull moment. On race day it's all nerves, intensity and action. And in the time between races, it's practice, preparation and some occasional goofing around.

In episode 2 of this series on the Giant Factory Off-Road Team's 2012 season, filmmaker Clay Porter travels with the team and explores the critical role that his mechanic and support crew play in Danny Hart's success.

GIANT SHOREHAM GO RIDE!

22nd August 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

On a sunny Saturday morning in August Rod Lambert, owner of Giant Shoreham, joined a large group of junior riders at a post-Olympic 'Go-Ride' event hosted by local club V.C. Jubilee and British Cycling at nearby Lancing Manor recreation ground.

With free skills coaching available, bikes to borrow, time trials, racing, medals and lots of prizes available it was no wonder there were lots of smiling faces with girls and boys of all ages and abilities out to emulate their Olympic heroes.

"VC Jubilee are our local club," explained Rod, "and we like to help them out by supporting their members and events whenever we can. The club are very well organised and whilst they organise training and racing across all the cycling disciplines they never forget the fun element as well. It always helps me to get through working another Saturday at the shop when I see all the kids go past the window on their club ride." 

Bos Sprints to His 5th Win of 2012!

17th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank rider Theo Bos outsprinted Peter Sagan of the Liquigas-Cannondale team to take the win at Friday’s Dutch Food Valley Classic on his Giant TCR Advanced SL. Bos’s Rabobank teammate Mark Renshaw finished third, giving the team two podium spots at the 197km race in Veenendaal, The Netherlands.

Bos, the defending champion of the race, came in as a favorite, and lived up to that billing.

“You’re bound to feel some pressure in any race that will probably end up in a bunch sprint,” said Bos. “But I’m on form right now and that paid off in a nice victory. I’m very happy with this.”

It was Bos’s fifth win of the 2012 season. His last win was on August 8 at the Eneco Tour, and he’s coming into this weekend’s Vattenfall Classic in Germany with top form. The Hamburg race often ends in a sprint, and with Bos and Aussie Michael Matthews on the roster, the Rabobank team will be one to watch on Sunday.

Gold! Vos Makes Olympic Dream Come True

16th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Already a world champion in road, cyclocross and track racing, Dutch cycling star Marianne Vos has been focused on one main goal for the past four years: a gold medal in the Olympic road race. On July 29, the 25-year-old leader of the Rabobank Women’s Team went to London and made that dream come true, confirming her position as the best female road racer in the world.

Marked as the clear favorite in London, Vos knew she had to race aggressively to win the Olympic title. She was supported by a strong trio of Dutch teammates, and she was riding with newfound confidence in her Giant TCR Advanced SL race bike.

“I waited for this for such a long time, and the preparation was not completely flawless either,” said Vos, who had to recover from a broken collarbone just two months before the Olympic Games.

On the opening day of the Olympics, a rainy, blustery day in London, Vos rode a smart tactical race. Aided by her teammates, she survived the rain and wind, avoided several crashes, and launched a blistering attack at exactly the right moment.

The key move of the race came with about 40 kilometers to go. On the final ascent of Box Hill, the decisive climb on the 140km circuit, Russian Olga Zabelinskaya attacked. Vos was the first to respond, and was quickly joined by British rider Lizzie Armistead and American Shelley Olds.

The four riders built up a lead of 40 seconds. After Olds punctured a tire, it came down to a three-way battle for the medals.

“There was a lot of wind at Box Hill, and that made it difficult to break away,” Vos explained. “After Box Hill, it went upwards for a little bit, and that’s where it ended up working. We were lucky Shelly Olds ended up with a flat tire, and suddenly each one of us in the breakaway group was riding for a medal. Everyone wants to take a prize like that home, so everyone was really racing.”

As the trio approached the finish in a driving rainstorm on London’s Mall, Vos launched her attack on her TCR Advanced SL. She held off Armistead in a sprint finish, securing the gold medal she had worked so hard for.
Vos said afterward that she has matured and evolved in the four years since her last Olympics appearance in Beijing, where she won gold in the points race on the track but was disappointed at just missing a medal in the road race.

“I am four years older and I’m more experienced, which is why I was much more relaxed at the start,” Vos said. “I knew what was waiting for me, and that makes a difference. Besides, I am a much more complete rider now. I can win a race in different ways and that brings confidence.”

“It’s unbelievable,” she added. “What I am feeling right now is indescribable.”

Video: Developing the XtC Advanced SL 29er

16th August 2012 - filed under Product

The all-new XtC Advanced SL 29er was developed with British Olympian Liam Killeen to conquer World Cup XC courses and singletrack trails with speed, efficiency and control. Handcrafted with Giant's highest-grade composite material, it's the machine that helped Liam win his seventh XC National Championship in the U.K. and qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games this summer.

This video highlights some of the design details in the new 29-inch-wheel hardtail XC racer. Lighter, smoother and faster XC riding and racing—coming soon from Giant.

GIANT SHOREHAM, BIG DOG

15th August 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Shoreham recently attended the Big Dog mountain bike race at Stanmer Park, Brighton.

Brighton's premier endurance MTB race, now in it's fourth year, attracted a large field all of whom were intent on enjoying themselves. The racing through the forest was testing with slippery mud and roots made even more treacherous by an early-morning downpour giving rise to some spontaneous tree-hugging! But as the hours went by the course dried and the lap times got steadily faster. The number three proved a charm for Giant Shoreham staff member, Phil Allen as his team of three, wearing race number 333, came third in the men's team event!

One lucky visitor to the Giant stand got a pleasant surprise when he won a pair of tickets for the ladies' Olympic mountain bike race the following Saturday.

Giant Store Shoreham owners Rod and Maria Lambert had a great time;

'I always enjoy attending local cycling events', said Rod.

'It gives us a chance to catch up with all the cycling gossip and see people of all descriptions out enjoying their bikes. One rider I spoke to turned out to be a paramedic on the Sussex police air ambulance based just across the river from us at Shoreham airport. He promised to give us a wave next time he swoops over the shop. Maria had a long chat with the ladies of Stilettos On Wheels, the organisers of the UK's first female-only mountain bike race which is to be held at Stanmer Park later in the year. Hopefully we can help them out.'

Thanks to everyone who came along to the Giant Shoreham stand on the day.

Sanchez Wins San Sebastian!

14th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank rider Luis León Sánchez won the San Sebastian Classic Tuesday, attacking inside the final 10km to win the Spanish classic for the second time in his career. It was the seventh win of the season for the 28-year-old Spaniard, who is having one of the best seasons of his career.

Sanchez launched a daring attack after the final climb of the 234km race, going clear on his Giant TCR Advanced SL. He gained a small advantage over a group of chasers including Australian Simon Gerrans and Belgian Gianni Meersmen, and held them off over the final kilometers.

For Sanchez, it was a repeat performance of 2010, when he won San Sebastian for the first time. His Rabobank teammates played a key role in Tuesday's victory, setting him up for the final move. Sanchez’s teammate Bauke Mollema finished fifth, making it two Rabobank riders in the top-five.

Boom Wins Eneco Tour!

12th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Lars Boom of the Rabobank team rode a brilliant final stage of the Eneco Tour Sunday to come from behind and win the weeklong ProTour event in Belgium and The Netherlands.

Boom trailed overall leader Svein Tuft by 4 seconds before the start of Sunday’s Stage 7, a grueling 207.7km race from Maldegem to Geraardsbergen in the southern Ardennes of Belgium. The 26-year-old Dutchman rode aggressively, tackling the Muur van Geraardsbergen three times on his Giant TCR Advanced SL and finishing a close second on the day behind Italian Alessandro Ballan.

For Boom, the six-time Dutch Men’s Cyclocross Champion, winning a WorldTour race that passed through his home nation marked the high point so far in this 2012 road season.

Matthews Dashes to Utah Stage Win!

10th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Michael Matthews of the Rabobank team won the third stage at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Thursday, conquering a tough 138km stage with 2,174 meters of climbing. The 21-year-old Australian spent much of the day in a five-rider breakaway, and then outsprinted a lead group of 60 to take the win on his Giant TCR Advanced SL.

Matthews’ win was the Rabobank team’s second strong result in a row at the six-day stage race through the mountainous U.S. state of Utah. On Wednesday's Stage 2 the team finished second in the team time trial, putting General Classification riders Wilco Keldermann and Steven Kruijswijk in fifth and sixth place in the GC standings.

With three big climbs on the Stage 3 route from Ogden to Salt Lake City, Matthews, a sprinter, was a surprise winner. He joined a breakaway on the descent of the first climb over North Ogden Pass, and helped power the break until it was caught on the final climb.

Remarkably, after the hard day’s effort in the mountains, Matthews still managed to hold his position in the lead group as it approached the finish and then dash to the win.

“It was lucky that there was a long descent so that I could recuperate fairly well,” Mattews said. “I had to dig really deep, but I am super happy with this win.”

Bos Sprints to Stage 3 Eneco Tour Win!

8th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Theo Bos of the Rabobank team won the third stage at the Tour of Eneco Wednesday, sprinting to his first career WorldTour win on his Giant TCR Advanced SL. It was the 28-year-old Dutchman’s fourth win of the 2012 season.

Stage 3 of the seven-day race, which goes through The Netherlands and Belgium, followed a 188km route from Riemst to the finish in Genk, Belgium. Bos credited his Rabobank squad for setting him up for the win.

“Yesterday we could already see that the whole team was strong,” he told Cyclingnews.com. “It’s nice that I am able to finish it off.”

After three stages, Rabobank’s top GC rider is Lars Boom, just 4 seconds behind race leader Jens Keukeleire of Belgium.

Decker, Emmett Win All-Mountain Worlds!

5th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

For the third consecutive year, Giant Factory Off-Road Team rider Carl Decker is the Downieville All-Mountain World Champion. This year was even sweeter for the veteran racer from Bend, Oregon, because, for the first time ever, he won both the cross-country and the downhill race.

Decker’s teammate Kelli Emmett won the women’s title, completing a dominating performance by the Giant crew at the popular festival event in the mountains near Sierra City, California.

The All-Mountain World Championships competition requires racers to choose one bike for two days of racing—a 29-mile XC race on Saturday and a long, grueling downhill on Sunday. In a true overall test of overall trail riding, fitness and off-road bicycle technology, the rider with the best combined time earns the title of All-Mountain World Champion.

Decker chose the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er and won both the XC and DH. His main competition came from fellow Giant rider Adam Craig of the Rabobank-Giant team, who finished second in the XC and fifth in the DH on his Trance X 29er. Craig ended up finishing second overall.

Also placing well for Giant in the men’s competition was Australian Josh Carlson, who finished fifth in the XC but suffered a mechanical in the DH.

Like Decker, Emmett swept both the XC and DH races. The Colorado resident dominated the pro women’s class on her Anthem X Advanced 29er, beating out another Giant rider Lizzy English, who finished second overall.

Rabobank Wins 2 at Vuelta a Burgos!

5th August 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Matti Breschel and Paul Martens each won a stage of the Vuelta a Bergos, giving Rabobank two of five stage wins in the August 1-5 stage race in Spain.

Breschel struck first, winning the 159km Stage 3 race from Santo Domingo De Silos to Lerma on his TCR Advanced SL. It was the Danish rider’s first win since he joined the Rabobank team last year. The stage featured an uphill finish, which Breschel and his teammates had scouted out before the start. The 27-year-old Dane made it through the final corner at the front of the group, then outprinted Nacer Bouhanni and Ben Swift to take the win.

The following day’s Stage 4 followed a tough 170km route from Dona Santos to Cuidad Romana De Clunia. Strong crosswinds broke up the peloton in the final 20km, and Martens, along with teammates Breschel and Robert Gesink, made the front group of about 20 riders.

In the closing kilometers Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha attempted a breakaway but Martens bridged up, then launched his own solo attack. The German held it to the line, taking his first win in nearly two years.

Sunday's final stage went into the mountains, and the team's GC man Gesink rode well, finishing in the top-10 to secure a sixth-place overall finish.

Video: Developing the 2013 Giant Glory

1st August 2012 - filed under Product

The all-new 2013 Giant Glory is the result of a collaboration between Giant engineers and the Giant Factory Off-Road Team including Downhill World Champion Danny Hart.

Everything about the new Glory says speed. Radically shaped FluidForm ALUXX SL tubes form a lightweight, super-strong chassis with reengineered geometry to meet the demands of Giant’s pro racers. The OverDrive steerer tube design produces razor-sharp handling. The plush, always-active Maestro Suspension eats up rocks and ruts and smoothes out rough landings.

To learn more about the new Giant Glory, click here.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!

30th July 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Captain Jack Sparrow recently popped to see the Giant Store Bromley at the Bromley Festival, pictured here trying out something from the Giant treasure chest under the watchful eye of store Manager Cedric.

Thanks to everyone who came along to the Giant Store Bromley stand - we look forward to seeing you again in store soon.

Van der Heijden Wins U23 World Cup Title!

30th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Michiel van der Heijden of the Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team wrapped up his series title in the Under-23 Cross-Country World Cup Saturday with a podium finish at the finals in France. Van der Heijden rode his XtC Advanced SL to a fifth-place finish on a wet, muddy course in Val d’Isere.

Van der Heijden was consistently strong all season long, finishing in the top-10 in every race and winning two of seven rounds. The 20-year-old scored wins in both North American races, first in Canada (Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec) and then in the U.S. (Windham, New York).

In the elite men’s finals in Val d’Isere, Rabobank-Giant rider Fabian Giger wrapped up his top-10 overall placing with a solid ride on his XtC Composite 29er. The Swiss rider finished 11th at Val d'Isere, ninth overall for the 2012 World Cup season. Giger’s teammate Emil Lindgren finished 22nd in Val d’Isere, 24th overall on the season.

In women’s racing, Rabobank-Giant’s French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prevot ended up the season as the top-ranked Under-23 rider.

Top-10 For Neethling at World Cup No. 6

30th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant Factory Off-Road Team rider Andrew Neethling scored a top-10 finish at Round 6 of the 2012 UCI World Cup Downhill Series in Val d’Isere, France, moving to 11th place overall with only the September 15-16 finals in Norway to go.

Neethling, coming off a podium performance at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event in France two weeks earlier, held the leader’s hot seat in Val d’Isere before eventually finishing 10th on his Giant Glory. His finishing time on the rocky, wide-open course was less than 3 seconds slower than the day’s winner, Brook MacDonald of New Zealand.

Neethling’s teammate Danny Hart, the reigning World Champion from Great Britain, sat out the Val d’Isere round with a shoulder injury. Hart separated his shoulder in a crash at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event and is currently recovering from the injury.

ROB PELHAM IS 50 MILE CHAMPION

24th July 2012 - filed under SPONSORSHIP, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Shoreham rider Rob Pelham rode his Giant Trinity Advanced SL to victory in the East Sussex Cycling Association 50 Mile TT Championship.

After narrowly missing out on the title last year by a mere 12 seconds, Rob was determined not to be the bridesmaid again in the 2012 championship.

Speaking of his tactics for the race Rob said;

"The course is basically 2 x the local 25 miler. Starting last I was able to make rough timechecks on the other favourites at around the halfway point. I seemed to be a handful of seconds down but had faith in my pre-race schedule of starting easy & finishing hard."

He continued;

"The last 10 miles to the finish were my quickest despite the crosswinds which had picked up as the race went on. The Giant Trinity Advanced SL seems to relish the windy conditions & simply got faster & faster as I closed in on the finish"

The trust in his strategy of racing a negative split race was well founded as Rob recorded 57:27 for the first 25 & 55.42 for the second with a total race time of 1:53:09 giving him a winning margin of over 1 minute & 30 seconds fom second place.

Congratulations Rob!

Video: Marianne Vos, Champion of All Stripes

24th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Marianne Vos of the Rabobank Women’s Team is the No. 1 ranked female road racer in the world. The 25-year-old Dutch star is as well-rounded as they come, having won world championship titles in road, track and cyclocross disciplines.

This summer Vos is focused on road and time trial racing, going for glory on her TCR Advanced SL and Trinity Advanced SL road and TT bikes. In this video Marianne talks about what motivates her and how her bikes keep her ahead of the competition.

To learn more about Marianne and other Giant Champions, check out the Giant Teams and Riders page.

Killeen Wins 5th British XC Title!

23rd July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant Factory Off-Road Team rider Liam Killeen won his fifth consecutive national championship title Sunday at the British XC Championships in Berkshire, England. The 30-year-old rode a prototype Giant 29er hardtail to a dominating win just three weeks ahead of his bid to win a medal at the upcoming London Olympic Games.

Killeen had to battle back from a punctured tire early in the race, but after a wheel change he surged back to take the lead at the midway point of the race. Storming his way through the mostly flat course at Wasing Wasing Park Estate, near Aldermaston, he continued to ride away from the field, beating second-place finisher David Fletcher by 3:22.

“I’ve got three weeks now until the Olympics, today was a nice stepping stone,” Killeen said. “There’s still plenty of time to build a little more fitness, and I’m just going to give it my best shot on the day.”

Video: Developing the New Trance X 29er

16th July 2012 - filed under Product

The all-new Trance X 29er trail bike was officially unveiled last week at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event in France. This video goes behind the scenes with Rabobank-Giant rider Adam Craig, who helped develop the breakthrough 5-inch-travel trail bike, riding and racing prototype versions over the last year.

For more details on the new Trance X 29er, click here.

National Champion Bottrill's Winning Form Continues

16th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Newly crowned National 100 champion Matt Bottrill was once again in dominating form - taking victory in the Janet and Brian woods 25 mile time trial, promoted by North Notts Olympic, held near Newark in Leicestershire.

With the 100 miles National championship the weekend before, Bottrill finally eased back this week from training to take a few well earned rest day's. With just three rides in the week, including a 40mile training ride with team sponsor and aerodynamic specialist Simon Smart, Bottrill came into the race not expecting much, but once lined up and the first stroke on the pedals where pushed down, the Giant Trininty Advanced SL, was once again flying through the air.
 
Bottrill pushed hard to stop the clock in 48.04 - a new course record and a winning margin of over 2minutes, average speed 31.2mph.

Speaking after the victory Bottrill commented;
 
"Yes that went pretty well, and I surprised myself, I've been so tired all week, and really thought I would have nothing in my legs coming into the race. But the mid week training ride with Simon Smart was a good reminder of what you can achieve if you get the optimal position and the right equipment. And that's what I applied in to today's ride."

1. Matthew Bottrill, www.drag2zero.com 48.04
2. Adam Gascoigne, Team Pedal Power 50.24
3. A Green Lutterworth Cycle center 50.29
4. M Garner MG Decor/ team carbon bikes 50.38

Sanchez solos to Tour Stage Win!

15th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank rider Luis Leon Sanchez scored a dazzling solo stage win at the Tour de France Sunday, attacking in the final 11km to win a mountainous Stage 14 in Foix.

Sanchez’s win was even more remarkable considering the crashes, injuries and bad luck that have plagued his team in this year's Tour. With only four riders left in the race, Rabobank still managed to set the tone in the first Tour stage in the Pyrenees. Sanchez and his teammate Steven Kruijswijk were the aggressors in a breakaway group of 11 riders that went clear about 50km into the 191km stage.

The break built up a lead of more than 15 minutes over the day’s two main climbs, the Por du Lers and the Mur de Péguere. The mountains whittled the front group down to just five riders, including Sanchez, on the final long descent into Foix. With the green jersey sprint leader Peter Sagan among the five, Sanchez, a known breakaway artist who has several Spanish Time Trial Championships to his name, knew he had to attack to win.

Sanchez made his move at just the right time, rocketing ahead on his Giant TCR Advanced SL to score his fourth career stage win at the Tour de France.

“Sagan can win any sprint in the Tour, so today, in a break with so few people, he would have won easily,” Sanchez said. I attacked from far out and everything went right.”

For Rabobank, it was a superb result in an otherwise challenging year at the Tour. With one week to go before the finish in Paris, you can expect Sanchez and his three remaining teammates to continue battling until the very end.

Pit Pass: Adam Craig's Trance X 29er

13th July 2012 - filed under Product

When the all-new Giant Trance X 29er was officially unveiled at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event in France this week, it marked the completion of a year-long development process for the breakthrough 5-inch-travel trail bike. During that time, Rabobank-Giant cross-country rider Adam Craig was riding, racing, and winning on prototype versions of the bike.

Craig, a seven-time U.S. national champion in Super D racing, was uniquely qualified to help develop this new 29er. He’s a veteran World Cup XC racer who also competes in gravity-oriented disciplines like enduro and Super D—and it helps that Craig lives in Bend, Oregon, a Mecca for the type of trail riding the Trance X 29er is made for.

The demands voiced by Craig and other riders who were part of the Trance X 29er project were clear: they didn’t just want the current Trance X, a bike Craig has ridden to many wins, modified to fit larger wheels. They wanted a bike with the benefits of the larger-diameter wheels—stability, control and traction—but it also had to be more agile and “flickable” than the current crop of mid-travel 29er trail bikes.

To that end, Giant engineers came up with a new frame design to shorten the wheelbase and tuck the rear wheel under the rider. One key frame detail is the single-spar rear swingarm, which allowed engineers to shorten the “rear-center” for crisper handling on the trail.

This prototype version of the bike features the same frame materials, geometry and weights as the production version. The 69-degree head angle and 73-degree effective seat angle give it a stable feel on technical descents without compromising its ability to climb. It features Giant’s race-proven Maestro Suspension, along with the OverDrive 2 steerer tube design and new internal cable routing.

The truest test of the Trance X 29er’s versatility came on July 8, when Adam won the 2012 U.S. Super D championship on a demanding course that included an extended climb (more than 6 minutes) and more than 2,000 vertical feet of rough, loose singletrack descending.

Here’s a closer look at Adam’s prototype Trance X 29er:

ADAM CRAIG’S TRANCE X 29ER

Model: Trance X 29er, Size Medium
Frame: ALUXX SL-grade aluminum with Maestro Suspension (5-inch travel)
Shock: Fox RP-23 High Volume
Fork: Fox 32 Float 120mm
Handlebar: PRO Carbon Prototype, 710mm, 9-degree sweep
Grips: ODI Lock-on Ruffians
Stem: PRO Carbon Tharsis
Seatpost: Fox DOSS
Saddle Fizik Tundra2
Pedals: Shimano XTR PDM-980 Race
Rear Shifter: Shimano XTR SLM 980 10-speed
F. Derailleur: N/A
R. Derailleur: Shimano XTR Shadow Plus M-985-GS
Brake calipers: Shimano XTR
Brake levers: Shimano XTR Race
Brake Rotor: Shimano XTR Centerlock, 160mm F&R
Cassette: Shimano XTR, 11-36
Chain: Shimano XTR 10-speed
Crankset: Shimano XTR
Chain Guide: MRP Chain Guide 1.X
BB: Shimano Press Fit BB92
Hubs: Shimano XTR M-980
Rims: Stan’s Race Gold
Rear Tire: Schwalbe Nobby Nic 29” x 2.25 SnakeSkin TL Ready PaceStar
Front Tire: Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29” x 2.25 SnakeSkin TL Ready PaceStar
Bottle cage: Titanium King Cage

Matt Bottrill Takes British National 100 Time Trial Championship

12th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Matthew Bottrill, www.Drag2zero.com, Became National 100mile Champion on Sunday morning. After so many near misses over the year's Bottrill Finally took the top spot on the podium in the 100 mile race in a time of 3.37.13. With medals at 10mile (silver), 25miles (Bronze) and 50miles (Silver) Bottrill signed off his National campaign in style.

On the morning of Sunday 8th July the finest UK time trialist’s gathered in the small down of Tilstock, Near Whitchurch, Shropshire to take part in the Men's British 100 mile champion. Riders would complete a number of figure of eight circuits. The first time check would come at 50 miles, The fastest time had been set by long distance time trial specialist Andrew Bason, Team Pedal Revolution cc 1.48.47, this was then followed by Bottrill's team mate's Scott Povey, 1.49.17 and Derek Parkinson 1.50.00 both www.drag2zero.com. Then came Bottrill in 1.47.25 to take the lead. Encouraged by the spectators around the course and with help from Peter Lavine and Bottrill's long time sponsor, Martin Garner, from MG Decor - Bottrill gave it everything in his power to stop the clock in a time of 3.37.13 for the victory and a brand new course record in the process. It was also a great day for the drag2zero team with Derek Parkinson taking 3rd and Scott Povey 6th. This was also enough to give the team the team title.

Asked about his winning performance Bottrill replied "I’m over the moon! I’ve had over 40 National medals but to finally take the gold is a dream come true! I never expected to come in the top 100 champions, so this is a moment I will never forget. Riding a 100 mile time trial is one of the hardest events I ever done...None of this would have possible with help the help of my family, friends and sponsors. But a really big thank you has to go to Peter Lavine and Martin Garner, who help feed me at the race, and kept me calm before for the start, they have been to every championship I've ridden, and I’m proud to say we did it! Finally the big advantage I had today was using kinesiology taping, from my sports the masseur Jason Lavine at I-massgae, I used it on my back and legs and was amazed by the improvement in circulation”.

Neethling, Hart Podium in France!

11th July 2012 - filed under Giant

Giant Factory Off-Road Team downhillers Andrew Neethling and Danny Hart both landed on the podium Tuesday at the Crankworx Les 2 Alpes event in France. Neethling and Hart, both riding their Giant Glory DH bikes, finished third and fifth respectively in the Giant Air DH event.

“It was a fun day,” Neethling said after his race. “The sun was out and the course was very fast, very loose. I’m quite happy with third place, a podium at Crankworx is always nice.”

Both Neethling and Hart, the current World Champion, are in the top-10 in World Cup standings with two races left in the season. The next race takes place later this month in Val d’Isere, France.

Bracht Wins ETU Long Distance Crown!

10th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant-sponsored triathlete Timo Bracht captured the ETU Long Distance European Championship on Sunday with a second-place finish at the Challenge Roth event in Germany. Bracht battled with South African James Cunnama and eventually finished second with a time of 8:03:28, winning the ETU crown as the top European finisher.

Riding his Giant Trinity Advanced SL, Bracht was one of five riders chasing early leader Konstantin Bachor on the 180km bike leg. Entering the bike-run transition, it was down to a group of three—Bracht, Cunnama and Swiss athlete Mike Aigroz—in pursuit of Bachor.

On the 42.2km run, Bracht and Cunnama quickly gained time on Bachor. They passed the German and battled each other the rest of the way. Bracht said he suffered some stomach problems in the final kilometers but held on to take the European Long Distance Championship, adding it to his two Ironman Europe titles.

Craig, Emmett Win U.S. Super D Titles!

9th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant riders dominated the Super D competition at the 2012 U.S. National Mountain Bike Championships in Sun Valley, Idaho, collecting four medals including wins by Adam Craig (Rabobank-Giant) and Kelli Emmett (Giant Factory Off-Road Team).

Craig, riding a Giant prototype bike that he is helping develop, faced a field of more than 60 riders in Sunday's pro men’s race. The 6-mile course at Sun Valley dropped over 2000 vertical feet and included one long climb.

In the end of the pro men's race, the result was nearly identical to last year: Craig edged out his friend and fellow Bend, Oregon, resident Carl Decker of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team by the slimmest of margins, just 1.32 seconds. The Giant duo was well ahead of the third-place finisher, who was more than 13 seconds back.

“It always feels good,” said Craig after winning his seventh Super D national title. “We had a strong field today, the strongest national championship field I’ve seen, I think.”

It was Craig’s second win this year on a pre-production 29er trail bike from Giant. He raced it for the first time last month and won the opening race of the Oregon Enduro Series.

In the women’s race, Emmett won her third Super D national championship with a time of 24:33. The Colorado resident rode the Anthem X Advanced 29er, which was introduced earlier this year, to victory on the tough Sun Valley course. Another Giant rider, Lizzy English of the Ride Giant/Ride Northstar California-based team, finished second, 18 seconds back, to take silver.

“It was a pretty long Super D, almost 25 minutes,” Emmett said. “There was probably an eight-minute climb in there. I just went for it and tried to ride a smooth race on the descents.”

Vos Dominates Giro Donne!

8th July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank Women’s Team rider Marianne Vos completed her domination of the women’s Giro d’Italia Saturday, capturing the overall title for the second year in a row. The Dutch rider showed no signs of being slowed by the broken collarbone she suffered in May, winning sprints, climbs and time trials over the course of the nine-day Giro Donne.

The No. 1 ranked woman road racer in the world won five of nine stages on her way to the overall victory. She started the week with a one-two punch in the first two stages, winning a sprint finish on her TCR Advanced SL on Stage 1 in Naples, and a 7.2km time trial on her Trinity Advanced SL on Stage 2 in Rome.

“It was great to start out with a victory and then also win the TT,” Vos said after the race finished Saturday in Bergamo. “I struggled through the first hills but I was getting better and better throughout the Giro.”

After winning the first two stages, Vos surrendered the pink leader’s jersey to American Evelyn Stevens on Stage 3 but then reclaimed the lead on the summit of Montecatini Alto the following day. She went on to win two more stages after that, capturing the final General Classification win by a margin of 3:27 over Emma Pooley of Great Britain.

“The team gave me the confidence to win the Giro,” Vos said. “They helped me through the stages. I’m really happy I could finish it off.”

Vos is now focused on the upcoming Olympics in London, where she will be aiming for gold in the women’s road race.

Video Contest Winner Announced!

3rd July 2012 - filed under Giant

Six weeks ago, Giant, the official bike partner of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, asked readers of Pinkbike.com to create and submit videos that showed the people, places and things that inspire them to ride mountain bikes.

The contest, called “Ride Giant. Ride Whistler”, offered an enticing grand prize to the creator of the best video: a trip to British Columbia to see the Crankworx event and to ride the greatest mountain bike park on the planet. Plus a brand new Giant Glory frameset.

The response to the contest was overwhelming. More than 150 videos were submitted, from riders all around the world. The stories, the images, and the inspiration generated a huge amount of buzz. Twenty of those videos were selected as finalists, and put in the running for the grand prize.

The winning video would be selected by our guest judges: Giant’s own freeride legend Jeff Lenosky, and acclaimed filmmaker Clay Porter. Picking just one winner was no easy task.

In the end, Clay and Jeff agreed with the majority of Pinkbike.com viewers. The people’s champion was their champion too. One video clearly resonated most: Supermarket Bike.

The story of Filipe Perestrelo from Portugal was beyond inspirational. Filmed by Miguel Freitas, Filipe’s video attracted more than 70,000 views in a few short weeks. More than 1,000 readers called it their favorite. So did Jeff and Clay.

“Choosing a winner out of the finalists was an extremely difficult task,” Jeff said afterward. “I'm amazed by the creativity both on the bike and behind the lens in all these videos. After watching the submissions all I want to do is get out and ride!”

Clay agreed that Filipe’s story rose to the top. “I was blown away by the production value in many of the submissions, but the story of Filipe's passion for riding regardless of quality of equipment was the clear winner in my eyes,” Clay said. “At the end of the day, the heart of filmmaking is the story—and Filipe's story grabbed and moved me more than any of the others.”

The story of Filipe, and the images of him shredding on his well-worn (and now broken) bike struck such a nerve that Giant decided to go above and beyond. Instead of just a Glory frameset, Giant is hooking Filipe up with the full set-up. A brand new Giant Glory 0 bike.

Once again, a huge thanks from Giant to Pinkbike.com and all its readers for the huge effort that went into these videos. It’s a great collection of images and stories, and we look forward to viewing them for a long time to come!

To check out all the videos, including the story of Filipe, go to this page at Pinkbike.com.

Third Straight World Cup Podium for Hart!

2nd July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Downhill World Champion Danny Hart of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team had his third consecutive World Cup podium ride at Sunday's Round 5 in Windham, New York. Hart rode his Giant Glory to fourth place on a short, rocky and dusty course at the World Cup's only 2012 U.S. stop. Hart’s teammate Andrew Neethling finished 10th, giving the team two top-10 finishers in New York.

Hart had to bounce back from a hard crash in Saturday’s qualifier race. He cut his arm and received 20 stitches the day before the race but was still able to put in a terrific finals run less than 24 hours later. The gutsy ride allowed Hart to maintain his fourth-place overall ranking.

Neethling has shown consistency and steady improvement throughout the 2012 season. He continued his march up the rankings, breaking into the top-10 overall for the first time. The South African is now ninth overall and in solid position heading into the season’s final two races in France and Norway.

Vos Leads Giro Femminile!

2nd July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Midway through the nine-day Giro Femminile stage race, Rabobank Women’s Team rider Marianne Vos is wearing the pink leader’s jersey with three stage wins to her name in the first four days of racing. Vos won the opening stage, the Stage 2 time trial, and the Stage 4 road race to Montecatini Alto.

Vos, the world’s top woman racer in UCI rankings, got off to a strong start in Italy, winning the first two stages including a 7.2km TT in Rome on Saturday. On Sunday she surrendered the maglia rosa to American Evie Stevens, who won Stage 3 to take over the race lead.

Entering Stage 4, a hilly 98km stage in the Tuscany region, Stevens had a 12-second lead over Vos. Riding aggressively from the start on her Giant TCR Advanced SL, Vos was determined to regain the GC lead. She made her move on a descent following the Category 2 Goraiolo climb, and then rode solo up the final climb to win atop Montecatini.

The Stage 4 win put Vos back in the lead, with a healthy gap of 1:31 over Stevens in second. The 2012 Giro Femminile continues through Saturday.

Van der Heijden Seizes U23 World Cup Lead!

1st July 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Michiel van der Heijden of the of the Rabobank-Giant team won his second consecutive World Cup XC race in the Under-23 category Saturday in Windham, New York, moving into the overall series lead after six of seven races.

Van der Heijden, the current Dutch U-23 champion, caught race leader Howard Grotts of the USA on the second of five laps, then rode off the front on his Giant XtC Advanced SL. He gained a lead of 30 seconds on the third lap, and went on to take the win with a 48-second gap over German Markus Schulte-Luenzum.

With the win, van der Heijden jumped up from third to first in the series. He also won last week in Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec. The World Cup XC finals will be held later this month in Val d’Isere, France.

In the elite men’s race, Swiss rider Fabian Giger finished 24th for the Rabobank-Giant squad. Giger is ninth overall heading into the final round.

ASK WORLD CHAMPION HELEN JENKINS A QUESTION!

29th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

It's your opportunity to see an exclusive behind the scenes snap from a recent photo shoot with Giant's World Champion triathlete Helen Jenkins ahead of The Olympics.

Even better - it's your chance to ask Helen a question!

Simply visit the Giant UK Facebook Page to view the snap, Like it and add your question to the comments - we will ask our favourites to the lady herself!

Rabobank's 2012 Tour Team Introduced!

28th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

With the start of the season’s biggest race less than 48 hours away, the riders of the 2012 Tour de France were presented Thursday in the starting city of Liege, Belgium. Rabobank was among the 22 teams attending the presentation at Place Saint-Lambert square. The team rolled onto the stage riding their Giant TCR Advanced SL team bikes.

Leading the way for Rabobank is Robert Gesink, winner of the 2012 Tour of California. The 26-year-old Dutchman has returned from a broken leg suffered last winter, regaining his form to score the win in California and finish fourth overall at the Tour de Suisse. Gesink finished fifth overall at the 2010 Tour and is shooting as high as a podium finish this year.

Gesink isn’t the sole GC hope for Rabobank this year. His Dutch teammates Bauke Mollema and Steven Kruijswijk have shown great promise for the grand tours, and have the form to race well in the critical time trials and the high mountains of this year’s Tour.

Other Rabobank riders to watch include Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez, who has three Tour de France stage wins to his name, and Australian speedster Mark Renshaw, who will contest the sprints.

The 99th Tour de France starts Saturday, with a 6.4km prologue time trial in Liege. Following that, riders will spend two more days racing in Belgium, before crossing into France for the remainder of the three-week race.

2012 RABOBANK TOUR DE FRANCE TEAM
Laurens ten Dam (Ned)
Robert Gesink (Ned)
Steven Kruijswijk (Ned)
Bauke Mollema (Ned)
Mark Renshaw (Aus)
Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp)
Bram Tankink (Ned)
Maarten Tjallingii (Ned)
Maarten Wynants (Bel)

Carlson, Emmett Win Ashland Enduro!

27th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant Factory Off-Road Team riders Josh Carlson and Kelli Emmett won the pro men's and women's categories at last weekend's Ashland Enduro mountain bike race, the second round of the Oregon Enduro Series. The two dominated the popular two-day event, which consisted of four stages testing riders’ all-around trail skills. The first three stages took place Saturday, the fourth on Sunday.

Extreme weather conditions, including rain and hail on Saturday, produced challenging course conditions for the deep field of racers in Ashland. Carlson, a 26-year-old first-year member of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team, is focusing on enduro racing this year, and said he was thrilled to face off against 60-plus pro men with his Trance X Advanced SL.

Carlson faced tough conditions on Saturday, racing on muddy, icy trails. He lost some time on Stage 2 and knew he had to make it up on Sunday's Stage 4, the longest of the race.

“I was really focused on Stage 4,” Carlson said. “It was longer, had a lot of super-fast turns, and I knew the track would be super grippy by the time we started in the afternoon.”

Carlson put in his best ride on Sunday, gaining enough time to beat the second-place overall finisher Nathan Riddle by 10 seconds. Giant Factory Off-Road Team rider Carl Decker, an Oregon resident, was close behind, finishing fifth overall.

In women’s racing, Factory Off-Road Team rider Kelli Emmett rode her Anthem X Advaced 29er to the win, beating second-place finisher Mary Moncorrge by 44 seconds.

CLASH OF THE TITANS IN CORNWALL

26th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Sunday morning saw the UK’s finest time trialists taking part in the men’s National 50 championship. Riders traveled to Cornwall to the small village of Roche, near Bodmin where on a damp and windy morning, they would complete 3.5 laps of an out and back circuit to give a total distance of 50 miles.

With Matt Bottrill’s silver medal in the 10 mile championship and a bronze medal in the National 25 – all won by newly crowned Irish National Champion Michael Hutchinson – the race for the 50 championship was set to be an exciting battle between the two.

First to leave was Bottrill, powering from the starting area with full concentration, he was soon soon up to speed and pushing the Giant Trinity SL with Enve 8.9 wheels through the air. With Smart aero clothing and Bont Chrono aero shoes, the power and speed produced was looking good.

Riding to the plan set by his coach Bob Tobin from www.cyclepowermeters.com, Bottrill hit the first check point in a time of 51:53 to take the lead. Bottrill was flying, encouraged by the eagerly watching spectators who were dotted along the course.

Then came the bad news: Hutchinson had gone through the first check 40 seconds up. In the remaining miles, Bottrill was in self-destruct mode. Peter Lavine, who had given up his weekend to take Matt to the race, was full of encouragement and knew the Drag2zero rider had to ride beyond his comfort zone to catch Hutch.

Bottrill sprinted around the final corner to stop the clock in 1:42:03 to take the lead and smash the course record by over two minutes! All he had to do now was wait for the express train of Hutch. It wasn’t long before the thought of gold turned to silverware, with Michael Hutchinson recording an amazing 1:40:35. But although Bottrill didn’t win the individual award, www.Drag2zero.com pulled off the team award with Jeff Jones 1:44:23 (3rd) and Scott Povey 1:48:26 (7th)

Asked about his ride, Bottrill said:

“I gave it everything, I did my best 50 power ever! When you have tried that hard and know you could have done no more, all you can say is what a great ride by Michael. The level of support I’ve received from friends, family and sponsors has just been amazing this year. I’ve come on so much, and I’m smashing every personal best I’ve ever done. But Michael has taken it to another level and has been beating some of the best riders in the world.”

With the 50 mile championship now done, the Drag2zero.com team will concentrate on the team time trial next Saturday beefore Bottrill battles the National 100 champs. Keep posted for more updates!


Results National 50 Mile Time Trial Championships: 

1 Michael Hutchinson In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 01:40:35
2 Matthew Bottrill www.drag2zero.com 01:42:03
3 Jeff Jones www.drag2zero.com 01:44:24
4 Blake Pond North Devon Whs 01:46:26
5 Jerone Walters Velo Club St Raphael 01:47:18
6 Adam Topham High Wycombe CC 01:47:58
7 Scott Povey www.drag2zero.com 01:48:26
8 Kevin Tye DataTeamAllstars 01:48:45
9 James Gilfillan Contre La Montre 01:48:54
10 Conall Yates In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 01:49:46

Hart Podiums at DH World Cup #4

25th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Giant Factory Off-Road Team rider Danny Hart raced to another Downhill World Cup podium, taking third place at Round 4 in Mont-Ste-Anne, Québec. The World Champion put in a great run on a technical course in eastern Canada, finishing just 2.14 seconds off the winning time.

“The crowds were good and I had a good run,” Hart told Cyclingnews.com. “It’s such close racing now. Two seconds between the [top] five of us is nothing on a track like this.”

Hart has now finished on the podium in three of four rounds in the 2012 World Cup, and  sits fourth overall in points.

Hart’s teammate Andrew Neethling also moved up in the rankings with a strong eighth-place finish. The South African is now 12th overall with momentum to try and move into the top-10.

Hart and Neethling will be back in action next week as the World Cup Downhill Series heads to the U.S. for Round 5 in Windham, New York.

Giant Athlete Blog: Helen Jenkins Counts Down To London

25th June 2012 - filed under Blogs

Giant's World Champion Great Britain Triathlete Helen Jenkins recently had her selection confirmed by the British Olympic Association, following years of hard work and planning. She recently spoke to Property Week about her preparations with only weeks to go to the Olympic Triathlon event at Hyde Park;

"In December 2010 the selection criteria for the 2012 Olympic Games was announced by British Triathlon. I had been given a clear target on how to qualify and Marc and I sat down to discuss targeting the two key races of the 2011 season, Hyde Park and Beijing. And I did what we set out to achieve (and yes, it is we, not I), winning in Hyde Park and runner up in Beijing. This along with my other results in 2011 also meant I was crowned World Champion for the second time. I was then nominated for selection by British Triathlon to the BOA. It meant I could prepare through the winter with August in mind. However, it wasn’t until last week that I was actually selected which was an honour and a relief to be honest because I thought it was just a process, until I saw the appeals in triathlon and other sports.

My winter training was good. Not perfect – there is always a niggle here and there when you train for 25+ hours a week, including running in the region of 80 km – but way better than the injury troubled winters of 2006/7.There was a lot more press interest which has been good most of the time! Marc planned my training in block and between those or just before we travelled somewhere, I was able to do some sponsor commitments and press work.

The first race of the season is always tough and in previous years I have taken a couple of races to get into my stride. Last year in Sydney I ran very well after my crash on the bike so I was confident of being competitive this year. It is one of the best locations in the world to have a race, we start the swim right next to the Opera house and we cycle and run in the amazing Botanical Gardens. I had a good swim coming out second but the group was trailing the Japanese girl, Adachi, by about 45 seconds. I transitioned as fast as possible and got out quick, a pack formed on the first lap as we caught Adachi, we were about thirty seconds up on the chase pack. Unfortunately we were reeled in after about 5 laps. It was quite a tight course in places with some technical sections so remaining at the front of the group was important. The hardest part is being at the front coming into 2nd transition, everyone wants to be at the front and you have to be aggressive to get up there and hold position, I did ok as I was near the front but still gave myself a bit of work to do on the first kilometre of the run to catch up.

After a lap of the run a group of about 7 of us had formed, I wasn't feeling great and just ran to the pace of whoever was leading, mostly Erin Densham from Australia. As the run went on the group was getting smaller and smaller and by the last lap we were down to three of us, myself, Erin and Kiwi Andrea Hewitt. I felt Andrea get dropped off the back of us with about a kilometre to go, Erin was running really consistently and I lost contact with her with about 600m to go. I then felt my right quad starting to cramp. I had a few really bad cramps when we first arrived in Australia which I couldn't continue running on, so for the last 400m or so of the race I was worried the cramp was going to get really bad, I also know Andrea was a super strong finisher so I was running down to the finish hobbling a bit, constantly worrying Andrea would surge past me! Luckily she didn't and I was 2nd.

We then headed straight to San Diego, tough life I know, for the next round of the World Triathlon Series. Actually I do really miss our dog, Barney, when we are away but training in San Diego (and swimming outdoors) was much better than being in the UK. We stayed in a place called Cardiff-by–Sea, the training was great and hopefully we’ll go back there, if only to surf there because the waves looked good. It wasn’t all swim/bike/run, we managed to see Bruce Springsteen in concert, great show. We were racing in Mission beach which is where it all started about 40 years ago. I had one of my best ever races and came away with the win! The swim was a beach start and a small group formed at the end of the swim with our group of 7 working really well together on a flat, very windy course and we built up a lead going onto the run of 2 minutes 20. I thought my biggest competition on the run would be Erin Densham again. We ran together for one of the three laps, when I made a slight wrong turn on the run and ran into an official! I only lost a few seconds but it made me speed up and then I managed to break away from Erin and hold on to the finish. It was amazing to enjoy the finish and high five the crowd!

We decided that I didn’t need to race Madrid. We had been away a long time and my form was good, so it wasn’t going to achieve anything racing again. And Kitzbuhel was definitely considered, but again Marc and I decided that my preparation for Hyde Park worked really well last year and we’d try and replicate it again. So after an easy week or so I am back at it in the lead into the Games.

I’m happy with who the selectors have picked for the team. I’m not going to get drawn into a war of words on the merits of others or who else might have been picked. As far as I’m concerned, everyone knew what the selection policy was and all agreed to it. What I will say is that the Olympics comes round every four years and I am determined to perform to the best of my ability. There’s an argument to say that it won’t be the strongest field (the top eight nations can only take 3 athletes) but then it’s a race that can bring you the most glory, so people are prepared to take bigger risks to win, so it will be lively! Hopefully as many of you can make it along on Saturday 4th to Hyde Park and make Home Advantage really count!"

You can learn more about Giant Teams & Riders here, keep up to date with the latest news by following us www.twitter.com/giantuk and have your say at www.facebook.com/giantstoresuk

Rabo Riders Storm Euro Championships

24th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank riders dominated the Dutch National Road Championships in Kerkrade, winning seven medals including a national title for Rabobank Women’s Team rider Annemike van Vleuten. In the elite men’s competition, Lars Boom led the way with two silver medals, one in the road race and one in the time trial.

Van Vleuten won her first elite national championship by beating defending Dutch Road National Champion and Rabobank teammate Marianne Vos in the 114.4km elite women’s road race.

Racing 11 laps on a hilly course, can Vleuten and Vos escaped off the front on their Giant TCR Advanced SL team bikes. Van Vleuten, who missed some of last season recovering from a surgery, had the most power in the end, outsprinting Vos to take the win. Their Rabobank teammate Sanne van Paassen finished fifth.

Van Vleuten also scored a medal in the elite women’s time trial, riding her Trinity Advanced SL to second place behind Ellen van Dijk. Van Vleuten’s teammate Iris Slappendel finished third.

The men’s road race saw heavy rainstorms resulting in multiple crashes and less than 20 finishers. Boom persevered to finish second on his TCR Advanced SL. His teammate Robert Gesink finished sixth. Rabobank riders also showed well in the men’s TT with Boom, Clement and Tjallingii finishing second, fourth and fifth respectively.

In other National Championship races around Europe, Spanish Rabobank rider Luis Leon Sanchez won his fourth national championship in the time trial and women’s team rider Pauline Ferrand Prevot won the French time trial championship. Both rode the Trinity Advanced SL to capture the titles.

THWAITES WINS BRITISH CIRCUIT RACE CHAMPS

21st June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Endura Racing recorded a 1-2 in the National Circuit Race Championship in Otley on Wednesday night with home grown hero Scott Thwaites winning from Russell Downing and Matt Cronshaw (Node4-Giordana) third in front of a huge crowd in the West Yorkshire town.

The race was ultra-agressive from start to finish with teams like from the 100%ME (GB Olympic Academy), Rapha Condor Sharp, Cycle Premier Kovert and IG Sigma Sport and others trying to split the field up, but even on a tough course like Otley, the championship ended up being decided in a big bunch kick.

After a late attack in the closing laps by George Moore (Cycle Premier Kovert) was brought back, Ian Wilkinson led a dangerous looking move with Steve Lampier (IG Sigma Sport) and Sam Harrison (100%ME) gaining a few seconds with two laps to go. As the bell rang out, Wilkinson was still leading the race through the line, a few lengths clear of the Raleigh-GAC train for defending champion Graham Briggs. As Wilkinson was reeled in however, Ian Bibby saw his chance to go for it on the climb, where he had noticed he’d been able to gap his rivals. Over the top of the hill, he had a small gap and the chase behind was having to be led by Raleigh and the other teams as the riders from Endura Racing stayed close to the front in the wheels.

The headwind across the top of the course made it tough on Bibby and he was brought back by the chasers as they got to the second last corner where Russell Downing, with Scott Thwaites in his slipstream, yelled to Bibby to go again on the descent. Bibby responded, sprinting for another 100 metres and Russell Downing lead Thwaites past a spent Bibby and into the final corner where Thwaites knew the line to take after his victory in 2011. With Russell Downing on his wheel riding shotgun, Thwaites surged ahead as Downing closed the door on Matt Cronshaw to take second ahead of the Node 4 rider in a 1-2 for Endura Racing.

After the race Scott Thwaites said;

"I’m over the moon. It was always going to be a hard win after last year as everyone knew I could do it so there was a lot of pressure. I came into the race not thinking too much about it and took as it came. We have such a great team and we showed again tonight how strong it is. We rode like we did in the Halfords Tour Series really, nice and aggressive, and it paid off. On the last lap, Ian Bibby put in a big attack and that was really good as it put the pressure on the other teams. Raleigh had a few guys there doing a leadout for Briggsy (Graham Briggs), and myself and Russ sat on the back of the train.

It always gets a bit sketchy at the end with everyone trying to move up but I knew where to go from last year and I timed my effort well. I went up the inside again because I knew I could take people wide but I think I had a clear run to the corner anyway and luckily Rus followed me into the corner and gave me a bit of space so I had a clear run out of the corner. I have been on good form and it’s always nice to win the National Champs but I didn’t really set it as a goal because I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself."


Mandri 3rd in Estonian Time Trial Championships

Rene Mandri opened up Endura Racing's National Championship week in the Estonian Time Trial Championships on Wednesday afternoon with a bronze medal behind Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) and Tanel Kangert (Astana) over the 40km course.

ENDURA RACING ANNOUNCE TEAMS FOR NATIONAL RACES

20th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Endura Racing will be represented by strong selections at both of the British National Championships this week, as well as sending riders to the French, German, Estonian, Spanish and Swedish Nationals

At the British Circuit Race Championships in Otley, local hero Scott Thwaites will be hoping to repeat his 2011 win in the “Queen of Crits” after a strong Tour Series where he scored two individual victories in our successful campaign. Ian Wilkinson, winner in Otley in 2010, will be aiming to make the top step of the podium after two back-to-back 2nd places in the Championships in 2010 and 2011. Russ Downing, twice a winner in Otley will be looking to add a third National Champions jersey to his collection after wins in 2003 and 2009.

In Sunday’s British Road Race Championships in Ampleforth, Russ Downing, winner on a similar circuit in 2005, comes off the back of a series of stage races on the European mainland and will aiming to break Team Sky’s recent dominance in the road race championships. Scott Thwaites will look to defend his U23 title on the variation of the Ryedale Grand Prix course and will be joined in the U23 category by Erick Rowsell, 3rd last year in Stamfordham. UCI Europe Tour leader, Jon Tiernan-Locke, winner of the Ryedale Grand Prix in 2011, will continue his recovery from a broken collar bone after a solid return to action at last week’s Route du Sud. The road squad will be supplemented by Endura MTB Racing’s Oli Beckingsale, winner of the last two British XC Series rounds, who is making a rare foray onto tarmac.

On the European mainland, Rene Mandri will start as one of the favourites in the Estonian Road Race Championships, whilst Alexandre Blain (France), Paul Voß (Germany), Iker Camaño (Spain) and Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden) will also be looking to convert strong stage racing performances into one-day form in their National Championships.


British Circuit Race Championships – Otley, West Yorkshire, Wednesday 20th June
Ian Bibby, Russ Downing, Jonny McEvoy, Rob Partridge, Erick Rowsell, Scott Thwaites, Ian Wilkinson,

British Road Race Championships – Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, Sunday 24th June
Ian Bibby, Russ Downing, Jonny McEvoy, Rob Partridge, Erick Rowsell, Scott Thwaites, Ian Wilkinson, Oli Beckingsale

Alexander Wetterhall – Swedish Road Race and Time Trial Championships
Alexandre Blain – French Road Race Championships
Iker Camaño – Spanish Time Trial Championships
Paul Voß – German Road Race Championships
Rene Mandri - Estonian Road Race and Time Trial Championships

Gesink Top-5 at Tour de Suisse

17th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank rider Robert Gesink showed great all-around form to finish fourth overall in the June 9-17 Tour de Suisse stage race. Gesink’s teammate Steven Kruijswijk finished eighth overall, giving Rabobank two top-10 finishers in the last major stage race before the Tour de France.

Gesink rode an impressive trial in Gossau, finishing fifth on his Giant Trinity Advanced SL and beating all of the GC contenders to move up the standings. He blazed the 34.3km TT and jumped from 19th to third overall.

In the following days Gesink’s Rabobank teammates rode aggressively in the mountains to protect their team leader’s top-five standing.

Gesink and Kruijswijk both rode particularly well in Saturday’s penultimate stage, which finished on a climb. Gesink, who in May won the Amgen Tour of California, said afterward that he was feeling the effects of a pre-Tour de France climbing camp he had done earlier in the month in Spain.

“Today was another sign that things are going well,” Gesink said after Saturday’s Stage 8, where he finished fifth. “I had quite a good time trial on Friday, and a good mountain stage today.”

Big Win for Boom at Ster ZLM!

17th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Rabobank rider Lars Boom won a stage and finished second overall behind world champion Mark Cavendish at the four-day Ster ZLM Toer stage race in The Netherlands, which concluded on Sunday.

Boom won the third stage of the June 14-17 race with a gutsy move on a difficult day of racing in the Ardennes mountains. On the uphill finish at La Gileppe, the Dutchman attacked on his Giant TCR Advanced SL, holding off Cavendish to take the win.

“I knew I had a chance because Cav' was of course already spent,” said Boom, who survived the day’s 10 climbs to put himself in position to win. “At 200 meters I attacked and he couldn’t pass me. It’s quite a special feeling to beat him.”

The stage win put Boom in second overall, and he defended his GC position in Sunday’s final stage to secure the podium finish.

In addition to Boom’s win and podium finish, Rabobank’s Australian sprinter Mark Renshaw took two second-place finishes on the week.

“Mark is showing good form,” said Rabobank team director Erik Dekker, who pointed out that many of the world’s top sprinters were competing at the Ster ZLM Toer. “The differences with the other top riders were small.”

DEMPSTER LEADS ENDURA RACING TO CLEAN SWEEP IN WOKING

13th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Zak Dempster led Endura Racing to a clean sweep in round 10 of the 2012 Tour Series in Woking with three wins in the one race, Individual, Sprint and Team and with only the final rounds in Stoke to go, the 2012 Tour Series title edges closer.

Zak was out was riding on the circuit when the women came to do their warm up, over three hours before his event signalling how much he wanted the win.

After settling into the race, Zak’s long lone attack early on showed just what great form he has right now. When that attack failed, he went again, and then again and in the end, still won the bunch kick after a great last lap by Ian Bibby. As Bibby went for the win, Yanto Barker (Team UK Youth) reacted but all that did was give Dempster the platform to go for his second win in the series.

The team go into Thursday's double-header in Stoke-on-Trent with a 17 point lead over nearest rivals Rapha Condor Sharp, with a maximum of 20 points still on offer.

1. Endura Racing, 94pts
2. Rapha Condor Sharp, 77pts
3. Team UK Youth, 76pts
4. Team Raleigh - GAC, 76pts
5. Node4 - Giordana Racing, 71pts
6. Cycle Premier - Kovert, 45pts
7. Team IG - Sigma Sport, 36pts
8. Metaltek Scott, 33pts
9. Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes, 22pts
10. Team Hope Factory Racing, 19pts

Speaking afterwards Zak Dempster said;

"Tonight was really good. It's a technical course and if you race on the front like our team did tonight, you can make the race harder. This was my first time here. I have won at Canary Wharf (2012) and Durham (2011) and been second in a few other rounds but I was injured when this was on last time."

La Ronde de l'Oise

Iker Camaño finished in 4th place overall at La Ronde de l'Oise (UCI 2.2) in northern France last weekend. Iker was part of a three strong break which made it to the finish on the opening stage and despite a strong performance from the team over the remaining four stages, he was unable to follow the race winning break on Sunday's final stage, where Jean-Luc Delpech (Bretagne-Schuller) sealed overall victory.


Route du Sud

Endura Racing head to southern France this week for the Route du Sud (UCI 2.1), which takes in the iconic Col de Tourmalet on Saturday’s third stage. The race marks the return to competition of UCI Europe Tour leader Jon Tiernan-Locke who has recovered from a broken collar bone sustained at the Lincoln Grand Prix in mid-May.

Team for Route du Sud - Alexander Wetterhall, Dean Windsor, Iker Camaño, Jon Tiernan-Locke, Paul Voß, Rene Mandri, Rob Partridge, Russ Downing

GIANT STORE RADLETT SUPPORT CAPITAL TO COAST RIDE

12th June 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Radlett are providing technical support for this huge well established event, the Capital to Coast ride from London to Brighton - which is this year raising money for 2 charities: Norwood and Downs Syndrome Association.

The event starts on July 1st 2012 at the London Eye - there are 4 route options, with a choice of 3 distances.

Find more details and how to enter at www.capitaltocoast.org.uk

Kelderman Wins Dauphiné White Jersey!

11th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Neo-pro Rabobank rider Wilco Kelderman continued to impress in his rookie pro season with a fantastic ride at the Critérium du Dauphiné stage race in France last week. The 21-year-old Dutch rider finished in the top-10 overall and won the Young Rider classification at the eight-day stage race.

It was Kelderman’s second consecutive Young Rider win at a major stage race, following his victory at last month’s Tour of California. At the Dauphiné, he put in a strong performance the long time trial, finishing fourth in a 53.5km effort on his Giant Trinity Advanced SL.

The Dauphiné is considered a critical preparation race for the Tour de France, and Kelderman’s solid result against some of the world's best is a strong indicator of a promising future with Rabobank. Following his impressive time trial result, he held his own in the difficult Alps stages to secure eighth place in the General Classification.

“Wilco’s future does look bright,” said Rabobank team director Adri van Houwelingen. “We are definitely upbeat about how things will progress.”

The young rider is not scheduled do race any grand tours this year, and is instead now focusing on the upcoming Dutch Time Trial National Championship.

Hart Podiums at Fort William World Cup!

10th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Downhill World Champion Danny Hart of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team had his best World Cup result so far this season Sunday in Fort William, Scotland, finishing a close second and moving up four places in the overall standings.

Hart, riding special edition Giant Glory race bike that features graphics and design to support the UK charity Help for Heroes, had a fantastic run on a wet, slippery course. The 20-year-old Brit was racing his first World Cup on home turf since he won the World Championship title last September. His second-place finish matched his second-place ride at Fort William last year, which was his first-ever World Cup podium.

Hart said after his run that he was going for the win in the thick mist at Fort William, but in finishing just .8 seconds off the winning time, he moved up to fourth-place overall in the series.

“I was coming down thinking it was going well, and it was a good run,” Hart told Cyclingnews.com after the finish. “I just wish I could have gone eight-tenths faster.”

Hart’s teammate Andrew Neethling of South Africa also had a solid finals run, finishing 13th, his best-ever finish at Fort Willliam. Neethling is now 15th overall in the series after three rounds, giving the team two top-15 riders before the next round in Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec, Canada.

BOTTRILL PODIUMS NATIONAL 25 MILE TT CHAMPIONSHIP

9th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

The British weather dished out the worst it could offe for the Men's National 25 Mile TT Championship
 this weekend on a rain soaked and wind hammered T252/3 course on Tees Side - conditions alternating between sunshine, thunder, hail, torrential rain and varying wind conditions both in severity and direction.

In order to get a fair result the fastest riders are seeded - among them the three favourites; Michael Hutchinson – multi National Champion and Competition Record Holder, Alex Dowsett – British Time Trial Champion and Sky professional and Giant's Matt Bottrill – multi National Time Trial Medallist. With weather conditions so dramatic some favoured riders chose not to start or finish - the trio were to battle it out in some of the worst coditions the day had to offer.

In torrential rain the battle commenced, the first 12 mile section was a cross head wind. The only official time check on route told the story of the early skirmish with just 5 riders being within a minute of each other, Dowsett fastest with 24.20, Hutchinson 5 seconds slower and Bottrill 47 seconds slower. There was mishap for Bottrill at the turn when he clipped a pothole which resulted in one of his Tri bars snapping, he did however hold it together to continue for the tail wind ride to the finish.

The return ride was very fast and in the difficult conditions it took nerve and luck to hold on to the finish. The time keeper relayed the finishing times and revealed that Bottrill had for the time being moved into the top position with a finish time of 48.36, just seconds later Alex Dowsett improved that time to 47.08. Hutchinson had however paced his ride to absolute perfection pulling 12 seconds out of the young Sky professional to finish with an outstanding time of 47.01 to take the Championship title - his 6th at the distance - equalling the all time record number of wins.

At the prize presentation Matt Bottrill thanked his family, his coach, all of his sponsors and helpers and confirmed that he had ridden the best time trial of his life, that he could have done no more, and that was it! plain and simple, he had been fairly beaten by two riders who had produced world class performances in atrocious conditions.

Asked whether he would be competing in next years event Bottrill replied;

"Maybe!"

With Hutchinson on the hunt for a 7th and record breaking Championship win 2013 looks to be an exciting battle already.

Video: Gesink's Climb to Victory

7th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Eight months after he broke his leg in a training crash, Rabobank rider Robert Gesink was back on top, winning the 2012 Amgen Tour of California on his Giant TCR Advanced SL. With resurgent form, Gesink then went to Sierra Nevada, Spain, in late May to train and prepare for the rest of his season, including the June 11-17 Tour de Suisse followed by his big goal, the Tour de France in July.

In this video, we joined Gesink in Sierra Nevada, Spain, where he talked about the difficult year he has been through, his comeback win in California, and how he has worked with Giant to improve his time trial performances, a critical part of succeeding in the grand tours.

BOTTRILL WINS MAPPERLEY CC 10

6th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

As Britain enjoyed the extended bank holiday weekend Matthew Bottrill www.drag2zero.com was in action, racing on Sunday - winning the Mapperley CC 10 mile time trial, held at Calverton in Nottinghamshire.

The undulating course is far from ideal fro setting fast times but this didn't prevent Bottrill equalling his course record of 19 minutes 49 seconds on a wind swept day.
 
Speaking after the win he said;

"I came here in quite a relaxed mood, put no pressure on myself and produced a good ride, I now have to keep calm for the rest of this week and get ready for next weekend's National 25 mile championship, that is my main goal for the year"

He continued;

"It's going to be a great battle with Micheal Hutchinson In-Gear and Alex Dowsett Team Sky. I know I have prepared the best I could have done and will be riding the best equipment out there, so it will all come down to luck on the day. But I'm ready!"


Mapperley C 10

1 Matthew Bottrill www.drag2zero.com 00:19:49
2 James Coleman Witham Wheelers 00:20:41
3 Adam Gascoigne Pedal Power Loughborough 00:20:58
4 Andrew Green Lutterworth Cycle Centre Racing Team 00:21:11
5 Daniel Barnett North Notts Olympic CC 00:21:24
6 Christopher Hulme Revolution Fitness 00:21:27
7 Shaun Eden Mapperley CC 00:21:27
8 Geoff Platts MG Decor Team Carbon Bikes Solutions 00:21:34
9 Ewan Tarrant Mapperley CC 00:21:36
10 Wendy Houvenaghel Bike Chain Ricci LTD 00:21:38

Craig Wins Oregon Enduro Series Opener!

4th June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Adam Craig of the Rabobank-Giant team took time off from his busy World Cup XC season to win the opening race of the 2012 Oregon Enduro Series on a prototype Giant mountain bike that he is helping develop. Craig won the two-day race in and around Bend, Oregon, where he lives and trains. His fellow Giant riders, Australian Josh Carlson and American Carl Decker, finished second and fourth respectively.

A talented field of close to 45 pros, including former world champion Brian Lopes, who won a World Cup Eliminator event earlier this season, showed up for the unique enduro-format event. Over two days, riders competed in a series of five timed stages and rode longer transition stages in between. The first day was comprised of four short, mostly downhill stages. Day two featured one long decisive stage.

At the end of the first day, Craig led Lopes by 6 seconds despite crashing in one of the stages. “I made a rookie mistake with my tire pressure and had to use a quick-fill on it,” Craig said. “I might have lost 20 or 30 seconds.”

In Sunday’s final, Craig was the only rider to break the 18-minute mark. In the end, he won three of five stages and took the overall. Meanwhile, Carlson, riding a Giant Trance X Advanced SL, moved up from third to second on day two, and Decker, riding his Anthem X Advanced 29er, moved up to fourth.

Craig’s main focus this season is the World Cup XC series, but he said after trying the Oregon Enduro format he hopes to fit in a few more later this season.

Hart Moves Up in DH World Cup

3rd June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Downhill World Champion Danny Hart of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team put in a solid finals run at round 2 of the 2012 UCI World Cup Downhill Series in Italy Sunday, finishing less than one second off the podium and moving up to eighth overall for the year.

Hart qualified with the eighth fastest time at Val di Sole, Italy, the venue where he had a breakthrough second-place finish in 2011. The 20-year-old Brit came out of the start charging on his Giant Glory team bike, posting the fastest split on the top section of the course. At the finish, Hart just missed taking the lead by half a second. He eventually finished sixth.

Hart’s teammate Andrew Neethling of South Africa had a crash in his finals run, losing time and finishing 62nd. Fortunately his top-10 finish at round 1 in South Africa means Neethling is still in the top-20 overall.

The World Cup Downhill Series continues next weekend, as riders travel to Ft. William, Scotland, for round 3.

ZAK DEMPSTER LEADS ENDURA BACK TO WINNING WAYS

1st June 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Driven by the disappointment of the result in Peterborough on Tuesday, Zak Dempster hit back by leading his team to the double of Individual and Team wins beneath the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf on Thursday.

As soon as Zak had arrived at the circuit with the team, he was on the rollers a long time before the start and it was clear to see he wanted the win on the night. But, with racing in this series harder than ever and the quality of the field these days also better than its ever been, winning is never a sure thing.

Part of a four man break that also included World Team Pursuit Champion Andy Tennant (Rapha Condor Sharp), Mike Northey (Node4-Giordana) and Chris Opie (Team UK Youth), Zak from Australia made no mistake in Canary Wharf by timing his sprint to perfection to get across the line first in a close battle with his New Zealand rival.

The race had begun with World Road Race Champion Mark Cavendish flagging the event away and when the race started in earnest after the first few steady laps behind the TV motorbike, the sight of riders being shelled out the back showed the pace was as high as ever in the 2012 series.

The circuit was fast with just four bends, two sharper than the others and being pan flat, attacks as ever came and went but it was difficult to break the elastic. Winner of two rounds, Scott Thwaites had several goes at doing it as did Russell Downing but it wasn't until the second half of the race with fatigue setting in, that finally a break went clear.

The quartet didn't have a big lead, 30 seconds or so and with Raleigh-GAC on the front in numbers trying to bring it back, it was touch and go whether the move would stick. Certainly they had no time for tactics up front as they gave it their all to stay clear. Into the final lap though, with that lead still intact on a circuit that was taking just over a minute to get round, Dempster was able to measure his effort better than on Tuesday where he went too early.

With a huge crowd cheering long and loud along with the cheerleaders on the other side of the barriers, Zak just had time to punch the air in delight before braking for the corner at the end of the finish straight.

The Canary Wharf win saw the team's lead at the top of the Tour Series standings increase to 11 points, with five rounds remaining.

Speaking afterwards Zak Dempster said;

"I was desperate for it, as I have all year so to finally get that first one in Endura Racing colours in May feels really really good. We wanted the individual win tonight. We go for the team prize every week but winning bike races is why I ride."

2012 Tour Series standings;

1. Endura Racing, 66pts
2. Rapha Condor Sharp, 55pts
3. Team UK Youth, 53pts
4. Team Raleigh - GAC, 50pts
5. Node4 - Giordana Racing, 49pts
6. Cycle Premier - Kovert, 34pts
7. Team IG - Sigma Sport, 28pts
8. Metaltek Scott, 18pts
9. Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes, 16pts
10. Team Hope Factory Racing, 14pts

STEPH WHEATLEY WINS NORLAND 50MILE TT

31st May 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

Giant Store Radlett rider Steph Wheatley recently rode her new Giant TCR Advanced W to victory in the Norland 50 mile time-trial.

 

Norland 50 mile Time trial Sunday 13^th May 2012

"A time trial is a race against the clock with the aim to complete the distance quickly as possible.  Each rider sets off at 1 minute intervals.  They are held of various courses throughout the country.  This race was held on F1 course which is known for being one of the fastest. 

The aim of this race was to prepare me for the bike section of my 70.3 triathlons later in the year as they are 56 miles which is a similar distance.  However, this is a difficult distance for a time trial as you have to remain focused and concentrate the whole time.

With the Giant TCR Advanced W fitted with Giant P-SLR1 aero wheels and Giant Connect SL aero bars I was ready to go.   As I started I concentrated my effort of keeping my cadence high and maintaining a good aero position.  The TCR felt responsive as I pushed to increase the speed.  As the miles ticked by I kept doing mental checks to make sure I was on track. 

At the half way point I check my average speed and time and was pleased to see that I was within the target I had set for myself.  As I started the last lap I dug deep into the pain cave and pushed on.  In the final few miles I managed to pass 2 riders who had set off in front of me.  I crossed the finish line in 2.19 which I was really happy with.

This result has given me confidence for a strong bike leg of the 70.3 Ironman triathlons later in the year."

Keep up to date with the latest Giant news and meet other Giant fans at www.facebook.com/giantstoresuk or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/giantuk 

RENE MANDRI WINS SEB TARTU GRAND PRIX

28th May 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Estonian Rene Mandri won Saturday's SEB Tartu Grand Prix in his home country, capping a fine team performance in the 187km race, ranked 1.1 in the UCI Europe Tour calendar.

The race started at a very fast pace, despite Friday's 180km Tallinn - Tartu Grand Prix being fresh in the legs. Alexander Wetterhall, 9th in Friday's race was first to make a move, taking the first King of the Mountains prize. An 11 strong break then formed which included Wetterhall along with Rene Mandri, Alexandre Blain and Zak Dempster. They were soon joined by Paul Voß and two others to take the group up to 14.

The time gaps steadily increased before Voß went on the attack and reduced the lead group behind him down to six riders including Mandri, Wetterhall and Dempster. Mandri made the next move and built a small gap on the run in to the finish, crossing the line two seconds ahead of Blaz Furdi (Tirol Cycling Team) with Voß in 3rd place, Zak Dempster in 4th and Alexandre Blain 7th.

Speaking of his victory Mandri said;

"It was great to win front of the home crowd. It was a hard race which started in the rain which made the streets of Tartu very slippy. Halfway through the sun came out and there was an amazing crowd next to the road cheering me and Endura Racing.

We had five riders in the breakaway of 14 riders and we controlled it from the beginning and the bunch tried to chase us down with Champion Systems, Christina Watches and Europcar driving it. After 100km of racing they cracked completely as we kept the pace high."

BOTTRILL WINS RUDY PROJECT NATIONAL SERIES ROUND 4

28th May 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

While the temperatures soared this weekend riders battled it out at the Rudy Project National Time Trial Series Round 4, held by Doncaster Wheelers CC - facing high winds and high temperatures it would prove an incredibly tough 26.5 miles.

The heat played a  major role in the race with riders suffering on the second of the two laps. Bottrill did an opening lap of 27.35, 56 seconds up on team mate Jones. But with the sun at full power, riders started to fade and Bottrill started opening a larger margin over the field.  

Following a silver medal in last weekend's National 10 mile championships, Team www.Drag2Zero.com rider Matthew Bottrill took the victory from team mate Jeff Jones winning by 2 minutes 23 seconds in a time of 56.00, averaging 28.4 mph. With 1st and 2nd in the men's race, and 1st in the women's race by Julia Shaw Team www.Drag2Zero.com also took the team victory.

Speaking after the race Bottrill said;

"I think a mistake a lot of riders would have made today is not staying aerodynamic on their bikes.  It's always harder to produce high power when it's this hot so I just stayed as aero has possible, forgot about power and it paid off."

Result 26.5 Miles
1st Matthew Bottrill www.drag2zero.com 56.00
2nd Jeff Jones www.drag2zero.com 58.23
3rd Matthew Clinton Mike Vaughan Cycles 58.42
4th Mike Rudington, Wightlink/offshore Rt 59.00
5th James Coleman Witham Whs cc 59.45

ENDURA RACING MAKE IT A PERFECT FOUR FROM FOUR IN REDDITCH

25th May 2012 - filed under Teamsriders

Four races into the 2012 Tour Series and Endura Racing have now recorded a perfect four team victories after the latest round in Redditch. The team of Ian Bibby, Jonny McEvoy, Scott Thwaites, Ian Wilkinson and Dean Windsor were in fine form on a beautiful late Spring evening round a tough course in the West Midlands.

The race started with a couple of easy laps before the pace rocketed and the peloton started to lose riders off the back quickly on the hilly course. A dozen or more had been dropped before a quarter of the race had been completed showing just how tough the parcours were and the scorching pace of the bunch.

The hill on the course was used to launch attacks but no move stuck until Dean Windsor and Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp) got away. The move lasted a few laps before the peloton got them back only for House and Windsor to get away again, but this time with three other riders, all from different teams. The break comprised of Bernie Sulzberger (Team Raleigh-GAC), Matt Cronshaw (Node4 - Giordana Racing), Niklas Gustavsson (Team UK Youth) along with House and Windsor.

The peloton were happy to let the break go and with Dean Windsor in there for Endura Racing, the team were happy to let him go knowing what great form he is in. The gap between break and peloton got bigger and bigger until the last five laps when the break were crawling down the finish straight, watching and daring each other to make the move.

House had a few digs but wasn’t able to do the damage he inflicted last week in Durham and so the race came down to a sprint. Missing in that final dash for the line was Cronshaw, who had been in the break but crashed out with 250 metres to go while out front. Gustavsson and Windsor duelled for victory and the win went to the Swedish rider from Team UK Youth, with Windsor hot on his heels in second.

Scott Thwaites meanwhile, winner of two rounds already, won the bunch sprint for fifth place while Jonny McEvoy’s seventh place was enough for Endura Racing to win the all important team award and increased their lead in the 11 round series to nine points as they approach the halfway point.

Speaking afterwards Dean Windsor said;

"I can’t tell you how much I wanted that one. I have been so close with seconds and thirds in the series and just can’t snag a win and it's been like that this season."

I knew there were Endura Racing guys behind me who could win the bunch kick so there was pressure on me to win the race as well. I’m really stoked though we won the team award again and we’ll now sit down and work out how best to go about winning tomorrow and defend the jerseys."

LIVERPOOL STORE RIDE OUT THIS SUNDAY!

24th May 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

The Giant Store Liverpool are pleased to announce another store ride out for this Sunday, 27th May 2012!

Breakfast will be served at the store from 10am and the ride will commence at 10.30am.

The route will involve a ferry ride to the Wirral with a ride out in the direction of Hooton - riders can then decide whether they want to jump on the train back to Liverpool or cycle back. There is a 20% off food offer at the Elevator café (situated next door to the Giant Store Liverpool) for all of the riders who take part. 

Bike hire is available in store! Contact the store via email or phone, or pop-in to sign up for the ride!

info@giant-liverpool.co.uk

0151 707 6116

JOIN US FOR THE NORWOOD JUNIOR BIKE RIDE!

24th May 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

On Sunday 10th June join Giant Radlett for a great family day out - the Norwood Junior Bike Ride.

With a choice of 5 or 10 mile routes for 7 - 14 year olds, and 1 or 2 mile toddle routes for under 4's it's a great opportunity to get outdoors and raise money for a great cause.

We will be open early on the day offering servicing and pre-orde bike checks along with special in-store offers. All event participants will be entered into a prize draw to win £500 to spend at the Giant Store Radlett.

Visit the Norwood Junior Bike Ride website for more details and to register today.

MEET ENDURA RACING AT GIANT STORE RUTLAND

16th May 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

The Endura Racing team will be coming to The Giant Store Rutland from 2pm on Tuesday the 29th of May.

It's your opportunity to meet the team before they compete in the Tour Series in Peterborough that evening.

Come along to the store, meet the team's star riders and grab some signed Endura Racing Team goodies. 

GET INTO THE FESTIVAL SPIRIT

12th May 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

If you haven't experienced a 2012 Giant Road Bike, Mountain Bike or Hybrid Cycling Technology electric bike - now is your chance.

On Sunday 10th June, between 10am - 4pm, Giant Store Shoreham will be at the Seahaven Cycle Festival in The Salts Recreation Ground on Seaford seafront.  

With a large selection of Giant TCR and Defy carbon road bikes and mountain bikes including the Giant Anthem X and Anthem X 29'er, Trance X and XtC 29'er it's a great opportunity to enjoy trying soem of the finest bikes available. If you want to try somehting different there will also be Giant Twist Express Hybrid cycling Technology electric bikes. Just bring along your helmet, a bank card and valid photo ID and try them for free.

Please contact the store if you would like to confirm sizes and models available in advance.

This promises to be a great day out for all the family. The Seahaven 100 road ride will start and finish at the festival, the Sussex Veteran Cycle Club will be parading their penny farthings and boneshakers, plus trade stands, BMX competition, junior cycle skills course and the Brighton to Seaford Jaunt 'tweed run' will arrive after lunch to the sounds of Seaford Silver Band.

Come along and check out the Giant demo bikes and see how bicycle manufacturing has progressed over the last 100 years.

GIANT SHOREHAM'S ROB PELHAM VICTORIOUS

10th May 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

When Giant Store Shoreham's Rob Pelham is not in the store he likes to pair up with his Giant Trinity Advanced SL and compete in time trials - the race of truth.

Over a busy Easter period Giant Shoreham's very own Rob Pelham teamed up with his Lewes Wanderers club-mate, Nick Dwyer, to defend their title as the Sussex Cycling Association Two-up Time Trial champions - a competition which sees two riders compete together as a team battling against the clock.

Riders arrived at the SCA headquarters in persistent drizzle, which meant the roads on the technical and twisty route were greasy. The tricky conditions on the two-lap circuit, that included rolling sections around Partridge Green and long, fast straights along the busy A24, did not deter Rob and Nick as they stormed round to retain their title with a fast time of 1hr 4min 2sec.'

Congratulations!

GIANT RADLETT SUPPORT NORWOOD JUNIOR CHARITY RIDE FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING!

8th May 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

The Giant Store Radlett are proud to announce that they are supporting the Norwood Junior Charity Ride for the second year running.

The Norwood Junior Bike Ride takes place at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School in Elstree on the 10th June.

The fun filled day includes a 5 or 10 mile cycle route for 7 - 14 year olds as well as a short 1 - 2 mile toddlerthon for under 4's. Along with food, stalls and games there will also be a bouncy castle and face painting. Fun for all the family!   

The Giant Store Radlett are also offering a prize bundle on the day with potentially £500 of prizes up for grabs!

All moneys raised on the day go to the Norwood Charity who work to benefit the local community and causes.

For further info or to sign-up for the day then visit www.juniorbikeride.org.uk or email challenges@norwood.org.uk

 

ITS LADIES NIGHT!

24th April 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Liverpool Ladies Night: Thursday May 3rd 7:30pm

Giant Store Liverpool Ladies Night is an opportunity to find out the essential bike mechanics to keep you on the road and how to achieve the perfect riding position with Giant UK’s Product Manager.

Get your body ready and keep it going with a talk from local physiotherapists Joints and Points.

All this whilst browsing the latest Giant bikes and Liv Gear with a  glass of bubbly and appetisers.

Goodie Bag for ALL Ladies

Places are strictly limited so to book your place please e-mail info@giant-liverpool.co.uk

We look forward to welcoming you.

GET RIDING WITH LIVERPOOL'S FRIENDLY GIANTS

23rd April 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

The Sea Odyssey Giant's made a big splash recently, but they aren't the only Giant's in Liverpool!

Our recent store ride saw a great turn out with around 20 riders taking in the sights of Liverpool at a lesiurely Sunday morning pace before heading to the Elevator Cafe for Sunday brunch.

This Sunday we are doing it again! Come along at 10am on Sunday 29th April to the Giant Store on Parliament Street and join us for a ride around Liverpool.

Even better we have Joints and Points on hand offering post ride warmdown exercises and massage and you get 20% off after the ride in the Elevator Cafe so you can treat yourself.

The ride is completely free but please email us at info@giant-bicycles.co.uk to let us know you are coming. 

We look forward to seeing you Sunday!

GIANT STORE LIVERPOOL BIKE RIDE

10th April 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Get ready - the second Giant Store Liverpool is this Sunday!

You can still have a bit of a lie in - you need to be at the Giant Store on Parliament Street in Liverpool at 10am as we will be leaving the store around 10:15am.

Last time we took in a ride of around 10 miles but we will cater to all abilities so come along and give it a go.

You get a free bike check from our mechanics, and we’ve got physiotherapists who will be giving free massages and cool down activities.

You also get 20% discount from the Elevator café next door when we return back - so you can treat yourself to some post ride lunch.

If you're coming then please get in touch and let us know - email info@giant-liverpool.co.uk or call 0151 707 6116

TAKE A SPIN ON THE NEW SOUTH DOWNS EBIKES!

4th April 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

The South East’s first Electric Bicycle Network launched on the South Downs on Tuesday 3 April, giving visitors the opportunity to hire and ride ebikes around the rural lanes and trails of England’s newest national park!

In the beautiful South Downs National Park, a new fleet of electric bicycles for hire are bringing the simple pleasure of cycling within everyone’s reach. It’s cycling, but not as we know it. Electric bicycles dismiss headwinds and flatten hills. Now everyone can enjoy the great outdoors on two wheels.

Strategically located hire points have been set up at local businesses in the western end of the national park creating a network that will allow visitors to hire and return their bikes as it suits them. Between hire points are beautiful country lanes, special rights of way, visitor attractions, inns and tea rooms to enjoy. Riders can charge up their ebike at these stop-off points while enjoying the region’s finest food or drink. This will increase custom for local outlets, while reducing the overall impact of visitor traffic.

Ebikes benefit a rider by allowing them to cycle in comfort, powering up hills and arriving refreshed at a destination. They are a healthy and near zero carbon way to enjoy beautiful parts of Hampshire and Sussex, and they help promote tourism that preserves the character of the countryside.

Nick Heasman, Western Area Manager for the South Downs National Park, said: “By hiring electric bicycles people can explore the South Downs’ quiet country lanes and help to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in the national park. This is also a terrific opportunity for local attractions, shops and cafes to become charge or hire points and work together to encourage visitors to enjoy the park more sustainably.

“The electric bicycles open new parts of the South Downs National Park up to the less agile, allowing more people to access the big hills and experience landscapes that were previously open to only the fittest cyclists.”

CPRE Hampshire has partnered with Electric Travel to provide local management and expertise. Camilla Swiderska, Sustainable Transport Campaigner for CPRE Hampshire, said: “Last year CPRE ran a trial in Medstead and Four Marks which proved that ebikes are easy and fun to ride and very popular with people of all ages. So we thought that a new pool of ebikes in the National Park would be great for eco-tourism and the wider countryside. The South Downs National Park loved the idea and the national Electric Bicycle Network team has helped us make it a reality. I can’t wait to see them finally go into action.”

A half-day hire will cost in the region of £15 per person. They are suitable for adults and teenagers, aged 14 and over.

The organisers would welcome applications from more hotels, B&Bs and tourist venues to join the network as Hire Points. This will help the scheme to reach its full potential in the coming months. More charge sites are also needed, where riders can stop, enjoy a drink, food or an attraction whilst their batteries charge.

So far, there are four Hire Points in scenic and strategic locations covering parts of the iconic Shipwright’s way, traffic-free Forestry Commission sites, a key national park railhead in Petersfield and heart of the park market town, Midhurst. They are:

• Quench Cycles, Alice Holt Forest
• Cyclelife, Petersfield
• Crank Cycles, Alton
• Cowdray Farm Shop, Midhurst. 

11 Charge Points have also come on board including destinations and attractions such as Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton, the National Trust at Hinton Ampner, Bramdean, Langrish House Hotel in the Meon Valley and the Rural Life Centre in Tilford near Farnham.  A full list of businesses involved is attached. 

Steve Garidis, co-founder of the Electric Bicycle Network, said: “We’re thrilled to launch the South Downs Electric Bicycle Network – our first in the South East – in partnership with the South Downs National Park and CPRE. This beautiful area has rightly become protected as a national park, and now practically anyone can explore its scenic lanes and trails on two wheels, whatever their level of fitness and however hilly it is!” 

For information about the scheme please visit the website: www.electricbicyclenetwork.com or telephone local CPRE Hampshire manager, Camilla Swiderska on 07768 123457.

 - ends –

SUNSHINE FOR THE FIRST GIANT STORE LIVERPOOL RIDE

28th March 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

This Sunday was the first Giant Store Liverpool ride out and we couldnt have asked for better weather. 

We had a great turn out and set off for our ride which took in a 10 mile loop; along the waterfront to Otterspool, through the park and up to cycle a full loop of Sefton park before heading back to the Giant Store.  

Speaking after the ride Jon from the Giant Store team said;

"Everyone had a fab time and we were greeted by a physiotherapist once we arrive back at the store who took us through specific stretches to do after finishing a ride.  All riders then enjoyed 20% off food and drink at the Elevator cafe next door!  Well done everyone who came.......Roll on our next store ride 15th April 10am!!"

GIANT STORE GUILDFORD 1ST BIRTHDAY BASH

28th March 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

This weekend at Giant Store Guildford we are celebrating our first birthday! 

Come along on Saturday 31st March between 9am and 5:30pm to the Giant Store on Epsom Road, Guildford (at the old Sanford Garage) and join us for a cuppa and a cupcake.

We look forward to seeing you in store.

GIANT STORE BRISTOL 29ER DEMO DAY

22nd March 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Giant Store Bristol are having a 29'er Demo Day on Saturday 28th April from 09:30am.

The event is at Leigh Woods, near Clifton Bridge. Type 51.466295,-2.648048 into Google Maps or contact the Giant Store Bristol if you are unsure of the location.

We have Anthem X, XtC Composite 29'er and Anthem X 29'er available to demo but you need to book your place in advance. Call the store on 01454 620 771 or email info@giant-bristol.co.uk - we look forward to hearing from you.

GET RIDING WITH GIANT STORE LIVERPOOL

22nd March 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Looking for cycling buddies in Liverpool or fancy a ride with like minded cyclists? Giant Store Liverpool and City Giant Liverpool are having a store ride out on Sunday March 25th.

Starting Sunday 25^th March, meeting at the Giant Store on Parliament Street in Liverpool at 10:30am all cyclists are welcome to join the team on a leisurely 10-12 mile ride.

Even better; if you come along and take part you can get a free bike check from our mechanics after the ride.

Participants can also enjoy 20% discount at the Elevator Café next door to the store after the ride.

And if thats not enough we will be having physiotherapists from Joints&Points to show effective warm ups,  cool downs and stretches and also give your calf’s some attention with a FREE massage.

And one final thing before we run out of breath from all therse great incentives ...all participants will also receive a free goody bag!

We can't think of many better ways to spend a relaxing and healthy Sunday (and we arent starting that early so no excuses).

For more details call the Giant Store Liverpool team on 0151 707-6116 or email info@giant-liverpool.co.uk. You can keep up to date with the latest news by following us at www.Twitter.com/GiantLiverpool and on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/GiantStoresUK

 

For any more information contact the store on 0151 707-6116 or on Twitter at @GiantLiverpool

GIANT STORE CAMBRIDGE IS GROWING

14th March 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

They say time flies when you are having fun and it's hard to believe its nearly 3 years since the Giant Store Cambridge began offering a whole new Giant cycling experience in the University city of Cambridge.

The Giant Store Cambridge will soon offer an even wider choice of the latest mens, ladies and childrens mountain bikes, road bikes, city bikes and commuting bikes as well as a great selection of cycling accessories. 

The store will begin expanding into adjoining premises on Hills Road, Cambridge towards the end of March which will means it will need to close for a short period - but the bigger, better store will open again in early April.

Not only will the new store offer a greater selection on display but they will also be increasing their workshop and servicing capacity. So if you are a student whose city bike is in need of some serious TLC or a roadie looking to keep your race bike in tip-top condition you will be back on the road even quicker.

Be sure to pop in and check out the new look Giant Store Cambridge from April 3rd 2012! In the meantime you can keep up to date with the latest news, promotions and competitions on our Giant Stores Facebook Page.

ATHLETE BLOG: KATIE HEWISON

12th March 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

So here it is, my first ever blog and I feel very proud and fortunate to be writing this as a sponsored Giant athlete.  For those who don’t me, my name is Katie Hewison and I am an elite dauathlete and triathlete, and the current World Duathlon champion. 

I got into multisport just 2 years ago when I decided to transition from fell running and road running, through a fast track talent programme sponsored by Barrie Wells and supported by British Triathlon.   This allowed me to train full time in Loughbrough, however I recently married in July and through endless injuries I decided to relocate to live with my husband Sam in Pirbright.  This was the best move I have made as I am extremely happy here, which was displayed when just 3 months later I claimed my first ever World Title!!

This brings me on to Giant Guildford, and how I have just received my brand spanking new TCR Advanced women’s bike through Giant Guildford, and what a beauty she is!! 

Basically I live, train and work part time in Guildford, which led me to often calling into the new Giant store.  I got chatting to the wonderful team at the store who agreed to sponsor me for the forthcoming year and I couldn’t be more excited!!  If you want friendly service, and someone who knows there stuff then Simon, Mitch and Calvin are the ones to see, they have fitted me perfectly to my new bike using their in-store bike fitting service.  I often suffer with tight lower back and shoulders, but with the bike being specifically built for me I can honestly say this is the comfiest I have ever felt on a bike!

So the next stop for me is to get fit and get some solid training in following close to a 5month lay off with a stress fracture to my foot after, but follow my progress as I keep you updated with my blogs 2012 is going to be a good year J

Happy riding

Katie x

RABOBANK-GIANT DOMINATE CYPRUS FINAL

5th March 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

It was a busy weekend for the Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team, with riders competing at early-season XC races in Europe and the U.S. Highlights included a dominating team showing in Cyprus and a podium finish in Austin, Texas.

Swedish National Champion Emil Lindgren led the final race of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup start to finish. Racing his Giant XtC Advanced SL, Lindgren escaped off the front at the end of the first lap of the seaside race in Amathous. He built up a small gap and held it to the finish, but it was team tactics that helped deliver the win.

Behind the Swede was his Swiss teammate Fabian Giger, who was in position to take the overall win in the three-race series. Giger was able to mark other chasers but didn’t have to attack with his teammate out front.

“My teammates were perfect, in the way they controlled the chasing group,” Lindgren explained after his win. “It’s great to have that start into the season, for me and for the team.”

Giger ended up finishing second, 14 seconds back, to take the overall series win. And completing the fantastic team effort was Dutch rider Henk Jaap Moorlag, who finished fifth. Both Giger and Moorlag rode XtC Composite 29ers.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-based riders Adam Craig and Katie Compton were racing at the Mellow Johnny’s Classic in Texas, the opening event of the 2012 US Pro XCT.

Compton, just a few short weeks after wrapping up her World Cup cyclocross season, had an impressive showing, finishing fourth on her XtC Advanced SL.

In the men’s race, Craig got his season off to a solid start, finishing 7th on his Anthem X 29er.

FLYING FRENCHMAN STEPS UP TO EXPERT

1st March 2012 - filed under SPONSORSHIP

Giant Store Radlett's Flying Frenchman was recently in action in the first round of the Midlands XC Race Series - stepping up to the Expert category for the first time.

“It was the first time I was going to race in a new category in Expert, as well as racing the new bike that Dan at the Giant Store Radlett sponsored me for the new season. It is the Giant XTC 29er Composite 0.”

Describing his new steed for the 2012 season Franck said;

“The bike is lively and extremely fast – it doesnt take any more effort than a 26” wheel bike to accelerate and it just keeps the speed better. The bottom bracket area is so rigid you can feel all the energy that you are pushing through your legs going straight to the wheels. This is the advantage of the PowerCore bottom bracket.”

He continued;

“The bike feels very direct and not sluggish on tight turns. You can really feel the wheel turning when you are changing direction. It’s also extremely comfortable. I have been running a lower tyre pressure than I am used to, running just 25psi. That gave me great traction and comfort, without sacrificing on the speed.”

“All in all, this is an amazing bike: a great race, trail or just fun bike.”

Now for the race.

“I didn’t really know what to expect. I only expected a much higher pace and only hoped not to finish last. The start was really fast. I mean faster than what I was used to in Sport and it didn’t slow down. I had a pretty good start and quickly a group of half a dozen guys formed. We stayed together for the 1st lap, but I backed down a bit. It is very early in the season and I know that I am not yet fully race ready. I kept a pace that I know I could maintain for the whole race without losing position.”

Forming part of the chase group after the 1^st lap when a lead group of 3 crafted a gap Franck worked hard before backing off for the final lap.

“I finished 7th in my first outing in Expert. I am very happy with that result and it was really unexpected. I didn’t push as hard as possible and I kept a fair bit under my feet. It was a good race. I am now on holidays abroad for 3 weeks, and will come back to race the 1st round of the National Series at Sherwood Pines. I am very excited about it. I will be able to concentrate on my training without thinking about work.”

Congratulations Franck!

JODY CUNDY VICTORIOUS AT PARA-CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LOS ANGELES

12th February 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

Jody was off to a tricky start in the 4km Individual Pursuit at the Para-Cycling Track World Championship’s after a Commissaire standing on the track in the back straight forced Jody to quit his first qualification run. Luckily for Jody, the UCI recognized this error and allowed Jody a restart, but this also meant that he had no other rider to race against.

Nevertheless, Jody rode a strong race finishing in a time of 4:55.958, which was good enough to place him third and therefore into the Bronze medal ride off later today. In the final for Bronze, Jody will now be facing Roberto Garcia Alcaide (ESP) who qualified in a time of 4:57.622.

After the race, Jody said “this was the hardest pursuit I have ever ridden and unfortunately not one of my fastest. I am still quite please though to have made it into the final for Bronze after having to start a second time. I came around the first corner and saw the Commissaire standing on the track, so I didn’t have a choice but to slow down and abort the attempt. There was very little time to refocus before my second qualification run and having no one to chase didn’t make things easier neither. But that’s just the way it was and I tried to make the best of the situation.”

After qualifying third in a time of 4:55.958 in the morning, Jody was facing Roberto Garcia Alcaide (ESP, 4:57.622) in the final for Bronze that night. Motivated by his unlucky qualification run, Jody was off to a quick start and well ahead of his opponent after lap 2 already. Quickly closing in on Alcaide, Jody did not waste any time and managed to catch the Spaniard in lap 5 to take the Bronze medal. After the race, Jody said “We had not planned to go for the catch so it was quite a surprise to have him in sight after lap 2 already. I was a little disappointed with my performance this morning when I was off pace, so we decided to change a few things and ride the same schedule again. I felt much better tonight than I did this morning.”

Even though Jody did not manage to improve on his previous World Championships performance in Montichiari where he won a Silver, Jody feels confident that his result is a step in the right direction: “Ultimately, London is my main goal and I am still learning in the pursuit. It’s a very different event to the kilo but I am not a million miles off from where I want to be, so everything is pointing into the right direction. Of course, I would have liked to post a faster time in the qualifying as my time didn’t reflect my good shape at the moment, but it is all about the learning experience and we learned a lot today!

After today’s pursuit, Jody is now looking forward to his favorite discipline, the 1km Time Trial, in which he is defending champion and WR holder. “I am in good form and I feel much more in control riding the kilo, but the track in LA is not as fast as Manchester or Montichiari, so breaking my WR will be tough”.

After winning the Bronze medal in the 4km Individual Pursuit the previous day, Jody was up in the 1km Time Trial today to defend his World Championship crown. As the defending Champion, Jody got to start last giving him the advantage to see the times of his competitors. The time to beat then was that of Jiri Bouska (CZE) who had posted a 1:09.025, almost 4 seconds slower than Jody’s WR time of 1:05.144. With a seemingly manageable task on hand, Jody was already more than a second up on Bouska’s time after the first lap. He managed to maintain the momentum to increase this lead to a comfortable 3.024 seconds crossing the line in a Gold medal winning time of 1:06.001.

But despite winning the World Championship title, Jody admitted after the race: “I have to say my legs felt like jelly this morning, they felt awful. It’s the first time before a kilo I didn’t really feel ready for it, so it was all about getting the ride out. I went flat out of the gate but after a lap and a half, it already didn’t feel very fast. I tried to give it everything and by the time I got towards the last lap, I just tried to keep it going. I kind of switched into pursuit mode as it’s almost pursuit pace by the time you get to the last lap. And when I came down the back straight I overheard the commentator saying that I was more than 2 seconds up, so I knew that we should be able to get it.”

“I am a little annoyed to be .001 away from a 1:05 and also it’s the first time ever, that I’ve won a World or Paralympic title and not broke the world record at the same time, but I shouldn’t be too disappointed. We might have got my taper slightly wrong or maybe just didn’t have enough recovery from the flight and the travel, but we can learn from that and that’s the important bit”

After successfully defending his Kilo title today, Jody will be racing in the Mixed Team Sprint alongside Darren Kenny and Sarah Storey on the final day of the competition tomorrow. A rule change after last year’s World Championships - allowing fewer points per team - had forced the British coaches to reorganise their team sprint line-up, and other Nations will be running different teams as well.

“It will be a complete mystery this time” Jody said, “We don’t know what orders teams are running, which riders they have selected, but we will just focus on ourselves, get the best out of each other and be safe and technically correct. As long as we do everything within our control and make sure everything is right from our end, we’ll see what happens. But I think we’ve got the team that can win.”

The final day of the competition saw Jody racing in the Mixed Team Sprint alongside Darren Kenny and Sarah Storey. The GB team started into the competition as defending Champions and WR holders, however a rule change after last year’s World Championships - allowing fewer points per team - had forced the British coaches to reorganise their Team Sprint line-up. So today’s race was “a complete mystery” as Jody put it before the competition.

Tension was on after the Chinese posted a time of 51.152 but GB’s Darren Kenny got the team off to a great start. With Sarah loosing a little bit of time on lap two however, it was down to Jody to secure GB a ride in the final. And Jody did just that crossing the line in 51.114, only .038 ahead of China.
With both teams that close, it was obvious that the final for Gold would be a tough one for Darren, Sarah and Jody. And disaster stroke at the start of the first lap already, when Sarah slipped through the attachment on her handlebar, which she uses to compensate for the lack of grip caused by her disability. Sarah said “ I slipped out of it in the first banking which gave me an even bigger gap on Darren than this morning. The one thing that has never happened before, happened today, which is very annoying.”

Having issues with her handlebars, Sarah struggled to get onto Darren’s wheel and more importantly into his slipstream. Unsurprisingly then, GB was down after lap two and it was down to Jody again to try to make up the lost time. Unfortunately for him though, the damage was already done and the time gap too big to make up, so the GB team had to settle for Silver in a time of 51.175 behind the Chinese who rode a 50.564. The first time since 2007 that Great Britain has not won the Team Sprint title.

After the race, Jody said “We gave it all, but we lost to the better team today. Unfortunately, we had some issue with Sarah’s handlebar attachment, which had a deadly knock on effect. She lost Darren’s wheel so she didn’t get the benefit of his slipstream and as a result faded more towards the end of her lap. As a consequence, the delivery speed dropped so my lap wasn’t as fast as it could have been neither.”

One of these things will be to add more Team Sprint training into their programs, as Jody explained, “I think if we had practiced more, we could have been better. Maybe we have been a bit complacent with the Team Sprint because we’ve always won it comfortably, but we literally did our trial and no practice. Effectively, we had only done one training session in this line up, so it’s probably our own fault for not practicing.”

However, Jody and the rest of the team feel confident that they can win back the Team Sprint crown in London. Jody said: “We’ve got a lot of things technically, that we can pick up easy, free speed. The Team Sprint race has been a lot more competitive than we expected, but we’re not a million miles off from where we were last year and from where we need to be right now. I don’t think we’re out of this at all, I think we’re in a strong place for London.”

Although these World Championships have not been Jody's most successful ones, he emphasized the fact that the London Paralympic Games are his main focus for 2012 "We have been working incredibly hard, but there is still a lot more work to do for London. I've defended my kilo title and picked up a silver and a bronze in the team sprint and pursuit, so I cant complain. What has been really amazing though is the support myself and the team have been getting from the fans back home! I'd like to say thank you to all of you, it really does mean a lot to me and I can't wait to get to London and perform in front of a home crowd!"

Jody will now enjoy a brief holiday with his family in Los Angeles, before returning to the UK and starting his intensive preparations in the run up to the Paralympic Games.

IT MUST BE GLOVE!!! COMPETITION!!!

9th February 2012 - filed under COMPETITIONS

To celebrate the month of love in February Giant are giving away 25 pairs of Velocity Giant gloves to 25 of our lucky facebook fans!

To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is head over to the Giant Stores facebook page at www.facebook.com/giantstoresuk and 'Like' our page to become a fan! Then head to the promotions section to enter the competition! Simple!

Full terms and conditions are detailed over on the competition page and please note we will require contact details for distributing prizes.

Let us show how much we Glove you and enter It Must Be Glove today!

GET CYCLING WITH GIANT STORE CAMBRIDGE

7th February 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

Buying a new bike is now even easier!

Giant Store Cambridge are now offering finance on bikes between £500 and £5000. If you are looking at buying a new bike - choose one of the best mountain bikes available to tackle the trails, snap up a great new bike for a Summer sportive or charity ride or find a nippy city runaround to save on fuel costs - and you can take advantage of 0% finance over 12 months.

Even better if you want to get truly kitted out when you buy a new bike you can add cycling gear such as a helmet, waterproof cycling  jacket, lights and a lock into the package.

For more details head into the Giant Store Cambridge today on Hills Road, Cambridge.

 

For full Terms & Conditions please ask in store. T&C's overview;

0% available for terms up to 12 months.

4.9% available for terms up to 24 months.

10% minimum deposit

Minimum purchase value £500, up to max of £5000.

No discounts on goods and no sale items financed.

Not in conjunction with any other offer.

Once a bike has been purchased, further items such as accessories at the time of sale can be included in the finance package.

A MONTH IN THE SADDLE WITH GIANT SHOREHAMS MAGIC JOHN!

6th February 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

Hey there grappling fans, welcome to the engine room. This is the place where I can let off steam and let you in on what’s going on behind the scenes with Twelve Months in the Saddle.

So, the Big Idea is that the photographer Phil Ashley and I are traipsing around Europe knocking out an iconic bike ride each month for a year. In order to get it ready for next Christmas, we need to do all the winter ones this year, so we actually started with November.

We deemed the Exmoor Beast the ideal autumnal ride, so we spent a weekend riding and shooting in Devon and Somerset. We got perfect weather for the pictures, but not so perfect for enjoying yourself… hail storms and torrential showers, roads strewn with debris and localised flooding, the odd pile of ice here and there, all followed in quick succession by electric blue skies and low, golden sunbeams.

It’s not easy for Phil to ride and snap, so we usually take an assistant with us who will drive the car and snap away under Phil’s direction. I was none too pleased when, riding up an 18% stretch of wind-blasted moorland into icy daggers of hail, I noticed the assistant huddled over the heater in a steamed up car in a little car park. “Why weren’t you getting that?” I asked when he caught up with us over the top. “Get out in the car? In that? You’re having a Steffi Graf, mate.”

Thus, for our fantastic frosty blast along the South Downs last week, Phil was equipped with a new gadget: the remote control. Set up the tripod, get the shot right, ride through the frame, press the button. Genius. Only problem? Riding downhill on icy chalk with one hand holding a little black box instead of the handlebars. I’m sure I speak for everybody when I tell you how disappointing it was to report that he failed to fall off. That is the picture everybody wants to see, Phil. It’s time to take one for the team. For the glory of literature.

Until next month,

Magic John

RADLETT GOES 7 DAYS A WEEK!

1st February 2012 - filed under STORE NEWS

The Giant Store Radlett are pleased to announce that as of the week commencing 6th February the store will be open 7 days a week!!!

Due to popular demand the store management reviewed their current trading hours and felt that the advantages of opening an additional day per week would help better serve the local cycling community.

Store Director, Dan Chapman, said; 'The cyclists of Radlett and St Albans are on their bikes 7days a week so we thought we would serve them the same...the extra day also gives the Monday morning commutors opportunity to nip in and buy their everyday cycling essentials'.

The amended opening hours now also include an extra hour in the morning for all you early-bird cyclists!

The full store opening hours as of 6th Feb 2012 are as follows:

Monday 9am - 6pm

Tuesday 9am - 6pm

Wednesday 9am - 6pm

Thursday 9am - 6pm

Friday 9am - 6pm

Saturday 9am - 6pm

Sunday 10.00am - 4pm

 

SHOREHAM SHOWDOWN - THE RESULTS!

1st February 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

Virtual bike racing event features local cycling stars!

Saturday night saw the big-hitters in local cycling take to the stage at The Ropetackle centre in Shoreham. The stars were there to battle it out in virtual-reality bike racing to claim the title of Giant Shoreham Showdown Champion 2012.

Giant Store Shoreham owners Rod and Maria Lambert and the whole team at the Giant Store next door organised the event to raise funds for The Ropetackle Centre following cuts in the centre's funding.

"When we're not riding our bikes we enjoy a good night out with some good music or comedy," said Rod. "So when we knew The Ropetackle were struggling it seemed like a neighbourly thing to do."

Local legend Sean Yates, a former pro who has worn the Tour de France Yellow Jersey and is now head of Team Sky came along to lend his support.  He was surely impressed by the quality of the riders going head-to-head on static bikes with their efforts displayed in the virtual world on the giant screen behind them. The racing route may have been virtual but, with a packed crowd roaring them on, the riders were certainly giving it their all. Check out the video here!

Each round was raced over a different route, which included Shoreham Airport runway, Brighton Pier, Hove Park, and The Mall in London. The tense final between Liam Yates and Felix English was a punishing duel down the Champs d'Elysees in Paris, which saw Felix take the overall honours. Sarah Dwyer reached the semi-final stage to take top lady's spot.

Felix English achieved notoriety in 2010 when he beat multi-Olympic gold medal winner, Sir Chris Hoy in the opening round at the World Track Cycling Championships in Poland. Still only 19, Felix has signed to ride with professional team Rapha Condor this year.

Liam Yates, 18 years old, is the eldest son of Sean Yates. He is a talented BMX rider and has just taken up road cycling.

A mixed field also featured Brighton crime-thriller author Tom Bale who reached the quarter finals.

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GIANT SHOREHAM SHOWDOWN!!!

26th January 2012 - filed under EVENTS, STORE NEWS

How fast can you go without going anywhere?

Giant Store Shoreham have organised a head-to-head virtual bike racing event at The Ropetackle Art Centre on Saturday 28th January.

The event promises all the excitement of head to head bike racing without having to brave the chilly January conditions or risk a puncture - courtesy of Ropetackle Centre's big screen.

To come and watch or if you are feeling fit participate in this exciting community event, please contact us info@giant-shoreham.com / 01273 463579.

Cost is £8 for adults and £4 for under 16's with all proceeds going to Save Ropetackle.

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