Sir Steve Redgrave takes on the "World's toughest bike race"

Training to take on world's toughest bike race - Sir Steve Redgrave & his "Crew"...

It’s 10 years since Steve Redgrave became the most successful ever British Olympian, winning his 5th Gold Medal. In that decade he has continued to inspire millions while raising over £5 million for charity.
Sir Steve's latest challenge is regarded as the toughest endurance race in the world.   Starting on 9th June, Race Across America is a 3,000 mile cycle race crossing from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland.

Joined by a team of former rowers & friends, the crew of 8 will be riding across 14 States, climb 100,000ft and encounter every extreme of weather.  The Race Across America is one of the most respected and longest running annual endurance events holding legendary stature the world over. It is one of the pinnacles of sporting accomplishment, globally seen as the highest rung of the endurance sports ladder.  

Unlike other famous bike races, RAAM is not a stage race, just one long stage live to the very end. Teams typically cross the country in 6 to 9 days, averaging 350 to over 500 miles per day. Solo racers finish in 9 to 12 days, averaging 250 to 350 miles per day. Teams have a relay format and race 24 hours a day.  The Sir Steve Redgrave Crew aim to finish in under 9 days and to win their age category.  Just to prove how tought they are, RAAM competitiors face a race 30% longer than the Tour de France and solo racers usually finish in half the time with no rest days.

The Redgrave Crew aim to raise £100,000 - £1 for every foot climbed - for the Steve Redgrave Fund and Sport Relief. The Steve Redgrave Fund uses the power of sport and sporting activity to bring about positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children.

You can follow the "Redgrave Crew" & Sir Steve's progress (& also make a donation) at http://www.redgravecrew.com/

Good luck to all in the Redgrave Crew!

Coolest Cycle track... ever!

Berlin's Cycle show last weekend featured possibly the best bike track ever invented in the world... ever! Check this out:

Cyclists power little Playmobil figures round a track in a race against the clock & each other. It may be impractical & a tad on the large side, but I WANT ONE!

London Cycle Show

For all fans of shiny new gadgets, this weekend's London Cyle show was an absolute must.

Exhibitors included:
Endura
Greyville
Spoke Shirts
Sealskinz
Polaris Apparel
Nemesis
surf sales
U.S.E
Ana Nichoola
2 Pure
Cyclodelic
2XU
ibikelondon
& many more, so if you've missed it this year make sure to pencil it into your diary for October 2010!

Fab bloggers http://londoncyclechic.blogspot.com were there & have posted a great review of the show & the available retail delights for all to see, so don't miss it.

Cycle Chic fans may also have seen the work of this very clever lady recently, Kara Ginther Leather: http://www.karaginther.com/ - if you have a few pennies to spare on your two-wheeled pride & joy, these may well be for you - aren't they gorgeous?!

New Bike App for the i-Phone

http://www.tsg.la/mybikeinfo/

Here's one for all you techie bike people & those owning more than one bike - I can't wait to delve into this one. Velo Girls in the USA (http://velogirlscoaching.blogspot.com/) give the following review:

We've hesitated to pay too much attention to most "bicycle" apps for the iPhone before because they seem to have limited value, but this one looks very interesting .

When travelling, you want to make sure you can set up your bike just the way you have it while you're home. If renting or borrowing a bike, you want to try to match your current geometry and fit as closely as possible. This info is super-handy if you're planning to purchase a new bike, too! In the past, that probably meant carrying around a little piece of paper with your measurements on it.

This app allows you to enter all that important information right on your iPhone. At first glance, it's super thorough -- probably more thorough than the average cyclist needs (or can figure out for him/herself). You can even add really important information like serial numbers and purchasing information -- all necessary if your bike finds its way into the hands of someone else (like a bike thief).

There's even a section for you to keep maintenance records so you know when to replace your chain! And (with a little help from a friend) you can record your vital body measurements. As a bonus, the developers have added an RSS news feed with some of the bigger cycling new sites (and you can add your favourites to customize the feed).

Thanks to http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/cycling-accessories/bike-apps-for-the-iphone/ you can also see a list of other useful i-Phone apps currently available - well worth a look we reckon!

Ways to use a bicycle...

Here at SMB Bearings, we are always amazed (but not always in a good way) by human ingenuity when it comes to the multitudinous ways there seem to be to ruin a perfectly good bicycle...



For those of you who are secretly impressed, you can find out more from http://steamboatwilly.org/ !

Online store in development...

In response to your demands for an online store, we're currently in the process of building one for you! We plan to make available online a range of our hobby bearings & also a new range of ceramic hybrid bearings, for those of you wanting to go to the next level in performance terms.

We'd love to hear from you, to let us know exactly what you'd like to see for sale online, so please do get in touch. For example, as well as our range of hobby bearings we're also thinking of including a range of lubricants (that you'd normally have to buy by the barrel-load) to help you maintain your bearings, skate t-shirts & decals etc...

Never fear! For those of you who need a bit of extra help, technical information or something listed in our catalogue that you can't see for sale online, we'll still be available via ye olde telephone or email ;0).

We have over 2000 different items in stock in our UK warehouse at any one time & we only plan to list about 200-250 sizes at this stage, to see how you like them. We look forward to hearing what you think about it all & what you'd like to see online.

Watch this space for updates!

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BMX Star...

If you don't fancy venturing out during this damp squib currently known as the British Summer, then why not while away a few minutes indoors playing this free BMX game online?!

Check out http://www.mousebreaker.com/games/bmxstar .

Moursebreaker have lots of other great free games for you to try too.

Thanks to Sam Johnson for the great link.

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Bike Fishing...

A couple in America have had a pretty nifty idea folks.

They've designed a rather nice bike-rack for fishing rods, thus combining two of our favourite hobbies. How clever are they?!

See http://bikefisherman.com/ for more details...

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Tour de France

If you are excited to be following the Tour de France again this year, you really must visit their website (click on this post's title to take you straight there). This 3500km, 21 stage race has a mightily impressive field of international cyclists & teams, battling their way across France. They take on flat stages, mountain stages & time trials in a Herculean effort to take the yellow jersey, as they arrive in Paris on Sunday 26th July.

We may not have succeeded with Wimbledon & England cricket may be struggling (the men's game anyway - well done ladies!), but there are Brits storming up the leader board in this year's Tour - all hail Mark Cavendish & Bradley Wiggins.

Currently in 7th place on time, after stage ten of the tour, Bradley looks ready for a strong finish. And as for Mark Cavendish, he is currently in 2nd place on points after stage 10. There is so much excitement still to come!

You can watch live streaming of the event on the Tour site & also keep bang up to date with the results - come on Mark & Bradley!

Something for the weekend...

We at SMB Bearings really pride ourselves on bringing you the latest cutting edge innovations (that James Bond himself would be proud to be seen around town with) & we truly feel that we've found a cracker with this one.

From a range of products rather doom-ladenly entitled "Innovate or Die" we bring you the Bike-Yak, a fusion of sea kayak & bicycle, for those days when a flood of biblical proportions prevents you from reaching the corner shop any other way.

If you'd prefer a product designed for somewhat happier times, then why not try this one...

...It doesn't show you the elephantine proportions of your thigh muscles by the time you've reached Bognor though.

Happy weekend everyone!

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Naked Bike Ride...

At a loose end this weekend, footloose & fancy free?

Then why not head to London's 6th Annual Naked Bike Ride...

... watch out for sunburn though, this weekend's meant to be a scorcher!

New this week...

We present the latest in mobile technology for your bike...I bet this costume seemed like a really good idea at the start of the race...

This guy's name is Bodge & he is pictured participating in a US road race this weekend.

*****

The we move on to Japan & a man who has, in all seriousness, strapped a gas barbecue to his bike... mmmm!

What else would you do with your bike rack eh, except turn it into a potentially lethal death-trap?! Still, I suppose some people live for adrenaline...

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Closer to home, this weekend also saw the annual Smithfield Nocturne Bike races in London.

We present to you the "Commuter Race".

The competitors, dressed in business attire wait 30m away from their folded bikes & at the drop of the British Flag, the competitors have to run to their steeds building them as fast as they can and setting off on a 5 lap dash around Smithfield. In true commuter spirit, winner takes all - there’s no second chance when it comes to catching your train… There is fierce competition, barging and even a little cheating as our commuters race to prove their skills.

SHOCKING! How to replace your bike's bearings

Cycling to work, minding your own business...

and then some disastrous/frankly moronic road planning sends you tumbling.

Cyclists take heart, Britain's roads may seem out to get you but

if they do, never fear - we can help you replace damaged bike bearings quickly & easily.

All kinds of things can cause a bike's bearings to fail - to name but a few, see:

• Shock load (a sudden increase in load on a bearing, causing it to deform) from falling down a road-grille for example...
• Dirt - a bearing's nemesis.
• Over-enthusiastic jet washing of your pride & joy at the weekend - you know who you are!
• Poor fit - you hear that rattling noise? That's probably your bearings vibrating, before they collapse under the strain. As Mum said, just because it fits doesn't mean you should always wear it...

We can't fix road-planners or mud for you, but if you click on the title of this post it will take you to an article showing you how to replace your bearings in a jiffy!

Good luck & happy, safe cycling.

We do all kinds of wheel bearings!

Check out our catalogue here!

Technological innovation brings us the "Warmseat"

For slightly more practical help with your bike, why not visit www.smbbearings.com/BB_BRGS.htm

for a great article about replacing your bike's bottom bracket bearings, the photos are a real help too.
To help you get a better understanding of bearings & their performance on/in bikes,

check out www.smbbearings.com/SMBtechdata.htm

for loads of technical information & help on bearings.