GAZETTE

cannondaleFACTORYracing

ericBOSTROM michelleVESTERBY

march 2015 • issue 2 • cannondale.com

cannondale

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cannondale factory racing

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GAZETTEWelcome To Issue 2 1Upcoming Events 2Cannondale Factory Racing 3Marco Fontana 7Manuel Fumic 9Anton Cooper 11Henrique da Silva Avancini 13Tale Of Two Rigs 15Adam Pulford, Sho-Air Coach 17

Team InCycle-Cannondale 19Orlando Garibay 21Eric Bostrom Rides Cannondale 23Scott Tedro, Sho-Air Owner 27Demystifying Lefty 29The Snappy Synapse 30Trail Essentials 31Dirt Apparel 33Triathlete Michelle Vesterby 35

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iT’s march…and iT’s sTill snowinG here in The norTheasTern reGion of The uniTed sTaTes.images of long, sunny days capture my thoughts by this time of year. i’m transfixed by these visions—until i’m snapped back to the cold, white reality of my current situation: trapped indoors on a trainer, spinning while watching a TV show to help pass the time.

on a recent trip to mallorca, spain, i was given a taste of what i’ve been longing for—sunny skies and warm temperatures. riding along winding roads and over epic climbs, surrounded by majestic panoramic views, just made my desire increase for what we are all waiting for this time of year—an early parole from our seemingly endless winter incarceration. winter will be fading to spring and the snow will start to melt. The trails that have been dormant for the winter will be awakened from a long, long winter slumber—unless you’re in california or another warm-weather location (and all of us suffering through a long winter secretly hate you!).

nothing says spring to me more than riding the dirty and dusty pursuits of our sport: fatter tires, trails, suspension. it’s time to get out on my mountain bike!

in this issue we will focus on cross-country mountain biking with the new teams, gear and bikes for 2015. we introduce you to cannondale factory racing (cfr), a team that has helped redefine Xc racing. from the baggy shorts to the inclusive team attitude, the boys continue to set the standard. we take an in-depth look at the cfr team philosophy and riders, and what products help them be the best in the world.

we swing through california and check in with sho-air cannondale and incycle-cannondale Pro cycling Team. one team is on the dirt, the other on the road, but both teams have big hopes for the 2015 season.

we talk with scott Tedro about his passion for mountain biking and learn more about his hopes for the sport in north america, the u.s. cup series and the ridebiker alliance program.

The lightest and stiffest fork on the market, lefty, is demystified. we find out how motorcycle royalty eric Bostrom has fallen in love with spinning pedals as much as he has with twisting throttles. and last, but not least, rising pro triathlete and ironman star michelle Vesterby captures us with her personality, motivations and amazing smile!

escape from winter and embrace the freedom of spring riding in this latest issue of the cannondale Gazette!

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Welcome to the Cannondale GAZETTE

Michael de Leon, Editor

UPCOMInG EVEnTSCANNONDALE fACtOry rACiNg mtb 2015Mar 21 Fontana/USa, US CUp SerieSMar 28 Bogota aMeriCan Continental ChaMpionShipSapr 11 Bonelli/USa, US CUp SerieSapr 11 MontiChiari/ita, italian XC SerieSapr 19 nalleS/ita, italian XC SerieSapr 26 teSSerete/SUi, SwiSS XC SerieSMay 3 heUBaCh/ger, gerMan XC SerieSMay 10 SlothUrn/SUi, SwiSS XC SerieSMay 17 SChopp/ger, gerMan XC SerieSMay 24 nove MeSto/CZ, UCi MtB world CUpMay 31 alBStadt/ger, UCi MtB world CUpjUne 6 gräniChen/SUi, SwiSS XC SerieSjUne 14 BakU/aSt, eUropean gaMeSjUne 21 SaalhaUSen/ger, gerMan national ChaMpionShipSjUly 5 lenZerheide/SUi, UCi MtB world CUpjUly 19 national ChaMpionShipS, ita BrajUly 26 ChieS d alpago/ita, eUropean ChaMpionShipSaUg 8 Monte Sainte anne/Can, UCi MtB world CUpaUg 9 windhaM/USa, UCi MtB world CUpaUg 16 MUttenZ/SUi, SwiSS XC SerieSaUg 23 val di Sole/ita, UCi MtB world CUpSept 9 andorra/and, UCi world ChaMpionShipS

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CAnnOnDALEFACTORY RACInG

daniel hespeler, cannondale’s mountain bike sports marketing manager

Daniel Hespeler has been part of the Cannondale family for over ten years. His latest role was to create a team that likes

to win and set new standards, but also create an overall atmosphere where fans are comfortable meeting their heroes in the pits and be inspired to ride and race bikes. He likes his

riders to not only be disciplined and motivated, but also to have a personality and to interact with fans and competitors alike. We caught up with Daniel to learn more about the creation

of the powerhouse CFR team and his goals for 2015.

What makes Cannondale Factory Racing different from other squads on the World Cup circuit? There are not many differences, but the few that are there are what we are very proud of. i think the biggest one is that all the riders, staff and management are sharing the same vision of the sport of cross-country mountain bike racing. we all think outside the box and try to make the sport a better one, a sport that inspires people to ride bikes and live a healthy and fun lifestyle.

Then there is the outgoing mentality that we have, combined with an open-door policy. everybody is welcome in the cfr pits for a signature, laugh and talk. we have something going on all the time. i feel it is really special for our sport, that the fan can come so close to the riders, mechanics and bikes. not so many other sports have that.

manuel fumic’s and marco fontana’s characters add a lot to the team’s approach for sure, and this is just the way they are…. But in the end we are just another race team that wants to win…very badly. we work on the highest level and it is tough as nails, so we better enjoy it while we can! one of my theories is: it is not so much about winning itself…it is more about the way you win and deal with it!

How long have you been involved with the team and how has it evolved over the years? i have been with cannondale for 10 years this year and went through a few different roles in that time. i was running our downhill team back in the day, was involved in the freeride stuff, but also worked in normal marketing roles out in the field and in the office. i started to work on the cfr concept in 2008 and we launched it in 2009.

what i started with was a blank piece of paper really, combined with the desire to make the sport of cross-country a better one. i wanted to create a cross-country team that is out there to set new standards in all sorts of ways. i tried to combine influences from road racing and motorsports. i was on the hunt for riders with personality and free of traditional thinking. all this together, optimized and upgraded from year to year,

created cfr. here we are in 2015 and i still enjoy what i do and try to make it better every single day.

When assembling the team, what do you look for from a rider? A race team is all about the riders, but at the same time it is not. everything should be based around them and everything should be made as easy as possible for them, but at the same time you should not spoil them. The riders should only worry about one thing—riding their bikes faster than everybody else! unfortunately this is not enough to be part of cfr. i feel a sport or a discipline needs heroes, stars and personalities. These are not necessarily the guys winning every single race who then disappear from their fans for more training. To me its the riders that inspire people and riders that people can identify themselves with or look up to. The ideal rider to me is a talented fast guy with an open-minded personality and a bit of a rock-star image. The big art of being a decent team manager then is looking at the things mentioned above and at the same time finding the individuals that once brought together form a team and get along well.

Tell us about the team and the riders? cannondale factory racing…what is it? i think it is literally a group of 10 people with racing in their blood. we all love the moment when the start gun goes off and when its game time. we all love the hours and days before that moment, when every single detail needs to be prepared for this one hour, 40 minutes of racing. we all are not shy to walk the extra mile just to get the last few percent out of it. we all like to put on a show, but without forgetting the performance aspect. we all have a desire to win, but learn our lessons out of losing. we all love the life we live and enjoy a bit of a celebration after a win. The feeling you have when you reach your goal in racing is something you cannot buy with money.

as for the riders, marco fontana is a true icon and ambassador for his sport. he lives and loves racing and is a bit of a rock star. manuel fumic is a hard-working gentleman, former world champion and all-around

maRCo FonTana

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anTon CoopeR

manuel FumiC

meCHaniC, GiaComo anGeli

maRCo FonTana

nice guy. You will never see him not smile, and even if it would happen, he would do it with tons of style. anton cooper is a huge talent growing up from boy to man…. he has a massive set of skills, a very professional approach, and combines it with a nice and outgoing personality. henrique avancini is a rock star in Brazil on his way to conquer the world. henrique works hard and is focused, but smiles while he does it.

one man to not forget is team mechanic Giacomo angeli—a legend of a mechanic and probably the most important guy on the team next to the athletes. Giac, as we call him, is not just a perfectionist on technical details, keeping the bikes running. he is a motivator, a big brother, the best friend and sometimes your biggest nightmare to bring you back on the ground. all this with one goal in mind: do better every single time you try.

How many days are you on the road? How long is the season? in 2014, it was about 180 days roughly. The core cross-country season is from march till september, but the so-called off-season is not as off as it might seem for a team manager—lots of office work and preparation for the next season, lots of thinking and optimizing.

What does the future hold for your new signing, the Brazilian avancini? henrique is the synonym for mTB in Brazil and he’s no stranger to the world cup scene. he has raced internationally for quite a while, but is still young. with the additional support we offer, i am sure, internationally, he will make huge steps forward already in 2015. The 2016 olympics in his hometown of rio de Janeiro are a huge motivation for him—and the whole team. Being the local hero and unquestioned crowd favorite will be a special position for him to be in…a once-in-a-lifetime thing really. we will support him to the max to get the result he wants in rio…and on the way there.

is marco Fontana a leader on the team? Does he lead just by example or is he a vocal leader? This is a clear yes and no at the same time. i think he would never claim to be the leader, but he definitely is the longest on the team…and this is from minute one when we started cfr. marco knows exactly what he needs, but listens well to what others need and do too. he is a very social guy. since he and manuel are like brothers—similar age, similar approach and both highly successful—i would call the two of them together the “senior leadership team” in

the team. mountain bike racing is pretty much an individual sport, so the whole leader thing on the sportive side is not as important as on the road, and nobody makes a big deal out of it. Generally, i would call our structure a democracy with some elements of dictation, where the dictator part is me when there is no democratic solution to be found.

We can see how a team works in road racing—what do you get out of a team structure in cross-country? is it possible to help each other during the race? mountain bike and road racing are only comparable to a very small part on the sportive side during a race. once the gun goes off, everybody can only work for himself in an mTB race, other than in very rare scenarios where you have two riders equally strong and they can play some tactics against a third guy. on the organizational side, and seeing the term “team structure” from a different point of view, what we do is very similar to the road. all the logistics, all the processes around the race, it is all pretty similar. our structure runs just like a road team, only with less people involved and not moving from place to place every single day. we are more stationary in terms of location at the race. we have a home-away-from-home at the races, more like in formula 1. we bring our own kitchen in the truck and have a chef at the races for riders, staff and guests in the hospitality area. we bring our workshop and a showroom for the latest cannondale technology, all packed in a pretty massive structure that we set up every single weekend. similar to the road, just adapted to the needs of mTB racing.

Regarding equipment, what are the guys riding? How do they decide between Scalpel and F-Si? we are in the luxury situation to have the best in class for both hardtail and full-suspension bikes. The riders choose following their own criteria, which is usually a combination of weather conditions, soil, terrain and style of the course. for sure, we discuss as a team, and the mechanics and myself give our opinion as well. Both bikes are race-ready whenever they would need them. There is only one rule—the decision on whether they use the f-si or the scalpel is made the day before the race.

lefty? What the heck’s up with that thing? Do the guys like it? This is a definite no. They do not just like it. They love it! and here is why: Go to the next cannondale dealer and try it out yourself. You will love it too!

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nickname: fonzieDate of Birth: october 12, 1984Height: 5-foot-8 (172cm)Weight: 149 pounds (68kg)Racing since: 1995professional since: 2007Residence: castell’arquato, italyHomepage: www.fontanaprorider.itSocial: @fontanaprorider

oRiGinS

THIS IS FOnZIEcannondale factory racer, marco aurelio fontana

Why do you ride: Because when your are on two wheels the world is much better.

What/who started you racing: my family bought me a 24-inch mountain bike in 1994. after one year i was racing already.

Weakness: what do you mean?most important people in your life and career: my wife Betty.Best part of racing: winning.Hardest part: when you can’t give 100 percent.Worst moment in career: Quitting Xc worlds in 2010.Best moment in career: crossing the finish line in third at the

london olympics.General career goals: To be world

number one.Favorite food: Pasta con le zucchine.Favorite reading: about other riders.Favorite music: rock.Best idea of having good time:

Travelling with friends on two wheels.

Favorite place to travel to: The southern part of italy.

most-respected mountain bike riders: John Tomac.

other most-respected athletes: Valentino rossi, sven nys, Tony cairoli, Thomas frischknecht, Greg minnaar, steve Peat.

Favorite riding spots and courses: Val d’arda, finale ligureas, italy for riding; the best courses are london, uK; nove mesto, czech republic; and canberra, australia.

advice to beginners: ride a lot, enjoy even more.

other sports: cyclocross, enduro (bike and motorbike).

other interests: old stuff.if i were not a professional mountain

biker: i would have been a pilot.

2014Third, uci world elite Xc championship

winner, italian national cyclocross championship

2013winner, italian national cyclocross championship

Third, uci Xc world cup, hafjell, norway

2012Third, olympic Games Xc, londonfourth overall, uci Xc world cup

winner, Team relay, uci world Xc championshipsitalian national Xc and cyclocross champion

2011Third, dalby forest world cup

Third, Team relay, uci world Xc championshipsitalian national Xc and cyclocross champion

2010Third, european Xc championship

italian national Xc and cyclocross champion

CaReeR HiGHliGHTS

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nickname: maniDate of Birth: march 30, 1982Height: 5-foot-9 (174cm)Weight: 149.5 pounds (68kg)Racing since: 2000professional since: 2001Residence: stuttgart, GermanyHomepage: www.manuelfumic.comSocial: @manuelfumic

oRiGinS

MAnI THE MAncannondale factory racer, manuel fumic

Why do you ride: riding my bike makes me feel free.What/who started you racing: my older brother, lado.Weakness: rain and cold weather.most important people in your life and career: family and friends.Best part of racing: The way up to world class.Hardest part: staying there.Worst moment in career: in 2006,when i broke my collarbone twice.Best moment in career: winning world

u23 championship.General career goals: a world cup win,

and the olympic Games 2016.Favorite food: italian.Favorite music: funky ’70s.Best idea of having good time: riding

bikes with friends in the mountains.

Favorite place to travel to: cape Town, south africa.

Favorite riding spots and courses: swabian alps, Germany; south africa; houffalize, Belgium; and nove mesto world cup, czech republic.

advice to beginners: ride clean, ride in style, and have fun

other sports: hiking.other interests: my son.

2014runner-up, uci Xc world cup,

Pietermaritzburg, south africaThird, uci Xc world cup, méribel, france

2013runner-up, uci world Xc championshipThird, uci Xc world cup, hafjell, norway

[unfortunately injured for most of the season]

2012seventh, olympic Games Xc, london

German national Xc championThird, uci Xc world cup, Pietermaritzburg, south africa

Third, Team relay, ucu world Xc championships

2011overall winner, German Bundesliga

2010runner-up, Team relay, uci world Xc championships

CaReeR HiGHliGHTS

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nickname: coopsDate of Birth: august 11, 1994Height: 5-foot-5 (164cm)Weight: 125 pounds (57kg)Racing since: 2005.professional since: 2012.Residence: woodend, north

canterbury, new ZealandHomepage: www.antoncooper.co.nzSocial: @antonmtb

oRiGinS

MEET COOPScannondale factory racer, anton cooper

Why do you ride: Because i’m addicted to it.What/who started you racing: dad, who also encouraged me to enter my first race and i’ve been hooked

ever since.Weakness: can’t pass by a piece of single-track without wanting to ride it.most important people in your life and career: my parents and sisters; richard allin, who gave me my first

break; andrea murray, who runs the canterbury secondary schools mountain Bike club; and david Plew, my coach for the past four years.

Best part of racing: The feeling you get when you win.Hardest part: Picking yourself up from a bad race.Worst moment in career: Breaking my

collarbone in 2010.Best moment in career: winning my first

world championship (junior Xc 2012).General career goals: To win the elite

world championships and olympic Games.

Favorite food: roast lamb and vegetables, and new Zealand wild venison and kumara (sweet potato).

Favorite reading: mountain bike magazines and anything involving adventure.

Favorite music: linkin Park, red hot chili Peppers.

Best idea of having good time: riding into the backcountry to a hut way up a mountain in the middle of nowhere with a couple of good mates and spending the night out.

Favorite place to travel to: europe, because of the history.

most-respected mountain bike riders: Julien absalon and Jaroslav Kulhavy.

other most-respected athletes: cadel evans.

Favorite riding spots and courses: rotorua and north canterbury, new Zealand; and champéry, switzerland.

advice to beginners: Keep persevering, chat with the pros, keep it fun.

other sports: cross-country running, multisport.

other interests: art and tramping (that’s new Zealand for bushwalking/hiking).

if i were not a professional mountain biker: i’d be studying or working outdoors.

2014winner, commonwealth Games Xc

runner-up, uci u23 Xc world cup, windham, usa

2013winner, uci u23 Xc world cup, mont-sainte-anne, canada

winner, new Zealand national elite and u23 Xc championships

2012winner, world Junior Xc championship, saalfelden, austria

winner, uci Junior Xc world cup, round 1, Pietermaritzburg, south africa

winner, uci Junior Xc world cup, round 5,mont-sainte-anne, canada

winner, uci Junior Xc world cup, round 6, windham, usawinner, new Zealand national Junior Xc championship

winner, new Zealand national Xc series

2011winner, uci Junior Xc world cup, round 6,

nové mesto na morava, czech republicwinner, uci Junior Xc world cup, round 7, Val di sole, italy

runner-up, world Junior Xc championship,champéry, switzerland

winner, oceania Junior Xc championshipwinner, new Zealand national Junior Xc championship

first overall, 2011 uci Junior Xc rankings

2010winner, new Zealand national u17 Xc championship

winner, australian national u17 Xc championshipwinner, oceania u17 Xc championship

CaReeR HiGHliGHTS

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nickname: avançaDate of Birth: march 30, 1989Height: 5-foot-9/176cmWeight: 147.5 lbs/67kgRacing since: 1997professional since: 2008Residence: Petrópolis,

rio de Janeiro, BrazilHomepage: www.avancinimtb.com.brSocial: @avancinimtb

oRiGinS

THIS IS AVAnçAcannondale factory racer, henrique da silva avancini

Why do you ride: i ride because besides being my job, it’s my biggest passion.

What/who started you racing: my father. he was a road racer during the 1970s, and in 1996 he opened a small bike shop. i grew up inside the shop, and when i was eight a customer broke a (22-inch) frame and then my father rebuilt the frame and made a new one, size 12.5 inches. The bike was mounted with old parts left by customers in the shop.

Weakness: i always want to train more and i’m very impatient.most important people in your life and career: my parents and

my wife Belle.Best part of racing: i like it all, but mainly two moments. first,

the huge stress pre-start when you are lined up and waiting for the shot. second, the best part of all is when you cross the line, completely empty, without any energy remaining and then you raise your hands and celebrate a win. To win is always special and always a strong emotion.

Hardest part: when you are having a great day and then something happens with your bike.

Worst moment in career: had very few, but the most recent was a crash during the 2013 world championships in south africa, when i was having a very good performance. i hit my head on a rock and

had a concussion. i had to stay off my bike for 10 days, and it was hard to deal with.

Best moment in career: my win at the 2013 spring mountain bike classic in münsingen, Germany.

General career goals: The olympic Games and helping develop mountain biking in Brazil.

Favorite food: Brazilian food, especially rice, beans and farofa [toasted yucca flour], tropical fruits and salads.

Favorite reading: The Bible.Favorite music: rock in general.Best idea of having good time: i believe it’s

not about what you are doing or where you are, but with whom you are sharing it with. Being with nice people is always the best part of having a good time!

Favorite place to travel to: i live on a big country, so i like to discover the different cultures of my country travelling inside Brazil.

most-respected mountain bike riders: marco fontana, Burry stander [who passed away in January 2013], José hermida, manuel fumic, wolfram Kurshat and Bart Brentjens.

other most-respected athletes: i really respect two kinds of athletes: those who make something for its sport more than achieving results, and Paralympic athletes.

Favorite riding spots and courses: Petrópolis, Brazil; dalby forest, uK; nové mesto na morave, czech republic; and Pietermaritzburg, south africa.

advice to beginners: Keep the pleasure. riding a bike is something really special. sometimes, people like it so much that they overdo it. it’s a nice sport with a mix of pain and fun; the point is to keep it balanced and have pleasure when you are riding.

other sports: Volleyball, running and any mountain sports.

other interests: music, movies, travelling and sports development.

if i were not a professional mountain biker: i would be doing something involving mountain bikes, and probably i would have a few more kilograms.

2014runner-up, Brazilian national Xc championship

Third overall, dupla sherman Trezza de Paiva (7-day Xc)

2013winner, münsingen spring classic Xc

Top 15 in uci Xc rankingswinner, Brasil ride

2012winner, short track, shimano fest

winner, international cup of Paraná

2011Third (1st u23) Kapadokya mTB festival, Turkey

Brazilian national u23 Xc champion

2010silver medalist, Pan-american u23 Xc championship

sixth overall, cyprus sunshine cup (1st u23)

CaReeR HiGHliGHTS

TALE OF TWO RIGSthe scalpel and the f-si

when it’s time for the riders of cannondale factory racing or Team sho-air to turn the screws on the uci world cup and north american cross-country circuits they have two bikes to choose from, two bikes that top their categories and in turn have helped cannondale’s Xc stars top the biggest podiums in the world.

when the riding gets technical, marco fontana and manuel fumic can grab for the scalpel 29 and its 100mm of scintillating dual travel that accelerates like a scalded cat. when the race is won or lost on climbs with smooth, flowing lines, the boys in green grab the f-si, a featherweight 29er designed from the ground up to function as a seamless compilation of speed and power transfer.

SCALPEL 29 TEAMPrecision. it’s possibly the defining characteristic of the scalpel 29, making its name all the more apt. no other bike can give you all the benefits of 100mm of race-tuned rear travel yet handle and accelerate with zero penalty. for the scalpel it begins with a carbon frame design unlike any other. it’s ultralight but has incredible durability, thanks to BallisTec carbon, a material used in bulletproof vests; and while other bikes are fitting heavy pivots in the seat stays the scalpel features Zero-Pivot stays. instead of pivots, the carbon stays are engineered with a precise amount of vertical flex. it’s a design that only cannondale, with its saVe micro-suspension experience, can do right. combine this with the oversize BB30 full-carbon bottom-bracket shell and the bike’s lively feel under power is unmatched by most carbon hardtails. of course, the scalpel is sitting on 100mm of rockshox monarch travel when the trail gets rough, keeping the rear wheel planted to improve bike handling and power transfer. up front, it’s the iconic lefty carbon dishing out 100mm of travel in a package unmatched for stiffness, lightweight and durability.

all of this adds up to a bike that will have you riding faster than you thought your Vo2 max was capable of—which means the scalpel needs handling characteristics to match. cannondale has steepened the head tube and shortened the stays giving the bike one of the shortest wheelbases of any full-suspension 29er. The result is a bike that will dissect switchbacks unlike any other full-suspension 29er—agile yet predictable, nimble yet forgiving. riders wanting a more relaxed feel can simply swap a 10mm spacer to the bottom of the head tube, which will slacken the head angle a touch yet won’t change the front-end height a single millimeter.

The scalpel 29 Team is fitted with sram’s XX1 1x11 group and avid XX brakes to further reduce weight and increase precision. cannondale’s

system integration ties it all together with hollowGram si cranks and oPi adjustable stem/steerer. enVe’s carbon Twenty9 Xc rims provide a wheel equal to the scalpel’s incredible acceleration and handling while fsa polishes things off with fsa K-force carbon bars and seat post. $8,670

F-SIon the surface, the carbon hardtail may seem like the easiest mountain bike to design and, in some ways, that was true for cannondale. no other company has so many technologies in its arsenal that translate so well to a hardtail 29er—producing the highest stiffness-to-weight-ratio road bikes in the world, BallisTec carbon for durability with light weight, and saVe technology for controlled compliance in both the chain stays and the seat post. But cannondale was unwilling to rest on those laurels.

instead of adapting the f-si to stock parts or relying on any status quo, cannondale created perhaps the greatest example of its philosophy of system integration. The result is the most complete hardtail 29er on the trail—stiffer, lighter and better handling than most anything else. cannondale relies on its carbon lefty to deliver 100mm of light, stiff travel. hollowGram sisl2 cranks keep the light-and-stiff party going; no cranks deliver more power with less weight than hollowGram.

But it was the ai drivetrain that is the bike’s true pièce de résistance and shows just how far cannondale was willing to go in the name of performance. By simply pushing the drivetrain and rear triangle 6mm to drive-side, cannondale was able to place the rear wheel in the centerline of the bike, yet liberating it from traditional hardtail 29er limitations. The f-si has the shortest chain stays on the market for snappy handling and direct power transfer. The rear wheel can be laced without any dish for a 60-percent-stiffer rear wheel, incredibly important with large-diameter 29-inch wheels. The ai drivetrain’s asymmetry also results in huge clearance for mud and big tires while still being compatible with 2X drivetrains.

while system integration was the main philosophy behind the design of the f-si, cannondale did not skimp when it was time to reach out to its component partners. The f-si Team, like the scalpel 29 Team, runs on sram’s XX1 1x11 with avid XX brakes and enVe carbon Twenty9 wheels with an fsa K-force carbon bar. The result is an entirely new experience in the dirt, a bike for the Xc diehard and the hardtail purist that redefines the category. $8,670

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Where will the Sho-air Cannondale team race in 2015? we will start the race season in southern california at the u.s. cup and Kenda cup series, which are both presented by sho-air cannondale. after the first block of racing in california at the end of april, we will have riders racing all over north america and europe at national events and world cups respectively. for the team, the big focus of the year is the three hc races in the u.s. cup series: fontana and Bonelli Park (both in california) and colorado springs, colorado.

You have both cross-country and short-track riders, can you explain the differences between the two events and what it takes to be successful in both? cross-country mountain bike racing and short track cross-country racing differ primarily in duration and technical ability. The typical cross-country race will last around 75 to 90 minutes, usually in a 4- to 6-kilometer lapped course format, and is very intense in effort with a high demand for technical-bike-riding skills. There can be periods on hills to settle into a pace but, quite often, it’s a technical time-trial that tests the mind, body and toughness of the rider with plenty of hard climbs, fast descents and unique obstacles for the

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riders to negotiate. from a physiological perspective, a rider with a high lactate threshold, power-to-weight ratio and technical ability thrives in this race format. add to that a high Vo2max and all bases are covered. cross-country racing demands a true, tough, all-around rider.

short-track cross-country is shorter in duration (anywhere between 25 and 45 minutes) and is usually less technical. shorter lap times and distances make it more fan-friendly to watch at the venue, but with what scott Tedro [sho-air cannondale team owner] is doing in televising the races now, all races are becoming viewer-friendly in their own homes. The intensity of the short-track race is arguably just as hard as the cross-country, but since the race is shorter, there is more of a focus on short (15 to 30 seconds), very intense surges throughout the race. Power for repeatability and Vo2max are key markers for athletic performance in short track. Your team has a big name in former cross-country and current u.S. short-track national champion Stephen ettinger. How do you think he will fare racing in north american races this year?

Adam Pullford has been coaching professional athletes since 2006. He has a BS degree in Exercise Physiology and brings his experience and expertise to the Sho-Air Cannondale team in 2015. We caught up with Adam to learn more about his coaching style and the team for 2015.

ADAM PULFORDsho-air cannondale team coach

stephen is a champion on and off the bike. i see him thriving, especially in the program scott has set up for the whole team. he’s showing his talent as a competitor and leader already and i think we’ll only see more of it.

How important is it having the current u23 cross-country national champion Keegan Swenson on the team? What do you expect from him? Keegan is a valuable member of the team, and it’s important to have young, highly talented riders like him for the future of mTB racing in america. as we continue to grow the sport, we want athletes like Keegan to be able to have opportunities to perform at his best. and his best is what we expect from him, always.

evelyn Dong had a break-out season last year, what do you see from her in 2015? evelyn is another talent, and the only woman on the team. she brings much to the table, with her grit and toughness shining through. i think you can see her general upward trajectory, and i don’t see that changing anytime soon. we want to see her do what she does best: race bikes, make the other women hurt who try to keep up to her, and get on that podium. Will the team be travelling to europe to race? some of the team members will be travelling to europe and some will not. sho-air cannondale is a uci mTB team, and we provide opportunities for riders to perform at every level of the sport. The team’s main focus is the u.s. cup series in north america and all athletes have the chance to race on the world circuit as it pertains to their individual goals and standings with the national governing bodies.

We can see how a team works in road racing, what do you get out of a team structure in cross-country? is it possible to help each other during the race? The mTB scene is slightly different because of the nature of the courses and terrain, but there are still big advantages to having a great team on the dirt. first, the level of support—scott Tedro runs the top supported team in the nation. when the athletes only

have to worry about racing their bikes, that’s a huge advantage to the team. second, there are still plenty of race tactics to use on single-track, and we’ll use them. The more these athletes train together, the more they will be able to read each other at the races and orchestrate those tactics. Third, we have plenty of races to race: each rider on the team has communicated and believes that as long as we have some green, black ’n’ red on the top of the podium, it doesn’t matter who it is. our athletes love winning, and they will, as individuals and as a team. That means we have four members focused on one common goal: winning. finally, anytime you have a teammate in the same color jersey close to you, it motivates. we believe that when athletes compete together, the higher one goes, so can the other—that is what is being fostered on this team. i’ve seen our athletes come together like none other already in training and overall vision for the year. individual mTBers don’t have these advantages. The team’s equipment: what are the riders riding? How do they decide between Scalpel and F-Si? we have the best cross-country full-suspension race bikes in production with the cannondale scalpels. Time tested and performance proven, the lightweight, highly responsive frame coupled with the lefty fork is a bike racer’s dream come true. stephen ettinger has spoken a few times to these great aspects of the bike. additionally, we have a new arrow in the quiver with the brand new hard-tail race bike from cannondale: the f-si. increased stiffness with decreased weight, Keegan swenson has been raving how well this bike handles in the dirt and motors uphill. cannondale nailed it with that one. each rider will pre-ride race courses and personally determine which bike is best suited for the conditions.

lefty? it still gets looks, even after 15 years. Do the riders like it?They love it. riders like dong and ettinger are experiencing the advantages of it this year while riders like max Plaxton don’t ever consider another option. The lefty fork was a great feat of engineering on cannondale’s behalf 15 years ago and is still pioneering bicycle-suspension technology today.

SHo-aiR/CannonDale(l To R):max plaxTon, KeeGan SWenSon, evelYn DonG, STepHen eTTinGeR

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A TEAM DEFInEDincycle-cannondale pro cycling team

Team owners Micah Cloteaux and Dominic Galenti are looking to build on the success of their team’s first year at the UCI Continental level. The team’s main focus will continue to be the National Race Calendar and National Criterium Calendar in the U.S. The 2015 roster

features solid riders who achieved high marks throughout last year’s season, including Hunter Grove, Sergio Hernandez, Efren Ortega, Andres Diaz and Garibay. The 12-strong 2015 team features riders from various cultures and countries. “Diversity is our best friend,” said

Cloteaux. “While many may see it as a challenge, for us, it’s an asset. The riders must make a conscious effort to get to know each team member as an individual and a rider. It’s a

cohesion that can only be obtained with the right mixture of people.”

in addition to the returning riders, the team will continue its mission to share cycling with those who have never experienced the freedom it affords. “The team’s mission is more than just results, it’s to give back to the community,” said Galenti. “People probably don’t know that a lot of our riders come from very humble, even impoverished backgrounds. it is for that exact reason that no matter where we race, our riders make a conscious effort to share cycling with the local community. This not only raises awareness about our sport but could hopefully inspire the next great cyclist of their generation.”

The team’s success in 2014 translated into new and renewed sponsors for 2015. incycle, a chain of professional cycling stores in los angeles, continues as the title sponsor. cannondale supported the team in 2014 and returns to the program as a new co-title sponsor, providing a generous service course for the team. additionally, suarez cycling is providing apparel for on and off the bike and mercury wheels keeps the team rolling.

Andrès Diaz (Col)Samuel (Hunter) Grove (USA)

Diego Sandoval (Mex)Franco Font (PR)

Sergio Hernandez (USA)Efren Ortega (PR)

Orlando Garibay (Mex)Sebastián Montes Cano (Col)

Julian Rodas (Col)Cory Williams (USA)

Ricky Morales (PR)Sebastián Hernández (PR)

InCYCLE-CAnnOnDALE PRO CYCLInG TEAM

IMAGES: JORDAn CLARk HAGGARD

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ORLAnDO’S JOURnEYImagine learning the English language through the comedy film,

“Ted,” trying to make a living in cycling and leaving your home in pursuit of your dreams? That is what 21-year-old Orlando Garibay has been doing for the last few years.

living in a situation less than ideal, away from his home in mexico, this young road cyclist has been on a mission to make his way to the Tour de france despite the numerous physical and financial barriers standing in his way. early on, it was clear Garibay was born a racer. he started cycling at the age of six, racing alongside his brother, and with a father willing to push his son into competition. Victory came naturally for the young orlando.

“my father would take me to the races,” said Garibay. “i won almost all of the local races—and i was racing my category and the next one too. sometimes i would win both [races]. i started football [soccer], but then i stopped because i was a little fat and i wasn’t good at scoring.”

inevitably, by 16 years old, Garibay had a real future in cycling, beyond just a sport. he currently lives in a small garage with his brother, but the expense of cycling is too great to bear alone. his family, miles away in mexico, and his brother work to support orlando’s incredible talent on the bicycle.

when he began cycling in the u.s., Garibay was noticed by a high-caliber uci continental team, incycle-cannondale. with its diverse roster that includes riders from colombia, Puerto rico and the u.s., Garibay the mexican was a definite fit. at 18, the young and talented road cyclist joined many of the best racers in the u.s.

“They called me when i was starting here in the u.s.,” Garibay said. “i lived here with my brother. i started to move to different places, and i have been here for three years. i get to learn from the good racers, like the leaders we have here.”

as hard as it was for Garibay to be alone with his brother and away from the rest of his family in mexico, he saw the greatness and the love of team members. “my team feels like family,” he said. The team travels to pro races in california and across the south.

Young and still learning, Garibay sees each race as one step closer to his dream of racing in europe—but racing here is very different from what he was used to. “in mexico, you know who is strong. when they move you move with them. in the u.s. it is more difficult. You have to follow everyone because you don’t know…everyone here is strong.”

Garibay is a strong cyclist too. at 21, he is one of the best racers competing in the u.s., and he likes to feel every kilometer he pedals by training alone. what you might see in his many posts on social media is slightly the contrary to how he prefers to ride. “i post a lot of pictures with my teammates, but i like to train by myself.”

“As hard as it was for Garibay to be alone with his brother and away from the rest of his family in Mexico, he saw the greatness and the love of team members.”

IMAGES: JORDAn CLARk HAGGARD

Bostrom is constantly on the move, whether testing cutting-edge electric motorcycles or racing his mountain bike. we managed to find him between races and rides to sit down and chat about his history and his love for the bike, as well as garner some insight into the very nature of competition. it’s a rare glimpse into a unique competitive spirit. Bostrom is many things these days, but, foremost among them, a new father.

he will also be an ongoing contributor to the cannondale Gazette, letting us follow along as he travels across the country in pursuit of two-wheel bliss. Think of this interview as your eric Bostrom introduction: reader, meet eric. eric, meet reader. enjoy.

What are you up to these days, eric? motorcycles? Bikes? Both? my occupation these days is many things, but the greatest thing for me is being a dad. i have a two-month-old daughter and she’s wonderful. Being a part of that family unit, to have my wife and daughter cheering me on at the races, is no. 1. along with that i’ve been doing development riding for Brammo, which is an electric motorcycle company out of southern oregon, and i’ve been doing a lot of bicycle racing. a little bit of everything, you know. Kind of go out and mix it up on some fondos on the road, do some cyclocross and to me, close to my heart, is the mountain bike stuff. i’ve been doing everything from cross-country races to 100-mile leadville-style races.

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ERIC BOSTROMEric Bostrom is U.S. motorcycle royalty. Born into a racing family, Eric, along with his brother Ben, was weaned on dirt track before carving out a very successful career as a road racer. He has won an AMA Superbike World Championship and an AMA Formula Xtreme Championship, and he jumpstarted his road-racing career with a championship victory in the AMA Super Twins Series back

in 1997. As successful as his motorcycle career has been, his passion for two wheels extends beyond the motorcycle—spinning

pedals has captured his heart as much as twisting throttles.

never forget the passion

When and where did your passion for motorcycles come from? The Bostrom racing history is pretty deep. Both my dad and my uncle were professional dirt trackers back in the late-1950s, ’60s and ’70s. it was pretty natural for us to get into racing bikes. it’s really competition that drives you. You get onto something with two wheels and a motor and, at this point in life just two wheels and pedals, and you fall in love with it and then you’re looking for the next way to advance. it becomes a competition and the competition drives you to do things you just didn’t know you were capable of doing. as a kid, i chased my dad and my uncle and my two older brothers. i always had somebody to chase. it was always competition driving me forward.

i was 10 years old and my dad had his pick-up truck packed full of bikes and he said we’re going to lodi—i didn’t even know this place. we headed out to the dirt track and i got lapped. There were the fast kids and then there were the slow kids, and then there was the guy that was really slow—and that was me! i’m not down with getting beat like that, you know, the competition thing! i said, “dad were going back there next week and i’m going to figure out how to do this!” at that point we just started hitting all of the local dirt tracks in northern california. we’d hit fremont on friday night, lodi on saturday night and san Jose on sunday. and then repeat, repeat, repeat. You get pretty fast!

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When did you realize you could make racing motorcycles your profession? The gateway into becoming a professional road racer in the u.s. is challenging, and it’s gotten more challenging. for myself it was really dirt track. i was racing for Bartels’ harley-davidson and they had a class that was both a dirt track and road race class. it gave me a chance to get on asphalt and figure out asphalt’s pretty cool to ride on too! nowadays, i think you see a lot more kids doing road racing from a younger age and it’s very heavily supported by their families. we’re seeing a much higher talent level from a young age. it’s a mixed bag. it’s neat to see the talent level come up so high but it’s also difficult because you want to have a kid that’s 15 years old and rides a bicycle or motor cycle for the first time say, “i can express myself here!” You want them to not be too far behind. But for me i lucked out riding in that harley-davidson class.

i was hitting the dirt-track races around the country and i had just about had it because i was only having modest success. Those years were really trying on me; it makes you question your ability a lot. Then something in my brain clicked and said, “it’s go time,” and i figured out pretty quickly, after winning several races in a row, that i had the ability to do that. it took absolute commitment, but you can see i was fairly old when that commitment happened. i think if you go out to the local races now you can see that commitment at a much younger age—they have to turn that switch sooner. You see kids committed to being a professional in their early-teen years. again, a mixed bag, because you want the fun to be in the sport.

When did cycling become a big part of your life and your preparation for pro motorcycle racing? The cycling came in as soon as i had some free time. i’ve always loved bicycles. when i was racing dirt track and just driving across the country i never really had room or time to even own a bicycle. when i got on the path of winning races, i got a little more support and it was common from that point forward to always have a bicycle around. i would have one in the trailer and i’d have one at my house, riding as often as i could, because the fitness keeps the mind sharp and the racing is all about the mind. The two just work really well together.

You benefit from just that feeling of breathing the air and getting outdoors to that ultra-competitive anaerobic edge. That’s usually where you end up at a race when you’re fighting to the bitter end and you have to come up with a little more in the tank. if you make it 20 laps into a race and you’re still racing with a guy, chances are it’s really close. You need to be able to dig a little bit deeper and that’s where the conditioning and mental fortitude comes in. The bike, the repetition of pedaling, the power that it puts into not only your aerobic system but your confidence, is what gives you the ability to get that last bit. You have to know that you are going to win. even if you don’t have a good game plan, it’s going to happen, you have to make it happen. That’s what makes a great champion.

is the lifestyle of a professional motorcycle racer very different from that of a professional cyclist? The lifestyle of a top athlete, across the broad spectrum of sports, is pretty similar. which is, sad to say, somewhat egocentric and self-focused. on the race weekend you have to put yourself first. That part is a little bit awkward for me; it doesn’t come naturally. You meet someone at the track, then you meet them away form the track and they are two different people. at one place you meet them at the office and then at the other out having a beer. They are two very different people. That is the same whether it’s a top motocross racer, road racer, cyclocross, top road pro—all parallels.

The speeds on a motorcycle are so high, how can a bicycle be exciting for you? hitting 200 mph on a road-race bike is just overwhelming sensations. i mean if you come up out of the bubble at that speed it just tries to rip you right off the bike. does that exact sensation cross over to the bike when you are pedaling? not quite. But where the parallel is is just the intensity. You’re riding your bike at the edge. on the track, you are totally on your edge and on the bicycle especially during a race you are totally on your edge. doesn’t matter if you’re on the road bike on the edge of your fitness or if you’re on the mountain bike on the edge of traction. You’re pushing that envelope.

You ride so many styles of bike. are you a roadie, ’cross rider, mountain biker? in the bike world i’m a cyclist, but when it comes down to it, i’m a mountain biker. There is just something about being on that single-track trail, the one that you dream about, that captivates me.

What bikes do you have in your personal arsenal? i’m spoiled. i have a pretty nice garage full of fun bikes! i’m like a pro surfer—there’s a bike for every day, every wave condition. from an old retro bike that my father-in-law gave me to a hardtail race bike, a scalpel race bike, my ’cross bike. Pretty much all the cannondale stuff, the 29ers to the carbon ’cross bike, are i think the lightest whips out there. my buddies will call me and say, “hey, we’re going out in malibu and training in the canyons,” so i’ll grab my eVo and go out and hit it for five hours. The next day it’s an Xc day, we’ll rip around the conejo Valley on my scalpel. This weekend we’ll be heading to the races and i’ll ride my f29—it’s the lightest whip i’ve ever ridden in the dirt!

What piece of advice would you give to a young rider hoping to follow in your footsteps? my one piece of advice, and this is blanket for anything, you really have to love it. To be a road racer there are a lot of people that may love it one day and then move on to the next thing. if you are going to be good at something you’ve got to learn to love it every day. so with that there are going to be tremendous peaks and tremendous drops and we just go through them as road racers. one day you are riding high and the next you’re rebuilding your bike in the garage because you threw the thing down the road. You have got to have that belief in yourself and that love for the sport. never forget the passion!

“I’m spoiled. I have a pretty nice garage full of fun bikes! I’m like a pro surfer—there’s a bike for every day, every wave condition. From an old retro bike that my father-in-law gave me to a hardtail race bike, a Scalpel race bike, my ’cross bike.”

Sho-air and Cannondale have had a long and successful relationship—when did it start and why does it work so well? it really started two years ago when we put it all together. i also have a great relationship with dave manchester [cannondale’s senior vice-president of sales and marketing north america], who has supported our efforts in every way. one thing i do in my core business is to package programs and levels of activation and i think cannondale sees the benefit of that as well. when people ask me “why” i usually reply “why not?” and i think cannondale appreciates that view. when i have a new idea to involve cannondale with the u.s. cup or the ridebiker alliance or whatever…we try to write the rules and figure out how it can all work together, and vice versa.

is cross-country racing making a comeback in north america? Will it ever get back to the heyday of the 1990s? what’s important is that cross-country racing grows in north america, which is happening. our series, the u.s. cup, has grown to the point that the uci granted us three hc category events this year! The country’s first hc was Bonelli Park [in san dimas, california] just last year, so for the uci to step up their commitment to us here in the u.s. is a huge sign that our efforts are working and are appreciated at the highest level. we will have world champions racing in our series this year as well as the cannondale factory racing team and many more of the top riders in the world! Big-time cross-country racing in the u.s. is back! i wasn’t involved in the 1990s and honestly don’t care what that looked like.

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Scott Tedro is a force in the mountain bike world. His personal story of transformation through cycling has fueled his indefatigable desire

to grow mountain bike racing in the US. His support of multiple teams and athletes is an inspiration and his business approach

to racing is a breath of fresh air in the mountain bike world. We talked to Scott to learn more about his story and his team.

SCOTT TEDROowner, sho-air

what i do care about is that we get to a point where professionals can make an honest living racing here, and the average amateur racer can come out and have a great time at a well-executed event!

Tell us about the u.S. Cup, and what other big things are happening this year, like Sea otter? [Besides the hc races] we have a couple of great developments for 2015’s u.s. cup. first, we added the sea otter classic, which is a throwback to the classic cross-country courses that today are closer to the marathon style of racing. we are so excited to add this legendary event and i want to personally thank Jeff “frosty” frost and frank Yohannan for their continued contributions to the sport of mountain biking. second, our live broadcasting will step up another level. You won’t see drones over our races, you’ll have a professionally piloted helicopter covering the first three rounds, and we’ve added commentary by Bob roll and christian Vande Velde for the Bonelli hc event.

Describe the riders and personality of the 2015 Sho-air Cannondale team? What does this team do for racing in north america? we’ve rebuilt the team for 2015, and i’m very excited to see these riders start their seasons in sho-air cannondale colors. evelyn dong is only in her second year of racing and is showing huge progress already. she loves her cannondale and lefty fork and this is one instance where the bike will definitely improve the rider! Then we have Keegan swenson and stephen ettinger, two young guys with a great amount of experience and promise. when you add max Plaxton to the mix, i really feel like we have the top team in the u.s. and one that can compete with the best in the world, as they all have world cup experience.

What is the Ridebiker alliance team with Tinker Juarez? How does it differ from the Sho-air Cannondale team? The ridebiker alliance is much more than just a team. it’s an alliance of like-minded people who love the sport of cycling and want to band together to not

only grow cycling in the u.s. but also create a sustainable program to do good deeds in the name of cycling. whether that’s equal payouts for men and women at our mountain bike races, bike advocacy, insurance programs, racing sponsorship or club support. ridebiker is going to grow into having a very large voice and ability to accomplish so much in the cycling world. it’s good for everyone who rides and i’d encourage everyone to join…it’s free!

How does Tinker fit into it? he has basically created his own team and is now running his own program, selling sponsorships and signature products, and really running his own show. and that’s one more thing that ridebiker can do…for privateers, racing teams or social cycling clubs. it’s a great platform that gives access to a custom-skinned estore and pages, and helps to promote your efforts online.

How old is Tinker and how is he still so damn fast? Tinker is 54 in march. he is still successful because he’s truly out there every day, still doing what he loves, and that’s putting in the work necessary to stay at a high level. and he’s done this for decades! i’m very happy he’s representing the ridebiker alliance—and he’s formed Team Tinker, which will finally get his legions of fans to buy his jersey and support this incredible athlete.

Why do you have so much passion for cycling and supporting its growth in north america? cycling saved my life…literally. after the events of september 11, my business suffered dramatically and i suffered physically and emotionally as a result of that. my health got so bad that i was very near death. i got put on a bike by a couple of people close to me and that turned my life around. i’ve met so many great people through cycling and i like to say that i like 100 percent of the people i meet while on my bike. it’s such a great sport…i just want to try and bring some new ideas to it to enhance people’s enjoyment of it.

RiDeBiKeR allianCe Team(l To R):Sam SCHulTz, KimBeR TeDRo, TinKeR JuaRez,alex GRanT

DEMYSTIFYInG THE LEFTY

how can a single-sided fork possibly be lighter and stiffer than a traditional suspension fork? how can it keep the wheel on line, especially on rough trails? a look inside first reveals just how different a lefty is and then why it works so well. instead of a round lower telescoping over a round upper with traditional bearings, the lefty uses a square-in-square tube with needle bearings. This design stops the tubes from rotating within each other, keeping your wheel on line and your handling laser-beam precise. long rows of cylindrical needle bearings rotate in place as the lower slides into the upper keeping suspension smooth throughout its travel—in fact, the bigger the impact, the smoother they get. lefty also becomes inherently stiffer the deeper into its travel it goes due to the bracing nature of the needle bearings. all of this is kept rolling smoothly with the help of internal and external seals, giving lefty twice as much trail time between scheduled service as traditional forks.

on top of all this is the dual-crown design. using no more material than a traditional single-crown fork, lefty’s dual crown lets it leverage the stiffness of the frame itself to keep you on line and moving quickly. The single-sided design also frees up lefty to go big on diameters without a weight penalty further increasing stiffness. The supermax is a whopping 36mm lower sliding into a 46mm upper. it’s the stiffness of a burly downhill fork in a package that is Xc-race light.

with only one fork leg, the damper and spring share real estate, which allows them to be tuned into perfect harmony. combine this with the fact that each and every lefty upper and lower is hand

matched with its partner for perfect bearing feel and pre-load and no other fork can match lefty for precise tolerances. lefty offers two ways to control your fork: Xlr, a handlebar-mounted hydraulic platform “lockout” and PBr, a fork-mounted platform “lockout” on the top of the fork leg, closer to your hand than any other fork-mounted lockout thanks to the dual-crown design.

lefty comes in multiple flavors to suit almost any riding style from 160mm of supermax to 100mm of featherweight lefty carbon. lefty now comes in multiple crown spacings bringing its magic beyond cannondale bikes. once lefty has been demystified, instead of wondering how it works, the question becomes: “why isn’t every fork made this way?” lefty is helping riders everywhere understand that no matter what trail you ride, what kind of rider you are, or what race you might be doing, it only takes one to tango—one lefty.

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“we mock what we do not understand.”

While this may be a quote from a forgettable Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase 1980s film it also happens to perfectly describe the reaction many riders have upon their first glimpse of a Cannondale Lefty. To say it challenges conventional thinking would be accurate. Of course, it would also be accurate to say it is lighter and stiffer that anything else in every category it does battle in.

it begins in november—every mile ridden, every meter climbed, every effort made, every calorie burned. it’s all for a single week in april, a week when legends are made. it’s a crucible of cobblestones and suffering, rain and mud, scored by a million voices channeling a passion that is the birthright of northern europeans from the flatlands—the Belgians, dutch and french. These are the major cobbled classics, the Tour of flanders and Paris-roubaix. for dutch national champion sebastian langeveld, who as a boy would replay the great races until the videotapes wore out, they are his dream. a dream he hopes to achieve in 2015 aboard his new cannondale synapse.

The synapse has been ridden to the top step of semi-classics and to the podiums at the classics themselves—but in langeveld it may have its greatest champion. he’s under the radar, mentioned after the likes of cancellara, Terpstra and sagan, but he’s ridden deep into the finale at the Tour of flanders before and if he gets away on the Kwaremont or Paterberg, the field won’t see him again. he’s a man with great faith in his synapse, saying, “all the other riders at flanders are also really big talents, it’s all just that one or two percent, the synapse can make the difference 100 percent.”

how can the synapse make this difference? cannondale has invested the synapse with a potent mixture of compliance and rigidity to ensure it handles the worst roads in europe and keeps its rider fresh, but still has jaw-dropping power transfer when it’s time to decimate the field late in the race. it all starts with position, and cannondale calls it s.e.r.G. (synapse endurance race Geometry). instead of the very upright position of most endurance bikes, s.e.r.G. balances the needs of race-day handling and aggressive riders with all-day comfort. saVe technology, a cannondale

signature, resides where the wheels hit the cobbles with a saVe Plus fork and saVe Plus helix-shaped rear stays. it adds up to more than a comfortable ride. The synapse can confidently thread the needle in a tight bunch or carve a perfect apex over what can only charitably be called “roads.”

Power transfer comes from a hi-mod-carbon recipe that uses high-stiffness fibers over high-strength fibers with impact-resistant resin. it’s BallisTec carbon and it provides durability and torsional stiffness without a weight penalty. The seat tube is an asymmetric split design, which maximizes the stiffness of the 73mm bottom-bracket shell, but uses less material than a traditional tube.

while langeveld and his classics teammates will be on hi-mod synapses with dura-ace groups, cannondale offers the bike with multiple builds from 105 to hi-mod Black inc. disc. That’s right, while the worldTour guys have to wait for the stopping power of disc, cannondale offers six different disc builds for the synapse and the pros are jealous. “at roubaix, on a day with a lot of mud, it definitely could be a good thing,” says langeveld.

THE SnAPPY SYnAPSE

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TRAIL ESSEnTIALSthe unsung gear heroes

airspeed plus mTB [1.]let’s be honest, most compact pumps barely work. They are emergency-only items. Bucking this trend is the airspeed Plus mTB pump. with high-volume capability, it’s designed to reach common mountain bike pressures while TrP grips at each end and rugged alloy construction help you get there quickly. a retractable hose and threaded head ensure the pressure goes where it’s intended and allows you to pump away without damaging your valve or fingers. it’s super-light, fits easily in a back pocket or hydration pack and can be mounted to your water-bottle bosses with the included mount. $45

Cannondale Ryker Helmet [2.]designed for the trail, the new ryker features mountain must-haves like a visor, extended coverage at the back of the head, massive ventilation ports and a micro-adjustable fit. The lid is light enough to let you fly up the climbs on the hottest of days, but has the protection you need to fly back down, pushing your limits the entire way. with multiple colors available you’ll find one to match your ride, but we’ll always opt for Black and Berserker green. $129

Carbon Speed-C Side mount Cage [3.]The humble bottle cage only really gets noticed when it doesn’t work, but it’s worth taking some notice before you buy one so you don’t learn you got a lemon when it’s too late—on the trail. The carbon speed-c side mount cage from cannondale does what a cage must, keep your bottle secure no matter how rough the ride, but it does it at only 20 grams with a stealthy matte or gloss finish over bare carbon weave. where it really shines is tucked on the down tube of a dual-suspension bike. side entry makes it easy to get your bottle in and out no matter how much travel you are packing. $65

Speed Sleev Gear Wrap [4.]This is an uncommon answer to a common question: “how do i carry ride essentials?” The cannondale speed sleev is made of super-strong and elastic fabric with a grippy exterior. within, you can wrap whatever you might need on your ride, from tubes and tools to co2 and nutrition. available in two sizes, there is a speed sleev to suit every rider’s needs. it can be fitted to a seat post, top tube or almost any other tube, and keeps a tight grip on your gear no matter how rough the trail. $20

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airspeed Trigger [5.]nothing gets you back on the trail after a flat faster than a good co2 inflator—and, of course, nothing is more frustrating than a bad one. The airspeed Trigger may be the best. sure it fits Presta or schrader, comes with two co2 cartridges and features a sliding, trigger-style regulator, but it’s another feature that makes it truly special. like a good floor pump, the airpseed Trigger features a lever-lock head so you know the pressure is going to go where you want it to go before you puncture the co2 cartridge. $25

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SUGOI DIRT STYLESadventure apparel from head to toes

evo-x Jersey [1.]if you’re looking for a relaxed-fit jersey that reflects your style on the trail, but doesn’t skimp on technology and features, stop looking—you just found it. The eVo-X is made of abrasion-resistant fabric called finoXT that wicks moisture from your skin to the jersey’s surface, while allowing your skin to breathe. a short zip and subtle accents on the shoulders keep the style flowing, even off the bike when you unzip the back pocket to grab some cash and a beer opener to get the suds flowing post ride. $80

RSx Jersey [2.]serious mountain biking apparel doesn’t need to be skintight to feature the latest technology. The new rsX Jersey has what sugoi calls a semi-fit, meaning it won’t cling to your skin, but it is still tailored perfectly for the riding position. it features zone construction, putting the right material in the right places, including mesh inserts under the arms for breathability. Thanks to icefil material, the jersey actually reacts to sweat by cooling your skin, meaning the harder you work, the harder the rsX Jersey works for you. a generous zip, three colors and a bonded pocket put the finishing touches on one of the most advanced jerseys on the trail. $100

RS Crew Sock [3.]Keep your gym socks at the gym. The trail requires the right equipment and that means socks as well. The lightweight nylon-spandex-mix material of the rs crew sock is thin to ensure comfort on long days and in all temperatures, but with reinforced heels and toes for durability. The arch is structured for extra support and, like your feet and shoes, the rs crew socks are right-left specific. if you ride in a sugoi rs kit, and you should, these socks are the finishing touch. $15 (seven colors)

Formula Fx Full Glove [4.]a good full-finger glove is as important in the dirt as the right tires and a full hydration pack. sugoi’s fX full finger manages to combine protection, durability and comfort in a lightweight, breathable package. The lined palm is seamless, and carefully placed V-control gel offers protection and relief from nerve irritation without getting in the way of your feel for the bars. They do double duty on the road bike, as well, when the temperature drops a bit or the ride might get adventurous. The fX full finger is a great addition to your ride. $45

RSx Suspension Shorts [5.]Good mountain bike shorts rely on the two elements, the bib insert and outer baggy, working together in perfect harmony; and none sing a better tune than the rsX suspension shorts. The bib liner features sugoi’s formula fX chamois, four-way stretch, high-density damping pads and seam-free design to keep you comfortable during epic trial adventures. The outer is made of lightweight, vented, stretchable, quick-drying fabric that is part of sugoi’s mobilresist family of shells, and thanks to multiple attachment loops it can be dialed into the perfect spot on the bibs to fit your riding style and body type. $200

evo-x Shorts [6.]everything but the bibs describes the eVo-X shorts. The super-tough exterior features a cut and stretch that keep you comfortable whether you are hunkering down for a long climb or launching a big tail-whip. mesh panels keep the air flowing and a double-snap closure up front with waist adjustment keeps the fit secure without bib straps. The insert uses sugoi’s rc Pro chamois with a pressure-relief channel, four-way stretch, ergonomics and ventilation designed to keep your undercarriage comfy before, during and after takeoff. $120

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michelle has a lot to smile about these days. The danish pro triathlete is a rising star on the ironman scene. she began as a competitive swimmer before launching her career in 2007 on the short-distance european cup circuit. in 2011, she turned pro and moved to long distance where she found success almost immediately, winning an ironman championship on lanzarote, one of the canary islands, in 2012. in 2013, michelle continued her success by setting the course record and making it onto the podium at ironman arizona.

Today the ink is dry on a new contract to race for cannondale and michelle is focused on the ironman world championship in Kona, working to decipher the unique equation that leads to success at the toughest ironman in the world. michelle’s talent also happens to be megawatt, so watch for her to swim at the front, ride her new cannondale slice with the fastest women in the world, and then make a run for the lead at Kona in 2015.

if the finish line suddenly gets a bit brighter, the music a bit louder, the crowd more excited, you’ll know michelle is heading for the line. during our chat we learned many things about michelle but the most unexpected of all was the source of this energy—her brother, mark.

What’s new? i’m just super excited to have signed for three new years with cannondale. i hope the cannondale team is just as excited as me because i will show the whole world what i am capable of in the next three years. i’ve changed coaches to the former world champ, luc Van lierde, who won hawaii twice; he’s promising me 2016 will be my big year at Kona. i just love the island. i love the heat, i love the whole atmosphere.

Why is Kona so special to you? it’s the biggest race of the year. it’s triathlon’s answer to the super Bowl. i love going to the Big island. i’ve been there three times. i know Kona is where you have to show off, show

MEGAWATT MICHELLEtriathlete michelle vesterby

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That smile! Megawatt is the only word to describe it. When Michelle Vesterby walks into a room she will be smiling—the room will suddenly

glow, the clouds will part, birds may begin to chirp. The smile is that powerful. But the personality is just as bright and shining, just as megawatt. After a conversation with Michelle you will be smiling too.

what you are capable of doing. i might be the smiling, bubbly dane, but when it comes to race day i can also be mean and tough and put on the game face and push it even harder. now i really know what i’m getting myself into!

What’s the vibe like on the island? it’s always so tense! everyone is excited, everyone is wearing their compression socks! The level, the energy, is so high there.

What do you get up to away from triathlon? i’m actually a really quiet person. i don’t do any crazy, exciting stuff. i did that back in the day, but now i’ve gotten mature and i’m just doing my training. i eat, train, sleep, repeat. But before, back in the day, i was a party girl. That’s why i can show off at the after-parties! i can really do some crazy moves on the dance floor! it’s not only the biking and the triathlon i’m good at. i’m good for a great after-party!

What motivates you? i want to talk about my brother, mark, who is my motivation when i’m doing any big event. my brother mark was multi-

handicapped—he died six years ago. he couldn’t run, he couldn’t bike, he couldn’t swim, but he was always happy, always smiling, with all this energy. he never regretted his life. so mark is the one who motivates me when i’m out there and it hurts the most, because it’s going to hurt in an ironman. it’s never easy. if it was then everyone would be an ironman finisher. But mark gives me wings on race day.

it’s so important to do the sport for something bigger than yourself. he’s my motivation and it’s important that people do find that extra motivation to kick in that extra gear when it hurts the most. i put small turtle stickers, which was our favorite animal, on my bike and he’s just there. i don’t really need anything—on the run when i’m suffering the most, i just think of him and it reminds me how grateful i am for this life i am living right now. how privileged i am. it’s hard but i chose this life, there is no one to complain to. mark couldn’t swim, he couldn’t bike, but he’s in my heart and i do this for him when i’m out there.

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