The all rookie Utag Yamaha.com team from the UK won 4 person team RAAM on Tuesday evening with a time of 6:02:12 and average speed of 20.62 mph. They finished more than 16 hours behind the winning 8 person team. Their competition Ireland’s Navan Avonmore Team led them until the KS/MO state line after which Utag pulled away finishing 2 hours, 5 minutes ahead of Ireland. A rider on the Utag team on the finishing stage said, “We were going to do the Tour de France, but decided to see America.” Utag is personal information worn in a neck strap to save lives in case of emergency. Another Utag rider said, “Riding 3,000 miles across America was the easy part, the crew had to do all the hard work.” A rider said, “Get rid of the bike” when they were making room on stage for their crew to come up. The used the classic 4 person team strategy of 2 man rotations for 8 hour shifts, but one pair did 5 mile pulls while the other pair did 10. Utag rider Julian Jenkinson has ridden a 100 mile TT in the UK in 3:49. A former pro triathlete, he holds the British Ironman record of 8:15:23, and has done the Hawaii Ironman 4 times finishing as high as 20th place. RAAM Website

June 17, 2008

BIGFOOT AT BRISTOL BIKEFEST

The weather was great and the conditions dry and dusty but our new jerseys kept us cool. We also hit the mark on getting a design that would standout from the other teams - essential with nearly 1000 riders doing the 12 hour event on Saturday!

After lying third for most of the day our Mens Fun team suffered three punctures and a chain snapping which dropped us to 6th place out of 105.

Our Competitive Mixed team just missed out on 3rd place - by less than a minute! And our Fun Mixed team held a steady 6th out of 22 other teams.

See more photos

Link to full report www.bigfootmbc.co.uk

June 10, 2008

Team UTag  Yamaha are competing in the Raam

The Southampton based Team UTag Yamaha are competing in the Raam (Race Across America) the world’s longest cycle race just short of 3000 miles a true test for the riders and the kit.

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 ultra-endurance sports ladder. Since 1982, RAAM has a rich and storied history standing as a monument to human endeavors.

Good luck from Kalas!

The 1000 mile ride for life for leukaemia research

They're cycling 100 miles around the UK. Watch the movie on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EHk23p4ErM

Kalas Cup Two Day Promoted by Team Tor 2000

Bright sunshine welcomed cyclists from across the country to Somerset for the Kalas Cup two day stage race and support races promoted by Team Tor 2000. The first of the 3 stages plus the support races were based at Merryfield Airfield, a Second World War base for the RAF bombers.

The action kicked off with a time trial, the one-mile course is fairly flat the head wind on the back straight made it a tough test. It was last years overall winner Pete Kench, ‘Comp 1 Team’ that set the fastest time in th early stages with a 2.10 one second faster than is time last year.  KFS – Special Vehicles James Stewart then set a time of 2.08 that was not going to be challenged and took the first yellow jersey. Stage two was a circuit races based around the perimeter of the airfield this was fast from the gun and with a sprint every other lap for the point’s competition it made the race very competitive and tough with lots of riders going out the back. But it was once again the KFS Team that was dominating the race.

Though there were many attacks throughout the race it was a bunch of thirty plus riders that charged for the finish line. The top two places was a repeat of the prologue time trial with James Stewart out sprinting Peter Kench with George Richardson finishing in third. With a couple of hours before the final stage of the day a couple of support race were promoted. The Trike race, which is a part of the national series, was won by Geoff Booker from Steve Avery who both had travelled form Oxfordshire. For the 3^rd and 4^th category circuit race it was Taunton’s Simon Cole who continued his recent form is by taking a the win after escaping the main bunch with 3 other riders and in the Women’s race which ran alongside this Greta Junker, also from Taunton finished first. With the youth races having taken place early in the day it was time for the final stage of the day for the Kalas cup a 20 km team time trial. The composite 1 team set the early lead but once again it was the KFS team that stormed over the line completing the course in 26.08 although they dropped two of their riders in the early stages. At the end of the first day even though KFS had taken a clean sweep the time difference between the top 10 was small and so the race was not over. Sunday’s stage was base on road around the Somerton.

As the race rolled out of the ancient capital of Wessex there was comments from the local church that it was making the congregation late as they stopped to watch the spectacle. As the race was de neutralised there was attack by Team Tor 2000’s Steve Noyce but he was soon brought back. There were a few further attacks but nobody was able to get away due to the high speed. It was once again KFS the dominated the intermediate sprints along with Dave Sinclair riding as a guest for Chippenham Wheelers.

On the last lap Mid Devon’s national level rider Jon Tiernan-Locke attacked staying clear and riding to the stage victory and 5 seconds later John Vernes followed leading the main bunch home. Last years winner, Peter Kench crossed the line 33 second after the winner which meant the he lost his second place overall and left KFS taking the top three place overall plus the team, best under 23 and the points jersey. Dave Sinclair took the George Drewell prize for the most aggressive rider and second place in th epoints competition.

The prize presentation took place at the Butter Cross in the centre of Somerton where the winners were presented with the winners jersey’s trophies and prizes generously donated by local companies Hecks Cider, White Lake Cheese, Will Mepham Torq and of course Kalas Sportswear Ltd.

Team Tor 2000 would like to thank all the helpers and officials, sponsors and the general public for the patience which made this event a true memorable occasion for the club and riders.    

Andrew Crocker

June 10, 2008

Employees of a Lichfield based company are doing their bit for charity, they plan to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Eight employees from Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers are riding the London to Brighton Cycle Ride, a staggering 54 miles long, to bring in the cash! The event takes place on Sunday 15^th June. It’s currently the largest charity bike ride in the UK and since it began in 1980 it has raised over 40 million pounds for the charity.

This year the bike ride is fully subscribed, with 27,000 riders cycling in the event. Taking part from Busy Bees are Howard Johnson, Michelle Roffey, Ian Stanley, Linda Phillips, Gemma Turner, Dave Watchorn, Parish Pravin, Adam Joyce and Dave Thackray all based at the Trent Park site in Lichfield. Their friends and family will be there to support them, cheering them on and will be on standby with the water to keep them fully hydrated! 

Dave Thackray, National Accounts Director, Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers said; “We always encourage staff to do their bit – even I have been roped into this one! The British Heart Foundation is a fantastic cause.”

If you would like to sponsor Busy Bees to raise money for the British Heart Foundation please contact Howard Johnson on 07789 512 651 Or howard.johnson@busybeesvouchers.com.

May 16, 2008

George Wainwright first lady in Tour of Ireland

Kalas equipped George Wainwright (Team Tor 2000) finished the gruelling 4 day 800Km Tour of Ireland as the first lady. Months of preparation have paid off for the Team Tor 2000 lady who is only in her second season after taking up the sport two years ago. George “ everything was perfect the bike, the clothing, the training”. Well done from all at Kalas Sportswear Ltd and good luck for your future targets.

See video on Cyclosport.org

May 15, 2008

Kalas Cup - Two Day Stage Race Plus Support Events

With prizes, jerseys and cups up for grabs there is still time to enter the Kalas Cup based in Somerset.

This event is open to teams of 3 to 5 riders (E/1/2/3), though individuals are more than welcome to enter and they will be placed with a suitable team.

Saturday's racing is based on the Merryfield Airfield in Ilton near Ilminster starting off with a flat 1km prologue. The day continues with an hour plus a lap circuit race and to close the day's proceedings there is a 20km team time trial. There are also support circuit races for 34, youth, women and trikes.  

Sunday is a 100km road race based on roads around Somerton.  For more information go to www.tor2000.co.uk or phone Andrew/Anna on 01458 272242 or email mail@tor2000.co.uk

Read more at British Cycling Website

May 14, 2008

A team of Isle of Wight firefighters cycling 1,400 miles each from St. Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight, Great Britain to St. Peter’s Square, Vatican, Italy in September 2008 in aid of the Wessex Cancer Trust for the provision of equipment for St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight for the diagnosis, treatment and care of Isle of Wight cancer and leukemia patients. Kalas are of course among the sponsors.