Specialized back former HTC-Highroad Womens Team

Expanding the Legacy: Specialized and lululemon athletica to back former HTC-Highroad women’s team   ZUG, SWITZERLAND (November 1, 2011)—Velocio Sports announced today that the former HTC-Highroad women’s team will continue into 2012 with new title sponsors and management group. The team, which will be made up of a large percentage of the 2011 riders and staff, will be primarily supported by Specialized Bicycle Company and lululemon athletica and will be known as Team Specialized lululemon.   Specialized has a longstanding commitment to women’s cycling, having sponsored some of the best female athletes in the world over the years and dedicating vast resources into women’s specific products. In 2012, the California company will take it to a whole new level in partnership with Vancouver based lululemon athletica to the most successful women’s cycling teams in the world.   As a company focused on racing and developing bikes and equipment, the entire team at Specialized is excited to join forces with lululemon —especially with the London Olympics coming next year.   “This is such an awesome opportunity for us,” said Specialized’s President and Founder, Mike Sinyard. “We’re really excited to put our name behind these incredible athletes with an inspiring company like lululemon that makes the best women’s athletic apparel in the world. Our pro riders give us invaluable feedback to continue innovating the best bikes in the world.”   “We can’t wait to elevate women’s cycling with Specialized,” said Christine Day, CEO, lululemon athletica.  “Their technical expertise, longstanding pedigree and dedication to women in cycling inspire our entire organization.  Feedback from the athletes is what drives us and these amazing athletes further enhance our focus on technical product.”   The team will race on the all-new 2012 Specialized Amira, on which they took many great victories in 2011 and showcased it as a podium-worthy women’s race bike. The women will also ride the World Championship-winning S-Works Shiv, the S-Works Prevail and TT2 helmets, as well as Specialized Body Geometry Oura saddles and S-Works shoes.   Although the team will not continue to be run by High Road Sports, Highroad will be a supplier of the team going forward. “Bob [Stapleton] has been an avid supporter of women’s cycling for many years and we would like to carry on his hard work by continuing the team with much of the same structure in place,” said Director of Velocio Sports, Kristy Scrymgeour. “He has been very supportive of the project and will provide us with valuable equipment to get us going.”   Most of the team’s firepower will return for 2012, including star riders like sprint star Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER),  U.S national time trial champion Evelyn Stevens and former world time trial champion Amber Neben (USA) An exciting new addition to the roster will be Olympic medalist of both cycling and speed skating, Clara Hughes from Canada   Other returning riders are Ellen Van Dijk (NED), Emilia Fahlin (SWE), Chloe Hosking (AUS), Ally Stacher (USA), Charlotte Becker (GER) and Katie Colclough (GBr) with new additions in Trixi Worrack (GER) and Lisa Brennauer (GER).     About Specialized: Specialized was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. Based in Northern California, we focus on the rider’s need for functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit.    About lululemon athletica: lululemon athletica (NASDAQ:LULU; TSX:LLL) is a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company that creates components for people to live long, healthy and fun lives.  By producing products that help keep people active and stress free, lululemon believes that the world will be a better place.  Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit www.lululemon.com.   About Velocio Sports: Based in Zug, Switzerland, Velocio Sports is owner and operator of Team Specialized-Lululemon.

Meet Bike n Bean Female MTB Sponsored Riders- Kylie & Rachael

Kylie & Rachael initially applied for the Bike n Bean Female Cycling Ambassador but were not succesful. However we were very impressed with their team and individual race results over the last few years that we wanted to help the young ladies achieve at a higher level.

Kylie writes:
I love my hard-tail cross-country mountain bike, but after a couple of years of participating in cross-country enduros, I found myself with a severe case of 'dually' envy.

Enter Paul and Nicola from Bike'n'Bean, who've set me up with a Specialized Era Comp (Carbon!). It weighs a tiny 11.3 kilos, the geometry and set-up are female-specific and best of all it's black - stealth warrior black! I couldn't wait to try it out.

Conveniently, I was heading to Canberra for a weekend of riding just after the bike arrived, so its first outing was to Bruce Ridge. It took me a little while to get used to the rear suspension, the 2 x 10 gears and the wider handlebars, but by the time we arrived at Mt Stromlo for the afternoon, I couldn't stop smiling. The bike is in its element on rocky climbs and descents, and its so easy to ride that I felt a little bit like I was cheating! On Sunday we headed out to East Kowen Forest, where the fun continued. After two days and almost 60km on the bike, everything was still running silently and smoothly, and I grinned all the way back to Melbourne.


Rachael writes:
I walked into Bike n Bean as a mountain biker but somehow managed to walk out with a shiny new Specialized Amira roadbike. Hmmm...still not sure how that happened! Anyway I was keen to take it for a spin as soon as I got home.

The initial pedal strokes felt a little bit wobbly - trying to get used to the new forward position and super skinny tyres - but once I got going it felt great. The carbon frame made for a smooth ride and I felt like I was flying along the boulevard.

Last weekend I headed to Forrest and rode my Amira to Colac. Apart from the headwinds it was a lovely ride. We had lunch at a nice cafe before returning to Forrest via quiet country roads. I think this is when I finally began to start understanding the attraction of road cycling. I was really quite enjoying it. Although, having said that, my Specialized Safire is still my #1 bike - nothing beats the adrenalin rush of steep descents, weaving through trees and negotiating obstacles at high speed!