The End of the T-Mobile Cycling Team

As of the end of the year 2007, the T-Mobile cycling team is no more. Although the cyclist will still be biking in the near future, the mobile phone division of the German telecommunications company, Deutsch Telekom, has pulled out its sponsorship of the popular cycling team. T-Mobile will not be sponsoring any cycling teams as of the moment. In spite of the earlier announcements of T-Mobile that it will support the T-Mobile cycling team for as long as the year 2010, recent drug use allegations could have prompted the telecommunications giant into cutting off ties with the cyclists.

T-Mobile cycling team was very popular in the Tour de France for the exceptional performance of some of their top cyclists. These cyclists, who have made a name for themselves and their team, are Erik Zabel, Jan Ullrich and Bjarne Riis. Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France in the year 1997 but was not able to repeat his win in the following years, more so when Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France and consistently did so for seven consecutive years.

T-Mobile Cycling Team Doping Scandals

The main reason why the T-mobile cycling team was abandoned by the telecommunications company is due mainly to doping scandals that have plagued the team and its cyclists. The T-Mobile cycling team has come under scrutiny ever since the organizers of the Tour de France have installed higher standards for cyclists. These standards have focused more on restricting cyclists from entering the Tour de France if they have certain drugs in their systems.

The T-Mobile cycling team came under close scrutiny after one of their former therapists claim to have given Jan Ullrich a dose of the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO). This blood booster is said to enhance the performance of the athletes. Zabel and Riis have since confessed to using banned substances but only earlier in their careers. Jan Ullrich has since retired when the issues regarding doping surfaced.

The former T-Mobile cycling team and some of the trainers hope to continue biking under another name in the future. The team might use the name Team High Road but some changes to their roster of cyclists are to be expected.

Deutsch Telekom admits to having a difficult time letting go of their sponsorship of the T-Mobile cycling team but the circumstances have forced them to do so. The doping scandals have played a major role in the company’s decision to let go of their T-Mobile cycling team sponsorship and support.

May 08 2008 | cycling | No Comments »

Just Do It: Nike Cycling Shoes

In most competitive sports arenas, there are certain companies that excel at making certain sporting goods. For instance, Louisville Slugger is famous for their softball and baseball bats, gloves and balls, but outside of those sports, they are relatively unheard of. When a new company decides to make products for a sport they have never before shown interest in, many athletes are hesitant, for good reason.

It is better to perfect one set of products than to be mediocre at a lot of products. When Nike first stepped foot in the professional cycling market, many cyclists refused to even conceive of buying Nike products. However, Nike’s cycling equipment, especially Nike cycling shoes, have proven to be worth the attention - the positive kind, not the negative kind.

A Shoe for Every Foot

Nike for a long time had a shaky reputation in the sporting world due to their slave-labor practices. Many cyclists, having survived long enough without Nike cycling shoes, refused to buy into the notion of switching companies. However, When Lance Armstrong mentioned Nike in his autobiography as one of the two sponsors who did abandon him during his cancer, many cyclists changed their mind. Lance Armstrong will wear Nike cycling shoes for life, a lot of other cyclists have begun to share his sentiments.

Nike cycling shoes are extremely lightweight, and are handmade in Italy. The soles are often made from carbon for maximum power, and the inner mesh in the shoe fits like a sock, providing both comfort and support. Nike cycling shoes favor Velcro straps over laces, meaning they are extremely easy to get on and off without a lot of effort. Of course, Nike has always been known for its showmanship. The shoes often come in bright colors such as metallic silver and fire engine red. Out of the box, Nike cycling shoes look silly, but once a cyclist puts them on, he has the attention of every other competitor.

Nike cycling shoes, even though they are made in Italy, are not too narrow; while they are not wide-width, a-little-larger-than-normal feet can fit comfortable into a pair. However, for cyclists with really big feet, wide road shoes are available, although the normal releases probably will not fit. The mesh used is also extremely breathable, meaning cyclists do not feel overheated or over-sweaty. The mesh is so breathable in fact the cyclists may need to wear socks during winter rides, as the air surrounds the feet so completely that the feet can freeze in the cold months.

May 05 2008 | cycling | 1 Comment »