Last week you may have spotted that we revealed to the cycling media, Wiggle had launched a superb new range of road bikes under the name Verenti.

Named after one of the most challenging climbs on the Verenti-sponsored Dragon Ride sportive, the Rhigos comes with a full SRAM Red groupset, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, and parts from 3T and Verenti’s own ‘Me’ range. RRP is £2,899.99, and it should be available by the end of February.

Asked about the thinking behind the range, designer Marc Edwardson told BikeRadar:

“What Paul [Bolwell, Wiggle's merchandising director] really wanted to do was produce a range of very well designed sportive bikes. The core idea was that they would be, above all, comfortable, great quality and very good value, with the best components and finishing kit, and amazing attention to detail.”

Asked about the name, he said:

“I used to work at Condor Cycles, and Wiggle got me in to design all of the bikes for them. At first they were going to be called Kiron but trademark issues meant we needed to change the name. I wanted to build a brand around the idea of truth and being true to yourself.

“I took the French word ‘verité’ and the Latin word ‘veritas’, both of which mean ‘truth’, and, because of the trademark issues I’d encountered before, changed a few of the letters so that the name sounded very similar when pronounced in English but could be protected.”

Plans are in the pipeline for another five models to add to the five already unveiled, including a full-carbon bike with mudguards, a couple of women’s models and a budget option.

Wiggle offer a seven-day ‘ride and return’ policy on bikes – and this looks likely to be extended to two weeks in the near future – so if you order a Verenti and are not happy with it you can return it for a full refund.

Photos

Less than 24 hours after online entries for the 2010 Verenti Dragon Ride opened and over a third on the places have been filled by riders keen to be part of Britain’s best loved sportive.

Entry facilities went live on the stroke of midnight on December 28th and by midday on the same day 1200 riders had signed up to take part in the event recently voted by read-ers of ‘Cycling Weekly’ as the best sportive ride in the UK for a second year running.

1200 entries represents a third of the totally available for 2010. In comparison to the same opening period in 2009, entries have doubled in volume over half the period of time, a testament to the strength of the sportive movement and the Verenti Dragon Ride itself.

In an expansion of the Verenti Dragon Ride for 2010 a third short or ‟Corto‟ distance has been added for those wishing life at a slightly less strenuous pace and for those dipping their toes in sportive waters for the first time.

The Verenti Dragon Ride will take place on 6th June 2010 over 190km, 130km and the new 40km distances starting and finishing at Pencoed Technology Park and encompass-ing over 3000m of climbing for the Gran Fondo.

Individual and corporate packages available immediately from £199. Standard entries open online at midnight 27/28th December 2009 with individual entries for the longer rides priced at £30, the new Corto ride can be entered online at £20.

Full event details can be found at: www.dragonride.co.uk

Contact:
Spokesmen Ltd Tel: +44 7961 765068
e-mail: info@spokesmen.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE
22 September 2009

Building on the huge success of its 2009 gear, the award-winning dhb clothing range is back and better than ever for 2010. Next season’s collection boasts the same superb quality, comfort and performance with some exciting additions and innovative updates.

A sneak preview of the 2010 collection reveals plenty to look forward to…

dhb Droxford Jacket
There’s the dhb Droxford Jacket, a superlight waterproof shell which has the same sleek cut as last season’s phenomenally popular Wickham Jacket. With its fully taped seams and 2.5 layer highly breathable fabric, it has been designed with one purpose in mind: to provide optimum comfort when riding. Features such as the single-handed adjustable waist pullers, Velcro cuffs, drop tail hem and waterproof zipper all work to ensure the rider’s comfort comes first. Available in black or hi-vis yellow in male and female-specific versions, both jackets feature stylish piping and contrast seams.

dhb Merston Hi Vis Bib Tights
The dhb Merston Hi Vis Bib Tights are the updated version of 2009’s best-selling Merston Bibs. This season they’re making a welcome return with reflective Hi Vis inserts on the front, side and back. Made from a wind-resistant Thermo-stretch brush fabric with double layer knee panelling, these tights are now even more breathable with a stretchy, fleecy bib for unbeatable comfort and warmth. The handy zip in the bib will help make roadside pitstops that little bit easier while the Silver Dry Coolmax pad ensures comfort in the saddle mile after mile. Feedback from wearers of the 2009 Merston Bibs suggested changes were needed to the ankle zipper, so the latest version now features an even sturdier lockdown ankle zipper.

dhb Southsea Jacket
To reflect the rising popularity of urban cycling, dhb has added the Southsea range to its clothing collection. The dhb Southsea Jacket is designed to look as cool on the bike as it does off it. Ride in it, go to the pub in it, hang out with your mates in it – it’s a jacket which has a broad appeal. It’s 100 per cent waterproof and made from 2.5 layer breathable fabric. With Velcro cuffs, two roomy rear pockets, single-handed adjustable waist pullers and a fleecelined high collar it ticks both boxes when it comes to funk and function.

PRESS RELEASE
14 September 2009

Wiggle retains its crown as the UK’s #1 online bike shop

It’s official: Wiggle is the UK’s top online bike retailer. Figures released by Hitwise UK show Wiggle as the country’s most visited cycle website during the first half of 2009. This means we’re not just the best online bike shop, but more people are visiting Wiggle.co.uk than any other UK cycling site.

Wiggle has now won this award every year since 2006. Not content with winning Hitwise’s Cycle Industry award, Wiggle was also ranked fifth overall in the Sports and Fitness Industry sector.

Dean Maskell, Wiggle’s online marketing manager, said:

“It is absolutely fantastic news that Wiggle has
won this award once again. A huge amount of work has gone into our website – and there is still much more to come. Awards like this are great recognition of all the work that goes on behind the scenes, providing the customer with the reassurance that they are shopping with a true market leader.”

He added:

“Congratulations to all of our team and, most importantly, huge thanks to all of our customers.”

This award means there’s not much room left in Wiggle’s jam-packed trophy cabinet. Earlier this year, the website won its fifth consecutive Best Mail Order Company award from 220 Triathlon Magazine and Which? Magazine also named us as the UK’s Top Sports and Leisure Site. It comes as no surprise that Wiggle enjoyed a record-breaking summer, with traffic reaching an all-time high of 2.1 million visits in July, an 80 per cent rise on July 2008.

Kiron bikes have been born out of a true love and passion for cycling. An ethos we tested in late 2008 with the first Kiron Scandium model achieving great success in the cycling press scoring 10/10 in major tests. Extensive product testing combined with years of design experience have helped us to create a truly unique range of sportive bikes, within the re-launch of Kiron bikes is a range designed here in the UK and aimed at those spending hour after hour in the saddle, where performance and comfort are essential.

The new range is designed to perform beyond a professional level, not only will they look amazing but they will be of the utmost quality, we’re selecting the latest materials on the market, the components are among the best out there and the factories we work with are world class. The attention to detail that we put into each of our models will set Kiron bikes apart from the rest.

After months and months of hard work, sampling and product testing, It’s about time we shared some of our Kiron ideas and designs. And where better to do that than here in the dedicated Kiron Blog, a place for you to go, to visit and know you’ll be frequently updated on the latest developments in the Kiron range.

The Kiron blog is ready – blog.kironbikes.com

It’s now live, the Tour de France 2008 Yellow Jersey auction for the Benefit of the NDCS.

Wiggle, the UK’s No1 online cycling shop, has teamed up with the CSC and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) to auction a 2008 Tour de France yellow jersey, signed by the winner, Carlos Sastre!

Carlos Sastre, who Signed the yellow jersey, said:

“I am very proud to help the NDCS to raise awareness of the obstacles that deaf children face at school and in their every day life”.

“Every deaf child has the right to be fully included and valued by society. In this sense, NDCS’s services for and campaigns in aid of deaf children help to make their voices heard.”

Simon Kirby, NDCS Corporate Development Manager, comments:

“We are pleased to have become a charity partner for the auction of Sastre’s yellow jersey and are grateful to Wiggle for supporting our sports day for deaf children and young people in Walsall. Access to sports activities is extremely important for deaf children. Many deaf children and young people also find it difficult to participate in out of school activities because they are not set up to provide good communication,”

To place your bid please follow the link below

Wiggle Yellow Jersey Auction

All funds raised will be donated to the NDCS.

So get ready and start bidding for a awesome piece of cycling memorabilia before the auction ends on the 25th April 2009!

Did you see….

We recently ran an advert in conjunction with Nike that was published in the Times Newspaper. You may have seen the excellent pull out section “Raconteur on Running”. If you missed it we have an electronic copy for you to take a look at.

Just Do It here.

When an Olympic and World Champion and a Tour de France stage winner test ride a TT bike and say it’s the fastest they’ve ever ridden, it’s an impressive statement – but then the 2009 Focus Izalco Chrono is an impressive bike.

Nicole Cooke and Team Milram captain Linus Gerdemann recently put the Chrono through its paces during a test ride at Buttgen Velodrome near Milram’s base in Dortmund, Germany. Developed by Focus engineers in Germany together with Andy Walser, a mastermind in TT bike engineering, the Chrono exceeds all expectations.

The riders’ words speak for themselves – Gerdemann, a 2007 Tour de France stage winner, said:

“I’m delighted to be riding the fastest TT bike ever built,”

while Cooke’s first words after leaving the track were:

“I can’t wait to race on it”.

Both Gerdemann and Cooke took to the track while experts analysed their power output, speed and position in a bid to find optimal wattage and aerodynamics. Focus engineers, alongside Walser, tweaked bike positioning and settings as the riders completed lap after lap at speeds in excess of 45kph.

Cooke and all riders on her newly-created team – Vision 1 Racing – will be training and racing on Focus frames this season, so she is delighted the Chrono performed so well.

She said:

“I have followed the development of Focus over the last two years and have been impressed with their technology and quality of bikes. The Chrono is a very responsive bike which is so important when riding at your maximum, I can’t wait to race it this year!“

Linus Gerdemann rides:

Frame: Focus Izalco Chrono, new Time Trial Carbon Frame

Drivetrain/brakes: SRAM Red, high
performance, race-ready
componentry

Handlebars: 3T, elegant, solid and
aerodynamic handlebars

Wheel set: Lightweight, world’s fastest wheel set

Pedals: Speedplay, extremely lightweight pedals

Nicole Cooke rides:

Frame: Focus Izalco Chrono and Focus Cayo, new Time Trial and Road Bike Carbon Frames

Drivetrain/brakes: SRAM Red, high
performance, race-ready
componentry

Handlebars: Ritchey, unrivalled bars
combining performance
and ergonomics

Wheel set: Haico, ultimate race wheels

Pedals: Speedplay, supplied by Wiggle.co.uk

Olympic and World Champion Nicole Cooke has signed a deal with Wiggle and Focus Bikes which will see her and her newly created team, Vision1 Racing, riding Focus frames this season.
Cooke, who stormed to victory at the Beijing Olympics, has set up the team with the goal of developing the next generation of cyclists ready for London 2012 – and she’s delighted they’ll be riding Focus frames.

She said:

“I have followed the development of Focus over the last two years and have been impressed with their technology and quality of bikes. “I’m really excited to be teaming up with Wiggle and Focus. We have chosen our partners carefully because we want to create a really strong image and we’re confident this will be a great partnership.”

The Vision1 riders will be using Focus Cayo and Focus Izalco frames for training and racing. Other team sponsors include SRAM, Continental, Ritchey and Haico Wheels.

Cooke said:

“I am looking forward to starting the new season and it will be special in many ways. The new team is like a new beginning for me with its own challenges – and then to be in the Rainbow jersey as world champ will be amazing.”

The Vision1 team includes a mix of young British talents such as Dani King and Katie Curtis together with more experienced riders Helen Wyman and Gabby Day who it is hoped will bring the best out of each other over the coming seasons to realise their full potential. Cooke launched the team in October because she believed that it was time to “give something back to the sport” having achieved her cycling dreams.

She added:

“I think that by using my experience of the highest level of racing together with the skills and expertise of the support staff we can create a team structure which can make talented British riders part of the strongest team in women’s cycling by 2012.”

Coming soon to the Wiggle Bloggle. A superb opportunity to get hold of a piece of Cycling history.

In collaboration with CSC and Wiggle. Wiggle will be auctioning a genuine Carlos Sastre signed yellow jersey from the 2008 tour de France, provided to us by CSC (his team sponsor for 2008)

This opportunity will be sure to impress your friends, family and colleagues!

The final auction value will be donated to National Deaf Children’s Society.

More details will follow shortly……