BicycleNorthwest.com Starcrossed 2007

Jackpot for Kenny Williams in Vegas

Northwest legend fends off stacked field

By Sean Brandenburg
September 29, 2007

LAS VEGAS, NV- The "World Crit Championships" were held Thursday night in Las Vegas in the parking lot of the Mandalay Bay Hotel (not to be confused with Vandelay Industries). Between the men's and women's events was the Industry Cup Crit showcasing racers who have day jobs in the bike industry, and their employers. The race featured a world-class field of retired professionals and active amateurs of whom the biggest name was certainly Italian legend, Mario Cipollini.

That's right: Mario Cipollini.

The race was fast and furious from the very start with a flurry of attacks coming from various riders. As rider after rider went off the front - and correspondingly, the back - all eyes and conversations were on Super Mario.

"He needs a train to get him to the front," a fan was overheard saying as The Lion King flew by the first turn, sitting comfortably about seven or eight riders from the front.

Another fellow disagreed with that notion, saying "He doesn't need a lead-out train. He's Mario f#&@ing Cipollini!"

Indeed.

While Cipo spent most of his race sitting towards the front, eyeing the action, Kenny Williams, who was riding for local companies FSA and Raleigh, was hiding in the pack; watching, waiting.

Several small breaks formed at various points throughout the race, with one three-man move gaining nearly thirty seconds on the pack in the one-kilometer course before being reeled in. The high speeds would eventually whittle the lead group down to ten, or so riders, including Williams, Cipollini, and former National Champion, Mark McCormack (riding and working for Fuji Bikes). Spectators could be overheard questioning Cipollini's tactics, but it looked as though he and Williams were doing what all great sprinters do: waiting for that right moment.

With about ten laps to go, Williams and a rider from Giant Bicycles went on the attack, deciding that a sprint against Cipollini would likely be futile. It looked to be the winning move and that the race would come down to a two-up sprint. The Giant rider would fade however, leaving Williams alone to gamble on the last four laps.

"I just kept rolling because we had 20 seconds," said a smiling Williams. "I kept the gas on and he just decided he didn't have the legs I guess. I didn't really attack him, I just kept it going."

Those 20 seconds were all Williams would need as it appeared the field was playing Cat and Mouse, perhaps awestruck by the presence of the former World Road Race Champion. Williams kept his head down and never looked back, easily holding off the field for a solo victory he'll likely never forget. He coasted across the line with his arms in a "V" as a crowd of nearly 3,000 people cheered him home.

Interbike

Day One Trends

By Sean Brandenburg
September 26, 2007

LAS VEGAS, NV- The expo at Interbike kicked off today after two days of bike demos, and we've already noticed some trends. What used to be bicycle counter-culture is now flowing smoothly in the mainstream. Single-speeds abound from a host of manufactures. It seems as though everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. So for better or worse, single-speeders, your bicycle mode has been analyzed, marketed, refined, customized, mass-produced and turned into a money-making mainstay in the bike market. Here are some more trends we've noticed during our first day at Interbike. And stay tuned for photos, stories, and maybe even an interview or two as the week progresses.

-A cool new trend we're seeing here is custom-painted components. Many small independent manufacturers are customizing brakes, cranks, handlebars and seatposts, among other bits and pieces, to match their frame's paint schemes. It is a really nice touch and gives bikes a unique look.

-The BMX-ers and Mountain Bikers are really pushing the boxy baseball cap/long frizzy hair look to the limit. Every BMX and mountain bike vendor's booth has at least two young fellows sorting this look. Also, single-speeder will probably not be excited to know that messenger fashion has also entered the mainstream market, with many clothing manufactures catering to their crowd.

-Carbon is nothing new, but it appears that everybody and their brothers are producing carbon frames with exotically shaped and strangely curved tubes. It's getting hard to tell the difference between one carbon frame and the next and it really begs the questions: What's the difference? And: Who cares? There are still some manufactures however that are really setting themselves apart in the carbon road bike market, with Parlee and Time showing some of the prettiest bikes we seen.

-Another niche that has put down roots in the mainstream market is Two-Niners. There's a lot of cross-over as well, as many manufacturers are bringing Two-niner single-speeds to market.