Ride your own 333km to win in Shimano’s Grand Tour Challenge – In this wild ride of a year dominated by a global pandemic, pro road racing is set to resume soon with all three of cycling’s three-week Grand Tours shoehorned into seventy-two days starting at the end of August. So to get us in the mood for racing again, Shimano has opened up a 3-week Grand Tour Challenge via Strava to give you the chance to win a complete Dura-Ace Di2 groupset with a power meter.
The Giro should have already been long completed, and the Tour should have just wrapped up last weekend. But now, the new Tour de France will run Aug 29-Sep 20, then the Giro d’Italia Oct 3-25, and finally the Vuelta a España from Oct 20-Nov 8.
So before racing begins again Shimano challenges you to ride your own mini grand tour, logging at least 333km in the 3-week period between now and August 10. Those who complete the Strava challenge will be entered to win the same groupset as the pros, a R9100 series Dura-Ace Di2 electronic group in either rim or disc brake variant, including a R9100-P Dura-Ace power meter crankset.
Related meetups & neutral support pop ups will also be share via Shimano Facebook pages in Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
Enter the Grand Tour Challenge via Strava.
Advocacy
- How Cycling Impacts The Brain from Outride & Stanford – Next Friday, July 31st, Outride will livestream their annual research summit with Stanford University to share the latest findings on cycling’s impact on the brain. In years past, this has been an exclusive invite only event. Given the current pandemic, Outride will host the event virtually and has opened the doors to anyone curious about cycling’s impact on the brain. Tune in and learn more about cycling research. As families shelter in place and parents are spending more time with their kids, this summit offers a look into ways that cycling can motivate today’s youth, as well as illuminate the positive effects exercise has on specific regions of the brain related to focus and attention. Find out more, how to attend & register at: OutrideBike.org
- Shark Tooth Cycling uses the bike to empower cyclists with CMT – A new non-profit empowering youth & athletes at all levels to get out and ride bikes, Shark Tooth Cycling aims to raise awareness for one of the most debilitating and misunderstood nervous disorders in the world, Charcot Marie Tooth disease, from which the organization takes its name. CMT is a hereditary motor & sensory disease of the peripheral nervous system, characterized by progressive loss of muscle tissue & touch sensation across various parts of the body, affecting 1/2500 people in the US and 2.6 million worldwide. Shark Tooth founder Chris “Topher” Delamarter was diagnosed with the condition at 10 years old and his story has inspired many to keep pedaling and keep fighting over the last 40 years. Now, it is his turn to give back through this unique organization. SharkToothCycling.org
- The Great American Outdoors Act Passed! Now What? – In a time of divisive politics in America, IMBA tells us that the Great American Outdoors Act has been passed by Congress, heading now to the president’s desk where it is expected to become law. Its passage means $900 million guaranteed per year to support public lands and outdoor recreation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). But, to ensure a fair allocation is applied to trail projects, every state must be ready with a recreation plan.The work begins now! IMBA Local Partners must begin partnering with state recreation offices so mountain bike trail projects are included in state plans. IMBA must begin helping our IMBA Local Partners be effective at the table in every state. IMBA needs you to get involved and to support sustainable mountain bike planning on a local level. Find out how to make a difference at: IMBA.com
Gear & Contests
- While you’re at it, win a Pivot Trail 429 with IMBA – Trails need us all so Pivot Cycles & IMBA have again paired up to rally up. Pivot has offered up a custom Trail 429 for grabs in a sweepstakes to raise money to support trail advocacy. Every $10 donation between now and Sept 5th gives you one entry to the big bike prize, 100% of all proceeds go to IMBA, and the winner chooses their own custom bike paint job. Donate & enter at: IMBA.RallyUp.com/custom429
- Rapha edition Giro Aether for RCC members only – In their latest members-only debut, Rapha partnered with Giro for a limited edition version of the lightweight, fully-vented Giro Aether helmet, available exclusively to members of the Rapha Cycling Club in team colors. Numbers are limited for the 310€ lid, so act fast if you feel the need to represent in gray & signature pink. Rapha.cc
