Here are some specifics on Lance’s bike

by Gary Franchi | Jul 01, 2003

July, 2003 Fit to be Tied Column

From the Pueblo Chieftain
by Gary Franchi

Here are some specifics on Lance’s bike

Those who follow the Tour de France are well aware that Lance Armstrong of the U.S. Postal Services team rides Trek bikes. Few, however, probably know much about his bike model. So, here are some specifics for you bicycle aficionados to sigh and dream about:

Armstrong rides a Trek 5900, which carries an “advertised retail” price of $4,729.99. Trek doesn’t disclose the weight of the bike, but its web site calls the 5900 model the “lightest production (carbon) frame in the world.” The bike also includes a Bontrager Race X Lite carbon fork and Bontrager Race X Lite aerodynamic wheels.

The bike has all Shimano Dura-Ace components, 10-speed shifting, has a lightweight carbon saddle post and includes a double chainring Lance’s bike frame size is 58 centimeters.

Armstrong actually rode a slightly heavier Trek bike in last Wednesday’s team time trial, going with a combination carbon fiber/aluminum frame for faster streamlining purposes. The U.S. dominated that time trial, winning it for the first time in Lance’s Tour de France reign.

This year’s Tour de France is being filmed in the extra-large IMAX format for a movie titled “Brainpower” that has a scheduled release date of late 2004. But it won’t be focusing on Lance and the U.S. Postal team. Instead, it will focus on U.S. rider Tyler Hamilton, who is the leader of the Danish CSC team this year. The choice to focus on Hamilton couldn’t have been more timely since he has continued riding magnificently despite suffering a double fracture to his clavicle early in the Tour.

Running

Area runners are excelling in the Triple Crown of Running Race Series being held in the Colorado Springs area. The series includes the Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run, the Summer Roundup 12K Run and either the Pikes Peak Ascent of the ascent leg of the Pikes Peak Marathon.

After the Garden and Summer Roundup, two area runners lead in their age divisions and two others are second in their brackets.

On the women’s side, Jill Montera of Pueblo West is first in the 35-39 division and has a lead of three minutes and 23 seconds over her closest pursuer. Jill was sixth overall among all women in the recent Summer Roundup with a 55:13 time. In the 50-54 division, Marijane Martinez of Pueblo has a 6.5-minute lead. Unfortunately, she is not entered in the PP Ascent or PP Marathon. In addition, Pueblo’s Jessie Quintana, a fixture in the Triple Crown for several years, is second in the 55-59 division. Both Jill and Marijane have qualified for next year’s Boston Marathon. Marijane will be running the St. George Marathon in Utah in October. Former Puebloan Maddy Tormoen, now residing in Colorado Springs, was the overall women’s winner in the time of 49:02, which was 2:24 ahead of the second-place finisher.

On the men’s side, Mark Koch of Pueblo is second in the men’s 40-44 division and is less than a minute behind the leader after a 45:47 Summer Roundup time. His younger brother Paul, formerly of Pueblo and now a resident of Colorado Springs, is second in the 35-39 division.

Peter de la Cerda of Alamosa won the recent USA Track and Field-sanctioned Vail Hill Climb, a 7.5-mile race up the dirt roads to the top of Vail Mountain, with a time of 47:42. His training partner, Simon Gutierrez of Alamosa, finished in 48:47. Peter earned a spot on the U.S. team that will compete in the World Mountain Running Trophy race in Alaska in September.

De la Cerda, 31, also has qualified for the 2004 Men’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He was the second men’s U.S. finisher in the last Marathon Trials.

While not a local race, a huge event will take place on Aug. 10 at the Air Force Academy when the ninth annual Race for the Cure 5K run/walk is held. The “Cure” has become one of the biggest races in Colorado and it supports the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Entry forms are available at the Pueblo YMCA or by contacting the event’s web site.

Also on the schedule up north is the annual Colorado Springs Classic on July 26. This is part of the Grand Prix of Racing series, and it is one of the fastest 10K courses in the region.

Multi-sport

Michael Orendorff and Gerald Puls of Pueblo both finished first in their age divisions of the two Rattlesnake Triathlon Series races. The second race in the series was held Sunday. Orendorff, 51, dominated the 50-54 age division, winning the first race by four minutes and the second by a whopping eight minutes. Meanwhile, Puls, 77, finished first in the 75-79 age division.

Swimming

Four members of the Pueblo Masters Swim Team took on a new challenge by tackling the Wingshadow Iron-distance (2.4 miles) open-water swim Sunday in the Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins. Completing the distance were Dr. John Butler and Paul Reyes of Pueblo, Cecil Townsend of Avondale and Karen Wiley of Canon City.

Upcoming Area Races

  • Aug 2 – Mary’s Magical Mystery Tour (Prediction Series race), 5M, 7:30 a.m., 3406 Devonshire (564-9599).
  • Aug 23 – Tunnel Drive Run (Prediction Series race), 5M, 7:30 a.m., Canon City (784-6514).

On the Net

Send comments and fitness information to Gary Franchi via e-mail at [email protected].

Return to Gary Franchi’s running and fitness writings index page.