Tommaso Heads to (Colorado's) Roubaix

With the pack asserting itself at 10mph on a flat road I could only wonder how tough the day was going to be. With 22-25mph winds howling straight at us we were pedaling in molasses. It is times like this, inside a nervous pack; you start to see what you are made of and what you lack. Bumping elbows and watching for sliding wheels was the order of the day. In what seemed like an eternity we finally hit mile 6 and I turned to my teammate and said “wow…only 52 more miles like this.” He didn’t seem to appreciate the humor.

Soon there was the horrible thud of bodies, skidding of tires and an awful scream followed by some of the most haunting agony vocalized that I can ever remember. As I rolled through the carnage getting hit by a tumbling bike I could only turn to the photographer on the roadside and shout for her to call 911. Still on lap one of three there was work to do.

With the change from road to dirt on and off through the event if your legs weren’t screaming your brain was churning from close calls, attacks to the art of racing a bike. There would be no rest today, just pain. With the split in the pack caused by the earlier carnage of bodies I soon found myself in a smaller second group. It was time to take inventory of the level of riders I would be working with to close the gap to the leaders and hopeful working against to leave behind towards the end of the race. A thought we all silently let play in our minds.

The day wore on and the carbon Tommaso was working like a champ. I had double padded the bars and ran tubeless wheels so I could run lower pressure. I had about 85psi in the front and rear. To be honest the bike seemed to just float along without any abuse to my body. I even made it to the top of the nasty dirt climb that had many a strong rider getting off to walk/run up. The Tommaso just kept going and it made me happy that I was on a machine I could trust. For the tech-heads I ran a 52/36 ring set-up on the cranks and a SRAM 11x 26 cassettes on the rear. In hind-site a compact 50/34 would have been a great choice as well.

Being a part of Tommaso Nation and pulling away from the six riders in my group on a challenging stretch of dirt road made me proud. Not so much that I was able to go off the front of the group but that I was having such a good day on the Tommaso and representing the Nation. When everything seems to be exploding around you and guys are falling off, getting flats, dropping chains and just losing hope I felt I could just keep going and going.

My Tommaso Volo was probably the most modest priced bike in the race. I would guess my Tommaso was about $2,000 less that the bikes I was competing against. We’ve always believed in making bikes that people can enjoy and afford! The Tommaso staff puts thousands of miles on our bikes and on certain days we race them just to throw an extra amount of abuse into the mix. This day was just another test the bike passed that makes us proud to offer it to you-the rider.

There is an added pleasure knowing a bike so well and having so much invested in making it right for so many riders. During this race I thought of the Tommaso Nation and hoped they shared the same love and excitement for their bikes as I do mine. This energy turned into motivation and even though I was beginning to get tired and mentally exhausted I lit up the engine for the long stretch to the finish line waving the flag of Tommaso Nation!

Enjoy the Ride-TR

[By the end of the day the Lady Tommaso finished 9th on her Corvo and I rolled in 19th on my Tommaso Volo. We will be back next year for that elusive cobblestone trophy!]

2011 Pulls Through

It’s the end of the year and the beginning of another. Most Websites are posting Top 10 lists of people or events as a reminder of the 365 day obstacle course we call a year in the life. Here at Tommaso Bicycles we are working on the 2012 bikes. It’s one of the little funnies about this job…you never can remember what year it is!

This year was fun. How could it not be in the bike industry right? Well it is a lot of work and long hours too but in the end it is more rewarding and exciting than anything else I could imagine doing as a career. I even got married this Summer on my Tommaso Volo! Tommaso Nation is a blast too. This year I got to ride with Kampy on his way through Colorado, had great fun with TC (he even shot a video eating a KFC Double Down), and shared jokes and thoughts with Mize, Keenan, Gab Beer, Tomassetti, SD, Jesse, Edsta, KJ, DS, KP, Qba, T-Webb, Cole and so many more!

Tommaso Nation is a big part of our day. Thanks to Facebook we have a nice place to hang out and chat about bikes, rides, news and nasty (yummy) foods. The more we share about our experiences in cycling the richer the community becomes. So many dinners at home start with “You should see what KP said today on Tommaso’s Facebook…” What other bike company talks about their loyal riders on a first name (or initial) basis at dinner? That is the beauty of what we have with Tommaso Nation. Family!

So as a group we will head into next year wheels-a-blazing and shifters firing! We will welcome new members into Tommaso Nation and continue to share the special moments on our bikes. We will train, sweat, fall, race, get rained on and get honked at together. So when the starting gun goes off on Saturday morning and 2011 officially begins we hope you know you have over a thousand friends wanting you to enjoy your first ride of the New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

TR Maloney
Product Manager
Tommaso Bikes

Lifelong Companions

It was dark and cold as I hit the pedal and rolled away from the office and headed home. I turned on my light and followed my beam into the black. As I passed under the street lights I could see my shadow move from my left to ahead of me with each passing of the high placed street lamps. It seems I am always racing someone…even my shadow.

The neighborhood windows glowed warm and I could see the rare family dinner scenes taking place. Mostly it was the constant electric rectangle keeping the attention of the couch prisoners. We all enjoy company even if it comes from a television.

Earlier in the day I had some company of my own. I was trail running and came across a coyote. We both stopped and looked at each other. We probably shared the same thought: Is he going to attack me? I moved along to the south and the coyote headed east. It was a nice moment and on a long trail run a visitor is a welcome site…even if it is a coyote.

Getting closer to home I was watching the light on my handlebar reflect of my front wheel and sending wonderful silver flashes off of my spokes. It was dead silent and I could hear every motion of my bike-the rubber on the road and the revolution of the chain. We were just humming along, just me and my custom white Tommaso fixie. Outside of the human element my bike is my lifelong companion. It has been since I can remember. Sure I was lured away like many others by the freedom of a driver’s license and a gas pedal but I came back. The bike has always just felt right.

So tonight on my nightly return home I found myself happy and smiling. Joyful to be a grown man riding a bike in the dark following a little beam of light home in the cold. Thankful to not be in a car, thankful to be experiencing life from my bike and thankful that coyote was friendly. Mostly I am thankful for my wife, family, my career in cycling and for all the friends at Tommaso Nation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

TR

A Saddled Life

I’ve seen a lot of wonderful things from my saddle this year. I raced grueling events that tested me almost as much as an Ironman. In riding my bike to work I've seen great mountain views and little details like foxes and falcons. I climbed Mont Ventoux (twice) and I even got married on my Tommaso bike on the top of a mountain! It has been an amazing year and I am very lucky. There’s a saying about luck: “Luck favors the prepared.” Basically the more you prepare for a certain result the better chance you’ll get that result.

The year tuned out to be amazing because I make cycling such a big part of my life. From the commute to work, the lunch ride, my career and the time spent tinkering in the garage I am surrounded by bikes and like minded people. My friends work at VeloNews, Hutchinson, Specialized, Trek, BMC, Shimano and SRAM. My wife loves to ride bikes as much as I do (she’s even racing cross now!). To say I am “into cycling” is to say Captain Ahab liked to fish.

It is in this life that my life takes place. Going to the store is a trip on the bike. Date night to our favorite restaurant is a trip on our bikes. When we decided to get married our first thought was what mountain are we going to ride up and tie the knot? And of course the honeymoon was cycling the Tour routes in France. Daily life with a bike is something that will stay with me forever. I have good days and bad days but they are all bike days.

Another big part of this life is sharing it with all of you on the Facebook Fan Page and on Twitter. Do you think I’ll ever forget Todd Cooper eating a KFC Double Down on video? I’m thankful that Qba checks in from Afghanistan and crazy Jesse gives shout-outs from Florida. I look forward to comparing notes with Kenneth and Steve during the classics and Tours. I even got to ride with Kampy as he traveled across the US on his way home. Yes, lucky man!

So as winter approaches get out the cold weather gear and continue on with the good life. Make plans for the upcoming year and set some goals. Prepare a route in life that includes cycling and soon you will find that we are all pretty lucky.

Thanks for reading-TR

The Mountain Dance

I would like to say the mountains met me with gentle conversation but they did not. Their cruelty began early and livened our time together with sharp grades and undulations. For I am the traveler the mountain understands. I am the lone traveler with the human powered engine and the cooling sweat that drips onto the thirsty parched pavement.

Those bigger vehicles with their metal pistons and fake atmosphere would not understand this journey as I do. Those “others” float fat on gravy seats hastening the throttled explosions under the hulking hood while portly maneuvering around the bends made so generous for their proud obese fenders. Those damned vehicles that will someday deliver my doom. Curse them all!

My eyes are hollow now and I look through my eyelids for respite ahead. As the snow appears I feel the cool promise or relief but know it is a lie told only to the weaker pockets in my brain to keep doubt at bay. At 9000 feet the only relief is at home, thousands of feet below.

The serpent dance has begun on my pedals as I am standing looking to find the mythical rhythm to get me through the kick and deliver me to a gentler bend. In truth I want more. Suffering is the way, the badge, the life. Here on this road built by men long dead and surrounded by monstrous boulders I am searching for a moment of my own and the only souvenir I can carry home is the suffering.

Cresting the top I tug at the zipper on my jersey providing the only protection I will have on the cold descent back to the toil of cars and bustle. I lean, bend and contort my body into shapes to steal any precious speed I can find. The wheels are whirling now and the room for error was vacated at the top. Lean left and push hard on the right pedal. Pick that line and carve, carve, carve!

The ride down is the drive home from the hot date. The real action was on the way up but the way down gives me a chance to relish in the hot sweat and love. It’s a beautiful dance of pain and desire and the mountains are always a wonderful partner. A brief break for refreshments and it’s time to go again. The orchestra begins to play a waltz I will never tire from and I will always answer to with lively legs and a pumping heart. The glory is in the mountains.

You would probably find Floyd Landis in a Radio Shack Team kit before you would find me participating in a community wide, 22-mile (free-for-all) path ride…but there I was elbows out praying for safe passage like Michael Rasmussen trying to descend during a 2005 Tour de France time trial (I’ll take obscure TdF references for $200 Alex…). The bottom line was the kids wanted to ride and I was going to make sure they did. It’s not every day that you can get teenagers away from video games and I was not going to miss this opportunity. Red Dead Redemption be damned! We were riding!

That morning I left for a quick primer of 50 miles with Turbo-Mom and we told the kids to drink plenty of water and be ready at 2:30 to ride. As we were leaving out the door I noticed the boy eating two big burritos…It was then I decided I would be pulling the whole way. We finished our training ride and took a quick nap while the junior cycling squad got ready to roll. I took quick inventory before we left. Water, sunscreen, helmets, patience and I took some gels just in case.

Of course I only had my team gear to wear (I did tone it down with black bibs). Paul Sherwin would have commented that I looked “resplendent in my team strip” but in the crowd of YMCA t-shirts, cargo shorts and baseball hats under first generation Bell helmets I stood out like the Pope at a Slayer concert. Even though certain portions of the route would not be paved I still rolled out on the Tommaso Volo…If I could race the Boulder Roubaix on my carbon Tommaso dream machine I think I could handle some gravel paths and 50 soccer moms…

The team (family unit) and I quickly fell into formation and headed out into the sea of T-shirt, tetanus threatening drivetrains and…well…bad bike handling. At 10 mph there is going to be some weaving. Throw in some children, hot sun and poor course marking and it all goes right into the Port-o-Let.

Right from the start we were having fun. There was laughing and zero shaved leg, “don’t ding my $8,000 bike” aggression. Dads were sitting way too low on their bikes and Mom’s were busy telling little Jimmy to stop cutting off the other riders. It was a Cat 1 racer’s nightmare…I thought it was hysterical! Where else would I find myself being pulled by a girl in a swimsuit on a cruiser and a guy on a mountain bike wearing a cowboy hat smelling like some summer ale? Not at the local ACA event that’s for sure.

As the miles wore on we laughed and surged through the carnival pack and came to a rest stop. It was time for the teenage girl to have an energy gel to get her through the next hour…she balked. She did not want to eat the gel. It was like Joe Regan trying to get some Fear Factor contestant to eat a live centipede. Amazing…the kid can eat popcorn, orange juice and 4 scoops of ice cream drowning in chocolate sauce (in one sitting) and you can’t get her to eat something that tastes like 1.1 ounce of vanilla pudding. With some encouragement from the group and a switch to chocolate she survived…barely.

Full of renewed energy and rest we were heading towards home. We counted off the last remaining miles out loud and hit our street at exactly 22 miles! We had survived the baby strollers, weavers, criers, drunkards and the course. Most importantly the kids finished their longest ride ever in one piece. Their Mom and I shared a quick glimpse of joy as we parked the bikes in the garage.

Shallow...Like a Kiddie Pool

I’ll be the first to admit to my shallowness as a cyclist in the past. As I get closer to completing my second decade of riding I have learned to tone down the trash talk and keep the “finger” under control. I’ve put away the silly finish line celebration and can even be downright pleasant to ride with on the bike. In the past I was a brash little punk who used cycling as release therapy for my inner angry-man...or angry-child as my friends would joke. I actually thought I was going to be the next Cipollini and I had the ego to match…and you thought the “tools” were only at Home Depot.

Now that I am older and my rear cassette has grown from 7-speed to 10-speed I have gained some knowledge and humility. My ego has shrunk and no longer has its own solar system. I bark a lot less and pull a lot more. I stop to check on cyclist parked on the side of the road looking for karma from past transgressions. I still have a lot of competitiveness in my bones but try to save it for the times I pay to pin a number on my back and try to look good for my 1-woman fan club.

Now…I do have one little pet peeve I still can’t let slide. I am sharing this with you in hopes you don’t fall into this bad habit. Here it is: If you are going to “aggressively” pass a fellow rider (namely me) on a climb you better have the milk to make it stick. Don’t race past me and then blow up like a cheap bottle rocket 10-feet out of the bottle. Blowing by me like Lance Armstrong only to fall back to earth like Neil Armstrong won’t win any points with me. In fact there’s a good chance…like 100%...that I will come after you. Yes, I can be that shallow...like a kiddie pool. There won’t be words but there will be the back of my jersey for you to look at…well, for a little bit.

Cyclists make mistakes. Newbies wear bibs over their jersey. They get squirrely trying to get a gel out of a jersey pocket or drop a bottle on a group ride. Some kickback 5-feet when they stand to climb…these things happen and should be addressed tastefully as a learning moment and not a screaming match. But seeing a fellow cyclist shoot up the climb and thinking your “inner Marco Pantani” is going to teleport you past a fellow roadie into another zip code is just wrong. Pass me like a pro and you will get a cheer..pass me for show and you will get a jeer…and I will hunt you down.

I think we got it now. Jersey over bibs, hold your line, shift down one gear before you stand and climb like you love the mountain more than the attention you want to have on yourself…that’s all I ask.

See you out there!

TR

Back to the Pack

Racing bikes is funny business. I’ve been racing bikes since 1993 and over the years I have had my share of heartbreaks, drama and the occasional trip to the podium and a few envelopes filled with cash. I’ve also had a wide variety of team jerseys from pink and yellow, forest green and orange to the kit I wore for a year that had a Cornish hen on every panel. Our sponsor was a poultry “manufacturing” facility and I heard my share of chicken clucks in the peloton…oddly the last race I won was in that kit…no one was calling me chicken that day.

After that road win I returned to racing mountain bikes and got hooked on the single speed lifestyle for its simplicity and the thrill of chasing down the geared ones with my one gear. After that I jumped over to tri and after a few years found myself crossing the line an Ironman. Checking that off the list I am heading back to the road scene…nine years later! What happened! I lost track of time.

This Sunday marks my silent return to the sport. I’m just a rider like you but this day means a lot to me. I’ve missed my place in the pack and that horrible energy that rips through the peloton as the finish line is in sight. Back in the day I used to be very vocal in the pack…yes, I was that jerk. With 2-miles to go I would ask that any “weak souls please slink to the back as a sprint finish was about take place among adults and it was no place for children.” I wasn’t nice…my sprint salute was even more annoying than Contador’s pistol…mostly because a club racer needs to have a little more modesty. It wasn’t like people where stopping me at the store for autographs. The only thing I signed for strangers was entry fee checks and a lot of them.

Now I’m back and the raw truth of the matter is still the same. Somewhere down the road is a finish line and it only holds glory for one. By glory I mean a pitcher of margaritas and a huge burrito before you go back home and are told by your spouse to cut the grass. If you’re lucky a handful of family and friends (usually not your own) will put up a little golf clap and make you feel somewhat important as you pass over the electrical tape in the road known as the finish line. No matter the amount of “fame” one receives from racing the race is still a thrill that most of your other office dwellers will never know.

Racing on a Tommaso bike makes me proud of the work we do at Tommaso Bicycles. I've became an Ironman on the Tommaso Sixth Sense. It is a moment I will never forget. I raced a season of cyclocross on the soon to be released carbon Tommaso Diavolo and now I return to my road roots on a carbon Tommaso road bike. I get excited every time I throw a leg over one of my Tommaso bikes. I know these bikes as well as I know myself and I consider my Tommaso the best teammate I could have.

So soak it up when you can. Shave your legs and go for those nice pedals. I won’t lie…winning feels great but those are not the moments I remember most. I remember that moment when the pack detonated on a mountain in a West Virginia race and I was still among the leaders. I remember seeing my Dad’s proud look in the race official’s car as he was experiencing watching me race for the first time. I’ll never forget the day I imploded at the state championships in 1996 and had to be nursed into the finishing area by my rival’s girlfriend. She had to hand me his extra water bottles out of her car window as I was nearing death by dehydration. Along the way I have had some wonderful teammates who are now friends for life. We ate together, crammed into small hotel rooms and suffered together. All of these moments are worth the life we lead as cyclists. Winning is rare, finishing is good, being feared is great and riding is forever.

SRAM Apex is sick!

Just when the snow melts and the sun warms the ground I get sick. Not just a little sick…stuck in bed, fever sweating, coughing like I swallowed poison sick…drat! Well…I tried to ride on Friday but that lasted about 3-miles and I turned back home. I know, I know…rest and let it pass. I know this just as well as the next person but when the sun is shining after a long winter it is so hard to listen. So what does a cycling junkie so when they are stuck at home not able to ride? Read cycling product manuals of course.

One of the new products I am very excited about is the new SRAM Apex 10-speed component group. This new family of components is aimed at eliminating the need for triple cranks on a bike in favor of a double with multiple cassette choices for a wide choice of gearing. The Apex group is labeled as “WiFli” for Wider, Faster and Lighter. It has higher and lower gearing than a triple, shifts quicker than a triple and it’s about 250-grams lighter than a triple.

For starters, there is two different rear derailleurs with a short cage (28t capacity) and mid-cage (32t capacity). To make life easier on our legs SRAM is offering 11-32, 11-28, 11-26 and 11-23 cassettes. The SRAM Apex crank is offered in 53/39, 52/38, 52/36 (my personal favorite), 50/36, 50/34 and 46/38 (cyclocross). This means you can set up Apex as a standard, compact, mega-compact and cyclocross gearing. Apex shifters are Double Tap/Zero Loss with hidden cables and reach adjust. The Apex family can do it all. My sources tell me there is great interest by big bike companies in the 50/34 with the wide gearing to take on everything the road can throw at you.

This is why I am such a huge fan of SRAM. They are aggressive in developing new technology that customers can afford (anyone price electric Dura-Ace or Campagnolos 11-speed Record recently?), they seem to know what the average riders needs and they do it with great style. It is for this reason that Tommaso Nation will see the SRAM Apex in the Tommaso line up this Summer! I feel better already.

Tommaso Sponsors Pro Triathlete James Hadley

Tommaso Bicycles is pleased to announce the sponsorship of pro triathlete James Hadley. Hadley is a 30-year old professional triathlete from Weston, England. He is currently living in Boulder, CO and focusing on the North American 70.3 Ironman circuit. The partnership of athlete and bike is an effort by Tommaso to further its dedication to the sport and to provide Tommaso customers with pro level bikes they can afford.

This sponsorship is in conjunction with the launch of three new tri bike offerings from Tommaso. The new tri line will consist of an aluminum base model, the Coltello, and two carbon tri bikes; the Aereo and the Sixth Sense. Tommaso has made the necessary investment to compete at the highest level with their new tri line. The three new models have been in development for over two years and will offer customers the finest craftsmanship and a strong value story.

Part of the development cycle was the Tommaso Product Manager, and triathlon veteran, T.R. Maloney racing the Sixth Sense at Ironman Louisville in 2009. “We want our customers to know we are serious about triathlon and understand the sport. After the hours of training and racing I did on the Sixth Sense I know it is a great handling fast bike ready for the world’s toughest events” said Maloney.

“Tommaso is excited to partner with a Triathlete of James’s caliber and accomplishments and have him race on the all new Tommaso Sixth Sense, said Randall Weidberg, President of Tommaso Bikes. Our research and development department have been working extremely hard on producing one of the world’s finest full carbon triathlon bikes. We are extremely proud to bring the Tommaso Sixth Sense to market and look forward to a successful race season and partnership with James.”

The target of the aluminum tri bike is to open the door to those new to triathlon. The carbon models consist of a Shimano Ultegra version and a Shimano Dura-Ace version and are aimed at those looking to upgrade to a monocoque carbon racing bike worthy of the most grueling events.

Hadley will work with the product team at Tommaso by providing feedback on Tommaso road bikes, tri bikes and equipment. Another area Hadley will be involved in is the Social Media aspect of Tommaso bikes. James will appear on the Tommaso Facebook Fan Page daily and talk about training and answer questions from the fans of Tommaso known as “Tommaso Nation.”

About Tommaso Bicycles:

Founded in 1985 Tommaso Bicycle Company’s philosophy is to produce the finest bicycles in the world. Tommaso is committed to excellence in the design, craftsmanship, and distribution of our beloved road bicycles. Tommaso adheres to strict comprehensive quality control. Every bicycle must pass a relentless and rigorous criterion of tests before they ever make it into production. Our systematic prepping process guarantees precision setups. Every Tommaso bicycles leaves our factories with a lifetime guarantee. Tommaso’s mission is to combine our old world tradition of maximum attention to detail in shaping our premier frame tubes and precision paint schemes with cutting edge technology and innovation.

All In a Day's Work

It’s all in a day’s work (well it’s still night time inside my body) producing bikes for Tommaso Bicycles. This is my 7th trip to Asia and I still get excited walking down the streets of Taipei, Hong Kong or Shanghai. The first step is to trick your body into the 15-hour time difference. I do this by changing my watch as soon as I get on the plane. I also pick flights that land and get me to the hotel in the evening. This way I go to bed and start getting on the new schedule. After a 14-16 hour flight sleep comes quick.

Overseeing bike production is a fast-paced week to 10 days depending on the amount of bikes in production. I usually arrive to see the final part of frame preparation. The decals and paint have already been approved and a couple hundred bare frames are ready to be dressed with paint, decals, clear coat and components. Production has been scheduled months in advance so when it’s time…it’s time. There is no waiting or delaying the process.

Outside the main manufacturing arm of the factory is a huge room full of ordered parts including derailleurs, bars, wrap, saddles, tires and everything else you need to make a complete bike. Collecting and having a precise inventory of these parts is a massive job and takes a couple weeks and a couple people to complete the task. If one part is missing the production train comes to a halt…that is not good. Standing in a room with enough parts to build a thousand bikes or so makes you wish you brought an extra suitcase or shopping cart!

The first time I walked into a bike factory my mouth fell to the floor. The process is amazing and the people involved are very talented. The skilled hands of the wheel builders can throw spokes through a hub flange in seconds. They actually can do eight spokes at a time! This makes for four quick shots per 32 spoked wheel. Then it is laced up, tensioned and put through a machine to check for tolerances. As you walk through each station there is always action and movement. The artist with the torch welding frames and the masters with the paint guns working the paint booth are something I could watch all day.

Turn the corner and the hand applied decals procedure is an art form in itself. The frames are marked off with masking tape to show the exact spot on the frame for the decal. Then as the bike comes by on a padded hook the decal applying crew pulls the water transfer decals from a large pan of water and goes to work. They line up and apply the decal perfectly while the frame is in motion! I can’t even put a sticker on my bike straight when it is locked down in a repair stand.

Once a frame is finished it goes to the assembly line to be adorned with components. The frame is then placed on the assembly line upside down. The line has seat post nubs that hold the frame in place in the seat tube. This allows the bike to be rotated and worked on from any side. It starts as a frame on one end and finishes a complete bike at the other end. The final touch is pulling the bike off the nub and pairing it up with the proper seat post and saddle.

This is a quick overview of the actions on the production floor. Of course there are many other details that I will gladly share during my visit to Tommaso Bicycle production. Stay tuned!

Hey Winter...Go Away!

I realize it has been a cold Dec/Jan for most of Tommaso Nation so I won’t complain about the 5-degree temps this morning in Boulder. The good news is that we should get up to 50-degrees this weekend! That means the bike comes off the trainer and we all head back out to the open road! That also means a quick check over of the machine before you get suited up.

If you have been putting in the miles on the trainer catching up with your favorite DVD’s then you want to check the rear tire to make sure it isn’t as squared off as Mr. Jameson’s hair in the Spiderman movies. A square tire will cause the bike’s handling to be unstable and you can almost guarantee that the center stripe is very thin and easily punctured. Some tires not only get worn square but also take on a shine that is very slick when you dip into your first corner off the driveway. If your rear tire looks like a square it is time to replace it. I have a pile of old road tires than I use through the winter so I don’t ruin the good stock on the trainer. Some tire companies like Continental and Hutchinson make a special trainer tires that are very thick and heavy and are only to be used only on the trainer.

For those of you heading back out on the road remember to keep up on the fluids. Just because it is cold outside it doesn't mean you aren't losing fluids. We lose fluids just by breathing and after a lazy holiday season we all seem to breathe a little heavier in the winter. I'm amazed at how many of my riding partners come back from a two hour ride with full bottles. When it is cold people forget to drink.

I hope we all get a boost in temps and can ride outside on a regular basis soon. Check that rear tire and give your bike a little cleaning love as we prepare for Spring, Summer and Fall. For those still doing time on the trainer please wipe down your bike after each workout and invest in a fan to keep you cool in the house. Losing a ton of water weight is not getting fit...it's just getting dehydrated and slowing recovery. Stay cool and get fast!

Team Tommaso

Happy New Year!

2009 was a great ride for Tommaso Bicycles! We introduced some new models such as the Ninja, Old School, Tricked Out, D&D, Tiempo, Corvo and Superleggera and developed 3 tri bikes and 2 cyclocross bikes that will be released soon! We raced the prototype carbon Sixth Sense tri bike at Ironman Louisville and then followed up with a full season of racing cyclocross on the carbon SRAM Rival equipped Tommaso Diavolo. Along the way we revamped the carbon road frame and made some tweaks to the line of our aluminum bikes and even added a steel bike to the Tommaso family.

Tommaso also made a lot of friends on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. These channels of communication enjoy plenty of visitors. We welcome you to visit us on these formats and become part of the conversation and part of the Tommaso Nation. In 2010 we look to offer more insight into the process of developing and producing our bikes. The Facebook Fan Page is a great place to learn about the bikes and ask questions to the Product Manager. Our Product Manager spends a lot of time immersed in tire technology and frame materials so it is best he gets some human interaction on a regular basis.

Thanks to you all for making 2009 a successful year for Tommaso Bicycles. Our success is not measured by the amount of bikes we sell alone. Our success is measured by the joy our customers get from riding our bikes, improving their fitness and being a part of the Tommaso family…the Tommaso Nation!

Happy New Year!

Team Tommaso

Tommaso Announces New Carbon Road Bike Line

www.tommasobikes.com (December 11, 2009) - Tommaso Bicycles is proud to release a new family of carbon road bikes. The three new models are the Corvo, Aggraziato and Superleggera. All three models are based on the same high modulus monocoque carbon frame platform that weighs in at 2.2 pounds for a 52cm frame. According to the Tommaso product team this is the perfect balance of lightweight material to performance. The frames were tested for over two years and the new carbon frames from Tommaso have proven to be tough for wear yet comfortable to ride.

The Tommaso Corvo is the entry level model and comes equipped with Shimano Tiagra/105 componentry, Shimano R-500 wheels fitted with Hutchinson tires, FSA Vero compact crank and Tommaso bar, stem, seatpost and saddle. The lightweight carbon frame has a carbon fork with an aluminum steer tube to save money and provide the consumer with carbon at an aluminum bike price.

The Tommaso Aggraziato gets a facelift in looks and performance. This Tommaso carbon model comes dressed with Shimano Ultegra components, Shimano RS10 wheels with Hutchinson tires, FSA Gossamer compact crank and FSA headset. The frame is Tommaso’s high modulus monocoque carbon frame with a carbon/aluminum fork. Silver decals, matching silver handlebar tape and a Tommaso TRS saddle finish off the lightweight carbon frame.

The top offering from Tommaso is the Superleggera with its monocoque carbon frame and full carbon fork. On this model you will find Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 shifters and rear derailleur with Ultegra 6600 front derailleur, Shimano RS20 wheels with Hutchinson tires, FSA Gossamer crank and TRS Tommaso bar, stem and post. Tommaso has entered the component market with its own bar, stem, post and saddle on the mid-higher tier models in the line. With Tommaso having the ability to produce their own line of high quality components, they have found that it gives them greater control over what they can offer the consumer while the cost remains low and performance remains competitive.

2010 will see the introduction of more carbon offerings from Tommaso. There are plans for the release of a SRAM Rival carbon cyclocross bike and two carbon triathlon bikes. The carbon tri bike was developed during 2009 and raced at Ironman Louisville. The carbon cross bike has been appearing at the cyclocross series in Colorado for the last four months. This will be a big year for Tommaso as they are doubling the size of their line. Tommaso is also interacting with consumers on their Facebook Fan Page and Twitter (www.facebook.com/tommasobikes, www.twitter.com/tommasobikes) and listening to what the consumers want in a bike. TR Maloney, Tommaso Bicycles Product Manager, said: “If it makes good sense on a performance and a price level we’ll throw the idea in the mix. We really enjoy our interaction with the fans of Tommaso. How many other companies give you direct access to the people making the bikes?” This direct access has created what is affectionately known as Tommaso Nation, a group of customers who interact and give input on the direction of Tommaso Bicycles.

About Tommaso Bikes:

Founded in 1985 Tommaso Bicycle Company’s philosophy is to produce the finest bicycles in the world. We are committed to excellence in the design, craftsmanship, and distribution of our beloved Road Bicycles.

At Tommaso, we adhere to strict comprehensive quality control. Every bicycle must pass a relentless and rigorous criterion of tests before they ever make it into production.

Our systematic prepping process guarantees precision setups. Every Tommaso bicycles leaves our factories with a lifetime guarantee.

Our mission is to combine our old world tradition of maximum attention to detail in shaping our premier frame tubes and precision paint schemes with cutting edge technology and innovation.

Beauty and performance are evident in all of our models from their race proven geometries, cutting edge ergonomic design and inspiring and flowing elegant aesthetics.

Relish the sense of adventure and elegance captured on a Tommaso bicycle.

Tommaso has a presence on the web that is unrivaled by any bike company. You can catch up with Team Tommaso at www.tommasobikes.com, tommasobikes.blogspot.com, www.twitter.com/tommasobikes, and www.facebook.com/tommasobikes. Tommaso values your opinion and invites you to join in on the conversation, let’s make a better product together!

Where It All Started

Every year around this time I get a little nostalgic remembering the days of my youth. It must be the chill in the air that reminds me of those cold Midwestern mornings riding my bike. I fell in love with cycling at a very early age. When I was 3-years old I tried to ride my tricycle off the driveway into the street. Luckily my older brother stopped me…by grabbing my arm and accidentally breaking it…I must have been going fast! I was the youngest of seven children and when I needed an escape the bike was always willing to get me out of the house. Of course being the youngest also meant hand-me-down bikes and with mostly sisters I had a lot of step-thru “girls” bikes to ride. I didn’t care as long as it had wheels.

Then came a very special Christmas when everything changed. On Christmas morning there it was hidden behind the big chair in the living room…my very own 10 speed road bike! I flipped out! When you are used to hand me down clothes, toys and bikes a new anything is a reason to rejoice. When that new something is a bike you really thank the lucky stars. It was a yellow Free-Spirit from Sears. It was bright yellow and had black handlebar tape and stem mounted shifters (sure to impale one’s lungs in case of an accident).

To say I rode that bike is an understatement. I wore every bolt, cable and tire off that bike in the following years. I would wake up at 6:00 in the morning and wait for just enough sunlight so I could get out and ride. I would then circle through the neighborhood streets waiting for my friend’s lights to turn on signaling they were awake. At the end of the day I would race the sun to get home before the gas lamp lit on the corner of our yard. There was big trouble waiting for a 10-year old boy when he wasn’t home before dark.

Once I decided my little town wasn’t enough I started breaking the rules and crossing the bridge (a big no-no) into the next town. The bridge was very close to a highway and I was told to never go near the busy streets. I would anyway and I soon found myself little by little exploring new territory. The next town over wasn’t as nice as my town as the roads were a little rougher and the houses a lot smaller. I began to see a difference in lifestyles and economics. I started to really appreciate the hard work my mother was doing keeping us afloat in our part of town.

As with life there are ups and downs and one morning I woke up and my bike was gone. It was stolen from outside our house in the carport (dang I wish we had a garage). I was heartbroken and on top of that in trouble for not locking my bike. If my mother only knew how upset I was at myself I don’t think she would have buried me with further punishment. I had lost my freedom and my favorite bike. For days I hunted the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of my beautiful yellow machine. Even with the patches of missing handlebar wrap, wobbly wheels and shifter housing held down with electrical tape it was still beautiful to me.

I was back on my sister’s bike for the rest of the year. It was a 3-speed bike with coaster brakes. I was missing my speedy yellow machine with caliper brakes and road drop handlebars. Then on my birthday a new surprise was waiting for me in the living room. It was a Schwinn Phantom Mag Scrambler. I actually cried right there sitting on the glossy black bike. Even though we were struggling economically my Mom managed to find a way to buy me a nice bike. I was smarter with this bike and would bring it inside at night to keep unwanted hands off my machine.

I would like to think those moments are why I still ride a bike 30 years later. To me there is nothing better than owning a bike. It is part childhood, part escape, part fitness and a whole lot of fun. It’s small enough to store in the hallway yet big enough to change your life. My mom passed away years ago but I smile every time I think about the real meaning behind the gifts of cycling she gave me. I hope she knows how thankful I am for the independence, the fitness, the adventures and the great career. Thanks Mom!

Happy Holidays-TR Maloney

The Gift of Cycling

I have written a lot of holiday articles about shopping for a cyclist in the family or training tips this time of year when the treats are plenty and the miles are few. This is a crazy time of year. Bad weather and out of town guests push one’s patience to the limits. That is why I have taken the following approach for so many years. Now is the time to invest in you, set a goal and reinvent yourself and start anew.

Don’t waste your time on a New Year’s resolution that rarely survives the first week. Start today, choose a goal and go after it now! A bicycle is a lifeboat in a sea of fatty foods and aging. A bicycle is a very important part of my life. So much so it has become part of my identity.

This year listen close to table talk during the family get together. Over Thanksgiving I heard “Remember Uncle with the beard and the pick-up truck…” and “Oh that is your grandma. She had a lot of cats and when you walked in her house…” You get the picture. When I go home the first thing that is tied to me is my bicycle. My Aunt will say “I heard you rode you bike in Switzerland this year” and “We watched you online at Ironman…” That is how I want to be remembered. Don’t you?

Buying a Tommaso bike won’t change your life. It will help, but you need to change your life. The Tommaso bike is just a tool to take you on your way. I will say it every year as long as I live; riding a bike has made my life so much better. All the good in my life can be traced back to riding a bike. My health, my friends and my job all have cycling as the background theme. Being a part of Tommaso Nation is a great feeling.

If you want to get fit, explore the outdoors or feel like a kid again get yourself a bike. In my 16-year career in cycling I have always enjoyed the first moment when a customer is getting on a bike. As soon as they start pedaling the biggest smile appears and they light up with joy.

Get your bike this year, don’t wait. I've never known anyone to get fit buying a big screen TV. Start off with a reasonable goal and go after it. When I started I was overweight and out of shape. My goal was to ride 20 miles in one day. It took me some time but I made my goal and wanted to go farther. A year or so and 40-pounds later I was preparing to ride a MS-150 ride in honor of my mother who I lost to Multiple Sclerosis. I rode my bike so hard the first day I was going through the check points so fast they didn't have water for me. They weren't ready. I had to have a friend pull up next to me in a car and hand me water. I know it is not a race but I just wanted to show my Mom how much I missed her and pedaling as hard as I could seemed like a fitting tribute. The second day I did the same and I knew then that cycling would always be a part of my life.

Whatever reason gets you on a bike embrace it. Ride for fun, to lose weight or to raise money for a good cause. A bike is an investment in you. Fad diets will not get you where you want to go. There is no video game that can create the feeling of finishing your first 100 mile ride. There is no better way explore the roads and scenery than on a bike. You’ve been good this year. Get your bike!

The Tommaso Mondial Rocks!

Every now and then I get a moment to stop and write about a Tommaso bike that I love to ride. Of course as a Tommaso Product Manager I have the chance to ride a lot of bikes, but there are some that catch my attention for personal reasons. This has to do with time in the saddle as well as my history in cycling. Let’s just say I was racing on down tube shifters and wearing a neon pink racing kit…yeah, I’ve been in the game a little while.

One of the bikes that returns to my attention often is the Tommaso Mondial. It comes up more frequently than Kiss songs on my iPod. The Mondial is a rock star in its own right. It has the time-tested Ultegra 6600 STI shifters, Ultegra 6600 rear derailleur and Ultegra 6600 front derailleur. There’s nothing to worry about and no need for an upgrade. The Ultegra is an amazing group that appears on a couple of my bikes. I have Ultegra on my travel bike (it’s been around the world a few times) and it comes out of the case shifting every time. One of the best parts about the Mondial spec is the FSA Gossamer crank. Most people don’t know that a certain World Champion time trial God prefers the aluminum Gossamer over the carbon FSA cranks because of the Gossamer's stiffness. We feel that if it is good enough for him it should be good enough for Tommaso Nation.

Another nice feature of the FSA Gossamer crank is the compact 50/34 tooth arrangement. Compact cranks are great for just about everyone except the most elite cyclists. Then again some pros have used them during the mountain stages of well known races. Choosing a compact crank makes good sense for many reasons. It's lighter and the gear range is better, making it much easier to use than a triple. The compact gives you all gearing options that you need, especially when the road points upward. That's where you'll really enjoy the 34 tooth front chainring.

The cockpit of the Tommaso Mondial is very comfortable. As a product manager I have a collection of handlebars. I travel the world and have been known to amuse others as I try out every bar that I can get my hands on. I maneuver into the descending position, get into sprint mode and climbing position. I ride the tops, drops and hoods. After years of racing, training, centuries and MS-150 rides, I know what fits most hands comfortably. If you check out the Tommaso Blog you will see that I have written a piece on what is involved in choosing good handlebars. If you ever see me on a long ride I will be happy to discuss my insane testing system for cycling saddles, bar wrap and even sunglasses…I’m a little bit of a freak.

The color of the Mondial is another draw for me. In the sunlight the bold blue is killer! It looks incredible with the black paint and white decals. I do enjoy bikes that look fast even when not moving. The 12K weave on the fork legs only enhances the racy feel of the bike. The carbon TRS Tommaso fork is stout with no wimpy fork flex under the duress of white knuckle descending. I am amazed at how much vibration and deflection I have noticed in super-light (READ: Super Expensive) boutique forks that feel great in your hands but offer very little in real-world performance.

Riding a Tommaso Mondial is pure joy. All the parts come together in harmony and the ride is wonderful. The gearing allows for an all around smooth ride, the Shimano components take care of the work and the comforting shapes of the saddle and handlebar leave your attention where it belongs-on the road. The 32-hole Alex 450 rims were chosen because they are workhorse rims. They can be easily trued and the machined brake surface is a welcome comfort when the weather gets nasty.

When you step on the pedals the Mondial accelerates very quickly. The geometry allows me to sit “in” the bike and not “on” the bike. It's almost as if the Mondial is reading my mind. When I think "turn" it dives in and rips right through. If I see a hole in the pack it jumps right in and when the road goes up the bike answers to standing on the pedals with a healthy return of speed.

The bottom line is that cycling is about your time away from worry, work and traffic jams. Isn’t it nice to know when you get home you can grab a Tommaso and disappear for a comforting ride? The bike is going to last. The parts are chosen to get the job done at a price that is unbeatable. Tommaso wants you to go for a ride and not be taken for one.

After a race this summer I was asked, "Who are the members of Team Tommaso?" I replied “Everyone that is smart enough to buy a Tommaso". In reading the great comments about our bikes on the Facebook Fan Page I am reminded that we are all part of the same great team. Here’s to the long rides and journeys we take on our Tommaso Bikes.

Team Tommaso

Crossing Over For Fall

I blame Damien Rice for tainting my return to cyclocross after an 8-year absence. How did “Blower’s Daughter” get stuck in my head for the whole race? It is hard to get the game face on with such gentle music. I wanted Pantera to provide the theme music for my crushing return! Sure I raced once last year but that doesn’t count as I had just arrived in Colorado 48-hours earlier and I was trying to hold my own at 7,000 feet on a borrowed bike! I might as well have punched myself in the stomach with only a straw in my mouth to catch my breath and jumped on an angry horse without a saddle…that was pretty much the feeling I had racing cross at Pike’s Peak.

Well this year is different! I have my own new carbon Tommaso cross bike and some good fitness left over from Ironman. Of course I don’t know how much help the endurance fitness will be since racing well below one’s aerobic threshold for 11+ hours is not drooling down one’s chin at 20-beats over one’s aerobic threshold while sprinting out of every corner and jumping 18” high hurdles for 45 minutes! I don’t think I could find another cycling sport the exact opposite of Ironman…but there I was toeing the line 20 days later no aerobars or pointy helmet.

Luckily I am on a team with 14 great guys all dressed up in VeloNews team gear. It helps when you are suffering to see a familiar face or at least a blur of red and black through tears…I mean sweat during a race. The Velo boys are friendly, supportive and very fast. I hope to learn from them as the season progresses. More so I hope to prove that the new Tommaso carbon bike is a strong bike that can handle the tough conditions of cyclocross.

If it is going to break…cross will break it. Just ask the bulge sticking out of my shoulder neck area…it is the end of my clavicle detached from my sternum…thanks cross! Actually I mean that point more to the bike itself. Round one went very well and the Kore wheels (same ones found on the Velocita SRAM bike) held up great and the carbon frame felt like a custom bike made just for me. It loves the climb on the Hutchinson tires and it accelerates really well on grass and dirt. Even with too much PSI in the tires the bike behaved well and was easy to control.The SRAM Rival components were spot on and the internal cable routing kept the shifting crisp. While it was not a podium performance for me it was a great day of testing for the bike.

This weekend the bike gets to go for another race test in Boulder. I hope to have some video footage to share or at least some pictures. The best part of this job is the fact that my riding and racing today will make for a better bike for the customer next year. So when it is time for you to buy a Tommaso you will know it has been ridden, raced (crashed) and put through the ringer on the way to you! We want our customers to enjoy cycling as much as we do. We want you to over-play not over-pay! And if my performance doesn't improve soon can we throw in a marathon at the end so I can catch up?

IRONMAN

Well…The Tommaso Sixth Sense carried me to the highly sought after words all triathletes want to hear: “You are an Ironman!” Sure my legs carried me through the run and my arms (with a little steady kicking) pulled me through the swim but the big question mark is always the machine and the carbon Tommaso Sixth Sense rocked!
Late in 2008 we started thinking about a tri line for Tommaso and I thought it would be great to take our first bike straight to the big leagues of Ironman…The true bike test. As the product manager I put myself in the ring as the athlete to go do an Ironman. The months of training with a 112-mile final exam is a great way to test a bike.

As mentioned in an earlier post the first plan was to rip it on the bike and suffer (walk) though the 26.2 mile marathon if need be. The idea was to rock Ironman with a top ten bike time so we could have bragging rights. As the training progressed I realized that Ironman isn’t just about the bike and people soon weed out the dummies that burn the bike only to go up in flames on the run. People think the homerun hitters are so great for hitting balls over the fence until they hear the same hitter usually has the highest strike out percentage. The distances of the Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2 run) are also very humbling and deserve the respect of the athlete no matter what level.

I can say without hesitation that the Tommaso Sixth Sense is a great triathlon bike. I’ve ridden a lot of tri brands before coming to Tommaso and I would put this bike at the front of the pack with Cervelo, Scott, Trek and Quintana Roo. It really is that good. It is light, handles like intuition and because it is a Tommaso will be far more affordable than the rest. I know this because I have lived on the bike for months and raced it as hard as I could without one (and I mean it) complaint.

Some bikes I’ve raced before were wind tunnel tested and looked sleek but once you removed your hands from the bars became a jackhammer gone crazy! The bike would shimmy and shake on descents and take away any confidence you had in the machine. Other bikes I’ve owned like to go straight but when the corners came up they needed to be coaxed like a kid with broccoli on his plate. The Tommaso Sixth Sense loves the gas, corners like an Indy Race car and I can eat, put on/take off a vest or arm warmers and move bottles around without a wobble.

If you need numbers to be convinced I can give you two. I moved up roughly 600 places during the bike leg of the Ironman and I ran a negative split on the marathon. That means I ran the second half faster than the first. Most people fade from fatigue during the run. I started out steady and built on that with energy towards the end. When you consider the 112-mile bike ride to get to the marathon you know the bike is comfortable.

Now that Ironman is over I am looking forward to the next race where I can get the Tommaso back out on the streets to show it off. The production models will arrive in a couple months and soon the rest of you can experience what I have had the great fortune to experience. The Tommaso Sixth Sense is going to carry a lot of us to productive training rides and well deserved podiums along the way! Thanks for following Tommaso’s Road to Ironman. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

TR Maloney
Tommaso Product Manager / Ironman

Iron Prayer

Ironman must be close. Last night I had the dream where I wake up an hour late for the swim start! Luckily my Timex watch alarm went off and I was on time for my easy swim at the YMCA. Most of the stress for me leading up to a race involves forgetting something. I have a checklist and I’ve been lucky so far with only one slip that occurred at the Rock and Roll half Ironman distance triathlon in Georgia.

I had my normal swim and made a quick exit with the bike onto the roads of Macon, GA. Within the first mile I looked down at my long shadow from the rising sun and low and behold I forgot my seat bag with tube, CO2 and tools! Worse yet is knowing I left it on the ground in transition! Knowing I had 55 miles to go I started the “Race Prayer.”

Dear Lord…I know I’m not one to ask for favors from you but I do need a little help here. It seems in my haste I forgot my seat bag (in transition no less!!!) and need 55 miles of debris free roads so I can keep the air in my tires. Yes, yes, yes I know I yelled at the guy who gave away my hotel room last night but it was late and I did fly 1300 miles to get to the race. Sure I could have been a little more patient with the age grouper floating on his back in the middle of the lake but I was in a hurry and a little push never hurt anyone…right? I’m really a good guy Lord…I don’t cut corners at races and don’t littler gel packets when I train. When I pass people on training rides I always wave and when someone has a flat tire I always ask if they are OK…sure I might not stop when I am racing but it is a race after all.

OK…how about a trade? You can have my shoelaces come untied during the run if I can just get back to transition without a flat. C’mon big guy…I’m already half way through the 56 mile bike…why waste a good thing? Is that glass in the road?! Are you toying with me? I know you have a sense of humor; you allowed recumbent bikes to be created.

OK we are only 5 miles from the finish. Just a little more sunshine sent my way please. How embarrassing would it be for me to flat 5-miles from my AWOL seat bag? It just wouldn’t be right…you know?

All right! We are in the home stretch! We did it! I mean…you did it! Thanks, thanks for letting me get away with one today. I appreciate the love. Is it too much to ask for flat-free racing for the rest of the year? What is that noise? Is that thunder?