CONI to sue Rebellin

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said it would sue Davide Rebellin for damages after the cyclist tested positive for the banned blood-booster CERA at the Beijing Olympics.

CONI has also demanded Rebellin to return the silver medal he won in the cycling road race at the 2008 Games to the International Olympic Committee, a statement on its website read.
Rebellin's lawyer told Italian media he would contest the decision.
The 38-year-old should also give back the 75,000 euro bonus he picked up for winning the silver, CONI said.

Reuters

Contador agrees Astana deal

Spain's Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has reached a preliminary agreement with his Astana team to fulfil his contract until the end of 2010.

"The agreement depends on Astana retaining their ProTour licence for 2010 and the introduction of an internal anti-doping programme," Contador's press office said on Thursday.
Although Astana missed one deadline on October 20, the governing International Cycling Union (UCI) is expected to reach a possibly definitive decision on a licence by Friday.
After a turbulent 2009, Contador had threatened to leave the Kazakh-funded Astana outfit and had opened negotiations with several other leading teams, having had contact with Caisse d'Epargne, Quick Step, Garmin-Slipstream and Liquigas.
Thursday's statement from his press office said: "(Contador) has taken the decision to complete his contract with Astana having confirmed that both Yvon Sanquer, the new team manager, and sports director Giuseppe Martinelli guarantee the seriousness and competitiveness of the new Astana project.
"In a short space of time they have managed to bring together a group of riders of great quality with which to tackle the sporting challenges of the next season.
"The duration of the contract will be only one year because, apart from being a new project for Astana, Alberto Contador does not wish to renounce the option of making a decision about his longer term future," added the statement.

Reuters

Le Tour de Lngkawai 2010

Organized Ministry of Youth and Sports, together with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) while the Prime Minister as the Patron of the event. Le Tour de Langkawi 2010 is scheduled to take place from 1st to 7th of March 2010, involving seven stages and covering a total distance of 1,001.8 km.

The race will go through seven states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Malaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and two Federal Territories; which are Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. The route selection this time based on various factors, including technical aspects, logistics, tourism and sponsors, involves 13 venues including a new venue in the history of the LTDL organization at Parit Sulong in the state of Johor.

The seven stages are:

1 Kota Bharu – Kuala Berang (174.5km)

2 Kuala Terengganu – Chukai (182.9km)

3 Pekan, Pahang – Mersing, Johor (144km)

4 Mersing, Johor – Parit Sulong, Johor (163.5km)

5 Muar, Johor – Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (140.2km)

6 Putrajaya, WP – Genting Highlands (103.9km)

7 Kuala Kubu Baru – Dataran Merdeka (loop x6) (92.8km)

G Shock DW-6100CF-8JF G-Python

Beware...the Python is coming

I really don't know what to say about this G Shock. This discontinued DW-6100CF-8JF watch was released in 2002. When I first saw this watch, I am not sure if I want to wear it or not. It was so beautiful.

This is the first time I need to refer to the atlas to know exactly where I was. This watch will ask the latitude and longitude of your place so it will tell you when the sunrise and sunset everyday. Wicked

The watch was made in Korea T and has the 1424 module inside. I couldn't find the watch manual from the official Casio website.

The reason that made me bought this watch was the unique camouflage band and bezel. Some effort has been made by G Shock to produce the camouflage pattern for the new G Shock recently, but IMO it's still did not match the same standard as the G-Python series.

The blue box shows the temperature trend graph. The G letter on the bezel doesn't have any function and probably for cosmetic reason only. I believed this watch is a better model then the DW-6100CF-3JF because the colour of the LCD is match with the bezel unlike the other one.

Here's some article from the Japanese website about this watch;

G-SHOCK models of the street "G-PYTHON (G Python)".
Which is greater than 5 meters, killing many species of body roll the huge animal, king of the jungle would swallow Python (Python) on the strength of the feature.施Shimashita the image of the entire jungle camouflage Python live. G-SHOCK was a turning point in the evolution of the two models, DW-5600 and DW-6100 adopted. DW-5600 will continue from the first G-SHOCK design model to represent, DW-6100 is the first G-SHOCK with a sensor in the current "
Master of G (Master of G) "is the origin. G-SHOCK models that represent the strength and history of its existence.

The only negative issue that I would say about this watch is that the watch uses a tiny LED bulb. The position of the bulb was on the middle left side of the watch. It does not help at all if you try to read the watch at dark places. If you push the light button, the bulb will light up the middle left section only.

As a conclusion, I can say that the light issue was not affected the coolness, its ability and function at all. This is a must have G Shock for all G Shock lovers..

update on 11/15: I found that the watch uses the 974 module. You will not found any info in Casio website if you type 1424 in the search box. I hope this helps.

SOLD

G Shock GW-5600J-1JF The G 5600

This is my first atomic a.k.a wave ceptor G Shock GW-5600J-1JF. As I live in South East Asia, the multiband watch is not sell here. I was lucky to buy this watch at a very reasonable price from the net. So far, my watch haven't received any radio signal yet. This watch will not display the day and date together, but you can change it between day and date by pressing the adjust button and it will appear inside the box.

The back plate of this watch also a little different from the regular 5600. First thing that I noticed it has the word "The G 5600". The shape of the watch back plate also different. This watch has a 2924 module inside and has been made in Thailand H

It also has a one of a kind band and a cool buckle that has a letter G on it.

Now I have two solar powered 5600 and I am not sure anymore if I need to buy the G-5600-3. Here's the picture of the watch on my wrist

Here's are some article about this watch from the Japanese web site;

Since its debut in 1983, are also constantly evolving in the G-SHOCK, have inherited the gene heavily from the 5600 model, radio receiving function, Tough Solar with The G.
DW-5000 starting with DW-5600, G-5600 and pulse that has been played and we inherited the square design. Evolution of the internal parts such as antennas and solar cells, enabling a receive function Tough Solar powered radio in the shape intact. Also, as the evolution of the exterior, the back uses a forged fine balance and strength, marking the 5600 letter. More than 20 years from birth, G-SHOCK while inheriting the identity of the G-SHOCK is evolved.

Look 595 Ultra 2010

Frame Look 595 Ultra Fork Look HSC 6 SL Brake Campagnolo Record-D 11 Skeleton BrakeShift Campagnolo Record 11 QS Ergopower Crank Campagnolo Record 11 Compact BottomBracket Campagnolo Record 11 FrontDerailleur Campagnolo Record 11 QS Cassette Campagnolo Record 11 RearDerailleur Campagnolo Record 11 Chain Campagnolo Record 11 Tire Vredestein Fortezza Tri Headset FSA Integrated Stem Ritchey WCS 4 Axis 44 stem 31.8 6d x 130mm Wet Black Handlebar Ritchey Superlogic Carbon Evo-SL 44c HandlebarTape Stella Azzurra Eleganza Cable Campagnolo Stainless Housing Campagnolo Campagnolo Seatpost Look E-Post Saddle Selle Italia SLR

Total Weight: 11.02 lbs

Broken stem

As you can see, the pictures above shows the broken front plate cover of a Thomson stem. The owner of the stem told me that the plate was broken naturally itself. The stem was not being use for sometime and he left it tight together with his unused handlebar. This issue has been reported to Thomson and they told him that maybe the plate had been screw over tight.

Volkswagen Combi @ Kombi

This post is about my friend's VW Combi. He is my only working colleague that really into restoring old cars. With so many new cars in the market with latest technology, to be invited cruising with this cool combi will be a pleasure for me. Great job

Pinarello F4:13

This is Hafiz new bike. After riding Pinarello F3:13 for 2 years, he decided to make a change and bought this F4:13 (size 46). The frame has a silver and black colour combination. The groupset he choose is Campagnolo Chorus 11 speed. The wheels is Fulcrum 1. For me, this is a clear warning sign from Hafiz. What a great bike. Hope his riding well...

Evans joins BMC

World road champion Cadel Evans has signed a three-year deal to join BMC Racing from Silence-Lotto.

"A great opportunity has come for me to join a growing team of like-minded individuals at BMC," Evans said. "I look forward to working with the BMC group toward the same goals including the Tour de France. I see the BMC Racing Team as a growing but very well structured and organized team.

"Obviously, I would like to do better than my two second places at the Tour de France."

Evans, 32, came second in the 2007 and 2008 Tours and his new team said their ambitious recent signings made him think he could win a Grand Tour with them.

"Cadel heard about how our team was expanding by signing big-name riders like George Hincapie, Alessandro Ballan,Marcus Burghardt, Karsten Kroon and other strong racers," BMC Bicycles owner and BMC Racing co-owner Andy Rihs said.

"This news immediately fired him up with the idea of riding for such a flexible, engaged and passionate team."

Australian Evans joined his former team in 2005, when they were known as Davitamon-Lotto.

With them the former mountain biker won the 2006 Tour of Romandie and the 2007 UCI Pro Tour title, in addition to last year's road race win.

Eurosport

Cadel Evans leave Silence-Lotto

World champion Cadel Evans of Australia will leave the Silence Lotto team at the end of the year.

"After five successful years, including two podium places in the Tour de France and the recent victory in Mendrisio, Cadel has decided to take advantage of his increased market value and look for new challenges," the Belgian team said in a statement.

The 32-year-old, a twice Tour de France runner-up, claimed the most significant victory of his career when he won the road race at the world championships in Switzerland last month.

Marc Sergeant, sportive manager: After an incredible end of the season, with victories of Cadel Evans and Philippe Gilbert, our team ends sixth in the 2009 Pro Tour ranking.

We thank Cadel for his unique contribution to this achievement, and we are confident that, with the existing and emerging talents, Omega Pharma-Lotto will continue to experience many sportive peaks in the future. Congratulations and good luck to Cadel.

We hope we can coach even more cyclists to reach their top level, to the benefit of the cyclists concerned, the team as well as the beautiful sport discipline that cycling is.

Reuters