The prep for training camp continues. Getting everything to camp was just he beginning. I met the Truck that was full of all of the equipment and clothing for training on Saturday. We immediately unloaded the semi into a mobile storage container.
Moving boxes from one place to another is teidious work, we then had to move the boxes into the hotel so we could sort them. There are roughly 68 people working with the Astana Team, each person recieved 20 items of casual clothing and each of the 30 riders receive a full bag of race clothing. Let the sorting begin.....
We sorted clothing for a solid 4 days. I am happy to be done with that! Mean while the mechanics were all busy working on the bikes. In 4 days we sorted all of the clothing and built 45 bikes. I can't say that I was a major part of that success other than coordinating the delivery but I do feel good about what was accomplished. Let the riding begin......
Justin
I would like to thank you guys for this informative blog. I find this type of article the most interesting, especially looking at the scale of the undertaking! Thanks a heap for the inside word, please keep it up!
For others interested, you can find 2 articles about the Discovery Team camps from last year on that website of the guys who make Blue Tools... (as seen in the photos here...) Just check out the Calvin's Corner.
Thanks again Ben! Cant wit to see more from the season.
January 24, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Leopoldo Ruiz
Will the Astana paint scheme be availble on project one?
Yes! However I am not aware of when that is going to happen. I hope soon. Ben Coates: Team Liaison
January 24, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Buzz
Expanding on what Justin said, for those of us who don't get the opportunity to be around the 'racing world' your backstory makes for interesting reading. Keep it coming...
January 24, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Chris Basis
Does Trek plan to sponsor any pro teams that don't have a sordid history of doping and cheating? No offense to the current crop of riders, but the Khazaks have had a win at all costs mentality for quite sometime. I have trouble buying into the notion that they've repented, saw the evil of their ways and now see the light. Go Slipstream!
The New Astana Team is completely different from the old team and we have complete faith in Johan and the steps he is taking to ensure that the riders are clean. The New Astana is spending more on anti doping than any other team. Plus I might remind you that Johan has never had a rider with a positive test under his management, that is not a sordid past at all. Ben Coates: Team Liaison.
January 26, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Coaster
Any idea if Astana will be testing some ultra secret Bontrager Tubeless Ready road wheelsets?
The Team will be racing on a new Bontrager Tubular later in the year; when they have had time to age properly. They race solely on tubular tires. Ben Coates: Team Liaison
January 28, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Simon
First off, thanks for the camp updates! Cool to follow whats going on with our new team.
My ? is that it sounds like the Team Astana will be a P-One paint option sometime in 2008...what about Levi's US Pro model paint? That would be even cooler!!!
Si
January 29, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Keith Russell
Ben, keep the articles coming, I love 'em :-) I'd love to see more Bontrager parts on the team bikes so the tyres will be a step in the right direction. I guess the Sram deal prevents the use of Speed Limit brakes and X Lite chainsets?
January 30, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Francis
Hey Ben,
How do the new guys like the Madone. Does Andreas feel the Trek performs better than the BMC. How about Chris Horner and his old Ridley. They should be good feedback for new layups/design on your bikes if they need it.
How is the Time Trial Bike development coming along? Rear brake moved down? Integrated Bottom Bracket? More geometry sizes for smaller and larger riders etc... Keep us up to date. I have always respected Trek for there R&D work. Its too bad to see the Aeolus TT Disc wasn't working out in the manufacturing process. I hope those kinks are worked out too so you guys can run the best equipment, which hopefully would be in house. See Ya!
Francis
Wow Francis, I am not sure where to start. First off, thanks for paying attention to all this stuff. We work very hard to make sure the guys have the best stuff available and it is great to hear some people are keeping up with that too. As for the guys and their new bikes, it would take forever for me to tell you all the positive things that everyone has said so I will just leave it at, no one has been disappointed to be riding a Trek and everyone likes the bike. Some of the guys like it because of increased stiffness, some for better comfort and some for look. No one is riding a custom bike, so as far as layup schedules or custom geometry, we did our homework up front to make sure we did not have to make anything custom for the team. That says a lot!
As everyone knows, Trek is always cooking something up and when we deliver it is going to be good, you will have to wait and see what that means......
Thanks again, Ben Coates: Team Liaison
February 07, 2008 at 08:44 PM
andrew
Ben - What's the word on Ceramic Bearings for the Madones with SRAM cranks? I've got a 5.5 Pro and am swapping out the Bontragers to SRAM Force Cranks. I assume Astana guys are going Ceramic as well and they have a similar configuration. I've not found any providers who offer a SRAM set. Any leads?
SRAM and Trek are working on a ceramic bearing for the Madone, unfortunately we have been unable to get any to pass our durability test as of yet. Now that we have a joint effort with SRAM for the Astana team you should see something soon. Stay tuned....
Ben Coates: Team Liaison
February 11, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Nico
Hello,
I see in the pictures that Faustino Munoz is a member of the Astana Team.
I am a big fan of him since he was a mechanic of the ONCE-squad.
Please send him my regards.
I hope to meet him at the Amstel Gold Race in The Netherlands (is it possible to organize a meet-and-greet?)
Regards, Nico (The Netherlands)
February 14, 2008 at 01:01 PM