Lifecycle owner Blair Stockwell has just returned from a trip to Salt Lake City in the USA to preview the 2008 line up from Specialized. Luckily Blair picked up a brand new camera duty free (a shock proof model as he is the world's most careless person with electronic equipment) and was able to take a few happy snaps.

2008 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR

Blair poses for a photo with the new Stumpjumper before taking it for a test ride.

Last week the "world's best bicycle company" hosted the latest course at the training 'University' it has set up at it's U.S. headquarters at Morgan Hill in California, and I was privileged to be one of 3 Australian participants. Morgan Hill is located in a beautiful area about 30km south of San Jose. The location is a cyclists dream, quiet roads with a mixture of flat and hills, amidst some of the nicest scenery around. For the mountain biker there are awesome trails, again with a great variety of single track and fire road, with some glorious views up towards San Francisco from the mountain tops.

We have just added a brand new page to the website. "Sneak Peeks" is where we will keep you updated with all the latest products coming to Lifecycle. To launch we have the first images of the Lampre edition S-Works road shoe and a very special sneak peak at the 2008 Avanti Chrono.

Check out the Sneak Peeks 

When it comes to choosing that new product for your bike what is more important to you, "Image or Performance"?

Now most of us would like to think we choose things like wheels and helmets based on what performs best but if truth be told image is a pretty important factor in most cycling purchases. In the past this may have been a bit of a problem but not anymore…

It rains so little these days that it always comes as a pleasant suprise when the heavens do finally open. One problem with having such infrequent wet weather in Brisbane is that when it does arrive we often don't have the proper gear to keep us on the bike.

Are you staring out the window at the rain instead of training? 

Any fans of professional cycling will know by now that team QuickStep will be riding on Specialized bikes for 2007 and it seems that Tom Boonen and the rest of the QuickStep team are coming to realise what we've know at Lifecycle for quite some time, that "Specialized bikes are simply the best". Recently Belgian newspaper Gazeta van Antwerpen quoted Boonen as saying "My new bikes are really jewels. You would think, at this level, there is no difference anymore, but the new Specialized bikes that I have received are simply the best." This is praise indeed from the big Belgian who will be riding the same Tarmac SL frame for the 2007 season that you can buy at Lifecycle.

The biggest news at Lifecycle since Andrew lowered the mini truck is the arrival of the new SRAM Force 10 speed road groupset.

The much anticipated groupset from the American component manufacturer is no third rate option behind Dura-Ace and Record but a genuine attempt to beat the big names at their own game.

 
Photo ©: James Huang/Cyclingnews

We have Livestrong bands in the store right now. We bought a whole lot from the Lance Armstrong Foundation store so they are genuine and support the LAF. We sell these for $5.00 with all profit going to Canteen a charity to help teenagers with cancer. We also post these interstate for the cost of postage. Call or email for details.

Last night we saw the first of the new Specialized Tarmac bikes. The new Gerolsteiner replica is going to be popular for sure. With the full 105 10 speed groupset Mavic Aksiom race wheelset and new colour coded Toupe seat.

We are lucky enough to have one in store right now, come on in and see it in the flesh.