Hincapie Sportswear wants to send out a big “Congratulations” to some very special riders from the NorCal High School MTB League.  Two of their athletes were selected to participate in the MTB World Championships!  They are racing this week in Canada in their Hincapie jerseys.  Sofia will have a very special jersey to wear for the competition.

Sofia Hamilton and Hincapie Sales Rep, Patti Craves are all smiles for her trip to the Worlds.

Sofia Hamilton, riding for Drake High School, earned a silver medal at the 2010 MTB National Championships.  We were able to make a special red, white and blue jersey for her for the competition.  She was very surprised when presented with the jersey at a fundraiser in her honor.

Sofia receives her special Hincapie red, white and blue Drake High School Jersey.

“My first race was a miserable athletic experience [apparently in her first race her chain fell off and she didn’t know how to put it back on her bike], but I have come a long way since then as I kept doing better and better in my races,” she said.  She is hoping to get into Stanford to continue her education…and bicycle racing.

Sofia with some of her biggest supporters.

Will Curtis, graduated San Rafael High School this year and won the 2010 California State Championship.  He also finished 4th in the US National Championship.

Will Curtis is a man that knows how to win a bike race.

Will said “The high school league is where this all began.  Without NorCal none of this would have been possible.”

Sofia and Will will be joined by Tony Smith, Zach Valdez and Kelsey Anderson at the World Championship Races Sept. 1-5 in Mont Sainte-Anne Canada.  Good luck to you all!

At Hincapie Sportswear, we know that retail store design can play a key role in growing bicycle store business.  This is certainly the case when selling to female cyclists.  Women see space differently than men do, and they often appreciate smart layouts and attractive designs.  When a retailer embraces this, they are often successful at growing sales.  We are proud to share some images from one of our wonderful Hincapie customers, Studio Velo.

Studio Velo’s Tammy Scott and her coworkers have not just transformed a part of their Northern California store into a beautiful and inviting retail space.  They have created the Studio Velo Women’s Boutique.  I think you will agree that Studio Velo Women is one of the finest examples of a women’s specific retail space we’ve seen.

Check out these photos of the store, and if you’re in the area, stop by and see them at:
247 Shoreline Hwy
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Lots of women's specific products beautifully displayed.

Clean layouts and lots of Hincapie apparel.

You see Boys, those little pillows can do more than just keep your reheated spaghetti from burning your lap.

Mannequins give customers a better appreciation for what garments will look like when they try them on.

Lots of sizes and colors to choose from.

The new Hincapie T1 Triathlon apparel is on display.

SVWoman branding reminds you where you are.

Lots of natural light helps the space feel bright and cheery.

We say well done Studio Velo Women.

The GHS USA Cycling Professional Championships is just around the corner, Sep 18-19, 2010.  As you’re making your weekend plans to join us in Greenville, please consider attending PedalPop.  PedalPop will happen on Saturday, September 18, 2010 @ 7pm at the Warehouse Theater in downtown Greenville. Food will be catered by Lazy Goat.

This event is part of the official US Pro weekend activities, so come out and join the fun.  You could take home some really cool cycling artwork or score a brand new custom painted Trek.  What is PedalPop?  Glad you asked.  Details are on www.PedalPop.com:

Part art show, part fundraiser, part party: PedalPop is designed to raise awareness of the fun and healthy benefits of cycling.

Artists from across the country have created images inspired by cycling and will have a limited edition of 20 prints of each image available for sale.

Proceeds to benefit GlobalBikes’ efforts in providing bicycles to caregivers in developing nations and Team Type 1’s efforts to raise awareness of healthy nutrition and exercise to combat diabetes in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Tickets are $75 per person in advance, $100 at the door. Space is limited and early ticket purchase is encouraged. Food, beer and wine is included.$25 of each ticket is redeemable towards the purchase of a print.

For information about the event, charities and presenting artists, please explore the website or call (864)704.6474.

The GHS USA Cycling Professional Championships are coming back to Greenville on September 18-19, 2010.  They will crown a US Pro Time Trial Champion and a US Pro Road Race Champion that weekend.  I just found out that the professionals are not the only ones racing their bikes downtown on Sep 19.  The 2010 Duke Energy Kids Races will be held in downtown Greenville during the US Pro Road Race Championships.  Races are open to kids 3-6, 7-9 and 10-12.  Kids racing is free, so blow up the tires, shine up that helmet and come downtown on Sep 19 for some bike racing fun.  There might even be some Hincapie Sportswear children participating.

We got some nice news from one of our new customers today and we thought we would share.  From their website:

A few of the girls of Scenic City Velo’s, Mystique Cycling Team set out on Saturday morning to pre-ride the River Gorge road race course. The 40 mile route provides several quad crushing climbs ending with the grand finale ascent of Raccoon Mountain. Sally Chu, Jenny DeLong & Robyn Wilham pushed their limits in the blistering heat.

Scenic City Velo's Mystique Cycling Team looking good in their Hincapie Velocity kits.

Blessed with the company of their team mentor & coach, Steve Carpenter, the president of their new club SCV, Steve Strain and their title sponsor Andy Baggenstoss of Cumberland Bail Bonds, as well as a few other SCV members, the team discussed strategy and technique during the ride. The new Hincapie Velocity kits provided enduring comfort through all the saddle time and they look amazing! We were provided these kits to wear until our "official" kits arrive. We are looking forward to racing next weekend's Oak Ridge Omnium together with our new team mates.

We knew it was a great idea from the very first discussion.  We all knew it would bring more people outdoors.  We knew they would use it and businesses would thrive along it.  We knew it would become a popular recreation hotspot in the upstate.  The Hincapie Sportswear crew has been using it for months on lunch rides and on the weekends.  The “IT” that I’m referring to is the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail.

In just a few short months, the swamp rabbit trail has become a popular destination for thousands of people in the Upstate.  When we first started hearing conversations about converting the old CSX rail line into a multi-use trail, we knew it was a great idea.  Well, at least the people looking at the economic and demographic numbers knew this.  Every study you read about rail/trail conversions ends with greater community involvement, higher property values along the trail and increased business development in areas accessible to the trail.  I’ve seen some business development on the trail and I stopped to patronize one of them this week.

Alley Kat’s Waterin’ Hole is a hand painted lemonade stand (that sells more than just lemonade) located about half way between Sulphur Springs Rd. and Watkins Bridge Rd. on the Eastern side of the trail.  The stand is the first business I’ve seen built right on the side of the actual trail.  It wasn’t there when it was a rail line and it is there now that the same corridor hosts swarms of recreational enthusiasts every week.  It started out as a plain wooden lean-to and it’s now been improved into a full on watering hole…ok, not sure what an official watering hole looks like, but this is as good as any.

Sam and I stopped on the way home from a long bike ride to find out the story behind Alley Kat’s.  Turns out Alley Kat’s is the brainchild of a very ambitious 6-year old girl named Madeline and her family.  Madeline’s grandmother was pouring drinks when we stopped.  All proceeds from the drink sales go to the Shriners Hospitals for Children-Greenville, where she’s a patient.  We dropped $5 in the jar and hung out wetting our whistles with some genuine, old-fashioned lemonade.  No kidding, this isn’t the powdered stuff.  This is real lemonade made with real lemons.  I recommend that you stop by for a visit and drink your fill.  At $1/glass, this stuff is the best bargain on the trail.

We wish Madeline, Alley Kat’s and the entire family well in their adventure.  Even if you aren’t thirsty, stop by to say hi.  Even though I missed her, it’s not unusual for the entrepreneur herself to be at the Waterin’ Hole on the weekends.  It will be the best tasting $1 you spent this week.

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We're giving away a Team BMC prize package to one lucky fan.* Every purchase on Hincapie.com is automatically entered to win.

Prize pack includes:

• BMC Team Velocit Jersey, Bibshort and Cap
• Pro Duffel Gear Bag
• Performer Gloves
• Pro Socks

FREE Shipping on orders over $100. Enter the code: TEAMBMC

*Package includes: 1 BMC Jersey, 1 BMC Bibshort, 1 Pro Duffel, 1 Pro Sock, 1 Performer Glove, 1 BMC Cycling Cap. Enter coupon code TEAMBMC at checkout to receive free ground shipping to the contiguous United States on orders over $100, August 11-31, 2010. Participants will receive one entry per order shipped during the contest period. One winner will be drawn at random on September 7, 2010 from all valid entries. Winner will be notified via email. No purchase necessary. To order without purchase, please mail a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email to "Join the Team" 45 Pete Hollis Blvd., Greenville, SC 29601

Like many of you, I like to promote the sport of cycling.  I get especially enthusiastic about helping young people discover the sport.  For the past several weeks, I’ve been participating in a program to help some underprivileged kids at the Sterling Recreation Center in Greenville, SC discover cycling.  And, it’s been very rewarding for me and the kids I’m riding with.  Last night, I rode about 15 miles with some of them north to Furman University, around the lake on campus and back to the rec center.

The skinny Michelin Pro's on my BMC ProMachine were a little outgunned by the big hibrid rubber, but we didn't do any off-roading this time.

I was joined by several fellow Greenville Spinners members and a couple mentors from Clemson University’s Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life.  I’m really proud of fellow Spinners members Tim Granger, Jessica McKelder and April Wooten-Glenn for their dedication to the program.  They have attended more of the rides than I have, and they are really making a fantastic effort to spend time with these enthusiastic new pedalers.

David Taylor is the man with the passion to make this all happen.  He hooked up with Furman Diversity Leadership Institute, St. Francis Hospital, The Great Escape and the Greenville Spinners to outfit the kids with all they need to start exploring the world from the saddle.  The bikes and helmets are stored at the Sterling Recreation Center to make it easy for the kids to keep everything in one place.  They have been riding at least once a week and they all seem to be enjoying their adventures.  The Swamp Rabbit Trail has been a great way to show them the world of cycling without having to deal with the hazards of riding with the cars on the road.  Overall, the program has been a huge success and David and the kids couldn’t be more pleased.

The totally pro Hincapie Devo Team Giro, Oakley, Northwave, Hincapie Sportswear outfit is a hit with some of the newbies. They aspire to "upgrade."

We had a nice adventure last night and it was the first time that many of the kids had seen the lake at Furman University.  Experiences like that are very memorable for the participant and for the mentor.  I hope you will take a little time out of your busy schedule this month to help someone experience a new adventure.  These are positive memories these kids will take with them wherever they pedal in life.  I guarantee that you will take them with you as well.

The USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships are being contested in Kentucky this week and there are some strong riders from South Carolina competing this year.  Tuesday was the Time Trial and some of our local ladies took home some hardware.

Congratulations to Catherine James and Nicole Johnson for placing 2nd and 3rd respectively in the women’s 35-39 TT.  The Kenda Team was well represented on the podium.  Nice job ladies!

Congrats also to local fast woman Giselle Weekes who took the silver in the women’s 45-49 TT, giving Team Headstrong their first medal at Masters Nats.  We knew she was going to be strong in KY, because she’s been attacking us at our Tuesday Night World Championships for weeks.  Well done, Giselle!

Giselle looks good on that podium in her Headstong Hincapie Velocity kit.

We just received the announcement for the Friday Night Fights in Gaffney, SC tonight.  Better late than never, right?  This event harkens to the tradition of the kermis races in Belgium, where the town is an integral part of the festival of speed.  (It's bike racing, people, not boxing...ha ha.)  That Belgian tradition also calls for beer, so I’m sure there will be ample opportunity for your fan club to party on while you fight for the cash and prizes.  Promoter, Bruce Humphries says it’s a flat, fast, wide open course, so bring your legs.  Registration opens at 5pm and the first race goes off at 6pm.

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