Here at Hincapie, offseason is the time when the talk shifts from race and training schedules to a a decidedly more relaxed and favorite topic: wine. (You didn’t think that riding was all we talked about, did you?)

We’re really excited about a new wine company called Y+B Wines. They’re importing some great organic wines and building their company in on a sustainable model that feels good to support. (Yellow + Blue = Green, get it?)

George enjoying a glass of Y+B's 2009 Monastrell from Spain

Right now, Y+B is offering a Malbec and a Torrontes from Argentina, a Spanish Rosé and a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. All are delicious, organic and sourced from vineyards that use only traditional, natural winemaking processes.

The first thing you notice about Y+B is the bottle, or lack of it. Y+B uses a package called a Tetra Pak, which you’ve probably seen them holding other products in organic grocery stores. The Tetra Pak saves considerable weight over a conventional glass bottle, as Y+B points out:

Consider: A case of wine in glass weighs 40 pounds and holds 9 liters of wine — close to 50% wine and 50% packaging. A case of Yellow+Blue weighs 26 pounds and holds 12 liters of certified organic wine. That’s 93% wine and 7% packaging.

The environmentally friendly Tetra Pak packaging

Y+B furthers this smart packaging model by transporting the wine from Spain and South America in insulated steel containers and doing the packaging here in the States.

All these good practices wouldn’t mean much if the wine wasn’t good. Here. Too, Y+B makes the grade. In fact, award-winning wine blogger Dr. Tyler Colman called their 2007 Malbec “a crazy-good value.”

Visit their site to find a dealer and learn more. In the meantime, here’s a video intro to the company.

Next year’s training schedule will be here before you know it. Now’s the time to relax and dream big about next year’s race schedule, with a glass of Y+B.

Cyclocross is going off in the US and we couldn’t be happier about that.

We love racing here at Hincapie and ‘cross epitomizes everything that inspires us as a company. It takes serious resolve, an ability to ignore pain and charge when your tired, muddy body and bike would love to stop and it absolutely doesn’t take itself too seriously. What other sport features top-level pros and a citizen class with people racing in costume all on the same day? In the rain? The passion of cross is a great addition to the US cycling scene.

For a second consecutive year, Hincapie Sportswear is joining forces with the Cyclocrossracing.com p/b Blue Competition Cycles, a team that features serious pros, but also has a Grassroots Team that’s open to any category racer. We love that - it’s how you build the sport.

The 2011/12 team roster is deep. Last season, the team racked up wins and top ten finishes, including a 7th overall in the USGP Series, top tens at the US Cyclocross Nationals (Elite), U23 and Single Speed, and Collegiate Nationals. These guys are good.

So, watch for the team with the big, red CX on their Hincapie kits and give your cowbell an extra ring for the team this season.

Pity the common arm, leg and knee warmer.

Warmers bring to mind the old adage about offensive linemen in football - you only notice them when they screw up. And the arm/leg/knee warmer equivalent of failing to pick up a blitzing linebacker is slipping. Nothing is more annoying than constantly tugging at droopy warmers and trying to tuck it back under your sleeve or the hem of your shorts. And, of course, slave-to-fashion riders (you know who you are) are appalled by the sight of flesh between hem and warmer.*

Here at Hincapie, we’ve made a simple design breakthrough that will make our Arenberg warmers your go-to, every-time, no-you-can’t-borrow-them pair. Our Slip-Not design places soft gripper elastic on both sides of the top opening, which means that the warmers stay in place by keeping contact with both body and outer garment. A small improvement with a huge effect.

The double sided Slip-Not™ gripper.

The BodE Thermal Loft™ fabric is cozy, fleece lined and won’t get saggy and baggy. The Hincapie logo is reflective for visibility. Arm, knee and leg warmers are available in solid black, white, or red. An excellent gift for your favorite cyclist, too.

Everyone fawns over jerseys, jackets, bibs, helmets and shoes, but do you know anyone who really, really loves their warmers? We do.

*We make an exception to the no-visible-skin rule: George tells us that he sometimes bunches his arm warmers around his elbow when racing, to provide a bit of cushion if he goes down. And around here, when it comes to George and pro cycling, what he says goes.

While it may seem like it was summer just a few weeks ago, temps here in Greenville, SC have plunged to a sub-Arctic (for us) 58 degrees, which means that it’s time to talk about base layers.

Here at Hincapie, we make base layers in every configuration: sleeveless, short-sleeve and long. We make lightweight recycled polyester base layers, but our real favorites are the ones we make from superfine MAPP merino wool.

If wool makes you think “itchy”, forget it. Merino wool’s naturally long strands and fine micron count (that’s wooly talk for thickness) eliminates the itch. Merino wool feels great against your skin. Wool actually outperforms synthetic fiber in moving moisture away from the body and they don’t get cold and clammy when a big effort gets you sweating hard. Our merino base layers have a ergonomically fitted cut, gusseted side panels and flat-lock seams. There’s nothing as comfortable for a long day in cold and changeable temps.

Need more?

1. Merino wool’s bacteria resistance suppresses the BO that plagues your synthetic base layers and jerseys. This means your merino base layer is good for several rides before it needs a washing.
2. Merino wool is a completely natural, renewable resource
3. If you’re multi-sport, you’ll love these base layers for running, skiing, or whatever gets you outside.

So, if you’re looking to extend your riding season in comfort, check out the original performance fabric - New Zealand merino wool.

Men's Merino Wool Base Layer

Women's Merino Wool Base Layer

Interbike 2011 was a great show for business, as well as a lot of fun.

One of our favorite moments occurred on the second day, when Hincapie Sportswear hosted a wine party in the booth with our friends from Y+B Wines, the organic winemakers.

The booth was packed with dealers and industry friends, when Jock Boyer and Kimberly Coats stooped in with two of their riders from Team Rwanda Cycling, who were there in conjunction with Ritchey. Jock and Kimberly have done an amazing job building a race program and developing talent in Rwanda, which is still recovering for years of tribal civil war. Philip Gourevitch wrote a fantastic piece in The New Yorker about the team in July.

The Team Rwanda riders were psyched to meet George. They were floored to learn that he's ridden 16 Tours de France. George signed both of their team jerseys and the riders returned the favor by presenting him with autograph cards of their own. Jock took this picture with his iPhone. We love that the rider on the left is on his tiptoes!