Van Dessel Cycles to Serve Gin & Trombones this Cyclocross Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 28, 2005

DOVER, N.J. (July 28, 2005) Borrowing a bit from Belgium’s zeal for cyclocross, this August Van Dessel Cycles will introduce its Gin & Trombones cyclocross bike--right on time for ‘cross season.  The name Gin & Trombones is meant to capture the fervor of a typical Belgian ‘cross race where horn-playing fans line the course and tilt back glasses of jenever (gin in those parts) each time a swarm of racers comes dashing by.

The new bike, designed by Van Dessel’s Edwin Bull in collaboration with New England ‘cross mainstay, Adam Myerson, pairs extra-light reinforced 7005 aluminum with carbon to create a bike that subscribes to the “light, strong” credo demanded of today’s ‘cross bikes. Carbon seat stays and a carbon cyclocross fork compliment the aluminum frame to tip the scale at 1500 grams (60 cm. frame). Ritchey cranks and seatpost, Cane Creek headset and wheels, Shimano bottom bracket and Van Dessel’s signature saddle add to the bike’s attractive pedigree. Consumers can choose from three components options varying in price from Dura Ace, Ultegra and 105, which bring the cost of a complete Gin & Trombones to $2799, $2249 and $1899 respectively. Frame, fork and headset are available for $749.

“I wanted to make a true ‘cross racing bike,” said Bull. “The bikes we design are fashioned more like European pro racing bikes. Adam helped quite a bit with the geometry, like what it should have and what it shouldn’t have, which translated into a well thought-out race bike."

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Cyclocross got its start in Europe in the early 1900s as a means for road racers to maintain their fitness after race season ended in September. Regarded as the “steeplechase” of bike racing, ‘cross samples elements of other races but the sum of all parts equals a discipline distinctly different from anything else. A 30-60 minute circuit race on a course featuring grass, dirt, asphalt and sometimes sand, mud or snow, plus one or two instances of barriers that force racers to dismount, are standard fare for a ‘cross venue. Racers will finish each lap in five to ten minutes while fans scurry to vantage points around the course’s interior. While ‘cross in the U.S. continues to evolve out of a low profile, its cultish attraction for both racers and fans helps draw attention from curious, enthusiastic observers out hunting for the new “cool.”

Expect to see the Gin & Trombones at Crank Brothers’ U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross, the Verge New England and Mid Atlantic Cyclocross Series, and regional races throughout North America.

Ride inspired since 2000, Van Dessel Cycles is dedicated to maximizing performance, function, and dependability in every Van Dessel bike.Van Dessel’s 2006 line of bikes debuts at www.vandesselsports.com and features the carbon Solstice road bike, the ultra-light aerodynamic TT/Tri Project WR, the full-suspension Buzz Bomb FS and the single-speed Country Road Bob. Determined to build up the sport from its grassroots, Van Dessel believes in promoting cycling through talented, results-oriented athletes. Look for Van Dessel Cycles beneath teams like Louis Garneau, Colavita New England, UC Davis and the Iraq Junior National Team. To see Van Dessel bikes up close, visit them at Interbike’s OutDoor Demo, at the Interbike Expo, booth #604, or find a dealer at www.vandesselsports.com