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August 09, 2007

Serotta Introduces Military Purchase Program
New Program Is Designed to Benefit US Soldiers and Support US Economy

(Saratoga Springs, NY) -- In honor of the commitment and sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform, Serotta Competition Bicycles is pleased to announce a new Military Purchase Program. Starting in August 2007, any active-duty member of the US Military, including active members of the Reserves and National Guard, will be able to take advantage of exceptional preferential pricing on any stock or custom Serotta frameset purchased through a participating Serotta dealer.

The new program is the brainchild of Russ Howe, Serotta's new Chief Operating Officer, who was an active duty Army officer from 1987 to 1996 and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the NY National Guard. Howe came on board eager to extend a special sales offer to military personnel. His aggressive new program offers an across the board discount that can range as high as $800 on a single frame and fork.

"Serotta is the only bicycle company I know of that is absolutely committed to manufacturing bicycles in the United States while the industry trend is to outsource to overseas vendors," says Howe. "It just makes sense that cyclists in our armed forces should ride bikes made by a company with that kind of commitment to the US economy, especially when they are also the best bicycles in the world."

Every Serotta Bicycle is built by hand in the company's Saratoga Springs, New York factory, and carbon fiber used in Serotta bikes is manufactured in its Poway, California facility. With roots that go back to the 7-Eleven Team, Serotta's unique holistic approach to customization, design and fit have earned its bicycles a reputation for speed, power, performance and a distinctively responsive Serotta ride.

For details about the program, frame pricing and a list of approved Serotta retailers please visit www.serotta.com/military.html or contact us directly at 518-584-1221.

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July 31, 2007

Congratulations to Daisy Locke (age 13) an honorary member of The Serotta Forumites Team in this years Pan-Mass Challenge. Daisy is shown receiving her official team jersey from team captain, and Serotta Owner's Club member Bruce Kapsten. Daisy is a cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 1 and cancer free since age 3. She loves her bike and loves the PMC and its riders.

So far, the 14 member team has raised over $50,000 for this year's event which supports cancer research at The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. For more about the team go to the PMC web site at www.pmc.org and search the rider profiles using the last name "Forumites".

On August 4 and 5, 2007, the annual Pan-Mass Challenge will host 4,800 cyclists, traveling nine routes of between 50 and 192 miles over one or two days, through 46 scenic Massachusetts towns. The fundraising event will raise $27 million this year for cancer research.

July 30, 2007

Research and development is an ongoing activity at Serotta, and not just in a lab setting. As part of our R&D efforts, we work with the athletes we sponsor, many of whom are men and women with the same hopes, dreams and goals as the customers who walk through your door on a daily basis.

MEET Paul Fronhofer

Paul Fronhofer came to our attention several years ago through Steve Fairchild, who was impressed by Paul's performance on a tri-bike during a fast group ride. Steve kept up with Paul's progress as an Xterra athlete and triathlete and watched him develop into an Ironman contender.

Paul is 6' and weighs 173 pounds. He's 28 years old, married and is a machinist with his own business. He has been training and competing in Ironman competitions for seven years, with the goal to someday qualify for Kona.

Last Sunday at Lake Placid, he made it.

"My CXII had everything to do with me qualifying for Kona. The bike actually saved my day."

Sunday, July 22 at the Lake Placid Ironman was not an ideal day for Paul. The swim started off in rough waters for the 113 participants in the men's 25 to 29 age category. Paul struggled a bit, emerging from the water at 390th overall.

But he climbed onto his CXII with confidence. Just a few weeks earlier, Paul had ridden the course on the brand new CXII and completed the first loop seven minutes faster than his previous best time. Paul gives credit for this time gain to the bike and changes in his position made by Ian Buchanan of Fit Werx. These include a switch from 180mm to 177.5mm cranks.

On Sunday, Paul was able to immediately settle into a rhythm, passing hundreds of riders through the first 15 miles of rolling hills. Three or four other competitors stayed with him until he hit the flat section of road. At that point, he was gone.

During the second loop of the course, however, problems began. The wind picked up, and eating, which is critical during such a long race, became difficult. "I was so thankful that I could just settle in comfortably on the bike and keep my speed up," says Paul. "Even while battling stomach problems, my back was stable and my shoulders and arms stayed relaxed. I was able to stay in the aero position for the entire 112 miles."

When he got off the bike, Paul had moved from 390th to 8th overall -- and he had legs for the run. "There is no comparison between how I used to feel getting off my bike and how I feel getting off the CXII. At Lake Placid, my legs never felt better."

Unfortunately for Paul, the run did not go as well as the ride. His stomach problems intensified and several times during the marathon he stopped to be sick on the side of the road. He pushed on, but his inability to properly digest food for much of the day kept him from reaching his goal of breaking the 10-hour barrier.

"The CXII is what got me to Kona. At the end of the run, I was just a few minutes away from not qualifying. If it weren't for the bike, I wouldn't have made it. Big thanks to Serotta, Steve and Ian."

Here is what else Paul has to say about the CXII:
"The CXII is stiff and responsive in and out of the saddle, and the carbon rear helps make the bike compliant. I'm actually able to feel my power transfer through the bike and stay comfortable from mile one to mile one-twelve."

"I was very impressed with how well this bike climbs, even while tucked in the aero position."

"My other bike? There's no comparison."

Why should your triathletes settle for anything less? A fully custom, fully aero, fully fast CXII frame is just $1895.

Click here for more on the CXII.

July 26, 2007

Congratulations to the Racers on our Staff
In addition to building the best bikes in the world, several of our staff members also compete and ride them to local and regional race victories. Congratulations to all the winners on the Serotta staff.

Scott Paine, CNC Shop: MTB Masters 40+ Expert Class. Scott rides a TiMax.
8th place in Putney West Hill
5th Place in the Dark Horse Gallup
Placed 19th over all in USA Mountain Bike National Championships, Mount Snow, VT
5th place at Pats Peak XC Challenge

Jason Clark, Director of Research and Development:
MTB Masters 35+ Sport Class. Jason rides a TiMax.
1st place in Putney West Hill
1st place in Dark House Gallup
Jason also set the fastest over all race time of the day for all of the Sport Classes... in both races!

James Morrison, Western US Regional Business Manager:
Road Cat 4. James rides an HSG IT.
1st overall at Housatonic Hills Road Race
1st in the Owasco Road Stage
4th Overall Owasco Road Race
1st in New York State Road Race Championship
1st overall in the Central New York Cup

Stephen Fairchild, Eastern US Regional/International Business Manager:
Semi retired Pro 1-2, Old-guy Class. Steve rides a MeiVici.
Beat his 4-year-old son around the block last week (way to go Steve!)

May 25, 2007

HSG is taking racers like you and me to victory
Serotta dealers don't just sell bikes, many are involved in racing and/or sponsoring teams that are active in the local, regional and national race scene. This year, the bike of choice for many racers is the HSG. The name means High Speed Geometry, and on the road, the HSG is proving that High Speed is what it's all about. In the current issue of Road Bike Action Magazine, Greg Pelican of Bethel Cycles in Connecticut named the HSG at one of "the hottest items" at his shop.

Shops from around the country, and across the pond, are reporting that the HSG is fast, responsive and performs even better than expected.

CycleFit, London reports: At Crawley Town Centre on Sunday evening, our Man Mr. Spence showed his superior bike-handling skills. Must be his Serotta HSG Carbon! 4th in a four-up sprint -- Warrick gambled everything for the win and led out from the last corner. This time they were able to come around -- but next time who knows? Warrick is the only Championship contender to ride as a 'lone assassin'. We think he secretly quite likes that.
Cycle Sports, Oakland, CA, the team shop for the ValueAct Capital team, reports: The women of ValueAct Capital dominated May's Cat's Hill Classic in Los Gatos from the gun. The race combines the skills of a criterium along with the fitness and power required for the grueling 23 percent climb every lap. In a three woman breakaway, Taitt Sato claimed the Queen of the Mountain points. For more about the team, click here
Bethel Cycle, Bethel, CT reports: Since his win at Battenkill Roubaix, Eric Pearce and his HSG/IT have won two more Northeast regional races in Sturbridge and Sunapee. "This bike has been an integral part of a great race season for me," says Eric. "At every race, people ask me about the bike, and everyone knows the Serotta name." Visit your local Serotta dealer and ride one, you'll see! And, with Cross season just around the corner, ask your dealer when to expect HSG Cross to be in stock.

July 23, 2007

Serotta Expands Its Management Team
Russ Howe Joins the Saratoga Springs Staff As COO

It is with great pleasure that Serotta announced the July 1 addition of Russ Howe to their Saratoga Springs staff as Chief Operating Officer. For more than 35 years, Serotta Competition Bicycles has been dedicated to fulfilling its vision to build the best bicycle in the world. In recent years, that vision has led the company to buck industry trends by choosing vertical integration rather than outsourcing to overseas manufacturers. With vertical integration has come the need to add new levels of management expertise and the recent creation of the COO position now filled by Howe.

Howe is rejoining Serotta after eight years with GE Energy in Schenectady, NY. As Serotta's Regional Sales Manager in 1998 and 1999, Howe spearheaded a dramatic increase in the company's Western US sales. In 2000, he moved on to GE Energy for an opportunity to further develop his management expertise. There, Howe advanced through Six Sigma certification to that of "Black Belt." In his last position at GE, Howe was responsible for mentoring 35 employees in improving processes and reducing costs and waste through the use of Six Sigma tools.

Ben Serotta was elated when Howe responded to Serotta's search for a Chief Operating Officer this spring. "We are a product-driven company that focuses on unparalleled quality," says Ben Serotta. "As the bike industry has grown in complexity, building the best bikes has moved well beyond brazed and lugged steel frames. We are counting on Russ' intimate knowledge of the Serotta brand coupled with his process management experience to help us maintain our cutting edge as our production needs grow."

Focused on what Ben Serotta calls a "maniacal obsession with quality," Serotta bicycles are still made by hand in the Saratoga Springs, NY factory. A part of its thrust toward vertical integration, the company also manufactures all dropouts and other small parts, swages titanium tubing and manufacturers its own carbon fiber in its Saratoga Springs and Poway, CA facilities.

"I couldn't ask for a better opportunity than to take my experience at GE and apply it to a product and company I am passionate about," says Howe. "Serottas are the best riding bike in the world, made by the finest craftspeople in the industry. I feel fortunate to once again be part of this team as Serotta further expands its capacities."

Howe works in the company's Saratoga Springs office. He resides with his wife Allison, eight-year-old Will and six-year-old Laura in Ballston Spa, NY. Originally from New Jersey, Howe is a graduate of the University of Maryland with an MBA from St. Martin's College. In active duty from 1987 to 1996, he served as a Green Beret in the United States Army, and for the last year, he has served as a Battalion Commander for the New York National Guard. At 15, Howe's love of cycling took him to Junior Nationals on the track. He later advanced to a Cat 2 on the road. While he has competed in mountain bike, track and road competition, his current interest is riding simply for the love of the sport. You may contact Russ at russ@serotta.com.

 

July 25, 2007 HSG IT "fierce and fast race bike..." Bicycling Magazine [ watch the video here ] Please note: The price quoted on the video is retail for FRAME ONLY, and does not include fork.

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July 13, 2007 Bicycling Magazine calls the HSG "a machine for young, fast riders"... [ Read more ]

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July 11, 2007 Want Lance Armstrong's bike? How about one that's even better, and made exclusively for you... Read "Dream Bikes" as featured in Conde Nast's Portfolio... [ Read here ]

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Serottas are a consistent winner in Bicycling Magazine's Editor's Choice Awards. Congratulations to the Fierte, Ottrott and MeiVici Serotta has been a winner or finalist in the four years that Bicycling Magazine has given Editors' Choice Awards in specific categories. This year, the Fierte is the big winner in the Best Plush Bike category. In the words of Bicycling's Marketing Director Zach Grice, "Serotta has quite a resume!" 2004: Serotta Ottrott winner in "Best Dream Road Bike" 2005: Serotta Ottrott ST finalist in "Best Dream Road Bike" 2006: Serotta MeiVici finalist in "Best Dream Road Bike" 2007: Serotta Fierte winner in "Best Plush Road Bike" 2007: Serotta MeiVici finalist in "Best Dream Road Bike"

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April 2, 2007 The MeiVici is named "The Best Ride of Your Life" and an American-made carbon-fiber masterpiece by Best Life Magazine. "After building the bike ridden by the first American to win a stage in the Tour de France (Davis Phinney in 1986), Ben Serotta could have gone mass market. Instead, he continued to craft a limited number of frames by hand". [ read article here ]

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March 30, 2007 Ben Serotta "Wows" London. "Talking to Ben Serotta you get the strong impression that this is a man very much at ease with his company whilst ever looking forward..." Read what else the London Press has to say about a reception and talk organized by CycleFit.co.uk at the gorgeous Covent Garden, London. [ read article here] London Cyclesport.com

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January 25, 2007 e First Annual Cycling Science Symposium was a smash success!! Download and read the great write ups in the following publications: Velonews (download .doc) Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN)(download .doc) Bicycling (download .doc) The Times Union (download .doc) Thanks to all who attended and participated.

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November 2, 2006

On January 1, 2007, the Poway, CA facility operated by Utah based MQC will become a part of NY based Serotta Competition Bicycles.

The transition is the result of months of discussions between the collective management teams of MQC and Serotta. Ben Serotta and Dean Gestal the respective CEO's of the firms stated, "Our companies have enjoyed an excellent working partnership of more than five years. At the core of the relationship has been our honest and open dialog, in which we've shared some of our long range strategic plans and concerns with each other."

Serotta's annexation of the Poway facility stems directly from these talks as Serotta sought to increase its potency in composites while MQC continues to both strengthen and streamline its operations by concentrating efforts on its two main facilities in Salt Lake, UT and Hangzhou, China.

As part of the agreement, Serotta will retain employment of the small dedicated Poway staff headed by lead engineer Mike Lopez. Under the agreement, Lopez, a composites industry guru, will continue to provide engineering and consulting services to MQC and its customers on an 'on-call' basis. According to Lopez, "this coordinated transition is a win, win, win result for all parties involved."

About Serotta Competition Bicycles
Serotta Competition Bicycles an American company based in Saratoga Springs, NY, has been leading the world in custom bicycle design and handcrafted manufacturing since 1972.

Over the past two years, Serotta has bucked global trends by bringing a growing number of operations to in-house status and has been seeking the right path to do the same in composites. "We're fanatical about controlling our own destiny, says Founder Ben Serotta, "and for us, the formula for success includes controlling as much of the R&D and manufacturing processes as possible so we're absolutely thrilled to be adding the composites 'A' Team to the Serotta roster.

About MacLean Quality Composites
MacLean Quality Composites has successfully defied industry preconceptions about how materials can be implemented in high performance sports and industrial applications. By leveraging ingenuity and know-how, MacLean Quality Composites is able to design and manufacture best in class carbon fiber products. This unique capacity to shape materials technology is the essential ingredient in some of the most sought-after frames, forks, wheel sets, and components in the cycling industry, including Trek, Specialized, Serotta, Seven Cycles, Independent Fabrication and, of course, Reynolds' own brand of performance equipment. For more information about MacLean Quality Composites visit www.macqc.com or for information on Reynolds products visit www.reynoldscycling.com.

January 19, 2006
Ray Browning named as Director of Cycling Sciences for Serotta Competition Bicycles

(Saratoga Springs, NY) -- Serotta Competition Bicycles is pleased to announce Ray Browning, Ph.D. has been named the Director of Cycling Sciences for the company. In creating the new position, Serotta has underscored its commitment to maintaining a scientific basis for its expanding range of educational programs and broadening product line.

"My goal is to continue to expand and integrate Serotta's scientific understanding of cycling into optimizing the human-bicycle interaction," said Dr. Browning. "To accomplish this goal, I plan to work with individuals from both the scientific community and the bicycling industry to continue to develop the Serotta School curriculum and class offerings."

December 12, 2005

Serotta Takes Proactive Stance on Stem Fatigue

Serotta Competition Bicycles has issued a proactive structural alert regarding its STS titanium stems. Effective immediately, Serotta Competition Bicycles urges all owners of Serotta Titanium Stems to conduct an inspection of the stem welds for any signs of hairline cracks. In addition, owners are asked to conduct a bending and twisting test to check for any unusual cracking or creaking sounds. If there is any evidence of cracks or creaking, the user is advised to discontinue the use of the stem immediately.

Serotta reports that only a few of thousands of the stems which were produced between 1995 and 1998 have been returned showing signs of fatigue failure, but as a precautionary measure, the company is issuing this warning. Any customers who would like to return their stem to Serotta for inspection are welcome to do so by contacting the company and obtaining an RA (return authorization) number.

It is not clear why these three samples have fatigued, but there are many variables that effect fatigue life including rider weight, whether or not maximum insertion depth was adhered to, handlebar selection, clamp/bar interface, bolt torque and use conditions. These in fact are conditions that affect the long term strength and durability of all stems in the market place, welded or forged.

As with all Serotta products, we conducted periodic fatigue testing on our stems which showed them to be very durable, in fact, tests showed a fatigue life cycle well beyond most aluminum stems.
Inspection procedures are as follows:

• The bending test should be performed while standing over the bike, bracing the top tube or saddle and pushing down and pulling up evenly on both sides of the bar.
• The twisting test should be conducted similarly (weight on top tube or saddle) while pulling up on one side of the handle bar while pushing down on the other and repeating.
• Visual inspection should be conducted by thoroughly cleaning all weld/joint sights and examining the entire joint area for any signs of cracking. A small reading glass is recommended to aid in this procedure.
  

Serotta recommends that all cyclists conduct visual inspections of their equipment (any model, any brand) on a regular basis- at least once every 500 miles, or immediately after any crash. Think of yourself as a pilot.

RA Procedure:
Send an email to Kelly Bedford, Kelly@serotta.com.
Please provide: Name, address, contact information, stem model, specifications, date of purchase, place of purchase.

Media Inquiries:
Please send email to Kathy Wren, kathy@shoreypr.com

August 5, 2004

Pez Cycling News Reviews Serotta Custom Fit

Online cycling magazine Pez Cycling News recently published and article reviewing the Serotta fit system. Pez's technical editor, Charles Manantan, dropped in on Bicycle Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona for a personalized custom fitting session. Charles was expertly fitted for a new Ottrott ST, which he will be reviewing later this month. The two articles will provide those interested in Serotta fit with an inside view of the entire process from fitting to finished product. To read the full fit article, complete with pictures of the fitting area and size cycle, visit Pez Cycling News.

June 8, 2004

Serotta, Shimano Create Dream Bike for Davis Phinney Foundation Benefit

Serotta Bicycles and Shimano have teamed together to create the ultimate dream bike as a benefit for The Davis Phinney Foundation. Ben Serotta is creating a special edition Ottrott for this event. The Ottrott was recently named Bicycling Magazine's Dream Bike of the Year. The frame is a titanium carbon composite that took six years to develop. The raffle winner will be professionally fit at a participating Serotta dealer and have the dream bike custom built to their specifications.

Shimano will supply a Dura Ace 10 speed kit, including wheels and pedals, to complete the Sunflower Edition Ottrott. After 30 years of development Shimano Dura Ace has become the group of choice for professionals and amateurs around the world. The Dura Ace system is the perfect compliment to the Serotta Ottrott.

The bicycle, valued at $9000, will be raffled as part of the Foundation's first fundraising event, The Sunflower Revolution. The two day event will take place in Cincinnati, and consist of a dinner with live auction and a ride the following day. The dates are Friday and Saturday July 30-31st. The $100 raffle tickets will be sold on the foundation's website, through the mail, and at The Sunflower Revolution event. There will be a limit of five hundred tickets sold. Davis Phinney will draw the winning ticket after the Sunflower Ride an Saturday July 31, 2004. Details on the bike and the raffle are online at: www.davisphinneyfoundation.com/dreambike.htm

The Davis Phinney Foundation is dedicated to supporting research aimed at understanding, preventing, and treating Parkinson's disease. The Foundation also seeks to find ways to improve the lives of individuals challenged by the disease. The Foundation will focus its efforts on raising funds that will be distributed as grants to laboratory and clinical research programs that are investigating the causes of Parkinson's disease and new, potentially curative therapies for Parkinson's patients.

Davis Phinney, 44, is credited as the winningest cyclist in U.S. history with over 300 National and International victories. In 2000, after exhaustive medical testing, Davis was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease. He was 40 years old. In 1986, Davis was the first American ever to win a road stage in the Tour de France. In addition, Davis's cycling career highlights include an Olympic Bronze Medal (1984), Pan-Am Games Gold Medal (1983), four National Championship titles, including the coveted US PRO title in 1991. After retiring from racing in 1993, Davis continued using his expertise and outgoing personality as a television commentator for NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, and OLN.

More than one million Americans, cyclist Phinney among them, live with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder involving the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells deep within the brain. Five percent of patients are 40 years old or younger when they show initial symptoms of the disease. There is no cure for Parkinson's at this time, and scientists do not yet know how to slow or halt the progression of this disease of motion, which gradually robs patients of their ability to move and speak.

"The Davis Phinney Foundation is more than just another charity, it's an opportunity to step out of your daily life, and to leap into fund-raising with a passionate purpose. We invite you to embrace a worthy cause and to, in most cases, ride your bike perhaps with newfound joy & appreciation." -Connie Carpenter

June 7, 2004

Congratulations to Ron Keifel on his recent induction to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame!

Ron, a co-owner/manager of Wheat Ridge Cyclery joined an elite list of individuals whose contributions to cycling have built the legacy of the sport. His storied racing career (7-Eleven, Motorola, Coors Light), much of which was spent aboard frames built by Serotta, and dedication to the development of the sport have earned him the respect and reverence becoming a Hall-of-Famer. It's about time!

Wheat Ridge has long been at the top of our dealer list, known for its exceptional depth of service expertise and commitment to excellence. Ron's gentle, confident and gracious demeanor belies his storied racing career. WRC customers will find Ron as anxious to help the customer needing minor service on a low end street model as he is to help someone select their next high-end dream machine...speaking of dream machines, Ron's also one of the most highly skilled and experienced bicycle fitters in the country.

So the next time you're in Denver, drop in at Wheat Ridge, say congrats to Ron, set up a fitting appointment and ask to have a look at his Ottrott ST.