Elite Celebrates 150 Years of Italian Unity

Which brings me to the question: are there any 150th anniversary of Italian unity bicycle models?

Elite has chosen the Corsa model to produce this special-edition water bottle, the same water bottle used during races by Elite sponsored teams in the 2011 season.

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Winter Training with ELITE Arion Parabolic Rollers

ELITE, located in Fontaniva (PD), has announced their new Arion parabolic rollers. The Arion frame is made of nylon and fiberglass, the three parabolic roller drums of antistatic polypropylene, and the belt of thermoplastc rubber. Total weight is 7kg (15.4 pounds). The collapsible frame folds in on itself 180° so it is very easy to store when not in use.

Of course, the main attribute of the Elite Arion are the parabolic rollers (85mm wide) which improve safety since they instantaneously bring the bike to the center of the roller and the placement of the rear wheel is more stable. The rollers use high quality bearings that are completely sealed and require zero maintenance. According to ELITE the Arion is extremely stable due to its eight supporting legs even in the most intense workouts.

The Arion can be used with both road bikes and mountain bikes; the front roller can be quickly adjusted into 10 different positions to be compatible with the measurements of whatever bike is used.

For more details visit www.elite-it.com

Disclaimer by me: ride rollers at your own risk; just because they have parabolic rollers does not mean you cannot fall off.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,600 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also an Italian weather widget along the right side and a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.

Elite REALPOWER Trainer Contest

From Elite:
Fontaniva (PD), April 12th, 2010 - "Elite Sior presents a great opportunity for all two wheel fans. From March 1st to July 31st, 2010 when you buy a Sior water bottle cage you could win one Realpower (ed. note: see here) a month. That’s right, Realpower: the latest generation Elite electric trainer that can reach inclines of up to 20%, simulating all the sensations of an actual road race. To participate in the “Realpower every month” sweepstakes, just send proof of purchase of a Sior water bottle cage and a sentence describing what you liked most about this new entry in the Elite collection. Every month a winner will be announced on the website www.elite-it.com, and the Realpower roller will be sent directly to their home courtesy of Elite.

Sior is made in carbon fibre, guaranteeing high performance lightness and sturdiness. Thanks to its titanium structure, the water bottle is attached more firmly and can resist all the differences in terrain during competition. Inserting and extracting the water bottle becomes a simple operation, quick and safe, even during the most intense moments of a race. These enviable traits have made Sior the most widely used water bottle among professional teams.

The first Realpower has ended up in Girona, Catalunya, Spain, with a very happy Senor Manuel Dominguez Pereira, who was delighted with his prize. Congratulations, Manuel…happy pedalling with Sior and happy training with Realpower!

For information on rules and all sweepstakes details, visit our website: http://www.elite-it.com/ or click directly on: http://209.227.240.53/winrealpower/. Promotion available in all the world excepted the UK."

Photos: Elite REALPOWER trainer, Sior water bottle cage

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,300 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

"Elite for Haiti" - Aid for the Earthquake Victims

From ELITE just now:

Fontaniva (PD), January 20th, 2010 – Let’s do something to help the people of Haiti. Elite, the leading Italian company in the cycling sector has decided to hit the field immediately to help the people of Haiti, the Caribbean island that was recently devastated by a terrible earthquake.


The initiative is called “Elite for Haiti”, and it calls for immediate production and distribution of a special water bottle with the colours of the Haitian flag and two hands reaching out to each other in a universal symbol of aid. All proceeds will be donated to charity.

“Through the media we’ve learned that the lack of drinking water is one of the foremost emergencies on the island - explains Elite Marketing Director Alessio Sartore -. These water bottles will not only serve to quench the thirst of athletes, but we hope that they can contribute to bringing water and aid to the Haitian people”.

This Elite proposal aims to be purely charitable, serving no commercial gain whatsoever.

“The production costs of the Elite water bottles for Haiti will be entirely sponsored by the company and proceeds from their sale will be donated entirely to charitable organizations for the people of Haiti through the Doctors of Médecins sans Frontières - continues Alessio Sartore-. With a simple gesture you can do something important to help those in need. In these hours our staff is working hard to get the initiative up and running. Presumably the water bottle will be available in most cycling shops starting in early February”.

Visit our website www.elite-haiti.org online for more information on this charitable initiative."

Note: the build of the website is still in progress at this moment...

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Ivan Basso Trains with ELITE

The nice people at ELITE remind us that Team Liquigas trains with ELITE trainers and sent along this nice photo of Ivan Basso, and the following:

"During the winter months, in order to prepare for a new competitive season there are three basic components for a proper and productive workout: riding a bike on the roads (weather conditions permitting) should be combined with an indoor training program that includes pedalling on trainers and power building exercises in a gym using a weight training regimen.

Using rollers is fundamental not only for professionals, but also for amateurs and cycling tourists who don’t want to lose their game. The riders from Team Liquigas, one of the most outstanding formations from the Elite stables, know this better than anyone. During their recent retreat on the snows of Trentino, at the San Pellegrino Pass in Val di Fassa, they alternated outdoor activities (cycling, snowshoeing and alpine skiing) with a series of customized sessions on training machines provided by Elite.

For Ivan Basso, Franco Pellizotti, Vincezo Nibali, Roman Kreuziger and all the other riders of the team, this was their chance for a first hands-on test of the new Crono Power Fluid roller, the technological and design marvel introduced in the 2010 Elite collection. They also got to pedal on the unparalleled Realpower, the latest generation electronic trainer and the jewel in the crown of the Elite line; a machine that develops extraordinary power and is able to simulate gradients of up to 20%."

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog.

ELITE "Are you strong enough?" Campaign

"Are you strong enough?" This is the question that Elite is asking all cyclists and two wheel fans in its new ad campaign for its 2010 Realpower rollers.


"Are you strong enough?” is a message presented in three original short videos starring Elite Realpower, the electronic roller that can provide gradients of up to 20% simulating the genuine sensations of a real road race.


The Realpower roller features innovative magnetic powders in the resistance unit combined with with electronics and software. The videos present the Realpower product and all the software applications for the roller, including a GPS system that allows a rider to input and revisit road routes already ridden, and an Internet racing feature for access to limitless on-line challenges with other enthusiasts from all over the world. It also comes pre-loaded with Giro d'Italia and Tour de France stages.


"Can you afford it?" could be another question. Price is approximately $1,900.

Visit the Elite website, www.elite-it.com, to read about all the features of the unit.


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