Ride-along with Steve: Reviewing the Fuji SL1

Six months ago I started reviewing road bikes by interviewing friends and fellow club cyclists. Now that the weather is cooperating and we can get back on the road, it’s time to bring in a few more reviews.

This time I wanted to review a bike from a brand that isn’t as well known as the increasingly ubiquitous Cervelo (at least here in Toronto). Enter Fuji, uncommon in the peleton and with little brand image to bring them attention. When I think Trek, for example, I think Lance Armstrong. Not a bad brand image. When I think Cervelo, I think engineering. Nothing wrong with that. When I think Fuji, I think…cameras? Not even the correct company.

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When Sport and Family Collide: Shaun White Snowboarding

My sister is an accomplished writer and journalist in, among other topics, video games. So I nearly crapped my pants when she told me she was flying to Montreal in order to preview a new video game, Shaun White Snowboarding, that was being developed in part by White himself. The preview appears in the June addition of Playstation: The Official Magazine, which just hit newsstands. The article also features a separate interview with White, conducted by my sister. Too cool.

I’ve known about the article for quite some time, but had to keep it under wraps for obvious reasons. According to my sister, White was a super-cool, laid back dude. She even told him she had a brother who snowboarded. Woot!
Anyway, although I am an XBOX 360 guy myself, this new White game looks pretty rad. Instead of being forced in one linear direction in order to accomplish one specific goal, it looks like Shaun White Snowboarding will allow the player to explore all sorts of open terrain, just like shredding a real hill. To quote the article:

“Ubisoft and Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White are collaborating on a fresh design intended to take you away from straight runs down plastic mountains, and immerse you in a world that captures the most important aspects of snowboarding - community, interactivity and adaptation.”

Sounds like a cool game. And for any of you who pick up the magazine: the article is on page 56!

The Snowboard Buyer’s Guide

Big ups to our riding buddy Josh for putting together an excellent guide to buying a snowboard. Josh has a strange obsession with buying various snowboards, riding them, then moving them on Craigslist to buy more snowboards. So if there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about buying snowboards, it’s Josh. So, without further delay: Josh, tell us what to look for when buying a snowboard!

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Giro Riders Beware

It’s the week leading up to the Giro d’Italia. Excitement is building because Astana will participate, bringing huge names to the event and perhaps providing a preview of what could have been at this year’s Tour de France.

If Astana’s presence wasn’t enough, another threat has appeared:

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