SRAM Tour of the Gila Stage 2
Posted on 30. Apr, 2010 by Jordan in Jordan, Pro Wrenching, The Gear Movers
Mara Abbott atop the podium at the SRAM Tour of the Gila Stage 1
A few weeks ago Jordan got a chance to shoot on down to the SRAM Tour of the Gila with SRAM Neutral Service Crew to help work the race, hang in the amazing New Mexico sunshine and get away from the office for a few minutes. Jose Alcala – the head of the crew down here, placed Jordan in the women’s pro race caravan. Directely from the source below:
Stage 1, had the women’s race climbing up and finishing ontop of Mount Mogollon, a nasty switched back climb with super narrow roads and racers from other categories riding down! A video of the men’s finish can be be found on The Gear Movement’s Facebook Page.
Working with SRAM crew was tons of fun over the last two days so here a few pics below to prove it!
The beautiful SRAM NRS Volvo's ready for a days work!
Great scenery outside Silver City, NM for the SRAM Tour of the Gila
Number 1 mechanic Todd Downs with the SRAM NRS crew!
Stage 2 brought a late start to the women’s pro race and saw 70mph wind gusts throughout the day. Unfortunately I was not able to grab any pics of this full on insanity, but girls in the race were walking up through the feedzone with their bikes in the hands flying over their heads! Here are some great videos below…
Fast Tube by Casper
Fast Tube by Casper
Fast Tube by Casper
Fast Tube by Casper
Fast Tube by Casper
Stage 2 saw some carnarge with some crashes and bad bad winds. Kelly took a spill just before the finish, which looked pretty bad, but the soldier that she is, she rode her bike back to the finish and finished the race! One of the more impressive things I have ever seen on a bike, go Kelly!
Reigning US Champ Meredith Miller before Stage 1 of the SRAM Tour of the Gila
Tonight we are building some of the new SRAM NRS Specialized Tarmac bikes for the TT tomorrow and going to an amazing restaurant here in Silver City, NM for dinner.
Online Communities and Marketing Power!
Posted on 27. Apr, 2010 by Jordan in Jordan, The Gear Movers
As The Gear Movement grows and flows we have tried to continue our quest to remain a part of the cycling and skiing community in every aspect possible. If it is attending a bike race, event, stopping by local shops, doing community or charity work or partnering with other like minded cycling or skiing businesses, TGM is all about it
Fast Tube by Casper
Starting a small company and figuring out creative and intuitive ways to grow your business through social media avenues is always an interesting challenge. The fun thing about it is that it grows on a daily basis and constantly changes. One day you focus on some fun Twitter games and posts, the next day you are plugging away with something on your blog or sending some cool emails to friends and family. The advertising avenues on Facebook have opened a few doors for us. To those that don’t already know, much like Google Adwords, Facbook Ads are the perfect way to focus in our your targeted demographic. With millions of users worldwide and the ability to choose which demographic to focus on, locally, nationally or worldwide, you can promote the heck out of your company in a heartbeat!
Another great way we use the internet to our benefit is by collaborating with online communities who provide different types of services to their members. One such online community like this is www.raceplan.com.
The RacePlan community was started in 2005 as a community for cyclists to stay connected, organize rides, race, share photos, stories and videos. This site has grown and grown over the last few years with more than a 100 members. The site not only provides users with the ability to stay in touch with each other but they also get great discounts on Gear and other benefits through the community’s partnerships. RacePlan has partnered with The Gear Movement to offer its members great deals on listing fees and the ability to unload their old Gear and Inventory’s.
Communities like this one show us the importance of having an online presence in this day and age. The days of local small clubs run out of bike shops are not gone but the internet and the online marketplace has definitely developed the need for something else; an online based community all over the world!
In closing, thanks a ton to our friend Kam over at RacePlan for helping us get this partnership off the ground and for the cool video plug above. If you are interested in joining the RacePlan community please check out their website and contact Kam: www.raceplan.com
Check out these ridiculously large icons Jordan found below and follow us!
Bikes for Barrels – TGM’s Latest Venture?
Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 by Jordan in The Gear Movers
To get a feel for the wine before you indulge, Ranno tilts and swirls
A new direction? Well, not exactly, but definitely a new way to seal the deal. Before we get into things, lets get one thing clear – wine does it for me. I’ve put in the base miles training my palate, and the rewards being reaped are magical. Good bottles stay in my memory for weeks until I get the ‘wine guy’ at Liquor Mart to order the store a case I soon there-after splurge on with the 20% case discount. I just can’t seem to have a meal after 12 noon without the stuff. Not quite addicted to the point of AA, but an admirer of the art form. I also happen to be applying for Italian citizenship, and guess what, that’s part of the application – molto bene!!
Nick tests the value of a possible trade for some bike gear...
A new client of TGM just happens to be the owner of a vineyard. I heard this tid-bit of information through my boss’s closed office door across our warehouse to my lonesome workspace with Pandora set blasting on 80’s pop. I perked up like a 6th grader at a pool party. But at this point it was still hear-say. “What are the chances of that working out” I thought to myself. Well, this morning my skepticism was thrown under the bus. A delivery at 10:30 a.m.? You got it. I could see the alcohol sticker on the blank brown box from afar – brought me right back to my days at Boulder Wine & Spirits where I began to memorize the monthly visits of the reps with “the good stuff” for us to taste and hopefully sell. That’s right, we received our feeler, our taster if you will. Our possible client, who unfortunately will have to remain nameless, came through. Four bottles free of charge – a gesture of good faith. Now its up to us to test the waters… Obviously, we can’t trade 72 cases of wine for a road bike, but who knows, maybe the wine can be his/her form of The Gear Movement coupons, redeemable at Diesel’s desk.
Pop that thang!
Now on to what came out of the box. A 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet, a 2007 Sonoma Valley Syrah, a 2007 Montepulciano – Sonoma (I like him already, he’s importing Italian varietals!!!), and a 2005 Sonoma Valley Cabernet. Boo-yah!!!! An ‘03 Napa Cabernet?! Are you serious? This sucker is going to be a face eraser! Big & balanced forward fruit with, huge nose, lingering berry notes in the back of your tasters as she goes down – surely to flank the palate from all sides. The 2007 Syrah should be a soft, elegant, and smooth fruit sensation ready to swing dance with any savory dish thrown its way. The Montepulciano? This Tuscan gem is hopefully the dry, balanced-tannin and sophisticated fruit I’m after in my $7/bottle budget that I am all-to-often unable to find. And the 2007 Sonoma Cabernet? A possible cellar candidate (yea, if I had one)? Well, I’ll let you know when I get there. We’ll see if I can wait until Friday. Salud ”
The wine is poured by Diesel himself!
New Additions to our Shop
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by Jordan in For Sale, The Gear Movers
Jack Bissell shows off his new Crosskate Neck Breaking All Mountain Skates, yikes!
Not only have we been having tons of fun at the shop posting our clients cool Gear but we have added some new employees and some new features in our rad warehouse. Isnt it every grown persons dream where they can work in a cool environment that pushes them to have fun on the job? Well we try to do that here although we do have a custom pool table that has remained unused in the last few months, what a shame. We actually need to have the table re-leveled, does anyone know of someone in Boulder, CO who could do that for us?
New additions to the shop include our employee Mr. Jack Bissell. He hails to us from the great Full Cycle bike shop in town and has so far stated “That he fits into our little operation here just perfectly.” When asked what his favorite part of working at TGM, while posting cool things like the Crosskate Inline All Mountain Neck Breaking Skate (we are still trying to understand these things, check the video below) he states: “The great level of respect everyone has for each other here and the chance to check out cool ‘Foot Hummers’ at TGM.”
Fast Tube by Casper
Well these skates are truly cool, check out the auction and win them for yourself in our eBay store: Crosskate Inline Backcountry All Mountain Ski Skates
Our groovy unused custom pool table and new frame and wheel racks - full!
Along with the addition of Jack, we have added new storage in our “Pool Table” room for the overwhelming inventory of frames and wheels we have been recieving from our consignors recently. As we travel into the new year we are starting to sell through our once large Ski, Skate and Snowboard inventory and start to focus more on the bicycle aspect of the business. A note to summer – “You can’t come soon enough!”
A new addition - more wheels and wheel racks!
Peace out from The Gear Movement, we are going to go try these neck breaking crosskates, but only after we update our health insurance plans!
The First Day of Flying
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Elizabeth in The Gear Movers
It’s the first of the new year, and the first day of flying.
Elizabeth Speedgliding Southside
Awhile back I decided that it would be a good idea to start speedflying. Of the many ways I’ve been exposed to flight and free-fall – B.A.S.E., skydiving, hang-gliding, paragliding, speedflying, wingsuiting, you name it – I’ve thought that paragliding seemed, well, the most achievable and intriguing for me. And, for the lack of a better word, fun. So, after many months of saving, my idea of paragliding evolved into the decision to buy my own Ozone XT 16 meter Speedglider.
Northside Launch, Elizabeth is about to take off!
(By the way, a speedglider is different than a paraglider. The wing is designed differently, and it has a much smaller glide ratio. As opposed to a paraglider, I will sink out faster, and as the name would imply, be flying at a higher speed, but the idea is somewhat the same.)
Point of the Mountain Southside, Glider Time!
For the New Year’s weekend, I headed to Utah’ s Point of the Mountain, with expectations of more forgiving terrain than here in Boulder and high hopes of steady wind. Not so early on the first of the year, I confronted the South Side gradually working my way up and down the hill.. The soft, gentle wind wasn’t exactly ideal, so I spent the morning skipping down the hillside with 20 or 30 foot gaps in steps. This turns out to be not as much fun as you’d think, and ultimately left me frustrated. As the day progressed, the wind died down, and it ended up being less about flying and more about getting vehicles out of the snow drifts, as one care after another piled into snow drifts.
Arms back, run hard, don’t hesitate, and commit. Those are the rules as I discover flight.
Gliding the Southside of Point of The Mountain
Despite the poor conditions on the first day, I’m back again for more. I plan my course, looking from the top wind sock to the bottom, aiming into the wind. My glider inflates above me, and I run as hard as I can towards the edge of the hill. Instead of tumbling down through weeds and snow, I’m lifted away from the earth and nearly weightless in the air. Sitting back, flying steady and relaxed, before I hit the ground running, bringing my brakes into my side, slowing me to a complete stop.
Acro-Gliding the Southside line up
On just my fourth flight, the winds switch direction and after a quick lunch, I find myself hiking up a seemingly vertical mountain to a 750-1000 foot launch. At exit, I’m quickly popped off the ground and sent soaring, higher than any of us expected! My lessons hadn’t taken me as far as soaring yet, but this gives me a lot of time to get comfortable and fly it out, overlooking Salt Lake City, making several passes at the mountain before I finally lost altitude. Awesome!
The Line up, all of us on the Southside, pretty sweet!!
In three days, I completed 14 flights, which left me ready for more and excited to take on more challenging sites. Needless to say, it’s a great way to start a new year with a new adventure!
Jesse and Matt about to push me off without the Glider, not quite ready!
French Skinsuit Dance Show!
Posted on 08. Jan, 2010 by Jordan in Ben, For Sale, The Gear Movers
Fast Tube by Casper
Sometimes our emplyees and owners alike need to go the extra mile to sell our products. Such is the commitment here at TGM that we offer to our clients. We will slave away to sell your gear at the top dollar price if that is what it takes to make you happy!
The above video was shot by Jordan, with Ben as our model and just about the whole TGM crew in attendance, laughing hilariously! Sometimes you just got to have fun. Crazy thing about it was that we got these skinsuits sold no problem, and for maximum dollar. I don’t like to use this space to pump our ego our our services, this is more a space for us to tell our fans and potential new clients that we use a fun atmosphere to seriously get the job done!
Ben Duke, modeling the latest in ski slope fashion!
One of the perks of working here at TGM, is that you get to pose in our ridiculous photo booth wearing some of the crazy clothing we get! Here is to you, our brave employees!!
The Latest in Jelly Belly fashion wear from TGM! Modeled by Nick "Diesel" Ranno
My First Blog Ever…
Posted on 18. Dec, 2009 by Ben in Ben, Nicole
Now Presenting, the one, the only, Mr. Duke!
So, I’ve never blogged nor do I Facebook often, but my business partner Jordan insisted I join the 21st century…
What does one blog about? I’ll just keep it short and sweet.
2009 has been a fast paced, crazy year. My wife Nicole and I received a new addition to the Duke family, Canin. She is the cutest girl in Boulder. She just turned 1 in October. Our son, Ryder, just turned 4. So you can only imagine how busy that part of my life has been.
Our newest addition to the Duke Family, Canin, just look at those cheeks!
My other part of life? New business… The Gear Movement. An exciting and stressful time it has been. Jordan and I started our eBay business selling new and used sporting goods back in March.. We have grown beyond our greatest expectations, which is simply awesome! Needless to say, we’ve been busy – and we want to thank all of you who support us – you all rock!
What does Spiderman, aka Ryder Duke do during his downtime?
So what now? 2010! Should be another fun packed, work filled, kid screaming year – and I hope to find some time to ride my bike along the way.
Happy Holidays!
Colorado State CX Championships
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Nicole in Nicole
Nicole Duke flying though a corner at CO CX State Champs. Photo by M. Woolcott
Down and dirty, just the way I like it!! Cyclocross State Champ race that is. The day was cold and windy, the course technical, sloppy and sometimes frozen. Thank God because my legs haven’t been feeling so fast lately so I needed to fall back on my skills, you know those ones that used to pay the bills. I’m a cheeseball…
Nicole Duke rode smooth and finished in third for the day
This is how it went down. Lisa Strong, Karen Hogan and I jumped the start and hung together for a while. Strong being the great rider she is slowly started to inch away from Karen and me, bye bye. Karen and I battled for a good lap, me passing in the technical, her powering past on the flats. Finally she pulled away and I let her go. The rest of the race i just tried to hold my podium spot. A few battles ensued with some of the 45+ men, shoulder to shoulder around the corners and various other frustrating encounters. Us Pro/Open Women don’t have our own race, so we also race the 45+ men. Some of them are very gracious but some will do anything not to get “chicked”. Now the last lap and for the life of me I can not get in my frozen, muddy pedals!! Ahhhhhhh!!!! Kristal Boni is gaining on me. Then she passes, I hang on and shoot past her at the entrance of a technical ditch section. Over the barrier, back on the bike and silence. What happened to her I do not know but I am thankful. Still I cannot get in the pedals and it’s slow going. Last gnarly downhill(which I love) and the finish!! Glad to be done and happy with 3rd. Felt like a great prep for Nationals in Bend, OR which I am hoping will be muddy.
Loving husband Ben Duke cleans Nicole's bike in 5 deg weather. Photo by J. Schware
What a great season I’ve had with all the girls! Made some great new friends and fell in love with Cross even more!! Nationals for me this year will be about the experience and time away from Boulder with my good friend Becca Blay. My body is done, time to rest and drink some yummy Belgian beer! Cheers and wish me good luck in Bend!
The Employees of The Gear Movement
Posted on 03. Dec, 2009 by Jordan in The Gear Movers
Part of the TGM crew showing their fun side!! Photo by Ben Duke
Did a small photo shoot with some of the employees at our shop yesterday! Part of owning a small business and trying to keep things interesting around here is doing fun stuff! Don’t get us wrong, we don’t take the entire shop to the amusement park on a regular basis but sitting behind a computer and posting Gear on eBay can get a little old sometimes.
Matt showing his best "Blue Steel" impression! Photo by Ben Duke
With an impending snow storm coming in today that dropped a good 5 -6 inches of the powdery white stuff we thought it would be a great time to get out and do a little photo shoot. Pictures are courtesy here by Ben Duke – our fearless leader who takes some amazing shots. Ben has a great understanding of light and how to get the right angles; Jordan typically takes Ben’s great shots and distorts them or ruins the lighting!
Elizabeth - obvously from the "wesstsidde" Photo by Ben Duke
After Ben took these rad photos it was back to work and business as usual, but ay know – we have fun here! That is the most important part of our business. We are here to post your Gear on eBay, so let us know if we can help you move your old inventory – we have fun doing it, and you will definitely have fun getting the checks in the mail! Cheers to all from the crew at TGM!
The paparrazzo is looking for Mr. Ranno! Photo by Ben Duke/Papparrizzi
Elizabeth and Matt showing their "Gangstah" side!
Back in The Game!
Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Jordan in Nicole
Nicole Duke of The Gear Movement Pro Team - hitting the barriers
Here I am, and I find myself back in the game. The racing game that is. After taking some time off to have my second child Canin , I am energized, recovered and ready to hang with my girls on the cross course.
My career started back in 1995 as a Professional Downhill and Dual Slalom racer. I raced for teams such as Giant, Mongoose, Intense, and others. In 2000 I decided to retire as I was broken and tired from all the expected downhill racer crashes. For years I didn’t ride—burnt out!! I started a new career as a hairstylist and eventually met my husband Ben. Then came Ryder our first child—the wild thing. I found myself missing the chase, the race, and time with the girls. In 2007 I decided to give cyclocross a try.
My first race was on the only bike I had, a hard tail mountain bike. I really had no idea what to expect and to my surprise I finished 3rd in the Womens’ Open field. All right, game on. I headed to Boulder Cycle Sport to talk with my friend Brandon Dwight. I knew he had been doing this for years and could show me the way. He hooked me up with a bike, jersey and I found myself now racing for their local team.
A sand pit - Nicole Duke on her way to a sweet 5th place finish in the Woman' Pro Race
The season went well and I was making friends fast and racing well. My only problem was I never watched the lap counter. Yes, I was passed several times at the line and left wondering. My lesson for the season, yes I know its obvious, but I wasn’t used to racing on a lap count. Racing DH, it was always the fastest one to the bottom.
Excited now and ready to get serious for the next season I started talking to a few local teams about sponsorship. I had decided to go with Mafia racing, ready to represent. I mean they were sponsored by PBR, they had to be fun. Two weeks later, we learned baby Canin was on her way. Racing had to wait.
Canin was born on October 30th 2008 and I wasn’t sure I would be able to race again. Two kids, a part time job, and not a lot of free time wasn’t conducive to training or racing. I approached the next summer with no expectations of racing and wanted to ride just enough to keep up with my friends. My friends are mostly professional athletes, I had to try pretty hard!
Now, I find myself racing the 2009 Cross season for our new company The Gear Movement and I’m giving it another go. No expectations, I entered the first race and much to my surprise finished 5th. Every race I have gotten stronger and cross-race wiser. I’m now consistently finishing 3rd and sometimes find myself hanging with the likes of World Champion Allison Dunlap and National Champion Allison Powers. Every weekend the family (thanks to the hubbie) looks forward to cowbells, bouncy castles, kids races and sticky mud. A retired racers’ family dream. I’ve found a way to integrate family with racing. My son now “cyclocrosses” his bike over every curb, I am so proud!
Nationals are in my sights. Sounds like fun and I could use a little girlfriend time away from laundry, diapers and screaming kids. Cyclocross, I’ve discovered is actually 45mins of painful freedom!
Mud Time!
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