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March 2009 The 2009 Travelers Training Camp and Team Presentation presented by LH Thomson Co. has just been completed, and the team is ready to rock, with only weeks remaining until our first official event (The Tour of the Battenkill). 19 of 20 riders, 8 staff members and 6 guest sponsors (representing Kenda, Masi Bikes, Hincapie Sports, AltoLab, Wobble-Naught, TruTrainer and 55nine (FRS/Qoleum/Chamois Butt'R) were all in attendance at this year's Greenville, SC based event. Spread over 5 days, the riders had all of their equipment assembled, Wobble-Naught precision fits performed, Dart-Fish analysis done, swag issued, legs rubbed, photos taken and they even managed to get in some rides, as well as recon the US National Championship climb up Paris Mountain. The camp, team presentation, inauguration of new staff and athletes and 8 major meetings all went off without a hitch. This signifies the strong fraternal bond and obvious step to the next level that Inferno Racing has taken in 2009 with the re-launched UCI Continental team, Kenda Pro Cycling presented by Spinergy. We all wish everyone of our supporters, fans and sponsors could have been with us. We all missed you and will see you soon!  Kenda Pro Cycling presented by Spinergy - Photo: Hincapie Sports
The above mentioned camp brought a special fit team, assembled for a one-of-a-kind session for each rider. Tom Coleman of Wobble-Naught, Andy Applegate and Jim Baldesare (both team athletes and Wobble-Naught fitters), Eddie O'Dae of 55nine, and Jeff Rhodes of TruTrainer all collaborated to build this unique experience. Tom Coleman also assisted in acquiring new sponsor, Kinetic by Kurt, that brought 8 Rock n' Roll trainers for the actual fitting process. Once measurements were done and equipment affixed, riders went to the TruTrainer roller station for real-time riding and commentary on their behalf. Once dialed, the were off to the Dart-Fish pedal stroke analysis station for performance fine-tuning. All of this equals a formula for victory. With 6 weeks remaining until the team's official calendar start at the Tour of the Battenkill, the team has already racked several victories and podium placements. Marco Aledia (elite), Rich Harper (elite) and Jaime Gandara (pro) have all earned victories in the month of February. New additions Jonathan Parrish and Chad Burdzilauskas have also made appearances on the 2nd and 3rd steps of the podium multiple times in as many weeks. Yet another sign of things to come!  Marco Aledia with win number 1 for the year - Photo: T. Aledia
The top-secret 2009 Masi weaponry was finally unveiled, too (pictured below), and what a sight. Weighing in at barely 16 lbs. each, and sporting SRAM Red, Thomson, Feather Brakes, SDG, Kore, Look, Wippermann, Jagwire, Vetta, Kenda, Spinergy, AlphaQ and our radical new custom Wheeltags, they are already the envy of the peloton.  The 2009 official Masi 3VC Team Issue - Photo: C. Thompson Our long-awaited web-site re-launch is also only days away. A newer, more interactive and simpler design will surely satisfy our fan base, supporters and industry media. A special thanks to MATTEO Studios for the endeavor.
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