Fly V Australia / Successful Living Foundation Blog

Are the Planets Aligned for Fly V Austrailia p/b Successful Living in Redlands Today?

2009-03-26T06:36:00.001-07:00

Today starts the 25th edition of the Redlands Classic stage race with a 5k time trial. Twenty Five years ago Steve Hegg (Co-Director of Fly V) and 1984 US Olympic team member Thurlow Rogers were part of the winning team for the first edition of Redlands. Thurlow won the event with Steve's & Thurlow's team (Levi's-Raleigh) the winning team event.

With his win last week at San Dimas, Ben Day is expected to be battling it out with Floyd Landis (OUCH p/b Maxxis), Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell), Jeff Louder (BMC), Andrew Bajadali (Kelly Benefits Strategies) and Chris Baldwin (Rock Racing) for the GC.

On the morning of the TT, Ben Day feels confident, having won the prolog & overall GC in San Dimas. Ben is focused on turning around his last year's Redlands prologue result of a close second to Rory Sutherland.

Team mate, Jono Cantwell is showing his true potential to win the final criterium after wining the last stage at San Dimas last week. The Team demonstrated how strong and committed they are in San Dimas to defend Ben for the 3 days after the TT.

So the planets are aligned. Fly V has the heritage of being part of the first winning team back in 1985 and the momentum to win.

Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living line up for Redlands

2009-03-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

After a good win at San Dimas, Team Fly V is getting ready for Redlands. Most of the team made its way to Redlands yesterday and getting ready for tomorrows Prologue.

It looks like the roster for tomorrow's start is: Alessandro Bazzana / Ben Day / Jonathan Cantwell /Charles Dionne / Micheal Grabinger / Ben King / Bernard Sulzberger / Phil Zajicek

The Aussies on the team are feeling at home as they are staying with local ex Aussie in Redlands, eating meat pies and playing with cricket bats.

Roadbike Review.Com highlights Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living's chances @ Redlands

2009-03-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

I can see why I cannot make the big money writing promotional pieces for the team. Thein from Roadbike Review takes the same information I have and makes it much more exciting....He also does a better job with using the pictures...

.....There is little time for celebration as Fly V Australia is already planning for next weekend and the Redlands Classic, which commences on Thursday 26 March.

Fly V Australia will be in contention for Redlands, with the San Dimas result confirming it has the weaponry to match it with America’s best domestic lineups, including last year’s winning team, Rock Racing.

Fly V Australia is aiming to carry the momentum from the Tour of Murrieta (14 – 15 March) where Jonathan Cantwell won the final stage to claim 2nd overall, through San Dimas to Redlands (26 - 29 March) and the Long Beach criterium (5 April)......
Click here for the Article

Nice Pictures of Fly V Australia win at San Dimas

2009-03-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

We are starting to get some nice pictures of the win at San Dimas for Ben and Bazz. Check them out.

3 wins for Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living @ San Dimas yesterday

2009-03-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

Only 1 second separated Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living’s Ben Day and Jelly Belly’s Phil Gaimon going into the 3rd stage. The Fly V p/b Successful Living team rode attentively and kept things under control, with race leader Ben Day picking up a six second bonus in the hot spot sprint and a prime. Alessandro Bazzana earned enough hot spot points to wrap up the Green Sprinters Jersey.
With five to go, Team OUCH got their train rolling for sprinter John Murphy, and with two to go the Bissell Team tried to derail it for their sprinter Cody O’Reilly. In the end, both teams came up a little short on the long circuit and Fly V’s Jonathan Cantwell powered to the line first with a bike throw for the win just beating out Sebastian Haedo (Colavita) for second and John Murphy (OUCH) for third. In the end Ben Day extended his GC lead by 6 seconds and Fly V won the day (J. Cantwell) won the Green (A Bazzana) and the GC (B. Day).
Ben Day was up early this morning, even after last night's celebration. The team is already planning for next weekend and the Redlands stage race.

Fly V will be in contention for Redlands, already showing they are a player against last year's winning team, Rock Racing. Let's hope they can show their power again over Chris Baldwin, Rahsaan Bahati and Justin Williams.

The field is highlighted by stand out performers such as BMC’s Jeff Louder and Scott Nydam, Neil Shirley and 2007 winner Andy Bajadali of Kelly Benefits Strategies, Bissell’s Ben Jacques-Maynes, OUCH’s Floyd Landis and Rory Sutherland, and 2005 winner Chris Wherry (Team Hotel San Jose). The list includes two current national champions; a Tour of California KOM Jersey winner; a two-time NRC Champion; former RBC stage and GC winners; the recipients of the Most Aggressive Riders Jersey at both the Tour de Georgia and Tour of California; the 2008 Carroll King Sportsmanship Award winner and former US National Road Champion, not to mention the winner of the ’06 edition of the Tour of California, and the Tour de Georgia…

Go get them boys!

Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living's Ben Day keeps Yellow Jersey

2009-03-22T05:25:00.000-07:00

Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living had the challenge of keeping the other teams in check on the demanding course of Stage 2 of the San Dimas Stage Race, while protecting GC Leader Ben Day’s Yellow Jersey. Stage 2 was a tough road race to control. Trying to contain a carnivorous peloton with witches hats and a double yellow line always dictates that this race is a little sketchy to say the least. The first 4 laps were done at warp speed. Comments from the peloton were that there was no way that Fly V/Successful Living could ride that tempo and still be there at the end. Several breaks escaped the peloton throughout the day, but were eventually reeled back in. The team protected Ben Day, pulling him back into the peloton each lap after the sharp little climb on the course.

Phil Zajicek crashed hard during the stage hitting a cone and a rider on the ground at 35 mph. Phil lost lots of skin, but the wrist that was broken at AToC is OK. It is a great loss to the team as he was riding very well.

In the end, Jelly Belly’s Phil Gaimon took a flyer and held off a hard charging peloton to the line for the victory and picked up the valuable 20 second time bonus with local talents Cody O’Reilly (Bissell) taking 2nd and Iggy Silva (Rock Racing) rounding out the podium for 3rd.

The road race finish put Gaimon just 1 second behind Day in GC going into today's final stage, the Incycle/Cannondale Old Town Grand Prix, located in downtown San Dimas. Last year, Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla lost by just 1 second to Team Ouch’s Cameron Evans on the crit course. Expect a battle royale as the riders and teams go for valuable time bonuses or try to get up the road to gain time and steal the win.

GC results

Pl Name Team Time Behind

1 Day, Ben Team Fly V 3:26:44 @ 00:00

2 Gaimon, Phillip Jelly Belly 3:26:45 @ 00:01

3 Baldwin, Chris Rock Racing 3:26:53 @ 00:09

Can Ben Day and the Fly V boys keep the yellow and win the tour in today’s stage 3 crit? Today is the day to drive to San Dimas and watch the Pro 1 crit in at 3:25pm and support the Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living team!

Ben Day (Fly V Australia) Wins the Glendora Chevrolet TT at the San Dimas Stage Race

2009-03-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ben Day has new course record of 12:44.18
The 3.8 mile race featured a gradual climb up Glendora Mountain Road which ranks among the most popular climbs in Southern California. Ben Day of Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living stormed the course with a time of 12:44, with Rock Racing's Chris Baldwin finishing nine seconds back in 12:53, and Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) with a time of 12:57. Look for some fireworks tomorrow at the San Dimas Hospital Road Race at Bonelli Park as teams try to shake the GC up.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/glendora/1063067147"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;San Dimas Stage Race - Stage One&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/united-states/ca/glendora"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Find more Bike Rides in Glendora, California&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Fly V Australia / Successful Living gearing up for San Dimas & Redlands

2009-03-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

With Fly V getting 2nd, 4th and 6th at Murietta last weekend, the team is building for San Dimas and Redlands in the next two weeks. Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living will be starting with Bazzana, Cantwell, Day, Dionne, George, Kemp, Salzberger, Zajicek. Should be a strong group for San Dimas
Here is what Henk Vogels said to Velo News this week about 2009 goals in the USA:
....VN: With the roster and schedule the team has, what are realistic goals for 2009?
HV: I think Ben Day can win Redlands. He has better form than last year, and last year he was one second behind Rory Sutherland in the Redlands prologue, but then he crashed out. Phil Zajicek is managing his health issues well (Zajicek was diagnosed last year with Crohn’s Disease). He was in great form at the Amgen Tour of California before he broke his scaphoid. So in those guys we have two great GC riders. Then we have awesome one-day guys in Sulzberger, Charles Dionne, David Kemp and Cantwell. I think Sulzberger and Dionne are both capable of winning in Philadelphia.
Our team has six major objectives in North America — Cascade, Tour de Beauce, Philadelphia, Tour of Utah, Tour of Missouri and the Tour of Elk Grove. I think either Day or Zajicek can win Cascade; Zajicek won it in 2007. I think Ben Day is a seriously underrated talent. He is someone who can and should challenge Rory to win NRC. That’s not our goal, because to win the NRC you have to send riders to each event, and we don’t have budget for that. I also think the surprise package this year is going to be Sulzberger. I can see him winning out of a break. He is very quick. He had two top -10 bunch sprint finishes at the Tour of California....
click here for the article in Velo News

Curtis Gunn Interview Tour of California 2009

2009-03-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Just saw this. Missing Saddle does some nice interviews with the racers.

Watch how he deflects being the Old Man. I wish I was that young.

Fly V Australia / Successful Living Back Story of AToC from Ben Day

2009-03-11T06:53:00.001-07:00

Ben Day did a nice interview with Pez Cycling last week. He gives a nice behind the scenes look at the team during the Tour of California.

...PEZ: ToC is such a big race early in the season. Did V Australia specifically train for it or are there other goals the team is setting up for in 2009?
BD: Team Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living was only notified of it's invitation to the AToC only a few weeks before the start of the race and therefore there were many, many hurdles that had to be overcome before rolling down the start ramp on February 14. Clothing and equipment were only finalised moments before, which was a small victory in itself. We really couldn't have been worse prepared, but we did have everything we needed on the day. We are all quality athletes, our administration gets things done and strives for success at all levels. We will be back in the future looking for more success....
click here to read the rest of the article

Kempy’s AToC TIPS

2009-03-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Fly V Australia rider David Kemp is blogging on Cycling Tips.
Kempy and Johnson catching Mancebo on Stage 1 and getting 11 minutes on the bunch.

Kempy's view on stage 1
.... The tactics vary from team to team. For example, Astana’s goal was to control the race and ride tempo on the front and let the smaller teams go for the breakaways and get some "TV" time for exposure for their sponsors. You know very well that 99% of the time this move doesn’t work, it’s that 1% that keeps you going!....
Click here for the article

Epilog - Fly V Australia / Successful Living TofC

2009-02-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

At the guy from Fly V Australia that finished the race, I thought you would like to hear Ben Day's last observations of the Tour of California

....It was a tough opening for this fledgling team, but already there is talk about the future, about how mistakes will be corrected and how missed opportunities will be grasped. Team Fly V Australia will fight on and will be representing again very soon.

All in all, we had a fairly successful tour taking into consideration our limited preparation.

The highlights were a few days in good breakaways with Dave Kemp and Curtis Gunn and two top 10 finishes for Bernie Sulzberger, we will only go up from here.

I am really excited about this project. In such a short space of time, the boys were able to receive the invite to California and now that that has been achieved, all the resources will be put into pushing the team towards some lofty goals....
click here for the article

BikeRadar.com review of David Kemp's Parlee TT

2009-02-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

Bike Radar did a nice piece of David's TT bike and an interview with Parlee's Tom Rodi.

Here is some of what Tom Rodi said about the team and the bike.

....“Our fundamental motivation for working with the team (Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living) is simply that we love the sport of bike racing and we love to build race bikes,” he said. “As competitive as the athletes riding the bikes are, we are the same way about building the best race bikes in the world, so naturally we want them to be used at the highest levels of competition.The R&D we get from the athletes, mechanics and staff is really valuable, well worth the investment. A team of 14 pros is going to beat the snot out of the bikes and expose things that might take years to find otherwise.

“We've always looked to build not only the best riding but also the most durable race bikes out there, and pushing the bikes hard not only in testing, then riding and racing, but also in travel and transit exposes areas to do better. We're all for that. Getting our name in front of tonnes of fans around the world doesn't hurt either.”.....

click here for the article

fi’zi:k Checking out the back sides of Riders

2009-02-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

fi’zi:k is trying to justify taking pictures of the back sides of riders, by discussing their logo. She also included Curtis Gunn into her efforts.

...Curtis Gunn from the Fly V Australia pb Successful Living team said, “I definitely notice what’s on the backs of other riders because that’s how I pick out where my guys are or where other riders and teams are positioned. That’s how I can identify them quickly.” He continued, “I don’t notice that much when I’m out on a group ride but I definitely notice when I’m in the pack – in a race situation.”....
click here for the article on her blog

V Australia p/b Successful Living claim 9th place in Stage 4 of 2009 Tour of California

2009-02-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

Top 10 for Criterium Champ Sulzberger

Bernie Sulzberger claimed ninth place in today’s 185 kilometre fourth stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. On a day when the sun finally showed itself, Australian Criterium Champion Sulzberger fought hard to take his place among the world’s top sprinters with a tight top 10 finish in the field sprint in the stage from Merced to Clovis.

However with the warmer weather and a stage profile ideally suited to a sprint finish, the all-star teams of the fancied sprinters set to work and reeled in the break three kilometres from the finish. Sulzberger, with support from Ben Day, fought hard to make position in the finale as the bunch thundered to the line at over 70 kilometres per hour.

Speaking about his ride soon after the finish, Sulzberger said, “Man, that was chaotic and fast! The big teams were absolutely driving it, all Ben Day and I could do was hang on for the ride. It was almost impossible to move up. At about 800 metres from the line, a gap opened. To finish up ninth coming from 30th wheel inside the last kilometre in this quality field … I guess I’ve got to be happy with that.”

Sulzberger went on to add, “Hopefully I’ll have another chance to show what I can do in a sprint finish. This experience has whetted my appetite and I’m having fun.” With upcoming stages likely to favour the sprinters, Sulzberger is likely to get his wish.

Alessandro Bazzana checking out Palomar

2009-02-17T21:22:00.000-08:00

Bazz was riding today on Palomar Mountain and ran into a snow storm on the top of the KOM. Hopefully it will be better weather on Sunday.

Fi’zi:k giving us shelter from the storm

2009-02-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

Given the weather for the first 3 days of racing it has been great having fi’zi:k giving us a place to get warm before & after each stage.

Check out Fi’zi:k blog for the Tour of California

Stage 1 - David not Aaron Kemp

2009-02-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

We are glad that the Tour of California puts us into their press releases, but it would be nice if they checked with us on the names....

After his initial attack, Mancebo was joined by Aaron Kemp (Has David changed his name) (AUS) of Fly V Australia powered by Successful Living Foundation and Tim Johnson (USA) of OUCH presented by Maxxis on the descent following the first King of the Mountain (KOM) competition of the stage, and the race overall, on Highway 128. The riders formed a hard-working trio, eventually building a lead of more than 12 minutes over the pack. Mancebo left the breakaway group behind to take the lead on Howell Mountain, the second KOM, at 44 miles to go.
Click here to see the total press release

Fly V Australia / Successful Living powered by Fi’zi:k

2009-02-13T19:47:00.000-08:00

It is kinda fun hearing from the sponsor and how they look at the team...

...THE SCOOP
Several weeks ago while fi’zi:k was making its annual Team Camp tour, we happened upon a meeting with the 1984 Olympic 4000m Individual Pursuit Gold Track Medalist, Steve Hegg. Hegg has been a long time fi’zi:k friend and has been directing and managing the Successful Living US Continental cycling team for the last four years. Each year Hegg approached fi’zi:k to sponsor, but each year we were inclined to decline simply due to bike sponsorship partnership criteria.

Late last year Hegg teamed up with an Australian group to form the Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Professional Cycling Team. In so doing, they acquired a new bike sponsor, Parlee Bicycles. Parlee, while ultimately a manufacturer and distributor of framesets only, has always been a supporter of fi’zi:k saddles. You will always see fi’zi:k atop their complete bikes, in catalogs, at Interbike and most recently on their entire line of triathlon bikes at the 2008 Ford Ironman Kona World Championships. This time, we couldn’t refuse.

FAST FORWARD
“What do you think about the idea of assisting us with a motor home for the Tour of California” Steve asked.

With laughter, guffaws, and cynicism covered first, we started to calculate the numbers: number of impressions –vs- numbers of dollars and within two short weeks, the Team V Australia presented by Successful Living Powered by fi’zi:k Team RV was born.
Click here for the article

UT talks to Ben Day of Fly V Australia

2009-02-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

At last San Diego is starting to take notice of their local team. Don Norcross of the San Diego Union Tribune writes a colum called "Fitness Fanatics" on Fridays. Here is a a little of what Ben Day said to Don.

...........Before leaving Australia last week to ride in the Tour of California, Day stopped in Melbourne to handle his visa. Southeast Australia has been besieged by a record heat wave and wildfires that have claimed more than 180 lives. Railroad tracks have buckled. Temperatures in some parts have climbed to 118 degrees.

On Saturday, two days after arriving in California, Day rode in the Boulevard Road Race, set amid the mountains an hour east of San Diego. The elements produced a blizzard that turned to rain, with temperatures in the 30s.

Proving he acclimates well, Day won the race.

An omen for the Tour of California?

“It instills a certain level of confidence in the team,” Day said. “Hopefully, it shows I'm not just a team captain who's talking but can get results as well.”...................

Click here for the article

Fly V Australia / Successful Living in Pro Cycling News

2009-02-13T05:54:00.004-08:00

My wife found this article - Vaugh Trevi did a great job with an overview of the team and the origins of the team...

....Australian/American Alliance
When asked how the alliance with the Successful Living team started, White said, "Nathan O'Neill put me in touch with Steve Hegg last October and we both have the same goals and the alignment of our goals and our willingness to work together brought us a long way in a short space of time. Our partnership is young but strong. We are looking forward to working with Steve Hegg and his Team to create a really strong and competitive squad. As a team we have won 7 races already in '09 and will look to add to these results at the Amgen Tour of California and into the season."....
Click here for the article

Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living's Ben Day Interview

2009-02-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Roadbike Action has a nice interview of last weekend's Blvd winner Ben Day. The interview was right after the announcement that Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living was going to the Tour of California.

....RBA: What races do you hope to be included in?
Ben Day: Yesterday, I found out that we were in the Amgen Tour of California. It's such a great race and the supporters are huge. V Australia will be having a massive influence on the ATOC this year. The Tour of Missouri is also a race I would love to come back and do well at. Back in Australia, the Herald Sun Tour I love fondly, and the Tour Down Under are the races that really excite me. This is such an exciting project and who knows if this thing won't grow to TDU and ProTour levels!.....
Click here for the article

What are their chances - Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Foundation

2009-02-12T05:29:00.000-08:00

Chris White does a nice job talking up the team John Flynn at Cycling Central in Australia...

.....On paper, the eight-rider roster assembled for the Tour of California could surprise. V Australia’s G.C. man Ben Day, a quality time-trialist, has been a solid performer State-side and White is talking up the chances of both U.S. hill climbing specialist Phil Zajicek and Australian criterium champion Bernie Sulzberger......
Click here for the article

Team OUCH spin on Fly V Australia's Win at Boulevard

2009-02-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

So was this just tactics or does Cameron Evans from Team OUCH know he is out classed by Ben Day....

...“The guys from Fly V were very aggressive on the last lap,” Evans said. “With four of them up there, I knew they would attack, and I figured one of them had a good chance of winning the race.

“First, I wanted to make sure I was at least on the podium,” he continued. “After all the attacking, it was down to me, Ben and David (Kemp; V Australia). With about 1 km to go, Ben rolled off the front and got a gap. At that point, I didn’t want to chase and drag his teammate up there, so I made sure I could at least secure second place in the sprint.”.....
Click here for the rest of the article

Team Wins, Snow loses here in San Diego

2009-02-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

The winning break: Evans, Day, Miller and Denny.

Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living won our 1st race with their Tour of California contingent together for the first time. Four of their riders only came into town from Australia on Thursday. There were several other teams here for the Pro/1/2 race at Blvd. Floyd Landis with OUCH, Jelly Belly, Team Type 1 and Rock Racing were testing the waters yesterday.

At the start there was a mini blizzard, with snowflakes the size of quarters and a crash within the first mile. Starting on the first lap of 4 our team dominated the race with Bernie Sulzberger in a breakaway most of the race and Ben Day winning the race.

...“We had safety in numbers there and we worked well together coming into the finish," Day observed of his winning attack, which he launched at a kilometer and a half to go. “It was a nice way to start the year for the team.” ...
Click here for VeloNews Article

To the left is a picture of Chris Daggs who runs the Development team for Swamis cycling club (one of the sponsors of Fly V)

Cheer on Phil Zajicek for KOM at Tour of California

2009-02-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

Euro Peloton says Phil Zajicek possible KOM contender

.... The Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Foundation squad has all-arounder Phil Zajicek as a possible KOM contender, and the Eugene, Oregon native will look to show his good early season form in California. Like Burke Swindlehurst, Zajicek probably won't be on the GC hunt, so he'll have the chance to escape into some select break aways in search of KOM points. As the 2007 Mt. Hood stage race 2nd place overall and winner of the hilly Cascade Classic, Zajicek will turn heads when the road tilts up.....
Click here for the article..

All coming together...

2009-02-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from yesterday.

The boys arrive at LAX after a long day.

Oakleys!

Alex working hard.

Rich working hard.

Few more to go...

Team Bike - Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Foundation

2009-02-05T14:55:00.000-08:00

First look at team bike

Team Bike set up:

Frame: Parlee Z4 carbon
Fork: Edge Composites 1.0
Wheelset: Edge Composites 38mm all carbon clincher
Brakes: TRP 960
Drivetrain: SRAM Red
Bar: Edge
Stem: Thompson (temporary—will be Edge Composites by Tour of California)
Seatpost: Thompson (temporary—will be replaced with Edge Composites by Tour of California)
Saddle: Fi'zi:k Antares

Pedals: Speedplay

Phil Z did a nice interview with VeloNews about the bike. Click here for the article

Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living Foundation top of the charts

2009-02-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

Troy H just called me and told me that on Podium Cafe our Jersey was voted best design.

....And the judges say...

1. Fly v Australia/Successful Living

A major upset for the Aussie newcomer to the peloton runway! I'm sticking my neck way out here, because it appears the new kits have yet to be seen on the road, but fashion and drama go hand-in-hand, so no points deducted there. Anyway, the main color looks like a WWII era aircraft carrier, a decidedly neutral canvas on which they've laid some subtle colors. For originality, gold medal.....

Click here for the full article

San Diego continues to Support Fly V Australia / Successful Living

2009-02-05T07:25:00.001-08:00

Swami Bob R and team rider Phil Zajicek came into El Camino Bike Shop to make some quick changes to his new Parlee bike. Phil is doing an interview with VeloNews today and wanted to make sure his ride was perfect. Click on the picture on the right and check out the cool brakes on the fork.

Fly Vaustralia p/b Successful Living hanging out with Swamis

2009-02-04T06:47:00.000-08:00

Steve Hegg invited a few Swamis to break bread with Team Riders. Several of the Swamis have riders living in their house until the team going to Sacramento for Stage 1 of the Tour of California. It was a family affair with Steve bringing his family and Troy H bringing his two kids.

All together in San Diego by Thursday

2009-02-03T05:57:00.001-08:00

Fly Vaustralia p/b Successful Living will have its full team in San Diego starting on Thursday. The Australian contingent will be flying in tomorrow. After our last minute invitation to the Tour of California two weeks ago, we have worked overtime to get the team together. Starting tomorrow we will be together as a team.

We are going to be riding up Cole Grade today, which is the last big hill of Stage 8 of the Tour of California.

We should be at Boulevard road race on Saturday and the Red Trolley Crit on Sunday here in San Diego.

Look out San Diego here we come...

Bernie Sulzberger before Fly Vaustralia p/b Successful Living

2009-02-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

Bernie Sulzberger is now on our team, but here is a good interview from PezCycling about a year ago, before he joined our team. Here is what he says about himself:

...... I can climb well - I won the mountains classification in the Sun Tour last October - and I have a good sprint from small groups, I also have good mobility in within the bunch. I think that I still have a lot of potential to develop, I've been getting stronger and more experienced every year and don't see why that progression should stop. I'm also very comfortable in the domestique's role if the situation demands.....

Click here for the rest of the article

Fly V Australia / Successful Living @ Sat Swami Ride

2009-01-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

Steve Hegg and 5 of his riders came to the Swami ride today. They will be using this ride as a tempo ride after their hard effort yesterday up Palomar..

The team is still in their kits from last year, the new kits will be here soon.

2009 Kit: Team V Australia p/b Successful Living Foundation

2009-01-30T07:54:00.001-08:00

Here's a preview of the kit. I went through 21 revisions until it was signed off by management and partners.

Stick a fork in Bob and he is done

2009-01-29T15:47:00.000-08:00

Just got off the phone with Bob Rosemeyer who lead the team around East San Diego County today....

Five riders from "Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living " plus Bob rode today. They started at Starbucks on Melrose in Vista. Did the following route:
Vista Twist / SLR race course / 395 to Rainbow / Rice Canyon / Couser Canyon / W. Lilac / Valley Ctr / portion of Stage 8 into Escondido in reverse.

While they were riding through Escondido they checked out the finish of Stage 8 of the Tour of California and finished their ride around 2pm

Bob can see why they are pros and he is not - They are fast and compared to them he is not. 85 miles today and Bob is done....

He is not riding with them tomorrow when the go to Palomar....

Swami Wed Ride - Practice for Tour of California?

2009-01-29T14:20:00.000-08:00

Five riders from Successful Living, along with TofC riders from Jelly Belly & BMC were on the ride yesterday and made for a spirited ride to San Onofre State Park and back. Troy Huerta said "I do the Wednesday ride every week and I have never seen it this fast. There were multiple attacks from each of the TofC teams during the ride."

So North County SD is the place to be if you are following the Tour of California.

Rumor has it that the Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living will be out tomorrow and checking out Palomar Mountain and Cole Grade.

Getting the team together @ Swamis Wednesday Ride

2009-01-28T09:04:00.001-08:00

Five members of the team came in last night. We are still getting all the equipment and supplies together. Swamis is helping us out in the short term. Troy and the gang is even giving us jackets and helmets for today's ride. The Aussies are coming in today and tomorrow.

Here is the first picture of our new Parlee Team bike.

Dave C took some pictures of us hanging out at Starbucks before the start of the Wednesday morning ride.

Our guest for the week...

2009-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Around 7pm last night our guest, Alex Lagutin came to the door. Alex is the mechanic / masseur of the team. He is 23, from Uzbekistan, and has been in the U.S. for about 4 months. He like the rest of us is still in the dark about the organization of the team.

Thanks to Marilyn I found out that Alex's brother Sergey has won the Tour de Korea in 2008, was the Uzbekistan National Road Champion, and the World Road Race Champion (U-23). Sergey was also on Navigators 2007 Tour of California team.

Team Members coming to San Diego

2009-01-27T16:02:00.000-08:00

To prepare for the climbs of San Diego on Stage 8 of the Tour of California, the team riders are arriving in San Diego. Steve Hegg has asked Swami club member to give his riders a warm place to stay while they are riding up and down Palomar Mountain.

The rumor is that they will be racing at Blvd and Red Trolley next weekend.

V Australia/Virgin Blue target Aussie titles

2009-01-22T05:19:00.000-08:00

V Australia/Virgin Blue presented by Successful Living Foundation will target next month's Australian Open Road Championship crowns, having wrapped up the criterium title last weekend. The team's Bernard Sulzberger claimed the national criterium title at Cronulla in Sydney on Sunday, after out-sprinting Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche).

Team manager Chris White said Sulzberger's victory is the first success to come from its "operation green and gold" and hopes that more fruit will come at next month's road titles. "We've been running operation green and gold internally for six months," said White of the team's focus on the national jerseys.

V Australia/Virgin Blue presented by Successful Living Foundation will send a number of riders to the national titles, with last year's Under 23 Time Trial Championship runner-up Ben King likely to be one of its contenders. "We are going to put a team of riders in that race which are capable of taking that jersey away," said White.

Sulzberger is also hoping to get in on the action in Ballarat next month. "It would be awesome to be able to have both the national criterium and road jerseys in the closet at the same time – I think the green and gold stripes look pretty good on me," he laughed.

After putting its toe in the American cycling waters this year, contesting Superweek, V Australia/Virgin Blue will further push into the market in 2009. Having teamed up with the Successful Living squad, V Australia/Virgin Blue presented by Successful Living Foundation is hoping to get an invite to the Tour of California.

"2009 will be big year for our team," said Sulzberger. "We are on the way up – we have a great program, a great bunch of guys and we will be doing a lot of criteriums. It will be fantastic to be able to race in the national champion's jersey."