Quoted: Vande Velde, 31, who spent last winter training near Chicago, is enjoying the best season of his career. He spent a day last month as the leader of the prestigious Giro d’Italia... He and his coaches have developed innovative training techniques, nutritional plans and strategies. Here are a few cues from Mr. Vande Velde’s training regimen that road cyclists can use to ride faster, longer and smarter.

Tips on the bike, power output, food, training for hills in flat country and heading downhill.

I'm intrigued.

Quoted: The Climb is a blog that will chart my attempt, as a 41-year-old beginner cyclist who has never been in a bike race of any kind — and had never ridden even 50 miles in one day until last Saturday — to find out what it takes for an ordinary, not-particularly-fit mortal to survive a single, grueling, mountain stage of the world’s greatest cycling race.

bikes cheap online. noname brands but some parts look pretty good for the price.

Possible problems: iffy frames, delays in shipping, missing parts in first shipment, warranty?

Bike company that sells through their website and Costco. Good prices for the components used. Prompt replies from customer support.

Custom setup of bike with purchase-http://www.fezzari.com/fezzari_edge/custom_setup