Road Bike Racing - Rock Racing

Rock Racing is my new favorite team

The owner is trying something new, and the edginess is impressing me

What are everyones opinion's?

How can you NOT like the Ninja Turtlesque team kit. Mario rips for 3rd today. Just TOO MUCH!

The thing I like least about Rock is the owner's ego. The end result is cool, though.

Tyson
Cushing, Oklahoma

i like them.

The thing I like least about Rock is the owner's ego. The end result is cool, though.


Ball was on stage today and made a $10k donation to a local boys and girls club. he also said that he will be making many other donations in other cities around the state to help "at risk kids" get back on track since he claims that he was one himself.

gotta give him credit for that.

Rock Racing is my new favorite team

The owner is trying something new, and the edginess is impressing me

What are everyones opinion's?

take advantage of the fact that the search engine is working again, and find out.

take advantage of the fact that the search engine is working again, and find out.

Location: temporarily repatriated

welcome home.

How can you NOT like the Ninja Turtlesque team kit. Mario rips for 3rd today. Just TOO MUCH!

The thing I like least about Rock is the owner's ego. The end result is cool, though.

Tyson
Cushing, Oklahoma

i actually thought the owner was the chaffeur when he pulled up in the rolls and let two very beautiful women out of the back seat.

he was dressed in all black, had dark black glasses and his black hair was slicked back. he moved very deliberately and looked around like he knew he was on stage.

all the rock team staff have black hair and all wear black.

i'll be surprised if they are around in two years.

ed rader

The owner is trying something new!, and the edginess is impressing me



I also think this is great for the sport, they definetely have my eye!

I also think this is great for the sport, they definetely have my eye!

Same here, this is great for the sport.

Micheal Ball is an a-$-$-hat and his lack of ethics make me question his integrity and sincerity in fielding a team. Beside for that, he's brilliant.

He says some stupid sh*t sometimes but you have to give credit to a guy who's willing to dump money into the sport when most sponsors are heading for the hills.

I enjoyed his quote in Velo News. When asked why he invested in a bike team, his answer was "because cycling is ****ing awesome".


At the prologue I rode by him and his escort of both male and female models. The crowd was almost in shock to see that at a bike race. I guess he gets the models from the clothing company.

Location: temporarily repatriated

welcome home.

funny. i was only +/-100 miles away from High Point yesterday.

I enjoyed his quote in Velo News. When asked why he invested in a bike team, his answer was "because cycling is ****ing awesome".


At the prologue I rode by him and his escort of both male and female models. The crowd was almost in shock to see that at a bike race. I guess he gets the models from the clothing company.

more likely a modeling agency.

whatever

the autograph session everyday is cool too.

When I first heard about these guys, I was like "That's cool!" Then, I started seeing the roster he was putting together and I was like "meh." But then he got Cippo and I was like "F YEAH!" Then, I read the Velonews thing a couple weeks ago about how he handled his sponsors and said he'd build his own wheels... blah, blah, blah, and I thought he was a d-bag.

Then, I saw this today and I really think he's in it for the right reasons. Honestly, I don't know how an owner of a "high-end jeans company" could not come off d-baggy most of the time but I think the whole thing is cool'er than it is d-baggy:

http://www.audioblog.missingsaddle.com/2008/02/17/tour-of-california-michael-ball/

One of the things I like about cycling is the real teamwork and the amazing humility of some of the top riders... Bettini, Hincapie, Boonen, even Leipheimer... they're all decent human beings. Pro sports in this country is so much macho profiling and low IQ ******bags.

I'm not sure I'd call formulaic macho fashion for "edginess". I mean skulls, fer chrissakes! How played out is that? Follow it for a couple more years to it's inevitable conclusion and you've got pro wrestling with wheels.

Az

I saw Michael Ball today at the finish line in Sacramento yelling at his entourage. I'm pretty sure that he, Botero, and Sevilla we're all wearing make up. Didn't look like Hamilton was, so I hopeful he hasn't completely bought in to the hype. Sevilla looked like he was 16 year old girl dressed up for a night on the town. :)

But, on the good side, they've got people talking and their bikes and cars are friggin' cool looking.

"bad-boy image" + "bored Lance/Discovery fan base" = $

Hopefully Freddy signed a short contract.

best looking bikes in the bunch

What's not to like...

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/babes/babes08/cali-rock.jpg

Whats up with the Blu blockers? I think I know the asian chick in the middle.

Here's his car.....

Hmm, rich guy shows up and throws a ton of money around, everybody loves him. I've heard this story before... it ends well, right?

All their support cars for the race are Caddilac CTS or Escalades, I've never seen either with full roof racks full of bikes, not bad. Of course, the other teams have BMW's, Volvos, Saabs, so...

Right after the stage they had everyone on the team except Cippolini at their booth signing autographs, no other team did this. Tyler looked rested and ready, I hope he does well, but the PR value of having him and Chip is fantastic!!!

They are putting on a full show at the booth, what ever it takes to get sponsors willing to support a team, right on!

What's not to like...

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/babes/babes08/cali-rock.jpg

His Wolfman haircut, pompous attitude, and "As-Seen-On-TV" sun glasses. Other than that, nothing at all.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/feb08/california08/california080/DSC_0136.jpg

i wonder how much "work" he's had done?

Much !

The power of marketing amazes me. This team has a third place in a stage of ToC and people call it their favorite team? Who is your favorite disgraced rider on this team?

He certainly stole the spotlight away from Slip Stream and High Road. Even if RR is a flash in the pan...Its still fun!

The power of marketing amazes me. This team has a third place in a stage of ToC and people call it their favorite team? Who is your favorite disgraced rider on this team?

define disgraced.

The power of marketing amazes me. This team has a third place in a stage of ToC and people call it their favorite team? Who is your favorite disgraced rider on this team?

Marketing is important. And here is someone bringing something different to cycling. So they only have a third place. How many Frenchmen (or people in general) still have Bougues Telecom as their favorite team?

People like stand outs. Jens Voight is not the greatest rider out there, but he is one of the most exciting to watch. I believe it is about what can make it interesting for people.

Who is my favorite disgraced rider? I am assuming that you mean once convicted of a doping crime that these people should be sent to rot in some inner circle of hell forever, but my opinion goes that they were guilty of a crime. They served their punishment. Now give them the benefit of the doubt. To me I don't think of them as disgraced, doping, OP, or otherwise. Particularly since you seem to be of the opinion that those who have not been caught, tried, and convicted are angelic by comparison. They are not.

Who is my favorite "disgraced" rider on Rock Racing? Ty Hamilton.

The power of marketing amazes me. This team has a third place in a stage of ToC and people call it their favorite team? Who is your favorite disgraced rider on this team?

Do peoples favorites always have to be the best? Isnt that what people would call a fair-weather fan?

The power of marketing amazes me. This team has a third place in a stage of ToC and people call it their favorite team? Who is your favorite disgraced rider on this team?

Don't hate them because they are Beautiful :rolleyes:

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/babes/babes08/cali-rock.jpg

Compared to Slipstream they are a circus act.

Bringin' some R'N'R rebellion to the sport? +One Million.
Disgraced when they were caught maybe, but now given the chance to compete again when many teams wouldn't touch 'em I bet hey ride like hell. Should be fun.

Wonder how MB has time to run the team, with the lawsuits and all:

http://www.tmz.com/2007/08/27/jeans-designer-accused-of-trying-to-get-in-pants/
http://www.topix.com/forum/movies/celebrity/TLF2284VH1P2KV00G/p2
http://chat.lawinfo.com/rock_republic_lawsuit-t16513/index.html?p=34953

ball is an insecure little man, but I like the team, hell they can't be all bad, they managed to get cipo, even if he still does whatever the hell he wants.

Found out the other day that Ball is a former competitive cyclists, specifically track and crits. This fact
came from a current or former pro that competed against him stating that, and I'm paraphrasing based on
my limited recall of the actual quote, "...he was a tenacious competitor." This gave me an improved opinion
of him but I still believe he needs to alter his overall approach especially concerning his riders.

Horner chose not to ride for Ball because his contract didn't guarantee that he would get paid. Apparently
there were unacceptable provisions in the contract regarding salary that left him still on the market. I believe inspite of Astana's current troubles with ASO and RSA that he's fortunate to have chosen Astana
over Rock Racing.

Sorry for side tracking the topic.

Rock racing is proof that cycling works as advertising. Prior to Rock racing, I had no idea that rock and republic jeans even existed. Then, one of my girlfriends highly fashionable friends informed me that her favorite jeans company was starting a bike team. I feel enriched.

I see what hes trying to do, really change the face of cycling. But hes going to piss so many people off and need a favor one day.

Also his team is a lot of whats wrong with cycling these days.

What's not to like...

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/babes/babes08/cali-rock.jpg

Reminds me of this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHM-hWYuVS4).

Let's shake up pro cycling, maybe after 40 years of drug use and quiet acceptance/looking the other way, maybe we need this. Not a WWF type, but you need SOMETHING to bring it to the public in NA. Wrapped in high end jeans and fashion, with a mouth of boss and you just might have something.

Despite being a fashionistadore, M. Ball could use a stylist though. That hair dude, please.

Dude Micheal ball looks like Erik Estrada.


Like not Chips Erik Estrada, but old Erik Estrada with a toupe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/carlfreddy/yummy.jpg

I'll take this one.

kthnxbyenow

Reminds me of this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHM-hWYuVS4).

More like this:

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/73671679.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1935B3684F2B7A07BEBCCC7B582939AB265284831B75F48EF45

More like this:

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/73671679.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1935B3684F2B7A07BEBCCC7B582939AB265284831B75F48EF45

gene simmons with a bunch of transvestites. nice!

gene simmons with a bunch of transvestites. nice!

Hey, it's what the pic reminds me of - some guy trying too hard to be a rock star.