whoa. that’s f’ing nuts if true. and sad too.

collest kits on the block for sure. pricey though….

can’t imagine r&r jeans doing well in this economy either…

hmmm. Domestic Team. 40 employees. A dorky ass sport (I love it). Wow, I wonder why it didn’t help sell their jeans.

Does this mean I should my protest to USA Cycling because they jumped into the Prospect Park race?

you’ve got to improve your google rating.
A search of Rock Racing folding did not find you.

VeloNews seeks tech editor
By VeloNews.com
Posted Dec. 15, 2008

Do you love working on bikes and know them inside and out? Do you appreciate staying on top of the latest tech trends? If you have the right stuff, VeloNews has a career waiting for you.

VeloNews is growing its tech department, expanding on the huge body of work done by Lennard Zinn and Matt Pacocha, the most respected technical writers in cycling. VeloNews is seeking a tech editor to spearhead the department, producing work while collaborating with Zinn and Pacocha.

The position requires a thorough understanding of bicycle technology, management ability, professional writing and editing competency, and solid communication and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will have bike industry experience, preferably in a bike shop or R&D. Attention to detail, multi-tasking skills and the ability to work under tight deadlines are essential.

Interested candidates can send a résumé, cover letter and three writing samples to Attn: HR; 1830 55th St.; Boulder, CO 80301 or boulderjobs@competitorgroup.com. No phone calls, please.

I got from an inside source this:
“Ball told Bahati he’s downsizing Rock & Republic Enterprises, Inc., but the team is staying.”

All I have as of now…

i bet bahati to ride with landis’ new team.

you heard it here first…

Hock Racing would be smarter/better/funnier

Formula for success: Get a bunch very expensive black suv’s, pay models overtime to show up at bicycle races and then get some sweet over the hill dopers/ex-dopers, hire Cipollini (yup that didn’t cost a fortune) then try to sell $40 shorts for $250.

Rock Racing & Madoff Investment Securities forming pro team, investors now sought for tremendous opportunity…

Actually you might not still think that local racing is that great when Bahati and Chadwick are riding for Foundation and totally dominating the power points race.

dude, everyone on this site is at most cat 4. We wont race against Bahati.

Damn It, Ball! I thought you were going to through it to Uni-Ball.

….according to Rock Racings Twitter account. I do, however, think its a little strange that an employee was “trying to call Michael Ball” and none of the rider have heard anything from the team in, oh, 2 months or so. weird.

The team is NOT going out of business but is going to be reduced in scope. Stars like Freddy and Hamilton and Sevilla are still with the team, and will race a full schedule of events. According to team owner Michael Ball’s loyal assistant, Betty, this new version of the team will be called “Unattached” and they will wear Cookie Monster jerseys from Performance Bike.

Many rumors have been circulating over the past week about the Rock Racing team and its parent designer clothing company Rock & Republic, all stemming from the company’s financial position within the worsening global economy. The main rumor that the company will be completely disbanding its cycling team appear to be an exaggeration, though internal company communication has indicated that a downsizing of the parent company’s staff overall, including portions of the cycling team’s staff, is happening. As such there has been speculation that this could reduce the number of riders on the team.

“Rock Racing will continue to race in 2009,” a statement from the team said. “Tyler Hamilton, Rahsaan Bahati and Justin Williams will defend their U.S. national titles. More important information about the team’s plans will follow. We appreciate your interest and continued support of Rock Racing.”

Martine Charles, a spokesperson with the team, would not elaborate on the status of the team other than to say that it is continuing. When asked if the team will be downsizing, especially considering that not all of the riders would be able to race on the UCI roster, the official answer from Charles was: “As of today the team is going to be the same”. However, other sources within the team speculated that downsizing is a likely possibility.

US criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati was snowboarding at Big Bear in California when reached by Cyclingnews. When asked about the rumor he laughed saying, “I hope I still have a job!” Bahati said that he had not heard anything from team owner Michael Ball or the management about the team shutting down.

Michael Ball had indicated for most of the last year that he had planned on taking the team to Pro Continental status for 2009. However, the team withdrew its application to the UCI before the deadline in order to remain a Continental team. Still the team has signed many high-profile talents and was expecting to carry a separate amateur squad consisting of many riders that are currently professionals.

you guys are a bunch of miserable, cynical a-holes sometime. this guys puts up the money to one of the Best races in NYC, and these are the comments this guy gets?

disgusting.

With what bikes? Mike Ball pissed everyone one off in the bike industry..So at this point one whats to give him bikes..

He promoted the event, RR footed the bill of course, but Harlem will still grow because NYC cycling, like this website and others, and hard work by Eustice, supports Harlem Crit…it didnt just happen, Ball jumped on the band-wagon with his cash attitude…that race is hard fought cause there are few races with 40 years history, or the honor roll to match!
peace,
now where is Magic Johnson’s phone number?

ODB

So, how about the local teams? Which team(s) are folding? re-branding? what are the new teams?

Mee Heung Low Racing, Presented by Enzyte.

they aren’t folding. But way to jump over it guys.

BiciPonzi, Presented by Madoff Securities

do you really NOT pay attention, awesome indifferent guy? this is one of the biggest sponsors in american cycling.

It may be branded as a Ponzi but the frame is really made in Taiwan by Som Sin Wong Bicycle Mfg. Corp. LLC. They’re known to be laterally slick and vertically integrated.

Ponzi schemes were named after the “first” guy to do it, an Italian immigrant by the name of Charles Ponzi. I’m sure you’ll manage to twist this into some completely retarded bike-related joke.

– charles ponzi

ball and racing got exactly what they deserved.
big mouths, no respect shown to the establishment.
that guy was in the right place right time and thats all.
tough times he shows exactly how inexperienced he is.
spending like a maniac when times are good and shutting down in total when it gets soft.
very nice.
i feel bad for his staff and vendors, but for him, it couldnt have happened to a bigger pric k
good riddens.

hey, when was the last time the high horse armchair quarterbacks here personally sponsored a bike team? at least ball and rock racing were out there mixing it up, and who knows, maybe ball spent some of his own money in it. or if it was company-paid, since he’s the owner, doesn’t that mean ultimately the money came out of his pocket? the guy spent big bucks and his team looks like they had fun. certainly made an impression. sorry to see ’em go.

besides, rock racing girls infinitely better looking than vaughters’ corporate doucheitude…

Oh, yeah, not a corporate douche to be found in Rock and Republic jeans……i actually think you can order them with extra douche

Dude, what about Rock not folding do you not understand? they canned a couple team mgmt guys and the kit cutters and sewers, and unrelated Rock and Rep. people. I can see how you would naturally assume that means the entire team is done, cause they need to find someone else to sew their kits.

I’m glad you guys relish in something like this, even if its not true. Less teams racing is always way better right? Now go buy some speedplay nanograms for your cervelo.

Did anyone else see that the Arena Football League is not going to play at all this season? Cycling fans take notice. Rock’s not the only team that’s going to be in trouble.

starts a cycling team…you heard it here first!

you can’t see it…but I’m doing that stupid thing with my fingers and making a face like I’m being checked for a hernia…just like all those uber cool rock racing guys used to do…wonder what the mark down will be on the $280 jeans this holiday season…the only thing “here to stay” is Michael Balls debt load. Can’t wait for the bankruptcy sale there…soiled jeans and lime green de rosas

Weight Weenie Mullet: every other hair surgically removed. Avg. weight savings: 10 grams…

WTF is the “Arena Football League”? I never even knew this existed.
I’m sure bicycle races have been going on longer than “Arena Football”

bollocks

i buy $39.99 jeans so i can afford to buy a carbon fiber frame that is 50x that….

priorities…

and they’re more laterally compliant…

the premise of the thread is false, therefore, close it. ASTANA folding, due to too many douchebags on the taem, cannot afford that much vagisil.

This thread Rocks!

Lock your computer instead.

Designer jeans are sooo 80’s and justifing a cycling team to advertise them to people who would rather wear a free T-shirt till its paper thin in order to buy a new $6K bike to use for one year is money thrown out the window!

How many of you R&R lovers actually bought a pair of jeans or a Rock kit? None of you and that is why the team will eventually fold. So if you really want Ball to stick around go buy some of his jeans or a kit. Sorry but I’m still saving for some pimp parts for my new frame so I’m still wearing my patched up 501’s.

Recently put himself on linkedin and got himself a written referral from Andreu. Clearly looking for a new job. Oh well, he can forget about a sprinting spot on Astana.

you guys are full of Sugar Honey Ice Tea!!!Northeast region cyclist in generally and CRCA members specifically earn well above average incomes. Made up of CEO’s, CFO’s, COO’s, lawyers, doctors, wall street guys/gals, freelance people with limitless incomes, park av. address, etc…don’t give me that crap about saving on jeans fashion to support your cycling habit…nice try at humility richie rich, we are on to you 🙂

That said, “we” (crca/cyclist) don’t buy designer jeans because “we” (excluding myself) are old men that have no swagger!!!

for better or worse Michael Ball and RR injecting a brand of fun and spectacle into American cycling that is absolutely necessary to the long term survival and growth of the sport. Helicopters and TV coverage at Harlem, cool dudes, hot chicks, Cadillac Escalades, etc…for once it was not corny or lame to be a cyclist.

Back to the polo shirts and lames ass race atmospheres. Michael Ball may not know how to balance a checkbook, but he cam put on one hell of an exciting show/race.

the fact that he took his own wealth and ran a kickass team for a few years is awesome. and the guy starts an insurance fund for injured cyclists (no idea if that’s still going on, but hey, at least it was a start).

like him or hate him, cycling got a big injection of attention & money thanks to ball & his entourage.

lance vs. vaughters vs. ball in an ultimate fighting cage match. who wins?

What do you reckon they’d look like in this froot loops cycling shirt?

Looks like Andy had it right.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/jan09/jan04news

redemption theme so full of sh..
Makes me think someone should re-test for CERA…
still has smilie faces of Leogrande!!!
shall I digress further???
discuss
argue
comment…*

Michael Ball is such a piece of work that one of his riders is needing to have a public fund raising drive to help pay for dental care (teeth got wrecked in a bad crash), since the team doesn’t provide any insurance. Nice, eh?

The class act is Bahati and teammmates. They donated their race winnings to help pay for new teeth.

Ball should be ashamed of himself and this situation.

http://www.socalcycling.com/

“Fundraiser for Justin Williams Dental Work After Crash at MBGP
7/3/09 – U-23 National Criterium Champion Justin Williams (Rock Racing) suffered a bad crash at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix with 2 laps to go. Unfortunately, his mouth hit his stem and he lost his two front teeth and chipped several bottom teeth. As we all know, dental work is very expensive. Rahsaan Bahati and his Rock Racing teammates have generously donated their MBGP prize winnings. SoCalCycling.com and Rahsaan want to help make up the difference needed, so we are asking for your help in raising the additional funds needed to give Justin his great smile back. We have set up a ChipIn account above where you can contribute via PayPal or credit card. Any amount will help and is greatly appreciated! Thanks and let’s see how the cycling community can rally! (Just in case you can’t see the ChipIn Widget above, please click here.)

who cares