“Why am I uncomfortable on my bike?” Do you have occasion to ask this? We endeavor to find the answer in our series on the subject. Our first installment focused on contact points. This is the second and final installment.

A sudden weather change with sub freezing temperatures caught the participants at the 8th Annual International Zugspitz Extrem-Berglauf by surprise and 2 runners ended up dead seemingly from exposure and exhaustion.

Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) won the 2008 Ironman Switzerland thanks in part to his 4:27:43 bike split. In the women’s race it was Sybille Matter (SUI) who proved to be too strong for her competition.

Oscar Galindez (BRA) used a monster bike split to capture the 2008 Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island. Lisa Bentley (CAN) had to chase down long time leader Andrea Fisher (USA) to win the women’s race.

Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) dominated the 2008 Ironman Austria and thus grabbed his consecutive 3rd Ironman Austria title. The women’s crown was taken by Sandra Wallenhorst (GER) who briefly held the fastest time at the Iron distance with her time of 8:47:25.

Ironman Australia winner Patrick Vernay (NCL) won the 2008 Quelle Challenge Roth and held of a host of tough challengers. Yvonne Van Vlerken (NED) managed a new world best time of 8:45:48 enroute to her win in the women’s race.

Simon Whitfield broke away with 400m to go and Emma Snowsill ran away from everyone out of T2 as each claimed first place at the 2008 Lifetime Fitness Triathlon.

We recently introduced you to the life story of Andreas Niedrig, and today we bring you the interview with the enigmatic German athlete, husband, father, motivator and former junkie. Part 2 of 2.

Our series on how to put on a successful race continues with race registration, both pre-race and the requirements for registration at the race venue.

2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack (AUS) broke the course record as he won the 2008 Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt, Germany. Chrissie Wellington (GBR) broke the women’s course record and proved again that she is for real as she took another Ironman title.

Part four of Jay Prasuhn’s latest and greatest from le Tour. New and custom shades from Oakley, Bell’s new lid, FSA goes asymmetric, white is the new black, and more…

Daniel Unger (GER) won the 2008 ITU World Cup in Hamburg, Germany and thus repeated his victory on the course where he earned the World Championship title in 2007. Jan Frodeno (GER) finished second and Oliver Freeman (GBR) third.

Jay checks in with even more photos from behind the ropes at the 2008 Tour de France. Snapshots of Ridley’s new Noah road bike, which looks to challenge Cervelo’s Soloist and Felt’s new AR1 in the aero-road bike category, along with more of the latest from this year’s tour.

Jay Prasuhn checks in with more of the latest tech from the 2008 Tour de France. Pictures of new saddles from Fizik, the new Giant TT bike, and more as we report live from the Continent.

Cid Cardoso Jr is the owner, founder and president of Inside Out Sports and in addition to raising a family has raced over 20 Ironman races to date. The Brazilian born North Carolina resident is also a fantastic trail runner.

Absent the shackles of an office and desk, I opted to grab the laptop and camera, hit the road and make a visit to France to catch the start of the Tour de France, with the debut, a road stage instead of a prologue, taking place Saturday in the Brittany coast town of Brest. My mission while here: cruise the team trucks, take a look for prototypes, debuts and other soon-to-hit-the-market goods.

We don’t have Brett Favre and Tiki Barber to play on our fantasy football teams anymore. But we do have Christophe Moreau and George Hincapie. Announcing the first, or at least the best, and certainly the biggest, fantasy TdF pool.

Aquaman’s new Cell Gold wetsuit mixes classic Aquaman features with a new rubber from Yamamoto. We put the suit to the test, trying to discover if the folks at Aquaman were able to put the midas touch on what Aquaman USA’s Emmanuel Millet’s calls their “cadillac” suit.

Rumors have been flying around the internet for several days now and today Scott USA confirmed that they signed the 2 x Ironman World Champion Normann Stadler to race on their bikes and ride and run in their shoes.

Rebekah Keat’s win at Ironman Australia in 2007 was a bittersweet redemption for the Aussie triathlete who is currently still entangled in a lawsuit with a supplement manufacturer. We had a few words with her as she is getting ready for the Quelle Challenge Roth.

Leon Griffin won the 2008 Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs event but had to run down long leading US ITU pro Tim O’Donnell. The women’s race was won by Mirinda Carfrae who had her hands full with Joanna Zeiger and Joanna Lawn.

A follow up to Dan Empfield’s primer on the rubber used in triathlon wetsuits. A useful guide as we embark on tests of several of the newest wetsuits to hit the market.

Welcome to a new series: Why you’re not comfortable. If you’re not comfortable speaking in front of crowds, sorry, we’re not addressing that here. But if you’re not comfortable on your bike, read on. That’s our topic. We’re starting with “contact points.”

As the first half of this year draws to a close, is this a good or bad year for tri-specific retailers? We took the temp of some of America’s best, asking them this question, and parsing their answers for a good look inside.