One of our first posts on The Road Diaries was about Alberto Contador’s custom pink Trek Madone 6.9 from the Giro d’Italia, as pictured here. But did John Bruyneel let him race on it? We got to take another look this week at Trek World in Madison, Wisconsin, and this video gives you the scoop.

The Road Diaries caught up with triathlete Chris Lieto at his house in Danville, California for a quick ride and an interview before he left do race the Tour of Utah with the California Giant Strawberry team, who also happen to ride SRAM. We’ll be posting the interview shortly, but in the meantime check out Chris’ crazy van/RV/monster truck that runs on biodiesel and solar power. This thing is nuts. Full photo set is here.

Watching the Olympics is always easy and actually watching athletes do something as well as it can be done is the most gratifying thing for me. Achievement and greatness are defined by the World’s best being the best. But, more than that, it’s hopefully what we are all striving for in some small way but, no matter how we compete, knowing that you are witnessing somebody define their life’s athletic effort in a few moments is a gift. I never try to forget that when I see their elation, what a release it must be.

Watching the Men’s Road Race coverage …

Our domestic teams Kelly Benefits-Medifast and Team Bissell had a great weekend on SRAM’s home turf at the Tour of Elk Grove this past weekend. Sadly, Astana’s Chris Horner had a not-so-great weekend as he broke his collarbone in a crash that will keep him out of the Vuelta next month. Anyways, here are some pics from our very own Michael Zellmann. More here.

Kelly’s David Veilleux enjoys his overall win in the three-stage race.

The final podium also had Bissell’s Tom Zirbel in third overall. He won the prologue on Friday night.

Chris Horner spent some time training in the suburbs of Chicago last week before racing in the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove Village. Unfortunately Chris was involved in a stage two pile-up and fractured his collarbone. Prior to the unfortunateness he gave me some updates on his plans and the recent Team Astana roster re-signings. His race plans will certainly change with the collarbone injury but he is excited about the team and its future, he also talks about (his former teammate) Cadel Evan’s …

Astana’s Chris Horner has been spending time in the flatlands of the midwest (northwest of Chicago) in between the Chicago Criterium and the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove Village events (unfortunately Chris fractured his collar bone in stage two of this race), his long-term training focused on the the upcoming Vuelta. I caught up with him in my kitchen pre-ride to see what he was up to. His plan was to take his Trek Equinox TT bike out for a spin prior to the Elk Grove prologue, which happens …

We have been recording video and taking pics for a few months here at SRAM in anticipation of The Road Diaries going live, which it obviously has. I was at the 2008 Tour of Georgia and I took this quick video of Chris Horner (Team Astana) warming up, I think its pretty cool. Horner does a great job of paying no attention to me. I know for a fact that when these guys are warming up you do not want to interfere in any way, they are completely focused …

Just a quick wrap-up form the Chicago Criterium. I missed the podium ceremony by moments but did get Champagne on me, and it was a great race with a super strong field. Adam Bergman (Texas Roadhouse) took out the win, Dominique Rollin (Toyota United) was 2nd, David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast) 3rd, and Chris Horner (Astana) was 4th.