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Limited Edition Valentine's Day Sock: Kisses

Killer Team Profile: Whole Athlete-Specialized Cycling Team

Team Whole Athlete-Specialized .. nice socks!
Team Page
Blog
Facebook

1. What is the mission of your team?
Our mission is to invest in the future of our youth and the sport of cycling by supporting the development of Junior & U-23 cyclists at the regional, national and international levels, and to provide opportunities for young cyclists to race and ride together while embracing our philosophy of dedication, integrity and fun.

2. What do the riders on your team have in common?
All of our riders have proven their dedication to the sport and demonstrated a potential to rise beyond regional success.  Most importantly, they have shown the right attitude, tempering ambition with humility and the drive to succeed with a willingness to give back to their community.

3. What does the team do for fun?
Ride our bikes, of course!

4. How does the team push itself to succeed?
Success for The Whole Athlete - Specialized Team is not just measured by the number of podiums or national champion jerseys.  Success is getting more people on bikes, introducing a younger sibling to racing, or learning how to better balance the demands of top-level competition with scholastic goals.  The team is continually striving to improve on previous results and help more riders make the transition to the highest levels of competition while maintaining true to our core values.

5. What is something that nobody knows about the team?
The roots of our team catchphrase, "It's business time."  It's true origin is a closely guarded secret.

6. What does your team love about SockGuy socks?
They are the best blend of high style and high-performance - just like our team!

San Francisco to Long Beach Ride

Ryan Cady, one of our fearless leaders at SockGuy, completed an awesome ride down the coast last weekend. Aside from being jealous, we are stoked for him. Here is a recap and some pics.

Here is Ryan (in the middle) with Frank Schroeder on the left at a lookout point in Carmel.

Q&A With Ryan
1. Why are you doing the ride?
Just because I was invited and it’s a great group of people and a fun challenge.

2. Who is doing the ride?
Kevin Kruger has been organizing this ride for 15 years or more. He took it over from another friend who started it. It’s basically a group of accomplished amateur racers now racing in the “masters” (35 years old and up) category.

Mile 60 of 135 in Big Sur. 5 musketeers (of 18 total): Tom, Miguel, Ryan, Joe and Greg. It was a great day - we passed Hearst Castle and saw tons of whales and sea lions down the coast.

3. Where is the ride (to/from)?
Day 1 is San Jose to Carmel. Day 2 Carmel to SLO. Day 3 SLO to Ventura. Day 4 Ventura to Long Beach where Brian Keats (owner of SockGuy client La Habra Cyclery) lives.

4. Tell me something funny that happened on the ride.
New invitee Chris Daggs and finally returning veteran Frank Trottman, his roommate, were woken up at 7:30 (roll out time) on the second day by 15 guys ready to roll out for the longest day. They had to race to get ready and eat in the van as they drove to catch up to the rest of us who left on time. Energy bars and no coffee before an 8-hour day of riding is not a good way to start!

Here is the early photo when we got ambushed by the rain before I got my jacket on!

5. Is this an annual event? If so, when did it start?
Yes it is annual and has been going on for at least 20 years I believe.

6. Anything else I should know?
SockGuy Dad, Bob, drove the sag vehicle for the 2nd year in a row.

Final day ventura to long beach (finish). stop at Santa Monica to change
into dry clothes. Who says it doesn't rain in Socal? Good thing I've got my
killer rain jacket courtesy of our friends at Showers Pass Clothing in
Portland. 90 miles in the rain? No problem!

Killer Team Profile: Team RideClean

 Team RideClean ... Nice Socks!

Team Page

Outreach Page

Facebook

1. What is the mission of your team? 
The RideClean PatentIt.com Team exists to further the RideClean mission for Clean Sport which is to support a positive environment for avowedly clean athletes to develop and compete without the influence of performance enhancing drugs.  Our mission is achieved if we can show a clean path for youth and other athletes to compete while adhering to their conscience.  This balance allows the athlete to achieve their inner potential.

2. What do the riders on your team have in common?  The riders on the RideClean PatentIt.com have varying ability and experience levels.  The team has a developmental squad, a womens squad, and a number of Elite Amateurs that contest at National Race Calendar events while representing the sponsors and the message of RideClean.

3. What does the team do for fun? 
While the hobbies of the team are as varied as the riders that make it up, the fun side is easily summed up by what we call "Snakes Rules" which state that the team should:

• Have fun
• Race Bikes
• Eat Ice Cream
• Go Swimming
• Kiss podium girls (boys)

4. How does the team push itself to succeed? 
The fun factor and individual motivations as they come together to form team goals allow the team to succeed.  When the emphasis is on the process and not the end result, then success is already achieved.  When there are external pressures to achieve (by sponsors, by self, by family, by fans), they can lead athletes to go outside of themselves to please others.  We are all competitive by nature, and everyone likes to win, but by putting the stress on the fulfillment of individual potential and emphasizing the PROCESS over the RESULT, then success is achieved.

5. What is something that nobody knows about the team? 
What nobody knows about the team is that it is easy to climb aboard -- all you have to do is show that you are rowing the boat. 

6. What does your team love about SockGuy socks? 
The team LUVS SockGuy socks because SockGuy gets what RideClean is doing.  SockGuy was the first partner that RideClean had and has been with RideClean for 5 years.  Other than that, the fact that they are the most comfortable socks available doesnt hurt.  More wicking material than ANY other sock?  Sounds good...

Awesome Dealer Profile: Skinny Raven Sports

Since its inception in 1994 Skinny Raven Sports has been at the forefront of the Anchorage running community. The Skinny Raven Mission is to help people find the right footwear. The staff is well educated in the art of shoe fitting and they pride themselves on being able to accommodate even the most challenging foot types.

And, of course, they sell SOCKS, too! SockGuy Socks, to be specific. Skinny Raven is one of our great dealers, so we interviewed Chief Sock Buyer, Todd List, to find out more about their store. Here is what he told us:

1. What is SkinnyRaven best known for?
SkinnyRaven is best known for the customer service - whether we are helping a customer with footwear, offering free services such as polishing up their Danskos, stretching their shoes or just offering them coffee, we strive to help the customer and always give them our very best.

2. What do your customers love best about SkinnyRaven?
Our customers really appreciate our customer service and the overall atmosphere of Skinny Raven.

3. What sports do SkinnyRaven customers enjoy?
Our customers enjoy a wide range of activities including running, walking, skiing (downhill and Nordic), fishing, ice skating, squash, aerobics ... and lots more

4. What are the most popular SockGuy socks you sell?
The most popular SockGuy sock is the BEANO sock!

5. Why do you think SkinnyRaven customers like SockGuy socks?
Our customers LOVE the sockguy socks because there are so many FUN designs!

6. Do you (Todd) wear SockGuy socks? If so, what are your personal favorites?
I do wear sockguy socks. My favorite was the ¾ crew Raven sock. (NOTE from SockGuy: du-oh! That one's been discontinued ... maybe it's time to reconsider!)

7. How cold is it up there? Have you guys tried the SockGuy MTN-tech socks to keep warm?
In the winter the temperature is around 20 degrees. We have not tried the MTN tech sock. (NOTE from SockGuy: OK - we're sending you a care package - you'll love them!)

8. What should everyone in the world know about SkinnyRaven?
Everyone in the world should know that Skinny Raven is FUN! And our logo is cool :-)

SockGuy Spotted on Andy Schlect:)

We strive to make the best of the best and we're always happy to receive requests from top athletes around the world for a bit of SockGuy LUV.

Nobody in the office however is 'fessing up to swiping this pair from the SockGuy warehouse for their young friend from Luxembourg. We're not sure why - obviously the bosses would not consider this "misuse of company property."

Photographer Stephen Farrand was the man on the scene that caught Andy Schleck at a news conference today sporting his own pair of SockGuy's LUX crew!

Thanks for representin' Andy.

We LUV you too.

SockGuy on Summer Vacation Part 1

Spreading the LUV all over your adventurous feet!

SockGuy was recently spotted at the Grand Canyon! Mike and Liz sent this shot of themselves sportin' Watermelon and California Flag during one of their summer adventures along the Rainbow Rim Trail. Now that's LUV.

If you have your own pix of SockGuy in action feel free to send them to: SpreadingTheLuv@sockguy.com and if we pick you photo you'll earn a discount on your next purchase at sockguy.com.

Enjoy the summer in cool comfort and LUV!

Vancouver to Whistler on Two Muddy Wheels

The world of custom socks helps us make friends with some really cool peeps and some pretty amazing events. Like these cats from the West Coast of British Columbia with their BC Bike Race.

They took all their experience in MTB and adventure races and put the BC Bike Race together a couple years ago. We knew from the first glossy brochure that they weren't kidding around and the result is an incredible race from Vancouver to Whistler that sells out every year.

It's the kind of race you end up hearing riders whooping and hollering along the trail like little kids. The kind of race that's worthy of some vacation time...a few of us are even hoping we can work some extra time in to "support" the race and check it ourselves. If the sock empire-building heats up in June and we just can't make it happen at least we've got some of the extra socks we made for their event around and some epic photography to drool over...

Fly V from Down Under, the Radar

The Fly V-SockGuy partnership began last year out of the pure excitement to support a great group of people. Seriously. We visited with them at events, incorporated rider feedback into product development, enjoyed the occasional stops they made by the SG World HQ's. It was a nice relationship with some exciting moments last season for sure. We knew they had aspirations to take it to the next level, but don't all competitors?

And then this year began. Podium, podium, podium. Tucson, Dana Point, Redlands. Everywhere they went they won. Who did Ben Day beat today? Who was Cantwell leaving in the dust this weekend? They are tearing it up this year, together, and we are just stoked for them.

The cornerstone of this success is something they call mateship. So important is it that every jersey has it printed inside. We LUV that. When we were recently sent a link to some fantastic cycling photography by Michael Crook that encyclista.com posted we knew we had to try and share it. It's a great illustration of their mateship and more material to feed the pure excitement around the big green world of SG. Cheers to the Fly V team and the talents of MISS Crook...check it: www.encyclista.com

Kickin' San Dimas!

If you really want to make a statement:

#1 Lead a race start to finish

#2 Don't let 'em see you sweat

SockGuy's Ben Day and the Fly V team pulled off both at San Dimas this weekend. Our mate's win by a margin of 5 seconds in the time trail set the tone for the weekend early. A victory in 2009 to defend may have been all the pressure Ben needed, add the weight of that yellow jersey and you gotta keep your COOL COMFORT...but with his Ben tested, Ben approved, new SockGuy ProLite Base Layer this guy stayed cool AND in command throughout the weekend.

We're talking in command: with the help of a stellar Fly V team Ben held on to his yellow jersey through a tough 84 kilometer road circuit and defended his lead during San Dimas' final stage, the Old Town Crit that followed.


We congratulate Ben and the SockGuy sponsored Fly V on the big win and would like to thank them all for their product feedback during the development of our new line of base layers...

CHECK THEM OUT THIS APRIL AT A DEALER NEAR YOU OR ONLINE AT www.sockguy.com!

SockGuy Does the Mpumalanga!

The small town of Sabie was the recent host of the 7th South African Marathon Championships. A grueling 75km in the mountains of the Lowveld would provided a true marathon course and some very hard racing. It would also form the third leg of South Africa's MTN Marathon series, but with the coveted green and gold jersey up for grabs, and the title of SA Marathon champion, it was sure to be a hard fought race with all the country's top riders taking the start line.

A star studded field of over 524 riders in the 75km discipline saw Sanet Small of SockGuy sponsored Ghost BBT take the 1^st spot in the Senior Ladies. Sanet managed to overcome the challenges of 74 other riders in the category on Saturday to take the no 1 spot. Hellz yeah!

She had to have been sportin' some SockGuy Tough Girl for that show down! Our girl has clearly earned the privilege to sport the likes I've these:

A letter from the toughest of critics - A TEENAGER!

Dear Mr. Sock Guy,

I recently ran in my second half marathon at the 2010 Carlsbad Half Marathon finishing in 1:45:10 which was a PR! I finished 4th in the Womens 17 year & under Division, 201st out of 4411 women, and 753rd out of 7140 total runners. Woo hoo! I have to say that wearing your SICK arm warmers (the very fashionable pink and black striped kind) helped me survive the day.

This was the first time I ran a race wearing any type of arm warmer as it was 44 degrees (brrrrr) at the 7:30am start. It had to be one of the coldest mornings ever in Carlsbad! Before the race I had to stand outside in the cold morning air for 45 minutes and my Sock Guy arm warmers allowed me to stay warm while I stood in the long line for the Porta-Potty :)

I kept the arm warmers on throughout the entire race as they kept me warm in the start, wicked moisture away from my arms and protected them from the wind during the race, and helped me look LEGIT at the finish line! I have to say that I will wear them again. Attached is a picture of me during the race. Thanks for making a great product!

XC Rules!
Haley Nordin

Bullseye!

Raise the red flag and step back, the range is going HOT!

The Winter Olympics start today in Vancouver but SockGuy and Team USA Archery already have their sights set on London 2012. SockGuy recently teamed up with the USA Archery squad based right here in Southern California to deliver some patriotic custom arm warmers for our guys and gals in the Red, White and Blue!

Made in the USA for the USA, these arm warmers were put to the test in nasty weather earlier this winter during the 1000-arrow challenge where each athlete shoots 1000 arrows in a single day! With crosswinds, rain, and pressure shots the last thing you want to be worried about is a case of shivering arms. These babies are made out of the same moisture-wicking MD Acrylic that our socks are. So whether it's rain, sleet, snow, or sweat your arms are toasty-warm and dry, keeping you focused on the task at hand!

Want some custom armwarmers for your squad? Shoot us an e-mail at custom@sockguy.com and we'll get your crew rocking the SockGuy Luv for your morning rides, runs, or....you guessed it....shoots!

SockGuy Spotted in Utah Cyclocross Race

Fort Buevnaventura State Park in Ogden Utah.

The final day of Utah Cyclocross Season. A great turnout despite cold weather and challenging conditions.

Could those electrically-charged, supa-pow-wah Arm Warmers have helped this young buck surge ahead? Possibly. Alert deer hunters to the distinction between said young buck and members of Bambi's kith and kin? Definitely.

Presently Surprised by our Tall Frosty and this Santa's LUV for Sabbath?

'Tis the season of peace, joy, LUV, and family.
It's no time to abandon your sense of humor.

Keep your Cool Comfort, your affection for coal, and get yourself some
of this year's limited edition holiday stockings:
I Heart Coal, Winter Wonderland, Santa Rocks, and Frosty.

Plus something for the elf-sized sock LUV'ers!
Buy 4 pair of adult socks and
get 1 pair of our children's socks for FREE.
Just add your kids sock selection to your socking cart
and use the promo code: LUVELVES.
(Be sure to click "Recalculate").

With some socks and some mistletoe,
we'll be Spreading the LUV to big, small, naughty and nice.

From Deep in the Murk...

Chipps Chippendale (we have not yet determined whether or not that is a stage name) rockin' some bright and shiny SockGuy Arm Warmers during the Scottish Cyclocross Series at Mugdock - an impressively named mud producing town north of Glasgow. A brilliant display in many ways if we do say so ourselves.

These rather vibrant pair of Arm Warmers were part of SockGuy's Interbike promo items in Las Vegas this year - a neon test market of sorts. Now that we've had so many requests for this design we may just have to knit some up for the wall flowers of the world.

Hot Damn that's Some Foot Wear!

Hot Damn that's Some Foot Wear!

Cadel Evans was out debuting his newly earned World Champ stripes at the Coppa Sabatini yesterday - right down to his fancy

new shoes; paired quite well with a some SockGuy LUV.

The new stripes weren't

even Cadel's biggest news of the day. Busting out of the pack and burning up the break's reserves, The Champ helped fellow Silence-Lotto teammate, Philippe Gilbert out-sprint Giovanni Visconti to the finish line.

It's nice having friends in high places.

Cheers to Our Favorite Mate from Down Under

We're rarely short on a reason to toast around SockGuy, but when one of our favorites whoops some serious booty and becomes the World Champ, it's definitely time to upgrade from the free macro-brews we enjoyed at Interbike last week.

Cheers Cadel! We're breaking out the top shelf bevies. It's been a challenging year and we're all so happy to see you on the top of the podium.

Cadel Evans garnered some serious LUV around SockGuy HQ last year when he asked us to make him a few Free Tibet base layers to wear during the Spring Classics. When his political statement ruffled feathers with the Chinese Olympic Committee he stuck to his guns; putting his weight behind the cause of the Tibetan people. Between our mutual LUV for the worthy cause and the "mild" disdain for authority found around the halls of SockGuy - the bro-mance was guaranteed.

We've been proud to support Cadel and his compadres on the Silence-Lotto team over the past two years. We look forward to Cadel schooling the whipper snappers on the circuit with some more "ferocious" and "devastating" attacks. Gives all of us thirty-somethings a reason to say "HOLLAAAAA!"

How you get there is more important than when you get there...

Look closely...some serious pro teams in the break that formed off these attacks during Stage 2 of the Tour of Utah. But we of course have some special LUV for those good cats with the RideClean organization. Yeah, that's one of them - right up front looking hot. Did you notice the socks?

SockGuy sponsored RideClean was the only amateur team represented in the break that formed and stayed away for 60 miles. Yee-haw! The team also had the top amateur finisher after 6 grueling days in the saddle.

The best part is the philosophy that powers this team. Seriously check this trailer out. I'm a sucker for a good sports montage and this one might be up there with some of those weep-worthy NBA finals' highlight reels.

By taking the “ride clean and the rest will follow” approach, RideClean brings their positive focus to the pure sport of cycling and support for clean athletes, ultimately working to reconnect the discouraged and disillusioned to the beauty of the sport.

To help support all this goodness we're offering RideClean Socks and Arm Warmers that look great and do good too. SockGuy is giving 10% of the proceeds from every RIDE CLEAN Sock and Arm Warmer sale to the RIDE CLEAN mission.

RideClean and the rest will follow...

Robin Willliams Rockin' SockGuy's Chinese Peace

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

With his ticker on the mend we were happy to hear that Robin Williams is back on his bike and happy to see him sporting his SockGuy Chinese Peace socks on Conan the other night.