Vanderkitten's Robyn Sheedy Takes Beantown 16-Miler Victory

Robyn Sheedy, one of our Vanderkitten multisport Athletes, competed in a 16 mile (running) road race this past weekend. "I ended up winning my age group (30-39). It was a pretty hilly course and it was in the middle of a snowstorm to boot! But all in all it was fun and good training for Boston [Marathon]. I ended up running a 2:00:20 which breaks down to 7:32/mile. Given that I had ridden a hard 3 hours on Sat. I was pretty happy with the result."

"More importantly, I got a big-ass beer stein for my efforts and was wearing my VK wear at the awards ceremony. So attached is a photo of me getting my (empty) beer stein (which was filled later) with the race director. Unfortunately the glass is blocking the VK logo! I did, however, get some questions from people about what the deal is with "that cat" and I was quite pleased to inform them of Vanderkitten"

Thank you Robyn for the race update and pic! Although it is quite a large stein, we are sure your Vanderkitten Post Race Training enabled you to down that one with no problem!! =)

Through out 2008 we will be bringing you updates and stories from Robin Sheedy as she travels the globe racing bikes, running and swimming to spread the good word of Vanderkitten!

CYCLE TO.com

We are very excited to be participating in this hot new site for Cycling Freaks! Take a look inside the lives of Elite Women Racers. Share the cheers and tears and see what life is like for these emerging athletes.

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You will get a unique opportunity to get the inside scoop on products, racers, lifestyle, events, etc. Results only tell a small portion of the story, now get the rest!

I Hate You for Being Hot, and Fast!

There are more and more girls out in the world not playing by the rules, embracing their beauty AND kicking ass! Introducing Emily Phillips. You heard it here first, Emily is going to be a household name in a couple of years.


Emily contacted Vanderkitten last year in suggestion that she too kicked ass on 2 wheels. The only difference is her 2 Wheels have engines and up t0 35 HP. Emily races Motocross, and when she's not racing, she is going to school and modeling.

Emily is making the trek out to NorCal from her current home of Texas (she is a So Cal Native) this week to me her extended Vanderkitten Family of Jennie, Dave, Mark, Liz, Hanan and Flavia. Check back often to see what trouble we can stir up with the hottest girls in Cycling AND Motocross!

With All of this Talk About Equality...

Maybe the UCI, the international governing body of cycling, made a New Year's resolution to equally compensate women professional athletes in prize money... but most likely they didn't.
Mountain biking phenom and current MTB National Champion Georgia Gould created a petition to the UCI that has been wildly broadcast to increase female prize money to match that of men. There are few professional women's sports that have achieved this, and we need to look no further than Tennis to see this gap closed.

A more likely achievement would be to garner compensation and endorsement packages like the surfing and snowboarding/skiing industry have. But where will the money come from?



Let's look at the numbers for a minute. There are 1.7 Million men, women and children in the USA who SURF, yet SURFWEAR is a multi-billion dollar industry. In fact, 95% of all of the people who own clothing or accessories from a "surfwear" company will never, in fact, surf. The cycling industry boasts amazing numbers in comparison. There are 44 million women in the USA who ride bikes, yet professional women make a FRACTION of what a professional female surfer earns. So, when we want equal pay... where does the money come from?

Cycling is ready for a MAKEOVER in a BIG WAY!



I love the sport, but it's been dorky at best over the last decade (save for the gravity girls). The cost of entry is extreme compared to a lot of other sports, the fashion is very far behind (see above), and the image is not one that marketeers find, well, marketable (see above). The age of people making decisions in the cycling industry is increasing, and the touch with todays trends is far removed. But cycling has something no other sport has- the ability to do it anywhere, in practically any weather. There is no Powder Day there is no Big Swell. There is not that one thing you wait for everyday of your life, that makes the attainment of said condition prestigious and godlike. Does this limit Cycling's allure? Can we shoot videos of the perfect road descent?

If any of you have ever surfed, you know you can get to the beach to find it flat, blown-out, overly crowded, choppy, glassy or perfect. The reality is that perfection is always being chased because the sport is 100% dependent on a perfect combination of being in the right place at the right time. On any given day, there is no surf. On any given day, there is always cycling. The lifestyle of being laid back, waiting for surf, is very appealing to us all. Surfing is natural, powerful, amazing. I feel the same way about skiing: I can hit speeds over 50 miles an hour on a piece of wood wrapped with some fiberglass- No wheels, no shifting and the only thing with mechanical workings are my bindings, and that's just so I don't break my legs! Everytime I go, it costs A LOT of money to ski.

So, why then is cycling not of interest to the public at large? Its the largest recreational fitness activity in the US next to WALKING! I think cycling needs a make-over. The button-up, corporate racer drone doesn't vibe with the public at large who buy the products and services bigger sports promote. What if cycling was presented in such a way that it is accessbile, causal, exciting and beautiful?

Cycling is HOT


Leah is a professional bike racer from Canada. She is one of the young women that is changing the face of the sport. She is fast, wins big races and looks like a supermodel.


Liz is hot, she is real, down to Earth, a crowd favorite. She does not look like your female cyclist of the 90's, and she is arguably much tougher, too.


Mandy stops grown men in their tracks. She is sassy, classy, intelligent, FAST and beautiful. She is fast, fun and promotes women's cycling all day long!


Flavia is a dynamo on and off the bike. She speaks her mind, is confident and focused. She knows what she wants from life.


Leigh is hard working, fashionable, fast and wide-smiling. She and her pro-boy know VK is the new hot thing in cycling. Her hard work has made Vanderkitten Racing a reality for 2008!

These are just some of the fast women who are changing the face of Women's Cycling with Vanderkitten Racing in 2008. You will get to know them all over the coming weeks. We are excited that we can bring the level of fashion, excitement, talent and personality to the sport of cycling that does not exist. In fact, many call Vanderkitten "the Roxy of cycling"... I can't think of a more flattering compliment.

Happy New Year!

2008 presents another year of endless opportunities for Vanderkitten! To the right is a poll for you to fill out! The idea is to help us identify the products YOU want most! We have all of these items in development, so it's just a matter of prioritizing them for delivery!

Thank you for taking a minute to select your favorite items!!

It's been 3 years since I made the first Vanderkitten branded T-shirts, before we ever even started this business. Over the last 3 years we have learned more than I could have ever imagined! We've been inspired by unlikely people, had uncanny experiences, met amazing people and have made more new friends than a grade schooler!

We entered into the "Cycling Industry", won 3 National Championships, designed our own bikes, kits that got people talking (good and bad)... but people took notice, YOU took notice.

There is nothing esoteric about Vanderkitten. There is nothing fake, phony, empty or contrived. What we offer is a concept that is REAL. It is real, it has not been articulated and developed as a brand like we've done it, and it has been widely praised for it's forward thinking.

Cycling goes Argyle, we go plaid. Cycling goes white, we go black... and guess what? You the people LOVE IT, and we love you!

One comment I received from one of my mentors was that Vanderkitten did not have enough of my voice. In fact, I've helped and guided him in building a very successful new business... he said I gave his business a voice! I have often heard the sentiment that Vanderkitten is a company much larger than it actually is. It's the result of 3 people's passion, skill, determination and inspiration.

For 2008 I want to give Vanderkitten the voice it deserves. As the creator of the business, I suppose that would be mine... and as the inspiration, perhaps it will be Jennie's or as the make it happen guy maybe it's Mark's. I am rewriting the Vanderkitten story, the way I would tell you why I started the business if you asked me. On the new website, it will be my story, our pictures and this journey that includes YOU!!

Every design we do has relevance, and inside "secrets" for design inspiration. Some you will be shocked by, some you will laugh at, some may make you cry. Next week I will tell you how I became inspired to start Vanderkitten, leave a great income and work endlessly into the night, every night...

2008 is going to be an AMAZING year. A year of TRUTH, a year were we stop compromising and start making every move we make count, and every action speak... I hope you join us for this ride, it is going to be unforgettable.

Happy New Year!!
Dave Verrecchia
Creator/Designer
Vanderkitten- Clothing for Women Who Kick Ass

CHILLIN' at Mezzanine, December 1st!!

This event is probably the best of it's kind anywhere. Chillin' Productions packs Mezzanine with Art, Design, Fashion, Ready to Wear, DJ's and DRINKS!! It's an AWESOME event, THE PLACE TO BE SEEN, and... you can pick up some unique gifts just in time for the holidays!



Vanderkitten will be there with some of our new stuff and mostly limited edition, hand printed T's and such. We'll have special deals if you mention you saw this bulletin!

Come support the up and coming artists, photographers, designers, DJ's at this truly AWESOME event!!

We Skipped Black Friday!

Look, why try to compete with every other retailer out there in the world to offer special savings for one measly day? That's not the VK way! We are jamming new product onto the webstore with SUPER EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED EDITION T-Shirts, JACKETS and Sweatshirts!!

Here's the deal: We will be offering our exclusive WORLD TOUR T-shirts for sale, TO YOU! These are hand printed by Dave himself, with riveted tags and printed labels. Strictly BAD ASS, Vintage cotton, ready to ROCK! Will these be on sale? No. Can you use you discount code for them? Nada. Will you see your self coming and going everywhere you look in these T's? NOPE!


Exclusiveness has a small price of only $38.99... Pretty bad ass? Yes indeed.

Other stuff coming out:
More hand printed, limited edition T's! We'll save you a trip to the boutique!

Get on the email list for the announcement!

WORLD CUP FLASHES!

Here is a very well done video of the Kalmthout World Cup Cyclocross race! For those of you not familiar with Cyclocross, this will give you a great idea of the mixture of terrain and speed. This is a more technical course, IMHO!

Mandy Rules!



The word is out that Mandy is fast, fast, fast on her new Vanderkitten/Ahrens cross bike! Here is a shot last week from Virginia, lookin' good! She is helping build the Vanderkitten onslaught of racing and promoting VK while in Grad School full time!! She is a living example that life can be lived to the fullest!!

Thank you Mandy for keeping the dream alive!!

Christine RAWKS the NEW VANDERKITTEN CROSS KIT in BELGIUM!!




The HOTTEST kits in Cross made their debut at the UCI Word Cup in Belgium this weekend! Vanderkitten partnered up with Belgian team wear manufacturer extrordinairre, BioRacer.

Christine Vardaros reports the kits are the best looking and best feeling kits she's ever worn (and she's been at this on 2 continents for a dozen years!!) How do YOU get one? A VERY LIMITED number will be available for public purchase with proceeds going to Vanderkitten Racing to help fund our cycling team!



Check out Vanderkitten webstore the first week of November for more!!!

Vanderkitten's Christine Vardaros named to US Squad for UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup.



From USAcycling.org

USA Cycling announced today the seven athletes that will represent the United States at the upcoming UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Kalmthout, Belgium on October 21. Four men and three women were selected to the squad that will compete in the first of nine UCI Cyclo-cross World Cups this season.

Ryan Trebon (Ventura, Calif./Kona Yourkey), Jonathan Baker (Boulder, Colo./Vitamin Cottage), Jonathan Page (Northfield, N.H./Sunweb Projob) and Ian Boswell (Bend, Ore./Hagens Berman) will race for the men, while Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike Shooter), Christine Vardaros (Mill Valley, Calif./Vanderkitten) and Sarah Kerlin (Capitola, Calif./HRS- Rock Lobster) will compete in the women’s race.

Christine will be riding the Reynolds equipped Ahrens "Whole Shot" Cyclocross bike in special Vanderkitten-created livery. The Whole Shot is a prototype bike that features Ahrens' signature ride-tuned yoke system that also provides the benefit of extra mud clearance. The added secret speed ingedient on the bike is achieved by the plaid custom graphics and matching team kits to be unveiled at the opening UCI round. This kit and bike are unlike anything to come before it!

PRESS RELEASE


Berkeley, Calif. (October 15, 2007) -

Vanderkitten announces the establishment of Vanderkitten Racing, an experienced and talented team of Elite Women cyclists contesting the NRC Road circuit in 2008. Growing on the success of the one-woman team of Liz Hatch in 2007, Vanderkitten will be fielding a 6-woman elite team as well as developmental and regional support riders. "Our success in sponsoring Liz Hatch in 2007 has convinced us that Vanderkitten and cycling go hand in hand. Our focus next year will be the majority of the NRC calendar, and to that effect we have signed 4 immensely talented girls with another 2 athletes to be announced shortly" says Vanderkitten's Mark Zefeldt.

The current roster includes Leigh Valletti of Atlanta, GA, Mandy Lozano of Charlottesville, VA, Christine Vardaros of Mill Valley, CA, with Liz Hatch of Delray Beach, FL returning for another season. The team is accepting resumes and is in serious talks with several bike companies and corporate sponsors.

"Vanderkitten is thrilled to support these hard working, vibrant athletes and the sport of Women's Cycling. We're all looking forward to the upcoming season with great anticipation. Vanderkitten's mission since its inception is to create a long-term relationship with cycling and raise the bar of sponsorships for women athletes. High-profile athletes provide a tremendous marketing value to all parties associated with their image. Women influence both female AND male purchasing decisions. Why, then, have women typically earned less than 10% of most pro male athletes salaries?" asks Vanderkitten's founder David Verrecchia of Berkeley.

Vanderkitten introduced a line of clothing and cycling apparel at Interbike whose proceeds go directly to build the cycling program. For more information please contact dave@vanderkitten.com or mark@vanderkitten.com

Interbike – Las Vegas

Attention to detail aside, and of all the wise tales and past experiences shared, please remember this……. ‘sleep is not a requirement to function in Las Vegas’.

Vanderkitten’s 1st Interbike was truly a success. Did you happen to stop by booth #158 (the one with the pink plaid sign)? Chat with Dave or Mark, hang with one or more of the smile filled girls……Liz, Mandy, Leigh, Jackie, or Jen?

We would like to thank everyone who made it by to say Hi, Introduce themselves, Congratulate the women, or to place an order for some Kick Ass apparel. I speak for all of us when I say we were pleased to meet you and spend time sharing the Vanderkitten story.

Of course any posting wouldn’t be complete without a few road time antics (pictures).

Destination- InterBike/Las Vegas
Est. Time of Departure- 10 a.m. Monday 24, September
Est. Drive Time- 11 hours
Est Time of Arrival- Ummmmmmm????
Est Amount of Fun- LOADS!

InterBike is upon us. We are feverishly working to finish the prep work and get on the road Monday a.m. in order to make it to Vegas by nightfall. We being, Dave, Mark, Liz and Jackie.

InterBike promises to be an adventure as it always is when you take Vanderkitten on the road. The excitement has been building for ages and it's about to explode. Weeks of hard work have finally been realized and now it's time to see the fruits of our labor. If you've never been to InterBike the best way I can describe it is like a Star Trek convention for bike geeks. We're really no different if you think about it... All the tight shiny lycra and whatnot.

This morning we attended our last CA road race for the 2007 season in Chico and to say we had a favorable outcome is perhaps an understatement. Liz took every prime and won the race outright so it couldn't really have gone better!

As well as the industry show there are two races with Vanderkittens looking to make their marks . Wednesday night Mandykitten Lozano will be showing her stuff at the UCI C2 Cross race. She is sure to have a large cheering section and we wish her the best! The following night is the final leg of the USA NRC Crit series which will deliver high excitement, even more than normal due to the debut of Ms. Leigh "Machete" Valletti. If you are in the area come out and cheer for Liz and Leigh and meet the crew! The race is being held at the Mandalay Bay Casino to be followed by a night of end of season fun.

We'll be sure to document the whole trip in pictures followed be a post trip report so be sure to check back in!

VK, Out!

September Already?

Time flies when you're having fun (and kicking ass) as they say! September is well under way which means the 2007 road season is almost in the books and what a season it's been. We lined up at our first start line back in May and have been steadily making a name for ourselves across the country with our one girl team. The future looks even brighter for Vanderkitten as we build the 8 woman team for next year. The response that Vanderkitten has received from women, and men for that matter, of all ages has been overwhelming and tells us that we are doing something special. We've been spending countless hours working on the new team and making preparations for InterBike in Las Vegas at the end of this month to ensure that 2008 will be the year of the Kitten!

The Vanderkitten cyclo-cross team is warming up with the first few races of the year and we could not be more excited to have Christine Vardaros in our kit for the 07-08 season. Christine brings with her a vast knowledge of cross and is an invaluable source of experience that she will share with the team. Her love for the sport is infectious!

We'd like to thank all the women that have supported Vanderkitten by purchasing tees and cycling kits, spreading the Vanderkitten message and having the time of their lives doing it. Keep kicking ass and inspiring us ladies!

Talk soon!

New Jerseys for the Garden State and Beyond!

Is it really possible to make a jersey that is exciting, fashionable and fun to wear? Well, we have 6 of them coming out for 2008 that will rock your world, whether you ride a fixie or a hybrid! Let's face it, 2 wheels are 2 wheels, and you're gonna sweat and want to look your best in the process!

We can't quite let the cat out of the bag yet, but 2008's new designs feature color that POPS, designs the ROCK, and quality that SHOCKS. Stop by the Vanderkitten booth (158/160) at Interbike to make sure and get your order in before the product is sold out!

Vanderkitten Signs Christine Vardaros to 2007 Women's Cyclocross Team

08.08.07 - Berkeley, California

Vanderkitten, Clothing for Women Who Kick Ass, announces the signing of UCI Elite cyclocross athlete Christine "Peanut" Vardaros to lead its newly-established women's cyclocross team. Christine will fly the flashy new Vanderkitten colors – a standout pink-plaid team kit – while piloting a Vanderkitten team-edition Ahrens Whole Shot cyclocross frame in World Cup, Superprestige, and US National Series races. The Mill Valley, CA native who spends much of her season based in Leuven, Belgium finished last season ranked 22nd in the world, earning herself a spot on the US National Team for the 2007 World Championships.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to work with Christine," says Vanderkitten co-founder Dave Verrecchia. "Having a top-level racer who's dedicated to sharing her knowledge and experience with her teammates and other female cyclists of all ability levels is invaluable to our growing cyclocross team. Christine doesn't just race – she's a journalist, a cycling rights advocate, and an animal rights advocate as well. Her community involvement lines up with Vanderkitten's goals to do some good in the world while having fun on bikes."

Christine will provide mentorship and support to the women of Vanderkitten's cyclocross team, which is a grassroots team open to cyclocross racers of any ability level. With Christine's help, Vanderkitten hopes to bring more women into the sport of cyclocross – whether they come from road-riding, mountain-biking, or non-cycling backgrounds.

Says Christine, "I chose to ride for Vanderkitten particularly because of what it stands for – permission for women to be athletic while retaining their femininity. Vanderkitten not only encourages women like me to play rough and dirty, but also provides us with feminine clothing so we look sexy as we sprint through the mud. Vanderkitten sends the message to women around the world that it is possible to be powerful and athletic while maintaining poise and grace."

Vanderkitten is currently looking for US riders of all levels to race in the team kit, and take advantage of stellar team pricing on the hand-built Ahrens Whole Shot frames. Complete bikes are also available at team pricing for a limited time, thanks to Vanderkitten sponsors FSA and Reynolds. More information can be found at http://www.vanderkitten.com/.

To join Christine on the Vanderkitten cyclocross team, or to inquire about frames and team kits, email Dave Verrecchia at dave@vanderkitten.com.

MAUREEN KUNZ -2007 NATIONAL CHAMPION!



Maureen rocked Vermont! She won the XC on her sick Ahrens bike, the DH, and the Super D!

Per Mo: "I won the DH by default cuz no one else was brave enough to try the gnarly course.But the XC and Super D were hard-fought battles! It was a blast--super muddy, rocky, roots, trees, steep climbs, fast corners, and lots of FUN!"

Congratulations to Maureen's podium filled season. Stay groovy! Always a Vanderkitten.

Vanderkitten - Liz Hatch Blog

It's up! Follow Liz through the rest of the season!

http://vanderkittenliz.blogspot.com/