News Rohloff AG

Annual Vacation 2010

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:16:00 +0200

Our annual vacation 2010: July 23th until August 8th.

All customer and support services will be suspended during this period.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
We are unable to respond to e-mails during this period. Please remail after August 8th, as all incoming mails in this time-span are not archived on our mail-server. Thanks for your understanding. Rohloff Service Team -----------------------------
Cher client, cher collègue,

du 23/07 au 08/08/2010, notre entreprise est en congés annuel.
Sur cette période, nous ne pourrons répondre à vos emails. Nous vous serons reconnaissants de bien vouloir nous réécrire vos demandes à partir du 08 août, les mails pouvant disparaître entre-temps.

Merci de votre patience et compréhension!

Veuillez agréer nos sentiments dévoués, votre équipe Rohloff.

Winners Of The Rohloff SPEEDHUB Championship: Robert Novotny and Michael Bonnekessel

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:27:00 +0200

An extremely muddy ground combined with desert temperatures and a real trail dominating, very demanding race course. The course initially climbed upwards alongside the bobslide in Altenberg and then came the steep, enduro style descent from the Tellkoppe to Kipsdorf which indicated the extravagance of the SPEEDHUB CHAMPIONSHIP. On sludgy terrain over the highmoor to the Mückentürmchen (fly tower) demanded an enormous amount of both power and concentration. It was after this point however, that the real torment started!

With Michael Bonnekessel, incumbent master XC of the second master's catagory, and Michael Opper, who is a multiple times successful participant of the Transalp, two favourites asserted themselves in the master's class.

The Czech rider Robert Novotny, who had already won the Trans Germany twice, was also able to win the mens class here. Places two and three were claimed by the riders Torsten Schuhmann of Team SV Robotron Dresden and Thomas Lauterbach of RMV Concordia could achieve. Tanja Ruppert, one of the most experienced German female cyclists, confidently won the womens class. Daniela Bargholt/Laktatexpress and Janet Bader/Redbike took second and third placings. The tandem class was won by Sebastian Siegert and Tobias Wagner. Admittedly, we think that everyone who completed this hard stage should be respected for conquering both their physical and mental borders. More information and photos

3D Element Pedelec With Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:38:00 +0200

Well, it goes fast and it works also off-road. Third Element, the Munich based company has developed an electric motor for mountain bikes, which allows speeds of up to 45km/h even over off-road terrain. The bike is named Espire. It has a strong aluminium frame and is equipped with a 14-speed Rohloff SPEEDHUB and disc brakes. Looks just like a classy mountain bike with only the cover on the lower frame as a giveaway that there may be more to the bike than meets the eye. Under the cover, there is a middle motor as well as a storage battery. The Espire weighs just over 30kg and has an operating distance of 90km if the E-Spire rider pedals hard. But it is also possible to ride this bike without any physical effort from the pedals. Although the Espire looks like a regular bicycle,it will require a drivers licence because of the speeds which are possible. The Espire from Third Element is manufactured at motorcycle company MZ in Zschopau. Link to homepage: www.3-element.com

Introducing Rohloff Endorfin Team 2010 in Willingen - Youtube Video!

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:02:00 +0200

In co-operation with the bicycle manufactuerer "Endorfin", the Rohloff AG will be sending its own mountain bike racing team to the largest cross-country and marathon events throughout Germany in 2010. The team is preparing specifically for the various races, aiming to achieve top standings in each of the particular age classes. To date, the team consists of 5 experienced amateur racers:

Michael Opper: Multiple time TransAlp participant
Martin Mootz: Winner of the Knüllwald-MTB-Marathon
Daniela Bargholt: Fifth place at TransAlp in 2003
Ralf Kropp: Vice European Master in Duathlon
Frank Regge: Long distance specialist

Report from Michael Bonnekessel from the Rohloff-Championship - Erz Mountains

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:37:00 +0200

Up to date photos at Flicker!!! Last weekend, as part of the three day stage race "Mad East Challenge" in Altenberg (Erz mountains), the Rohloff Championship kicked off. Approximately 350 mountain bike riders were at the start on Sunday for a technical and conditionally demanding 82 km race covering a total of 2,400 height altitude. Michael Bonnekessel of the Poison-German-A-Team counted started odds-on favourite for the title. Bonnekessel, along with 6 other riders formed a group over the first 40 km, which seemed to be perfectly harmonized. As this group slowly reduced in size and finally cleared away, Bonnekessel rode alone into the Czech Republic where a route sign was unfortunately missing, causing him to cycle off route. He found his way back very quickly, and so only lost a total of 5 min. In a catch-up race, Bonnkessel managed to regain his position and at the final ascent he suffered from severe cramps which he was fortunately for by stepping up his cadence. After 4:09 am, Bonnekessel finally reached the finishing line completely exhausted but successful. He had won the first official Rohloff Championship of 2010 by an incredible margin. "I didn't expect to win this race at all, because I didn't know hardly any of of the other starters. I am therefore exstatic with the result." "The hot weather conditions were an additional handicap, even if I drank a lot,“ said "Bonne" after the award ceremony. Next weekend, the third round of the mountain bike national league takes place and Bonnkessel is looking forward to cooler temperatures.

Rohloff Championship - Mad East Challenge Altenberg 2010

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:35:00 +0200

Current photos you'll find at Flicker Christian Kreuchler (Team Germina) wins the seventh edition of the Rohloff Mad East Challenge 500. After his victory on Saturday, he could decide the Sunday's stage for him in a souverain way. The last year's second placed 24 years old Kreuchler is now total winner 2010 of the border-crossing mountain bike stage race in the Erzmountains. Second place goes to Karsten Volkmann (Team Isaac). The 31 years old Karsten could place a distance between him and his competitor Michael Schuchardt, who felt back after a crash, but finished even hurt and gained still third place in the overall standings.

With the women Birgit Hollmann (Jenatec Berlin Ladys) gained the overall win. With a constantly outstanding performance the Berliner won her third day win in a row at the „Grand Prix d‘Altenberg“. Second place in the overall standings won Jana Suess (Stevens 1a Crossteam), third place went to Daniela Storch of Team Scott Genius Generation. In the days rating of the third stage Tanja Ruppert (Team Rohloff) is following like Daniela Storch on place two and three.

Winner of the for the first time carried out Rohloff Championship is Robert Novotny with the men. The Czech rider of the Factor Bike Team was the fastest of the third stage with Rohloff Speedhub 500/14. In the master's class Michale Bonnekessel won. Fastes woman with a 14 gear hub was Tanja Ruppert.

Great feedback to the Mad East Enduro and Bicycle-Spartakiade Erzmountains

„We are very pleased about this very successful event with super weather“, says Mad East-Chief Matthias Mende. „My thanks goes to every one, who made this possible.“ Over 300 volunteers were working the whole weekend at the race track and at the start and finish areas. The organizing team was overwhelmed by the great feedback of the Bicycle-Spartakiade Erzmountains. More than 150 children and teens took part at the youth race. And the Mad East Enduro race, which was now battled out for the second time, was a complete success.

2nd Day Of The Rohloff Mad East Challenge In Altenberg

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:49:00 +0200

You'll find a current live stream at Mad Twitter Chanal! New photos here at Facebook Profile! Today, Christian Kreuchler was the fastest at the 2nd stage of the Rohloff Mad East Challenge 500. The rider of Team Germina could win the 102 km distance and the over 2.700 height metres being the hardest part of the race. On second place with 6 min. behind rolled Karsten Volkmann of Team Isaac over the finishing line, closely followed by Michael Schuchardt (Team SWB Felt).

A very happy Christian Kreuchler, who arrived in Geising after 4 h and 47 min. takes the lead now in his class, and with his clear lead of 6 min. he is a definite candidate for the overall win. His followers Michael Schuchardt and Karsten Volkmann, who are only 36 sec. apart, will serve for a exciting last stage on Sunday. The winner of the previous day, Robert Novotny of Factor Bike Team, CZ, who first was riding in the leading group with Kreuchler, dropped behind because of technical problems and lost 25 min. on the winner.
Fastest woman of the day was like the winner on Friday Birgit Hollmann (Jenatec Berlin Ladys). She won with a clear lead of 11 min. before Jana Suess (Stevens 1a Crossteam) on second place. Daniela Storch (Scott Genius Generation) gained third place. Birgit Hollmann starts again on Sunday with the leading shirt. Jana Suess and Daniela Storch are following in the women overall standings.

210 male and female bikers went on the scenically attractive, but also extremely demanding track, where pleasurable trails alternate with steep uphills and even running passages. The race was affected by muddy grounds in the woods and at the same time by hot burning sun at the clearances. Highlight was the special judgement at the Nutcracker Festival in Neuhausen, where the bikers had to ride through the festival tent.

Blue Skies And Sun At Rohloff Mad East Challenge In Altenberg

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:13:00 +0200

Current live stream here: Mad Twitter Kanal! Up to date pictures at Facebook Profile! Robert Novotny and Birgit Hollmann winners of starting race in Geising/Germany (Altenberg, June 4th 2010) Robert Novotny could win the first stage of this year's
Rohloff Mad East Challenge 500. The 36 years old Novotny of the Czech Factor Bike Team has put Christian Kreuchler (Team Germina) and Michael Schuchardt
(Team SWB Felt) to their places. With the women Birgit Hollmann (of Jenatec Berlin
Ladys) befor Daniela Storch (Scott Genius Generation) and Jana Suess (Stevens 1a
Crossteam). With blue skies and sun altogether 160 male and female riders were on their way on the first 8km of the first stage with start and finish in the Geising ice skating rink.
Mad East chief organisor Matthias Mende was very satisfied with the opening event: „Everything is fine. We think it will be a hot weekend due to many last minute starters."

On Saturday the longest part called "Close to the limit" awaits the starters: All in all 103km and 2,500 height metres are to manage. From Geising the track leads over the bob run Altenberg and furtheron over Holzhau to Neuhausen. The leading field there is due at about 11.30h. Afterwards it goes along the Czech side of the Erzmountains over Cesky Jiretin back to Geising. Mad East Enduro at the bob run and at the skilift Hermsdorf!
Mad East Enduro starts likewise on Saturday. This down-hill orientated racing format enjoys a high performance bike action. Technical demanding "special stages" are at the bob run Altenberg, at the Tellkoppe in Kipsdorf, and at the recently built race track at the skilift Hermsdorf. Afterwards it goes back to Altenberg via the ski run.

Successful Rohloff-Premiere For Michael Bonnekessel

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:34:00 +0200

At the 6th Schinderhannes-MTB-Superbike Race on Sunday 500 bikers were at the start with changing and wet weather conditions to compete on the single trails filled with difficulties. The race track turned out to be extremely sludgy and power draining due to the unstoppable rain. Michael Bonnekessel (Poison-German-A-Team) has started for the first time with a Rohloff gear hub. Whereas almost every rider had to struggle with problems while changing gears, some even had to give up because of damages, Bonnekessel could finish without any shifiting problems. He gained in the total 4th place and he was the clear winner in the second masters class. The Schinderhannes-MTB-Marathon served Bonnekessel as preperation for the Mad East Challenge race in Alteberg near to Dresden/Germany coming week where the Rohloff-Championship will be carried out for the first time.

Michael Opper And Ralf Kropp Win In Their Class

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:18:00 +0200

In Altenau the Harz MTB-Event, which is also a part of the Harz MTB Cup, took place for the 11th time. It is, therefore, the biggest MTB Event in the Harz Region and offers over two days a great number of different races. Highlight is the MTB Marathon on Sunday, where the 38 km long race track through the Harz landscape is to be run once, twice or three times. Michael decided to take the short and Ralf Kropp took the middle sized distance. Both rode a top race and could shine in their age groups. Michael won with the seniors and took 3rd place in the overa standings. Ralf Kropp won in a souvereign way in the middle distance. Information under: www.mountainbike.harz.de

Rohloff Speedhub Championship Comes Closer!

Mon, 31 May 2010 14:07:00 +0200

In line with Rohloff Mad East Challenge 500, the SPEEDHUB Championship will take place on Sunday June 6th. A great number of participants have pre-registered with the organizer and many more registrations are still expected. A number of exhibiting companies are positioned in the Expo Area for both the participants and spectators.The visit is definitely worth while for participants and bike enthusiasts alike. Of course, the Rohloff AG will also be present to answer any questions that you may have.
A brief run-through of the participating companies:
Rohloff
Rotor
Endorfin
Redvil
R2-Bike
Veloheld
Moneytubes
and many more

Further information under: www.madmission.de

Bike Adventure With Tilmann Waldthaler

Mon, 31 May 2010 13:57:00 +0200

On May 28th Tilmann Waldthaler has started his great Norway to New Zealand Tour am on his HP-Velotechnik recumbent and Rohloff SPEEDHUB. Interested people can accompany him a part (in Germany). Start of the German part of the tour is on July 21st in the near of the well of river red Main and ends on July 28th in Frankfurt/Main. Catering and luggage transport included, accomodation in comfortable tents or hotel. More information you'll find at tour the organizer's site mosch.spezielradreisen.

Tanja Ruppert Wins At Mountain Bike Marathon in Ronnshausen

Mon, 31 May 2010 15:41:00 +0200

At the Mountain Bike Marathon in Ronnshausen Tanja Ruppert (Rot-Weiß-Ermetheis) has started for the Team Rohloff/Bicycle Shop Gudensberg on der middle size track with 81 kilometre and 2000 height metres.
She managed the demanding race track with difficult trails and steep up and down hills with ease and left her competitors far behind.
With a total time of 4:09 hours and an advance 8 min. Tanja Ruppert has won the women's race.

Bicycle of the Year in France = Moots Titan with Lefty Carbon and Rohloff SPEEDHUB!

Thu, 20 May 2010 20:03:00 +0200

Even our neighbours, who are known to be fans of derailleurs and famous for their weight fetishism, have learnt to appreciate the quality of the SPEEDHUB 500/14 and led it to experience its first break-through in this country. Members of the Forum Veloptimal.com have voted this MTB, equipped with our gear hub (visible here on the right hand side in the category „Mountainbike“) as the winner. Costly, but beautiful, light weight (9,8 kg) and unsurpassing in both function and durability. A sign of the times?

Election du Vélo de l'Année en France = Moots titane avec Lefty carbone et Rohloff!

Les simples arguments du poids ne semblent plus uniquement dicter l'intérêt des sportifs du VTT: sur ce montage léger (9,8 kg), le titane, le carbone et une transmission en bain d'huile étanche s'allient pour proposer confort, performance et durabilité hors pair. Un signe des temps?

Gisela Finishes Tour d`Afrique in Second Place following 11,844km and Writes History

Mon, 17 May 2010 21:19:00 +0200

Gisela completed the Tour d' Afrique after nearly 12,000km with a very good second place in overall standings (male/female) and first place in the womens category. She is therefore the best and fastest woman who ever took part at such a unique race. After more than 11,844km and a time of 404 hours and 34 minutes on her Rotor Rohloff SPEEDHUB Bike "Gisi" arrived safe and sound in Cape Town. Photos of arrival

In the recent weeks Gisela was able to get closer to the first places in the overall standings and reached an outstanding second place which she able to defend to the finishing line. It is truly extraordinary how Gisela has managed the last 6 months and with what kind of determination she has reached her targets. The employees of the Rohloff AG send their congratulations and wish her good luck and a safe journey home.

Her summary of the race:

"Winning Tour d’Afrique is a tremendous honour, pushing myself harder every day, harder than I ever thought possible. Some days were extremely difficult and I wondered if I could still get EFI. I came to the Tour d’Afrique knowing that I could do well but I had no idea that I could win. I loved being able to ride with the men and found each ride more challenging and interesting than the last."
Travel route 12,000km from Cairo to Cape Town to the Soccer WM

What is the „Tour d`Afrique:

The „Tour d`Afrique“ is known as the longest and hardest mountain bike race in the world. It crosses the African continent from Cairo in the North to Cape Town in the South and has a length of nearly 12,000 km. For 8 years now the „Tour d`Afrique“ annually attracts many bicycle athletes from all over the world and the media show a growing interest in the event. On the way through ten African countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) the riders view ancient temples as well as the rough biblical landscape of Ethiopia, they ride across desolate deserts and national parks abundantly covered with vegetation and experience a fascinating array of wild life, they ride at the foot of the legendary Mount Kilimanjaro and on to the Victoria waterfalls in Zambia. Altogether the tour takes 120 days, of which 96 are pure cycling days. The daily stages average 125 km each and regardless how the distance is managed - as a race or as an expedition - the Tour d`Afrique is a keen mental and physical challenge for everyone involved. The unique and unforgettable experiences are a wonderful reward for coping with the bad roads and energy zapping conditions. Gisela Gartmair is the first German woman ever who participated in this race. Next to cycling Gisi wants to intensify her support for the charity organization „Hilfe für Kwale District e.V." (www.kwale.org). Her bike and spare parts were all supplied by her sponsors Rotor Bikes and Rohloff AG. A personal presentation: Gisela Gartmair was born December 5^th 1984. She is a competition enthusiastic bicycle rider from the south of Munich. In January 2009 she has successfully finished her bachelor of arts studies of nutrition and diet counselling at the German University for Prevention and Health. At the moment she is working part time at a lawyer’s office in Munich. Raised in a very sportive and travel enthusiastically family she found out at an early age her passion for the bike sport and foreign countries. After a two weeks private practice in Cape Town, South Africa she noticed the „Tour d`Afrique“ for the first time and she decided, being fascinated from country and people, to take part at this grand race as the 1^st German woman ever. Further information can be found under: www.tourdeafrique.com / www.cycling-for-africa.com

11000 Kilometers and Gisela holds Second Place at the Tour d`Afrique!

Fri, 14 May 2010 16:24:00 +0200

On Saturday Gisela Gartmair will have reached thefinish-line in Cape Town after riding over 11,880 kilometers. At the moment she is holding down a splendid second place in the overall standings and lies ahead of the one or other champion. It is unbelievable what Gisela has achieved in the recent half a year. Shehas successfully completed more than 11,000 kms with her Rotor-Rohloff-Bike equipped with a SPEEDHUB 500/14, and she has been consistently seen in the top flight. Gisela rides her bike daily and bit by bit is homing in on her goal, the finish-line in Cape Town on May 15th. However, the original motivation to take part in such an extremely long and demanding race is her aim of raising a large charitable donation. Gisela wishes to donate 3,00€ for each ridden km to the aid organization "Help for Kwale District e.V.", and in addition to that, 5 % of the funds raised will go to the Tour d´Afrique Charity.

The organization has made to their task to help the inhabitants of Kwale District in Eastern Kenia who live away from the tourist areas. According to the basic principle "Help them to Help themselves" the "Kwale Subdistrict Hospital" project and the construction of a school in Pengo Village will both be supported. Both projects are designed to give the people a route to an easier future.

The Rohloff company would like to take this opportunity to thank Gisela for her dedication and support her with her objective to raise charitable funds. Furthermore, we wish her luck in gaining more sponsors and supporters for her cause.

More information under: www.cycling-for-africa.com / www.tourdafrique.com

Utopia Bicycle with SPEEDHUB 500/14 at Spiegel Online!

Fri, 14 May 2010 15:49:00 +0200

German Online Magazin "Der Spiegel" writes: Out On Your Bike! On German streets the bicycle season has started again. Cross or Fixie, City bike or maybe a Holland style bicycle? SPIEGEL ONLINE shows what kind of bicycle type is suited to you and what a reasonable specimen will cost - and when local dealers are better than the big stores. Whoever spends their whole vacation in the saddle, should be interested in touring bicycles like the Roadster from Utopia. The extra long wheel base and the unusual frame design do however come at a price. To the website with Utopia Rohloff Velo
More bike themes at www.spiegel.de

Team Germany Achieves First Place At Nasa Moonbuggy Race!

Fri, 14 May 2010 16:22:00 +0200

On April 10th the meanwhile multinational team (Germany, Russia, USA) from Leipzig/Germany has won the first place in the overall standings from over 100 listed teams in best time of 3:37 min. A novelty: The Worldchampionship is given to a team outside of the USA for the first time. At the Moonbuggy Race, which already is taken out in Huntsville (USA) for the 17th time, the aim is to build up a former foldet vehicle in the shortest time and manage a difficult track only with muscular power. Nasa video about German team On Saturday, May 8th 2010 the Space Education Centre Leipzig gave awards to the sponsers and supporters of this project. Rohloff AG congratulates the Moonbuggy Team to their outstanding perfomance. We are glad to give our share to support this project for education and zeal of the young in Germanys technical future.
The vehicle built in Leipzig/Germany is driven only by muscular power. In this Moonbuggy two SPEEDHUB 500/14 alike are built in the power transmission. Chief constructing engineer Thommy Knabe (19) accomplished with this construction his scientific propaedeutical work for his A-levels. Sport student Max Frank (17) was couch of the team. Science, manual skill, team work, integrity and aim-oriented thinking are encouraged by the sportive Olympic character of fun and exercise.

Team Germany is known in the space town Huntsville for four years and is viewed as "Von Braun's Grandchildren". The young engineers' team not even surprised with many technical novelties, but with its multi-nationality. For the first time a Russian student and a female US student belonged to the team. Students from the Ukraine, Hungary and England also worked in the background after a long workshop-tour in Summer 2009 and made their contribution to the Winter School in Leipzig. Hard strain on the chassis in the race. Not every team passes! A crash video!
Technical Data of Moonbuggy „Ganymed 2010“:

measured maximum speed at test: 80 km
calculated maximum speed-up in track: 1,1 G
maximum torque on front axle: 254,5 Nm
drawn maximum load on inclined plane: 3 tons
time needed (in total of 1,200m track, 17 obstacle): 3:31
ready to start from a foldet cube (4x4x4ft): 6 sec.
solar power realtime-data telemetry and analysis with own software
demountable in 7 pieces of luggage on demand of all airlines

Links in Web: International Space Education Institute Team Fotos

Rohloff Employee As Jury Member At Shell Eco-Marathon 2010

Mon, 10 May 2010 23:14:00 +0200

At this year's Shell Eco-Marathon from May 06th to 07th 2010 on Eurospeedway Lausitz our staff member Mathias Gleim was part of the Jury. Next to the main competition, to drive the longest distance with the least amount of fuel, there were different other awards to gain, too, like Eco-friendly, Safety and Best Team Spirit. Task of the Jury was to visit the various teams to investigate the best one in each category. Team Fortis Saxoni and Team H2M of TU Munich have started with a SPEEDHUB 500/14 drive. Links: Races News Ecomarathon Social Media Hub

Available Now: Rohloff SPEEDHUB Champion T-Shirt!

Thu, 06 May 2010 22:50:00 +0200

The Rohloff "SPEEDHUB Champion" T-Shirt is available in black with a white writing/logo across the chest and the classic Rohloff-Signature logo on the rear. This is printed on a high quality 185g T-Shirt. It's the perfect accompaniment to our race series:- SPEEDHUB Championship, which will be battled out as part of the Rohloff Mad East Challenge 500. You can order this shirt direkt in the Rohloff Webshop!

100km Duathlon Dresden Rotor Rohloff Team

Fri, 07 May 2010 08:46:00 +0200

With a good second place at the 100km team duathlon, the Rotor-Rohloff-Madmission-Team was unfortunately unable to replicate last year’s success, but with a time of 6:04h, the team was a furtehr 8 minutes faster than the time from the previous year. The beautiful weather, selection of teams and a really good atmosphere along the race course are what turn this event into a special springtime spectacle. What exactly is a team duathlon? Well:Five athletes have to cover a crazy 100 km course over fields and forest tracks with four bicycles, the fifth man must run but he/she is interchanged repetitively en-route. One cyclist races ahead, the sprinter runs their three to five minutes and then swaps positions with the trailing cyclist. This looks very much, symbolically speeking, like a Belgian tourniquet. Further information can be found under: www.100km-duathlon.de

Gisela Gartmair finishes as second best the penultimate part of the Tour d’Afrique total ranking Tour de Afrique

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:19:00 +0200

More than 10,000km are behind the participants of the Crossing Africa. The final aim South Africa is coming closer and closer and the legs are getting more and more tired. Nevertheless, our both Speedhub 500/14 riders are well and in top form. Gisela Fartmair meanwhile is the second best in the total ranking and Hartmut Boegel is to be found at the front row always.

In January both our rides have started and no technical or conditional drawbacks have occured since. The Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 is functioning flawlessly, so both riders were saved from malfunction on their way.

The Rohloff company wishes Good Luck for the future!
www.cycling-for-africa.de

A Live Visit At NDR German Broadcast Show DAS

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:16:00 +0200

On Thursday, April 22nd 2010 from 6:45 p.m to 7:30 p.m. Tanja & Denis Katzer are visiting the NDR (German Broadcast) Show „DAS“. Host Hinnerk Baumgarten leads through the show and interviews the two adventurers about their expeditions and world travel tours with photos and videos from the couple's vast archive. The book to The Great Travel Tour you'll find at the Rohloff Internetshop
or on Denis Katzer's website.
http://www.denis-katzer-shop.de/xtc/
Facts to „The Great Travel Tour“ of Tanja & Denis Katzer
Travel period planned: 30 years.
World histories' longest documented expedition travel tour.
On tour since 1991: 19 years.
Until now they have managed approx. 300,000 km on elephants', camels', horses' backs and on bicycle or local travel vehicles.

German Moonbuggy Team Runs Best time in Huntsville

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:24:00 +0200

For the first time ever in the history of the NASA a foreign racing team the newcomer construction competition. In best time the team of the International Space Eduction Institutes from Leipzig/Germany has won the Moonbuggy Race 2010. In the Spacetown Huntsville known as the "Team Germany" the young engeneers' team not only surprised everyone with manyfold technical innovations, but came up as a real international group. So for the first time there was a Russian student as well as a US high-school girl participants in this multinational team. The awarding ceremony took place on April 4th 2010 with over a 1000 spectators to witness. The prize in a value of 5.700 US Dollar the International Space Education Institut will spend to win more young people for the project and to sponser them.

Photos of the racing day: www.flickr.de
Videos: www.youtube.com
Information to the Team: www.spaceeducation.de
Official NASA-Bulletin: www.nasa.gov

News From The Height Record Attempt - From Sea Level to 6,000m

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0200

Team Exlye Did It! 6085 Meters Altitude in one trip!

April 6th, 2010 6085m! On Easter Monday it was accomplished! We managed to reach an altitude of 6,085m from the Pacific to the Ojos del Salado - all by bicycle. Or better: André has done it, Frank and Markus had to give up short before the end because of their condition, so they walked the last meters without their bikes for safety reasons. André had to complete the final meters alone and reached an altitude of 6,085m without pushing the bike or having to carry it! The biggest difficulties for us (aside from the altitude) was the sandy slopes. But we soon learnt that the passages were easier to ride in the early morning, when everything was still frozen over. With reaching the altitude of 6,085m riding by bike, we have set a new record, which lies considerably higher than the previous records. Our thanks go to the whole team, our families and friends, and to our sponsers. We will return to Germany on April 9th. Now comes the hot part of the attempt to set a new record. The Exyle Team is already in Chile and makes last preperations. We will report in regular intervals from this enterprise.

March 30th, 2010 Basis Camp At Ojos Del Salado: At the Ojos del Salado we constructed our base camp in the Refugio Claudio Lucero at a height of 4500m. There are no other climbers around at the Ojos. Officially the season for climbers is over anyway, but for us the refugios have still been left open. So we can reach the next highest refugios Atacama (5200 m) and Tejos (5835 m) taking the earth road, which is very sandy and at some parts precipitous. But still Beto, our service vehicle driver has managed the steep roads. We'll try to do our best to follow him on bike to the height of more than 6,000m with the chance of good weather here at the Ojos.

Former news

Portrait About The Rohloff AG On April 6th At 8.15 p.m. On HR TV Channel

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:05:00 +0200

Update: Livestream Mediathek
On Tuesday April 6th, 2010 Hesse TV Channel HR is broadcasting "Hesse Family Enterprises with Tradition" a report about the Rohloff company: Channel: HR-Fensehen Date of broadcasting: 06.04.2010 Time: 8.15 p. m. Link to broadcast
TV channel HR writes:

Hesse Family Enterprises With Tradition

Broadcast: Hessische Familienbetriebe mit Tradition Date of broadcastin: April 6th, 2010 Channel: Hessischer Rundfunk
Language: German

Contens:
A stressed picture of a family, which builds up something together, which has a vision - yes, something like that still exists. A circumstance which is indepted on the one hand to a high-quality handmade kind of work, but on the other hand mostly to a family guidance of the enterprise. Bosses and female bosses who work on it and who are there where they are needed. These are absolutely success stories. Family enterprises in Hesse are top. They work and operate economically very sucessful together - both with heart and wits. Such happens at Rohloff in Fuldatal-Kassel/Germany: In Kassel everything goes around the bicycle - or better how it is driven. Rohloff: that means 45 people who work together engaged in the building of top quality bicycle drives. Here, the often inaccurate used idea of big work families makes sense. At the beginning there was the chain: a masterpiece, especially narrow, especially durable, especially reliable. And a machine to build this chain, which had been invented 1989 by Bernhard "Bernie" Rohloff, director and innovator, and which had run for the first time in a living room. Even though the chain belongs to the best what makes bicycles run, it was only a means to an end, a stepping stone in a new age of bicycle drives like the one only an engineer can dream of. The great component manufacturer Campagnolo has sent his stars equipped with new derailleur gear system for which the Rohloff Company has built the exactly fitting chain to the Tour de France. But the original dream of Bernie Rohloff was the bicycle drive of the future: a 14-speed internal gear hub, what was not easy to become reality. He still remembers, when he was thinking: Today is the day of days… and he checked and calculated all day and in the evening nothing came out of it. But he has never given up the idea, and finally he discovered that each failure bears important insights. Now its there, the ultimate gear hub named "Speedhub": 14 gears compact and efficiently. In the "Speedhub" production everything is like in a clock manufactory. The assembly of the three planet drives and their interaction is so complicated the competitors were never able to introduce a similar product on the market. For Bernhard Rohloff and his wife Barbara the employees are the major property of the company and each single worker should feel good to be here. With their developments Rohloff has made many cyclists happy worldwide. And with the outlook more and more people wants to be mobile with a bicycle they may look confidently into the future – That is what they always have done and have made their investment in this direction.

Rohloff At Cycolonia in Cologne

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:09:00 +0200

At the last weekend of March Rohloff was present at the Cycolonia Cylce Tour Fair 2010. The "Long Distance Bikers Convention" draw thousends of enthusiastic bikers from the Rhein area to the Sport and Olympia Museum in Cologne. And Rohloff was there, too, answering questions about the topic SPEEDHUB 500/14. Among several interesting reports a main highlight of the fair was the award of the title "Long Distance Biker". Sebastian Burger, the winner in this category, was not only excited about the title, but winning a new Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, too. With his "Blind Cycle Tour" he offers blind people the opportunity to explore the world on bike. Rohloff congratulates to the really earned prize.

NEW: Rohloff Mad East 500 Videos Online

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:53:00 +0200

The Rohloff Mad East Team has put new videos online via youtube. This mountain biking event has devoloped from a boarder crossing marathon into a real stage race. The race trail has been classified as extremely demanding. The three days racing cover over 160km and nearly 5,000 meters altitude difference through the Erzgebirge, high passes and river crossings. Participants are regularly challenged and the course demands that they give everything they have. This year there are special cash prizes for SPEEDHUB riders. So, speed up with your enrolment to ensure a starting place!

Here you can find a variety of videos from recent years.

Rohloff MAD East 500 is a challenge for every rider, regardless of singlespeed, derailleur drive or Rohloff SPEEDHUB.

Live-Performance on the Bavarian TV Channel

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:32:00 +0100

On Friday, March 26th, 2010 from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm (MET), Tanja and Denis Katzer will be appearing as guests on the TV show „Wir in Bayern“. Host Sabine Sauer will interview both about their expeditions, travel tours and shows as well as be presenting examples of the photos and videos taken from their extensive archived material.

Have a look if you like.

Martin Braxenthaler Wins Several Gold Medals In Vancouver!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:16:00 +0100

Update: Congratulations to Martins first gold medal In Vancouver: TV Report at ARD Congratulations to Martins second gold medal In Vancouver: TV Report at ARD Congratulations to Martins first silver medal In Vancouver: TV Report at ARD The Paralympics start on March, 12th in Vancouver. 507 athletes from 44 countries will compete there, fighting in the various olympic disciplines for medals until March, 21st. Martin Braxenthaler is going too with his monoski, running for the German Olympic Team. In the recent years he has brought home many medals and honours. In the summer months Martin practises with a handbike which is, of course, equipped with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14.
A camera team from the German television channel ZDF has accompanied Martin during his preperations for Olympia. The short documentary will be broadcasted in the olympic programme from ZDF on March,13th 2010 at 5.45 pm (MET) in the TV-show "Menschen". See the online video in the ZDF-Mediathek
We wish him Good Luck for the tournament!
Braxis Oylmpia Diary: http://www.martin-braxenthaler.de/wordpress/