Chicago, IL -- Let the season begin! SRAM equipped teams and individual athletes are gearing up for a welcome return to fierce competition.

Entering into their fifth year of partnership with Team Giant North America, SRAM is certain to see a powerful return to top results from a rejuvenated, former DH World Champion Myles Rockwell. Myles, joined by Canadian DH National Champion teammates Cassandra Boon and Dustin Adams look to battle Team Maxxis USA's reigning NORBA DH Champ John Kirkaldie, Colin Bailey, and All World ûberchick April Lawyer in the North American medal count. Older, wiser, and faster Team Turner, as well as the SRAM X.0 equipped Hausmann Brothers are also ready to step back in and up. Spring '02 means fast visitors from down under so Team Jamis' Katrina Miller rises again to battle her younger Aussie and Kiwi counterparts, Team Dirt Works' Tai Lee Muxlo, and Intense/RockShox's Vannessa Quin.

Over at Pro-XC, the man of steel himself, Chris Etough, the two-time 24-Hour Solo World Champion, along with his fellow Trek/VW/JBL Factory Team army will again represent. Team Mongoose's dynamic duo Todd Wells and Marc Gullickson have added SRAM X.0 in their return to the top ranks of the XC short and long course events. In development of North America's next Olympic hopefuls, SRAM is also proud to present the return of Team Nantucket Nectar's wunderkind Megan Long along with John Kemp's most recent US National Champion's, DEVO/K2's Adam Craig and Nick Waite to the U-23 ranks.

Beyond the singletrack, All-American MTB stunt-artist Jeff Lenosky, joins NORCO's trials genius Ryan Leech, and the otherworldly groove of Rocky Mountain's Wade Simmons in exposing SRAM technology to stunned crowds across the continent. Meanwhile, SRAM has officially contracted Freeride heir apparent Kyle Strait to test pilot new X.0 prototypes at several atmospheres this summer

Lest we forget, Greg Herbold, who is said to have helped invent, and then test the wheel (the downhill version anyway) and the Captain, Ned Overend, who we know makes it go 'round, will again be piloting and tweaking the course of the world's finest bicycle components this season.

With an impressive list of partner athletes, coupled with the introduction of their top-of-the-line X.0 components, SRAM prepares to dominate the 2002 North American MTB scene.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff