G-FIT STUDIO

New G-Fit Site!

2011-03-24T10:20:00.003-06:00

The new site should provide a better, more intuitive way to schedule appointments, see new products and check out information on rides and races that the Boise Cycling Club promotes.

www.gfitstudio.com

If your computer has cookies and caching toggled on, you may end up at this same site.

The direct link to the new site is here:
https://sites.google.com/site/gfitproshop/home

BG Fit Service (By Specialized)

2010-05-04T21:13:00.014-06:00

A glimpse into part of our process here at G-Fit Studio.
http://cdn.specialized.com/bc/microsite/bgfit/bgfit.html

New Chris King R45 Road Hubs!

2010-02-16T08:33:00.004-07:00

Chris King is showing off their new R45 road hubs, an ultralight set of racing hubs that come in around 320g per pair!

It’s a completely new hub with different internals than their classic road hubs, and they’re the first King hubs that are made to allow radial lacing. They have low spoke count options, including 20/24/28/32 hole (front) and 24/28/32 hole (rear) drillings. The hubs are sold separately and weights and pricing are:

Front: 105g - $149
Rear: 215g - $349

A big part of the weight savings comes from the new Titanium Ring Drive internals. The all-new drive mechanism uses 45 teeth rather than King’s standard 72 tooth configuration. Despite being Ti, they still come with a 5-year warranty.

The First sets are showing up! Some already spoken for. Black are Red colors are shipping first. The other colors in King's line up will be showing after first production of the more popular colors.

G-Fit Studio New Location!

2009-12-23T14:00:00.002-07:00

Come and see our new digs! 1417 1/2 W. Grove St. Directly across the street to the South of our old location. Same shop hours 8am to 4pm Weekdays. Fitting and PhysioLab is still available through our online appointment site.

Other good holiday news:

We have just received our first shipment of the new Garmin Edge 500.

Check it out! $399 (w/cadence and H.R.)

Sharpen your cycling performance with Edge 500, a lightweight GPS-based cycling computer for performance-driven cyclists. Loaded with data, Edge 500 tracks your distance, speed, location and elevation with high sensitivity GPS. Add an ANT+™ compatible heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor or compatible power meter for a finely-tuned analysis of your ride.

Jumpstart Your Training

The Edge 500 attaches easily to the stem or handlebars of your bike with its low-profile bike mount. The Edge attaches easily to the mount with a simple quarter-turn. When you're ready to ride, just power on your Edge, acquire GPS satellites and go. Edge 500 features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix™ satellite prediction to calculate your position faster.

Get the Data You Need

During your ride, Edge 500 measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 500 also incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.

All Edge 500 versions work with third-party ANT+-enabled power meters to display your power output in watts as you ride. This valuable data shows you how hard you're working, regardless of conditions affecting your ride, so you can train smarter. Some versions also ship with a digital heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor.

Other helpful training features include a Courses feature, which helps you compare successive rides over the same route, as well as Auto Pause, Auto Lap and temperature readings. Edge also alerts you if you’re moving but the timer is not running.

Track Your Heart Rate

When paired with a Garmin heart rate monitor, Edge 500 tracks heart beats per minute and uses your heart rate for advanced calorie computation, so you know how many calories you're burning. Train in a certain heart-rate zone to improve your fitness level or compare your pace and heart rate to past performance over the same ride.

Analyze Your Ride

Once your ride’s done, connect Edge 500 to your computer with the included USB cable to analyze your performance. With a simple click, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect™, a one-stop site for data analysis and sharing.

G-Fit Studio is Moving!

2009-11-18T10:09:00.006-07:00

G-Fit Studio
is moving!

New location is 1417 1/2 Grove St.

Directly across the street from
current location

All services will be continued in the new location.

Projected move date is 12/01/2009
Pending new location's readiness.
Appointments currently scheduled during this time
will not be interrupted. Fitting and lab
equipment will move on the weekend of Dec. 5th

Leadville 100 Champ to Make Special Guest Appearance At Encore Showing of “Race Across the Sky”

2009-11-05T12:07:00.004-07:00

Boise, ID - Rebecca Rusch, three-time reining 24-Hour Solo Mountain Biking World Champion, will attend an encore presentation in Boise of Race Across The Sky, the new documentary about one of the most intense endurance mountain bike races of all time, the Leadville Trail 100. The Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race covers 100 miles of challenging terrain, climbing 9,000 feet in elevation and dipping into the valleys in Leadville, Colorado. Rebecca won this year's Leadville event, sharing the podium with Lance Armstrong.

The film will show nationwide on Thursday November 12th. Rebecca will be on hand for the screening in her home state of Idaho at the Edwards Boise Stadium 22 & IMAX, 7701 W. Overland Road. Showtime is 9pm, and Rebecca will be at the door to greet attendees of the show and sign posters. She'll also mingle with riders and fans and hand out free gear from her sponsors, including Specialized, Red Bull and KT Tape, at a special pre-party for the documentary beginning at 7pm at George’s Cycle & Fitness G Fit Studio, 1414 W. Grove Street in Boise.
Boise_Leadville-1

Interbike and 24 Hour Nationals 2009

2009-09-22T08:48:00.006-06:00

Jason will heading off to Interbike in Las Vegas, NV Wed. 22 through Fri. 24. Returning to the shop Monday 28th.

Other schedule tidbits include: Crewing for Rebecca Rusch and her 24 MTB dual teammate at the Moab 24 hour Mountain Bike Nationals. October 7th through the 13th.

Corey will still available on the fitting side of things. Schedule an appointment through this site.

Cheers,
Jason

Rapha Continental Ride Journal

2009-08-20T13:44:00.004-06:00

Rapha's last journal entry for the Continental series. Boise, ID Big Loop. 16 Riders including Rapha team riders, employees, friends of Rapha, a few local riders and 2 local hosts. Meeting these people was a treat. A great, diverse group with common interest. Looking forward to seeing the complete journals and ride routes for the earlier Continental rides.

Dura Ace Carbon

2009-08-03T11:19:00.003-06:00

Production has finally happened on the full carbon version of the Dura Ace crank. There will be a very small amount of these available (Aug. 15th). Full size rings (39-53) 172.5 only. 7900 compatible. $1249.50

If you have any interest, get your name in now as they will be limited.

Off to Worlds

2009-07-12T17:23:00.016-06:00

From: Jason

Cheers everyone,

I will be away from the studio from July 19th to July 30th to help Rebecca Rusch and Greg Martin defend their World Champion status at The 24 Hour Solo World Championships Jul 25-26 - Canmore, AB.

The actual race starts at noon on the 25th and finishes at noon the 26th. The days prior to the race we will be rebuilding bicycles, pre-riding the course, testing tires and generally getting organized for a long day.

Charles Kurre (Phoenix, AZ) is the other member of the crew. Charles takes care of nutrition and hydration (not an easy task) while I deal with mechanics and lighting. Rebecca and Greg will have two bicycles each, enabling me to keep one fresh and ready every couple of laps. Each lap is around 12.25mi, so we usually see the riders through the pits every 1 1/2 hours average. Last year Rebecca finshished 14 laps for a total of 171.5 miles and around 29,400 feet of elevation gain. The pit times are generally rolling or under a minute until later in the event when occasionally the riders will stop for a warm bite of food, never longer than 5 mins. depending on where their competition lies. The days of sleeping during a 24 hour event are long gone at this level.

I'll try to send updates now and then leading up to the event depending on Wi-Fi access. Updates during the race won't be possible, just a little to hectic in the pits. I will try and monitor e-mails and return any that I can.

Corey will still be available for both fit appointments and metabolic testing during my absence. He will not be taking in repairs, for that I would refer you to one of the many George's Cycles locations in town until I return.

The second leg of my time away is another exiting one.

Local, Bret Moss and I will be hosting a section of the Rapha Continental
2009 ride schedule. "The Rapha Continental is our account of the United States' most epic rides and routes, published as a online journal and organized as a library. From inspiration to information, the Continental is our commitment to the lost art of cycling and the glory of suffering." (from Rapha's site)

We will be taking these fellas around "The Big Loop ". I've done it once before as a fixed gear ride hence the almost 12 hour time. We are guessing more like a 9-10 hour pace for the near 150miles. During their visit, the Rapha team will be making a photo-journalistic account of the journey and surrounding experiences as part of an effort to reveal the lovely/gritty aesthetics of road cycling. The photography coming from their site and publications is amazing and worth looking into, not to mention the very high quality and attention to detail in their clothing. Lifetime pieces.

Sorry for the long post. lots to fit in.
See you soon,

Jason

Final Races

2009-06-24T09:42:00.001-06:00

June 20
The organizers of Paris-Chalette pulled a switcharoo on us. Instead of Eddy Merckx as a director we had Carlos Da Cruz, not that it really mattered since we never saw him. There was also some confusion as to where the start was. We followed a few team cars when we got to the start town but they seemed just as lost as us. We pulled into a parking lot with a few other teams. We were just about to start pulling bikes off the roof when Corey came running back to the car telling us we were in the wrong place. It was a mass exodus to get to the actual start and we quickly repacked the car and joined the herd. After a few more minutes of driving our convoy pulled over. This time we knew better than to unpack and sure enough we had to move again to get to the start.
Thankfully the chaos ended there and we got numbers without further incident. The race started with 3km of neutral, after which a break rolled off the front. It started to rain and the wind picked up. The peloton broke into echelons with many of us stuck in the gutter. After two hours it was apparent that the break wouldn’t be coming back. The French Junior national champion had taken off in pursuit with a few others but they were stuck in no-man’s land.
Marcel got away in a small move and I was able to bridge up to him with about 20km to go. As we entered the town of Chalette, bearing down of the French Junior Champion’s group, Marcel’s front tire went flat. He dropped back for a wheel just as the attacks started to fly. Our Chase group caught the national champion’s group with 100m to go. I was spent after bridging solo and managed a top 30. There were several crashes in the rain today but thankfully we all stayed upright.

June 21
Our final race, Boucles de L’Eure, 6x19km laps with a cobbled section through the start finish area. This race was open to second category riders so we had a tough field. We tried to make the early selection, but missed out. Marcel and I were in a promising group early on but it was chased down. After a series of attacks an 8-man group got away. We sat in the pack making the gradual selections for a while, then Marcel attacked hard, splitting the group in half. I was able to make it across, but Chase was caught behind and ended up as dnf for the day. One of our French teammates, Cedric, also made the split.
Our group worked well until the final lap when a rider that Cedric had told me to mark broke away with five others. Our group slept while this dangerous group rolled away, so I tried to bridge with two others and we eventually caught them with 5km of downhill before the line. Once we got through the cars behind them, one of the guys I bridged with swung to the opposite side of the road blew right by the group we had just caught. We flew through the down, dodging manhole covers and parked cars. I jumped as we neared the final corner with 250m to go. I got to the front, because I knew it would be hard to come around people while sprinting on cobbles. One person got around me before the line, so I was 10th for the day. Not a bad way to end the trip, although I feel like I am just starting to figure out racing over here.

June 22
Our shuttle driver showed up 45 minutes late, so Chase and I missed our flights home. We were able to change our tickets to tomorrow for a considerable fee, and got a room at a hotel by the airport. On the plus side we got an extra day to explore.

June 23
After lugging all of our bags through a busy airport Chase and I are finally on our way home. We didn’t have a lot of access to news during our stay, but for one reason or another there was heightened security at the airport today. I was questioned, frisked, searched, then searched again before even getting to my gate. At the gate we were herded like cattle into a labyrinth of ropes so we could be “wanded” and have our passports checked a final time before boarding.
The flight was delayed by half an hour, I don’t know why, they never told us, but I do know that I will probably miss my connection to Boise because of it. I am sitting directly behind a pair of wailing twins, the luggage compartment above me is squeaking, the plane smells bad, and I am trapped here for the next eight hours but it is totally worth it. I learned so much more in three weeks in France about how to be a bike racer than I ever would have in America. A big thank you to everyone who has supported this trip and thanks for reading.

More France

2009-06-19T06:54:00.001-06:00

June 19
This morning Corey, Chase, Taylor, and I went for a ride to La Roche-Guyon and climbed one of the steepest hills I have ever seen in all my 18 years. It was 16-20% for almost a full kilometer, twisting and turning past houses and yards. The rest of the ride was pretty mellow after that, just admiring the gratuitous traffic furniture.
Paris-Chalette is tomorrow. 15 white-knuckle neutral start then 130k full-out. The great Eddy Merckx is the guest director for the race so it will be insane. As of now only 90 riders have signed up for 180 spots which is highly unusual for a race this big. There will be random doping controls at this one, so that is one depressing explanation for the low turnout.
It is sure to be hard regardless of the number of starters since we will be racing with 2nd category riders as well. I guess now would be a good time to give you guys a slightly incorrect lesson about French racing categories.
While Spinal Tap’s amp goes to 11, The French only go to 6 for amateurs. The lowest three categories are dubbed “regionale” with 1 being the best and 3, the worst. I assume it is called regionale because these riders don’t race much outside of their department (like a county) due to a general lack of motivation or because the French Federation forbids it. The highest three categories are “nationale” and are organized like the “regionale.” The 1st nationale category is reserved for the top 500 riders in the nation while the 2nd nationale category contains the top 1000 after that. Once a rider reaches the upper categories, they have to keep producing good results in order to avoid being downgraded. In order to upgrade, you have to win. Top 5s don’t do a whole lot of good towards an upgrade here.
We are racing in the 3rd nationale category, which is about equivalent to a cat 2/3 race in a major city. The fitness level is high but not extreme, but the racers here are much more tactically savvy than in America.

Geekdom in the Ghetto

2009-06-18T09:26:00.001-06:00

June 16
Went for a ride with Taylor and Corey this morning so the maid could clean without the added pressure of us watching. We rode on the other side of the Seine for the first time and it was awesome. After a short stint on a busy road we turned onto some rolling country roads that were narrow even by French standards. We climbed up to some grain fields and proceeded to get lost in the labyrinth of small towns and country roads. We encountered some vicious animals, including a herd of bloodthirsty cows, some rabid horses, and the customary angry dog. After a few flat tires and some directions from the GPS we had a fun descent through the suburb of St. Marcel to our house.

June 17
The usual night crit routine today. A morning ride followed by pasta, chores, and a pre-race nap. The crit was 60x1.3k laps through the ghetto. Our adventure began once we arrived and tried to find a bathroom. We eventually found one in a sandwich shop and made it back to the car alive.
Lionel had not been able to contact the race organizer in time to get us registered, so we had to pay the mighty sum of 8 euro including late fee to register, much cheaper than the states. The French version of Jabba the Hut gave us numbers and we were on our way.
The crit was pretty boring except for the g-thug spectators. Chase lapped the field with three other guys halfway through. He made it to the front of the field and I led him out until 200m to go. Although Chase was up against some very experienced sprinters he pulled off a hard-fought 3rd place.
We also had the pleasure of racing with “Geronimo,” a Portugese electrician who has been racing the Paris crits for years. He is about five foot two on his tip-toes and has calves the size of footballs. He has a reputation for talking the entire race and picking fights, and that night was no exception.
On a totally un-related note we saw some of the most geeked-out bikes ever at the race. We were swimming in a veritable sea of carbon, drilled out titanium, and obscenely exotic bikes.

June 18
Walked down to the monoprix today to buy a second bag so that my first one wouldn’t be overweight for the flight home (it was that way in the first place, don’t get your hopes up for a present). We did the Limetz-Gommecourt loop later and cut through Giverny again purely for the entertainment of watching confused tourists.
I definitely didn’t help Corey repair some broken chairs with nails and glue after that, but if I did it was really funny.

Make Way for the Maid

2009-06-16T07:11:00.000-06:00

2009-06-15T13:52:00.000-06:00

2009-06-15T13:49:00.000-06:00

Rest Day Ramblings

2009-06-15T13:26:00.000-06:00

June 13
Went for an easy spin with Chase, Marcel, and Taylor to the forest by Gasny. Marcel and I were bored on the way back so we practiced some hand slings. Don’t worry we were careful. We cleaned the bikes when we came back and tried out some new aerosol degreaser from the bike shop. Nothing will ever grow again in a patch of our backyard, but our chains and cassettes are sparkling clean. We are all excited for the race tomorrow since it is supposed to have some hills.

June 14
A very frustrating race today. We were so heavily marked that it was almost impossible for anyone in a VC Vernon jersey to get away. The race started with a 3k neutral section out of town. The field was nervous to get going and the neutral section became a slow-motion race for the front. People cut corners and hopped curbs. There were a few scary moments with some roundabouts and traffic islands but miraculously there were no crashes.
The neutral ended on a flat straight road with a tailwind and everyone put it in the 53x11 and launched at the same time. In these races a selection typically forms in the first third of the race and stays away. The racing was so negative and the Americans were so heavily marked that we did the first half of the race full-out, with constant attacks and regroupings over the undulating hills. VC Vernon was in all the promising breaks but those who didn’t make the split frantically tried to bridge across, inadvertently bringing the peloton with them. The race eventually finished in a group sprint up a small hill outside of Lisieux. Unfortunately we were not ready for the mass gallop to the line because the race organizers failed to put up any markings and the race finished 8k sooner than published. It was a good workout but not a great race for us. The next race will be another nocturne Wednesday night.

June 15
Rest day. Did some laundry then walked down to the Laundromat to use their industrial dryer. Our house doesn’t have a dryer and it is so humid that everything is perpetually damp. We went to the monoprix after that. We have been buying food at the EcoMarche lately, which is like an un-organized Costco, but they were inexplicably closed today. There isn’t a whole lot to do today beyond laundry and bike-cleaning so here is a compilation of random French Stereotypes that my lactate-addled mind couldn’t expand into an entire blog entry.

 The French are obsessed with “Le Tan.” They often ride with their shorts hiked up and their sleeves cut off.
 The French are much more laid back before races. They usually start showing up 30-45 minutes before the start and course maps, much less course profiles, are unheard of. They just show up and race rather than obsess over the course for weeks.
 Although they are laid back, the intimidation factor is high. A tracksuit is part of every team kit and looks mighty scary when paired with gelled hair and a pair of white Pumas.
 When the French pop on climbs, they pop hard. They strain weave, and somehow stay on their bikes though they would go faster walking.
 It would be very lucrative to start a knee clinic over here. Any attacks, regardless of wind or hills, must be made in the 53x11. Their cranks move at about the same speed as the second hand on a clock.
 Race foods (gels, bars, bloks, etc.) are almost unheard of over here. Racers eat cakes, coke, and tubes of applesauce. I seriously underestimated when packing race food so I can now experience the culinary delight of applesauce pouches on a hot day.
 Although the French do some weird stuff by our standards, they can beat you and they know it.

AAAAAGH! So Close!

2009-06-13T05:04:00.002-06:00

This will be short and grammatically incorrect since Im on a french keyboard in an internet cafe so bear with me. Another crit last night. Got into a break with chase and lapped the field. He attacked with 4 to go, got caught, so i countered and got away. Two and a half laps off the front cane to naught when I was caught with 10 meters to go, held onto second but not happy.

Nocturne

2009-06-12T08:06:00.001-06:00

June 10
Lionel showed up at our house at 5 pm in the VC Vernon station wagon. He was going to be watching our race that night, the pressure was on. Chase and I rode with Lionel to the race and I’m pretty sure we both lost a few years off our lives during the white-knuckle ride to and from the race. The speedometer in his Peugeot was hopelessly broken, stuck at 70 km/hr for most of the trip. He would tap the dashboard and make the speedo jump to 140 km/hr then to 20 km/hr. My iPod died 10 minutes into the tripand we spent the rest of the ride alternating between trying to revive it and bracing for a crash.
In true French fashion we got to the race 45 minutes before the start and tried to find the sign-in. We somehow managed a few practice laps before the start and lined up with about 35 others for an hour and a half of fun.
Finally, Chase finished a race without a flat or any sort of mechanical calamity, oh yeah, and he lapped the field. We did a rainy “nocturne” called Criterium UCP-La Civette. The 1.5k lap started out on a false flat with a headwind, then turned into a downhill tailwind section before a 180 degree turn through a roundabout up a 5% hill to the finish line. We did 35 laps and big-ringed the hill every time.
The field blew apart on the first few laps with Me, Chase, and Marcel attacking for primes. Chase escaped 3 laps into the race and that was the last I saw of him until he lapped me. I got away with three others and we managed to lap the main field shortly after Chase did. I’m not really sure what happened after that, but Chase was a lap up on my group of four which was fighting for second place. A junior from my group attacked with two laps to go and no one bothered to chase him, I went on the final downhill and got a few seconds. I took the turn at the bottom at an uncomfortably fast speed, put my head down and mashed. Another rider from my group caught me with 200m to go, and we had a slow-motion sprint uphill to the line. He got a few bike lengths then sat up with 20m to go so I tried to come around him but ran out of road and ended up off the podium by a bike length.
Cold and wet we rolled to the cars to change, Lionel lit up a victory cigarette and we headed off to the podium. Chase got a nice trophy and I won some euros, that should buy me a new iPod.

June 11
The latest I have ever slept in, but I was still dead tired in the morning. Racing late at night in the rain then hopping in a car for two hours really screws up your system and we all had trouble sleeping last night. I went for an easy spin with Taylor and Chase later that morning/afternoon. We spent our prize money on groceries for the week at the EcoMarche and my iPod somehow came back to life so all in all a good day until Corey came with some bad news.
Word of Chase’s domination in the crit got out and the commisaire for the stage race this weekend decided we couldn’t start. His reasoning was that the rules only allow for two foreign teams, and those spots were taken. The fact that we are technically a French team was lost on him so it looks like we will be doing another nocturne tomorrow night and a road race on Sunday.

June 12
Woke up much earlier today and went to the bike shop with Corey. I bought some “Overstim” drink mix and he got some “Overstim” pre-race cake mix. I would love to see Overstim sold in America. The bike shop had everything from Overstim gels to Overstim chicken broth (electrolytes?). They make mixes for pre and post race puddings and cakes as well as the usual bars, gels, and drink mixes. The gels are two euro a pop, but they are more concentrated than American gels and come in toothpaste tubes.
After the bike shop I went for a 90 min spin to La Roche-Guyon. A French race finishes up the hill to the town and it is a good test for the legs before the crit tonight. On the way back I cut through the town of Giverny to get off off a busy road, big mistake. Monet lived in Giverny, so it is a major tourist attraction. I knew that I was close because I could hear people yelling in English. This was the first time that I was embarrassed to be an American. The streets were full of people milling around, snapping photos in the middle of the road, and looking for the nearest McDonald’s. A woman eating an ice cream bar asked me if I was in the Tour de France, and another muttered something about cyclists clogging up the roads. It felt like I was back at home.

Bode France Trip

2009-06-09T11:29:00.000-06:00

June 4
Paris was…um….amazing. We took the train from Vernon into the city, then used the subway to get around the city. Aside from the subway cars smelling like pee it was a pretty good way to get around.
First we went to the Sacred Heart church, one of the highest points in Paris. The steps to the top seemed like a marathon since none of us can be called avid runners, but the view from the top was worth the walk. We took in the view of the city and saw four Gendarmes (French version of the Highway Patrol, think Starsky and Hutch) bust a man in a wheelchair for selling trinkets. Then we walked back down the steps to the communal urinal, a.k.a. subway, and went to a giant courtyard that led to the Louvre.
We stopped to eat lunch in an outdoor café, this was part one of Chase’s royal European ripoff. When the bill arrived we discovered that Chase’s coke cost seven euros, about ten American dollars. After lunch we walked towards the Louvre where three Kenyan immigrants pounced on us. The one who approached me asked if I was American. My steel trap of a mind sensed trouble and I though of an obscure south American country. I’m from Ecuador, I replied. The man stood there looking confused so I ran off to catch up with Corey and Seama, Bravely abandoning Chase and Marcel. The two men had separated Marcel and Chase at this point but they seemed to follow the same routine. They first tied a string around the pointer finger of the victim’s hand, effectively trapping them. After this they braided a bracelet at lightning speed while complementing the victim. Chase and Marcel were called “sex machine” and “junior Tom Cruise.” After this was done the men demanded money. Since the Kenyans basically had them on a leash they really had no choice in the matter aside from the amount. Marcel handed the man 50 Euro cents for his red, whit, and blue bracelet, then ran when the man looked away. Meanwhile, Chase forked over 20 Euros for his rasta/Kenyan flag bracelet and through some miracle got 5 back in change.
We then proceeded to get lost in the Louvre for about two hours. It was terrible, well, about as terrible as being lost in the world’s biggest art museum can be. We tried to find the Mona Lisa but failed miserably, somehow getting lost in a special Egyptian exhibit that we didn’t pay for. Took some photos then back to the subway to go to the Eiffel Tower.
We had been at the base of the tower for about ten minutes, taking more pictures, when the Gendarmes pulled up again. It was a mass exodus of the unlicensed vendors selling cheap trinkets. The Gendarmes must have had a big lunch and been feeling lethargic because the vendors didn’t even have to cross an entire street to avoid being arrested. They stopped at a traffic island halfway across a street and taunted the Gendarmes who just took pictures and put on some gloves (perhaps to intimidate the vendors?). There was a two-hour line to get to the top of the tower, so we hopped back on the moving bathroom and went back to Vernon.

June 5
Pretty mellow day. We slept in and lounged around for longer than I will admit. Chase and I went to the Monoprix (Albertson’s of France), while Marcel stayed at the house because Corey and Seama were riding and we were expecting a package. French delivery people don’t leave things by the door, they always need a signature.
According to Marcel, the deliveryman came 20 minutes after we had left and instantly began rambling in French. Marcel said “Me Corey Hart” and made a signing motion. The woman took his signature without question and left Marcel with a bike rack for our rented Fiat.
Chase and I had a successful shopping trip at the Monoprix and we returned with the correct amount of the foods we needed, a miracle compared to the last trip where we pretty much only bought pasta and bananas. We made crepes for lunch and tried to steal the neighbors’ wifi by putting my laptop in the corners of our spacious backyard.
After lunch we went for a ride on our own and didn’t get horribly lost somehow. There were a few close calls with cars and even a tour bus in the tiny streets of the towns but all in all a good ride with a few town sign sprints.
June 6
D-day anniversary today and our first race. A 12.4km circuit in Allery with rolling hills and a million sandy turns. This race would be deemed “unsafe” if it was in the U.S. but since it was considered normal for France. The course started at the base of a hill leading out of town, then went over some false flats and rollers to the next town until it changed direction with a sharp turn down what Americans would call an alley. The speed picked up from there with a rolling down hill section finishing with a steep and narrow pitch leading to an off-camber hairpin turn that melted everyone’s brake pads. From there it was a twisty downhill through the narrow roads and sandy corners in the city to the finish line near the town hall. Despite the scary course there were no crashes to speak despite a few close calls.
We knew positioning would be important on a course like this so we lined up early and got a spot towards what we assumed to be the front of the field. With two minutes before the start 30 riders rode up to the start line opposite the field, stopped, and turned around. We were now approximately in the middle of the pack and had to do some maneuvering in the first km to get to the front. Marcel and I safely made it through the fray, but Chase flatted his rear tire two minutes into his first European race. The neutral support car gave Chase a nine-speed wheel so Chase asked for a ten since Sram Red doesn’t mix well with worn 9-speed cassettes. The man said that there were no ten speed wheels in the car, and Chase was left by the side of the road wondering what could have been.
Marcel and I were active throughout most of the race working our way into some breaks but unfortunately not the one that stuck. The racing was much more aggressive than in America. I was pushed onto the shoulder while trying to pass on the backstretch and this was considered to be par for the course in a 3rd category race.
I probably went well over my limit on the first few laps but I didn’t care because I was so excited to be racing in France, this caught up with me, however, on what I thought was the last lap. At the top of the climb I popped, hard. I figured that I could cruise the next 9k or so and still finish. I rolled back into Allery towards the start/finish area and an official waved me towards the finish. I found Corey who told me that I still had another lap to go. Not the way I wanted my first race over here to go.
This was supposed to be a 3rd category nationale race, about the equivalent of a cat 2-3 race in America. After looking at the results Corey said that some bigger teams and well-known riders, including a few ex-pros/dopers, managed to sneak in. This made me feel a little better but I hope tomorrow goes better.

June 7
Another circuit race today. This one was a little hillier than yesterday. 11 8km loops. As soon as we started it was easy to see that today was going to be sketchier than the day before. In addition to the 3rd category riders the field was full of “regionale” racers (cat 4-5) and one-day license racers. The better racers knew this and went hard from the gun to thin the field, causing a mad dash to get to the front. At this point the road was more of a suggestion of where to ride. People used the shoulder, driveways, sidewalks, and cut corners to move up. We all made it to the front in one piece again and had some French teammates in the peloton with us this time.
In French races like this one a selection of 10-15 guys usually goes off the front, but through a combination of brute strength and anger about yesterday’s flat Chase managed to get off the front with another rider for most of the race. VC Vernon covered most of the counter attacks and made the important selections and it looked like Chase and his breakaway companion would stay away.
After the third lap it started to rain, hard. The peloton was soaked in a few minutes. A few French riders didn’t rinse their kits well enough after washing them and the residual soap started to foam, turning them into rolling bubble baths. About this time a group managed to bridge up to Chase, only to crash on a wet corner a few moments later. Chase barely avoided going down and this group remained off the front of the rapidly dwindling peloton for the next few laps.
Behind Chase’s group, what was left of the peloton split. I made the front group while Marcel had some bad luck, breaking his cleat and flatting. We bridged up to Chase’s group and just when we made contact someone attacked, sending me and a few others out the back door. So much for helping Chase. We were caught by a group of 8, which was all that remained of the peloton at that point. Luckily I had two teammates with me and we worked well until the finish.
Chase had more bad luck and flatted at the base of the final climb. It looks like a seam on his tube failed this time. Our next race is a night crit on Wednesday. The French can’t corner to save their lives so we have high hopes.

June 8
Woke up and did some laundry, and cleaned the bikes. Taylor Benz from Sun Valley arrives tomorrow and we’ll probably have to feed him so we went to the supermarket as well. The legs are sore from the weekend but we are still motivated to race after all the bad luck we have had recently.
Our house seems to be the dumping ground for the town. We have had lots of trash put in our yard and now someone put a cot in our front yard. I guess they knew Taylor was coming. Roaming bands of gypsies pick up trash and scraps and are essentially the recycling services for France so hopefully they’ll stop by.
Rode for an hour in the rain.

June 9
Did more laundry and cleaned my bike. Corey picked Taylor up at the airport. Chase and I went to the internet café and tried to unravel the mystery of French keyboards. We walked around the town for a little while after that and saw the sights. Another pretty relaxed day before the crit tomorrow night.

France Update

2009-06-03T12:23:00.000-06:00

June 1 (Day 1)
Had a 45 minute flight from Boise to Salt Lake City. Realized that the Great Salt Lake looks like a Petri dish from 10,000 feet. I had a four-hour layover in SLC, so I explored the airport and found some bike cops, yes, cops can ride bikes in the airport. I pulled out my camera but stopped short of taking a picture for fear of being arrested and waterboarded.
Salt Lake’s finest rode off, so I bought a five dollar smoothie from an angry Indian man and figured I could update the blog, since I had gone a full two hours without uploading anything. I sat down, opened up my computer (yes I know I’m spoiled), and told my computer through a series of clicks and key taps that I wanted to go to the G-Fit blog. Instead of the G-Fit website, however, I was re-routed to a different site promising to give me unlimited internet access at the Salt Lake City airport for 24 hours for the low price of only $7.99.
` I didn’t feel like spending money a service I could get for free, I don’t pay for air, water from drinking fountains, public restrooms, or to use crosswalks, so I thumbed through a French phrasebook and waited. Luckily another rider on the trip, Chase Pinkham from Salt Lake, showed up and I had someone to talk to until our flight took off.
Once we took off I promptly went to sleep since it was 1am in Paris. I awoke a few hours later, being bored with the French phrasebook I picked up the skymall magazine. On the cover was an advertisement for a digital camera reading “Upload Your Life.” Rest assured this is what I intend to do.
Marcel Delisser of Portland and Corey Hart met us in the Paris airport. Corey would have to make two trips from the airport to our house in Vernon because the rented Fiat would not hold all of us and our bags. He took Marcel and some bags first, so Chase and I were left to explore the airport for a few hours.
Corey eventually returned and we loaded up the Fiat and headed west to Vernon. After an uneventful drive we reached the house in Vernon. According to the owner it is 200 years old. The ceilings are made of beams and plaster, with brick floors. We unpacked the bikes in the large backyard and went for a spin across the river to the tourist town of Giverny. After an hour we cruised back into Vernon to the sound of bells tolling in the Church.

June 2
We woke up very late due to a combination of jet lag and fatigue, and went to the grocery store. We were to tired to make a list the night before, so we just grabbed whatever looked tasty and reasonably healthy, leaving us with an odd variety of food in our shopping cart.
After lunch we went for an awesome ride through the French countryside with Corey and Seama. I know you have probably heard this before, but I’m not kidding when I say the roads here are exactly the same size as the greenbelt. The riding here is very different from Boise. Since most of these roads were first built before the advent of dynamite they follow the contours of the land rather than remain straight and level,
Two hours later we rolled back into Vernon where we met one of our teammates, Cedric, near the main road. We weren’t sure what to make of Cedric at first, he looked strong, but he wore and oversized wool jersey and was carrying a socket wrench. Cedric took us west to some smaller towns and through some rolling forested hills, all without changing gears. He rode in his 39x14 the entire time. We stopped in one of these little towns to drop off the socket wrench at his friend’s house. He told us that he would take us to a good spot for pictures, and we rode farther west to the ruins of a castle on a cliff overlooking the Seine. After a hair-raising descent down what appeared to be a roughly paved goat path we got back on a larger road and rode the 22k to Vernon with a nice tailwind.

June 3
Jet lag is slowly wearing off, and we got up a little earlier this morning to go to Lionel DuMont’s house across the river in Giverny. Lionel was a great amateur racer, winning 100 races according to Corey, but he couldn’t sign a professional contract because of back problems. Lionel now directs the VC Vernon team.
Lionel took us into his basement to give us team kits. Chase and Marcel would race for VC Vernon, while I would race for the “Leopard’s Club” because French teams are not allowed to have more than two foreign riders.
We met some local riders and a few of our teammates at the church for a three-hour ride. There was a god mix of riders, ranging from a junior in a baseball cap who I guessed to be about 17, to a silver fox in a full Francaise d’Jeux team kit riding on tubulars. We road over some narrow country roads, riding two-by-two with countless Peugots coming within six inches of the group, the silver fox barely flinched. Marcel and I were pulling on a rough downhill section when my back wheel clipped a rock in the middle of the road and I felt the unmistakable sensation of my rim bouncing across the chip seal. I pulled over to fix it, and looked up to find the silver fox and a few of his friends watching my every move as I fumbled with my tube, talk about pressure. You got the sense that these men knew full well that I was a moron and in their heyday they could drop me before I so much as said bonjour.
Next we hit the hills. The junior and Chase would go to the front to duel on every hill with Marcel and me in tow. All of the hills we rode were followed by open, windy fields that would shred a race, but we took them easy to let our pack regroup. There is a strange phenomenon occurring in France right now, it seems as though someone is taking manure from fields and putting it in the woods. Seriously. The fields smelt great, but the forests smelled like rotting death.
After a few hairy descents that made most crits look like a game of hopscotch we were back in Vernon. Tomorrow we will go to Paris and see the sights. It looks like our first races will be back to back this Saturday and Sunday.

Au Revoir!

2009-05-31T10:35:00.004-06:00

Hello and goodbye, everyone. My name is Dylan Jones, I am 18 years old, a recent high school graduate (just barely), and I am sitting in the Boise airport waiting for my flight to Paris. I am one of four riders that have been selected for the BODE France trip, we will be staying in Vernon, about 75km, 46.602839 miles for those of you keeping track, west of Paris. Over the course of three weeks we will compete in about 10 local and regional races.
After a very hectic check-in, in which I almost "pulled a Menchov" (crash in the final Km) that included an overweight bag, and the attendant giving my passport to a woman who looked nothing like me (I hope), I can safely say that I am looking forward to the 9 hour flight with nothing but the hum of the engines and the rattle of a bottle of Tylenol PM to keep me company.
Everyone is boarding the plane and wondering why I'm still on my computer so that's all for now, but first I would like to thank the sponsors of this trip; BODE cycling, Physiotherapy, Physio Performance Lab, Sodexo, and The G-Fit Studio. Sorry if I forgot anyone. I will try to update as regularly as possible and hopefully with some pictures next time.
Au revoir
Dylan

Wheel Rental Program

2009-05-13T14:07:00.016-06:00

2009 Race Day Wheel Rentals Pricing:

Zipp Sub 9 Disc $50.00 one day. $25.00 for each additional day.

Hed Jet Disc $50.00 one day.
$25.00 for each additional day.

Hed H3 Front or Rear $40.00 one day. $25.00 for each additional day.

Zipp Flash Point Pair $60 one day. $25.00 for each additional day.

Zipp 404 pair. $75.00 one day. $25.00 for each additional day.

Zipp 808 Front wheel. $40.00 one day. $25.00 for each additional day.

Zipp 1080 Rear wheel. $50.00 one day. $25.00 for each additional day.

We use Conti 4000S Tires on all wheels. All wheels are clincher, and come w/o cassette.

Rear Wheels
Zipp Sub 9
Zipp 1080 CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
HED JET DISC
HED 3

Front Wheels
Zipp 808
HED 3

Wheel Sets
Zipp 404
Zipp Flash Point 60

TO BOOK RENTAL CLICK LINKS ABOVE.
FOR GUIDANCE CLICK SCREEN SHOT BELOW.
FEEL FREE TO CALL 208-342-1779 (JASON) FOR
FURTHER ASSISTANCE DURING BUSINESS HOURS 8AM-4PM WEEKDAYS

Special Edition Cervelo RS 56cm

2009-04-16T14:49:00.004-06:00

In honour of the 100th Anniversary of the Giro d’Italia, Cervélo SA, which is a sponsor of the Giro has created a special commemorative paint design for their RS model.

These frame sets were produced in very limited quantity. G-Fit Studio has been able to get hold of one 56cm. Probably will not be here too long.

You will notice three geometric changes on the RS over the rest of the road bikes in Cervelo's line.

Longer headtube, to match the higher handlebar position.
Longer chainstay length. Because a higher handlebar position rotates the rider’s torso and therefore his center of gravity backwards. Longer chainstays ensure the weight distribution between the two wheels remains balanced for optimal handling characteristics.

Race performance is guaranteed, as it is based on the same platform as the R3, two-time winner of Paris-Roubaix. But its geometry allows for a higher handlebar position, which makes it a better fit for a lot of riders, even some of the pros.

Rim and Tire Safe Sealant (In Stock)

2009-04-07T19:06:00.006-06:00

CaffeLatex Tire Sealant

The biggest difference between CafféLatex™ and standard latex-based sealants is a foaming agent (Actifoam™), that’s activated by wheel movement.

Centrifugal force drives standard latex-based sealants against the outer circumference of the tire.

The CafféLatex™ foaming action causes it to fill the tire’s entire internal cavity making it much more effective against sidewall punctures. It also makes setting up tubeless tires much easier.

CafféLatex™ repairs punctures up to 6mm (MTB) and 3mm (Road), and is ideal for MTB and road tubeless, tubular, and standard tires.

CafféLatex™ has absolutely no ammonia and is 100% tire and rim friendly.

Amount of CaffeLatex to use in a Tire

50ML (1.75 oz.) of CaffeLatex for Road Bike tires.

50ML (1.75 oz.) of CaffeLatex for the following MTB tire sizes:
~ 26 x 1.50-2.10
~ 29 x 1.50-2.00

100ML (2.50 oz.) of CaffeLatex for the following MTB tire sizes:
~ 26 x 2.10
~ 29 x 2.00

Leonard Zinn's article on damage caused by ammonia based sealants

Women’s Cycling Clinics a Success

2009-03-27T06:03:00.005-06:00

Women’s Cycling Clinics a Success

G-Fit Studio and Physio Performance Labs hosted two women’s cycling clinics during the months of February and March. Over 50 women attended the day-long clinics that covered topics relating to bicycle maintenance, bike fit, injury prevention, and effective training. Expert speakers included Corey Hart, MS (exercise physiologist and elite cycling coach), David Fleckenstein MPT, Jason Bauer (G-Fit professional mechanic), Rebecca Rusch (2-time 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike World Champion), and former professional cyclists and US National Team members Sima Tavazoie and Sarah Tillotson. The speakers debunked many of the misconceptions around bike fitting and training. The participants were educated on how to be a better consumer before they purchase products or services from unreliable sources.

Physio Performance Lab will be heading to Moab April 1-5 for the Women's Cycling Development Camp. This camp will focus on developing race skills for women as they prepare for higher levels of competition. Keynote speakers Nanna Meyer PhD, RD and Leslie Cooper MD will discuss women's health issues related to the sport of cycling. The participants will have an opportunity to learn from former World and National Champions Mari Holden and Kimberly Baldwin.

Physio Performance Lab is planning future clinics this spring to address skills on the bike. More information will be available soon on the website.

Retul Motion Capture System

2009-03-09T10:53:00.002-06:00

G-Fit Studio uses both the Specialized Body Geometry Fit System and Retul for our Advance BG Fit. The following article is taken from Retul's web site detailing the Retul concept.

Objective, Dynamic, Accurate data...

This is the foundation of the Retul concept and is demonstrated both in our product design as well as in our Colorado fit studios practice.

Every rider has unique biomechanics and therefore there are no generalizations that apply when truly fitting a rider to a bike. Purchasing a new bike can be both a fun and exciting experience, but riding a bike that is not properly fit can cause frustration, pain, and ultimately may lead to putting the bike in storage where it’ll start collecting dust.

On the other hand, maybe you already own a bike and are experiencing some discomfort or are not positionally optimized and therefore are underperforming? A proper bike fit not only will provide you with the most economic means of expending energy, but will prevent that awful pain, such as in the knee, hip, and lower back - so common with riders who are trying to adapt their bodies to the bike they already have purchased.

We’d rather adapt a bike to the body you already have. There is a big difference between being sized for a bike and being fit for a bike. When it comes to the biomechanics of fitting a rider to his/her bike, little ‘tweaks’ can be very significant. Our mission is to spread this message to all fitters and cyclists alike. Whether a rider is on a $800 commuter bike or $8000 performance race machine, a proper bike fit is as essential as the correct fitting running shoes....and tools that help the fitter see accurate cycling specific movements are becoming equally as essential to provide quality assessments of a riders' bike positions.

The Retul 3D motion-capture cycling gait technology allows fitters to capture <1mm>

Retül is a state-of-the-art 3-D motion capture system designed specifically for collecting the most accurate and realistic data for bike fit specialists. By gathering data from key eight (8) anatomical points in the cyclist’s riding position, fitters are able to profile existing (before) and ideal (after) angles for their client’s custom needs, which could be to gain more efficiency and performance, more comfort or maybe to fit the customer around an injury.

The passive (static) data collection devices still used by many fitters today, such as a tape measure and plumb bob, are outdated and less accurate because they are subject to human error. Fitting with the Retul system however, provides sub-millimeter accurate dynamic data that is organized into an easy-to-read report for both the certified fitter as well as the cyclist.

Retül allows the bike fit expert to capture 100% objective data in a dynamic state and evaluate multiple viewpoints (3-D) simultaneously while the rider is pedaling. This system requires only a PC and +/- 80 square feet of space for line of sight requirements but can easily be packed away for conserving space or taking the system with you.

Retül optimizes the biomechanics of the rider
while taking into consideration
why people choose to get a bike fit:

Performance
Optimized efficiency for long rides
Comfort
Injury prevention

Zero Gravity Absolute Zero Custom Brakes

2009-02-10T14:38:00.008-07:00

The all new custom brake program from Ciamillo includes custom color anodizing and full titanium hardware for all products. Select your preferred model, Choose from the endless color combinations and send us your info. Build your bike around your brakes!

Zero G - 168gr. (weight does not incl. pad holders)
MSRP $445
Custom $570 (adds $125)

Negative G - 198gr. (weight does not incl. pad holders)
MSRP $399
Custom $524

G-Cross - 180gr (weight does not incl. pad holders)
MSRP $349
Custom $474

Click photos to be directed to Zero Gravity's web site.

Call Jason @ G-Fit Studio for more information - 208.342.1779 or jbauer@georgescycles.com

Andy Pruitt meets with Team Saxo

2009-02-03T11:34:00.003-07:00

Specialized's own Scott Holtz and Dr. Andy Pruitt headed to Team Saxo Bank's training camp in Majorca, Spain. After a presentation delivered by Holtz, the team owner, Bjarne Riis was a believer in the Specialized BG FIT program.

Chris King BB's are in!

2009-01-23T12:48:00.004-07:00

Road or Mountain versions - Compatible with most 24mm outboard bearing type spindles. ie. Shimano, FSA, Raceface.

The long-awaited Chris King bottom bracket has arrived. 10 colors, superior durability, user serviceable bearings, and a grease injection tool make this a great upgrade.

Bottom Bracket

Submitted by sanderson on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:27.

We've been making our own sealed bearings here at King for over 32 years and never has there been a component that benefited more from their strength and durability than the bottom bracket. Yes, the Chris King bottom bracket is here and ready to take on the most challenging conditions your cycling adventures can deliver.

The Chris King bottom bracket is specifically designed for Shimano-compatible external type crank/bottom bracket systems and delivers every benefit you've come to expect from King and in the wide array of colors only King can do.

An available grease injection tool allows the bearings to be purged of existing grease and debris and new grease run through. What better way to maximize the life of your bearings than to do routine maintenance? Especially when it's this easy.

Racers take note! With the Chris King bottom bracket and injection tool, you can train day-to-day with a durable high-viscosity grease and race with a light, fast-rolling low-viscosity grease or oil. Imagine your current Friday night leg-shaving ritual finishing with a few minutes in the garage to get your bike as smooth as you are. Available in 10 colors.

$129.99

Call G-Fit Studio for more details 208-342-1779 or e-mail Jason @ jbauer@georgescycles.com

Mavic Safety Notice!

2009-01-11T11:29:00.001-07:00

January 2009

This notice is addressed to users of R-SYS front wheels.
For US consumers, the following action plan is subject to review and approval by the US consumer product safety commission, which is currently pending.

Annecy, January 5th 2009.

As part of its ongoing commitment to customer safety and satisfaction, Mavic has announced a voluntary recall of its R-SYS front wheels as a precautionary safety measure.

Mavic has identified that the carbon tubular spokes of the R-SYS front wheel may break during use in certain circumstances and causing the rider to lose control and possibly fall, potentially sustaining injury.

All models of Mavic R-SYS front wheels are concerned (R-SYS, R-SYS test, R-SYS Premium), whether purchased separately or as part of a bicycle. The wheels must no longer be used.

Consumers should immediately return their front wheel to a Mavic dealer; and a new upgraded R-SYS front wheel will be delivered free of charge. This exchange will start from 31st of March 2009. Until this date, and to facilitate the continued use of your bicycle, Mavic will offer a set of Aksium wheel that customers will keep after they have received the replacement R-SYS front wheel.

For any further question, please ask your Mavic Dealer,
or call the following number: 00 800 234 788 75
for USA and Canada: 1-800-664-9228
for Austria: 01 54663 5521

Mavic regrets any inconvenience We appreciate your understanding and, we look forward to providing you a superior upgrade to the one of the finest wheels on the market.

Friends of the Criterium

2009-01-09T13:36:00.005-07:00

Become a Friend of the Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium, and support one of the nation’s premier bicycle races in Downtown Boise. These packages provide commercial benefits or just a good time at the event. Pick a package and come enjoy the best of downtown Boise in the summer!

Platinum Level • $1,000

Four (4) VIP tickets to Friends Hospitality Tent (includes 8 drink tickets)
Two (2) PA Company Announcements
Two (2) Primes (1 Women’s Race, 1 Men’s Race)
Logo placement on Twilight website
Two (2) banners (provided by company) to be hung along the Twilight Course
Four (4) Twilight Friend’s Shirts

Gold Level • $750

Four (4) VIP tickets to Friends Hospitality Tent (includes 4 drink tickets)
Two (2) PA Company Announcements
Two (2) Primes (1 Women’s Race, 1 Men’s Race)
One (1) banner (provided by company) to be hung along the Twilight Course
Two (2) Twilight Friend’s Shirts

Prime Sponsor • $500

Two (2) VIP tickets to Friends Hospitality Tent (includes 2 drink tickets)
One (1) PA Company Announcement
One (1) Prime (Women’s Race or Men’s Race)
One (1) Twilight Friend’s Shirt

VIP Tickets • $75

One (1) VIP ticket to Friends Hospitality Tent (includes 1 drink ticket)
One (1) PA Company Announcement
One(1) Prime (Women’s Race or Men’s Race)
One (1)Twilight Friend’s Shirt

To Purchase

•Call Mike Cooley at (208) 343-3782 or online at www.boisetwilightcriterium.com

Your Friends Support will be tax deductible. BODE (Boise Development Cycling) is a 501 C 3 non profit organization.

Sunset Racing News Letter - Bringing you the 70.3

2009-01-05T11:17:00.004-07:00

Triathlon News

This fall has brought some exciting changes to Sunset Racing Events.

An all new event schedule with more internationally recognized events, a new website with more race information than ever before at WWW.SUNSETRACING.COM – AND… Sunset Racing added a new member to the team. Visit the website to read more about our newest team member Dominic Guinto.

Showdown at Sundown

Get ready to kick start your season with a new event on an all new, out and back bike course! Start and finish in the beautiful MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas Resort. Race start time is at 3:30 PM. Yes! 3:30PM. No pre-dawn wake up call, no waiting at water’s edge for the sun to come up. Sleep in, rack your bike in the afternoon (transition area on the Ritz Carlton Bridge!), race and then enjoy the food and festivities of MonteLago Village.

Loews XTERRA West Cup, Regional Championship – the “Must Do” event of the year!

$10,000 in prize money, 34 slots for the XTERRA World Championship in Maui. Race hard knowing that the finish line is just steps away from the beautiful pools and spas of our host, The Loews Lake Las Vegas. The Loew’s XTERRA West Cup, also includes an XTERRA Points Series Race, the Paul Mitchell Cut-A-Thon for charity, the Breeders Choice Canine Challenge and a pool party at the Loew’s Hotel following the race.

The PRE

Start making plans for something new in 2009. An event packed with new challenges and family fun. Visit The PRE and start planning your summer vacation now.

Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas

Don’t miss the second installment of the Aflac Iron Girl Lake Las Vegas. There have been some exciting changes to the racecourse for 2008.

Upcoming Newsletter

Learn about the new Dash for Cash at Metroman Triathlon where the top 15 men and top 15 women from the Intermediate distance race go head to head in a Super Sprint for a winner take all prize of $1000.

Wired Blog Network Article

2008-12-31T15:42:00.003-07:00

Bike Geek: Retul Bike Fit

By Mark McClusky

As I mentioned when I wrote about going through a bike fit at Specialized earlier this summer, I've had a chance to go though several different bike fitting procedures. From the data driven approach of the Specialized fit, which used my body's measurements and flexibility as a starting point, to the experience-driven fit I was given by the late, great Clay Mankin at San Francisco's City Cycle, I've seen most of the ways that a rider and machine can be brought together.

But this being cycling, there are always new technologies out there, and more ways to spend your money. On the bike fitting front, the new kid on the block is Retul, the creation of three bike veterans looking for a better way to evaluate the interaction between a person and a bicycle.

The key tech is a motion capture system that's affixed to your wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle and the ball of your foot -- in the photo above, you can see some of the points (sorry for the blurring of the rest as I pedal). A camera tracks the position of all those points in space as you pedal, and allows for an accurate, dynamic measurement of your pedal stroke, and how your body reacts as it tries to generate more and more power.

This dynamic measurement is the real difference between other fits I've undergone. Usually, a fitter will measure you, make some adjustments, eyeball the changes as you ride, and then have you stop to measure and tweak more. You just can't use a tape measure and a plumb bob when you're riding. With Retul, the measurements are taken as you ride, so there's a much improved understanding of your particular biomechanics.

I underwent my fit at Bike Rx in Mill Valley (an amazing shop that has helped us out at Wired before). Colin Beardsley, one of the partners at the shop, got me hooked up to the sensors and ran me through a series of motion captures at three progressively higher resistance levels. The goal was to see how my body operated at low power outputs, and then how it changed when I had to work harder.

The news was generally good, as I would have expected -- all of these systems and fitters are all working in a pretty small range, so I would have been shocked if my position was way off. We lowered my saddle ever so slightly, so that I was able to apply power more efficiently throughout the entire downstroke, but other than that, there wasn't a problem.

That is, until we turned around and attached the sensors to the other side. Ideally, the mechanics would be very very close from the right and left sides, so that you're working symmetrically. But we found that the numbers were pretty far off on my left from my right, and that it looked like my left leg is shorter than my right. Almost no one has legs that are exactly the same length, but in my case, the discrepancy was enough to be reflected in the motion capture. Incidentally, the difference wasn't noticeable to the naked eye; a good argument for the Retul system.

Colin added several millimeters of shims to my left cleat, effectively making my leg a little longer. We did the motion capture again, and suddenly, things were in a much better balance. We're going to try riding with the shims for a little while, and see how it feels -- so far, I've done a couple of rides with no discomfort.

My take on Retul? It's a tremendous tool for a bike fitter, allowing much more accurate measurement than any other commercial system that I know about. But in the final analysis, I think that the fitter you're working with is a huge part of the equation. Colin's a great guy to work with, and super-knowledgeable about cycling and fit, so that's a big part of the package that I got. A fit is several hundred dollars at most shops using Retul, so it's a big investment. But if the tool can help you understand your pedal motion, and help your fitter do a better job for you, then it might be worth it.

Fizik Demo Program

2008-12-26T09:31:00.012-07:00

Fizik Demo Saddles are here!

If you have wanted to try the latest Fizik saddles, now is your chance.
Cost to demo is $20 for a period of 3 days. Refundable upon purchase.

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Three models currently available:

Arione CX Kium

Wing Flex - K:ium rail

Arione CX K:ium black

Cover Black suede and black microtex
Logo Black fi'zi:k
Rail K:ium
Weight 205 gr

Lighter, slim, elegant. The Arione CX features a new lightweight foam yielding a 70 grams weight reduction from the standard Arione.
New look: lower, racing profile without sacrificing comfort.
New Style: fi'zi:k team issue logos and 3 different racing design.

ALIANTE XM Gamma Twin Flex - with Technogel

Aliante XM Gamma

Cover		black perforated microtex
Rear Protection		black cordura
Scuff Guards		black
Rail		k:ium
Weight		259 gr

New shape specifically designed for MTB use on bikes with suspension travel from 80 to 120mm.

The new high shape on the central and front part of the padding, provides optimal weight distribution while you are riding in hard conditions.
Squared and well-padded front zone with Technogel gives you amazing comfort and increased traction during steep climbs.

Patented Twin-Flex gives extra softness on the genital area.

new
Antares. The third dimension

Antares is the latest addition to our road range. It is the third 'A' between Fi'zi:k's two other premium A's: Aliante and Arione.
It's a new dimension embodying all essential Fi'zi:k elements: comfort, flexibility and the incredible lightness of being.

Antares braided

Shell: Rilsan carbon reinforced
Rail: Carbon braided 7x9mm
Cover: Black microtex /
Thigh Glides: White with Silver side Logos
Weight: 145 g

Retul Demo Video

2008-12-24T07:12:00.001-07:00

Christian Vandevelde Bike Fit

2008-12-24T05:58:00.001-07:00

Using Retul Fit System

New York Times Article

2008-12-24T05:33:00.000-07:00

Ouch, My Knee! Is There a Bike Fitter in the House?

Jessica Brandi Lifland for The New York Times

CYCLE THERAPY A laser is used at a bike fitting at the Endurance Performance Training Center.

By CHRISTOPHER PERCY COLLIER

Published: November 19, 2008

TAD JACOBS loved cycling. The 44-year-old arborist from northern California used to ride two to three times a week to stay in shape. But while pedaling, he suffered muscle soreness in his lower back and joint stiffness in his shoulders. At home, the discomfort worsened.

Heidi Schumann for The New York Times

Tad Jacobs.

Then he booked an appointment with Paul Kundrat, a specialist in biodynamics at the Endurance Performance Training Center in Mill Valley, Calif.

During a two-hour session, Mr. Jacobs saw computer-generated data related to his problem. Lasers made precise three-dimensional measurements of his body. Range-of-motion tests were performed. Adjustments were made, and Mr. Jacobs’s pain dissipated.

Six months after the appointment, he was riding 200 miles a week, more than twice his previous distance. “It was amazing,” Mr. Jacobs said. “I haven’t iced my knees since.”

Mr. Kundrat did not use intensive physical therapy, trigger-point massage or faith healing. Nor was the treatment based around hypnosis, acupuncture or heavy doses of pain medication. All it took to stem Mr. Jacobs’s discomfort was a series of measured tweaks to his bike.

For recreational cyclists, this procedure, called a bike fitting, used to be a relatively informal, even minor, affair. After choosing a brand and a model, a buyer would then straddle a few different bike frame sizes, raise or lower the seat of the best fitting one, and be done with it as a clerk looked on.

But in the last decade a far more involved fitting process previously reserved for professional cyclists has mushroomed into a mainstream offering found at scores of bikes shops and training centers around the country.

During a professional bike fitting, the adjustments made are so minute that they are typically measured by the millimeter. The process, which mixes a knowledge of cycling biodynamics with bike mechanics, is touted for its ability to increase comfort, offer enhanced pedaling efficiency and lower the risk of repetitive-use injury. It is not cheap: a two-hour appointment costs $150 to $400.

“It’s not a cure-all,” Mr. Kundrat said, “but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who, after doing it, thought it wasn’t worth the money.”

The technology put to work in a bike fitting is often an attention-grabber. Lasers, cameras, data readouts and computer imagery that can be manipulated to be seen from multiple views add a certain sizzle to a process that was previously, more often than not, an eyeball estimation.

A system called Retül, for instance, uses three-dimensional motion-capture technology. Eight light-emitting diodes are placed at various key points on a cyclist’s body. When the cyclist gets on the bike and pedals, they flash every 2.1 milliseconds reportedly to deliver 29 full sets of body data" to a central computer. And yet, according to the very best bike fitters in business, it is the experience level of the technician, not the technology or the cost of the service, that most accurately determines fitting quality.

“We like to say that you can give a monkey a machine gun, but that doesn’t mean he’ll know how to use it,” said Sean Madsen, a biomechanist at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine in Colorado, which is considered to be among the best fitters in the country.

Colin O’Brien, the owner of Cronometro, a custom bike shop in Madison, Wis., that charges $240 to $290 for its biodynamic bike fit, said: “There are probably about 12 to 15 bike fitters in North America that have elevated the bike-fitting process to an art form. Then there are the between 50 to 100 that offer upper grade fittings, and thousands more who have gone through the bike fit classes offered by Specialized and Serotta,” the bike makers.

Hot foot. Tingling toes. Hand numbness. Lower-back soreness. Hamstring discomfort. The alleviation of those types of pain complaints, all common among cyclists, is the usual justification offered for the time and money spent on this type of fitting. To the trained eye of a bike fitter, there are certain clearly recognizable alterations that can be made to eliminate pain that, as Mr. O’Brien said, “you shouldn’t be feeling.”

Knee pain in the patella is often alleviated by moving the seat forward or backward. Neck discomfort can be resolved by moving up the handlebars. Lower-back pain is sometimes lessened by marginally lowering the seat. The significance of these seemingly inconsequential alterations, Mr. O’Brien said, becomes clear when one is reminded that, over the course of a two-hour ride, a cyclist will make about 10,000 pedal revolutions. The pain and discomfort may be dull at the outset, but it can gradually intensify.

“We think the key to a good fit is balance,” said Aaron Hillebrand, a bike fitter with Signature Cycles, a New York City company that reports doing 10 to 20 fits a week from January to August at the cost of $375. “We make sure your body is fully supported skeletally.”

About 75 percent of the cyclists fitted, Mr. O’Brien said, book appointments because of pain or discomfort. The rest, he said, are seeking greater speed and efficiency.

Jeff Gelt, the owner of the Central Wheel bike shop in Farmington, Conn., sought a professional bike fit before a multiday cycling trip to the French Alps.

“At speeds of 50 miles per hour, my bike felt unstable,” he said.

Over the course of his two-hour fitting, a technician properly identified the cause of his high-speed wobble (an elevated center of gravity) and made the proper adjustment (a slight lowering of the seat).

After the fit, Mr. Gelt also found he could go measurably faster while riding at the same level of exertion. “I was so impressed I hired a specialist to do this in our shop,” he said.

For Mr. Kundrat, the fitting starts with a series of body measurements. He begins at the foot and works his way up. He uses a device resembling a large protractor to take angular measurements at the knee and a laser to take others. He asks his riders not only to bring their bikes, which are locked into an elevated stand but also to bring all the gear they would usually wear. Sometimes, he said, neck pain is reduced by simply removing the visor on a rider’s bike helmet, or by wearing different eyewear.

Mr. Kundrat will change bike seats, handlebars or bike stems if necessary. He may swap out one component on a client’s bike for a better fitting one. He also makes the series of minute adjustments that are specific to the rider’s particular body and shape after watching him or her ride — something the Retül system does electronically in other fitting environments — such as raising the seat; pushing the handlebars forward; being sure that the bike cleats are properly positioned. If one leg is shorter than the other (it is rare to find a human body that is completely symmetrical) he will add a shim.

THE session ends with a stroke analysis. As the cyclist pedals, a bar chart of the power output shows up on a computer screen with every colored band an indication of a 15-degree increment of the rotation. For beginning riders, more power is usually employed during the downward pushes on the pedal, which shows up as a wave on the bar chart. Instead, an even distribution of power throughout the rotation is desired.

“You should be pulling back, pulling up, and then kicking that pedal over,” Mr. Kundrat said.

All of the bars should be the same height. Though the changes may not be visibly noticeable at the end of fitting, cyclists often immediately feel the difference. Nagging pain that previously worsened over the course of a ride can suddenly cease to exist.

G-Fit Studio is open!

2008-12-23T17:31:00.001-07:00

We are pleased to bring you a dedicated bike fit studio with the latest technology available. All services are done by appointment in a private setting. We are also offering an appointment based repair facility with exacting quality. Please check out the new website and make your appointment today!

Resting Metabolic Rate

2008-12-01T20:51:00.001-07:00

•Determines Rate of Calories Burned at Rest

•Determines Use of Carbohydrates and Fats at Rest

$50

Body Composition

2008-12-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

•7-site skinfold analysis to determine body fat percentage

•Helps determine weight loss/gain strategy

$25

Gait Analysis

2008-12-01T20:49:00.001-07:00

•Assesses running biomechanics and running form

•Provides recommendations to improve running technique

$75

Endurance Training Session

2008-12-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

•One-on-one training session for running, cycling (road, mountain, or cyclocross), Nordic Skiing

•Skills or technique training

$75/Hour

Fuel Efficiency and LT Test

2008-12-01T20:37:00.002-07:00

-Assesses use of carbohydrates and fats during exercise and caloric expenditure using metabolic measurements

-Determines Lactate Threshold via blood lactate
-Assesses aerobic endurance and efficiency

-Determines training optimal zones for heart rate, power output or pace

-Provides training recommendations

$150

VO2max Test

2008-12-01T20:35:00.002-07:00

-Determines aerobic capacity and ventilatory threshold
-Determines max aerobic power (cycling) or velocity (running)

-Determines training optimal zones for heart rate, power output or pace

-Provides training recommendations

$125

Lactate Threshold Test (LTT)

2008-12-01T20:33:00.002-07:00

-Identifies lactate threshold via blood lactate -Assesses aerobic endurance and metabolic fitness -Determines training optimal zones for heart rate, power output or pace -Provides training recommendations $125

Advanced BG Follow-up

2008-12-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Half-Hour follow-up on Advanced BG Fit. Ensuring position is comfortable and/or further refinements.

Advanced BG FIT

2008-12-01T20:28:00.002-07:00

BG FIT (Fit Integration Technology) is a proprietary bicycle system consisting of trained fit technicians, cutting edge fit tools, and a unique fit assessment process that will enable you to ride faster, longer, and in greater comfort.

Pre-fit Assessment
During the BG pre-fit assessment, we will ask a series of questions designed to help us understand your cycling history, goals, and unique physical characteristics. Next, we will lead you through over a dozen tests designed to evaluate your body’s structure, flexibility, strength, and the possibility of a leg length discrepancy from right to left.

Riding Assessment
The on-bike riding assessment allows us to analyze the body’s position and pedal stroke in dynamic fashion using video capture. The assessment focuses on the correct alignment of the rider from all planes of motion (sides, back, and top), ensuring that the rider is in the most functional position. We will assess proper hip, knee, and foot alignment (cleat position), an essential ingredient in allowing anyone to medal with maximum power and efficiency, minimal pain and less chance of injury. During this assessment, the rider will be able to see how efficiently they move in real time.

We integrate Retül, the most comprehensive dynamic 3-dimensional motion capture fit system available with the BG FIT. Readings taken throughout the Dynamic 3D motion capture process (Retül) are immediately processed and a report generated. We then analyze the data from this sample and evaluate the need for position change. Once the changes are made, the process is repeated to verify effectiveness. This new data then becomes part of the final report, in addition to post-fit bike and equipment measurements. Retül uses motion capture technology that is accurate to within less than a millimeter, creating true objective data which can be utilized by a qualified, educated, and experienced fitter for the optimal position.

Out the Door
The final step is to see how the fit functions on the road or trails. In the weeks to follow, we will ask you how your fit is working and meet with you to assess your improvements.

Advanced BG FIT Fees:
Existing Bike ($200)
Additional Bike ($100 per bike. Must be fitted within 4 weeks)
New Bike Purchase ($300 with a $100 credit with a purchase of a bike) We use the Calfee size cycle to determine your optimal frame size and suggest which frames will work best for you.

BG Basic Fit Process

2008-12-01T20:20:00.004-07:00

This is also known as our commuter fit. After a quick rider interview to determine goals, physiological state and relevant injury history, we will analyze body position on the bike. The BG Basic FIT focuses on correct positioning of the rider without a detailed dynamic analysis of movement. Proper cleat position is also addressed.

Basic BG FIT Fee:
$100

Schedule Basic Fit

G-FIT STUDIO

New G-Fit Site!

BG Fit Service (By Specialized)

New Chris King R45 Road Hubs!

G-Fit Studio New Location!

Jumpstart Your Training

Get the Data You Need

Track Your Heart Rate

Analyze Your Ride

G-Fit Studio is Moving!

Leadville 100 Champ to Make Special Guest Appearance At Encore Showing of “Race Across the Sky”

Interbike and 24 Hour Nationals 2009

Rapha Continental Ride Journal

Dura Ace Carbon

Off to Worlds

Final Races

More France

Geekdom in the Ghetto

Make Way for the Maid

Rest Day Ramblings

AAAAAGH! So Close!

Nocturne

Bode France Trip

France Update

Au Revoir!

Wheel Rental Program

Special Edition Cervelo RS 56cm

Rim and Tire Safe Sealant (In Stock)

CaffeLatex Tire Sealant

Amount of CaffeLatex to use in a Tire

Women’s Cycling Clinics a Success

Retul Motion Capture System

G-Fit Studio uses both the Specialized Body Geometry Fit System and Retul for our Advance BG Fit. The following article is taken from Retul's web site detailing the Retul concept.

Objective, Dynamic, Accurate data...

Retül optimizes the biomechanics of the riderwhile taking into considerationwhy people choose to get a bike fit:

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Andy Pruitt meets with Team Saxo

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Bottom Bracket

Mavic Safety Notice!

Friends of the Criterium

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Loews XTERRA West Cup, Regional Championship – the “Must Do” event of the year!

The PRE

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Upcoming Newsletter

Wired Blog Network Article

Bike Geek: Retul Bike Fit

Fizik Demo Program

Retul Demo Video

Christian Vandevelde Bike Fit

Using Retul Fit System

New York Times Article

Ouch, My Knee! Is There a Bike Fitter in the House?

G-Fit Studio is open!

Resting Metabolic Rate

Body Composition

Gait Analysis

Endurance Training Session

Fuel Efficiency and LT Test

VO2max Test

Lactate Threshold Test (LTT)

Advanced BG Follow-up

Advanced BG FIT

BG Basic Fit Process

Retül optimizes the biomechanics of the rider
while taking into consideration
why people choose to get a bike fit: