With the competition for sports nutrition heating up, Shotz has a range of tasty and convenient products that will appeal to all athletes of any sport and ability.

Shotz Energy Gel

What sets Shotz Energy Gel apart from many energy gel products is the smooth liquid/gel texture making them easy to digest without any untastely after taste.

Shotz Energy Gels are not sickly sweet and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream without sitting heavy in the stomach.

Shotz Energy Gels are very low in sugar with only 2.5 grams of sugar per 45 gram sachet.

Available in six great flavours that include Berry/Banana, Cola, Lemon/Lime, Wildberry, Cola/Vanilla and Wildbean, there is sure to be a flavour for everyone.

Shotz Electrolyte Tablets

Shotz Electrolyte Tablets come in a convenient tube and are available in Lemon and Orange vanilla flavours. There is no need to measure scoops and no mixing or shaking.

The Shotz tablets are possibly the ultimate in portable hydration. Drop one Shotz tablet into your water bottle and away you go. The  Shotz flavour is mild and refreshing without a sugary aftertaste.

The aim of the simple solution is to be less dehydrated and better equipped to combat the negative effects dehydration has on your performance.

It should be noted that the  Shotz Electrolyte Tablet has no carbohydrate and therefore no energy. It is designed purely for hydration.

Shotz Energy Bars

The Shotz Energy Bars are a nutritional energy bar with complex carbohydrates, protein and whole grain to keep pace with the body’s fuel needs and to satisfy hunger.

The Shotz Energy Bar are a healthy, low fat, low sugar energy packed snack. The formulation is moist and chewy which can be easily consumed during high intensity activity.

Available flavours include: Apple Berry Blast, Choc Almond Ammo, Choc Mint Missile and Sticky Date Explosion.

The Shotz range of nutrition proved to not only taste great but provides the nutritional needs that the body requires during exercise and activity. Personally, I found the Shotz Electrolyte Tablets to be very unique and most convenient.

Take a close look at the Shotz range and give them a try.

For more information visit the Shotz website.

When I first received the Rapha Stowaway Jacket I thought straight away it looks good and felt very soft. I like how the jacket fits when wearing, it isn’t to bulky and doesn’t look like I’m pitching a tent. It was comfortable to ride in and I wasn’t constantly pulling the jacket down at the back to cover my umm, “rear”.

The jacket has a drop tail in order to provide protection from spray and it works well, as mentioned on the Rapha site, “The tail has been stitched to prevent the jacket flapping whilst riding”.

The jacket has many features such as, friction locks on the waistcoat, wear-resistant lycra cuffs which provides a wind-proof seal, soft-fleece chin guard to prevent chaffing when the jacket is completely zipped up and the zip is sewn on in reverse for maximum water resistant. The jacket feels soft; it doesn’t have that plastic feel that most wind-proof jackets have.

I didn’t find myself sweating after wearing the jacket for a while, although I was riding in Brisbane and it really only drizzled down, so I wasn’t able to test the jacket in Belgian winter conditions.

Another feature I liked is the reflective stripes the jacket has on the sleeves, with a reflective Rapha Logo on the rear to help with visibility when riding in dim lighting conditions or night.

The jacket weighs 150g and folds up easily to store in a jersey pocket.  It comes in red or cream and matches perfectly with the Rapha Women’s Range of Jerseys and Shorts available.

Rapha states on their website that the jacket is windproof, water-resistant and extremely breathable, and is ideal for riding in changeable conditions. I have to agree with Rapha, this jacket provides everything that they say and is comfortable to wear, looks great and although pricier than most of the stowaway jackets on the market is well worth the money. The quality of the jacket will have you wearing it for many years to come.

I also want to mention the Merino Rapha Socks I have been wearing constantly since they were sent to me. These socks are good; they feel great on, no sweaty feet after taking them off and no annoying rubbing along the top of the toe s due to stitching.

If you have trouble wearing socks whilst riding then give the Merino Socks a go. The socks are made from Merino wool with the natural fibre providing a better wicking of the sweat away and also provides a natural anti-bacterial to stop the socks smelling after repeated use.

The women’s range keeps all the positive classic qualities of the Rapha range with the addition of a exceptional anatomical fit for women.

All up I have to say is that I really enjoyed wearing the Rapha Womens Range and if you too like looking good whilst riding, then do it, you won’t be disappointed.

To purchase the Rapha Stowaway Jacket or any of the Rapha Womens range take a look at the Rapha Website.

The Jersey Bin is a waterproof bag that is available in two sizes, 95x175mm and 120x175mm. They are lightweight and constructed of a quality, lasting vinyl recyclable material with a strong zip-lock style zipper. In both wet and humid conditions the Jersey Bin have prevented my phone from  being damaged. They are also handy for storing those sticky gel packets.

The small size can comfortably contain a typical mobile phone with larger smart phones such as the Apple iPhone just fitting in. The larger size can easily contain other products such as a digital camera.

Rob Kortus who is the founder and owner of Jersey Bin also has a custom made Jersey Bin available. The custom made are available in quantities of 100 and enable the design of your own size, artwork or logo.

The Jersey Bin are available direct from the website.

1. Low quantities – We were wanting an initial run of around ten jerseys, bibs and caps.
2. Design flexibility – Although we had a vague idea of the proposed jersey we needed them fully designed for minimal if not free design cost.
3. Quality – There is nothing worse than buying average quality cycling clothing when you spend so long in the saddle. Although possibly a contradiction, we wanted the best quality for the best price.
4. Value for money – Like all of us, we wanted the jerseys to be as cheap as possible whilst still being the best possible quality… long shot?

With these requirements we researched manufacturers to find Champion System being able to meet all of our needs.

Champion System have offices in the USA, Europe and Australia with manufacturing in China. Jerseys are described as being excellent quality with full sublimation printing that ensures the artwork is printed directly into the weave of the fabric, just like the pro jerseys.

Set-up

After getting in contact with Champion System we were provided clear instructions by email on how to proceed in getting the ball rolling.

After providing an idea of what gear we required an invoice was received requiring a deposit payment of 50% of the proposed order. The deposit provides a commitment to Champion System who from this point on provide unlimited free design.

The deposit was paid by electronic funds transfer and confirmation provided the following day by the Australian representative that the funds had been received. An email was promptly sent providing login and password information to access the Customer Control Panel within the Champion Systems website.

Design

Upon entering the Customer Control Panel instructions are provided for uploading graphics and providing a description to the Champion System graphic designers for how the jersey and other pieces of the kit might look.

The Champion System website has a gallery of jersey pictures and templates that can be downloaded for your own purposes of ‘colouring in’ and to come up with your own suggestions which could then be translated to the Champion System designer.

With the initial process only taking a couple of days, the deposit is paid, all ideas, concepts, logos and other graphics uploaded – we wait for a preliminary design proof.

Sharkies organic fruit chews are packed with real fruit juice, whole grains, and carbohydrates for an energy boost that lasts. Naturally occuring minerals and electrolytes replace those during vigorous activities like running, soccer, biking, hiking or snowboarding. Sharkies are gluten free, wheat free, vegetarian and provide a natural source of electrolyte.

Unlike jelly babies and other lollies, Sharkies contain no gelatin and don’t contain high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or further refined sugar. Complex carbohydrates make up half of the ingredients, which keep children and athletes from “sugar crashing” and sustains energy.

With Sharkies, half the product is brown rice syrup giving it complex carbohydrates for sustained energy and provides the silky smooth texture that is easily chewed and digested. This added to the simple sugars from the fruit and organic cane make Sharkies a functional, healthy alternative to lollies. Each package contains 140cals and 36g of carbs.

Sharkies are packaged in convienient 45g packages that slip easily into a cycling jersey pocket and are currently available in three great flavours: Berry Blast, Citrus Squeeze and Fruit Splash. They can be purchased in boxes of twelve for AU$33. So, for under $3 per individual package you can get that energy hit without the nasties of traditional lollies. Sharkies are manufactured in the USA.

Sharkies can be purchased from the Australian website with free postage within Australia.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that I’d worn out another rear tire. Its a habit I seem to have. Luckily I had a new tire ready and quickly replaced it. I thought I’d change the front as well (was looking rather cut up), as a few long rides were approaching, and it had been on since just after the 2010 Tour Down Under Challenge Ride.

I toke the front wheel off, was struggling a little and then it came free. I heard something bouncing on the floor. It was the front speed sensor. I’d somehow managed to collect it in the wheel and it just snapped off… Was not happy at all.

The front sensor was for the VDO X2DW that I’d had since I purchased the bike late 2009. I’d had a little bit of trouble with the actual mount for the main unit and had that replaced. I tried to see if I could reafix the speed sensor but it wasn’t going to happen.

I spent the rest of that long weekend not using a trip computer. There is something about cycling and knowing how far you’ve gone, what your current speed is and current cadence. Its just one of those things I guess – everyone knows they should just be out enjoying the cycling but…

I had a decision to make early the following week. Was I going to fix the VDO X2DW setup or go for a GPS setup. I had used my iPhone 3GS, in the past with MapMyRide but it drains the battery on a Lobethal loop. The Garmins did look interesting. I did some research on the Internet.

I decided I was going to purchase a Garmin Edge 500 with the Speed/Cadence and Heart Rate monitor options. I researched pricing and the Tuesday after the long weekend I started ringing around the bike shops in Adelaide to see who had stock and what they were charging. There were some rather large discrepancies in price. But I found one, in stock and at a good price. The only catch was I had to wait till 1:30 in the afternoon.

Time passed slowly, I got myself a little distracted with lunch and tweeting. I cycled up and picked it up. I was now a proud owner of a nice Garmin Edge 500. I’d finally done it.

Now was it going to meet my expectations.

As soon as I got home, I unpacked it, charged up the main unit, removed the old gear and installed the one speed/cadence sensor (there is nothing now on the front wheel). I played around with the configuration a little and then went for a spin around the block. I adjusted some of the settings and then went around the block again (well It was a few blocks). I connected to Garmin Connect and uploaded some data. You can see one of those early laps here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/36946199 . Its fairly impressive the information that you now have. Needless to say, I was occupied for the rest of that evening with investigating everything on the new toy.

I was very interested in what it meant to be able to train with a Heart Rate Monitor, as I’d never had one before. There were two items I needed to work out what was my resting heart rate and what was my maximum heart rate. There were also five heart rate zones that could be more accurately calculated that could be used to improve your riding. This was an excellent article that I read on the subject http://www.cycling-inform.com/articles/60/1/How-to-use-heart-rate-m…

I worked out an indicative resting heart rate the following morning. Mine was somewhere between 56 and 58 (sitting on the couch I make it get down there) but to get an accurate reading you are supposed to take a reading before you arise in the morning from bed. So I wore the Heart Rate Monitor on me to bed that night and toke a reading first thing.

How was I going to work out my Max Heart Rate? A good hill climb was in order. I proceeded to Thirkell Av, to climb up to Mt Osmond. One thing I had done, was to set an alert to sound if I reached the current max heart rate in the device, which was set to 185 BPM (Beats Per Minute). I started the climb, and the heart rate grew steadily, the Garmin device started beeping. I wasn’t at the first 25 KM/H corner yet. It started again, my current heart rate was 188 BPM. Well the thing kept beeping at me until I got to the top. The maximum I reached was 191 BPM. You can see that ride here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37241153.

After playing around a little I’ve now got the Heart Rate Zones setup for myself. I’ve still not quiet happy with how I’ve configured the data pages on the Garmin Edge 500. You have three pages, where you can assign whatever data elements (e.g. Speed, Heart Rate, Cadence, Temperature etc.) you like. Fingers crossed I’ll get there soon.

I’ve spent this afternoon after my ride playing with a number of different tools and websites like MapMyRide, TrailRunner, EveryTrail.com GPSies.com and of course Garmin Connect. Its amazing what you can do with your ride data (lots of formats to exchange it in). One thing I did do, which I hope cyclists here will enjoy is through TrailRunner, I’m publishing a blog of my cycling data here: http://web.me.com/hortovanyi/trailrunner/weblog.html. A summary of it appears now on my Adelaide Cyclist profile page.

Has it been worth upgrading to the Garmin Edge 500? Yes. I believe, it will allow me to concentrate on improving my performance. Besides sharing the more detailed cycling routes, will always be of interest I believe to other fellow cyclists. So hope you enjoy!

If you have some routes to share around Adelaide through GPSies.com, EveryTrail.com, I’d like to hear about them and see if I can transfer them electronically into some of these tools to upload into the Garmin device as a course.

Nick also works in the IT technology industry and has a great blog that you can follow.

For those cycling fans in Australia who have wanted to wear the gear, and that now includes ladies, Rapha was officially launched in Australia last October when Rapha Condor Sharp raced at the Jayco Sun Tour.

Whilst orders are fulfilled out of the UK, the Australian customer base now has everything priced in AUD, $20 flat shipping no matter what the amount, free shipping for larger orders and a quick 3-6 day delivery from Fedex. Australian Customers also have a local distributer contact as well.

The Rapha range already has a large female customer base, many of whom have been wearing the men’s range for years. Rapha thought it was only fair that female cyclists should be able to enjoy Rapha but with a completely tailored fit.  This leads me to being lucky enough to review a few items from the new Rapha women’s range.

From previous reviews that I have done I have mentioned that looking good on the bike is just as important as feeling good whilst on the bike, and the gear that I was sent will have you looking good on the bike.

When I opened the package from Rapha I was pleasantly surprised. The Rapha gear was in a soft waterproof plastic bag, not the crappy plastic bags that you just throw away. The bag could be used to store the gear in when traveling, not bad I thought, with recycling helping the environment.

When I pulled the jersey out of the packaging I was instantly drawn to the quality of the jersey, it looked great and felt soft. I was thinking this jersey is going to feel nice on.  The jersey is made from sportwool™ (40% Merino & 60% Polyester), slightly narrower waist with being wider at the hips.

A full-length zip with Zip guard, three rear cargo pockets with a zip pocket for valuables and a sleeve for a pump. The jersey also has a drawcord to make easy adjustments to the jacket whilst riding. It’s not very often that I take my hands off the handlebars, due to my fantastic riding skills I hold on for dear life, but it was actually very easy to adjust the bottom of the jersey when required.

The jersey didn’t feel uncomfortable at all and I was surprised with how well the jersey fabric soaked up perspiration (women perspire not sweat I’ve always been told) without feeling wet or cold.  I had no rubbing from the zip or edges of the jersey, with no feeling of tightness around forearms or hips.  The classic design with the cream strip around the arm looks good and with the red jersey, you are sure to be noticed by other riders.

When purchased you also receive a complimentary set of matching arm warmers. The arm warmers have a brushed fleece inner and soft gripper tape to hold them in place. The times that I have used the arm warmers I have had no problems with them falling down.  The arm warmers are finished with contrast piping and colour-on-colour logos.

The women’s classic jersey and the matching arm warmers can only be improved by wearing them with the Rapha women’s shorts.

The Rapha shorts are made from a lightweight, durable stretch fabric, with a panel construction and the chamois pad from specialist manufacturer Cytech. The Shorts are very comfortable and have been made to ensure there is no rubbing in those places that can make riding the bike uncomfortable for women.

The little detail of having no stitching across the front of the waistband I think is fantastic, a known place for chaffing and annoying rubbing for women. I noticed the waist was a little higher than normal shorts with the rear of the shorts even higher, which made them, feel very comfortable. They are also longer in the leg so no worrying about the shorts riding up whilst on the bike. It’s like wearing spankx, but looking and feeling much better.

The chamois is good and I had no trouble with rubbing whilst riding and was feeling pretty good when I got off the bike. The Rapha shorts look great with the cream detail at the rear waist, reflective tape on the legs and the Rapha logos on both legs.

I must say that the Rapha Classic Jersey, matching arm warmers and shorts look fantastic when wearing them all together as a complete kit. The colours are vibrant and the small matching colour details on the arm warmers and shorts to match the jersey are a stylish touch.

The whole kit is very comfortable to wear and looks amazing on. For all the women out there that enjoy looking fantastic whilst feeling good on the bike, the Rapha kit is the kit for you. Must say, I thoroughly enjoyed wearing the Rapha range and is looking forward to showing it off on my next ride.

I was also wearing the Rapha Stowaway Jacket and the Rapha Merino Socks with the rest of the kit which will be reviewed in the near future.

Rapha is supporting a grass-roots female cycling team in the UK which formed earlier this year. Rapha hope that it will further promote the growth of female cycling as it has been gaining momentum for some time.

If you would like to purchase this great looking kit or have a look at the Rapha Women’s Range then check it out here – Women’s Range

Images courtesy of Rapha

The Posturepole was design and developed by Dr Bruce Scott, a chiropractor with a practice located in Melbourne Australia. Having designed a number of products, Dr Scott’s studies in rehabilitation methods reflected his keen interest in finding and making practical solutions for people to reduce their risk of injury and aid their recovery.

As a keen cyclist Dr Scott recognised that the forward-head cycling posture applied significant postural load on a persons spine that lead to the creation of the Posturepole that essentially reverses the position that makes those muscles tight. For every 2-3 centimetres your head slips forward, the load on your neck and shoulder muscles doubles – this can give you an idea of the huge load on your upper body when riding a bike.

The special shape of the Posturepole was created to respect approach of emphasing the correct alignment of spinal and extremity joints and the positioning of the diaphram muscles and ribcage. Having the spine supported in a level, neutral position eases pressure from the surrounding muscles.  This allows the shoulders to comfortably relax, the ribcage to move downwards and the diaphragm to become better positioned.

At first glance the Posturepole is amazingly simple – a long, curved piece of foam covered in a durable fabric. For best results the Posturepole  has been designed for use on a floor or other hard surfaces. Specific instructions are provided on how to use the Posturepole and correctly position the body.

After lying on the Posturepole for the recommended 5-10 minutes, it becomes incredibly comfortable and relaxing. It was certainly possible to lie on it for longer periods to the point of being able to sleep on it if you wanted to. From the recommended basic position on the Posturepole there are a number of additional exercises that can be performed to improve balance and core stability.

For the cyclist, the Posturepole can easily become part of your travel kit, packed into the car and used before and after a ride or race in addition to your normal stretching routine.

For AU$79.95 the Posturepole provide a great and affordable solution to help with upper body pain and is a must for any cyclist or for that matter anybody that works in a position where the head is forward of the body.

More more information about the Posturepole visit the website where you can also purchase it directly. Alternatively you can purchase a Posturepole from a listed local clinic.

]]> http://602nds.com/2010/04/23/posturepole/feed/ 0 http://602nds.com/2010/03/22/mtbskills/ http://602nds.com/2010/03/22/mtbskills/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:18:26 +0000 Lakers http://602nds.com/?p=1342 There comes a time when as adults we have to realise that we need help in order to get better at something.

As a keen road cyclist I recognised that riding on the road, through no fault of my own may not be the safest activity. Even when I did everything right and kept to myself, idiot drivers would yell abuse and attempt to drive you off the road. So I looked for an alternate – Mountain bike riding.

After hacking through and around the single tracks out at Lysterfield, I took more than my fair share of bumbs, scrapes and falls. At least though, my injuries were caused by only myself. With myself being the limiting factor, I needed some skills if I wanted to get more out of it and enjoy it more.

I quick Google search for mountain bike courses easily found MTBSkills.com.au as the top entry. MTBSkills hold courses throughout the year at three locations: Forrest, You Yangs and Lysterfield. Living in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, I choose the Lysterfield skills clinic from 9.30am – 3pm at a cost of AU$155.

MTBSkills is run by Norm and Jessica Douglas . This husband and wife team have been playing with bikes most of their lives. They live and breath Mountain Biking and can be found most weekends competing in Endurance races ranging from short 6 hour races up to and including 24 hour solo races. With a team of  hand picked instructors, these guys really know their stuff.

After registering, I received an email that contained an information questionnaire, a course outline and what I would need for the day such as a suitable bike, approved helmet, sunscreen, water etc. Having booked the course for the middle of the Melbourne summer I was hoping for at least a half reasonable day that turned out to be a hot mid 30C day. Lots of water for hydration was the call of the day.

I arrived at the Lysterfield car park about half and hour before, set-up my bike and proceeded to the nominated meeting point at the Trailmix cafe. After everybody arrived there was a group of about twenty participant with a mixture of young and old, male and female. After a formal group introduction there was an inspection of our bikes and helmet making sure we knew the basics such as correct tire pressure were.

We were split into four groups based on our pre-determined skill level. I was placed into a group with four other guys to be instructed by Adam Kelsall. We headed off with Adam over the Lysterfield Lake dam wall and pulled over for some further introductions and a chance to get to know our fellow participants.

When headed out to the Blair Witch track stopping for Adam to discuss skills such as positioning of body weight, the importance of momentum, looking forward through corners, modulation of brakes, handling obstacles and many others. Each instruction was followed by a demonstration and number of practical runs both individually and as a group. Our instructor Adam was happy to answer and provided instruction to some of my personal riding challenges such as how to climb tight switchbacks more effectively.

After a grueling day, we arrived back at the Trailmix cafe for a well earned refreshment and de-brief. The following day MTBSkills forwarded an email with a revision sheet outlining what was learned and some other valuable tips.

The MTBSkills team for the day: Jess, Norm, Liz and Adam have to be commended for providing a valuable resource even for those who thought they knew everything. The course was refreshing and entertaining without any pressure to be perfect. The methods of teaching could not have been any better as all the participant got what they needed out of the day.

It is recommended that you attended other MTBSkills courses at different locations to become familiar with the different terrain that they offer. The basic skills learned can be put into practice in your own time at your own pace anywhere. A discount is provided for those who have participated in previous courses.

For more information check out the MTBSkills.com.au website and be sure to follow Jess Douglas as she leads the way as the 2009 female Australian 24 hour solo mountain bike champion.

I recently decided to contact a local company here in Perth named Bikesure to find out some more information about the process involved along with what am I covered for?

Bikesure is Australia’s newest bike insurance for the cycling enthusiast. After several years of supporting triathlon and cycling, Bikesure have developed a very competitive bike insurance package. Bikesure offers a tailored home and contents policy with specific enhancements for bikes.

Their research has shown it is alot more expensive to insure bikes separately via a stand alone bike policy, so by combining your bike cover with your home and contents insurance they can save you time and money.

The Bikesure policy has included the following cover:

• Worldwide cover (not just Aus + NZ) for up to 90 days
• Damage to bikes including whilst in use
• Theft in open air including away from the home and you do not require bikes to be locked
• Unspecified limit $10,000 for bikes
• Third party cover $20,000,000
• Racing risk – optional
• No additional excess on carbon fibre bikes
• Free jersey (made by Cannibal) with every policy

Bikesure are supporters of local cycling and triathlon events throught Australia. They are currently running a promotion where one lucky person will win a bicycle trip to Italy and all for just getting a quote. Details are available on their website or feel free to give Sue Johnston, Bikesure Account Manager a call on 08 9208 0702.