Kuat Vegabond, Roof Rack

Seeing a new company (Kuat - Pronounced Koo-At) come out with a roof rack at a great price is good, one that builds a bike rack into the Rack itself is genius. 
The Vegabond is just that a prefect rack for cars/SUV.
Kuat Racks was founded in 2007 by Luke KUschmeader and Brian ATkinson, riding partners from way back. The guys had a passion for all things bike and wanted to become a larger part of the bike community. In 2008 KUAT launched their first line of aluminum hanging style hitch racks, the ALPHA and the BETA, creating a tsunami of positive vibes throughout the industry. Due to the consumer response Luke pressed on as the company visionary but with a new partner, Guy Mace; engineering genius, manufacturing guru, and an avid outdoor enthusiast who owns more cars than the average car lot. With the new partnership Kuat released more goodness to the public for 2009-10 (see NV and SHERPA). In short from day one it has been our mission to make a better rack for our fellow riders and scratch out a living while doing it. See you on the trails. 

Truly Amazing 12 Year Old!

Seeing a 12 year old winning not one Championship but two Hy-Vee Ironkids National Championships, is truly amazing. First to be able to train and attend school, do talks, hold down sponsors and GO TO SCHOOL. 


From the Running Front
A cold front turned the triathlon championships into a duathlon. The traditional 300 yard swim portion of the triathlon was substituted with a 1200 meter run in the senior division. Winter Vinecki, age 12, (racing  age 13 y/o female division based on USAT age-up rules) was able to strategically adjust her race strategy to help her achieve her second consecutive IronKids National Championship Title.

Winter used the opening 1200 yard run to quickly open up an early lead coming into the first transition. Though the rain held off during the race, an early morning rain shower just minutes before the start was enough to create hazardous conditions on the bike course. Turns proved to be extremely slippery, as many riders lost control and fell off their bikes. Despite a slick road surface, Winter was able to maintain an 18.7 mph average on the bike, which turned out to be the fastest bike split in her age division and the second fastest female bike split of the day.

Heading out onto the two mile run course, Winter followed tightly behind her main rival, Gina Johnson, matching her stride-for-stride. A time-trial start gave Winter a 12-second advantage despite being a few steps behind her friend and fellow competitor. Fighting side cramps half-way through the race, Winter summoned her inner strength, reflecting on the fact that no pain she was encountering could match that of which her dad endured during his losing battle with prostate cancer.  The cramps subsided and it was a sprint to the finish. Gina tried to open the gap with 100 yards to go but Winter quickly responded with the speed and determination she has shown all season. Winter narrowed the gap enough to take an 8-second victory over Johnson and secure a repeat performance as the 2011 Ironkids National Champion.

More..

VITAband has a leg up on RoadID

You see this time and time again, RIM with Blackberries, missing the boat, iPhone taking over, Palm lost it grip in the handheld devices. Not to say that these products are bad, they were the best, plain and simple, they just failed to adapt.
RoadID, a great product has kept many safe and informed, they just failed to adapt. That being said the one thing the VITAband is missing is printed information that EMT can quickly read (RoadID) without having to make multiple calls.  Still they will capture a market the weekend social biking group, that jumps on their bike all fancy gear just to ride from one Cafe to another. Nothing wrong, but if one does not have to carry anything but a phone, well they just might pull ahead. Great product.

Lance Doing Xterra, First Tri After 20+ Years

Lance back on the triathlon circuit, ok one Xterra race, after 20+ years. 

"It seemed like a fun time and the training has been going very well," Armstrong told The Associated Press Thursday. "I'll go out there and have a good time and see how it goes."

He said it has been 23 years since he's done any type of triathlon, and he has no expectations of winning, though he has been training hard the past eight months.

"I have no doubt (Stoltz is a great athlete). I go in with no grand expectations," Armstrong said.

The top XTERRA athletes in the world will compete next week at Snowbasin, including South Africa's Stoltz, five-time national champion Josiah Middaugh and two-time Ironman world champion Tim DeBoom.

Stoltz said the course is a good fit for Armstrong as it involves a lot of climbing but is not very technical on the descents.

Asked whether the run or swim will be harder, Armstrong wasn't sure.

"That's one of the questions I have for myself," he said, noting he has had some issues with plantar fasciitis in his left heel. "We'll have to see how my swim comes back. When I was a kid, it was one of my strengths, but again that was a long time ago."

Adventures in Ogden & Snowbasin Resort | September 24-25

Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross 2011

Ok so the Tri season is coming to a close, what to do... how about something a little different, Cyclocross. It is fast, muddy and a cross between road biking, mountain biking and full on heart pounding adrenaline. 
The Mid-Atlantic season is underway, MAC for short. 
Check it out, I am sure you can find at least one race to jump into:

The 2011/2012 MAC Series will not include UCI Elite Men/U23/Juniors or UCI Elite Women. The MAC Series will include the following USAC Categories (please note that all races will be counted in the overall MAC series points):U19 Junior Men - Amateur U19 Junior Women - Amateur Elite U19 Men Cat 1/2/3/4 Master Men 35+ Cat 1/2/3/4 Master Men 45+ Cat 2/3/4 Men Cat 4 Men Cat 3/4 Women Cat 1/2/3/4 Master Women 45+ Cat 1/2/3/4 Master Men 55+ Cat 1/2/3/4 Master Men 60+ Elite Men Elite Women Elite Master Women 35+ The MAC series is comprised of individual races including those races that have UCI categories as part of their event.
2011	Date	Race	Location	Results
Round 1	September 10th	Nittany Cross Day 1	Trexlertown, PA	Results
Round 2	September 11	Nittany Cross Day 2	Trexlertown, PA	Results
Round 3	September 17th	Charm City Day 1	Baltimore, MD	Results
Round 4	September 18th	Charm City Day 2	Baltimore, MD	Results
Round 5	September 25th	Whirlybird Cyclocross	Bryn Athyn, PA	Results
Round 6	October 15th	Granogue Cross Day 1	Granogue, DE	Results
Round 7	October 16th	Granogue Cross Day 2	Granogue, DE	Results
Round 8	October 29th	Beacon Cyclocross	Bridgeton, NJ	Results
Round 9	October 30st	HPCX	Jamesburg, NJ	Results
Round 10	November 12th	FSVS XCross at Fair Hill	Elkton, MD	Results
Round 11	November 19th	Super Cross Cup Day 1	East Meadow, NY	Results
Round 12	November 20st	Super Cross Cup Day 2	East Meadow, NY	Results
Round 13	December 10th	Geler Votre Cul Cyclocross	DE / MD /TBD	Results
Round 14	December 11th	Limestone Cross at the Kiln	PA	Results

Craig Alexander crushes the competition for a 70.3 title.

It seems as though Craig is right on track for another Kona trophy. A 1:11 half marathon, flat tire (losing more than 3 min. to the leaders) and finishing aver 3 min. ahead. FAST, can he keep moving at this speed for Kona.
Top Men

1 3:54:48 85 Craig Alexander Boulder CO USA
2 3:58:03 3:15 48 Chris Lieto Danville CA USA
3 3:58:42 3:54 53 Jeff Symonds Penticton BC CAN
4 3:59:11 4:23 70 Michael Weiss Colorado Spring CO USA
5 4:00:00 5:12 41 Joe Gambles Boulder CO USA
6 4:00:26 5:38 43 Paul Matthews Casuarina NS AUS
7 4:00:53 6:05 58 Raynard Tissink Port Elizabeth ZAF
8 4:02:01 7:13 55 Tim Berkel Port Macqaurie NS AUS

Everyone would bike with a GoPro HD Video Camers

According to Dave, without coming to a stop or signally, the vehicle turns right into a gas station parking lot, crossing the only path available to the cyclist.  Dave was going about 25 miles per hour at the time.  Dave sustained a bloody elbow, lower leg plus your typical road rash but amazingly was otherwise alright.  His $3,500 carbon fiber triathlon specific bike was not safe to ride afterwards and was pushed the next 6 miles into transition.

Leopard-Trek and Radioshack will merge to form a new team next season

It seems as though a super power is trying to emerge, bring back the yellow jersey, employee top cyclist and well win. So Leopard-Trek and RadioShack will try to win the Tour by combining teams. Evens, will be a bit harder to beat than combining teams, the Australian won the tour by being the toughest single racer for those three weeks, staying clean, one minor bike mishap, which he rode himself back into the thick of it, staying in the main pack and finishing up with a true all out TT. Yes with the merger of the two teams, this will make it harder for Evens to repeat but nerveless, he will be right back in the thick of it.

The new outfit, to be named Radioshack-Nissan-Trek, will use Leopard-Trek’s existing WorldTour licence and will be based in Luxembourg, where the Schleck brothers’ team currently operates.

“Leopard announces that RadioShack and Nissan are joining the Leopard-Trek World Tour Team as sponsors for the 2012 and 2013 seasons,” read a Leopard-Trek statement.  

Nike + Mapped Runners in NYC

Wonderful way to track users.

Nike+ City Runs from yesyesno on Vimeo.

Sports Science, Feels Like Cotton, Works like a technical tee

Another Technical tee, well yes and no, this one feels like cotton but works like a wic-tec. You can were it out and not feel as though you just got back from a run, or where going on one. Nothing beats a tee that you can wear for anything, one and done.

sport science™ products are engineered to keep you dry and regulate your core body temperature, which keeps you cooler when it’s hot and warmer when it’s cold. Our dri-release® fabric rapidly wicks perspiration to keep you dry and comfortable.

sport science™ smarter basics™ are treated with FreshGuard® to reduce odor buildup in the fabric. This treatment will help keep you and your gym bag from smelling like, well, a gym bag.

sport science™ products are machine washable and dryable. Plus, they won’t pill and will stay wrinkle free.

sport science™ products are designed to fit and feel good in any situation. From our super-soft fabric, to our relaxed fit, we make sure each product prevents chafing and abrasion down to the last detail.

Bontrager computer/stem integration concept, Smart Design

Smart design is starting to take hold, designers are not just staying with how things used to be done. This concept from Bontrager show us that. What could make this even better is a universal mount or just stop trying to act like you don't have one, a iPhone mount.

Can't wait to see what comes next.

Getting Clean, Merkur Vision

Shaving is a pain, razors are expensive and in my mind a waste of money. Using a straight razor can be tricky and life threatening. Then there is the Merkur Vision a butterfly safety razor built to last. Merkur's Vision adjustable razor, known to many as one of the great wonders of the shaving world, is unquestionably a crowning achievement in engineering. This state-of-the-art razor is designed with full adjustability, so that the blade angle can cater to the unique contours of your face, as well as a slight slant bar that offers a boldly close but still forgiving shave. The remarkable Vision razor is as much a work of art as it is an instrument of precision.

Bikes and Coffee, They Go Together

Ok, this is just great, what a way to use old lever's. Another I wish I would have though about that.

The Coffee Brake
A sturdy mug for sturdy folk.
Created by a world traveler who dared to ask the question:
"What good is a sturdy metal mug with a flimsy plastic handle?"

Whether you're a hardcore coffee drinker or a dabbler, this 14 oz. double-walled insulated stainless steel mug is what you're after. Non-skid bottom and snug-fitting plastic lid.

Necessity is the mother of addiction...er, invention.

Scallywags

VitaCoCo, Amazing!

You son't have to love VitaCoCo I sure did not, then I tried the Peach & Mango, wonderful with all the energy of the original stuff. Trying all different stuff, FRS, Hammer Nutrition, even My Vega (which is great) and the Vita Coco beats them hands down.

The downfall to the VitaCoCo is the price. $2.50 to $2.99 is a bit steep, now you know why people drink cola.

Wikipedia says this:
Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm). As the fruit matures, the coconut water is gradually replaced by the coconut meat and air. A very young coconut has very little meat; the meat it does have is very tender, almost a gel. Coconut water has long been a popular drink in the tropics, especially in Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands such as Hawaii, Africa and the Caribbean, where it is available fresh, canned, or bottled.
Coconuts for drinking are carefully packaged and sold in many places. These are typically Asian coconuts whose outer green husk has been removed, and the remainder wrapped in plastic. In Central America, particularly in Costa Rica and Panama, they are found and sold in strategic highway stops and on beaches. Coconuts are cut in front of customers to ensure the coconut water's freshness. Coconut water can also be found in ordinary cans, tetra paks, or plastic bottles (sometimes with coconut pulp or coconut jelly included). It is also being marketed as a natural sports drink because of its high potassium and mineral content.
There have been cases where coconut water has been used as an intravenous hydration fluid in some developing countries where medical saline was unavailable.

Now Goya has some amazing products at an incredible price, I have not tried the coconut but if it is like their other products then you can't loose.

Last is Costamar Cream of Coconut Milk, wonderful stuff and $1 for the can, dump into shakes mix and go.

Training Your Brain

This is a guest post from Renegade Triathlon Psychology coach Stephen Ladd (pictured right), who has taken a somewhat unorthodox path to becoming one of most sought after gurus in the world when it comes to training your brain for peak performance. His formal education in the States included undergraduate studies in psychology, religion, and philosophy, and Graduate studies in Comparative Religions. He then ventured outside of the US to experience the cultures and mind practices of Southeast Asia and Japan. In addition to this guest post and article below, Stephen will be featured on next week’sBenGreenfieldFitness.com podcast episode.

The concepts you are about to learn can be applied to marathoning, ultra-running, cycling, or any endurance sport, but we are going to use the example of triathlon for today.

I consider a triathlon (of any distance) to be the “toughest sport on earth”. The amount of time and effort required to train for three separate sports is unparalleled in the world of athletics.

But what is often overlooked are the extreme mental and emotional demands of triathlon training and racing.

For a triathlete to consistently perform at peak performance levels, they must have the ability to control their mental and emotional states, especially prior to and during the actual race. Imagine being able to instantly evoke a supreme state of “confidence” in yourself instead of having pre-race anxiety, or evoke a state of “determination and focus” when you start to feel fatigued and have another six miles to the finish.

It is important to understand the difference between what is labeled these days as “Positive Thinking” and what I am talking about when I refer to controlling your mental and emotional states. The “Positive Thinking” protocol (at least how it’s commonly taught) is to simply ignore how you feel (anxiety) and tell yourself, over and over again, that you feel confident, or happy, or focused or whatever it is you’re desperately trying to convince yourself that you are.

On the other hand, accurately and properly controlling your mental and emotional state is a way for you to literallychange your subconcious mind, so that you’ll actually be confident, instead of just telling yourself that you are confident. See the difference? When you do what I am about to teach you properly, there will be no need for you to try to convince yourself that you are confident – instead, you will actually be in a supreme state of confidence and able to perform closer to your peak potential.

One valuable tool for achieving this true change in your mental and emotional state is called “Anchoring”, which comes from the world of Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP).

Continued on Endurance Planet