Gear and Training Blog

Winter Cycling in Minnesota

2009-05-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I live in Minesota and it does get cold up here in the Great White North. But not always that cold. This morning was a little different. It is the middle of May and it is still cold at 6am in the morning when I go out for my ride. While out on the ride, I thought about all the questions we get about cold weather gear and what things actually work to keep you warm. So here we go..

The Conditions:

40-46 degrees with about a 20-25 mph wind from the North. The ride started overcast, so no sun. By the end, we had clear skies and partly cloudy. In case you think in a kidding, take a look at my watch the image below it says 45 degrees at the bottom of the bezel.

Head:

Exteondo Stocking Cap, this is a great cap. It has a sweat band inside the hat. And yes, when it is that cold, if you dress properly, you will sweat. Eyewear: Tifosi Sunglasses work the best for me. The model pictured is a Tifosi Slip with AC Red. The AC red is great because it can be used in all conditions, morning, dusk, and bright sunshine. Saves on having to keep switching the lenses in and out.

Upper Body:

This is the most important area to keep warm, keep dry, and keep the moisture away from your body. The three pieces shown are a Skins Compression Long Sleeve Top, Desoto Long Sleeve Jersey and a Descente Varisty Jacket. The Skins top works great for improved circulation and wicking the moisture away from your skin, keeping you warmer. The Desoto jersey has a long tail for rear coverage and long sleeve for an extra layer. The Descente jacket has wind protection and full coverage over the rear. Which is important to keep your backside a little warmer.

Lower Body and Feet:

Assos Tights with no chamois, Skins Compression long tights, and Skins Compression Shorts with chamois. Again, the same thought as on top, three layers: one for performance and moisture, second for additional warmth, and the last for protection from the elements. For the Feet, just Assos shoe covers, Capoforma Skinlife socks, and my SIDI Cycling shoes, that it.

The Hands:

Assos has, by far, the best cycling glove setup in the market. Picture are the AirJack 851 gloves with the liners, and a Nike Lance 4.

But that is about it. And a couple parting thoughts about the cold air. "Your water always will be cold and refreshing" and "You will actually sweat if dressed properly."

Hope that helps and talk to you later.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training
"Attacking Life and Sport Since 2001"

Ivan Basso's SIDI Cycling Shoes

2009-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this picture of the SIDI Cycling shoes that Ivan Basso is going to be using for the Giro d' Italia this month.

They are SIDI Genius 6.6 Carbons. They are custom made for Ivan. The features are the same as the stock shoes but the shape of the last is custom to Ivan's foot.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training
"Attacking Life and Sport Since 2001"

Finis Aqua Pulse Heart Rate Monitor

2009-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone.

I just came across a new product. A Finis Aqua Pulse heart rate monitor. One of the questions we get all the time is .. Can our heart rate monitor work in the water. And for the most part the answer is no and it will void the warranty if you do. So the Finis Aqua Pulse is very timely and very cool. It looks like the May-June 2009 time frame for availability. The retail price is $139.99.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training
Attacking Life and Sport Since 2001

Team Columbia Wins Team Time Trial

2009-05-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

Congrats to winning the time trial at the Giro today.

FYI.. On a couple great products that they use that we carry and fully believe they are the best in the catagory.

Skins Compression for improved performance on the bike and off the bike. The Skins Compression Apparel is the real deal. Used by more people than you think. I really believe they are the best, most unknown product in the world today.

Hed Cycling, Dino is the Hed guy in the picture. I have enjoyed quite of few discussions on how to go fast on a bike. He is one of the most knowledgeable people on aero technology in the bike world. HED bike wheels are products you can depend upon to not only be fast but also durable over the long haul.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training
"Attacking Life and Sport Since 2001"

Synergy Wetsuits: New Brand to Beat

2009-05-08T07:09:00.001-07:00

Synergt Sport has arrived in the US market and brought their line of high quality triathlon wetsuits, tri apparel and bike wheels.

But first of all a little background of the company, Stefan Laursen is the founder and owner of Synergy Sport. He has quite a background in competing at the world level, check him out on google. On the business side, he was the person behind bringing Orca into the US and making it the brand that it is today. About 2 years ago, he decided to start is own company and brand, the result Synergy Sport. The main focus of the brand is to bring their passion for triathlon into apparel and components at a fair price. They would rather work with you to accomplish your goals than simply sell you the most expensive gear and say it is the best. Stefan is pictured at 70.3 Ironman World Championships Clearwater, FL in 2008.

The Synergy Sport line includes 3 models of tri wetsuits, a line of tri tops, aero helmets, and accessories. Pictured is an athlete coming out of the water in a Synergy Hybrid at Clearwater, FL in 2008.

Gray wheels have been rock solid for two years and with thousands in the mareketplace. They are starting to gain a reputation for high ratings in durability, customer service, and quality of product.

In the future we will bring more detailed reviews on each model of wetsuits, helmets, and wheels, but for now it seems like a brand that you can trust to help you accomplish your goals.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training
"Attacking Life and Sport Since 2001"

Road Trip to Chicago

2009-05-07T19:30:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics from our road trip to Chicago, IL last week. I had a great time with my kids. EdDebevic's was fun and Lou Malnati's was just as expected, great pizza.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training
"Attacking Life and Sport Since 2001"

5 Questions for Fitting a Triathlon Wetsuit

2009-05-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

When purchasing a new triathlon wetsuits, it is not as simple as looking at the size chart and picking one. The following questions will guide you through the initial thoughts needed before actually picking a wetsuit.

1. How would you rate yourself as swimmer? Excellent swam in high school or college, intermediate: good swimmer, but not great. or beginner: I just want to get out of the water.

2. What is your body composition? Long Torso, wide torso, big hips, long legs, etc

3. What is your goal for the triathlon wetsuit? Warmth, buoyancy, make me faster, etc.

4. What is your budget? Wetsuits range from $150 to $600. So have an idea going into the purchase what you are willing to spend.

5. Do you want the performance fit or comfort fit? There are always 2 to 3 wetsuits in each model that you can fit into. Remember the tighter the wetsuit, the better it will perform. But too tight and it is not comfortable. There is always a balance based on what you would like to accomplish.

Next we will come back and talk about the brands, like Synergy Sports, 2xu, and Blue Seventy and the types of athletes they fit.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

HED Cycling Road Trip

2009-05-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

So long as I was posting pictures for road trips, a post on Hed Cycling might be in order. They are a company that has worked with and continues to work with leading edge cyclists and triathletes. They are a pure definition of a company that is passionate about what they do. They dont have marble floors or a fancy warehouse, they just apply science to make the best wheels for you and me. More mad scientists, than salesman for sure. Every time we go out to pick up our bike wheels, they answer questions, have time to chat about anything and everything. By far one of the coolest bike companies out there.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Trip to Chicago and Attack Athletics visit

2009-05-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a road trip to Chicago. Here is a picture of Attack Athletics, one of the top traning facitilies for NBA players in the US. The guys at Attack were very cool . Just htought you would like to see a pic of the facility. The weather was not good that day. So sorry for the quality of the photo.

They work with players like Kobe, D Wade, TMac to name a few.

Later.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Training Tip for Endurance Athletes: Is strength Training worh it?

2009-04-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

The question we get a lot is strength training worth it for endurance athletes. And the answer is yes, if you have the time to train, as well as, workout in the gym. You body would be well served with the cross training and additional strength. But the challenge you need to ask is.. Do you have an additional 4-5 hours of training time each week.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

SIDI Road Cycling Shoes are Still the Best

2009-04-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Hey, Everybody.

I came accross these pics of winners on Sidi shoes. Who says the Trek and Specialized have better shoes. As far as I can see, the majority of the pro riders use Sidi road shoes. Here is portion of the a press release of the athletes at the starting line for Milan-SanRemo.

"Sidi will be at the starting line with a string of three victories backing us up: Filippo Pozzato, Oscar Freire Gomez and Fabian Cancellara all won their respective races in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Sidi Sport athletes will have a lot to work! Among the most anticipated are the three kings of sprintAlessandro Petacchi, Daniele Bennati and Robbie McEwen. Add to this roster Filippo Pozzato and Philippe Gilbert, there to give it their all both in breaks and in attacks on the Cipressa or Poggio climbs. Expert riders like Danilo Di Luca and Davide Rebellin will also be ones to watch." Sidi Cycling, Press Release, March 18th, 2009.

Here is Filipo Pozzato winning with SIDI Ergo 2 Carbon's.

Here is a second pic of Joaquim Rodriguez winning with a pair of Sidi Genius 6.6 Carbon's.

And lastly, a pic of Michele Scarponi's Sidi Genius 6.6 Carbon shoes.

Not bad at all for a couple weeks of effort in March.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Aline Systems Foot Suspension Insoles

2009-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Product Review: Aline Systems Foot Suspension Insoles.

The 2009 Aline Insoles just arrived. We are excited to offer them in our store.

The concept behind the product is to allow your foot to move ever so slightly will still being supported. In cycling, the foot has been placed in a snug fitting shoe with a fixed pedal position and told to work the same way it does when you are walking or running. But when you think about it, your foot moves in many different directions when you are moving, not held in one static position. With the Aline Insoles, your foot is allowed micro movements that will allow for increased performance and power transfer as well as less fatigue. All in all a good thing.

The nice thing in the 2009 models is they are good for all hard soled shoes, as well as, soft soled shoes. i.e. running and hiking shoes. They provide support and alignment of the foot and leg at a fraction of the cost of orthotics. A great improvement over last years model.

Three Major changes:

The big change is the weight. This years size T is almost 15% lighter than last years size T.

Secondly, the profile is smaller. Last year I had to add a 1/2 size to my shoes in order to wear the insoles, not this year. They fit perfectly in my Under Armour cross trainers and SIDI Genius 5's.

Third change is the noise. When you walked in the Aline Insoles, they creaked like an old wood floor, no more. They are quiet just like any other insole.

All in all, they are comfortable to use and a great improvement over an already great product. Check them out, it will be worth your while.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Here are some different views of the 2009 product.

Great Day in Minnesota

2009-04-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

These pics are off our deck. This is why we stay in Minnesota. Crisp, Clear skies and 50 degrees. Nothing is better than this kind of weather for riding your bike, hiking, anything. Finally, I believe that Spring has arrived.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Cycling in Minnesota: Crisp Morning Ride Pics

2009-04-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

Check out the pics of Minnesota in April. Crisp morning 44 degrees, clear skies. Beautiful morning.

Cant get any better than this.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

HED wheels

2009-04-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Hed wheels have arrived. We will be putting toghether a few pics on the differences. The main difference is the width of the rim. The two main benefits is a smaller profile of the tire itself and the smaller surface area that hits the ground. The smaller profile is an improvement in aerodynamics and the smaller surface area creates less friction between the tires and the ground.

Look for the pictues in a couple days.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Back to Business

2009-04-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon, Everybody.

We are back to the business of getting info out to everbody. Sorry for the delay.

Happy Easter.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

HED Jet Disc Wheel

2008-06-26T12:24:00.001-07:00

The HED Jet Disc wheel has arrived. Wow, it is pretty cool. And light. It is a Bastogne rim with 24 spokes. And it is about 1200 grams. Check back for pictures in a couple weeks.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Chamois or Not to Chamois?

2008-06-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of doing your first century and you see some people with bike shorts? Do I need a pair?

I would say yes, for sure... The bike short has a pad in the seat called a chamois and is contoured to your body. But beware, you get what you pay for. There are some brands for around $60. And it is better than nothing. But for a long ride, it will still leave you feeling not so good. Brands included Louis Garneau, Pearl Izumi

The next level would be around $120-$140. You can get a real nice pair of shorts with a high quality chamois.. At this level, your rear will thank you at the end of a long day in the saddle. The fabrics and components are definitely worth the money. Descente, Castelli

The last level if for people who want the Cadillac version, they are around $200-$300. They are the ultimate riding shorts. The comfort will make you feel like why did I even use the other shorts, but you have to get over the sticker shock.. Assos, Descente, DeMarchi

Again, remember don't go cheap when purchasing shorts. Your body will be very happy with you at the end of the day.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

HED JetC2 60 and 90's are in

2008-03-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

We just got word that the new HED JetC2 wheels are ready to ship. Check them out on our website. They are lighter than the Jet60. And to top it off, it has really been creative on how it connects to the tube and tire. Making it more aero, easier to corner and overall perform at a higher level. For the extra $100 per wheel, it is definately worth it. Check back in a couple months and we will have some cool new pictures and content on our product pages.

Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Long Delay

2008-03-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hello, everybody.

Sorry for the long delay in our next posts. We have been working on some new ideas. Look for them in the coming months. One right out the shoot is the Your Cycling blog. We are one of the editors of the blog. It will include training tips and other great cycling information from some of the industry leaders in the bike industry. Check it out.

Talk to you later.
Stephen McCarthy
Gear and Training

Aerodynamics and clothing, helmets, and shoes

2006-03-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

The importance of aerodynamics in cycling and triathlon cannot be stressed enough. To set the importance, here are a couple quotes from industry leaders in the area of aerodynamics.

“This Nike Skin suit should give about 30 sec to 1 minute advantages in a 58km Tour de France Individual Time Trial depending on what version of the suit is worn.“ Chester Kyle, the cycling areodynamist who headed up the Nike Skin suit Project for Lance Armstrong. (Zinn 2003)

Also, stated by Scott Duabert, one of the lead individuals working with Lance Armstrong, “We measured less drag with aerodynamically designed pieces, so I know it makes a difference” (Overton 2004)

With those kinds of statements from high-level experts, if you would like to perform to the elite level, you must take into account the choices you will be making in equipment.

For the sake of this discussion, we are going to limit our application of aerodynamics to clothing, helmets, and shoes. We understand the majority of the drag created by your body position while you are riding, swimming and running. But we will cover those areas in future newsletters.

An additional thought is aero drag and how it applies to swimming and running. Swimming is a totally different discussion for another newsletter, so we will not be covering this area today. Generally speaking, the rules only apply when you are moving faster than 8 mph as the main forces you are attempting to overcome are inertial and related to acceleration. If you are running faster than 8 mph, you might look into the type of clothing and shoes you are using and follow the same general rules. (Burke and Kyle 2003)

So lets dig in.

First of all lets start with an overview statement of aerodynamic drag and how we can improve or lower its forces against your efforts.

“You can decrease aerodynamic forces by choosing shapes that move through the air efficiently. This streamlining, an energy conserving process used by all creatures that must move rapidly through air. Hence, each shape, fabric, or material has a drag coefficient related to it. The lower the number, the less energy it takes to move it through air, as well as the possibility of going faster at the same time. (Burke and Kyle 2003) Summarized another way by Scott Daubert, “For the most part you want air to remain as close the subject as possible. By varying types of textures or the orientation of textures, you can start to control some of how the air flows over the subject. We wanted the air to remain attached to as much of Lance’s body as possible, especially on the trailing side of his hips.” (Overton 2004)

So how does that apply to the gear we are using and what are some general rules to follow when purchasing your gear.

Gloves, Suits, Bibs, Shorts, and Jerseys:
The type of fabric makes a difference. Regular materials such as wool or polypropylene used in jerseys or tights could slow the rider down over 1 min in 40km (Burke and Kyle 2004)
Are the seams hidden. If they are showing, make sure they are not across your body.
The amount of body coverage, the more the better. They have found that the newer fabrics have a lower drag than shaved legs. (Overton 2004)

Helmets
You must make a decision between an aero helmet and a standard racing helmet. Aero helmets should be used when cooling is not critical. Standard helmets can loose more than 1 sec per mile to an aero helmet.
Rounded edges are better than hard square, pointed edges. (Burke and Kyle 2003)

Shoes
A smooth upper with the fewest interruptions to air flow. Shoe covers are the best, when cooling is not an issue.
In some cases the type of material the shoe is made of can influence the drag, but we did not find any specific numbers related to this subject. (Burke and Kyle 2003)

After doing all your research and starting down the path of making yourself more aerodynamic, that leaves one question: How do I test aerodynamics if I don’t have access to a wind tunnel? Steve Hed of HED Cycling has a great solution,

“One way to find trends is to do roll-down tests. You’ll need a calm day, a friend on his bike to be the control and a gradual hill 1-2 minutes long. Coast top to bottom next to your friend and make a note or time the difference the two of you at the bottom. Make one change to your position or equipment and do it again. Make sure your friend doesn’t change anything- he is the control. (Overton 2004)

A closing thought.

After all your research, remember sometimes in cycling and triathlon elite performance is an art. What is the best for one person does not mean it is the best for you. If a piece of equipment is the best in class for drag and your friends all think it is the greatest, but it does not fit with your style or makes you feel totally uncomfortable, then stick with the product that makes you feel the fastest. Even Lance Armstrong used the some of the same gear for almost 10 years, because the other solutions did not feel right.

See you next month.

Stephen McCarthy
Extreme Performance Gear and Training

References

Zinn, Lennard, July 25,2003, Tour Tech-It’s Gotta be the Suit, VeloNews.

Overton, Frank, July 6, 2004, F One Aerodynamics: What Lance Armstrong’s Wind Tunnel testing means for your time trial, PezCycling News.

Burke, Edmund and Kyle, Chester, 2003, High-Tech Cycling, Human Kinetics, pg. 1-46.

February Coupon: Take 5% off your next purchase from Extreme Performance. Simply, visit http://www.gearandtraining.com/ and use the discount code of “Aero” or bring a copy of this newsletter to our store.

If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please reply to this email with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.

Extreme Performance Gear and Training

Triathlon Training

2005-10-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

We would like to introduce a new relationship. We have partnered with Training Smart Online, a leading online provider of Triathlon Coaching and Triathlon Training Programs. They will provide free triathlon articles to us as well as professional coaching and training programs completely customized to your our clients.

Extreme Performance Gear and Training

Triathlon Training

2005-10-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

We are proud to annouce a new relationship. We are going to be using Training Smart Online, a leading online provider of Triathlon Coaching and Triathlon Training Programs They will provide free triathlon articles, professional coaching and training programs completely customized to your goals and situation. Here the a great piece on carbohydrate loading that they forwarded over to us.

Written by the Department of Sports Nutrition, AIS www.ais.org.au/nutrition © Australian Sports Commission 2004
Carbohydrate Loading
'Carbohydrate loading' is probably one of the most misunderstood terms in sports
nutrition. People commonly think anyone involved in sport needs to 'carb up' and the
way to do this is to eat 'flat out' in the days leading up to an event. Read on to get the
facts on carbohydrate loading.
What is carbohydrate loading?
Carbohydrate loading is a strategy involving changes to training and nutrition that can
maximise muscle glycogen (carbohydrate) stores prior to endurance competition. The
technique was originally developed in the late 1960's and typically involved a 3-4 day
'depletion phase' and a 3-4 day 'loading phase'. Ongoing research has allowed the
method to be refined so that modern day carbohydrate loading is now more
manageable for athletes.
Does carbohydrate loading improve performance?
Muscle glycogen levels are normally in the range of 100-120 mmol/kg ww (wet weight).
Carbohydrate loading enables muscle glycogen levels to be increased to around 150-
200 mmol/kg ww. This extra supply of carbohydrate has been demonstrated to improve
endurance exercise by allowing athletes to exercise at their optimal pace for a longer
time. It is estimated that carbohydrate loading can improve performance over a set
distance by 2-3%.
Who should carbohydrate load?
Anyone exercising continuously for 90 minutes or longer is likely to benefit from
carbohydrate loading. Typically, sports such as cycling, marathon running, longer
distance triathlon, cross-country skiing and endurance swimming benefit from
carbohydrate loading. Shorter-term exercise is unlikely to benefit as the body's usual
carbohydrate stores are adequate. Carbohydrate loading is generally not practical to
achieve in team sports where games are played every 3-4 days. Although it might be
argued that players in soccer and AFL have heavy demands on their muscle fuel stores,
it may not be possible to achieve a full carbohydrate protocol within the weekly
schedule of training and games.
How was carbohydrate loading originally achieved?
Originally, carbohydrate loading involved a depletion phase. This required 3-4 hard
training days plus a low carbohydrate diet. The depletion phase was thought to be
necessary to stimulate the enzyme glycogen synthase. The depletion phase was
followed by a loading phase that involved 3-4 days of rest combined with a high
carbohydrate diet. The extra carbohydrate combined with the now-activated glycogen
synthase was shown to boost carbohydrate stores beyond their usual resting levels.
How do modern-day athletes carbohydrate load?
Today's endurance athletes use a modified carbohydrate loading method. Ongoing
research has demonstrated that the depletion phase is no longer necessary. This is a
bonus for athletes as the depletion phase was very difficult. Australian marathon
runner, Steve Moneghetti has described the depletion phase as making him feel like
"death warmed up". Today, 1-4 days of exercise taper while following a high
carbohydrate diet (7-12g/kg body weight) is sufficient to elevate muscle glycogen levels.
Written by the Department of Sports Nutrition, AIS www.ais.org.au/nutrition © Australian Sports Commission 2004
What does a high carbohydrate diet look like?
The following diet is suitable for a 70kg athlete aiming to carbohydrate load:
Breakfast
3 cups of low-fibre breakfast cereal with 11/2 cups of reduced fat milk
1 medium banana
250ml orange juice
Snack toasted muffin with honey
500ml sports drink
Lunch 2 sandwiches (4 slices of bread) with filling as desired
200g tub of low-fat fruit yoghurt
375ml can of soft drink
Snack banana smoothie made with low-fat milk, banana and honey
cereal bar
Dinner 1 cup of pasta sauce with 2 cups of cooked pasta
3 slices of garlic bread
2 glasses of cordial
Late Snack toasted muffin and jam
500ml sports drink
This sample plan provides ~ 14,200 kJ, 590 g carbohydrate, 125 g protein and 60 g fat.
Are there any special considerations for females?
Most studies of glycogen storage have been conducted on male athletes. However,
some studies suggest that females may be less responsive to carbohydrate loading,
especially during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Further research needs to
be conducted specifically on females.
What are the common mistakes made when carbohydrate
loading?
Research indicates that many athletes who attempt to carbohydrate load, fail to achieve
their goal. Common mistakes include:
• Carbohydrate loading requires an exercise taper. Athletes can find it difficult to
back off training for 1-4 days before competition. Failing to rest will compromise
carbohydrate loading.
• Many athletes fail to eat enough carbohydrate. It seems athletes don't have a
good understanding of the amount of food required to carbohydrate load.
Working with a sports dietitian or using a carbohydrate counter can be useful.
• In order to consume the necessary amount of carbohydrate, it is necessary to
cut back on fibre and make use of compact sources of carbohydrate such as
sugar, cordial, soft drink, sports drink, jam, honey, jelly and tinned fruit. Athletes
who include too many high fibre foods in their carbohydrate loading menu may
suffer stomach upset or find the food too bulky to consume.
• Carbohydrate loading will most likely cause body mass to increase by
approximately 2kg. This extra weight is due to extra muscle glycogen and
water. For some athletes, a fear of weight gain may prevent them from
carbohydrate loading adequately.
• Athletes commonly use carbohydrate loading as an excuse to eat everything
and anything in sight. Consuming too many high fat foods will make it difficult to
consume sufficient carbohydrate. It may also result in gain of body fat. It is
important to stick to high-carbohydrate, low-fat foods while carbohydrate
loading.

Extreme Performance Gear and Training

Nike heart rate monitors

2005-10-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

A quick guide to Nike heart rate monitors and running logs:

1. Nike Triax C3- A great entry level basic heart rate monitor that has a lap counter and is water resistant at a great price
2. Nike Triax C5 - A few additional features like alarms, 30 run lap counter, etc but called "the basic" by Nike
3. Nike Triax C6 - All the basic figures with the addition of programmable workouts, and a 30 lap counter and 30 m water resistance.
4. Nike Triax C8 - Expanded lap counter to 50, water resistance to 30 meters, two segment interval timer, and all the features from the previous models.
5. Nike Triax C10 - 100 lap chronograph, 5 segment interval timer, programmable target heart rate zones with alarms
6. Nike Triax CV10 - All the features of the C10 with a speed and distance monitor
7. Nike Triax V10 - Speed and distance monitor or running log with no heart rate monitor
8. Nike Triax Elite - All the above features with pc download capabilities and the software to analyze your workouts.

Extreme Performance Gear and Training

Extreme Performance Mission

2005-09-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

Our mission is to assist people in developing elite level performance. Whether you are looking for sport watches, heart rate monitor training plans, heart rate monitors, or sport-specific training, we carry the products that will assist you in unleashing the desire to reach your goal.
There are four major components to achieve high-level performance in ATHLETIC TRAINING AND PERSONAL FITNESS, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPORTS.
1. Proper tools and gear
2. Physical ability to do the task
3. The energy sources needed to get there
4. Your desire to accomplish the goal

Proper Tools and Gear
Matching the proper gear and tools to your task is essential. Using the wrong gear at the right time is just as bad as not having the gear at all. We work directly with our clients to match the proper gear to your particular need. By working with manufacturers, like Nike, Timex, Suunto, Brunton, DeFeet to name a few, we work to anticipate every detail of your particular situation and then recommend the best solution.

Physical Ability to Do the Task
We prepare athletes and outdoor ethusiasts for the specific movements that they will use in their event as well as simulating the intensity levels experienced. By using our sports specific training your strength and stamina will increase, the risk of injury will decrease. Using a combination of activity specific drills, strength training and plyo-metrics will enhance your ability to perform with more speed and power.

Nutrition
The energy source or sources your body uses is of the utmost importance. If your body does not find the proper energy sources, it will not produce the power, nor will it recover properly. Without proper nutrition, you will not be able to sustain yourself while performing. We can match your specific energy requirements to the proper meal supplement. Examples of products in our store--Protein bars or energy drinks like Amino Vital, Clif Bar, PowerBar, Cytosport, and Accelerade.

Desire
This is the most vital component and the one you have the most control over. Without desire, using all of the right gear, energy supplements, or multiple hours of training can not help you.
The question is... Are you willing to put forward the time and effort necessary to achieve your goal?
If you have the desire and are willing to put forth the effort, we have the people and the programs that can help you achieve your goal. If you have any questions about whether a product will meet your expectations, simply call or email us. We are prepared to help!

Extreme Performance Gear and Training