Cervelo S5 Review from a "regular guy"

My love of riding my road bike hit, what I thought, would be an all time pinnacle when I rode my slc-sl. I loved everything about that bike, and never thought riding could get any better.
Then I rode the S3 and realized it was possible what I thought was the perfect riding experience even a little better. And that thought, has prevailed all the way, until today!
I rode for the first time Cervelo's new S5 and couldn't believe how perfect the machine brought together the elements of aerodynamics, energy transfer, compliance, and comfort. It was short of an absolute out of body experience. I don't know how the wizards at Cervelo did it, all I know is that the riding experience I enjoyed today, was second to none. If you haven't test ridden this bike yet, and you're really serious about enjoying everything an incredible road bike can deliver, you owe it to yourself to give this bike a try. It's absolutely incredible!

Summer Cycling

All my training this season has been in preparation for competing in the Tour of America's Dairyland, 12 consecutive days of cycling races in the Milwaukee, WI area. I have done well in these races in the past years, so I had a certain level of expectation coming in. My fitness was on target, and my Cervelo bicycle, Zipp wheels, and equipment were top of the line. I would be racing composite for a strong local team, ISCorp, and life's affairs were in order for me to take off for the races.

As the days have racing have progressed, my results have not been what I was hoping for. Twice I have been happy to finish. The prize money is good, so some professional racers have come in and won the vast majority of the money. Rainy, cold weather has been less than desirable and made some of the courses really dangerous. Additionally, my brand new car broke down, and I have gone through a family emergency that will need considerable attention immediately upon my return.

I have considered feeling sorry for myself and have definitely experienced a lot of frustration, but at the end of the day I have a lot to be thankful for. I have the best travel partner you could ask for, my bike has worked to perfection, and my teammates are a great group of women. I have had the opportunity to mentor some beginning racers, enjoyed meeting the couple who hosted us, visited with old friends, been encouraged by Outspokin friends at home, and maybe even lost a few pounds!

All in all this trip has encouraged me to refocus and remember that even though I am very competing at the highest level, cycling is still a hobby. Cycling has given me the opportunity to meet many great people and see parts of the country I most likely would never have seen. There are only three days of racing left, and I plan to give it my all. Maybe I will have some great results and maybe not. Either way, I will be home soon, resume my life, and start training for the next race!

Go Fast Goodies

I have been very fortunate lately getting to test out some of the coolest new time trial products on the market. I am not sure how much faster they have made me in the “Race of Truth,” but I am fairly certain they helped.

The first product is the Hincapie Time Trial Suit. No, this is not your run of the mill 3 piece suit, it is actually a highly specialized, wind tunnel tested superman suit. Will it make you faster? The resounding answer is yes! In most wind tunnel tests the item that attributed to the most drag other than your body position was your clothing. This suit is definitely slick, it has different materials throughout to take advantage of static movement, your upper body, and fluid movement, your legs. Fit is extremely important in these suits and I would recommend ordering one size down from what you typically wear in bib shorts. You want this tight, modesty be gone! Although this is probably one of the most aerodynamic pieces of clothing you can buy, it isn’t perfect. The shammy is definitely not meant for the long haul, which since it is designed for race day, shouldn’t be a problem and for some reason the cuffs on the sleeves near the wrists are actually slightly loose. It could just mean I just have really tiny wrists, who knew? If you want to go faster in your next time trial or triathlon, this suit will transform you into superman, or superwoman.

Part Duex, I get to race with the new Louis Garneau Vorttice time trial helmet. This is the new evolution of time trial helmets. It has a cut off tail, is extremely light and is also well ventilated. I have been using long tail time trial helmets for years, but recent tests done in the wind tunnel show that a short tail may be more efficient if you keep your head down. Check out the helmets at last years Tour de France and most of them were variations of the short tail. I have worn this helmet twice and both days were pretty hot, mid 80’s, and did not notice it overheating at all. The helmet has one center vent, but it is pretty large, channeling air through the inside of the helmet like a jet port. I also really like the included visor, although I would like a dark version so I don’t have to wear sunglasses with it, plus look all Terminator like. The helmet surface has different diameter dimples and air flow channels which are supposed to aide in the aerodynamics. I don’t know if they work, but they sure look cool. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to stick with this helmet, but after 2 wins I think it is pretty safe to say I will be bringing this bad boy to nationals with me.

The final piece of hardware I want to review is FSA’s brand spankin new Metron shifters. FSA appears to be finally jumping into the shifting market and if these shifters are any indication of what is coming, I am pretty excited about a 4th component choice. In my opinion, the coolest thing about the new Metron shifters are that they don’t look like shifters at all. They look more like shorty break levers on the end of your aero bars. To shift into a bigger cog, you pull the lever in, to shift into a smaller one you push the top of the unit with your thumb. It does take a little bit to get used to, but after a while it becomes natural. These shifters are perfect for those of us who use aero bars with a slight bend as your hands naturally rest where the shifters are and are very comfortable to use. Unfortunately, those that use flat aero bar extensions may strain their wrists a little trying to shift with these. The shifting performance is good if not great, there is a light feel when shifting up that is very different to most “normal” time trial shifters on the market now. Installation was also fairly easy as the levers came with the cables pre-

installed which made things go by much faster. I had a little problem getting the front derailleur dialed in, probably more from a lack of a cable adjuster than the actual product. I plan on sticking with these throughout the year as long as I continue to use an s-bend extension. If I move to a flat extension, Zipp’s new shifters may be the way to go.

As always, if you have any questions about these great products feel free to drop me a note. Now stop reading about bikes and go out and ride yours!

Changes

When is the last time you tried something new? By this I mean a new product or a new race. So many of us become set in our routines and products that we are unwilling to try out new things. I am definitely guilty! Technology changes, better nutrition becomes available, and new races to challenge ourselves are everywhere. I think it is very important to step off our well-worn paths of life and try a different route. It doesn't have to be anything drastic, just something different!

So far this year, I have tried a few different things. I didn't make these changes, because I was unhappy, but rather because of opportunities, and well, why not!

1. A new bicycle brand - Cervelo to Orbea

2. New components - Campy Record to SRAM

3. Taking regular vitamins - B12, Multi-vitamins, and Fish Oil

4. Working toward eating organic and gluten free foods.

5. Working on my time-trialing -YUCK!

Your First Bike Race!

It has been a very long time since I lined up for my first bicycle race, but I can still remember it like was yesterday. The nervousness, the excitement, the unknown, they were all there. For me being 14, it was a whopping 3 miles where I rode away from my small group and won the race solo which got me eternally hooked to the sport of bicycle racing. There is nothing quite like a bike race, it is a ball of kinetic energy ready to explode with the strategy of a well played chess match. If you ride a bike, I fully recommend you trying a race. I will admit up front, it is a very intimidating experience, but if you dive head first into the deep end you will either love the feeling of the speed and competition, or a life guard will jump in and pull you to the side, either way you will survive. Here are my tips to make your first race as fun and as little nerve racking as possible.

1. Make sure the bike you are racing on is in top mechanical shape, best bet is to bring it to the shop about a week before the race for a tune-up. Chain should be lubed, shifting should be precise, wheels should be true, and tires free of any slices or cuts.
2. Make sure you are in your best shape possible or at least feel good that you can comfortable finish the distance the race is going to be.
3. Get a good night sleep 2 days before the race. If you are racing on Sunday, make sure you sleep well on Friday. It is actually more beneficial and important to get a good nights sleep 2 days before the event than the actual night before.
4. Don’t skimp on eating the week before the race to reach some weight goal. You don’t want to run out of fuel during your event, but only eat high quality food that your body is familiar with.
5. Clean your bike the day before the race, a clean bike is a fast bike.
6. Pack a cycling bag the day before the race, you will need the following: matching jersey and bibs, socks, cycling shoes, gloves, helmet, sunglasses, water bottles, towel, and a change of clothes to wear after the race.
7. Pack your car with your bike, bag, pump, and extra wheels if you have them the night before your race.
8. Print the flyer out with directions the night before the race and figure out how long it will take to get there.
9. Morning of race, wake up early enough to have a small but familiar breakfast. If you race is later, this is not as important, but make sure you hydrate and do not drink or eat anything unfamiliar to your body.
10. Try to arrive at the race at least 90 minutes before your start.
11. When arriving go to the registration table and sign up for your event, don’t forget to pick up pins.
12. After you receive your number, head back to your car and pin your number on your jersey and get dressed.
13. Take your bike out of your car and pump up your tires and place full water bottles on your bike.
14. Hydrate, you want to be sipping on water or sports drink all morning.
15. Make sure you know where the start of the race is, but find an area to ride around and loosen up your legs, you will see others doing the same.
16. Arrive at the start about 15 minutes before your race. It is always best to try and start near the front.
17. Time will go by fast, but try to relax and take it all in. It is going to be fun.
18. Once the race lines up and the whistle is blown, clip into your pedals and go. Try to stay near the front of the race, it is usually the safest place to be. This could be the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

Footnote: Your goal for your first race should be to finish and not crash. I know these are not lofty goals, but you can shoot for the win on your second race, but most of all HAVE FUN!

Looking Good on and off the Bike, Cycling Style Guide

I will admit, I like nice clothes both casual and cycling. There was a time in my life where $100 jeans were the norm and my clothing budget wasn’t a budget at all. However, just because I have calmed down in my regular clothes purchasing doesn’t mean that my cycling wardrobe has skimped at all. I literally have a closet of cycling clothes and I routinely donate or sell stuff on a yearly basis. There is stuff in my “closet” that I will probably never wear on my current bike, reason behind that is my current bike is white, red, and black and a lot of my older clothes are white and blue, which just so happens to be the color of the bike I raced on last year. Here is a very important rule people, match your jersey and bibs, notice I didn’t say shorts more on that later, to your bike. Some of us have team clothing that we can’t help if it doesn’t match our bikes, but for the love of God, if you buy clothing to wear while cycling please make sure it matches each other. I really love the Rabobank jersey with the Liquigas bibs, wow that is a look that will make your eyes bleed. Also, you will look less like a freak riding down the road than we already do, even if I happen to take pride in my freak status. If you have the means, try to match your helmet, sunglasses, socks, gloves, and shoes to your kit and bike. Nothing looks more “Pro” than everything matching. Look good, feel fast, be fast should be your motto. Now on to the aforementioned shorts vs. bibs contention, please invest in some good bibs. They fit better, will be more comfortable and most importantly will prevent any other riders from having to look at that bare section of your skin where your jersey doesn’t quite cover your lower back, conveniently preventing a very unsightly tan line there. Also, bib straps are to be worn under your jersey, not over them, I don’t care how many times you have seen Borat and his insane bib bathing suit! There is also a proper way to wear a helmet, the front of it should fall just above your brow and be securely in place. It is not a yarmulke sitting on the back of your head even if you did miss service that week. Clothes also wear out people, just like tires. If you wouldn’t ride down the road with a big hole in your tire, you shouldn’t leave your house with your clothing held together with safety pins. It is just not a good look… on anyone! That about covers on the bike, in summary; if you can match your clothing with your equipment with your bike, you are golden, at the minimum try to match your clothing with your equipment keeping one color scheme across the board.

Now the fun part, off the bike, yes I know we are all very guilty of these infractions at times, but let’s try to move past them. Before I get thrown under the bus, I have a little disclaimer, I used to race Triathlons so I know the culture and that almost every race gives you something to wear in the goody bag, BUT please, please do not wear your race t-shirts on the same day of the race. They are souvenirs and should be worn when you get home or at a future race, do not become a clone of the masses all wearing the same shirt hanging out after the race. Here is a recent phenomenon, one of my favorites, do not wear compression tights, socks, gloves and any other compression thing in clear view of the public. It is just not good, you can wear them, just strategically hide them under a warm up suit or jeans or anything for that matter. Be proud that you are an athlete, but there is no reason to make it so obvious that you are going to a race or are leaving a race that any casual observer can pick you out of a crowd. Be yourself, your appearance on and off the bike should reflect your personality. I have been guilty of all these crimes in the past, but I have seen the light and hope that my words reach you too.

It is not about the bike, actually yes it is

OK, there are some people out there that just use their bikes as a tool for getting to and fro, but if you are reading this blog post, that probably doesn’t apply to you. You train on your bike, you race your bike, some of you may even keep your bike in your living room. Our bikes are part of us, the culture, the technology, the sense of freedom, it is all there in one microcosm of perfection. Some of us treat our bikes as an extension of our personality. As an example, I am usually a very calm, laid back person who doesn’t like anything flashy or “bling”, but on my bike I like to be as loud as possible from custom handlebar plugs to personalized stem caps. If I can make my bike scream and lighter at the same time, I am going to jump all over that. It is just a great extension of my demeanor on the bike especially while racing, yes I sometimes do the Dr. Jekyll, Mister Hyde routine. If you look at some of the top pro’s in the peloton, a lot of them have very cool custom painted bikes with individualized components, Cavendish’s Tour bike from last year is one of my favorite paint jobs, if you haven’t seen it check it out. Why wouldn’t us mere mortals want the same? I don’t want a custom Thor Hushovd Cervelo even if it is very cool, I do however want a custom Ken Vida Cervelo. I can’t just call Cervelo up and ask for a custom frame, well not yet at least J I can however customize my bike with small unique parts that differentiate it from the other Cervelo’s out in the state. From different color handlebar tape, to custom anodized bolts, to unique color schemes, the sky is the limit with bikes. Just don’t go overboard, some colors just don’t work together like say purple and red. Also don’t try and mirror your favorite pro’s bike, make your bike your own, a unique and very individual part of you, and for God’s sake, GO OUT AND RIDE!

Clinchers as Race Wheels, Are you Serious?

Clinchers have come a long way in this sport, 20 years ago when I started racing I wouldn’t have dreamed about lining up for a race with clinchers on my bike. Back then the majority of people even trained on tubulars. Despite tubular’s lighter weight and better road feel, I eventually switched to clinchers for training, entering the dark side. I now train on clinchers full time and have even raced on them for a few seasons in the past, mostly due to economic situations, not choice. That is until now. This past weekend I got a chance to race on Zipp’s new 404 clincher. I raced on a hilly 70 mile road course on Saturday and a tight technical 6 turn Criterium course on Sunday with a section of pavers. Two completely different courses and the wheels remarkably performed flawlessly. I am shocked to say in the least, I am a firm believer in Zipp’s magic, but to make a full carbon clincher that is so versatile is truly a miracle. They did go to the drawing board with this one, making a wheel unlike any other carbon clincher on the market. What sets it apart is the rim shape. Saying the wheel is wide is a gross understatement, it is wide enough that I had to open my brakes almost fully to use them, but in that width you get two clear advantages. First, the wheel is very stiff making it super responsive and second, the wider tire bead stretches the tire out a bit allowing you to run a slighter lower pressure that gives your high quality clinchers an almost tubular like feel. Everyone wants to know how fast the wheels are, well to give you an idea, on the descents in Saturday’s race I would go from mid pack to shooting off the front by just coasting. The faster you go, the more these wheels just work. Then on Sunday I ran only a 100 lbs of pressure in the tires and they tracked perfectly on the pavers and in the tight, technical 90 degree turns. The only things these wheels give up to their tubular competitors are a little bit of weight, but honestly I didn’t notice it. If you are looking for a fast wheel that you can race on and if you get a flat, doesn’t cost you $90, run, don’t walk to the shop and pick up a pair of these wheels. Yes, they will make you faster.

Check out this Retul Video!

Watch Ben Greenfield get a Retul Bike Fit just like the Pro's!

Retul Video

Personally, there is no better improvement to performance and comfort than getting a Retul Fit!

Once you go custom, you will never go back…

I have ridden almost every brand of cycling shoe under the sun since I started racing. I think my first pair were Lake shoes with plastic soles with laces that I cracked in half in my first crash. Shoes have come a very long way since then, carbon fiber is everywhere and you have to look very hard to find a pair with standard laces. Velcro and Micro-Adjustment buckles have taken over and I for one am very happy with the revolution. Recently I decided to kick things up a notch and try out a custom molded cycling shoe, namely the Shimano SH-R315. It took me this long to go custom not because of lack of desire, but of cost. In the past custom shoes were well out of most riders price range, however Shimano’s top of the line road shoe is still priced less than some of its competitors non custom high end shoes. The process to get “fitted” in the shoes is quite unique. First the insole is heated in a specially designed oven, once it is nice and mushy, you stand on it in cycling socks and let it slowly mold to the sole of your foot. Now the cool part, the whole shoe is then placed in the oven so the full carbon sole can get a little compliant. When it is nice and toasty you put it back on your foot and a trained fitter places a bag over your foot and literally sucks the air out of it using a specially designed vacuum. It is kind of a bizarre sensation but you are left with shoes that are literally molded to your feet. Now a great fitting shoes wouldn’t mean much if they didn’t meet the demands of hard road riding, but these shoes are a straight flush. The whole process becomes an experience where the shoe truly becomes yours. They are very light, stiff, and have classic looks without being too flashy. It’s crazy, I didn’t realize how comfortable my new shoes were until a recent mt bike adventure in non-custom shoes which at one time I thought were the most comfortable shoes I owned. After riding about five minutes I commented to my brother that I am now officially spoiled, I want custom mt bike shoes too because my old shoes just didn’t measure up anymore.

The Winter Funk

I don't know about everyone else, but this winter weather really has put a damper on my bike riding! I am really struggling to find the motivation to pile on layer after layer to ride my bike. The racing season is just around the corner, but it looks as if I'm going to get a late start. The winter blues have become a yearly event for me, but this year I've decided not to worry about it too much. I've been going to the gym, going for walks, occasional jogs, and riding when the weather permits. I feel good and I'm enjoying the change of pace.

I've done quite a bit of reading about how the body changes once you enter your 30's and beyond. Specifically, how the body responds to long periods of rest and cross training. Most experts agree that athletes over 30 don't need the big break in the off season. In fact, it is a bad idea. As you get older, the body takes longer to get back into shape, so keeping some intensity year round is a good idea. Plus, it's a good idea to lift weights year round in order to prevent permanent muscle loss.

I'm not an expert, but I've been going to the gym twice a week for the past several months. I like the way my body looks and feels. I've started to acclimate to how it feels to ride a bike and lift weights. At first it felt like I was pedaling squares, but it's better now.

Have any of you tried anything new this off season? What are your goals for your fitness for 2011? Let's hear it.

Image retrieved from cksinfo.com

Impact of Stress on Performance

Both cycling and triathlon are incredibly difficult sports that test the limits of human endurance and strength. The percentage of people who race as their primary means of employment is miniscule compared to the number of us who do these sports for the love of them. Because of this most of us may keep full time jobs, go to school , or have families to provide for and spend time with. These activities outside of our sport put a tremendous strain on our performance when situations are not ideal. There are some of us that ride specifically as a stress reliever to get away from life’s other commitments, but is it really conducive to performance? The short answer is yes and no. Let me explain, there are some riders that excel when they are “stressed out” or in a “bad mood,” they can actually use that negative energy to propel themselves farther and faster. Getting home from their ride or race, the stress has escaped their body and they feel much better. However, the majority of us suffer when things are just not right in the rest of our lives. Sometimes spending that time alone on the bike to dwell on the negativity that is going on causes more stress than what we left the house with. This actually happens because stress or any true emotional turmoil can actually act like a sickness to the human body. It is truly amazing and disturbing how a bad day at work or home can break down your natural defenses and impact your performance. No one can completely eliminate stress from their life, but the goal is to try and minimize that stress through planning and becoming more flexible, kind of an oxymoron if you think about it. Our sports should never be the cause of stress, remember we do this for fun and not out of any obligation. There are some tricks to help limit stress from our sports. I know people that hate to have life all planned out for them and others who cannot wake up without a plan. The goal is to actually try to fall halfway in the middle. For me, my training schedule is all planned out, but if I miss a workout or have to move it to another time, I try very hard not to stress about it and just “go with the flow.” This is quite a change to how I used to respond. Knowing what I should be doing on certain days helps alleviate the unknown which can inadvertently lead to additional stress. Communicating with family members on plans can also help those “YOU ARE RIDING HOW LONG THIS MORNING?” wonderful conversations. The moral of the story is use all the tools you have to be happy and healthy and you will perform better on the bike which for most of us, just leads to more happiness!

Now go ride!