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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!