With a lot of time now, I have begun to organize my garage again. To get the bikes off the ground and up on the wall I am using the SteadyRack. Easy to install and easy to use. They can be mounted in studs in wood walls or masonry.
Training is about to kick into high gear. Two races are coming up this fall. They will be signed up and then make them totally accountable for in the next few weeks.
The first is the team of four, mountain bike race. The team with the most laps in the eight hour period wins. Each rider takes on the 10 mile course lap, one member out on the course at a time.
The second race, is the next weekend from the mountain bike race, but this time it is a trail running race. The distance is 14 miles, so its just over the half-marathon mark.
Adding the Lizard Mad mobility band, made of latex has brought a new addition to my workouts.I have the dark blue Lizard Mad band, with its resistance being rated at 35 to 65 pounds. The large loop, about 41 1/2 inches long, folded. It is super flexible. Not needing it to be that length? Simply shorten the loop by tying a small knot, which can easily be removed after your specific stretch, workout.A super useful exercise I perform with the band, among a ton of others, is a squat.Step on the band on the floor, a loop of the band in either hand. Straighten out your arms and use your legs to push upward. Make sure to keep your arms straight, but the majority of the work is being done by your upper legs. The band is super strong and will not break. I am always finding new ways, workouts, stretches to use the Lizard Mad band with.The band comes with a five-year quality guarantee.
The 12 oz, 30 day supply of Natrogix BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids). The amino acids in this supplement are Creatine Monohydrate, at 3000 mg, L-Leucine at 2500 mg, L-Glutamine at 2000 mg, L-Isoleucine at 1250 mg and finally L-Valine at 1250 mg.
It’s recommended use is to mix the provided scoop into a glass of water. It has a sweet lemon-lime flavor. I have been using it after hard workouts to help recovery. The supplement is vegetarian friendly with not a lot of carbohydrates. I have yet to try it pre-workout. I can honestly say, after a hard training session, my recovery time and no sore muscles. The supplement is soy free and non-GMO. I was mainly interested in using this supplement for it’s recovery and endurance improving properties.
Proud to be representing and using Activ5 allowing me to exercise anywhere. Along with my cardio, cycling, running and swimming, using the Activ5 makes for quick yet effective workout. I have even showed it to my 10 year-old son, using the Activ5 device. Paired through bluetooth to my smartphone, select a workout ranging from upper body, lower body, toning, yoga and pilates, as well as abs, butt and leg workouts. For busy travelers there are even workouts on the app geared towards using in small spaces such as a car or airplane and finally hotel workouts. All these isometric exercises have easy to follow directions and images, showing a model using the device and where to place it for the exercise. The first time you do a specific exercise you will set your “max power” and the app will then contour the exercise according to that setting.
Before performing any of the exercise you can reset your max power output.
At the end of each exercise is give you a report on how you performed that exercise. Your max power in pounds and how much weight can be compared to that you just lifted. The muscle control you had in a percentage.
The little, very portable, device is powered with one AAA battery.
The device works off of applying pressure, sometimes on both sides of the device, others just pressing down, applying pressure to the one side, depending upon the exercise being performed. During each exercise you apply more pressure making the marker rise on the app, and apply less pressure to make it lower. The only setting adjustment I needed to make to my smartphone was the timeout length. I was running in to my smartphone falling asleep during my workout. I have now taken care of this and the Activ5 device is great.
These isometric exercises contract particular muscles or groups of muscles. The muscle doesn't noticeably change length and the affected joint doesn't move.
Besides the Activ5 app, there are other apps (games) out in the iTunes or Google Play stores. Involve the kids in these exercises paired with the games and they will have no idea they are helping tone their muscles.
This is a great hydration backpack. Easy to fill and use. There is one small zippered pocket for keys, cell phone, money, etc… The bladder holds two liters. The hose is insulated and it can be routed to go over either shoulder, right or left. The bite tip has a cover to protect it. The nozzle can be turned on or off with the switch along the hose near the bite valve. There is some reflectiveness strips on the back and front. I have used this pack for mountain biking as well as hiking. The straps fit well and are fully adjustable.
Note: I was given a discount for giving my honest opinion and review.
When it comes to triathlon swim training, what's the hardest part? Often it’s finding a lap pool to train in? For some it’s being able to train while traveling on business. It's not easy doing a swim workout in a small hotel pool, and that is where the Infinite Swim comes in to play.
Infinite Swim has the solution and can turn any size pool into a pool for training.
Infinite Swim comes with an adjustable waist belt, which hooks onto a bungee cord. Set the Infinite Swim frame on the side of the pool. Fill the water weight with pool water or a hose if nearby. The jets in the pool will help fill the weight faster if they are running. Place the water weight, now weighing 35 pounds filled with water, on the frame and your good to go.
Ease into the pool and don’t push off the side. Float out away from the side of the pool until the bungee cord is pulled tight. Now just begin swimming. Work on drills or use any swim stroke, without worrying about getting caught in any cables or ropes. The Infinite Swim set up provides 25 pounds of resistance. Who is this device for you might ask? The Infinite Swim can be used by amateurs or competitive swimmers and will provide a perfect swim training workout. Never miss a swim workout for those who often travel, as it folds small enough to fit in carry-on suitcase. This device is also great or those triathletes who train and need or want to video themselves and their swim stroke. Staying in place, you can capture video from the side of the pool or even under the water with a GoPro. For instance in a freestyle stroke, you can look back and see, is your hand entering the water or exiting the water in right place to get the most out of your stroke. Often a swim coach or triathlon coach, if being coached from online, will ask to see footage of you swimming. They are wanting to analyze your stroke to make you more efficient.
I’ve used the Infinite Swim in a pool as shallow as three foot deep as well as eight foot deep, it still works the same. Once again, just don’t jump in while attached to the device. Ease into the pool and slowly swim away from the side. Now of course you won’t get a distance training workout in, but you can still time yourself. You still get the same motion you would as if you were swimming laps but added bonus of not having to do flip turns to keep going.
So you've seen how it works, now you need one. Order online with the code "TRIHAK" for a discount all orders include free shipping
Customers/Athletes who already own an Infinite Swim, the company has improved the retooling of the bracket making them even stronger. The company will be sending you the new improved versions and they ask that when you receive yours, you send the older one back with the postage paid packaging.
I’ve been using the TREKZ Titanium Bluetooth headphones by AfterShokz while running and using my indoor cycling rollers. These headphones sit right outside in the front of your ear sitting on your jawbone. The sound travels through bone-conduction. The sound is great. Pair it with your smartphone, which is very easy to do. The headset is very comfortable and can even be worn while still wearing glasses. The main purpose of these headphones is to allow you to hear better what is around you and not totally cutting out ambient sound. It’s an open ear design. Obviously, I would never wear these while riding bike in traffic or out on the street, but I do wear them running and they still allow me to hear the world around me. After charging up the unit, with the provided micro-USB cord, it will return about six hours of play time. Although they are not water proof, can’t be submerged, they are sweat resistant. The headphones come with two fit bands, for those with smaller heads, a micro-USB charging cord, two ear plugs, that help block out noise into the ear canal as well as a storage case.
The headphones can be used to take phone calls as well as listen to music. According to the person on the other end of the phone, the quality of the voice in the call is excellent. By the way, I’ve even used them while out mowing the yard and having them synched to my smartphone playing music.
I have loved the contact as well as the rolling resistance of Arisun’s lightweight Vitesse road tire, as well as Chaoyang Fly Fish road tire. Both tires are 700 X 23c. I tried and tested them both out in both front and back wheels as well as swapping them out and finding out the best combination to use them in.
First off the Arisun Vitesse is a great smooth treaded tire. The tire is created with a hard compound in the center to help with the rolling resistance while the outer edges are a little softer for better cornering. The tire is rated with a 120 TPI. The tire has a Nylon Defense Plus puncture protection, the company says. I have ridden hundreds of miles on the same tire and have had no issues with punctures.
Next up, the Chaoyang Fly Fish. These tires have a little bit of texture to the outside edges, for helping in cornering. These are also rated at 120 TPI and are a very smooth rolling tire. There is a Kevlar anti-puncture layer in these tires.
Both of these tires have great rolling resistance and could be used or either racing or training with.
I am not setting out to become a barefoot runner, but I have just begun to use XeroShoes sandals to help strengthen my feet. First off, the feeling while wearing the Amuri Z-Trek sport sandal is incredible. Extremely comfortable even though there is almost nothing there. The outer sole is only 5.5 mm thick, or thin in this case, it is what XeroShoes calls a FeelTrue® sole. The sole is primarily there to protect the bottom of your foot from anything sharp or jagged. I also have a pair of Amuri Cloud which has 3mm Barefoam™ insert in the forefoot and is constructed on a 6 mm FeelTrue® outer sole. A huge difference right off the bat of the two is the Z-Trek has strap that pretty much goes across the top of the foot and eventually goes around the top of the ankle. The Amuri Cloud has a strap that starts off between the big toe and second toe and meets up with other cords across the top of the foot and is adjustable behind the ankle above the heel. I have taken both sandals out for a mile run, a day apart. I tightened them both up pretty well so they would not be floating around while wearing them. I wore the Amuri Z-Trek first. Wearing it around, just as a regular piece of footwear, it is extremely comfortable. If I could I would wear these all day, but with work and all some type of foot protection is needed. When I started on my run, I did not set out to break any world records or anything. I just wanted to get a feel of these sandals and how it felt to wear them while running. With other minimalist footwear I have been wearing for awhile now, I am becoming more of a mid foot striker when it comes to running. The next day I set out and took the Amuri Cloud out for my mile trek. About .10th of a mile into my run I had to stop and tighten up the cords as I could feel my feet slip around on them. The run was once again nothing record breaking, yet I could feel some discomfort in-between my big toe and second toe. A blister was beginning to form just after I finished running. I’m not sure if I had the shoe too tight or my foot was too sweaty, it was over a 100 degrees by the way. With both sandals the feeling of just walking around in them is incredible and allow my foot to flex around, sometimes on uneven surfaces. I am mainly setting out on once again just helping strengthen my feet.
Removing the noise of the wind, allowing you to hear what's around you.
There is a product developed for every type of rider including other family members. Cat-Ears provide wind noise blocking without blocking sound waves. From the casual rider to the elite athlete. Safety is the key. Here's a look at the line of Cat-Ears designed by Rick and Heidi Weissner.
Hears (Here is) the Cats meow broken down. (Puns intended)
To start off with Ear Covers are the only product that attach to both the down strap as well as the strap that runs to the back of the helmet. They help keep your ears warm during cool or cold rides while blocking the wind noise but allow sound to travel through them. These are a must have in the winter months and very early morning rides before the sun rises.
Cat-Ears Ear Covers
Next up the Classic I are made of a faux fur material that is 1/2 inch thick, dampening and deflecting wind noise. They are designed to fit 1/2 inch helmet straps. They are 1 3/8 inch wide and 2 1/2 inches long.
Cat-Ears Classic I
Next are the Classic II, also made of a faux fur material that is 1/2 inch thick, dampening and deflecting wind noise. They are designed to fit 1/2 inch helmet straps. They are 1 1/4 inch wide and 2 1/4 inches long. A major difference with these is the back side (the side facing the riders face) is fleece and not the faux fur material. Some riders don't like the feel of the faux fur on their face, so for some this could be added comfort.
Cat-Ears Classic II
The Strap Wraps are for your casual rider that travels at a lower speed. They attach to your helmet strap with Velcro just like any of the other Cat-Ears products. These have a scalloped edge on the outside facing the ear, diverting the wind away from your ear. Very comfortable and they wick sweat.
Cat-Ears Strap Wraps
The Classic Pro is once again made with the faux fur that is 1/2 inch thick, dampening and deflecting wind noise. They are designed to fit 1/2 inch helmet straps. They are 1 1/8 inch wide and 2 inches long. They are right and left specific, and are packaged in such a way to let you know before attaching them to your helmet straps. When attached the front edge seems to point upward.
Cat-Ears Classics Pro
Once again "The Classics" I, II, Pro are designed to fit 1/2 inch helmet straps. The difference with all of them is their size. They all provide the maximum wind noise reduction by reducing wind noise approximately 40 to 60 percent.
All Cat Ears are available in numerous colors. So check them out on their site. Pick a set to match your bike or maybe your helmet, or maybe your cycling kit. It's up to you.
Here you can see how the product is used. Very easy and comfortable.
