Sat, 4 May 2013
On this month's podcast we chat with USA Cycling's VP of National Events, Micah Rice, on USAC's rationale for enforcement of UCI article 1.2.019, what it means for US racing, and what separates USAC from other event permiting organizations. We also talk about USAC's efforts on cycling development and doping. If you're a cycling fan and either love or hate USAC, you won't want to miss this interview.* Also on the podcast we discuss the kick off to the XTerra season, why I still think XTerra's idea combining NE and Atlantic regions sucks, is incredibly short-sighted, and smacks of USAC's SoP, as well as how you can apply my experience to your training! Finally, we have been working through a HUGE back log of product reviews, so this month we're featuring THREE great products, my final impressions of the Stan's No Tubes Alpha 340 team wheelset, Sidi Wire shoes, and the long overdue review of Bobby McGee's Run workouts for runners and triathletes running book. We will also be posting full written reviews of each of these and more throughout the week. So sit back and jack in! *Note: due to the time constraints of posting this podcast and the length of the interview, we have not booked the show as thoroughly as usual. Your playback position will be remembered, and there are basic chapters set up. Run time: ~1:30:00 |
Mon, 1 April 2013
On this month's podcast we are going rogue in honor of April Fools and opening up for a group discussion with three athletes of completely different backgrounds. Chris Jones, sorry if you were fooled on this one, is a cyclist and student at VCU. Gary O'Brien is an independent publisher and podcast host himself, as well as a Type 1 diabetic. Finally, Ryan Barnett is a former pro cyclist, now paracyclist after suffering a spinal cord injury in 2008. We hope you enjoy the broad discussion of training! Also on the podcast, I update some of the new products I'm using this season, including Stan's Alpha Team wheelset, Sidi Wire Carbon shoes and Rudy Project Windmax helmet (235 g!). Finally, be sure to check out our new website, courtesy of Jon Hall of Flybox Media, and our upcoming guests, Micah Rice (April), Dr. Dan Lieberman (May), and Tom Swensen (June). This is a long one, so sit back and relax! |
Mon, 7 January 2013
On this month's podcast we are kicking off the New Year by talking with a man who resolved to change everything he was and possibly save his own life in the process through cycling. Ernest Gagnon has a achieved a bit of a celebrity status, including an interview on NPR's All things considered. Ernest talks about overcoming depression and obesity by riding his bike! This is an interview that will inspire anyone to achieve their goals. Also on the podcast, I recap some of my product pics from 2012, including my latest equipment procurement, the Gaerne Kona MTB shoe and Swim Speed Secrets by Sheila Taomina. Check it out and let us know what you think. Finally, be sure to check out our new website, courtesy of Jon Hall of Flybox Media, and our upcoming guests, Dr.'s Tom Swensen (Feb) and Allen Lim (Mar). |
Sat, 1 December 2012
On this months podcast we sit down with Mike Kuhn, co-promoter of the Stan's No Tubes Trans-Sylvania Epic MTB Stage Race. Mike talks about the race, the riders, preparation for the race and why everyone should checkout the race at least once! It was a great way to reconnect with an old teammate and learn from one of the most innovative promoters in the US. Also on the podcast we offer our thoughts on the Stan's No Tubes ZTR Podium MMX 3.30Ti wheelset. For the money, these are some of the best race wheels around! Here's what we look at: The Crest 26" wheelset perfect for racing or cross country riding. This set features Crest black rims on Stan's 3.30 front and rear hubs, 2.0/1.5 DT Revolution black spokes, DT silver alloy nipples at 1440 grams. The rear hub can be converted to 12x142 with ZH0077. Est. Weight: 1440 grams VERDICT
Aesthetics: A
Performance: A; solid, race ready training wheels
Durability: A
Reliability: A Price: $525 for the set Light, reliable, and fast rolling, Stan's NoTubes wheelsets have helped change the face of XC racing forever. Featuring the Stan's 3.30Ti hubs laced to the race proven Podium MMX rim this wheelset offers proven World Cup performance at a price for racers everywhere. With countless podium finishes to their credit, the Podium MMX wheels will allow you to gain time on the competition and deliver you to the top step. Est. Weight: 1275 grams VERDICT Aesthetics: A
Performance: A; ultra light and agile Durability: B+; light weight rims can dent Reliability: A; dents aside, these remained true, without any issues Price: $900 for the set is one hell of a price! |
Sat, 29 September 2012
After several months we are back to full-length podcasts. On this podcast we feature an extended interview with Dr. Mark Milunksi, a cardiovascular specialist with experience across both disease through professional athlete populations. Dr. Milunski clears the confusion about why endurance exercise is GOOD for us, and why sudden cardiac death in athletes is a complex problem without one easy test for everyone. We also discuss other endurance related issues. This is one episode you spouse or family won't want you to miss! Be sure to visit us October 7th, at the Richmond Festival of Cross. We will be holding our final Stan's No Tubes clinic and will feature products from Honey Stinger, Rudy Project, Maxxis Tires and Gu Brew. We'll also be doing some giveaways! Also on the podcast we review the New Balance 1600 road shoe. From the web:
For the distance runner looking for a lightweight shoe that'll hold up mile after mile, look no further than the Men's New Balance® 1600. Get ideal cushioning and comfort to support you through 26.2 miles and beyond. Enjoy a blister-free run with the no-sew upper. You'll love the fast, responsive ride that feels soft under your feet. 5.8 ounces Road Runner Sports lists the 1600 as a performance neutral shoe for both racing and training and I would agree with that. The look good both in design and color choice and fit snugly but with plenty comfort on the inside. The mesh upper aids in ventilation and the sole is pliable with good traction in the wet. Performance wise, the shoes are very comfortable from the time you put them on to when you take them off. I prefer a minimalist shoe, but 0 drop shoes often feel flat/or dead when I run. These shoes are very lively and haven’t presented any hotspots or blisters, which is a rarity for me. The shoe seems to have good durability after nearly 200 miles of running. The major failing of the 1600 is the price. At $100, depending on where you look, these shoes are $15-20 more than either the Nike Free or Adidas Hagio I tested. However, when it comes to running, its hard to put a price on comfort. The final verdict? Definitely an A. In fairness to the Adidas Hagio, I had a tough time choosing between the two. I think the 1600 were comparable or better in comfort. The ultimate determiner was that Adidas dropped their yellow Hagio in favor for the ugliest neon orange they could find, which my wife would have never let me leave the house to run! VERDICT
Aesthetics: A
Comfort: A+ Price: B-; At a $100 its more expensive than similar shoes, but worth it. Minimalist? Yes, and lively. |
Tue, 28 February 2012
On this month's podcast we talk about how to get faster from the swim to T1 with Coach Jay Peluso of Peluso Open Water. The triathlon adage that you can't win the race in the swim but you can definitely lose it makes swimming a critical, but often mis-trained leg of triathlon. Coach Jay breaks down what to do with your first tri coming up, or how to be at your best as the biggest races of the season approach. Learn about the essential tools for swim training and how to finish off your swim for a great T1! Jay takes a very matter of fact approach that is effective and immensely popular here in Richmond, and you won't want to miss out on the interview. Also on the podcast, I discuss where your training needs to be going into March and we get a first glimpse at my new training wheels, the top notch ZTR Crest from Stan's No Tubes. I'll reserve my full review for now, but suffice it to say, the Crest are no second rate wheel set. Good enough to race right out of the box and weighing just over 1400 g, you can't beat the performance and value of this wheel! I cannot thank Stan's enough for their support this season and I cannot wait to bury the competition on the MTB. Finally, be sure to support all our sponsors, including Gu Brew and Gu's newest drink, Roctane, which will ignite your performance. Running time: 52 minutes |
Sat, 28 January 2012
On the podcast this month, we talk with the founder of the Urban Kansas City Community of Cycling, Kenneth Walker. Ken is longtime cyclist, who is working to build a better, fitter community through cycling. He works to get urban minorities cycling and racing. Ken races himself, and recently saw his saw become Missouri State Road Champion. Also on the podcast, I revisit my training and discuss where you should be in your own training! We have a comparison review of two INOV-8 shoes, as well, the INOV-8 F-Lite 195 to the X-Talon 212. While a bit like comparing a baking apple to a snacking apple, both are used for trail running, though neither seems ideally suited to the typical trail. The F-LIte is very much an light weight (195 g) all-purpose urban assault shoe. It is super comfortable and light, but never seems to find its niche on either the road or trail. On the road they feel "flat" and unlively, on the trail they deliver a tactile awareness, but fall short on responsiveness. However, this last point maybe more personal preference. I think they will offer a suitable alternative to my X-Talons for less aggressive X-Terra courses, and would recommend them for runners looking for a minimalist cross-trainer or a show that will allow for use on the road and trails; a side note, INOV-8 road specific shoes are NOT suited to many of trails due to lack of traction. The F-Lites offer good traction and hold well on wet rocks, but can hold a candle to the X-Talon in either of these areas. As far as trail shoes go, the X-Talon is simply the best shoe I've found. They fit like a glove, almost never cause blisters (which many shoes do on me), stick to almost any surface and give a tactile feel to the trail like no other shoe I've worn. The raised cleats offer an odd, somewhat slow feeling on paved sections, but also protect the feet from stones buy raising the foot off ther ground. My overall rating on the F-Lite is a B, based on what I expected compared to the X-Talon and Road-X shoes I've worn. They are a worthy buy and would work well in a variety of conditions. As for the X-Talons, I rate them as an A. They are durable (look at both shoes here) and offer superb performance on the trails, and are good enough to use in races with short paved sections. Bottomline, given the choice of free shoes or paying for these, I'll pay. The run time for this episode is 1:16:30 |
Sat, 24 December 2011
On our final podcast of 2011 we review the latest VeloPress publication The Feed Zone Cook Book, by Biju Thomas and Allen Lim. Chef Biju and Dr. Lim vetted countless meals with the world's best endurance athletes in the most demanding test kitchens. Here, Thomas and Lim share their energy-packed, wholesome recipes to make meals easy to prepare, delicious to eat, and better for performance. The Feed Zone Cookbook includes:
I give the book and overall rating of A for delivering affordable, easy to make meals that inspire even the novice to ramp up their nutrition! Also on the podcast today, I update my own training and discuss what you need to be doing as we head into the new year! In addition, I review the INOV-8 Recolite 190. An all-purpose hiker, this light weight sandal gets high marks on comfort and looks, and serves a suitable shoe for light running and cross training. At just 190 g, you'l be hard pressed to find a comparable sandal for everyday use and recreation. With all that INOV-8 packs into their shoes, the Recolites fill a variety of roles and are competitively priced around the internet. Compared to my Keen sandals, these are more sure footed and lighter. Definitely, a worthy buy. I rate them as and A- only for the slightly larger than expected fit; though seems to have little impact on my comfort or performance. Finally, we want to remind everyone that the final Rudy Project Giveaway is up on Jan 1. Keep those questions and comments coming to our email. And don't forget to leave us a review on I-Tunes. Running time is approximately 51 min. |
Sun, 20 November 2011
On this months Podcast we update my training progress and discuss what you should be doing with YOUR training. Special thanks go out to ongoing sponsors Rudy Project, Honey Stinger and Gu Brew, as well as new sponsor Maxxis Tires. Other thanks go out to my medical team Dr. Marchal & Jim Miller) and Darcy Norman at Athletes Performance. Other topics covered this month include:
I found that the versitility and durability of the product were exceptional. With strips for nearly every area of the body, its tough to find that variety. Plus the tape comes in a variety of colors. However, the pre-cut strips may not be adequate for all individuals and can be difficult for unskilled hands to apply. Fortunately, they make individual rolls too. So check out the full review!
Other notes from the show include our new website coming Jan 1, thanks to Jonathan Hall at flyboxmedia.com and LIMITED COACHING AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. Finally, keep those EMAILS coming and be entered to win some awesome Rudy Project eyewear! Music for this podcast was provided by Treadmill Trackstar and included: I belong to you Careen the cat Shouldn't I take Hands off |
Sun, 2 October 2011
After 4 weeks of recovery, I am back to podcasting! Though my recovery will be long, I am thinking hard on how to be better next year than this year, and I'm going to bringing those deliberations, ideas and plans to you.The podcast will be going through a reroganization, with a new website. thanks to Jonathan Hall. I hope to add more dynamic media on the blog including my training plans and logs. On the Podcast I mainly discuss what I learned from the past XTerra season. At the end of every season we all need to assess ourselves honestly and thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned. What worked, what did not. Where were you at you best, how can you best improve? More work off the bike, or more structure, or even less volume. Check it out and start making your own list! Coming Up next New book review on Geoff Drake's Team 7-11 book Great new guests Turning your assessment into a plan |
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ESP Podcast (podcasts) The latest in endurance training, strength and conditioning with the world's leading experts and athletes. We offer product reviews, prize giveaways, and great music too!
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