Pre Fit Position – 40km Bike Split ~1hr13mins

Want to take 10 minutes off your 40km Olympic distance bike time? Claire did! Here’s how…

I first met Claire Hann after she won the 2012 Bristol Harbouside Triathlon. As part of her prize for winning the Olympic distance race overall Claire was presented with a Level 2 Precision bike fitting at Bike Science Bristol. As a bike fitter, my first impression was respect for Claire having managed to win the event and put in a respectable bike split (of 1hr:13min:09sec)on her current bike with her current riding position. Once Claire told me more about herself and the kind of swim and run times she was capable of, it was pretty obvious that although she was already winning events, there was a huge amount of untapped potential in her biking. Relatively new to the sport of triathlon and to cycling, the bike leg of the triathlon was clearly her weakest link.

On the day of her first bike fit, I invited Claire to become a member of our Bike Science – Boardman Elite team with a view to taking a big chunk of time off her 2013 bike splits.

Roll forward 12 months. After a period of riding tri bars (added to specific bike training courtesy of award winning coach Andy Bullock at Endurance Sports Coaching) on her road bike with a corresponding change in position, Claire moved onto a dedicated time trial bike for the first time. Her 2013 results speak for themselves!

Chester Diva Triathlon – 1st Overall Lady – Bike Split 1hr:09min:05sec

European Age Group Champs – 1st Overall Lady – Bike Split 1hr:02min:18sec

Equipment changes for 2013

Claire raced the second half of the 2012 season on a Cannondale  road bike with clip on Profile T1+ tri bars.

2013 Equipment list:-  Boardman Air TT, Ultegra Di2 Custom Build, Reynolds Assault Wheels, Vittoria Open Corsa CX Tyres, Profile Aeria Aerobars, Lazer Tardiz aero helmet.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR – BOOK YOUR BIKE SCIENCE BIKE FIT NOW

2013 Race Position – 40km Bike Split ~ 1hr02mins

We’re pleased to announce the opening of another regional Bike Science fitting studio. Bike Science South East in Tunbridge Wells opens on January the 3rd 2012 (the same date as Bike Science North East in Darlington). Here, we introduce Tunbridge Wells head bike fitter Adrian Durran.

Adrian has been involved in triathlons and cycling since 2005. He has competed at both World and European Championship level in his Age Group from Sprint to Long Distance. These days although enjoying a few sprints, he mostly competes in Ironman events having raced at both IM Lanzarote and The Outlaw in 2011. Preferring more endurance type events Adrian also likes to participate in as many cyclo-sportives and longer distance TT’s as possible. Adrian is also a keen marathon runner and SwimTrek junkie.

Adrian is a BTF Coach and an Advanced (REPs Level 3) Personal Trainer who specializes in sports conditioning and weight-loss with a client portfolio ranging from cyclists to runners and triathletes, both novice and advanced. Adrian has trained extensively with Bike Science head fitter Andy Sexton and will be Retul Certified in December (2011), Bike Science South East will be opening in January at Tribeca Sport. Precision bike fitting will be complemented by a full range of cycling and triathlon clothing and equipment.

DON’T MISS OUR INTRODUCTORY RETUL BIKE FIT OFFER

Throughout January – All LEVEL 2 Retul Precision Bike Fits at Bike Science South East and Bike Science North East – ONLY £100 (SAVE £85 from our standard price!)

Throughout January – All LEVEL 3 Retul Precision Bike Fits (two riders or one rider with two bikes) at Bike Science South East and Bike Science North East – ONLY £175 (SAVE £85 from our standard price!)

BIKE SCIENCE NORTH EAST – BOOK ONLINE NOW - SAVE £85 on all Retul Fits in January

BIKE SCIENCE SOUTH EAST – BOOK ONLINE NOW - SAVE £85 on all Retul Fits in January

We’re happy to announce the forthcoming opening of our North East of England region Bike Science fitting studio.

Bike Science North East
Unit G4 Morton Park Way
Darlington
Co Durham
DL1 4PQ

Proposed Opening Date – Mid December 2011

LOOK OUT FOR OUR OPENING MONTH OFFER – REDUCED BIKE FIT PRICES THROUGHOUT THE OPENING MONTH

All fits at Bike Science North East will be performed by Retul certified fitter Andy Sedgwick.

Andy has been involved in cycling from the early 90’s and then started competing in triathlons around ten years ago. He has raced at national and international events over varying distances and has represented Great Britain at age group level and raced the illustrious Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in 2011. Andy also competes in road races and local crit and TT’s.

Andy is coach at the recently formed Darlington Tri Club, is a qualified Biomechanics Trainer, Sports Massage practitioner and British Cycling advanced mechanic. Andy is a Retul certified bike fitter and has trained extensively with Bike Science head fitter Andy Sexton.

Bike science North East will be opening in December at the Triology Multi sport Studio in Darlington. Precision bike fitting will be complemented by Wet suit fitting, Sports massage and Biomechanical assessment on an appointment basis.

For more information or to enquire about a bike fit CONTACT US

Yesterday saw Bike Science – Planet X team riders Lisa Greenfield and Paul Horsfall perform our first ever metabolic profiling sessions at Bike Science Bristol. Jon Riley of TrueZone testing visited to show us the “New Leaf ” metabolic profiling system in action and give our team riders the opportunity to gain valuable information on which to base their early winter training.

The testing procedure is non-invasive (no blood samples are taken) and works by comparing the levels of carbon dioxide in the air with the levels exhaled by the rider as they perform at a known level of output. The test involves a sub maximal ramp test (there’s no falling off the bike knackered or throwing up in a bucket unless you REALLY want to go that hard). During the test, the rider  is asked to pedal at a steady power output (Powertap power meters are used to ensure accurate power measurement). At regular intervals the intensity is increased as the rider’s exhaled air is sampled. The New Leaf system then records and determines the following…

1. Power Output

2. Heart Rate

3. Number of calories burnt per minute at each intensity

4. Percentage of calories obtained from carbohydrate metabolism at each intensity

5. Percentage of calories obtained from fat metabolism at each intensity

This information is absolutely key to any athlete intending on competing in any aerobic sport.

Training intensity and calorific requirements can be accurately calculated allowing the athlete or coach to perfectly tailor their training to suit their fitness levels and goals.

Treat yourself to your best season ever in 2012 by starting your winter training with ACCURATE information.

Bike Science are offering metabolic profiling testing in Bristol on Saturday the 26th of November – open to ALL LEVELS of rider at any level of fitness.

CONTACT US TO BOOK YOUR SESSION NOW – £95 Per Rider – LIMITED AVAILABILITY

We all know that winter miles = summer smiles, but how can you as a rider get the very best out of your valuable winter training time?

Metabolic profiling is an ideal tool for determining where to target your training for the best possible gains. Start your winter training the best way possible

We’re please to announce our first metabolic profile testing date at Bike Science Bristol – Saturday the 26th of November.

With a simple VO2 Metabolic assessment you can cut out the guess work and make sure you are getting the most out of every session.

You will find out how many calories you are burning at a range of intensities and what percentage is fat or carbs (essential information for any endurance rider or triathlete). You’ll discover where your aerobic and anaerobic thresholds are and how they determine the zones you need to train in to get the best results.

We’d recommend using one of these sessions to set your training zones early in the winter, then re-testing as the season approaches to assess improvements made.

Information is Power, Power = Performance.

Just 6 Slots are available for our first day of testing – BOOK NOW BY CONTACTING US

Price is £95 which includes a comprehensive set of test results and advice regarding training goals.

At Bike Science we’re always on the lookout for great tools to help triathletes and cyclists get faster. So when a free one comes along that can help athletes of any level, we’re all for it!

TriBlogs is a way to plan, record, discuss and share all your sporting experiences. The site is free to join and all the features that you have access to now will always be free. By signing up to TriBlogs you will be able to:
• Plan training sessions and races
• Record your training stats – Time, Distance, HR, Power…
• Chart your progress with graphs and tables
• Create your own Triathlon blog
• Use the Forum to talk to other Triathletes
Keeping a record of your training will help you to track your own improvements, keep you motivated and stop you over training! You can use your ‘public blog’ to share information about your training or use the forum to ask questions or share ideas with other triathletes. There is also a premium service for a small subscription (less than £2 a month) which entitles you to even more features, including a Garmin plugin, iCalendar sync, unlimited storage for charts, kit items and fitness tests, and an option to generate revenue from your blog using AdSense.

What are you waiting for? Give TriBlogs a try today!

Over the next two weeks we’ll be introducing Team Bike Science. First up is Hawaii hopeful it’s Matt Edwards….

“I have been involved in triathlon since 2004, when my rehab from knee surgery and a move to Bristol for work led me to BAD Tri.  Since then I’ve loved racing and training for a whole range of events including all tri distances up to Ironman, multi-day ultra running, bog snorkling, cycling circuit racing and stage races, time trials, mountain biking, adventure racing, quadrathlon and skinny dipping.  I’ve been getting steadily faster over the last few years, and had my first race win at last year’s Eastnor Castle Middle distance.  I’ve raced the World and European Long Course events as part of the GB age group team, and in the last year have taken on some new challenges including the High Peak Marathon, The Green Man Challenge and the European Single Speed Mountain Biking (and cheese eating) Champs.  I have also recently discovered bike touring, having had two epic weeks in the Picos De Europa of Northern Spain in May this year, and am now building a fixation with hefty steel bikes and beardy accessories, to go with my existing penchant for all things carbon and speedy…

For 2011 I am focussing on Ironman Wales on September 11, and with Hawaii qualification slots available I’m hoping to finally nail that run! Preparations are going well with 4th place at the Weymouth Middle Distance my best result so far this year, and my cycling continuing to improve with stronger riding on the Tuesday night Bristol Chain Gang Massacre.   Other races for this season include: the Tri Grand Prix UK, Cotswold 113 and Millfield middle distance triathlons; the Ras de Cymru (5 day cycling stage race); Castle Combe Duathlons and Time Trials.

Outside my own training and racing I am a qualified Development Coach (level 3) for British Triathlon, and I volunteer every week for BAD Tri working with both children and adults.  I also have a number of private clients for triathlon coaching, as well as for Neuro-Linguistic Programming where I am currently training at Master Practitioner level. Inbetween this I work at Bristol University as a Community Sport Development Officer, and also at the Higher Education Funding Council for England.  I am a course tutor for Sports Leaders UK and am in the process of becoming a Coach Education tutor for British Triathlon.”

Read  Team Bike Science – Planet X Team rider Daz Carter’s pre-race report as he makes his final preparations for one of Europe’s toughest triathlon events.

Just a little race to kick the season off…!

I’ve been looking forward to this race since crewing the Double Iron UK event back in summer 2010. This will be my third attempt at a Double Ironman-Distance race. My record so far reads:

2008 (Aug) Double Iron UK – 3rd (24hrs51mins)
Swim – 2:05, Bike – 13:45, Run – 8:47
2009 (Aug) Double Iron UK – DNF (10miles in to run – illness)
Swim – 1:58, Bike – 13:08

Both races took place at the end of a packed season and three weeks off the back of an Ironman (9:20 Austria and 8:58 Challenge Roth). So I was race sharp but missing out on the perfect taper. The 2008 being my first race was a little more tentative with the emphasis on completion. There were a couple of moments on the bike that I was close to quitting. The run was painful and broken up with many short breaks (although a MacDonalds breakfast care of some friends certainly perked me up and I was running solidly in the final 15miles). The 2009 race was upsetting. I went into the race wanting to win, had a spec-experienced crew (Peter Cusick and Scott Garrett) and planned the race to the min before I even started. It was bang on the money up until halfway into the bike when a combination of underlying illness and bad weather conspired against me and after struggling through 10miles of the run I had to head to the tent before I passed out. I’d say most of those who train for an Ironman can get through the double swim and first half of the bike. It’s the second half of the bike, at night that does the damage. Food is a struggle (you won’t want to look at another energy bar or gel), pace drops and when you’re not bored you start seeing ‘ghosts’ out on the course.

So, after the fiasco of 2009 and the opportunity to race in a potentially warmer (and more attractive) climate in Lanza, I decided to have one more crack and try to do myself a little more justice. This is the first time Enduroman have ventured out of the UK for a long distance triathlon event and will also be holding a festival over the same weekend to include olympic, half distance and full distance (ironman) races.

The race is also part of the International Ultra Triathlon Association (IUTA) circuit, so points will be allocated on that basis. This means there should be interest from the European ‘big fish’, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they handle the race. One notable inclusion is Spain’s (lives on Lanzarote) Gregorio Caseres Morales who has finished Top10 (overall) in Ironman Lanzarote on a number of occasions. On the UK side I know Paul Thompson, winner of last years Triple Iron UK, will be competing and should be strong on the swim and bike if his previous form is anything to go by. I only recognise a couple of other (UK) names from the current list. The majority are British or Spanish but a few other nationalities are in there too.

I hoped to be able to carry out some very long bike rides over the winter and spend a lot more time in the pool (at least 4-5 am swims) but this hasn’t happened. The longest bike ride I’ve done has been around the 70mile mark and (broken) pool swim of 4500m. However, my running is strong over distance and I’ve never had a problem running off the bike. I fly out to Lanzarote on Thurs 27th so I have one week to practise open water swimming in my wetsuit (a new one that I havn’t tried since I bought it last summer!) and a couple of medium length bike rides to check out the course. The race course will be light undulating (for Lanzarote!) with one hill in the middle. My main concern is of course the wind which can get up to 40-50mph on some days. I’m not the most technical of riders, and I hate the wind. So the friend I’m travelling with is bringing a low rim set as back-up to go with my PlanetX deep carbon wheels. I won’t even bother with the aero helmet and instead will use my light training helmet which has plenty of vents to attach a strong headlight. I lost a lot of time (30-60mins) in the previous Double Iron events because of failing bike lights, so I need to make sure everything is sorted this time around. The battery for the front light is quite heavy and I may need to hold it in a small camelback but if its cloudy it will be invaluable.

RACE PLAN

I have no specific race plan at the moment but I’ll be walking through the race with my friend/crew Dan beforehand. I prefer a mass start race and will probably do my fair share of drafting in the swim. Will be looking for a steady transition(1) and get straight into the bike. Aerodynamics will be taking a hit for this race (added weight and no aero wheels or helmet) so, along with the hills and wind, I won’t worry too much about bike speed. I’ll want to get as much done as quickly as possible before dark, because that’s when my performance will take a hammering. The second 112miles will be the test for me. If I can get to transition(2) then I know I should be alright for at least 25-30miles of the run. I have a few new ideas for the bike and nutrition this time around but will keep those cards close to my chest.

I’ll provide a race report in the week following the event and perhaps an update next week

Bike Science Bristol and Derby are now closed for our Christmas break until the 4th of January. Online orders made between now and the re-opening date will be dispatched on the 4th of January.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all of our customers throughout 2010.

Start your 2011 season with a bike fit. Perfect your position and prepare for your best season ever.

BRISTOL BOOK HERE

DERBY BOOK HERE

ROTHERHAM BOOK HERE

We’ve extended our range of bikes! We’re pleased to announce the arrival of an extensive range of Van Nicholas Titanium bikes at Bike Science Bristol. To celebrate, we’re offering our precision motion capture Retul bike fit worth £174.99 FREE with al Van Nicholas bikes purchased before the end of January 2011.

Van Nicholas specialize in high quality, custom specification titanium road, mountain and time trial bikes. With a build and ride quality second to none, each bike is custom built to order and thanks to the fantastic strength of titanium comes complete with a lifetime frame warranty. Van Nicholas also offer complete custom geometry frames for when nothing but the best fit will do. Thanks to the skill and experience of our fitters, we’ll ensure your bike is fitted and specified perfectly. Nothing else rides like titanium. Why not find out for yourself!? Prices start from 1699 Euros*

BOOK YOUR FREE NO OBLIGATION SIZING SESSION For Van Nicholas, Planet X or On-One bikes online NOW!

See the following bikes in our Bristol showroom

Van Nicholas Astraeus – Responsive road race
Van Nicholas Zephyr – Super comfortable long distance road
Van Nicholas Mistral – Great value entry level ti road bike
Van Nicholas Blaze – Ti Time Trial/Trialthon racer
Van Nicholas Yukon – The perfect all year round road bike
Van Nicholas Amazon – Super tough touring/cyclo-cross

*Sales take place in UK £’s using exchange rates suplied by www.xe.com.
If you can find an identically specified bike cheaper, contact us to discuss a price match!