Bike Science Bristol branch will be closed for a short summer break on Saturday the 25th of June. Re-open again 10am on Tuesday the 28th. Have a good weekend’s riding everyone.
Bike Science Blog
Meet the Team :: Dan (the fish) Phillips
June 23rd, 2011
Meet Dan, Team Bike Science – Planet X’s resident uber swimmer. He’s getting faster on the bike and run every year too. Despite an addiction to cookies and cold beer he’s gunning for a scorching fast time at Ironman Austria in two weekends time.
Here’s Dan’s own take on his tri career to date…
“My route into triathlon was through a swimming background having spent 15 years as a child swimming, both in Bristol and in Cardiff whilst in University. I spent 3 years training under Dave Haller who is one of the best swim coaches in the UK having coached; David Davies, Mark Foster, Duncan Goodhew, Adrian Moorhouse and David Wilkie – not a bad resume! I still use many of the training principles today from my 3 years with him as I always have been and always will be self coached. My best event used to be the 200m Breastroke where my pb used to be 2.25 and my 100m pb 1.07 (These days I struggle to do that frontcrawl which is worrying!)
Having quit swimming in 2003 I had a couple of years in the wilderness, with drinking, partying and playing football my main priorities. As a dare on new years eve in 2005 I entered the London Triathlon and have never looked back. My running was pretty shocking at the start being a typical “fish out of water”, but after teaming up with local run coach Steve Hollier my run splits these days aren’t quite so shocking and my half marathon pb is now down to 1.18 which means I can at least stay with most on the run.
In 2008 I raced for the GB age group team but became disillusioned by it all after racing a Duathlon in Vancouver because the swim was cancelled, pretty frustrating when you are in the shape of your life. After this setback and a pretty low key season in 2009 (didn’t quite break 2 hours for an Olympic but got very close on a number of occasions) I thought I would move up to long distance in 2010.
The main focus this season is IM Austria where I hope to break the pb I set last season in my first Iron Distance race, The Outlaw – I crossing the line in 9.43. This winter has gone well, with a bike science team training camp in France, some injury setbacks (medial plica) but I am in pretty good shape and should be on for a good time if I nail my race plan and don’t get sidetracked! A top 3 for my age would be nice but looking at previous results most of the guys in the 25-29 age are pretty much full time and I would need to cross the line in about 8.45 so that’s out of the question. I won’t be taking a Hawaii slot either if I did get one, I will leave that for another day as I want to tick some other boxes first before I go and race that.
Longer term plans are not set having recently found out I am going to be dad for the first time in spring 2012. Next season will more than likely be some smaller races in the UK, potentially Wimbleball or another 70.3 race along with some local races around Bristol.”
Meet the Team :: Matt Edwards
June 20th, 2011
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.”
Book Now and Beat the Price Rise!
June 13th, 2011
Due to our recent VAT registration we’ve made the difficult decision to increase our bike fitting prices as from the 1st of July 2011. All bookings made BEFORE this date will be charged at the current prices, so book NOW and you’ll avoid the increase. We don’t take payment until the day of the fit. Remember there’s no charge if we’re sizing you for a Planet X, Van Nicholas or On-One bike!
BOOK NOW AND BEAT THE PRICE RISE
BRISTOL : – BOOK NOW
DERBY : – BOOK NOW
ROTHERHAM : – BOOK NOW
Prices as of July the 1st 2011 will be
Level 1 Static Bike Fit – £89.99
Level 2 Retul Bike Fit (1 bike Retul fit) – £184.99
Level 3 Retul Bike Fit (2 bike Retul fit) – £259.99
We’ll also be adding booking facilities for 3 rider and 4 rider fits at greatly reduced prices – watch this space.
Cobb Saddles – More Rave Reviews
June 11th, 2011
Our best selling Cobbv-Flow saddles turn conventional saddle design ideas on their head. The result? Increased comfort, reduced numbness and better posture on the bike. Don’t take our word for it, read Bike Radars Review and opinions of V-Flow riders on the Bike Radar Website. Suffer no longer!
VIEW THE FULL RANGE AND ORDER ONLINE NOW – FROM £89.99
Wrist Relief Extensions – PRICE REDUCED
June 10th, 2011
Our Cobb Wrist relief extensions were given a stonking 80% for performance in 220 magazine’s recent review. Their unique shape makes for the most natural wrist position and comfortable grip we’ve seen from any aero bar. Compatible with many brands of bars for a great aero bar upgrade. What’s more, we’ve dropped the price so you’ll now get more comfort at less cost!
Cobb Saddles – BACK IN STOCK NOW
May 17th, 2011
Our best selling range of Cobb V-Flow saddles are back in stock NOW and ready to order. The original V-Flow, V-Flow plus and V-Flow max back in stock in both black and white. We love the comfort and improved posture that Cobb saddles offer, but don’t take our word for it. Ireland’s most experienced triathlete and recent European Duathlon Champs gold medalist Anne Paul wrote to tell us about her Cobb saddle experience…
“As a female triathlete and duathlete for many years I have struggled to get a saddle which was comfortable especially with the limited padding in tri-suits during races. Recently I happened to see details on the Cobb saddles and sourced Bike Science as a supplier. With the opportunity to get a Cobb saddle to test I thought this was worth a try as I could get a refund if I did not like it. Took a chance and put this new saddle on the first day of a 1 week training camp in Lanzarote. On return I immediately ordered a second Cobb saddle for my race bike”.
Find out what all the fuss is about. Order online now.
V-Flow – road bikes and road bikes with clip on tri bars – lighter riders and ladies – £89.99 READ MORE
V-Flow Plus – More supportive memory foam for longer distances and/or heavier riders – £99.99 READ MORE
V-Flow Max – Our Best Selling Saddle! Ideal for dedicated tri/tt bikes. Supportive memory foam, perfect for long distance athletes – £114.99 READ MORE
Phil Richards – Podium Finish at Mallorca 70.3
May 17th, 2011
It’s off to Vegas for Bike Science – Planet X team rider Phil Richards after this weekend’s Ironman 70.3 event in Mallorca. Phils reports in…
“Having been woken on Saturday night by howling winds and rain, I was quite relieved it was a Sat race and not Sunday…you don’t go to Mallorca to race in wind and rain!
A wave start saw the pros heading off 10 min before all the girls; with a flat, calm sea and starting in my rightful place towards the middle/back of the group, I stayed out of trouble for once and had a pretty uneventful swim. I even swum past a few girls….that was a real novelty. Was really surprised how many bags were still in transition as I went through T1 but having forgotten to start my watch, I had no idea of my split.
I passed quite a few girls in the 1st 12-15miles on the bike, however I then had a girl in my age group blast past – I wasn’t going to stay with her so let her go hoping she’d either blow up (not literally), or I’d see her on the run. Worked pretty hard throughout the rest of the bike course, the climbs were great, descents great fun and flats into the wind hard work at times but overall really enjoyed it.
Was dreading the run knowing I’ve been off form so didn’t bother with my watch. Came out of T2 and fell into step with Yvette Grice – almost got quite excited as she’d had a 10min head start on me til she said she was finishing her first 5k lap as I was just starting! However I did reckon that only put her approx. 10min ahead overall which gave a me a kick up the backside to keep working – after chatting for 5min or so though (this is what girls do when they race 
), I decided she had far more spring in her step than I did so dropped back. Held it together with a dodgy achilles and minor stomach cramps for a 1.40 run split, 10min off where I should’ve been, but enough for 3rd place, missing out on a win by less than 2min!
I’ve always been unsure of whether I’d take a roll down slot for the Worlds, but given how close it was and having to make a snap decision when 1st and 2nd girls declined the slot, seems to mean one thing…next stop Vegas…game on!!”
Fitting for Ride the Divide – 2745 Miles by MTB
May 12th, 2011
We meet the whole spectrum of cyclists at our Bike Science bike fit studios from first time bike buyers, Ironman and double Ironman competitors to professional athletes. Every now and again though someone taking on a challenge that’s beyond what we normally see comes along.
Yesterday saw endurance mountain biker Greg Phillips visit our Bristol studio for a fitting on his 29er MTB. When we say “endurance” mountain biker, we really mean it. Greg is in the process of preparing for one of the longest, toughest mountain bike challenges on the planet. He’ll be competing in the mind boggling 2,745 mile Tour Divide from Banff in the Canadian Rockies to Antelope Wells in New Mexico. This completely self supported event sees around 80 riders from across the globe taking part with an annual dropout rate of over 40%. Greg aims to complete the challenge in around 27 days. That’s over 100 miles per day average – off road!
Greg from Penarth in South Wales entered the event along with his training partner Simon Harling as the ultimate challenge to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Relief. You can read more about their incredible challenge HERE ON THEIR WEBSITE and make a donation to his fundraising efforts HERE ON THEIR JUST GIVING DONATIONS page.
Mechanics for the Terrified – Learn Essential Bike Mechanics
April 4th, 2011
We’re running our first ever “Bike Mechanics for the Terrified” course on Saturday the 7th of May. Learn all the essential skills you need to keep your bike on the road.
- What tools should I own?
- Brake servicing and adjustment
- Gear and drive train servicing and adjustment
- Fix a flat
- Fix a broken chain
- Even change a tubular tyre!
This 1 day course will give you the confidence you need to make basic bike repairs with ease.
BOOK ONLINE NOW – LIMITED SPACES – ONLY £75
