Older N.O. Xplode before they released the single packets
So I said I would discuss some of the supplements I listed during my last post. BSN’s N.O. Xplode is a pre-workout drink mix I have been using on and off since 2006. It has gone through a few iterations since then but it still does the same basic thing. The N.O. stands for Nitric Oxide. For the layman lifter/athlete, Nitric oxide causes increased blood flow making weight lifting ‘pumps’ feel more powerful. The ‘pump’ is the feeling of blood rushing or stuck in muscles that you have just done a workout in. Nitric oxide increases the amount of nutrients carried to the muscles when they are used during exercise. It is considered safe because if doses reach well above correct levels it will cause stomach aches or other short term (and noticeable) issues. N.O. Xplode also has roughly a gram of creatine (pretty small amount) and good amounts off caffeine. Between the caffeine and nitric oxide N.O. Xplode creates quite a pre-workout focus and readiness. It’s a great drink mix for normal workouts and especially weight lifting workouts but anything beyond a sprint triathlon I would not recommend using it unless you supplement a correct number of caffeine packed GU packets to maintain levels.
Since the triathlon season is still a few months away in the NW I have been staying busy in the gym lifting weights. I am not trying to become a meat head but due to my body type, building muscle mass isn’t a huge task. That being said though I am always looking for things to help me reach my maximum potential. One way to do this is nutritional supplements. Here is a run down of what I take on a normal training day. This would also be normal for recovery days because you do not want the levels of creatine, vitamins, or available protein to drop. I know you may not understand what some of these are so I will be going over the various supplements over the next couple of weeks posts!
With breakfast-
1 scoop BSN’s N.O. Xplode
1 glucosamine/chondroidtin
1 Basic vitamin pill, I use costco’s Kirkland daily vitamin
1 scoop of Whey protein (roughly 24grams of protein) I prefer Optimum Nutrition
Post Workout- sooner the better once you have completed training
1.5-2 scoops of Whey protein
1 scoop of a Creatine multi-supplement such as BSN’s Cellmass or Anabolic Optimal Dose; not a steroid
plus an additional teaspoon (5g) of creatine monohydrate
During the day-
Lots of water!!
small snacks, something with a high protein content is great.
Before bed
1 scoop of Casein protein
1 scoop of creatine multi-supplement + 5 grams of creatine monohydrate
1 glucosamine/chondroidtin
1 Basic vitamin pill, I use costco’s Kirkland daily vitamin
Being a current and very lucky owner of a Seven Cycles fully custom Titanium frame I have a great attachment to this brand. I use my Seven for everyday riding and training miles. One of the things few people get a chance to do is to get a full bike fitting before and after ordering a bike. To start out you tell/show your local fitter, in my case River City Bikes, your current bike. They take geometry measurements along with you likes/dislikes of the bike and note them. Then they measure a ton of your body parts, such as elbow to wrist, knee to ankle, waist to neck, foot size, the list goes on. After that first appointment they send the work sheet with all that info to Seven. A short while later Seven sends what they believe will be the absolute best frame geometry for you. My fitter had an adjustable stationary bike frame and showed me what it would be like. I gave them the thumbs up and multiple weeks my new frame showed up. If you consider this was over 5 years ago it must have made a good impression.
to how this affects you, Seven makes some amazing pieces of art you can ride and they now make triathlon frames, along with some sweet cyclocross rigs. The Kameha SLX is their Tri specific model that will definitely stand out in a crowd. A bike like this has panache that a large brand doesn’t have. Hipsters and tri-geeks a like will give you the thumbs up
Granted you might be able to get a carbon bike that is ever so slightly faster but 20 people at your next 70.3 will have one. I have never seen a Seven like mine. Now thats a good feeling Check them out, http://www.sevencycles.com/triathlon/kameha_slx.php
One look at these cranks and you can guess they will not be cheap or ineffective. They use outboard style bearings like most performance cranks do nowadays. In the sizing category they went a little crazy with 6 lengths. This is probably a great thing for a pro that has access to a very sensitive power output measuring device. Besides the very smooth exterior of the crank face the cranks feature a very narrow 146mm Z factor. This is great because it keeps your knees inboard and out of the slipstream your movement creates. The biggest surprise to me is that they don’t have a single chain ring design; something we will most likely see in the pro-peloton at grand tour TT’s.
Nevertheless get a little less than $1300 ready to hang this piece of bling on your bike
I saw this on a mailing I get from Performance Bike and thought I would throw it out there. This is a great deal on a entry level bike; Carbon Frame no less. Compare the price to other bikes and you will see its a steal. Paint it matte black and you would have a killer commuter too.
This is the next generation of Shimano bicycles shifters. Fully electronicaly controlled shifting. Its not going to be cheap. Also thats the testing of the time trial/triathlon set (Picture). The normal shifters have been tested during the last two years in the European pelotons. Remote shift buttons for TT/Triathlon aero bars are supposed to follow sometime next year. I haven’t seen any prices but will assume at least a $500 premium over the standard mechanical grouppo. All other components will come from the standard dura-ace 7900 series.
Shifters Bradly Wiggins used on the TT today in the Tour de France
Shifters Bradly Wiggins used on the TT today in the Tour de France
After testing I have decided to stick with this bike. The bike is a Cannondale Six13 Ironman. The biggest difference between this bike and a standard road racing bike is the lower bottom bracket position. I just have to be mindful of where in a pedal stroke when I’m going through a corner. Otherwise the dura-ace brakes work wonderfully. All that is left to be done with the bike is tweak my body positioning some and install the S-bend aero bars in place of the current ones. And yes…It is a Lance Armstrong jersey…I feel like poser when I wear it
Check them out, 
