It's All About The Bike (My New Felt IA That Is)

As soon as I saw Felt's IA (Integrated Aero) triathlon bike I knew it had to be my next bike.  Kind of like this:

Sexy, aero, and hella fast, it leaves nothing to be desired.  Compared to other TT bikes on the market it's simply lighter. stiffer. better. faster.  It's also pretty cool that Rinny won her last Ironman World Championship on this bike!

I rode my IA for the first time last Sunday.  I went 65 miles, but it didn't take me that long to realize that we have good chemistry.  Whereas I always wanted to love my P2 but never fully did, I felt an instant bond w/ my IA.  I can tell that it fits me way better than the Cervelo ever did.  And I just cannot believe how smooth the ride is!!!!!  Granted I've been riding an aluminum frame for the last year, but it felt like I was riding on a perfectly smooth runway that had been freshly paved just for me.  I honestly wouldn't have been too surprised if I had actually taken off!  The bike sliced effortlessly through the wind without any turbulence.  The shifting was instantaneous and precise.  Oh and of course it was fast!  There's nothing that I don't like about it.  It's a decadent bike with a velvety ride.  It's pretty perfect :)

I have to give a HUGE shout out to TrySports Bike Technician, Charlie George!!!  I'm amazed at the depth of his knowledge and the degree of skill he has pertaining to all things on 2 wheels.  I've never known someone who knows more about bikes.  Thank you for your patience and guiding me through the intricate process of putting the entire bike together!  I learned a TON and am super happy with how everything came together; in fact, I'm a little incredulous that everything did come together, haha!  Seriously, you are a bike sage!

I can't wait to put a few more hundred thousand miles on my IA and get to know it more intimately.  I know we've got a lot of fun times and fast races ahead of us and I'm really looking forward to training and racing this year!

P.S. Felt Bikes are the bomb and for those interested in the finer things in life, here are the technical specs for my bike!

Frame:  Felt IA1

Finish:  Satin Carbon (Gloss Black, Shadow)

Size:  51

Fork:  Felt Dagger UHC Advanced carbon fiber

Headset:  FSA IS2 integrated

Stem:  Felt Dagger

Handlebar:  Felt Dagger UHC Ultimate + Nano base bar w/ Felt f-Bend 3-position extensions

Grips:  Salsa black gel cork tape

Shifters:  Shimano Dura-Ace bar end shifters

Front Derailleur:  Shimano Ultegra

Rear Derailleur:  Shimano Ultegra

Crankset:  Shimano Ultegra

Bottom Bracket:  FSA BB30 w/ 24 mm spindle reducers

Pedals:  Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL 6800 carbon pedals

Chain:  Shimano Ultegra 11-speed

Brake Levers:  Shimano Dura-Ace carbon TT brake levers

Brakes:  Felt Aero Brake System with integrated cover

Saddle:  Shimano Pro Aerofuel Tri Saddle, black

Seat Post:  Felt Vibration Reducing Aero Tri UHC Advanced carbon fiber

Seatpost Clamp:  Felt Internaloc integrated w/ titanium bolts

Wheels:  Shimano Dura-Ace WH-9000-C50-CL carbon clinchers, 50 mm

Tires:  Michelin Pro4 Endurance

Water Bottle Cage:  Shimano Pro carbon bottle cage

Aero Drink System:  Profile Design aero bottle (somewhat old school, but I still dig it)

Beet Juice - Part Deux

Y'all know how much I love beet juice right?  Then you know how excited I am about the newest product from Biotta Juices (the makers of the best beet juice).  It's their new performance-specific Beet Performer Juice.  Check it out:

Here's why it's so great:

*Packaged in an easy-to use 8.4-oz portable can!  How awesome is that!  No more lugging around a big heavy glass bottle of beet juice in your tri bag!

*Tastes delicious just like Biotta beet juice always does

*Comes in 2 flavors:  Beet juice with B12 & Beet juice with passion fruit juice

*100% juice (no sugar added)

*Vegan & gluten-free

*It is a performance enhancer.  Subjects in studies involving beet juice have seen faster times in cycling time trials, ability to exercise longer before exhaustion, and increased speed & power at the end of endurance activities.  See my previous blog on beet juice for all the details on the research behind this magical drink.

I suggest drinking 8 oz beet juice per day (or 1 can) for a week prior to your race.  Then drink another  8 oz the morning of your event about 3 hours prior to race start.

Find out more about Beet Performer Juice on Facebook (Facebook.com/beetperformer) and follow them on Twitter @BeetPerformer for updates about their products and sponsored athletes.  I will be posting monthly discount codes on Facebook & twitter for the juice and if I can swing it just might be able to bring a Beet Performer night to TrySports :)

The Best Diet for 2015

Are any of the following are among your New Years Resolutions?

*Lose weight

*Reduce body fat

*Improve athletic performance

*Increase energy levels

*Reverse chronic diseases

*Feel better

*Be happier

If so, my suggestion to you is to commit to adopting a healthy diet in 2015.  But what exactly is a healthy diet?  Through various media sources we are constantly bombarded with so much inaccurate and sometimes even harmful information (i.e. putting butter in coffee is good for you), that it can be hard to sift the bullshit from the bullcrap.  

If you are serious about making healthy dietary changes, here is a FREE 6-week plan for you to follow.  Each week you will incorporate new changes, while maintaining changes made in previous weeks.  If you already eat pretty well, feel free to jump in at week 3 or 4.  If you are a cold turkey kind of person there is absolutely nothing wrong with jumping all the way to week 6.  Following this type of eating style combined with regular exercise is the golden ticket to health, wellness, and peak athletic performance!

Week 1:
*Do not eat any fast food.
*Drink a glass of water when you wake up, with every meal, and in between meals.
TIP:  Don't skip meals.  Aim for 3 meals + 3 snacks per day.

Week 2:
*Do not eat any fried foods or added oils.
*Eat AT LEAST 3 pieces of fruit per day.  The more, the better.
TIP:  Oil is not a health food.  Avoid adding oil to cooking - use vegetable broth or water instead.  All oils are 100% fat and have been stripped of many of the healthful benefits of the whole food that they originated from.  

Week 3:
*Do not eat any dairy (this includes milk, yogurt, ice cream, & cheese).  

*Consume some form of leafy greens every single day (spinach, kale, bok choy, etc).  This may be as a salad, in a smoothie, or as a side - it doesn't matter just get your greens!
TIP:  In addition to greens, consume as many veggies as possible.

Week 4:
*Do not consume any added sugars (this includes sodas, table sugar, syrups, & agave nectar).
*Start consuming 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed per day for essential fatty acids.
TIP:  The more colors you have on your plate, the more nutrients you are consuming. 

Week 5:
*Do not eat any processed foods.  This is tough, but necessary. 

*Start consuming grains in whole-grain form only (oats, brown/black rice, barley, bulgur, quinoa, millet, teff, amaranth, etc).  Use these grains as side dishes & as the base for grain salads.
TIP:  Prepare large bulk meals ahead of time so it's easy to pack lunches for work and reheat    leftovers for dinner during the busy week days.

Week 6:
*Do not consume any animal products.

*Construct your diet on fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, & seeds.
TIP:  Listen to your body - eat when you are hungry and stop when you are satisfied.  Visit  NutritionFacts.org for the newest most up-to-date nutrition information!

To give you some extra inspiration to make these changes, here are a few cooking demos that show you how to make some yummy grain salads and a couple tasty treats for after dinner or anytime.

Acai Bowl

Banana Ice Cream

Asian Quinoa Slaw

Fiesta Salad To-Go

2015 is your year to transform your diet, your body, and your health!  Set goals and commit to working hard.  Always think positively and do not let anyone or anything stop you from getting where you want to go.  When you put your mind to something there is nothing that you can't achieve.