Kinetic Loop Training System

Ride of Your Life Bike Camp Feb 17-19, 2012

2012-01-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

Get ready to do some of the best stages in the Tour De California. We will start the first day by climbing Crystal Lake and Glendora Mountain. Day two is the Glendora MTN to MT Baldy, and finish the last day with a cruise down PCH.

To make the most of your camp experience we limit our camps to 10 attendees.

Perfect blend of “on the bike coaching” and training process evaluation to set you up for success!

Kinetic Loop will work with you daily on the road and in the classroom to give you the one-on-one attention you need.

We highly recommend that your bicycle be equipped with compact gearing, or at least a 12-27 cassette for the terrain encountered at this camp

Full ride support complete with snack stop

Evening presentations featuring power training tips as well as reviewing each
day’s event

3 Day camp $750 (lodging and transportation not included)

KLTS Athletes will receive 20% off

$300 deposit (due by January 15, Non-refundable)

Travoy a very cool commute trailer

2011-11-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am currently in the process of testing the commuter trailer by Burley called the Travoy. We have been getting great feedback from bike shops and clients on the Travoy. We will soon have a full article on the Travoy next month. Learn how to avoid back pain with the Travoy.

FALL SALE

2011-09-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

FALL SALE

Now through October 1st thru October 31st. You can enjoy one or all of the Fall specials for a limited time offer!!

Purchase three months of coaching and get the 4th Free!!!
Purchase a Pro Bike Fit and receive $25 dollars off your first month of coaching
Purchase a Optimal Bike Fit and receive $50 dollars off your first month of coaching.
Attend one of our clinics and receive $25 off first months coaching!!

The BMI of a vegan and the average BMI

2011-09-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

Raceboy completes the 100 mtn bike challenge

2011-09-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

After a solid build up to the race. Marq Prince aka Raceboy learned the difference between fitness and freshness.
I was able to convince him going into the race fresh will help him finish the race. Like the old saying the Tortoise and the Hare. Most racers went out hard like the Hare and didn't finish the race. However, Marq using the watts prescribed to him on his power meter was able to pace himself. Congratulations to Marq on a fantastic achievement and a well earned rest.
Look at the data below:

From the KLTS Field test we are able to prescribe Marq his training zones. It is very crucial to perform a field test every 6 weeks. The field determine your strengths and weaknesses. If you want to learn more contact us or visit our website www.kineticloop.org

Labor Day Sale on Bike Fits

2011-08-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

We are having a Labor Sale on Bike Fitting. You can save up to $75 dollar on a Bike Fit. Get the Pro Bike fit for $100 or get an Optimal Bike Fit for $175. Optimize your performance with a KLTS Bike Fitting.

Offset seat post or Zero offset seatpost

2011-06-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

Whats up with the Offset seat posts??

Lately, I have seen many new bikes with a negative off set seat post. Every time I perform a bike fit I am always changing their seat post out to a zero offset seat post. I asked the Trek bicycle company however, their response was we will have the developer contact you. This has been about 6 months and no response. Here is a great example below:

As you can see this Trek road bike has a 5 to 10mm offset seat post. The problem with this is your hips are way behind the crank axis and now you have turned your road bike into a recumbent bike. A bike setup like this will put your hips further behind the crank axis and will increase the effective top tube length, which tends to cause you to shorten your stem. The shorten stem can make your road bike too responsive.

If you see the Giant road bike has a zero offset seat post. This will allow you to put your hip in perfect position. Allowing you to use the STA (Seat Tube Angle) for optimal power. All bikes are designed with the perfect Seat tube Angle which helps the rider produce the greatest amount of power. If your bike has a negative offset seat post this will change your 54cm bike with a 74 degree (Seat Tube Angle) to a 72 or 73. This will limit how much power you can put out at the pedals.

If you have a negative offset seat post you can get a Thompson, Easton, or Ritchey zero offset seat post and replace it. However, with the integrated seat posts you will have to contact the manufacture and request one. Please let us know if this article has helped you.

Before you Run or Ride Get the most out of your glutes

2011-04-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Before you run, or ride your bike, the best exercise to strengthen and activate your glutes is the dead lift. You can perform the dead lift with a barbell, dumb bell, or a kettle bell. This is one of the best exercise to activate your glutes and increase power in your performance.

Perfect Fitness Plus App video

2010-12-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

Perfect Fitness Plus APP for Apple

2010-12-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Are you ready to get in shape and start the New Year learning achieving your health and fitness Goals? Or are you a Trainer or Coach wanting to help your clients and or athletes achieve their fitness goals.

The Perfect Fitness Plus is a comprehensive app that includes an extensive exercise video library (which provides step-by-step instructions), hydration calculator, and a nutrition calculator, so you can train like the pros with all the information in the palm of your hands. Our cutting-edge program helps Trainers and Coaches bridge the fitness gap to their clients.

As coach you can remotely help your athletes achieve new fitness by prescribing them new exercises. Trainer’s can train and educate their clients by prescribing them new exercise geared toward their client’s fitness level with a simple click of a button.

Gym’s can use the app to educate their clients on new exercises and keep them safe while they are working out. Gyms can use the app to create weekly exercise for clients to perform. A great way to keep your clients motivated and coming back to learn more.

Are you tired of doing the same old exercise routine? Or are you a beginner who doesn’t know where to start? Our app makes it easy for you to learn new exercises, which are shown in a step-wise progression. Each of the exercises is broken into the following categories: stretching, balance, core, plyometric, general (upper and lower body), and even sports specific exercises.

Exercise Library

Perfect Fitness Plus a complete video and instruction exercise library for over 300 exercises. The exercises are broken into categories. For example stretching has static, dynamic, and active isolated stretching. Balance, core, and plyometrics are broken into levels 1 – 3, with level 3 being requiring the highest level of neuromuscular efficiency and eccentric strength development.

General exercises are divided into upper body and functional exercises. Sports specific exercises for running, cycling, swimming, agility, and speed workouts are also included. If you want to run like the pros, try the running drills. The cycling and swimming exercises are practical exercises that a cyclist and swimmer can do in the gym or at home to develop endurance, speed, and power.

Nutrition Calculator

Nutrition is an important part of any athletic training program. For endurance athletes, nutrition can mean the difference between “just finishing” and achieving a personal best. But how do you know how much carbohydrate, protein, and fat your body needs everyday? An elite male triathlete will have very different nutritional needs than a female recreational runner. Now it’s easy to find out with the Perfect Fitness Plus App (PFA).

Using standardized formulas that many sports dietitians use, the PFA can tell you how much carbohydrate, protein, and fat you need each day to perform at your very best. If you want to lose weight, the calculator will assist you in achieving your goal.

Hydration Calculator

The PFA will also tell you how much fluid to consume to stay well-hydrated. All you need to know is your weight (in pounds*) pre and post activity. Punch in those numbers and the PFA will do the rest!

Features:

· Over 300 exercise videos with step-by-step instructions

· Hydration calculator with step-by-step instructions on how to properly stay hydrated

· Nutrition calculator with step-by-step instructions on how to properly fuel your body

· Pre-exercise meal requirement

· Protein requirements based on your type of sport

· Protein requirements for vegan athletes

· Post-exercise meal requirements for recovery

· Weight loss option in the nutrition calculator

· During exercise nutrition requirements.

· Ability to add your exercise to your favorites to create your very own workout

· Ability to share your exercises with your friends through Twitter, Facebook, etc

Perfect Fitness Plus was designed by Michael Lovegren, M.S. Biomechanics, to bridge the gap between you, and registered dietitians, coaches, personal trainers, health and fitness professionals, so that your fitness goals could be rapidly achieved. Michael is the developer of Kinetic Loop Training Systems LLC, pioneer of full body foam rolling, creator of the macronutrient calculator, developer of the Optimal Bike Fit, instructor in Biomechanics, and he coaches athletes in endurance sports. Cindy Dallow, PhD, RD, CSSD, is a sports dietitian and multi-sport master’s athlete, and head nutritionist for Kinetic Loop Training System LLC and the inspiration for the app.

Let us know how you are using the Perfect Fitness Plus app!!

Sportsmanship in Brazil

2010-11-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

As a coach you train your athletes to be great athletes. In the same aspect you never want your athletes to take out another athletes. I hope this guy was DQ.

Dr. Allen Lim on Measuring Energy Expediture with Power

2010-10-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Physical Education as it should be!!!

2010-10-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

Swimming Technique by Alexander Popov

2010-10-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Youth Cycling Video

2010-09-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

I wanted to thank Giant Bicycles for passing on this video. After watching the video I had to share it with my athletes.

Fitness vs. Mobility?

2010-09-20T11:43:00.001-07:00

As a coach I focus on mechanics and moving well. Gray Cook sums it up in this video

Core Training "The Chop"

2010-09-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Dead Lift The Secret to the Success of an Endurance Athlete

2010-09-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Diaphragmatic Breathing

2010-09-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Functional Exercises

2010-09-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

Functional Exercises Found on the Perfect Fitness Plus App

The optimal exercises progression is following the continuum of 2-legs to alternating legs to 1-leg. This progression dictates that by the time a person gets to a Step-up, Lunge or Single leg Squat, they are prepared for the movement and do not have start at the most elementary form of the movement. This means that as instructors we do not need to teach every variation of these exercises. Rather we can demonstrate how to make minor modifications.

The importance of teaching the squat is that it is a fundamental pattern necessary to master prior to moving to other exercises. Each of the following exercises (Step-up, Lunge, Single Leg Squat) are all a form of a squat movement pattern and therefore, should mechanically (trunk, hip, knee, ankle) look identical to a squat position. Each integrated exercise will progress from and build on the previous one.

Once we get them to perform the Squat, then we can add in the upper body movements (curl, press, etc.) and follow an upper body progression as well (if anyone should ask – 2-arms, alt-arms, 1-arm, 1-arm w/rotation).

Ball Wall Squat
Set up:
Stand completely upright (vertical) with the apex of ball placed in the curve of the lumbar spine (A)
Take a step forward equal to ½ of your foot length (B)
if compensation is still apparent during execution of exercise the feet may need to be moved forward 1-2 inches
if the execution is perfect, the feet may be moved back 1-2 inches

Execution:

Initiate movement from the hips, moving the tailbone down toward the point where the wall meets the floor (C)
At bottom, pause and check pelvic position by moving into posterior & anterior tilt
reset into neutral, squeeze glutes and focus on driving hips up and forward into full hip extension (D & E)

Glutes should be fully contracted at end on motion

Progression here is:

Added resistance – i.e. weight vest, DB’s, etc.
DB curls
DB Scaption
DB overhead press
DB curl, overhead press

Step-up
Execution:

Focus on the mechanical similarity to the squat only in a staggered leg position
As you step up onto platform with one leg, the glute of the other leg(down/straight leg) should be contracted. This provides stabilization to the LPHC during weight transfer as well as awareness
Once the foot of the “step-up” leg is on the platform, the weight should be transferred to this leg and this means that the glute of the Step-up leg should be engaged

In this position, the body should have a very similar look to the squat position in a staggered stance

Squeezing the glute on the Step-up leg and placing your bodyweight on this leg, stand up driving the hips up and forward – just like a squat

there should not be a “push-off” from the back foot

Progression here is:

Step-up Sagittal, Frontal, Transverse, Backward (Step-down)
Step-up to balance with foot down

To all planes of motion

Step-up to balance with opposite hip, knee, ankle flexed (triple flexion)

To all planes of motion

Lunge
Execution:

The lunge should be identical to the Step-up only now moving horizontally versus vertically
We will begin the teaching progression with the lunge as a forwardmoving step identical to the Step-up

Focus again on the mechanical similarity to the squat only in a staggered leg position or side position in a frontal plane lunge (side lunge)
As you step forward/sideways with one leg, the glute of the other leg should be contracted. This provides stabilization to the LPHC during weight transfer as well as awareness
Once the “lunge” foot moves forward/sideways and lands on the ground, the weight should be transferred to this leg and this means that the glute of this leg should be engaged

In this position, the body should have a very similar look to the squat position in a staggered stance

Squeezing the glute on the front leg and placing your bodyweight on the front leg, stand up driving the hips up and forward – just like a squat

there should not be a “push-off” from the back foot
Key Note (Pelvic should be in neutral position no anterior tilt) Use a dowel

picture by Gray Cook "Athletic Body in Balance"

A regression can be not going down as low
Progression here is:

Lunge – Sagittal, Frontal, Transverse, Backward
Lunge to balance with foot down

To all planes of motion

Lunge to balance with opposite triple flexion in planes above

To all planes of motion

Single-leg Squat
Execution:

Exactly like the 2-legged squat only on 1 leg!
Initiate movement from the hips, moving the tailbone down toward the point where the wall meets the floor (A)
At bottom, pause and check pelvic position by moving into posterior & anterior tilt

You can also lift the chest to help both the thoracic “hunch” and low back rounding that is often seen in this exercise

reset into neutral, squeeze glutes and focus on driving hips up and forward into full hip extension (B & C)

Glutes should be fully contracted at end on motion

Progression here is:

Use an aerobic step and starting above or a 90 degree knee angle
Each week try lowering the step an inch
After 8 weeks you will be able to a pistol (russian squat)

Tube Walking
Set-up:

Start by placing the tubing just above the knee (A)
Feet should be straight ahead, hip (ASIS) width apart(A)
Have body in a ¼ squat position – this should look identical to the squat position already practiced only not as low in a squat position (B)

Execution:

Pretend you are riding a horse and you cannot squeeze too hard (knee adduction) or you will get bucked off, so you must keep your knees out enough to let the horse breath
Keeping the feet straight ahead, focus on moving the ankle & knee of one leg straight out to the side in a straight line to shoulder width
At the “non-moving/closed-chain leg” – make sure to keep the knee in line with the tip of the shoe – with the band stretching and applying tension to the knee, it will want to adduct, so you have to consciously abduct (gluteus medius) to keep it in proper alignment
At the “moving/open-chain leg” – make sure to keep the knee abducting through the motion (gluteus medius) so the tension of the band stretching does not push it into adduction

Note the pattern/shape of the femur/tibia created by the proper execution of the exercises (seen in red)
Improper execution creates the opposite pattern/shape (blue)

Also watch the obvious trunk rocking from side to side

Start Correct Incorrect

Progression here is:

Move band down closer to ankle
Increase resistance of band
Lateral step with upper extremity motion (i.e. curls, scaption, overhead press)
Lateral step to balance

with upper extremity motion (i.e. curls, scaption, overhead press)

Lateral step to single-leg squat

with upper extremity motion (i.e. curls, scaption, overhead press)

When training you need to mimic the different planes of motion. Training in one plance of motion does not reduce the risk of injury but only builds your skills in a single plane of motion. Below is an example of the differnet planes of motion

Learn all of these exercise in the Perfect Fitness App

To shim or Not to Shim

2010-09-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

As a coach and professional bike fitter I always here this question “should I shim/wedge”? The answer to that question depends on what are you trying to accomplish. I would have to say 90% of the time shimming/wedging is like putting a band-aid on the problem. Putting a shim/wedge in the shoe or on the cleat is a cheap way to say “hey you are messed up, but I don’t know how to fix you”.

The coach/bike fitter who puts a shim on his/her athlete is like the Joe gym rat. You can be Joe gym rat who each time goes to the gym puts on a weight belt before lifting weights. The belt becomes a crutch and Joe gym rat ends up with weaker core muscles, which promotes muscle imbalances, and weak stabilizers. The same thing happens when you put a shim in the shoe or on the cleat.

Think about this your athlete spends maybe 20% to 40% of their time on the bike. This leaves the athletes with the rest of their day spent in sandals or regular shoes. Do you believe that fixing their gait on the bike is going to fix their gait when they are off the bike? Think again this leaves the athlete with more muscle imbalances and probably some long term injuries. Say you shim your athlete, and he/she is doing really well on the bike. As you watch them walk off the bike they tend to have their knees turn out or turn in while they walk. Now you have a bigger problem. You need to fix their biomechanics not only on the bike, but off the bike as well. Your athlete becomes an accident waiting to happen.

I would consider these coaches, bike fitters, or doctors who shims as someone who treats the symptoms and not the problem. As a coach or bike fitter you need to be proactive and address both the on the bike issues and off the bike issues. You have probably seen this when you go to a doctor for an injury and he gives medicine for the pain, but never addresses the causes only the symptoms. Do you want to be the coach, bike fitter, or doctor that fixes things or the one that gives a band-aid?

There is a small percent of people who are born with flat feet, club feet, or an abnormal femur or limb length. Those who were born with these genetic problems would probably need to use shims. Although, those that were not born with flat feet and currently experience flat feet symptoms this is due to a muscle imbalance. Flat feet are muscle imbalances of probable overactive peroneal complex, lateral gastrocnemius, bicep femoris, and TFL. The probable underactive muscles are the anterior tibialis, posterior tibialis, medial gastrocnemius, and glute medius. Performing an Optimal Corrective Program by foam rolling and static stretching overactive muscles and activating the underactive muscles with will help create an arch back in your athlete’s feet. If you are the athlete and say you don’t believe you can get an arch back in your feet.

I ask you to try this; stand up tall, and then contract your glutes like you were going to squeeze a penny between your glutes (butt). If you look down your arch in your feet has reappeared.

If your athlete has feet problems he/she probably will have other compensations in the knee, lumbo-pelvic hip complex, and the upper body.
Some great tips or cues to watch for while you athlete is in the gym:

Pretend his/her pelvis is a bucket of water. If the buck tilts forward (anterior) or back (posterior) when performing an exercise water will pour out. Make sure he/she keeps their pelvic in neutral alignment.
Watch how your athlete walks and sits. This can help you determine probable overactive and underactive muscle imbalances

To learn more about Postural Alignment Program check out the Kinetic Loop Training System Workshops on Muscles imbalances. Get optimal by getting one of our Optimal Bike Fits.

The Future of Coaching

2010-09-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Perfect Fitness Plus is a comprehensive app that includes an extensive exercise video library (which provides step-by-step instructions), hydration calculator, and a nutrition calculator, so you can train like the pros with all the information in the palm of your hands. Our cutting-edge program is specifically designed to help the beginner to the professional athlete achieve optimal performance. Whether you want to lose weight or learn new exercises, we have the solution for you.

Exercise Library
Perfect Fitness Plus provides a complete video and instruction exercise library for over 300 exercises. The exercises are broken into categories. For example stretching has static, dynamic, and active isolated stretching. Balance, core, and plyometrics are broken into levels 1 – 3, with level 3 being requiring the highest level of neuromuscular efficiency and eccentric strength development.
General exercises are divided into upper body and functional exercises. Sports specific exercises for running, cycling, swimming, agility, and speed workouts are also included. If you want to run like the pros, try the running drills. The cycling and swimming exercises are practical exercises that a cyclist and swimmer can do in the gym or at home to develop endurance, speed, and power.

Nutrition Calculator

Nutrition is an important part of any athletic training program. For endurance athletes, nutrition can mean the difference between “just finishing” and achieving a personal best. But how do you know how much carbohydrate, protein, and fat your body needs everyday? An elite male triathlete will have very different nutritional needs than a female recreational runner. Now it’s easy to find out with the Perfect Fitness App (PFA).
Using standardized formulas that many sports dietitians use, the PFA can tell you how much carbohydrate, protein, and fat you need each day to perform at your very best. If you want to lose weight, the calculator will assist you in achieving your goal.

Hydration Calculator

The PFA will also tell you how much fluid to consume to stay well-hydrated. All you need to know is your weight (in pounds*) pre and post activity. Punch in those numbers and the PFA will do the rest!

Features:

Over 300 exercise videos with step-by-step instructions
Hydration calculator with step-by-step instructions on how to properly stay hydrated
Nutrition calculator with step-by-step instructions on how to properly fuel your body
Pre-exercise meal requirement
Protein requirements based on your type of sport
Protein requirements for vegan athletes
Post-exercise meal requirements for recovery
Weight loss option in the nutrition calculator
During exercise nutrition requirements.
Ability to add your exercise to your favorites to create your very own workout
Ability to share your exercises with your friends through Twitter, Facebook, etc
Perfect Fitness Plus was designed by Coach Michael Lovegren, M.S. Biomechanics, to bridge the gap between you, and registered dietitians, coaches, personal trainers, health and fitness professionals, so that your fitness goals could be rapidly achieved. Michael Lovegren is the developer of Kinetic Loop Training Systems LLC, pioneer of full body foam rolling, creator of the macronutrient calculator, developer of the Optimal Bike Fit, instructor in Biomechanics, and he coaches athletes in endurance sports.

Get the app now while it is on sale.......

3D Full Body F.A.B. System

2010-07-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

Check out this systems. I am really impressed with the system. I am interested in testing the sensors on my athletes to determine the difference of right and left foot on ground reaction forces. This could also be a great way to track and athlete while climbing on the road bike.

3D Full Body Portable Kinematic System
Wireless Inertial Sensor Technology
FAB Sensors

* ”Camera free” portable system
* Full body model with 13 wireless transmitters
* Light weight and easy to mount sensors
* 100 Hz sampling frequency
* Wireless data transmission up to 20 meters
* Optional data logging via memory card
* Integrated weight distribution insole
* Real time animation via selectable Avatars
* Real time angle, velocity, and work calculations
* Synchronization to Noraxon telemetry EMG & sensors

The FAB System (Functional Assessment of Biomechanics) developed by BIOSYN SYSTEMS INC. CA is the worlds first full body wireless motion capture system based on “camera free” inertial sensor technology. This innovative technology allows completely free movement without the need to stay in view of cameras. Inertial sensors combine accelerometers, gyros and earth’s magnetic field sensors and allow a real time detection of any angular displacement within biomechanical bodies. Powerful user-friendly software displays and calculates kinematic and kinetic data in real time and animates body motion with selectable graphical models.

3 Feet Support

2010-07-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

As more and more cyclist hit the road we have to remember that sometimes drivers in can be careless behind the wheel. As a coach and cyclist, I have worked with many athletes who have been hit on the road. I have worked with athlete who been hit by drunk drivers and athlete who been hit by careless drivers. I remember just last year a father and son were hit on their bikes while doing a metric century. Another incident happened close to home when a friend of mine lost his brother because a truck driver got to close and him while he was riding his bike. He was sucked under the truck and killed on impact. Please help me get the word out and support the law that drivers need to give us 3 feet.

Below is Joe Mizereck story:

As a cyclist who spends a lot of time on the roads in traffic I have experienced numerous close calls. After one frustrating ride I decided to act. I designed a jersey with the words "3 Feet Please" on the back. I shared this idea with several fellow cyclists who thought this could make a difference. Fueled by their enthusiasm I placed an order for several hundred jerseys with Voler, built a website and launched a campaign to save lives.

Currently, sixteen states* in the US have laws requiring motorists to give cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. These "3 foot laws" are a good step in making our roads safer for cyclists. The challenge is educating motorists about the law and reminding them to follow the law.

300 Workout

2010-07-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

I found this great 300 workout from Men's Health Magazine. Click here to see the workout

Mike Boyle and Gray Cook sound clip

2010-07-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

I believe this is one of the best sound clips on squats through science.

Friends don't let Friends Ride Trek

2010-06-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article from Velo News

Steered wrong? Racers concerned about broken carbon steerer tubes
by Zack Vestal

Installation as critical as design. Regardless of the stem design, incorrect installation causes serious problems. FSA’s Tech and Warranty Manager Bryan Wielgasz weighed in on this point.

“Sometimes when components don’t seem secure at a recommended torque, it may be natural instinct to tighten the bolts further; over-tightening the bolts and creating a stress point between the steerer and the edges of the pinch bolt area of the stem,” he said.

“Recommended torque will vary between stem manufacturers, with stem design, and the types of bolts used.”

Wielgasz pointed out that FSA stem bolts are marked with a maximum torque value for the bolt, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the part needs to be tightened all the way to that torque – it’s a max torque value for the bolt in the stem, but it doesn’t necessarily apply the steerer being clamped inside. “A trained mechanic should only apply the amount of torque needed to secure the part. Rarely should maximum torque need to be applied,” he said.
A week after Vaughan’s steerer tube broke, his teammate experienced a similar failure.

Wielgasz also suggested that if tightening the stem clamp bolts to recommended torque still fails to adequately secure the stem on the steerer, a mechanic should check the stem inner diameter and compare it with the steerer tube outer diameter to see if one or the other part is out of tolerance.

Ralph commented that correct installation by a trained mechanic is harder to ensure when parts are delivered not through a bike shop, but direct to customers via mail order, sponsorships, or eBay. He added that almost every carbon component interface is significantly improved with carbon fiber friction paste or assembly gel, because it corrects irregularities in the interface between mating surfaces, dramatically reducing the torque required to secure a carbon part.

Citing an example, Wielgasz pointed to tests demonstrating that using carbon paste can reduce the necessary torque to secure seatposts in frames by half. He said it would be safe to assume a similar (though not identical) reduction in the torque needed to secure a stem on a steerer, making for a healthier steerer tube and safer riding situation. “All our carbon seatposts come with friction paste,” he said.

A stock installation also results in steerer tube fracture

Paul Wilson was not using an FSA or an Easton stem, and never did. When his 6-Series Madone steerer broke, he says he was using a stock Bontrager Race X Lite aluminum stem, tightened to spec with correct spacers above and below.

“Everything was stock Bontrager,” said Wilson. He knows because an experienced Trek dealer assembled his bike, which was delivered complete from Trek.

“We used everything stock and everything to the letter,” he said.
Trek says that interior cutouts on stems can cause point loading and damage carbon steerer tubes. This is a Bontrager Race X Lite stem.

Trek says that interior cutouts on stems can cause point loading and damage carbon steerer tubes. This is a Bontrager Race X Lite stem.

Dean Gore at Trek suggested that perhaps inadvertent over-tightening of stem bolts could have been the culprit in this case. “The presumption of torque spec is one of the bigger issues we are dealing with here,” he said. “Torque spec on a carbon part can’t be presumed. A torque wrench is a tool that consumers and shops need to use when dealing with carbon parts.”

Matt McGoey, the owner of All American Bicycle Center in Damascus, Maryland, where Wilson’s bike was shipped and assembled confirms that it was correctly built. “I can’t explain it,” said McGoey, “but I’m confident (Trek) is on top of it.”

Wilson’s fork has been returned to Trek and is in process for replacement under warranty.
Trek takes action with communication and adds more carbon

Dean Gore said that Trek first heard from Bryan Vaughan on May 16th. The company takes failure reports extremely seriously.

“The first step is to get the product back to Trek Waterloo for proper evaluation,” he said. “With over 30 carbon engineers on staff in Wisconsin, issues like this can be approached with a great understanding of how carbon structures behave. A full evaluation in this case included replicating the problem in our Waterloo test lab — a procedure which has given us high confidence that we fully understand this steerer issue,” said Gore.

The reported failures, however, wouldn’t represent the first time a bike product survived lab testing but failed in the field. Cervelo, for example, recalled a True Temper-made carbon fork in 2008 after discovering failures in the field despite the fork having passed U.S. and international testing.

Trek has issued four increasingly specific dealer bulletins about carbon steerers, starting in August 2009. Recently the company has talked with the CPSC about a consumer notification.

Furthermore, Trek is now adding material to 6-Series Madone steerer tubes. “Even though the current steerer passes all of our of standards for durability, we are adding carbon plies to the layup of this carbon steerer to reduce the probability of future issues,” he said.

Nevertheless, Trek is not about to rescind the original installation guidelines. “We want to be clear that even though we are adding material to the steerer, consumers must still use the right stem, the right spacers and the right torque. High-end carbon fiber structures will always require proper installation and care,” said Gore.
Are cracks in communication leading to cracks in carbon?

Trek feels that the dealer bulletin is adequate for educating retailers, and by extension, owners of Treks.

But eight of the ten Trek dealers contacted by VeloNews weren’t aware of the service bulletin.

Matt McGoey at All American Bicycle Center received the most recent bulletin by email just a few days before Wilson’s steerer tube failed. “I emailed most of my customers that have Madone bikes,” he said.

Jake Nie, service manager at University Bikes in Boulder, Colorado, was also aware of the bulletin. His shop has regular morning staff meetings to distribute information to all mechanics and staff. “So when a mechanic does see a 6-Series, they’re going to pull it aside and check that it’s OK,” he said.

One service manager was able to find it on Trek’s dealer site after searching for five minutes.

“I firmly believe that Trek has been more proactive than any other manufacturer,” responded Gore.

He shared four bulletins regarding carbon steerers sent to dealers in the last year, starting in August of 2009. The bulletins become increasingly specific about acceptable stem-design characteristics, spacer placement, and stem clamp bolt torque.
Explicit assembly instructions are not unusual

Explicit installation instructions are not unique to Trek. Easton and 3T forks both come with instructions specifying minimum and maximum placement of spacers above and below the stem. Specialized also has specific instructions, like Trek recommending against the use of stems with large cutouts.

Easton composites engineer Chuck Teixeira said he’s seen fork steerer tube damage spread down from the very top of the steerer due to lack of stem overlap at the top. He recommends a spacer above the stem. If the stem pinches the top of the steerer, it can crush the carbon and cracks can form and propagate down the steerer.

Teixeira said in ten years he’s never seen a steerer break below the stem and noted that most lab tests on forks evaluate durability in the legs, not the steerer.

Teixeira is a proponent of carbon steerer tubes because of the complexity of bonding dissimilar materials. He feels that a one-piece carbon fork will usually be stronger than a two-piece aluminum/carbon fork.
Calling the Feds

Not satisfied that enough was being done, Vaughan filed a report with the CPSC on May 25.

“All Trek would tell me is were going to send out a dealer notice. I don’t think dealers know about those things, I don’t think they’ll read them,” said Vaughn.

“I think you can debate a lot of the other technical things about carbon and ‘Did Brian overtighten his bolts,’ and all that – fair enough. But once you dig through that, I think there’s really no debate that you get to the point where there are identifiable failures with different stem combinations and different install situations that were borderline catastrophic or catastrophic. Once you know that, what do you do about it? That’s the question,” he said.

Vaughan’s concern is that Trek’s installation guidelines are too narrow, too specific, too easily overlooked, and not widely known. “My particular confluence of circumstances – my way of putting it is that it proves with two or three really kind of innocent consequences at play you could end up in your face in the gravel like I did.”

Vaughan’s bike sits on the side of the road at the Poolesville Road Race.
Vaughan’s bike sits on the side of the road at the Poolesville Road Race.

As a result of his steerer tube failure, Vaughan crashed. Fortunately he avoided serious injury.
As a result of his steerer tube failure, Vaughan crashed. Fortunately he avoided serious injury.

Vaughan doesn’t think his FSA stem caused his steerer tube failure.
Vaughan doesn’t think his FSA stem caused his steerer tube failure.

A week after Vaughan’s steerer tube broke, his teammate experienced a similar failure.
A week after Vaughan’s steerer tube broke, his teammate experienced a similar failure.

Bryan Vaughan’s FSA Plasma stem after his steerer tube broke.
Bryan Vaughan’s FSA Plasma stem after his steerer tube broke.

Trek says that interior cutouts on stems can cause point loading and damage carbon steerer tubes. This is a Bontrager Race X Lite stem.
Trek says that interior cutouts on stems can cause point loading and damage carbon steerer tubes. This is a Bontrager Race X Lite stem.

Vaughan is convinced that the huge interior cutout on his Easton EC90 stem is what really triggered his steerer tube failure.
Vaughan is convinced that the huge interior cutout on his Easton EC90 stem is what really triggered his steerer tube failure.

A small but concentrated group of mid-Atlantic road racers have recently broken the carbon steerers on their 2010 Trek Madone 6-Series bikes. While the regional nature of the reports is probably a coincidence, there does appear to be a pattern indicating that incorrect stem installation — and even stem choice — could lead to catastrophic failure. And at least one racer whose fork broke mid-race is convinced that the 6-Series Madone steerers are prone to breakage even when all of Trek’s instructions are followed.

Trek says installation and compatibility problems are at fault and notes that the same concerns apply to carbon steerers from other manufacturers. The company is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on a consumer alert, and has made a running change to add material to 6-Series Madone steerers.

In recent years, the CPSC has announced recalls of carbon road or ‘cross forks from Giant, Salsa, Felt, Novara, Raleigh, Redline, Cervelo and Reynolds, although it’s not clear if any of these recalls involved steerers breaking at or below the stem, as with the recent 6-Series Madone failures.

All owners of forks with carbon steerers should pay attention to the concerns raised and installation instructions when installing or buying aftermarket stems.

The cracks begin to appear

Saturday, May 15, began like any other race weekend for Washington, D.C.,-area Category 2 road racer Bryan Vaughan. He suited up and spun to the start line of the Poolesville Road Race on his 2010 6-Series Madone. The race traverses a rolling 10-mile road circuit with a 1.5-mile stretch of gravel and dirt road. The Pro/1/2 field was slated to do seven laps.
Vaughan’s bike sits on the side of the road at the Poolesville Road Race.

Vaughan’s bike sits on the side of the road at the Poolesville Road Race.

On lap 4, shortly after entering the dirt,Vaughan pulled up on the bars to accelerate. He felt the handlebars come off in his hands and crashed hard into the gravel.

Vaughan’s steerer had sheared off just below his FSA stem.

The next week, one of Vaughan’s teammates stood on the pedals of his 2010 6-Series Madone to pull away from the start line of the Bike Jam Pro/1/2 criterium in Baltimore. His bar and stem suddenly separated from the bike and he crashed, although at a much slower speed than Vaughn. As with Vaughan’s, the steerer tube had sheared just below the stem.

The list of broken 6-Series Madone steerers grew by one when Paul Wilson’s broke during the Wilmington (Delaware) Grand Prix on May 22. With five laps to go in the Category 3 field, Wilson was hoping to earn the last few upgrade points he needed to move up to the 2s.

“There are small manholes and cracks in the road,” related Wilson. “I hit one of those and I heard a … it sounded like metal clanking together … I got out of the saddle and felt the handlebars move,” he continued. In fact, his steerer tube had cracked.

Vaughan has begun a mini crusade to get to the bottom of the issue.

Riders on another Trek-sponsored team told him they had experienced two steerer tube failures in just one weekend in April.

Since then, Vaughan turned to Trek, the media, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission in an effort to bring the issue to light.
Trek points to incompatible stems, incorrect installation

Trek says over-tightening stem bolts, incorrectly placing spacers above and below the stem, and using incompatible stems can all cause point loading (uneven clamping force) on the steerer tube, weakening it and causing it to break.

“As the technology going into today’s bicycles has increased, so has the responsibility of the mechanic and rider to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions exactly,” reads Trek’s statement. “This issue is not unique to Trek, but is specific to carbon steerers from every manufacturer.”
Bryan Vaughan’s FSA Plasma stem after his steerer tube broke.

Bryan Vaughan’s FSA Plasma stem after his steerer tube broke.

According to Trek, there are three keys to safe and successful installation of a stem on a carbon steerer:

1) Always use a torque wrench, and never over-tighten stem clamp bolts.

2) Always use spacers above and below the stem. Although less obvious than correct torque, a minimum of 5mm and a maximum of 40mm spacers under the steerer, plus a 5mm spacer above the stem are required. Riders should factor in these spacers when sizing their bike.

3) Use only the stem brand and model that came with the bike, because not all stems will work with carbon steerers. Often the lighter the stem, the less chance it will be compatible with a carbon steerer. Weight-relieving cutouts on the stem clamp and steerer interface can create stress risers.

Vaughan’s FSA stem was incompatible with the steerer, Trek said.

Last fall Trek warned its dealers about compatibility and installation issues, which also are covered in bike owners manuals and on the company Web site.

Trek’s Ben Coates said Team RadioShack has used 6-Series Madones and Bontrager stems all season without incident.

Read more: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/06/news/steered-wrong-racers-concerned-about-broken-carbon-steerer-tubes_121389#ixzz0rmkTfKiz

Pile Lift Test

2010-06-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

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Watch the video Pile Test. As a Biomechanics, I believe one way to see the lady improve her strength would be to work on her lifting mechanics. Poor lifting habits leads to injury. You can see in the beginning she is more worried about her speed. Eventually this test no matter how much weight will lead to some type of back pain. Proper lifting mechanics needs to be enforced to prevent injuries.

Why Kinetic Loop

2010-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

Our coaching style is different from the rest because we use a scientific approach. We train athletes by utilizing the three energy systems (Aerobic, Glycolytic, ATP-PCr). Since we all are created different our bodies respond different to the training load or stimulus, which is why we do not believe in or use a cookie cutter approach. All of our coaching programs are customize to fit your goals, skill level, and needs.

I Michael Lovegren the owner of Kinetic Loop Training System have studied Exercise Science since 1998 and received my Bachelors in Exercise Science and my Master degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Biomechanics. Not only do I have a degree, but certifications by the USOC, NASM, and other various organizations to stay abreast with the latest research and to be continually educated. I graduated from the Chris Carmichael Coaching College, which allowed me to take my coaching to the next level.

I have the experience as a triathlete, cyclist, soccer player, and martial artist to understand the demands of the sport. As a coach I have coached numerous athletes in various sports from Cycling, BMX, triathlon, and various Motor sports. You can read more about what they have gained from their experience with Kinetic Loop.

Why do I need an Optimal bike Fit?

An improper bike fit causes a decrease in power and postural distortion patterns. Postural distortion patterns in the body are muscle imbalances where a stabilizing muscle becomes dominant and the prime mover muscle becomes weak thereby causing a decrease in force (WATTS), endurance, and flexibility. We assess your postural distortion patterns through our very own Human Movement System.

We know through research that your body from improper bike fit, poor mechanics, and previous injuries leads to discomfort and less power. We create your optimal fit on your bike, which is limited to your flexibility. Then we analyze your movement and prescribe you a program to improve your flexibility and eliminate these imbalances and enhance your athletic performance. Read more about the Optimal Bike Fit and how we can help you

Questions? Contact Us.

Email: mlovegren@kineticloop.org

Phone: 970-443-8752

Repainting The Bike Lane on Bedford Avenue

2009-12-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

I believe this a great initiative by Brooklyn cyclist. Bike lanes help keep cyclist safe and we need them.

A REPUTATION WORTH 71 EURO:

2009-11-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

I saw this article on the Bike Pure website and believe this should open the eyes of every athlete no matter what their sport when the come across this point to determine which path they will go down.

A REPUTATION WORTH 71 EURO:
This may seem a bit of a fantasy but bear with me. Picture yourself, as a 33 year old ex-professional cyclist sitting on a nice chair with your 7-year-old son on your knee. He has a well read, old cycling magazine and is looking at a picture of a younger, leaner version of yourself with a big tan, a fantastic smile and arms raised in victory. The boy looks up at you and asks the golden question “Dad, why do you not ride your bike any more?”

There are two possible answers, which will resonate and follow the father for the rest of his life. I will not even vocalise the answers. It is up to you to imagine the answers, of a father if he were: (a) previously caught doping, cheating on his friends, fellow riders and fans. And (b) the answer of a father who had a career, possibly not successful but defiantly filled with memories of pride and stories of courage and effort and doing his best. Stories, which will fill the son with pride in his father and provide a school yard of stories to his friends and framed pictures on the wall. Not shame, not disgust and disgrace about past glory.

Doping is a choice for a rider. Not even an easy choice and we cannot pretend to fully understand the individual pressures forcing the decision to go down the dark path of doping. Risk of contract termination, loss of self belief...whatever the reason - we are aware, whether a rider is caught or not - the shadow of cheating, the lies and the mindset will be there for ever. Not only in your lifetime, but the repercussions will pass down, haunting the next generation.

Bernhard Kohl tested positive for the third generation variant of erythropoietin (CERA) during the 2008 Tour de France. Kohl's former manager Stefan Matschiner recently auctioned off an autographed mountains classification jersey from the 2008 Tour de France. To purchase a mountains jersey from the Tour's official website is 79 euro including postage. Matschiner received only 71 euro for the jersey and a feedbag.

The doper’s signature took 8 euros off the face value of the jersey

Help support Bike Pure!!!
Go to their website at www.bikepure.org

Product recall Easton EA30 Stems

2009-11-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

Product recall: Easton EA30 stems. Thousands of these Chinese-made handlebar stems are being recalled because they can break and cause the rider to lose control. EA30 stems are black with white-and-gray graphics. They have a 4-bolt face cap. They were stock equipment on $500-$1,200 Raleigh and Diamondback bikes, among other brands, sold between August 2007 and August 2009. They also were sold in the aftermarket for about $30. For ID info and photos, click the link on the Easton home page listed below

http://www.eastonbike.com.

Riders should stop using a recalled stem and contact Easton or an Easton Sports dealer for a free replacement

Protect Your 2nd Amendment

2009-11-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:56pm EDT Reuters News Service

The Full Article Below

The Obama administration took its first major step in a plan to ban all firearms in the United States. The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.

The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws. Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.

This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.

Beck meets Anthony

2009-11-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

Check this out "Gotta Love Glen Beck"

2009-11-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

Optimal Bike Fit

2009-11-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

Optimize your performance!!

Do you wonder why you cant get comfortable on the bike?

Are you suffering from aches and pain on and off the bike?

Did you know that 1 millimeter off on the cleat, saddle height, or stem length can lead to serious problems?

If you answered "Yes" to one or more questions then we have the answer for you. Kinetic Loop offers professional bike fitting. We can optimize your performance and decrease the risk of overuse injuries. We bike fit through research and experience. In addition, to every bike fit we also perform a dynamic movement assessment. The movement assessment allows us to determine and treat muscle imbalances that cause weak links in the body. Then, we prescribe exercises to help you achieve optimal performance.
Benefits of the Optimal Bike Fit:

* Develop optimal position
* Improve performance
* Assessment of overactive and under active muscles
* Exercise prescription for overactive muscles (static, foam rolling)
* Detailed assessment (see example)
* Improved power through entire pedal stroke

At the end of your Optimal Fitting, which takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. You will have the optimal position on your current bike, plus we will give you the measurements needed for your future bike.
Optimize your investment

Before getting a new bike you ought to invest on getting the measurements for the right size bike. Through the optimal bike fit we give you the correct measurements to make your next investment the right bike. Don't get caught wasting money at the bike shop.

Optimal Fit Provides the Following:

* Correct Stem length
* Seat tube angle
* Top tube and seat tube length
* Crank length
* Saddle height
* Bar width
* Ultimate Reach
* Increase in Power (watts) (50 to 100 watts)

Price 200.00 (additional bike 100.00)

We Offer Team rates as well.
Follow up Optimal Bike Fit:

If you already received an Optimal Bike Fit and recently changed out pedals, crank, saddle, etc... We offer a discounted rate. This offer is only good on the original bike fitted.

Price 50.00 per each bike

Call (970)-443-8752 or Email to schedule

Human Movement Program

2009-11-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

Would you build your house on sand?

When a storm comes would your house survive?

Your body is that house and if you continue to train without addressing muscle imbalances in foot, ankle, knee, pelvic, and shoulder alignment you will become susceptible to injury. As we develop bad habits we develop poor mechanics which leads to over active and under active muscles also known as muscles imbalances. Ask yourself these questions:

When you run does your knee turn in or out?

When you stand does your pelvic tilt forward(anterior) or backward(posterior)?

Are you currently experiencing knee, hip, ankle pain?

Have you ever twisted your ankle?

Do your shoulders protract forward?

Have you ever injured yourself lifting an object?

Do you have balance issues?

If you said "Yes" to one or more of these questions than the Human Movement program is for you. In this program we do a movement assessment to diagnosis and provide the treatment for your muscle imbalances. This program looks at the whole body.

For example, you might say if I twisted my ankle why are you looking at my whole body. When we injure a part of our body for example the ankle we compensate and create muscle imbalances in our body which often go undetected. Eventually the compensation turns into a muscle imbalance which leads to an injury.

Our program is for every athlete or life athlete who wants to succeed. Athletes who train without addressing muscle imbalances are building their body with a weak foundation. With our scientific Human Movement Program we can assess and prescribe you the program needed to assist in relieving and preventing pain associated with:

* Tennis elbow
* Back pain
* Neck pain
* Shoulder pain
* Shin splints
* Plantar fasciitis
* Knee pain
* Patella tendonitis
* Achillies tendonitis
* Faulty alignment of Pelvis

By taking into account your lifestyle and job activities, we can provide a customized Human Movement Program to assist in relieving pain related to injuries or overuse.

80% of adults experience back pain, and often times pain gets in the way of an otherwise active individual's enjoyment of activities.

Many times, we find work-related actions to be the source of pain. Sitting at a desk or working on a computer for most of the day can lead to an overactive TFL and Iliotibial band. Lifting heavy objects, or standing for a prolonged period of time can lead to pain in unexpected areas. We work specifically with many professionals with proven results:

* Runner's
* Cyclist's (road, mountain, and BMX)
* Triathlete's
* Track and Field
* Team Sports

For more information

Call 970-443-8752

We Also offer for Online Human Movement Program:

We now offer an Online Human Movement Program. We can evaluate you live online via Skype and prescribe you a program to improve your performance an quality of life. We offer this service World Wide with the help of the internet and video analysis software.

Cost $35.00 USD per session

For more information

Call 970-443-8752

Dr. Krauthammer contributor to FOX

2009-11-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

Dr. Krauthammer is an M.D. and a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down. A friend went to hear Charles Krauthammer. He listened with 25 others in a closed room. What he says here, is NOT 2nd-hand but 1st. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children.

Last Monday was a profound evening; Dr. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger or an extremist in his comments and views. He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prize for writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post.

I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said.

Summary of his comments

1. Mr. Obama is a very intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn't show his emotions. It's very hard to know what's behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time.

2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton . He has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES.

3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can't be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada .

4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn't care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth.. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add 26,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada . By the way, Canada 's population is 1/10 of the US . Imagine how much rationing will occur to serve all US citizens and non-citizen residents.

5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store.
But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can't work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he's a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says.

6. Obama doesn't really see himself as President of the United States , but more as a ruler over the world. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America , as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies!

7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcissist.

8. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future. We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state's rights.

9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don't have. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse.. No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn't work, nor will the stimulus package. These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama's allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above.

10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in, we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally. Any Dem would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was.

11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it's under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it's between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy. I hope this gets you really thinking about what's
happening in Washington and Congress. There is a left-wing revolution going on, according to Krauthammer, and he encourages us to keep the faith and join the loyal resistance. The work will be hard, but we're right on most issues and can reclaim our country, before it's far too late. Do yourself a long term favor, send this to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture. All our futures and children's futures depend on our good understanding of what is really going on in DC, and our action pursuant to that understanding.

Have a Training Question you need an Answer too?

2009-10-27T12:28:00.001-07:00

Have training questions?

Join us Free on Google Talk and chat live online with our coach Wednesday nights from 7pm to 8:30pm Pacific Standard Time. To participate please text during these times.

Sports Nutrition Software

2009-10-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Sports Nutrition Calculators!!

Are you tired of bonking on your races and training rides?

Would you like to know which nutritional products give you the most bang for your buck?

Would you like to know how to achieve optimal performance without breaking the bank?

Well we have the solution for you. Our nutritional calculators are built from the latest research used by Clinical Sports Nutritionist. We currently offer two calculators. One is a Nutritional guide program which software looks at all the nutritional products used in the bike shops. The other is the Optimal Nutritional program which calculates daily nutritional needs. These programs were developed to help you the consumer achieve optimal nutritional performance. Our mission is to help you succeed.

Try it before you Buy It

The Kinetic Loop Optimal Nutritional Software is Now on our website. You can try it before you buy it. Or purchase the training library and use it all the time on on web server. Click here to check out how easy the software is to use. Just one of the perks of the training library.

Training Library

2009-10-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

We now have a training library where coaches and athletes can purchase access for a $25 dollars month for exercise training plans. These programs are geared towards exercises for weight training in the gym. We will give you step by step instructions on how to perform the exercise as well a to develop a plan whether for endurance, hypertrophy, or power. Call or Email to get more information on this new program we offer.

KLTS Former Junior Athlete Wins National MTN Bike Race

2009-07-23T10:28:00.001-07:00

Men - Cat 3 - Junior - 15-18
Place	Points	Name	Time	License	Bib	Team
1	110	nate rees	1:08:51	287405	608
2	105	Charlie Cone	1:10:13	285786	1036
3	100	Devan Compton	1:11:11	295386	633	Bike Masters Cycling
4	95	Dallin Davidson	1:12:25	278050	1566	Team Sho-Air
5	90	Riley Kopesky	1:16:27	298099	1148	EXPO Racing
6	85	John Ericson	1:18:50	297467	642	Branson Bulls
DQ	0	Alec Schaffer	DSQ	296377	1102	SSWSC

Congratulations to Nate Rees former Kinetic Loop Training System athlete wins Junior Nationals MTN Bike Race. Nate was one of our junior athletes that we performed his bike fit as well as developed his training program. Nate said " it was the hardest thing he has ever done, even harder than the Tempe International Traithlon! He will now move up to the Cat 2.

How to Become A Successful Athlete!!

2009-07-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I was thinking about how all athletes become great. This question as a coach can be the same thing how can one become a great coach, person, etc. This might be a shock for everyone but studying the basics is the key. What I mean is fundamentals build strength. If you develop the fundamentals in cycling, running, and swimming by focusing on the following:

Cycling:

Pedaling technique
Single leg pedaling drills
Cadence
Cornering
Ascending/ Descending
sprinting

Running:

Running mechanics
B drills
Heel walk
High toe walk
High knee walk
Karaoke
Butt kicks
Hamstring kick outs
strides/pick ups

Swimming:

swimming technique (perfect practice makes perfect)
pulling drills
kicking drills
Eye closed drills (count your strokes for 1 lap) See if you match the strokes with eyes open
Never do drills sloppy. Sloppy training = sloppy form

The reason I bring this up is have you ever studied great athletes. For example, Michael Jordan on of the all time greats in basketball. Before a game he would do 5,000 free throws just to make sure he was ready. Shaq, who is a great basketball player, but a lousy free throw shooter. So what did his coach do???? Made him practice free throws. John Wooden the famous UCLA basketball coach would have all his players focus on the fundamentals. Each week the would practice different drills until they got them right. Lance Armstrong before cancer was a good cyclist, but after cancer became a great cyclist. How did he do it by focusing on his pedaling technique. Do you see a pattern here. The key to becoming a successful athlete always going back to the basics and practicing the fundamentals of your sport.

How to Build your Own Foam Roller

2009-06-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

As everyone knows the craze for foam rolling has taken off. If you haven't heard of foam rolling you can go to www.kineticloop.org . On our site Kinetic Loop Training System we have a free article called Rolling the Hot Spots using the Kinetic Foam Rolling Loop method with step by step instruction on full body foam rolling.
How would you like to learn how to make a foam roller for under 20 dollars??? You will need the following items below:
1. Blue camping mat from Walmart (8.00 dollars)
2. 3 inch diameter by 20 inches in length PVC pipe from Lowe's or Home depot(cost 3.00)
3. Super adhesive Spray number 77 (3.00 dollars )
4. Duct tape (3.00 dollars)
5. Razor blades (2.00 dollars)

Instructions:
Roll out camping mat and measure 12.75 inches in height and 21 inches in width.
Cut measurements with razor blade.
Wipe off any dust on the PVC pipe and spray with adhesive.
Wrap mat around the PVC pipe
Make sure the mat wraps up evenly on the PVC pipe and both ends touch.
Take the duct tape and wrap around the camping mat.
Wrap and cut the duct tape a section at a time.
Make sure to pull firmly.
Now you have your very own home made foam roller.

Finding a Endurance Coach

2009-06-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

From time to time our company receives emails in regards to our coaching and how we compare to other coaches. Below is a message from Scott.

Scott from Global Bikes:

I am looking for a coach but have not heard of you. how would you compare your coaching to that of brian forbes whose palmares are well known?

Scott:

Hello, I have not meet Brian Forbes except for maybe at the races. I believe each every coach is different and has different coaching philosophies. I have only worked with the some of the best coaches in the world like Max Testa, Dave Brinton, Chris Carmichael, Dean Golich, Craig Griffin, Jim Lehman, as a researcher and on collaborating projects to help certain athletes. Our coaching is sports science based. I use physiology, biomechanics, skills, to educate and train each and every athlete.
I believe a coach is someone who can look into to you and see that athlete you aspire to be. Coaching is a 24/7 job and as coach, I understand that you can’t punch out at 5 or 6 pm and go home. Which is why I make myself available to all my athletes. We build your training programs from scratch based on your goals, field test, and season. Through our company we also offer sports nutrition from one of the top research in sports nutrition Dr Cindy Dallow who is an RD and CSSD. So we not only provide the science based coaching, but science based nutrition as well. Below are some questions that can help me understand your goals and determine the best program to agree with your needs.

1) How many hours/miles have you been training per week for the last 4-6 months?
2) Briefly describe your current training program.
3) What events are you focusing on for this year and next?
4) What is the date of your major goal event? What is your major goal event?
5) What distance are you racing?
6) What is your past competition or participation experience in your sport?
7) How many hours can you train per week?

When looking for a coach it is great to ask questions and interview your coach. Most coaches have either meet at the races or know each other from reputation. To make sure your coach is up to date with the latest research make sure he is USA cycling certified. USA cycling does a background checks to make sure your coach is reliable and responsible. Although have a coaching license does not make you a great coach, but a coaches educational background and experience might. I believe education shows a coach took the initiative to learn on how to be a better coach.
Visit us at to learn more about our coaching.

Training Certifications The good, bad, and the Ugly

2009-05-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I have received quite a few emails on what certification should I get or what classes should I attend. The bottom line is most certifications companies are in the business to make money and not to educate.
For example, look at National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). They have quite a few certification the CPT, CES, PES, but did you ever notice the training programs all look the same. It is called box thinking. Box thinking is when you take the same methodology and apply it to ever program even if the method doesn't work. I know this from experience. When I was helping developing programs for NASM on their courses they wanted it to follow their CPT model. They said if you can create that program make sure to throw in the CPT twist, which will make the Trainers have to buy the CPT. I was shocked and eventually I decided this was enough and I needed to coach and educate people on my own. I know NASM is not the only company out there doing this, but it is the one I have the inside scoop on.

So the bottom line is go and attend workshops and don't waste your money on a certification. A certification say hey look at me I can pass a test. The bottom line is can you apply what you learned from you own perspective or are you sold 100% on the course you just completed. I would recommend reading the companies books or the research they cited in their books. You can learn a lot more from the companies books instead of taking their certification. I would say the best books you can buy are the following:
Gray Cook "Athletic Body in Balance
Mike Boyle Functional Training For Sports
Paul Cheks - he has a lot of great books and research articles
Pavel Tsatsouline - He has a lot of great books
Sahrmann - Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairments
Kinetic Loop Training System - workshops

So certifications mostly likely are a waste of money and will add some alphabets soup to your name. The real education is in a degree that last forever and can never be taken away. Please fee free to post your thoughts.

Tired of spending money on Nutritional Products. Would you like to learn how to save money??

2009-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

How to save money while training and racing

By Michael Lovegren M.S. Biomechanics

During these harsh economic times endurance athletes are forced to find other alternatives to fuel their bodies from the traditional Powerbar, GU, Hammer, and other commonly used products. We all know that muscle glycogen is an important fuel source during most rides, whether easy or more intense and depending on your training intensity. Muscle glycogen can become significantly depleted in 75 to 90 minutes.

As athletes train and race in these tough economic times it is hard to use the common products used by pro riders. What if I told you instead of spending 1to 2 dollars on a single gel or a bag of shot blocks you could purchase a box of General Mills fruit snacks or a bag of Fig Newtons. You probably would think that this is a joke and I must be going crazy. Or you might say I spent too much time on the bike out in the sun and now I am becoming delirious. A great source to fuel your body for training and racing is cheaper than you think. If you would like to save a buck, which everyone wants to do these days, then you can follow these simple steps. The common products that can help you are:

Fig Newton’s – a box of Fig Newton’s with 15 servings (1 to 2 dollars)

General Mills Fruit Snacks- box contains 10 servings (contain 21-25 grams of carbohydrates)

There is no difference from a GU, Powerbar, or Hammer products compared to these products. Would you rather spend 2 dollars on one gel or 2 dollars on a bag of Fig Newton’s or a box of Spider-Man fruit snacks? If you are not a sponsored rider and want to save money then try these useful tips and enjoy them. If you would like more information on how to maintain energy see our Optimal Nutritional Software at Kinetic Loop Training System . If this article has made an impact on you please let us know.

After I wrote the above article one of my athletes told me that he used to use Chips Ahoy Cookies and Gatorade for Half Ironman and Ironman. I remember training and racing with Peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches. A famous female Ironman and Half Ironman used McDonalds Cheeseburger in her goody back at the transition from the swim to the bike. Think about this before Powerbar, Gu, Enervit, and Hammer what did athletes really used to train and race with? Do we really need this stuff? In these harsh economical times I believe we don't need these products to achieve optimal performance.