Triathlete Stuff

Zoot Sports Men's CompressRx Sock 2009

2008-10-13T14:49:00.001-07:00

I recently got a size 3 Zoot Sports Men's CompressRx Sock 2009. The sizing for these socks aren't based on foot size. Instead it's based on calf size because the focus of this sock is on calf compression so it makes sense. For those of you that are curious I wear a size 9.5-10 shoe and the size 3 fits fine. Since it's pretty flexible around the foot I can see it fitting a wide variety of foot sizes.

Performance: While I have worn these on short runs and rides these times were not when I noticed the biggest difference in performance. I noticed the biggest difference in performance on a day I was at a trade show walking/standing on my feet from 7am-7pm. Normally my legs would be either sore or fatigued by the end of the day. However, the day I wore these my legs still felt strong by the end of the day. I also tried on the Zoot CompressRx active compression tights for a different day and seemed to have the same results I'll save the details for another review.

You can buy the socks here: Zoot Sports Men's CompressRx Sock at OneTri.com

Note to self: Don't forget to write reviews on the following products, Profile Saddle, 2XU Velocity Wetsuit, Orca RS1 Wetsuit, Zipp wheels, Profile Design Aerodrink V2, Scott Plasma, Aquasphere Kaiman goggles, Zoot CompressRx active compression tights, 2XU Recovery socks black.

Zoot Ultra Triathlon Shoes

2008-04-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

Recently I've wanted to get a pair of these triathlon specific shoes from Zoot. Even though my store carries them I haven't gotten my self a pair.

We have a good selection in stock.

You can get the Ultra Race tri shoes at One Tri here: Zoot Ultra Triathlon Race Shoe.

Update: I did get a pair of the Zoot Sports Men's ULTRA Tempo+ Shoe 2008 ($129.95) - I haven't put any serious milage on them yet, but I'll put in a review when I get the chance. My initial thoughts are that they are light and comfortable for a moderate stability shoe. It's also hard to ignore all the tri specific thought put into the shoe. On first inspection the shoe looks impressive.

Awareness Test for Athletes

2008-03-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

The link on this post is an actual test of awareness, it isn't a joke. So don't worry about monsters jumping out at you on the screen. I post this because I was so surprised that I failed it. It seems so simple but 3 other people in my office go it wrong as well. I even had 2 people do it at a time and they both FAILED. So far we are 4 for 4 at failing.

I hope you do better.

http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

Btw, I think this is a great test for triathletes even though it may not seem like it.

HydroTail vs XLab Carbon Wing

2007-08-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

So my friend is stoked (excited) about getting this new rear hydration bottle holder the Beaker Concepts HdyroTail (He won the winning bid at a charity auction). He says it's the lightest therefore the best on the market. Can anybody who's used it corroborate this from first hand experience. Is it that much better than the XLab Carbon Wing coming out? My thought that even though the HydroTail might be lighter the XLab Carbon Wing seems to offer a lot more utility options. My belief is that both are very nice and the "best" one is relative to your needs.

Thanks in advance for any comments or feedback on the Hydro Tail "hydration system".

As always here's a link to the products:
HydroTail by Beaker Concepts
Carbon Wing by Xlab

New SwiMP3 V2

2007-05-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

A new SwiMP3 V2 has come out by Finis. The SwiMP3 is an mp3 player you can swim with. Unlike other mp3 players this device uses bone conduction so you get better quality under the water. If you want to read more about it or buy it click here -> More about the SwiMP3

Triathlon Transition Mat

2007-05-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

Many people at Wildflower this year got to see the new Lickety-Split Triathlon Transition Mat. I got one from Lickety-Split and I think they're great. I plan on using one at my next race. For those of you who had the opportunity to purchase and use one please do share. Is anybody else interested in this mat?

Here are the benefits that I see from it:
* Marks you transition so it's easy to find. Save seconds and headaches.
* Keep your feet clean and dry.
* It won't roll around and bunch up like a towel
* Sucks up water better than a towel

I was told the most popular colors are Neon and Red Hibuscus.

You can get one here: One Tri: Lickety-Split Triathlon Transition Mat

Triathlon Clothing - Orca Race Suits

2007-05-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile I get asked about triathlon clothing. Below are a couple of popular pieces that are in-stock. Disclaimer: (This is a blatant plug for suits at OneTri.com)

Men's Orca Race suit w/Pockets - This is a very popular race suit because it has a cool back mesh panel and pockets. It also has a control-zip which means you can just flip the zipper to the "on" position and then give a slight tug near the zipper for it to open. When you flip the zipper down it locks in place. Most popular color is black.
In-stock as of 5/1/07:
Black - Medium
Black - Large
Black - X-Large

Men's Orca Pro Killa Race Suit - This is an ITU Race legal suit with a rear-zip. It is great for open water swims and non-wetsuit legal races. It's a very popular and sharp looking suit. Many people will wear it over their run/bike outfit to be quicker through the water. The Pro Killa suit is very slick through the water. The most popular color is black but this year there is also a blue option.
In-stock as of 5/1/07:
Black - Small
Black - Medium
Black - Large
Black - X-Large

Men's > Triathlon Clothing.
Women's > Triathlon Clothing.

ATHLETE the movie trailer

2007-04-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Brenda sent me this trailer for ATHLETE the movie directed by David Lam. It's a documentary movie that chronicles numerous ordinary athletes through their training and participation in endurance sports. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product. David (director) told me that he's shooting to finish by March 2008 and premier it soon afterwards at a film festival. Pass along the link and news of this movie to help support the buzz.

Here is a teaser trailer:

Here is a behind the scenes with one of the athletes, Randy:

To find out more visit www.athletemovie.com.

Tri Shoe Versus Road Shoe Q&A

2007-02-28T09:46:00.000-08:00

I created a little diagram to highlight some general differences between tri shoes and road shoes. Below is the diagram. To read the whole Q & A go to the Triathlete Tips section or click here.

On a side note, One Tri has moved to a new location in Santa Ana, CA. Click here for the new address and hours. Here's the new address:

1530 E. Edinger Ave. Unit 7
Santa Ana, CA 92705

New place to buy triathlon wetsuits

2007-02-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

Check out the new store Triathlete Shop www.triathleteshop.com. It's the international option for triathlon shoppers online. Here's the image from the home page.

There are a lot of tri wetsuits but not much else on the site yet. I can tell you that there are tons of 2007 2XU wetsuits in stock right now. Every day more triathlon gear are being added.

Run Crazy like Phoebe

2007-01-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile my wife and I will run like Phoebe during a work out. It's really quite invigorating especially during a long track work. I found the clip from Gina's blog.

Q and A - What type of bike for a beginner?

2007-01-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

Here is a question and answer regarding bike type for a new triathlete from members in my club.

Question:
I am a new member who has just begun trianing for sprint distances. I am up to running a 5k and have been cycling for 3 weeks. My cycling has been on a mountain bike I purchased 2 years ago before I decided to train for triathlons. I am discovering that this style of bike is heavy, slow and provides to much drag resistance. I am seeking advice for what style of bike I should get and where I can find a used bike for training. If anyone has any advice ... please let me know.

Answer 1:
I'm currently at what I would call a "mid" level of tri experience, so take my 2 cents with a grain of salt.ultimately you will have to figure out what works well for yourself through some experimentation.

The way I see it, beyond a mountain bike, or a hybrid, you've got 3 different options you can go with:

1. A road bike with a road-type set-up (meaning there are NO aero bars on the bike, you are seated in a relatively straight up manner, and the shifting is right next to where you rest your hands on the handle bars). This type of set-up has the advantage of being MUCH more comfortable for long rides-flat OR hills on the ride. Most people who are putting in some heavy duty miles for their training have a road bike they take for they're long rides and save their other bikes for shorter rides or race day.

2. A road bike with a triathlon or "time trial" set up (meaning there ARE aero bars on the bike, you are seated in a relatively forward manner to place more of the stress on your quads to save your legs for the run, and the shifting is still on the handle bars next to or on the brake mechanisms). This type of set-up has the advantage of being more aerodynamic than a road bike, but it still will not be as fast as a true tri bike because of the weight of the frame and the (often) extra gear cogs included on the front cassette. However, with this set up, you can still ride both flats AND hills with the option of sitting up in a regular position or in
the aero position depending on the terrain.

3. A true tri bike (meaning there ARE aero bars, you are seated in a relatively forward manner, and the shifting is NOW located ON the aero bars so you do NOT need to take your hands off the aero bars in order to shift). Everything about this set-up is geared toward lightness, aerodynamic positioning and speed. It will certainly be your fastest option for a sprint distance, but it will probably not be a very comfortable bike to ride on very hilly rides since you HAVE to be in the aero position to shift gears and it's challenging to remain in the aero position on very steep climbs.

So, as you can see, each of the set-ups has their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on what you want it for. For you, since you are just getting into it and you're currently targeting a sprint level, I might recommend a road bike with a tri set-up. You DEFINITELY want something faster than your mountain bike, and you definitely want to be in an aerodynamic position because of the short miles for your bike legs. However, if you've never been on aero bars before, it's a much different feel. It would be nice to have the option of sitting up occasionally while you get used to the aero position, not to mention with this set up you don't have to worry so much about whether your training rides are flat or hilly. And finally, and possibly the biggest reason, is that you may not be in good enough cycling shape to really benefit from a tri bike yet. Now, some might argue this point, but upgrading from a mountain bike, ANY of these bikes will feel infinitely faster than your mountain bike. The beauty is that, once you get some serious miles under your belt, and you feel like extending your race/training distances, you may THEN want to get a tri bike and convert your road bike to a training bike for your longer rides. Until then, though, a road bike with a tri set-up will probably feel just as fast to you as anything else, until you can get enough experience under your belt to tell the difference.

Again, just my 2 cents, so take it with a grain of salt. Good luck with your search. :-)

RJ

Answer 2:
If your serious about triathlons, go for a triathlon bike - not a road bike. They are designed differently in order to help save your running muscles for the run. Everyone says don't go to expensive if you're new to the sport because you "might not" stick to it, but I wish I didn't take that advice - but instead went a little cheaper and purchased a road bike. However, I hear if the course is very hilly, then a road bike might be better. But I could be wrong, like most of the time it seems.

Adam

What it Takes Premium Edition Movie

2006-12-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

What it Takes, the documentary triathlon movie, now comes in a premium edition that has additional scenes and comes in a cover that is hand autographed by Peter Reid.

You can check out a preview of the movie at this link:
Click for WIT preview

Tribute to a Fallen Triathlete

2006-12-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

Megan McClung was a the first female Marine officer killed in the Iraq war. I didn't know her but she was an Ironman triathlete, she served our country, and she was local. It was suggested to me by my sister-in-law that I make this post and I agreed. You can read more about Megan at the OC Register article below.

Here is a link to the article:
O.C. native dies in Iraq

"It's amazing that she was still able to run in a war zone." - sister-in-law

So Cal store location survey

2006-12-05T16:02:00.000-08:00

I'm surveying which Southern California Orange County city is best for a new triathlon store. The choices are Anaheim by Anaheim Stadium, Santa Ana near the Santa Ana Auto Mall, Fountain Valley near Harbor and Warner, and Tustin. Please place a vote by leaving a comment or linking to this survey:

Click here to take survey

Here's my 2 cents on each location.

Anaheim - Easily accessible by the 5 and 57 freeways. Servers the inland people of LA and Orange County. About 5 mile from Santa Ana river bike and run trail.

Santa Ana - Off the 55 between the 5 and the 405 freeways. In between beach and inland cities.

Fountain Valley - Easily accessible from the 405 freeway. Close to beach cities. About 1 block from the Santa Ana River bike and run trail.

Thanks!

OC Triathlon Club Logos

2006-12-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

I dug deep to find my college-day-amateur-design-skills to help my local triathlon club design a logo. I had great help of the design committee Paul, Ben, Rhonda, Martha, Evonne, Barry.

Here are some of the logo's I selected for your viewing pleasure. Any comments? Please no berating comments I haven't done this in a long, long time ;)

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Triathlon music video. ROCK ON!

2006-11-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

This is the awesomest triathlon music video ever! It is my favorite triathlon video that I've seen in all my life. Please let me know what you think. Enjoy.

Apologizies to the Friendly Commentors

2006-11-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize it but I was preventing comments from displaying on my blog. I had the Comment Moderation feature on which meant comments did't display until I approved them. I turned off the feature so people can comment away! All this time I felt so neglected ;)

Thank you for all the previous comments! I went back and read them all when I discovered my goof.

Pee in your Pool and Video

2006-11-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

I read a recent post about peeing in pools. Please don't do it. Enjoy the following clip on pool peeing. Not exactly about triathlon or training but humorous nonetheless.

Here's the thread on beginner triathlete where most people agree; peeing in a pool is not desireable.
Pool Peeing Thread

Classic Funny Triathlon Commercial Video

2006-11-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile I run across this video on the internet and laugh all over again.

Tri Gear Review of the Day: A few months ago I got the 2XU Comp 1 Cycling Shorts. I really like the thick pad and compression feel of the shorts. I've done many long rides in them including the MS150 and I really enjoy them. Like many cycling shorts the instructions say not to put them in the dryer. Given that I'm a knuckle head I've accidentally put them in there a few times and it's still good to ride with. All in all very sturdy and comfortable.

PS. Has anybody upgraded to the new blogger version? I'm hesitant to do so until I hear some good feedback. Thanks.

1982 Julie Moss Video

2006-11-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

For those who haven't heard of Julie Moss this is another classic inspirational story. It highlights the strength and determination of the human spirit. It was one of the events in triathlon history that if not just for the moment reached the masses. Take a look, be inspired again, and pass it along to someone else.

Tri Gear Stuff - ZOOT:
I've owned a lot of tri brands Zoot, 2XU, Orca, LG, De Soto, etc... Today I'm going to profile Zoot. Zoot stated in Kona, HI and has been around for many years. Nowadays they are based in San Diego, Vista to be exact. Zoot is primarily an apparel brand that recently got into wetsuits. They quickly made a name for themselves in the wetsuit market by producing quality products and great innovation. Personally I've found Zoot products to be well thought out and comfortable. I will definitely be wearing more Zoot in the years to come. Zoot, zoot! (That's an allusion to many things "toot, toot" and "zot, zot" to name a few. The "zot" comes from my alma mater it's the sound that our mascot the Anteater makes. I know, I know what kind of mascot is an anteater, right? We'll I'll have you know it's in the bear family and it's better than a banana slug!)

Zoot at One Tri:
Zoot Products

Zoot Sports:
Zoot Company

CAF Challenge & Robin Williams

2006-11-05T17:48:00.000-08:00

I did the bike leg of the CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation) San Diego 1/2 Iron Distance Triathlon Challenge today. The CAF Organization enables people to do great things. Being a part of this event and others is an extremely inspirational experience. I hope someday you can be inspired as I have.

A couple other notes.

1) The Goodie Bag that came with this race is like NO Other! I've attached a picture below. I actually got a pair of Nike running shoes! Yes, EVERYTHING in the picture was part of the bag (except the couch which you can see the corner of).

2) I had the pleasure of riding next to Robin Williams for a few miles during the ride. Just so you know he's a very strong rider. He seems like a just a regular ol' guy to me, I don't get why people get so bent up over celebrities. Living in So. Cal. I've run into a variety of celebrities at events. They are just regular people, except they get asked to be in pictures a lot more than you and me. My wife got a picture of him on the way out of the transition area.

New iPod Shuffle!

2006-11-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

So my wife and brother got me the iPod shuffle for my bDay. I'm super excited about it and went for a run with it this morning. I think I run faster with music. So now I need some help deciding what to put on it. What is your favorite song to run to?

Marathon Training Schedule

2006-11-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

My wife and and I are contemplating running a marathon for next year. Here are the workout schedules we decided to follow beginning 2 weeks ago. It's a slight step down from the training we were doing for the triathlons but we wanted to slow things down a bit. We always have the option of stepping things up later.

Schedule 1:
http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_mile.html

Schedule 2:
http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_sch_2.html

Btw, I miss the day light!

Another Inspirational Video

2006-10-30T16:56:00.000-08:00

I found another inspirational video while checking out other blogs (Flatman). Before you say you can't do something check this out.

I love it!