Out and about

I spent part of Saturday at the Bicycle and Fitness Barn in Port Huron where I gave an informational talk on sports nutrition and race fueling strategies for Hammer Nutrition. I was invited by Team Sandbag and the shop to get the team and the general public ready for the race season. The event was well attended and the store owner told me as I was leaving that he had sold enough product that day that he was going to have to reorder, and he had just gotten in his shipment that morning!

Getting home late in the afternoon it was too warm to ride outside. Sounds strange but sunny skies cause the back roads to become a mess of mud and slush. I had planned on doing some big gear strength sessions so I opted to spend three hours on the trainer grinding them out instead of on the roads.

I made sure to get out early this morning while the roads were still frozen, having switched my studded tires over to the geared bike. I'm glad I did since the roads were very icy and the potholes and frozen ruts would surely have caused me to fall on more than one occasion if not for the studs.

I was also glad that I decided on a full suspension bike due to the poor conditions of sections of the dirt roads. Twice I was able to pass vehicles that were crawling along, trying unsuccessfully to dodge the holes. I got a kick out of sailing past an expensive SUV that was negotiating the craters. I could pick a line around most of the holes or sometimes right through them without too much problem.

I rode the first half of my hill training route, not so much for hill strength but to use them to practice getting into a rhythm with out putting out maximum effort. My time for the route was much slower than the last time I rode it in the fall but I attribute that to several factors, heavier bike, resistance and weight of the studded tires, winter clothing, and the poor road conditions. The very first hill on my route was through the state park on an unplowed road that had me down to walking speed while riding most of the length of the road and the hill. It was good training though for Tennessee.

Here is the text from the nutrition seminar advertisement.

Sports Nutrition, Hydration & Electrolytes Seminar Presented By Hammer Nutrition, The Bicycle & Fitness Barn, and Team Sandbag

When: Saturday, March 3rd What time: 11:00am to 1:00pm

Where: Bicycle & Fitness Barn, Port Huron, MI

Steve Kinley with Hammer Nutrition will be presenting on the role of hydration, fueling (prior to, during, and after exercise) and electrolytes. Additionally he will discuss how Hammer Nutrition products can help you maximize performance and minimize problems like dehydration, bonking, and other conditions that not only ruin your day, but are also hazardous to your health.

Steve is an avid racer who has used Hammer products exclusively to win the CPS series the past two years as well as finishing first in the 2005 Fun Promotion Endurance series. Last year he also finished second in the Master's class in both the Mohican and Lumberjack100's.

There is no cost to attend so please join us and bring a friend. The program will be beneficial for everyone from the avid racer to the recreational enthusiast. Free snacks and beverages / Hammer Nutrition samples / Discounts on Hammer products / Prize Drawings