Help us decide who will win the title of "JockBoy of the Year" the voting goes through May 31st! The JockBoy with the highest number of votes wins so go ahead and vote for your favorite. Also as a special offer for everyone voting you can enjoy 20% OFF on the remaining N2N Collection through May 31st. Watch for NEW N2N items to be in next week!
Thinking of trying out bicycle racing? Racing can provide an outlet for that competitive energy while providing a great focus for training, developing technical skills and a fun way to spend your free time.
Many misconceptions surround the art of bicycle racing; primary among these is that you need to be a "fast" rider. Although helpful, many great racers are only "B" riders while many "A" and "AA" riders are too undisciplined to become successful racers. Bicycle racing is more like chess being played at 30 mph!
Talent & Genetics
Talent, such as tactical skill; and the abilities to rapidly accelerate, to tolerate pain, and to function anaerobically for relatively long periods of time are much more significant factors than raw speed or power.
In addition, genetic factors come into play. Hill climbing ability is highly correlated to body weight and thus favors smaller riders.
Sprinters tend to be larger of stature and capable of working above lactate threshold for long periods of time.
Although genetic factors cannot be discounted, they won't prevent you from becoming a good all around rider and kicking some butt at your local races.
Touring Clubs
What do you do if, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"? In other words, what to do if your skills just don't match up with your desire to race or your ability to hold your own on a group ride? Join a touring club!
Touring clubs usually offer group rides for riders of varying ability. Typically, rides are rated on difficulty and riding ability necessary to complete the ride, ranging from "D", or beginner, to "AA" or very advanced.
Touring clubs provide a structured way to improve your riding skills to the desired level by participating in regular, group rides. You can start out participating in rides suitable to your ability, let's say "C" or "CC" and, over time as your skill set increases, you can move up to the next ride level. You can also make some great friends along the way!
Racing Clubs
So let's say that you've been biking for some time, have acquired some technical skills, are a "B" rider or better, have the competitive urge, and want to try your hand at something more advanced.
What do you do next? Joining a racing club is a good first move.
Group or pack riding skills are essential to a successful racer.
Techniques such as pace line work, cornering in a pack, riding comfortably in close proximity to other riders, sustaining bumps, contact and intimidating behavior from other riders can only be accomplished by participating in group training rides.
Finding the Right Club
So how do you find a racing club that's right for you? Many clubs are sponsored by Local Bicycle Shops. Try hanging out at some shops and talking to the owner and staff. Another way is to talk to other riders in those local group rides you've been participating in. After identifying a club, try joining in on several of their training rides.
How do the club members make you feel? Do they provide a competitive, yet supportive, environment? You don't feel too comfortable, do you? Generally, you want to surround yourself with riders who, while supportive, will help guide and push you to greater skill levels.
Race club's are great for "learning the ropes" from skilled and experienced riders. These riders should also be skilled at pointing out and identifying your weak areas and suggest routes to improvement in an encouraging fashion. Don't hesitate to shop around! Join in as many different club rides as you can! You'll soon find a club that "feels right".
Races
So we keep talking about "bicycle racing" but what exactly is a bicycle race? You can train all you want, participate in as many group rides as your legs can withstand, and join the best racing club in the world but for what? What is the focus of all this labor of love?
Essentially, there are three basic types of races:
All are fun and all require a different skill set from a rider.
1. Time Trial
A Time Trial (TT) is the purest form of racing and is also called "The Race of Truth" as it only involves you racing against the clock. A TT is usually 15 km (about 10 miles) or, more commonly, 40 km (about 25 miles) although there is no stipulation on route length.
They are also usually held on relatively flat terrain although a hill or two can be thrown in to spice things up a bit. Riders are released, one at a time at 30 second intervals, from a stationary position. Riders proceed at their highest continuous speed, usually just below their lactate threshold.
Cadence tends to be lower in TT's then in other types of races, usually hovering between 70-80 rpm. The two key words worthy of note are "highest" and "continuous". It is said that if you don't throw up after a TT you didn't try hard enough! Yet particular emphasis must be placed on pacing yourself or else you'll throw up well before the finish line!
At the end of a TT individual times are posted with the rider with the lowest time winning the trial. Team Time Trials (TTT) also exist with teams consisting of two to nine riders being common. TT's are usually favored by beginning racers as they require no pack skills and tend to be safer than criteriums and road races.
2. Criteriums
Criteriums, or crits, are races peculiar to the United States and Canada and are responsible for American racer's legendary cornering abilities. They tend to be held on short, less than 3 mile, and circuits usually about a mile long. They are usually oval, square or "D" shaped with the most common being held in business/industrial parks or the four streets forming a city block. Crits are composed of laps, usually 12 for "C" races, 20 for "B" races and 30 for "A" races.
The crit is probably the most common form of bike racing in the U.S. and the first race a novice is usually exposed to. Crits are very fast, usually between 25-30+ mph, and very demanding. The ability to pedal through, and sprint out of, corners is paramount. Crits are subject to the "accordion effect", or the tendency to slow down when entering then sprinting when exiting corners - more pronounced the further back in the group you are.
Crits require the ability to sustain high speeds for the duration of the race as well as the ability to sustain frequent and numerous anaerobic exertions. Taking advantage of wind direction, track layout and condition, and, most importantly, drafting off of stronger riders is imperative to successful crit racing.
3. Road Races
Road Races are what one usually thinks of when thinking of professional bicycle racing. Most often between 40 and 100 miles in length, they can be comprised of numerous laps or just one lap. The terrain is heterogeneous-made up of climbs, descents, and flats and are most often held as a race between two towns. The various stages of the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a Espana are, for the most part, road races.
Road races combine the technical skill and high speeds of a crit with the endurance requirements of a TT. Not as common in the United States as in Europe they are most often held in rural, mountainous areas.
Conclusion
I hope that this brief article provides a general overview of, and introduction to, the great sport of bicycle racing. Although this article barely scratches the surface of this complex and demanding sport, I hope it will encourage and tempt the average bicycle rider to broaden their horizons to include racing.
In the future I hope to write more in depth articles on the various aspects of this rewarding sport such as training techniques, nutrition, and supplementation. Now, get out there and race!
Starting today and every Wednesday we will be having "Workout Wednesday's". I will be posting an article on fitness, nutrition or sports conditioning every Wednesday. If you are looking for advice with working out, nutrition or sports conditioning dont forget to send me an email at troy {at} jockboylocker.com. I am a certified personal trainer and will be happy to help you out and answer your questions. Your questions will be featured on the blog along with my advice for you. Check back every Wednesday to see what new articles are being posted.
Just in at JockBoyLocker the all new 2008 N2N Bodywear - Men's Swimwear Collection! If you don't have anything to wear to the beach for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend now is your chance to get some of the hottest new men's swimwear out right now. We have a wide selection with styles in both men's bikini cut swimwear and men's squarecut swimwear. Don't miss out on this great new collection and take advantage of the 20% OFF sale on remaining styles.
We got in the Joe Snyder collection recently here at JockBoyLocker.com and I was very excited. I went through all the underwear and swimwear we got in and I knew right away that I had to get a few pairs for myself. I love all the mens underwear and mens swimwear we got from them. The first pair of underwear I had to have was the Joe Snyder Cotton Cheek Boxer. This is one hot pair of underwear and it fits so great. I love how my butt looks in these. I have kind of a bubble butt and my cheeks hang just below the underwear. I am including a pic of me wearing them so you can see what I'm talking about. They are made of 94% cotton and 7% spandex so they stretch just enough. Check them out at JockBoyLocker.com and get a pair for yourself.
We are counting down the days until the start of the voting portion of our "JockBoy of the Year" Contest and if you haven't entered yet you have 5 days! So get those photos snapped they can be of you playing a sport, dressed in sports gear or you showing off your best pair of underwear or swimwear! One photo is all it takes to win $1000.00 in men's underwear, swimwear and JockBoy Bucks. And don't forget our 2nd place and 3rd place winners get wonderful prizes as well. We have also decided to extend our 10% OFF sale on Joe Snyder products until April 30th, Joe Snyder is the Platinum Sponsor of our contest and if you haven't tried their products you should. Make sure to check out our remaining stock of N2N Bodywear our Gold Sponsor once these items are gone they are gone as we will be getting in the BRAND NEW 2008 N2N Bodywear collection within the next few weeks.
Get 10% Off on Joe Snyder through April 18th. Joe Snyder is the Platinum Sponsor of our "JockBoy of the Year" Contest and if you haven't tried their products you should! They are great for wearing by the pool, at the beach or as underwear since Joe Snyder swimwear is unlined. Also if you haven't had a chance to enter our "JockBoy of the Year" contest start taking those photos and enter today. You may just win the GRAND PRIZE of $1000.00 in men's underwear, men's swimwear and JockBoy Bucks. It really is simple to enter all it takes is one great photo to be voted on of you playing your sport of choice or dressed in your sporting gear & one verification photo with you holding a sign that says "JockBoy of the Year" it's that simple. So take advantage of the great sale and get those photos in today!
"Jock Boy of the Year" Contest @ JockBoyLocker.com
ATLANTA, GA – March 15, 2008 – JockBoyLocker.com is having its first annual "Jock Boy of the Year" Contest. We are inviting amateur male athletes from all over the world to submit pictures of themselves playing their sport for consideration in the contest.
The contest will be inclusive of all sports; swimming and diving, track and field, hockey, tennis, baseball, soccer, football (American), rugby, cycling/triathlon, and boxing. The contestants will be voted on by the general public to decide on who the final 3 winners will be.
The first prize winner will be crowned "JockBoy of the Year" and receive $1,000 in underwear and/or swimwear and Jock Boy Gift certificates. The second prize will be $500 in underwear and/or swimwear and Jock Boy Gift Certificates. The third prize will be $250 in underwear and/or swimwear and Jock Boy Gift Certificates.
Joe Snyder is the Platinum sponsor of the Jock Boy of the Year contest. Joe Snyder’s versatility has enabled it to sell extremely well in two clothing categories; men’s underwear and men’s swimwear.
N2N Bodywear is the Gold sponsor of the contest. N2N has a large collection of men’s underwear, swimwear and athletic wear.
This is a chance for all the male amateur athletes out there to show off their hard work and good looks. We are accepting submissions from 12:00am April 1, 2008 through 11:59pm April 30, 2008. The voting begins on May 1, 2008 and ends on May 31, 2008. The winners will be announced in the first week of June 2008.
For complete rules go to http://www.jockboylocker.com/contestrules
You can check out the contest starting on April 1, 2008 at http://www.jockboylocker.com/contest.hmtl
Starting April 1, 2008 we will be launching our biggest contest ever. Check back on Saturday March 29, 2008 to find out what its going to be and how you could win.
Sport Drinks are becoming more popular everyday, but do you know when and how you should be drinking them? There are many different types of energy drinks on the market all promoting that their drink is the best. It isn't which brand you drink, but how you drink it. Energy drinks are beneficial to those that exercise or compete for periods of 60 minutes or longer, or exercise in warmer temperatures. The way that the body absorbs nutrients and fluids is affected by the rate at which they are emptied from the stomach into the small intestine.
Gastric Emptying
Some factors that influence gastric (stomach) emptying are that large fluid volumes in the stomach increase the emptying rate into the intestine. Other factors such as increased concentrations of solutes (sugar) and exercise intensity above 75% decreases the gastric emptying rate and may cause stomach upset, and/or diarrhea. An athletes fluid absorption is increased by consuming low to moderate levels of glucose and the temperature of the fluid doesn't seem to play as much of a role in absorption as once thought. General Guidelines Here are some guidelines to help you choose a proper energy drink...
PARTICLES
You should avoid drinks that contain high concentrations of particles because it decreases the rate of gastric emptying. There is little difference between liquid glucose, sucrose, or starch when ingested as the carbohydrate fuel source during exercise.
FRUCTOSE
Fructose is not a recommended fuel because of its slow absorption and it also promotes low fluid absorption.
CARBOHYDRATES
A re-hydration drink should contain a carbohydrate concentration between 5-8%. Higher concentrations cause a delayed gastric(stomach) emptying and possible stomach upset or diarrhea. To determine the carbohydrate concentration in a drink, divide the carbohydrate content (in grams) by the fluid volume (in milliliters) of the drink and multiply by 100. This range usually allows proper carbohydrate replacement and without limiting fluid absorption, and temperature regulation.
SODIUM
Drinks that contain sodium may benefit ultra-endurance athletes by maintaining plasma osmolality, reduces urine output, and sustains the physiological urge to drink.
Liquid Timing
Consuming 400-600ml of fluid immediately before exercise increases the beneficial effect of having an increased stomach volume, and fluid and nutrient passage into the intestine. You should continue to consume 150-250ml of fluid (at 15 minute intervals) throughout exercise to replenish the fluid that is passed into the intestine and it will also maintain a large gastric volume during exercise. The optimal carbohydrate replacement rate is between 30-60g per hour ingested at least 30 minutes before usual fatigue would have set in without a carbohydrate supplement. Maximal fluid ingestion is about 1000ml per hour to prevent dehydration without gastrointestinal discomfort.
Conclusion
Each athlete will have to determine which drink they like best or that will help them perform better. These guidelines should help you maintain proper hydration and optimize performance. The keys to a good energy drink are that it tastes good, offers the potential to improve performance, gets absorbed rapidly and won't cause stomach upset.
