On Friday 27th January, 2012, Monica’s Gold Challenge took place in and around SportPark at Loughborough University. The main aim of the day was to raise money for LOROS in memory of our dear colleague Monica Gibbs who sadly passed away in September 2010. Our 2nd target was to cover 2012km in total on the day by running, cycling and using rowing machines. With 82 people signed up to take part, it was going to be tough challenge.

The day started early for 5 eager participants as they covered a total of 150km before 8.30am and with a further 6 people going out on a bike ride at lunchtime we had already covered 330km before the main groups started.

At 1pm participants from all over SportPark began the main part of the challenge. With a big final push we finally finished at 5.30pm. By the end, we’d covered a combined effort of 2074KM which is an incredible effort from all those taking part. This has now risen to 2139.91KM after we added in a few people that couldn’t make the event but wanted to take part at other locations.

This is a big target for us to have to try and beat in 2013! We hope to have raised in the region of £3000 for LOROS and if you would like to find out more about how you or your organisation can help raise more funds for this very worthy cause then please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. We would also be happy to meet with you if you would like to run a similar event as part of your Workplace Challenge.

This event simply wouldn’t have happened had it not been for the support of the following people and organisations:

• Concept 2 for supplying the Rowing Machines

• British Cycling, Team Cycles, Loughborough University and Leicester City Council for supplying Wattbikes and exercise bikes

• GlaxoSmithKlein for donating drinks to keep us going during the day

• IMAGO for donating Bananas and of course Teresa Dalby for making her fantastic Flapjacks!

• Volleyball England for being a huge support in setting up the day and for the use of their Van

• SportPark Reception Staff for their encouragement and for putting up with all the comings and goings throughout the day

• LOROS and Gold Challenge for helping us with the logistics of the day

However, the biggest thank you of the day must go to all those that took part. We had participants from Leicester-shire and Rutland Sport, several of our partner organisations, many different organisations based at SportPark and most importantly members of Monica’s Family and their Friends. This was a great team effort and we hope to go on to even bigger and better things next year.

Last week I met up with Will Carling, the former England rugby union captain.  He captained the national side 72 times and led the team to victory in four 5 Nations Championships (as it was known before Italy were introduced), whilst also taking the 1991 group of players to the World Cup Final.

Since retiring Will has been cycling as a way to keep fit, taking part in various events including The London-Paris which he will once again be riding in 2012.  This is the kind of event where you don't just turn up and ride, there is training to be done and Will chooses to do much of his on his Wattbike.  He's aiming for one of the faster groups in this year's London-Paris and has been putting some serious training in!  It's great to hear in the interview that Will is a recent convert to using power and heart rate to train, and that he's finding that training on a Wattbike is so much more time-efficient than simply 'going out for a ride'.

You'll often find Will posting his Wattbike sessions on his twitter feed, when he's not winding ex-footballers up about their own cycling exploits (we've got an interview with Lee Dixon coming up soon here on the blog), so give him a follow.  Given that the RBS 6 Nations is about to begin we couldn't let Will go without asking him for some brief thoughts on how he thinks things will play out (see video below).

Thanks Will, see you on the road at #L2P2012...

This month we've got a really nice intro track called 'Avalanche' and a few songs later we hear from David Bowie and Lady Gaga, not a duet in case you were getting all excited.  Who wouldn't want a little bit of Jive Talkin' by the Bee Gees in the middle of their session, live too, and then we go back to the 80s with The Theme from S'Express.

The final track is special request from Brel, not actually from Brel himself but from one of our Twitter followers,  it's a nice track to cool down too, chilled out and I chose it because as soon as saw it in Brel's playlist it reminded me of climbing the Col de la Madeleine, a beautiful, long climb which is so typical of the Alps.  And isn't that a nice thought to end a Wattbike session on...

Wattbike February Training Tracks on Spoitfy

Here is the review, direct from the Fire Service...

The FSSAA cycling section entered a new era with the introduction of a new angle of cycling – Wattbikes!

On the 16th of January the British Fire Service Cycling Section held its national competition, dominated by West Midlands, but with a competitor from Cheshire entered it made it a National event.

The racing format consisted of two groups of four riders, starting with a 400m time trial. Richard Whitley from Cheshire coming in with the fastest time, taking an early lead in the overall event. The next race was the 3000m scratch race - a painful event for a sprinter. Endurance paid off though for Steve Horsley, taking a clear win by 13 seconds.

The Team Sprint followed, with teams made up of two riders decided by times from the 400m time trial to give each team an equal chance of wining. Steve Nutt and Lewis Commins proved they were the fastest over 2 x 250m.

With a choice of events including a devil, points and 2000m scratch for the fourth race the majority voted for the latter. Again Steve Horsley showed true form to come in 11 seconds in front of the rest of the field.

The final event was a 400m handicapped race and with this advantage Julie Cooper took the final race, closely followed by Steve Nutt and Iain Evans.

The scores were totalled and the positions were as follows:

1st Steve Horsley
2nd Steve Nutt
3rd Lewis Commins
4th Andrew Savage
5th Iain Evans
6th Richard Whitley
7th Julie Cooper
8th Paul Cockburn

After receiving positive feedback from all persons involved, with more support there is the potential of Wattbikes becoming an annual competition for the British Fire Service cycling section.

Goody bags were received by all, so a big thank you to all that sponsored the event including Friary Grange Leisure Centre. West Midlands Fire Service Academy and Zipvit.

Thanks for the update and we hope to see the 2nd National Wattbike Fire Service Championship in 2013!

It’s been a while since I’ve written my last blog and like all cyclists after a winter season of no cycling I should apologise for not keeping you up to date on doing absolutely nothing. This however is not the case and during the European winter I travelled back to Australia to see my parents and train for the Australian championships.

Unfortunately this didn’t all go to plan and after more than 2 months of meticulous training I fell sick 2 days before the championships. I completed only 70km of the race and this was a huge disappointment for me. Life goes on and now I’m back home in Holland preparing for the season, which I hope to be a big one.

I learnt a lot about training, diet and my body after training so hard for the Australian champs and I hope to put this to good use this year when I’ll be racing my very first professional UCI races. Exciting stuff!

On the 5th of February I’ll be off to Spain for a training camp for 2 weeks and then my racing plan will be formed from that. I hope to start my season by the end of February or early March. At the moment the weather isn’t too crash hot here in Holland but lucky for me I can train indoors away from the freezing Dutch wind and rain on my Wattbike!

Thanks for the update Ian, we look forward to seeing how your season progresses.

We love receiving emails from Wattbike users across the world, most will tell us how the Wattbike has changed their method of training forever and some will highlight a great achievement where the user feels the Wattbike has played a major role. What I hadn't quite anticipated was an email from a dedicated Wattbike user that his employers were buying a Wattbike for their ship.

Simon got in touch to tell us a bit more about a Wattbike which will be taking to the seas very soon, "I work on a construction vessel mostly in the North Sea, carrying out construction and maintenance work for a company called Technip Offshore."

"We do saturation diving, which requires 12 of us to be in a pressurised system of chambers for up to 28 days at a time. Each team of 3 divers works for 6 hours each day, one stays in the bell, the other 2 work on the seabed, and although sometimes the work is physically hard, I find that because we are in the water, our legs don't really get much exercise."

"This has a definite effect on my performance on the road bike when I get home, so I use my Wattbike to help me get back to a good level of fitness when I return. I do various sessions, all power based, some hill sessions, and some aimed at pushing up my functional threshold. It usually seems to take a couple of weeks to get back to 'normal'. I also find it a lot easier to get on and train through the winter when the Northumbrian weather is doing its thing!"

"Our boss has just ordered a Wattbike for the gym onboard our vessel, which will be great for getting a few miles in before we get home, and there are alot of other people onboard who will use it aswell. There should be a few more names getting added to the rankings!"

This is such a great story, when the Wattbike was born we had no idea that it would be used in such a variety of locations, it does highlight one of the great features of the Wattbike though - the accuracy and calibration of every Wattbike means that Simon can be assured that the data he collects when he is onboard is comparable with his Wattbike at home.

Look forward to seeing the crew on their new Wattbike!

(Love that Simon has printed off  and stuck up his Training Zones from our online Calculator next to his Wattbike - essential!)

In the video below, Oli takes us back to the day of the crash, his immediate thoughts and through every step of his rehabilitation.  Oli had a great advantage in that he regularly trains on a Wattbike so had a wealth of performance data archived.  This data has been essential in letting Oli and his team at MyLife PT in Bristol understand when he returns to pre-accident condition.

The fantastic news in this comeback story is the data from the Wattbike indicates that Oli will return as a stronger rider.  You'll also get to hear the detail behind Oli's Wattbike sessions and some impressive numbers from his sessions.

It's an extended interview as we think Oli provides a fantastic insight into how an accident of this nature affects a pro rider and the hard work it takes to get back to world class competition.  Enjoy!

I personally experienced how great the Ride Captains are on last year's Alpine Challenge, Rachel and David looked after our group, ensuring we were safe, happy and having the best possible time.  (I even forgive Rachel for shouting at me when I unknowingly wandered onto the wrong side of the road while struggling up one of the Alpine climbs!)

In 2012 we are proud to be sponsoring the Ride Captains.  Why?  Well, we think they're some of the most passionate people we've ever met when it comes to cycling.  The Ride Captains are all training hard for The London-Paris on their Wattbikes and would be happy to talk to you about their experiences on one of the many HotChillee events.  And don't forget to check out the free L2P Training Plan and a very special discount for The London-Paris participants.

If you're taking part in The London-Paris then please do come to the first Training Ride this Sunday (29th) and meet them or head to the HotChillee Rendezvous in Mallorca next month.

Check out this video of the HotChillee Ride Captains when they visited the Wattbike Sport Science Lab...

James Fletcher on technique, endurance and life as a GB Age Group Triathlete
As 2011 came to a close we managed to grab a few minutes with Vivelo–Inverse CyClaim RT and GB Age Group triathlete James Fletcher to hear about how his 2011 season had gone and what his plans were for 2012.  He also gave us some insight into how he is structuring his training on the Wattbike and combining that with outdoor road cycling sessions.

Cavendish, Wiggins, Sky and Team GB train in Mallorca: Photo special
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins joined their Team Sky and Great Britain team-mates at a pre-season training camp on the Spanish island of Mallorca last week. Both the Sky and Team GB outfits have spent several weeks putting in the miles on the roads around Mallorca and in the velodrome in Palma.

London Bike Show: Wattbike from Tri247.com
The first of our video reports from the London Bike Show in the ExCeL last week features the legend that is Steve Trew working out on a Wattbike. He's actually using it to check out how well he's recovering from his knee operation last year but the instant feedback on how efficiently you are pedalling would be a great benefit to any athlete.

Fuel Like A Pro: Post Race
Last week we took a look at what the pros eat before and during the race. But what do they treat themselves to when everything is done and dusted?

Everything you need to know about European Sportives – part 1
First of all, let’s get things into the open – I am utterly addicted to European Sportives. They have dominated my goals and training focus for years. Cycling on the Continent is very different and through a series of articles I’ll try to take you to that world and, by sharing my experiences and passion, not only help you plan some events but help you ride them too.

Video: Beckingsale's road to recovery part 3
Here's part three of the series following British cross-country mountain bike racer Oli Beckingsale's rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered on the circuit last season.

Vin Cox to embark on "Hungry Bike Ride"
Vin Cox, the man who up until last week held the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe, has revealed details of his latest challenge – the "Hungry Bike Ride".

New exhibition feature will test whether riders could beat Mark Cavendish
A NEW feature in the ‘Our Sporting Life’ exhibition at the Manx Museum will give visitors the chance to take up a bike riding challenge to test riders and their ability to challenge the likes of Mark Cavendish.  A ‘Wattbike’ - created to assess the ability riders of all ages and skill levels - will be featured at the museum’s Body Shack Fitness Centre on January 28 and is available free for all visitors to join in the fun.

London Olympic hopefuls: Lizzie Armitstead
It's very special that the Olympics is in London. As a first Olympic experience it's going to be pretty incredible. In comparison to some of the cycling events I've done, the World Championships are often really big, but I guess that it will be 10 times bigger. I honestly can't imagine how huge it's going to be.

So, two weeks of almost no physical activity left me feeling a little rough around the edges when it comes to riding a bike.  From a motivation point of view I like to follow plans; If I can see what is coming up then I almost look forward to the sessions, even the painful ones.

Eddie spent quite a bit of time carefully constructing the London-Paris Training Plan so I'm following it diligiently.  All of the sessions so far have been in Zone 1 and 2, fairly low level stuff at 65%-75% of maximum heart rate and as I've started to get some feeling back into my legs I'm finding it really hard to resist the temptation to look ahead to Week 8 and do one of the harder sessions.

Eddie, I know you read this, and you'll be glad to know I've stuck to the plan.

It's even harder to stick to the plan when you are out riding in a group.  Phil Jones, of www.race-pace.net, wrote a nice blog on keeping within specific training zones on group rides.  The Plan I'm following features a mix of Wattbike and outdoor rides, it fits nicely with the time of year as I can get the single outdoor session in at the weekend and do the two or three Wattbike sessions during weekday evenings.  (I experimented with a 07:30 Wattbike session and suprisingly felt OK for the rest of the day).

I've only been out on one group ride this year and purposely avoided using a heart rate monitor as I felt it would spoil the ride with friends; it's been my only deviation from the training plan but I didn't overstretch myself and enjoyed chatting with other riders.

It's back on the Wattbike again today for another Zone 2 session.

I want to go faster and harder but, for now, I'll resist the tempation.

FInd out more about using Heart Rate and Power Training Zones.

He is also credited as the person behind the turnaround in success for British Cycling, where in 1997 he set up the High Performance Programme which laid the foundations of success for the likes of Chris Boardman in 2000 through to Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton in more recent times.  Imitation is the best form of flattery and many other sports, both in the UK and overseas, have tried to copy the system set up by Peter, with varying degrees of success.

Peter was very much involved in the development of the Wattbike from 2000 onwards when we approached him at British Cycling with the idea to produce the perfect indoor cycle trainer.  Following many years of back and forth, we finally produced what is now the Wattbike, to be used not only by elite athletes for training and testing, but also for use at home and in the gym environment.

During the interview Peter talks about his role at UK Sport, the development of the Wattbike and how he uses a Wattbike at home to train whilst balancing an extremely busy lifestyle.  His enjoyment of the Wattbike comes from the feel ot riding a road bike and the ability for you to grow with the Wattbike as training device.

We've uploaded the entire interview, as it gives a real and unique sense into what went into the development of the Wattbike -  we're very grateful to Peter for spending time with us to give us his insight into the Wattbike.

Damian currently heads up the Rugby Players Association, the body which protects the interests of professional rugby players in England, a role which leaves him with less time than he'd like to train for some of the fantastic charity rides he has been doing with some of his former teammates.

Damian told us, "I've been using the Wattbike for over 2 years now and it's been an invaluable training tool for me whilst preparing for a number of fundraising adventures with my old Wasps & England team mate, Lawrence Dallaglio.  Given I’m not the classic size or build of a cyclist, the feedback from the Wattbike around my technique and form has been transformational in my endeavour to become more efficient when in the saddle."

"I've also found the ability to utilise different resistance levels has been excruciatingly helpful in preparation for the climbing we did through the Alps last year. I can’t recommend the Wattbike highly enough for a year round training apparatus."

Thanks for the update Damian - if you're taking part in this year's Dallaglio-Flintoff Cycle Slam a Wattbike will help you get to the start line in the best possible condition.

If you're a long-time Wattbike user and have a story or experience you want to share with us, then just drop a line to info@wattbike.com.

It's very simple to become a VIP, a case of a few clicks here on the website and then passing on your unique code to friends interested in purchasing a Wattbike.  When they order their Wattbike two things will happen: 1) They'll get their own shiny new Wattbike to train on and receive a nice hard copy of our Training Guide; and 2) You'll collect your first VIP points which you can exchange immediately or save up for some really cool kit.  (There is a third benefit too, your mates will stop making up even more excuses to 'just drop by your house for a go on your Wattbike' - yes, you know what we're talking about!)

Here's a little video we put together to explain how it all works or just head straight to the Wattbike VIP page.

James had previously spoken to us about how he was using the Wattbike to help improve his pedaling technique and with almost 2 years training on a Wattbike he's pretty much got that nailed, although he would be the first to admit that he still uses the Polar View to check his technique is holding good form.  We're sure that his coach might have something to say if he's found not keeping an eye on the fantastic technique he's built up - his coach goes by the familiar name of Eddie Fletcher!

He's off to Israel for the 2012 ETU Triathlon European Championships in April and will be getting a good mix of Wattbike and on-road sessions in prior to the event.  Good luck to James and we look forward to catching up with him post-Israel!

Jen told us, "I recently rode the Lake Dunstan Cycle Challlenge, a 96km race road the lake. It was a hot day and a challenging race with lots of hills. The race was contested by riders of all abilities from recreational riders through to pros and I finished the 4th U20 girl."

She then moved on to race in a new event, the challenging Eglinton Challenge in Te Anau, which is the shorter version of the Milford Mountain Challenge.  It seems like Jen has got herself into excellent shape and is holding her condition pretty well.  " I was very surprised at how easy I found the ride as usually I struggle on the hills. A small bunch of 8 of us got away in the start and we gradually dropped riders until we were down to only 3. We stayed away until the finish, just holding off the chasing bunch and I won the race when it came down to a sprint finish."

Supporting women riders is important to us here at Wattbike, as you will have seen through our support for Sarah Hammer and Carla Ryan, and we're really happy to hear Jen is making fantastic progress helped by training on a Wattbike.  We've also helped Jen out with some Wattbike kit and it was great to hear that she's wearing it during competition. "I was wearing my Wattbike kit as it is the most comfortable kit I own and I was proud to be representing Wattbike when I crossed the line. It was quite a strange experience to have the TV cameras following us on motorbikes and from a helicopter."

If you would like to be seen in Wattbike kit then take a look at our online shop, we can't promise it'll get you riding as fast as Jen but at least you'll look good.

Can't wait to get the next update.

Our Sport Scientist, Eddie Fletcher, went through the basics of the Wattbike and took John and Marsha through the how to set the Wattbike up, the Polar View and getting the most from the Expert Software.  Eddie also ran through some cadence-based sessions just to ensure they walked away with a bit of a sweat!

It's fair to say that judging by comments made by both John, Marsha and their clients on Twitter, the Wattbike has been very well received!

Take a look at the video below to hear John talk about RG Active, his thoughts on the Wattbike and how his clients will benefit from training on the machine.

No Ironman for Chrissie
Four time World Champion and World Ironman Distance Record Holder, Chrissie Wellington has announced that she'll be taking a break from competing in Ironman during 2012 to explore other opportunities, including the forthcoming publication of her autobiography, A Life Without Limits.

2012 British cycling’s greatest year – Malcolm Elliott
British cycling has got off to a strong start in 2012, a pivotal year in which all things two-wheeled look set finally to gain the recognition they deserve, and move from the margins to the mainstream.

ITU release website dedicated to the Olympic Games
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) have released a new website solely dedicated to this summer's Olympic Games in London.  The site will keep fans and media up to date with all the latest news and developments to do with triathlon at the Olympics, including a breakdown of the complex qualification process.

Fausto Coppi: the triumphs and the tragedies
52 years after his death, CN looks back at cycling's biggest headline maker.  If we focus solely on his cycling, the career of Fausto Coppi is in simple terms one of the most decorated of all time. The Italian dominated the sport either side of the Second World War, using his all-round skills as a climber, sprinter and time-trialist to build a palmares that rewrote the record books and raised the bar for those that followed him into professional road cycling.

British Cycling announces new grass roots women's racing programme for 2012
With the 2012 Road Season nearly upon us British Cycling’s Regional Events Officers (REOs) have responded to the growing demand for grass roots events for women by launching some early season events around the country tailored to meet the needs of novice female riders.

London Bike Show: Wattbike
The first of our video reports from the London Bike Show in the ExCeL last week features the legend that is Steve Trew working out on a Wattbike. He's actually using it to check out how well he's recovering from his knee operation last year but the instant feedback on how efficiently you are pedalling would be a great benefit to any athlete.

Cyclingnews exclusive: Bradley Wiggins interview
British rider talks about fame, the media and why he's in the best shape of his career.  As he admits himself, Bradley Wiggins has cut a more relaxed and reflective figure in the last year or so. Experience, maturity and a good run of results in 2011 - Tour de France aside - have lifted the storm clouds that at times followed him around since he finished fourth overall in the 2009 Tour de France.

Vuelta 2012: A La Bar!
Course Preview: A good Vuelta or a bad Vuelta? I needed to find out what the feelings are on this year’s Spanish Grand Tour and what better place than my local bar/office in the village. A bowl of almonds, a plate of meaty bits, some bread, a glass of coke with a coffee to follow and the Spanish sports papers to read, what more do I need? Just the comments from some people in the bar!

Forty!
This was the season that, no matter how fit I got or how hard I pushed myself, I could no longer stay away from that tireless chaser, birthday number 40. And it would be a big fat lie if I said I didn’t care at all.

There were some really great pedal techniques on display over the four days and some which needed some work, we can't all be Bradley Wiggins or Chris Hoy though can we...If you came to the show and have your pedal technique printout and want to refresh your memory on what it all means then let our Sport Scientist, Eddie Fletcher, talk you through the important points of the Polar View. Lots of questions about customisation of the Wattbike, so don't forget that you can attach your own saddle and pedals to the Wattbike and of course the seat and bars can be adjusted so that you can get a really great bike fit.

So, you enjoyed visiting us at the Show, you've got your pedal technique printouts and you know where you need to improve.  What next?  You can buy or hire a Wattbike via our website or check out local faciltiies that offer the Wattbike experience.  Take a look at our free Training Guides which are an essential read for any cyclist, triathlete or those who just want to manage their weight.

Our Alex met up with tri-legend Steve Trew to give him the lowdown on the Polar View, and Tri247.com were there to film it.

Warm-up starts from 18:15 with racing commencing at 19:00, a guaranteed great night out!

Entry forms can be downloaded here, but do get in quick!

If you'd like to set up your own Wattbike Race League then get in touch via info@wattbike.com for more information.

If you're a regular follower of the blog then you'll have already read about elite athlete Jenny Meadows, Wigan Warriors Rugby League club and windsurfer Sam Sills who are all at the top of their game, not to mention that if you're wanting to simply stay fit then we have a Weight Management Training Plan ready and waiting for you to follow.

Today, I wanted to introduce you to Team Evolution skiiing, we've been working with them for some time now, helping them to prepare their talent for the demands of ski racing.  The great thing about Team Evolution is their commitment to young talent, it's something that really comes through whenever we speak to the guys.  More than just being skilled on the slopes, they provide education and personal development, and not forgetting the fitness required for such a demanding sport.

We asked Yannick from Team Evolution to give us an insight into what makes a great ski academy, how they are using the Wattbike and the results they are seeing.  A good read.

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Team Evolution works as part of a structured, professional Alpine Academy programme, whilst providing educational support and personal development. The Team Evolution setup supplies unique and flexible annual training programmes to committed athletes, running individual programmes for mini's, children and junior racers. All programmes are individually designed to fit the needs of the athlete, and are based upon the Team Evolution philosophies, with proven results. Dependent on the goals of the trainee, execution of these programmes can vary from a minimum 10 week period, to supporting and mentoring athletes on a full-time basis over the course of several years.

The consequence of the elite Team Evolution setup is that over 80% of the athletes training with Team Evolution for the 2011/12 season are members of National Team programmes, and all are on the performance pathway towards achieving their specific athletic goals, whilst maintaining exceptional educational grades. All of our athletes have benefitted from the Wattbike at our training base out in St Johann Im Pongau, Austria.

For example, we put our minis who are all under the age of 11 on the Wattbike to compare the performance of their left and right legs during each training block whilst our National level juniors can do the same workout but at a higher intensity. The feedback from the the Wattbike allows us to closely monitor improvements in their leg strength which is crucial in alpine skiing because of the immense pressure they must exert on the skis in a race environment. Our athletes are all under the age of 16 and for them to see the benefits whilst on the Wattbike and what the data tells them, they all find it interesting and helpful.

Furthermore, in a sport such as alpine skiing, we at Team Evolution always bear in mind the fact that injuries do occur. Sarah Cuthbert, Children’s team athlete, fell in training at high speeds which resulted in her being out for the season and undergoing surgery on her knee. She has been using the Wattbike to stabilize the injured knee and is working well through her rehab because of the use of a Wattbike.

Another was Max Baggio one of our National Junior athletes and Team GB squad member who was the favourite to attend the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2012. Unfortunately he fell inside in a GS training run two weeks before the Team GB times trails and cut open his knee. His ski sliced through his patella and nicked his ligament, which cost him his place at the Youth Winter Olympics. Because the cut was so deep he was in a cast for 10 days and could not bend his knee.

During his rehab we used the Wattbike once his cast came off to regain the strength his injured leg had lost and improve the range of movement. Due to the Wattbike Max came back to 90% fitness in 2 weeks and is now currently back skiing, doing what he does best.

We believe that the Wattbike can extend our athletes careers as incorporating some off-feet conditioning into their programs and reducing time spent on their feet will minimise injuries and reduce the weight load as they ski every morning at a 100percent.  We are impressed with the Wattbike as it is so versatile and could never go back to using any other bike. It's not just your typical exercise bike, it allows the athlete to carefully monitor every aspect of their workout.

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Thanks to all of Team Evolution for this insight into their fantastic setup, some great talent.

Photos:

Sarah Cuthbert career highlights
LSERSA Regional Junior 1 Champion 2011
Top 10 English Championships Slalom
English Schools Championships Team Winner 2011

Max Baggio career highlights
English Giant Slalom Junior 1 Champion
British Youth Olympic Squad 2011
British Childrens Team 2007-2010

One quote from the article that really stands out for me is: Combine Power with Heart Rate though, and you've got an incredibly powerful system for monitoring your training

The Wattbike enables you to monitor both your Power and Heart Rate to an unrivalled level of accuracy and it's important to remember that the Wattbike is factory-calibrated, for life.

Cycling Plus is available in shops now, there's also a wonderful article on riding the Etape which is essential reading for anybody heading to France this July.

"What really impresses me about the Wattbike is its versatility; I work with elite road, mtb and track cyclists but also professional rugby players and they have all benefitted from the Wattbike at our Performance Centre.  For example, we put a 130kg Russian second row on the bike to compare the performance of his left and right legs during rehab from a knee problem whilst my wonderful mother-in-law, who is 70 next birthday, is on the bike every day.  The reliability of the feedback the Wattbike provides allows us to closely monitor improvements, which the athletes find reassuring and motivating.

Furthermore, I’m constantly reminding rugby players, young and old, that the Wattbike can extend their careers if they incorporate some off feet conditioning into their programs and reduce time spent on their feet.

The photo shown is of Sinead Jennings, former world rowing champion (single scull) using the Wattbike as she trains for the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Series.  This is at our Allegre Performance Centre in South West France."

Thanks Paul, it's great to hear how the Wattbike benefits people of all abilities & ages.

For more info on the services Paul offers go to http://www.allegre-rugby.com/

2012 team kit watch

As the top teams host their official team presentations and return to competition, so we get a chance to see what they'll be wearing in 2012.

Dean Downing back in the saddle on a Wattbike

Interviewing one of the nicest riders in cycling makes for an enjoyable day out, and so it was that we ventured to see Rapha Condor Sharp pro Dean Downing at his home in South Yorkshire.

How Much Does Pre-Race Hydration Affect My Performance?

Every triathlete knows that proper hydration is essential for finishing a race, but could effective hydration actually make you faster?

We've got a Wattbike and we're gonna use it

So, I have a Wattbike to train on for the next three months. Cool. Now I just need to get down to some hard work in the saddle.

Top Smartphone Apps For Triathlon

This selection of the best smartphone triathlon apps for Android and Apple phones can really give a technological boost to your training.

Wattbike January Training Tracks

Thanks for all the submissions for January's Wattbike Training Tracks, quite a diverse mix of songs as last month but this should last you through an hour's Wattbike session.

Jenny Meadows Season Review and Looking Forward to London 2012

Before Xmas I went to see Jenny Meadows, GB elite 800m athlete at Wigan Warriors Rugby league training base.  We talked about a range of things from looking back at a disappointing World Championships, taking a break from training and of course, her thoughts as we enter an Olympic year.

Video: Neil Stephens reflects on successful day for GreenEdge

GreenEdge director Neil Stephens was pleased with Simon Gerrans' Mars Cycling Australia elite men's road race win, but said there were some nervous moments for the team leading into the final kilometres.

Heart to Heart (Base Miles)

I wrote last week about heart rate zones and base mile training.  The idea being to draw more on fat than carbohydrates as your fuel for your ride aswell as building an aerobic base.  Ideally your heart rate should not exceed heart rate zone 2 for you to fully benefit.

Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish insist both can succeed on Tour

Speaking as trade team‑mates for the first time since 2008, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish seemed to have a single voice: this July, both men agree, it should be possible for Team Sky to reconcile their disparate goals in the Tour de France.

I use the Wattbike every other day for an hour session and a double session at weekend, which has proved invaluable to me. Earlier this year I completed the Austria Ironman with a 5 hour bike split. This was certainly down to all the training on the Wattbike.

The feedback is excellent. Although of course turbo trainers and other exercise bikes give you information as well, none are as detailed and precise as the Wattbike. The data provided and accuracy is fantastic. This feedback enabled me to tailor my exact training requirements and wattage output to gain maximum efficiency for the Ironman.

I know what I am capable of and how much effort is needed to improve even the minimal of time improvements. You feel very confident when racing knowing what wattage you have been pushing during training sessions.

The solid build of the bike is excellent and I have had no issues whatsoever all year. The different adjustment levels afford you the opportunity of exactly replicating your bike position unlike many other static bike manufacturers.

Other members of my family are also gaining benefit! My 14 daughter used it to improve her fitness for sports day and a 5k race recently. My son who is recovering from an ACL operation finds the individual leg feedback incredibly useful for his rehabilitation. His consultant is even considering buying one for himself after seeing how well my son is recovering.

Finally I find the hill setting adjustment very useful for cardio fitness which is great to combine with occasional full effort sessions thereby helping maximise ones VO2 capacity.

As we arrived Dean had just finished his first Wattbike session of the day, an impressive hour with a few blocks at varying power levels.  He's following a plan provided by team sponsor Claremont Hospital which progresses from a straightforward 60 minute session around the 150-200W mark up to hour sessions with a number of blocks of 5mins at 300W.  Those have to be painful.

Dean's also been using some of the DVDs from the guys at 3LC.TV to help keep him motivated and we may just have to introduce him to our friends at The Sufferfest too.  He'd be the first to confess (and does so in the video below) that he is not a fan of turbo trainers but we think we may just have helped turn him towards a better way of training indoors on the Wattbike.  He particularly likes that he gets the feeling of riding out on the road.

It was interesting to hear that Dean trains using only heart rate when out on the road but has found being able to train with a combination of power and heart rate on the Wattbike has provided him with a lot more focus and knowledge about his condition and the quality of training sessions he can do.

Dean talked about the upcoming season, left us feeling jealous that he is about to head to Lanzarote for warm weather training and gave us some background on the club he has formed with his brother Russ, called Out of the Saddle, which raised over £13,000 for good causes in 2011.  Definitely worth a look.

Stay up to date with Dean's season on his personal website and that of his team at Rapha Condor Sharp.

Jenny's husband and coach, Trevor Painter, also spoke to us about how Jenny's training regime may differ in an Olympic year and her use of the Wattbike as an essential part of her preparation for competition.

We also talked about Jenny's appearance on BBC's Celebrity Mastermind and despite not being able to choose athletics as her specialist subject she did incredibly well with her knowledge of Wigan Warriors Rugby League.  She had certainly kept that one quiet!

Jenny is currently training in South Africa where no doubt the weather is infinitely better than it is in Wigan right now.

Take a look at the video below to hear Jenny and Trevor's thoughts.

Wattbike January Training Tracks

Enjoy!

We thought it would be nice to pull together our top 10 highlights of the year; we’ve interviewed some fantastic people over the last 12 months including Phil Liggett, Jenny Meadows, Sarah Hammer and Teun Mulder, attended some spectacular events such as the London Eye Wattbike Challenge and Alpine Challenge and most importantly to us, received some superb feedback from our loyal Wattbike community.  Keep an eye out on the blog for even more great interviews, training tips and the latest news throughout 2012.

Here are our top 10 Highlights of the Year…

Teun Mulder – we took a trip to the home of the 2011 World Track Championships in Apeldoorn in the summer to see Dutch track cyclist Teun Mulder.  Teun gave us a great insight into the Japanese Keirin School, his hopes for the track season and displayed some awesome power on the Wattbike.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/teun_mulder_talks_training_at_2000w_on_the_wattbike

Phil Liggett – quite simply, ‘The Voice of Cycling’.  Phil generously welcomed us to his home and spoke about how he manages a hectic work schedule with training on his Wattbike.  As the world’s leading commentator on cycling, he spends much of is his time living out of a suitcase, making his training time limited.  Phil loves his Wattbike.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/phil_liggett_talks_all_things_wattbike_with_us

Jenny Meadows – we meet lots of nice people, but it’s fair to say Jenny is in a category of her own.  Always willing to talk, Jenny provides an honest account of her ambitions and training alongside husband and coach, Trevor.  We’ve got more coming from Jenny soon, as she enters the most important year of her life.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/jenny_meadows_on_recovery_tapering_and_the_wattbike

Doc Roddy – a leading voice in the Wattbike online community, @docroddy bought a Wattbike following a injury in 2009 and his only regret is that he didn’t buy one a year earlier.  A regular on the Etape Caledonia, he completed the 2011 edition in just under 4 hours, no mean feat and over 20 minutes faster than his previous effort.  Check out this Q&A we did with him in the summer.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/gaining_time_with_the_wattbike

Four Nations – the England national rugby league squad took their game to a new level in the 2011 Four Nations tournament, reaching the final and putting in a superb performance which gives real hope for the future.  The squad trained on a Wattbike during the tournament and they were a regular fixture pitchside for warm-ups in each game.  We met up with Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Bitcon at England’s training camp.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_at_the_four_nations_rugby_league_tournament

London Eye – possibly the strangest location we have a seen a Wattbike challenge but also, without doubt, the most spectacular.  Staff from Lloyds Banking Group cycled for 24 hours in a pod on the London Eye, raising a fantastic amount of money for Save the Children.  We managed to get some awesome images from the day and as we said at the time, if you’re going to do a Wattbike session, you may as well have a good view!
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_flies_high_in_the_london_eye

Sarah Hammer – a trip to Mallorca saw us meet up with one of the classiest track cyclists in the World.  Sarah started to train on a Wattbike in 2011 at her base on the Spanish island and it’s fair to say (and not surprised) to see that she had an incredible pedalling technique.  Sarah opened her Track World Cup account with a crushing display to take the win in the Omnium in Cali, Columbia recently.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/double_world_record_holder_and_world_champion_sarah_hammer_talks_to_wattbik

Alpine Challenge – if we were forced to pick one highlight of the year then this would be it.  Spectacular scenery, rolling road closures, a wonderful group of people and temperatures of 30C and more.  3 days of cycling around the Alps (with a little bit of competition thrown in for good measured) finished off with a fantastic evening on the side of Lake Annecy is something we will never forget.  Did we mention we also got to ride with Triple Crown winner Stephen Roche?
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/tag/alpine+challenge

Ryan Scott – when somebody tweets that they have taken 40 minutes off a sportive time from the previous year and put much of that improvement down to training on a Wattbike, we sit up and listen.  Ryan sent us a little more info outlining exactly how he did it, and it’s no secret.  He just bought a Wattbike and followed one of our free training plans.  What could be easier?
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/how_to_ride_a_sportive_40_minutes_faster_than_last_year

Cyclosport End of Season Party – a fantastic way to round of the year, a sunny ride through the leafy lanes of Surrey, taking in Box Hill on the 2012 Olympic Road Race course, a lovely 3 course meal, a Q&A with leading lights of the UK cycling scene and a Wattbike challenge thrown in for good measure.  We couldn’t think of a better way to end the season.
http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/cyclosport_end_of_season_party_box_hill

We hope you’ve had the chance to review some of the above with us and that you have your sights set on some great challenges and events of your own in 2012.  We hope that we can once again play a big part in helping you achieve your goals and if you are doing something special in the new year then get in touch and we’ll get it on the Wattbike blog.

Have a great Christmas and New Year, don’t worry about how much you eat and drink, an extra Wattbike session will sort out that extra mince pie and glass of wine you’ll no doubt have.

See you in 2012!

It's a simple calculation, power divided by weight, this gives a much more sensible comparison as heavier riders will often out-perform ligter riders when doing a peak power test on a static bike.  Put them both out on the road, and especially when it goes uphill, and the lighter ride may well diappear into the distance.

Eddie, our sports scientists, has written a really useful piece on our Training Guide on the importance of  Power-to-Weight ratio for cyclists, so take a look and don't forget to weigh yourself next time you are comparing peak power scores.

Here's what Ryan had to say, including some nice screenshots of his data:-

I wanted to find a way to display how training on the Wattbike allows me to have complete control over my heart rate zones. I used my Garmin 310XT to record two separate sessions. The first was a 2 x 10KM time trial attempting to reach race pace on both 10K’s. The second is the 20KM bike leg of a duathlon 11 days later.

 

For the above work out I completed a 10 min warm up with “rev outs” at 5, 7, and 9 minutes respectively before completing 10KM at race pace. As you can see my heart rate increases progressively during the 10KM. I was aiming for a negative split between the two. Unfortunately I went a bit hard on the first 10K and missed the negative split by a couple of seconds.

In complete contrast is the trace for the bike leg of a duathlon. The course was relatively flat with a few rolling climbs but nothing that involved the small chain ring or out of the saddle pedalling. As you can see I went off too hard, nearly reaching my maximum heart rate in the first 5 mins! For the rest of the 20K my heart rate peaks and troughs, but there is a general downward trend.

So, this proved to be very interesting. Firstly you can see that during my training sessions on the Wattbike I’m able to produce a constant sustained effort during 10KM time trials. But, when it comes to race day I get a little carried away and set off too hard, too early. Secondly, when trying to build strength for events such as duathlons and triathlons involving 20 plus kilometre bike legs the Wattbike is able to offer me a constant resistance that allows me to remain in the higher zones as experienced during races.

I’m now back following the Triathlon winter training plan and sessions like the 2 x 20min zone 2-3 should really help me with my pacing for next season.

Thanks for the update Ryan, look forward to seeing the improvements from your winter training on a Wattbike!