http://wattbike.com/ Blog posts http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/kettering_cycling_club_event/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/2037/ Here at Wattbike HQ, lots of groups decide to use Wattbikes for fundraising and public attractions for cycling. Read the report below by Kettering Cycle Club for what they did when they hosting the Halford's Tour Series in June.   By Gavin Hinxman. Kettering Cycling Club Halfords Tour Series – Kettering, 10th June 2010 - Wow, what a spectacle! We were asked by Kettering Borough Council if we were interested in promoting cycling & the Kettering Cycling Club at the Halfords Tour Series that came to town on June 10th. This was too good of an opportunity to miss but we needed some ideas of how we could make the display a spectacle. One of our initial brainstorming ideas was to enquire about the use of the Wattbike. A number of us had seen them work well at other events. We needed something to draw the crowd over to us. Getting the use of the bike proved very easy thanks to Wattbike. Prior to the day we had put together a large collection on old and present photographs of the club with pictures dating back to 1890 right up to include the technology of the present day. We also had some carbon Colbert Bikes on display kindly leant to us by club member Stephen Colbert. By adding the Watt bike on the stand we had something for everyone. The Wattbike is a static exercise bike that can be adjusted to suit riders of all shape & sizes. It needs no external power so it was so easy to set up & use. Organising the Wattbike hire was very easy. Thanks to Steve Marshall for sorting us out here. I collected the bike from Nottingham on the Thursday morning. (Thanks to Jerry for being there at 7am, & loading the bike into the car). We set up our exhibition by early afternoon and set the bike up for a 200m sprint & invited people to have a go. The club riders were the first to get their names on the board – We had a simple white board with post-it notes that we moved around so the fastest time were always at the top. Straight away we had people wanting to top the time sheet. This brought lots of people to the stand. We had many people give it a go including the brother of former British Best All Rounder cycling champion Gary Dighton; we had members of the council (male & female) and many children including go-rider Bailey Hodson who had two goes despite not being able to reach the pedals! Kettering council event organiser & CyclingBargains RT rider Michael Cowland was the fastest rider overall until 2009 Gladiator TV show winner David Staff took the top honours. This was only bettered towards the end of the day by a guy that wasn’t even a ‘cyclist’ – what other undiscovered talent do we have out there? !!! The event was a success, lots of people watched the race (televised the day after) & we had a lot of interest in the club. Thanks to Steve Marshall at Wattbike for the use of the bike (www.wattbike.com). Wattbikes can be purchased or hired from Wattbike. The bike does a lot more than we used it for, they can do pedalling efficiency testing (to see if you push on just the downstroke or if you push & pull for the full 360 degrees, all interesting & valuable analysis). It would be great to get one for a winter club night session in the future.   http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/raising_money/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/2036/ We just got an email from Flight Lieutenant Kenny Kemlin who hired 2 Wattbikes for fundraising at the RAF Waddington Air show. Lots of cycling, great peak power scores and plenty of money raised. Full report below. Steve, I wanted to write to you to thank you for your assistance in our charity cycle challenge by hiring to us two of your fabulous WattBikes for the international RAF Waddington Air Show last weekend.  Thanks to your bikes, and the innovative software you supplied, our stand was one of the busiest and it provided scores of people, of all ages, with a fantastic opportunity to race one another.  The leaderboard concept worked brilliantly too and bred a healthy competitive edge for those that were feeling brave!  We had a few quick times over 200 m and one gentleman even achieved a peak power of over 2200!   As a direct consequence of your generosity, we managed to raise in excess of £300, which has helped us surpass a total of £8000 so far for Help for Heroes. Once again, many thanks for the loan of the equipment and I have attached a couple of photos of our stand for you. www.justgiving.com/cycleRAF Kind regards, Kenny Hemlin http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/follow_team_htc_-_columbia_on_google_maps/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/2023/ After I met a few of the Team HTC - Columbia at their wind tunnel testing last year, I have been following them with interest.  This is a great service allowing you to see exactly where they are on the road at the Tour de France. You know that things are going to get interesting when, at the end of a stage, the black dot leads the red dot into the last few hundred metres! Check out http://www.google.com/landing/mytrackstour/ and you will see what I mean! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/james_cracknell_takes_on_america/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1995/ It was not enough for James Cracknell to be the highest placing Brit ever at the Marathon des Sables, (made slightly harder as he also had a broken toe)! We have been following James' exploits since he retired from competitive rowing - he has been training on the Wattbike and working with resident Wattbike Physiologist and legend Eddie Fletcher, so we were not overly surprised to hear that he has a new challenge! Starting this Thursday, July 15th on the west coast of Southern Californian (in Santa Monica) James is taking on America. He is racing non-stop across the US to the Statue of Liberty in what may be his 'toughest challenge yet'! - which lets face it would mean that he expects it to be pretty tough! He has chosen four Olympic disciplines to complete the challenge as follows: Cycle 350 miles from Santa Monica to Death Valley National Park in Nevada Run 80 miles through Death Valley Cycle 2,500 miles from Death Valley to Toledo, Ohio on the western tip of Lake Eerie Row 250 miles the length of Lake Erie from Toledo to Buffalo, New York Cycle 500 miles From Buffalo to New York City Swim 15 miles to the Statue of Liberty James will be followed every step of the way by the Discovery TV documentary film crew (if they can keep up), and he hopes to complete the challenge in 16 days. To help him along the way he will have the support of multi-endurance sport and survival expert, Bernie Shrosbree and the backing of Merida Bicycles. We spoke to James about it when he popped into the office a few weeks ago, and then on Thursday when we caught up with Bernie for a coffee - both were very upbeat about the event and were looking forward to the challenge (and also suggested that Matthew Pinsent may put in an appearance at Lake Eerie and row some the distance alongside James, we will report back on that one!) For us normal people the scale of the challenge is quite mind-boggling, and James is well-aware that he will need to call on all his reserves of energy and motivation to keep going which is why he would like as many people as possible to support him. If you'd like to send James any messages he can be contacted at www.twitter.com/jamescracknell http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_in_the_news1/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1990/ It has been a busy few weeks since coming back from holiday, and now the tour has started so I have been rather distracted... Here are a few of the articles that have come across my desk and are worth a look: A mention of Wattbikes being used to test Commonwealth mountain bikers in Fantastic Win at Welsh Mountain Bike Champs! A Wattbike update from ActiveNorfolk Norwich team won the Streetlife Cycles vouchers on offer to the winners of a Wattbike team pursuit on EveningNews24 Wattbikes for Wentworth on civichall.org.uk Wattbikes are being used for Corporate Wellbeing - article on ActiveNorfolk The Wattbikes at Wentworth already getting in the press - on Journal Live http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbikes_at_the_british_downhill_series/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1938/ Wattbikes have been making an appearance at the British Downhill Series and have been very well received, and produced some unusual location shots. Normally we think of the Wattbike as an indoor trainer, but Adam from PF Performance had a different idea.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbikes_at_headley_court/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1921/ Headley Court is a cutting edge rehabilitation facility for wounded service men and women that has recently been funded by Help for Heroes. We are pleased to say that the Wattbikes have been very well received and are being used every day. They feature in the video below of Prince William formally opening the new facility.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/alastair_campbell_shows_true_colours_-_polka_dot/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1900/ Tuesday morning and I see this little tweet from Alastair Campbell: "tip to Wattbike users - put Ipod on shuffle, adjust hill climb setter on right of bike to allow you to pedal in time. Good hill workout" Having used the Wattbike for hill training before the pictoresque hill-fest ride which was the Spud Riley ride, I could not agree more! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/rachel_pryblski_takes_on_the_wattbike_peak_power_test/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1878/ Rachel Przybylski of Rapha Condor Ladies takes on the Wattbike Peak Power Test on Cycling TV.    Peak Power Test - Background Information The Peak Power Test measures short term anaerobic capacity (STAC) and is defined on a Wattbike as the highest peak power in Watts achieved during a maximal 6 second burst. It is usually achieved in the first 3 revolutions (but not always). STAC is an important component for sprint cyclists, in particular during a flying 200 m when short sprints of 10-15 seconds are required, at the start of a 1000 m time trial, individual and team pursuit and the sprint finish at the end of a road race.   A peak power score needs to be seen in the context of the type of cyclist, an apparent ‘low’ score may be good for an endurance cyclist but ‘poor’ for a sprinter.   Top male sprinters, on a Wattbike can maintain cadences in excess of 150 on resistance level 10 for 200 m - under 10 seconds for the 200 m with average watts close to 1600.   A quick experimentation with the resistance setting and cadence level will indicate the optimum combination. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/james_millard_takes_on_the_wattbike_peak_power_test/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1877/ James Millard of Cyclepremier.com / Metaltek takes on the Wattbike Peak Power Test with Cycling TV.   Peak Power Test - Background Information The Peak Power Test measures short term anaerobic capacity (STAC) and is defined on a Wattbike as the highest peak power in Watts achieved during a maximal 6 second burst. It is usually achieved in the first 3 revolutions (but not always). STAC is an important component for sprint cyclists, in particular during a flying 200 m when short sprints of 10-15 seconds are required, at the start of a 1000 m time trial, individual and team pursuit and the sprint finish at the end of a road race.   A peak power score needs to be seen in the context of the type of cyclist, an apparent ‘low’ score may be good for an endurance cyclist but ‘poor’ for a sprinter.   Top male sprinters, on a Wattbike can maintain cadences in excess of 150 on resistance level 10 for 200 m - under 10 seconds for the 200 m with average watts close to 1600.   A quick experimentation with the resistance setting and cadence level will indicate the optimum combination. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/dan_lloyd_takes_on_the_wattbike_peak_power_test/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1876/ Cervelo Test Team Rider Dan Lloyd takes on the Wattbike Peak Power Test with Cycling TV, with impressive results.   Peak Power Test - Background Information The Peak Power Test measures short term anaerobic capacity (STAC) and is defined on a Wattbike as the highest peak power in Watts achieved during a maximal 6 second burst. It is usually achieved in the first 3 revolutions (but not always). STAC is an important component for sprint cyclists, in particular during a flying 200 m when short sprints of 10-15 seconds are required, at the start of a 1000 m time trial, individual and team pursuit and the sprint finish at the end of a road race.   A peak power score needs to be seen in the context of the type of cyclist, an apparent ‘low’ score may be good for an endurance cyclist but ‘poor’ for a sprinter.   Top male sprinters, on a Wattbike can maintain cadences in excess of 150 on resistance level 10 for 200 m - under 10 seconds for the 200 m with average watts close to 1600.   A quick experimentation with the resistance setting and cadence level will indicate the optimum combination. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/phil_liggett_takes_on_the_wattbike_peak_power_challenge/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1875/ Legendary cycling journo Phil Liggett took on the Cycling TV peak power test a couple of weeks ago with some impressive results. He is now training on the Wattbike so we are looking forward to seeing his Sportif results later in the year.      Peak Power Test - Background Information The Peak Power Test measures short term anaerobic capacity (STAC) and is defined on a Wattbike as the highest peak power in Watts achieved during a maximal 6 second burst. It is usually achieved in the first 3 revolutions (but not always). STAC is an important component for sprint cyclists, in particular during a flying 200 m when short sprints of 10-15 seconds are required, at the start of a 1000 m time trial, individual and team pursuit and the sprint finish at the end of a road race.   A peak power score needs to be seen in the context of the type of cyclist, an apparent ‘low’ score may be good for an endurance cyclist but ‘poor’ for a sprinter.   Top male sprinters, on a Wattbike can maintain cadences in excess of 150 on resistance level 10 for 200 m - under 10 seconds for the 200 m with average watts close to 1600.   A quick experimentation with the resistance setting and cadence level will indicate the optimum combination. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/perfect_wattbike_set_up_-_theres_an_app_for_that/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1879/ Ever since getting a road bike several years ago, I've slowly learnt the nuances of positioning for my optimum riding position. How useful would this have been to have had a look at this back then - http://www.sizemybike.com/. Just input your measurements and the app will tell you the correct positioning for your road bike or mountain bike. The great thing is you can replicate both on your Wattbike, so you can get perfect your aero position, fitness and cycle technique on the best static bike in town! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/the_wattbike_polar_view_explained/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1838/ One aspect of the Wattbike that makes it unique is the Polar View display on the performance computer and software. This view allows you to monitor at what point in the pedal turn you are applying power, and where you are applying the peak force. This can become a very powerful training tool, making the Wattbike, not simply a great physiological training tool, but also the best technique training tool available. When combined with the ability to review all sessions through the software this can make the process of learning to pedal more effectively an exciting challenge. In the video below Wattbike's resident Sport Scientist explains the polar view.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_videos_added_to_the_site/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1835/ It seems like weeks ago that we filmed these - I suppose that is because it was! I have now added some of the footage that we shot with Eddie Fletcher, John Wilson and me talking about the Wattbike and different elements of the Wattbike. They have been embedded into the site, for those of you who are interested I have dropped the first three into this post. Enjoy. An Introduction to the Wattbike A Tour of the Wattbike Wattbike Frequently Asked Questions http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/england_footballers_using_the_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1818/ Back in October Steve posted that the England Football Team were preparing for the World Cup on Wattbikes, and that Ben had been down and dropped off the Wattbikes. The team were using the Wattbikes to do hypoxic training, in the same way that the British Lions' had before their tour of South Africa.  On last night's BBC ten o'clock news there was a feature about the England Football Team doing altitude training and at 1:07 in it featured the Wattbike being used in anger. Check it out at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8690766.stm http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/hamish_bond_-_world_rowing_champion_and_wattbike_legend/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1793/ Over the last few weeks I have been privy to a few emails from New Zealand, once I had sifted through the usual banter I did stumble across some pretty impressive information. Hamish Bond, winner of the coxless pairs at the 2009 World Rowing Championships (beating the GB pair into the silver medal) has been doing his training recently on the bike, and in the process set his mind to the ranking, and now holds all the ranking records from 750m all the way up to the hour. There is a short article about him at http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/3667613/Wheels-of-recovery-keep-turning-for-Bond http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/warm_up_on_the_wattbike_for_the_southern_downhill/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1787/ This year at the Southern Downhill competitors will be given a chance to warm up on Wattbikes. Our friends from PFPerformance will be leading the riders in getting the most out of their bodies by preparing correctly for racing. You can find a full explanation by Adam Powell of PFPerformance at Warm up at the BDS http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/in_conversation_with_nick_dempsey/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1777/ In February I spent a day with Pete Cunningham, Head Physiologist of the RYA, and Nick Dempsey, World Champion Windsurfer, to find out how they make use of the Wattbike in their training. We spent much of our time in their training centre - which was pretty chilly that day. I recorded much of our conversation and have uploaded a section of it onto our Youtube channel.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_featured_in_ride_magazine_-_australia/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1775/ The Wattbike has been featured, and offered as a prize, in the Australian magazine - Ride Cycling Review Click on the images below to view the full page as a PDF. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/charline_joiner_has_the_right_idea/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1770/ We spotted this story over the weekend - cyclist Charline Joiner identified that the Wattbike was the tool of choice for training when the weather is inclement. She had been using it for sprint training, and making sure that her pedalling technique is correct. Find out more at  http://www.braveheartfund.com/DiaryPost.asp?id=949 http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/corporate_ascents_choose_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1763/ Corporate Ascents are a new company offering team building and personal development through cycling. They offer a wide range of cycling activities from riding up Alps to mountain biking and track cycling in the UK. The Wattbike supports their Track Cycling days as well as forming an activity in its own right. We are looking forward to working with Roland and his team and I will be updating the blog with information as we have it.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/warm-up_service_at_british_downhill_series/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1762/ New warm up service at the British Downhill Series   On the weekend 10th and 11th April 2010, Adam Powell took 3 Wattbikes as warm up machines for the BDS - this is his report. The British Downhill Series (BDS) kicked off last weekend on the hills of Rheola in South Wales, with rounds at Fort William, Langollen, Moelfre and Caersws to follow over the next five months. Attracting top riders from all over the country, BDS is the UK’s top showcase for downhill racers, with categories ranging from juvenile (12 – 14) to veterans (40+). Brand new to the series this year is fitness and warm up support at the start line for all riders. Introduced by PF Performance, a specialist in race performance and exercise, the service gives all competitors the chance to optimise their race run preparation, both mentally and physically. While the concept of warm up is new to downhill racing, it’s no secret that the sport is one of the most demanding; physically, psychologically and mentally. For those few minutes of adrenalin filled descent, the body is put under enormous strain – few would disagree that fitness and stamina are crucial success factors. Up until now however, riders have had little or no opportunity to keep warmed up between exiting the uplift and starting their race. As seen at Rheola, PF Performance is providing 3 Wattbikes at the start line for riders to warm up upon before commencing their descent. Endorsed by British Cycling, Wattbikes not only offer users performance feedback but also stats on force and power delivery, helping riders analyse and improve their technique. Riders used the bikes in the precious minutes before their race runs to work through their nervous energy, warming up their legs before pumping them ferociously down the tough Welsh terrains. Adam Powell, Director of PF Performance, commented: “Starting a race cold is unheard of in every other sporting discipline yet downhill racing competitors have had to accept it the norm. Supplying effective warm up and fitness support at each BDS race will hopefully begin to break down these disadvantages. Ensuring the body and mind are both warmed up for the race ahead will not only reduce muscle stress and impact but also potentially increase speeds and efficiency.” Si Paton, BDS race Director commented: “Racers’ body strength, fitness and mental control are all put to significant test in each BDS race. Having a proper warm up service at the start line will greatly aid riders in preparing physically for the descent and it’s a valuable addition to the series.”  PF Performance is a new company set up by fitness and performance specialist Adam Powell. A racer himself, Adam specialises in providing all mountain bikers with everything they need to be fitter, stronger and faster. From training and equipment to race support, helmet cams and nutritional advice, he also offers various race membership packages to help riders maximise their performance.   http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/james_fletcher_testimonial/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1761/ I have just uploaded a new testimonial from Triathlete and Wattbike user James Fletcher.  James has been using the Wattbike since October and has seen his motivation, and power output increase as he focusses on the numbers. You can find the full testimonial with a picture of James in the lab warming up at http://wattbike.com/uk/wattbike_world/case_studies/james_fletcher_testimonial/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/clancy_not_bothered/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1742/ An interesting article on morethanthegames.co.uk from the 30th March about the possibility of changing the rules to ensure that all bikes used at the games are available to buy at a reasonable cost. This has been done by windsurfing (the current board is the RSX), but it would be a big change for British Cycling who currently invest heavily on the bikes and skin suits that their athletes wear. Ed Clancy makes a good point though - "The bike does not win the gold medal but the cyclist does" The article: Clancy couldn't care less about UCI's proposed bike rule changes http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_in_the_news/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1741/ It has been a while since I updated you with where the Wattbike has been mentioned online - so here it is: Countdown to Skipton Triathlon - featuring a Wattbike on the day. Kelly Cycle Coaching - Testing on the Wattbike Pinkbike Wattbike 1000m challenge - Mates vs Mates British Cycling picked up our Wattbike training days on their site Redditch Road and Path Cycling Club  - Wattbike Results (PDF) Wattbike Indoor Trainer video from Australia http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/nick_dunn_-_the_clocks_have_changed/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1738/   The clocks have changed and it is now lighter, warmer (just), legs have been shaved! and im ready for action!!!!!!!  Getting a few Personal bests in the pool and the biking is going strong - I have been mixing the Wattbike sessions with some easy longer rides on the road.   My Wattbike pedal shape has improved as has my power output and time on the bike has been good so I am very happy with it.  Got my new bike delivered the other day from Total Fitness Nottingham (TFN) triathlon shop - its a Ceepo - same as I used last year but a newer, cleaner model!  Can't wait to get out on it for some sessions.  Got an Easter bank holiday monday time trial tomorrow (approx 29 miles) - not in the best shape at the moment to race but its all good training.  Races start in May so looking forward to preparing for them.  Train hard and I look forward to seeing some of you at a race in the near future. Nick  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbikes_being_used_in_australia/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1734/ Our friends at Wattbike Australia have been busy recently, they have been working with a shop to set up a Wattbike centre. Here is a short video with some more info. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/what_are_you_looking_for_in_a_sportive/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1732/ What are you looking for in a sportive? Lots of miles, lots of hill climbs? But you wouldn't expect a flat short course,would you? But why not?? Well I went to a very anormal sportive in Duncton near Portsmouth this Sunday. There was a 25k short-course and a hilly 50k ride through the South Downs at the  but the key thing was you could do whichever you fancied, and you could ride as little or as much as you liked. Some just did the flat 25k, one chap blasted round it 4 times! Other riders just did the 50k hilly ride a couple of times, whereas most did a combination of the two, stopping off the sustenance and Wattbike training in between sessions. The event was the Sportive Training Day run by SouthernSportive.com, and riders came to and through from the hub location in Duncton. It was a really good format as novice riders got to sample the longer rides, and keen cyclists got to attack the same course twice to improve their times. When not on the road, riders relaxed with a technique analysis and power testing on the Wattbikes as well as nutrition advice from SIS. Improving your cycling technique really drew in the cyclists and they loved the instant feedback the polar view force curve gives you. Lots of the riders said they were very interested in the Wattbike and are going to buy or hire to get some really time-efficient training in at the start and end of the days. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/debbie_flood_-_faf_time_is_wasted_time_when_there_are_things_to_be_done_and/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1723/ Guest post from Olympic Rower Debbie Flood: Faf time is wasted time when there are things to be done and worked for. With my limited training profile at the moment, I need to be making the most of my spare minutes of time. I have come to the conclusion that I can be good at faffing and wasting precious time, particularly aimlessly looking on the internet and my facebook page. But over the last few weeks I have learnt to swap my wasted internet faf time to spend time on my new friend the Wattbike. When I get back from work if I have a spare bit of time whilst I am waiting for my dinner to cook in the oven I will jump on the Wattbike for 30 minutes. 30 minutes passes in no time, and I feel much better for having done a productive training session without pushing myself over the edge. Perhaps this may seem slightly extreme when i should be just relaxing or winding down from work, but I am an Olympic athlete - and at the moment I do not make the grade. My focus is on getting fitter and closer to achieving my dreams and this takes a high priority in my life. The Wattbike, I am finding, is a good way of keeping my legs moving fast without killing them like it would on the rowing machine if I rated high. I am able to spin along whilst still at a low heart rate keeping those fast movements and keeping my legs used to moving like they would if I was racing on the water. It is motivating to see my power splits getting better though I am being mindful not to go too hard at the moment as that is not the current purpose of my training on the Wattbike. It would be nice if it was as easy as spinning the legs along at a high cadence and low heart rate then be able to jump on the water and race flat out, but in a week or so time I will be mixing up my training with racing practice on the water on training camp. I am hopeful that the high cadence work have been doing on the bike will have prepared me well for starting to take my fitness into the boat. 30 minutes is such a small amount of time out of a day and is easy to find if we want to do it. If you have a Wattbike of your own there are no excuses!! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/microsoft_scary_spice_disability_and_a_wattbike_-_in_conversation_with_pete/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1722/ Last month I took a trip to the Microsoft offices at Thames Valley Part to talk to Wattbike owner Pete Devery, our chat took place in one of the coffee areas and in the film below you can actually hear the coffee machine - maybe not ideal, but some interesting comments never the less.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/its_official_robbie_mcewen_has_a_better_tv_than_me/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1721/ We should clarify things here, the only reason I know what sort of TV Robbie has is that he tweeted that he has his Wattbike set up in front of his 46 inch TV!   One of the things that I am asked fairly regularly is how to keep interest on the long sessions - I have two answers, first watch the polar view to make sure you are riding well, and second - get a TV! I have my 23 inch LCD next to the lap top so I can be watching the polar view and The Wire at the same time. I do feel somewhat inadequate now though as Robbie's TV is 4 times the size of mine, but then...... he has won the Green Jersey at the Tour de France  TWICE he has won at least 10 stages of the Tour de France  he has won stages of pretty much every major road race  he also has his own page on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_McEwen - enough said http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/good_luck_to_the_british_cycling_team/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1712/ It's Track World Championships time! This time Team GB are competing in Copenhagen, and it starts this coming week! Ben and I have heard on the QT that the Wattbikes are proving popular choices for some of the top Britons over the winter and we wish the British squad the best of luck from the 24th to the 28th. For full news stories, check out the British Cycling website and if you are not lucky enough to be there and are following them on TV (like I am), check out the schedule below. Track Cycling World Championships on TV The Track Cycling World Championships in Denmark (Copenhagen)  are going to be figuring heavily on two TV stations between March 24-28. BBC will have Jill Douglas presenting live coverage every day with commentary by Hugh Porter and Chris Boardman. Wednesday: BBC2, 7pm - 9pm, Red Button 6 till 9 Thursday:  BBC2, 6.30pm - 8pm, Red Button 6 till 8.30  Friday:    BBC2, 7pm - 8pm, Red Button 6 till 8.30     Saturday   BBC1, 2.15pm - 4.30pm then BBC2 4.30 till 5.30pm Sunday     BBC2, 2pm - 5.30pm  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/altered_images/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1705/ Ben and John recently went down to Hereford to take a look at Wattbike Centre Altered Images. They have a great set up, just on the riverside in Hereford, and run a variety of Wattbike races, group cycling sessions and individual fitness and weight-loss programmes. If you are in the area, why do you not drop in? Take a look at their website and their videos for details http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/great_notts_bike_ride_launch/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1704/ Ben took the Wattbikes to the nearby Nottingham County Hall for the launch of the Great Notts Bike Ride. The Wattbike teamed up the the Nottingham Outlaws BMX team who put on a great display, jumping across, in front of and occasional over councillors and VIPs riding on the Wattibke. In the picture below, Councillor calmly rides on as the Outlaws BMX team jump over him. BMX riders Councillors, local sporting heroes and the NHS laid out the details and the route of the county's largest ride. The are family-orientated 5k laps, and fun rides all the way up to a 75-mile sportive for the more serious cyclist. The event is on Sunday 20th June. For more details see the Great Notts Bike Ride website or find out more on the history of the event. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/nick_dunn_-_blog/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1694/ A short but sweet entry from Nick..... Wattbike 0 nick dunn 1 - smashed the bike today - 350 watts and didnt feel it! may pay tomorrow though!! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/altitude_centre_training_world_cup_teams/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1684/ Ben was recently down at the England Training camp with the guys from Altidude Centre during the build to Eygpt game and as part of the preperation for the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Although we do not want to give to much away the youtube clip gives you an idea of what the players had to go through and we can say they all did very well. The Wattbikes are about 45 seconds in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9RFNOFyuT8 http://www.altitudecentre.com/   http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/news_from_debbie_flood_-_from_training_camp_to_trials/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1678/ Below is an update from two time Olympic Silver Medal Rower Debbie Flood who is attempting to break back into Team GB for London 2012. She has been training on the Wattbike to test the premise that cycling helps rowers. From training camp to trials. Camp (in survival mode) was my first marker. It was not an easy time, but I never thought that it would be. Olympians achieve their success through hard work and training and I have a bit to catch up on.  Racing closely followed the camp and I approached the unknown with an open and positive mind set. Racing, much to my surprise, turned out better than I expected coming 6th at trials (with 2 out injured) and gave me a good starting point - the good news is that from the video footage and current fitness level, i have lots to improve on!  For the last few weeks after a combination of individual and crew boat trials, the Wattbike has become my 'friend and recoverer' rather than my tester.  After racing in the boat I find it hard to stay in the same position and prefer to warm down on the bike. With a short time between races, clearing the lactate and restoring pH in the muscle is key in being able to repeat subsequent races and active recovery has been found to be the best way to do this however much I may want to just lie on the floor and not move for an hour! My recovery strategy worked well and I was able to hold my form (as it is) between races. This has given me confidence going forward knowing that I can still perform to a certain standard even though I have much to improve on. Having woken up my competative senses again with some racing, I now look forward once again to training and making those technical and fitness improvements to take into the next trials - watch this space. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_at_the_southern_sportives_march_training_day/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1674/ Wattbike have been confirmed to attend the Southern Sportive's March Training Day on the 28th March. We will be offering product testing, training advice and our resident Sport Scientist and Coach Eddie Fletcher will be delivering a training talk on how to get the most out of your training using power and pedalling effectively. Check out http://www.southernsportive.com/ for more information http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_stories_online/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1673/ Over the last few weeks we have been inundated with good news stories, which I have listed below. If you have any Wattbike news that you would like us to post on the site email news@wattbike.com   Marek the Orienteer - Blog entry - Attended a wattbike session in Estonia. Robbie McEwen - Twitter - rainy recovery day. easy session on my Wattbike.probably best training tool ever. Power+indv. L+R pedalstroke analysis http://bit.ly/dAR8rA Robbie McEwen - Twitter - try this link insteadhttp://wattbike.com John Lee - Pinkbike blog - Review of training on the Wattbike Norwich race results - EDP24 - review of the Norwich Wattbike racing Tanni Grey-Thompson to attend Wattbike Awards - Sourcenews - The 11 time Paralympic Fold Medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson will attend a presentation for the winners of the Wattbike Compatition in Darlington  Wattbike Racing at Welwyn - Forum post  Norfolk Wattbike Series and free Wattbike session - from RoadCyclingUK forum http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/update_from_nick_dunn/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1657/ Nick popped into the office to see me this week, and download some of his data from his monitor. He arrived at about 10am having already done three sessions - the man certainly gets some training in early! Here is his latest update: "It's cold, wet and more snow is on the way (not again!) - time for a long steady Wattbike session - its so much nicer indoors and soooooo warm! It was going to be a rest week this week but forgot about it (not very professional) so am going to have to take it next week - can't risk getting injured.  Had a great week though, two tough Watt Bike session - one interval and one 20 minute test at about 350 Watts.  Not been out on the road bike as I am too scared of the ice - seen to many crashes recently.  Loads of swimming though and some running (never like to do too much!), plus yoga and body balance - so the hours are adding up nicely - season starts soon(ish). http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/nottingham_clarion_wattbike_nights/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1634/ Nottingham Clarion Cycling Club are offering a Wattbike night every Thursday from 6:30pm to 9:30 pm at the Sports Hall, Holme Pierrepont. If you are in Nottingham, check it out.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/robbie_mcewen_is_using_the_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1618/ We already new that Robbie McEwen was using the Wattbike, but we did not know how much he loves it. We do now! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/tcr_show/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1544/ Ben, Andy and Gary spent the weekend at the TCR Show (I was only there for Sunday) - running the Wattbike 200m challenge. Some good results and nice to put faces to names. Learning process for us though, we should have been doing a pedalling technique session and comparing individual's power delivery with some of Britain's top cyclists.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_user_to_ride_the_absa_cape_epic/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1023/   Early in 2010 I had an email from Malcolm Thornton, a keen Wattbike user, who had requested the Wattbike logo to put onto his cycling jersey for the ABSA Cape Epic. Further email conversation with Malcolm revealed an interesting story. Here it is in his words:   I rather foolishly allowed my wife to enter me in the ABSA Cape Epic, an 8 day, stage mountainbike ride in south africa in March 2010. I am a keen amateur cyclist, but the longest off road race I have ever done is the Brecon Beast 100km. I did a lot of outdoor training throughout the summer of 2009. My biggest concern was maintaining that over the English winter. I bought a Wattbike in October 2009. I had my anaerobic threshold tested at bath university and then devised my own interval training programmes around this. I alternate training sessions with 1 minute, 3 minute or 21 minute intervals. I am managing about 8-10 hours a week on the bike. Far more than I would have, had I had to leave the house each time to go cycling (young children, icy roads etc). Since october I have increased my 5 minute average power output from 280 to 420W and my one hour average power output from 240 to 312W. I am delighted with my improvement using a targeted training approach. I have also finally worked out that the reason I hate climbing hills is that at 95kg, my power to weight ratio needs a little more on the power side of the equation. I have 7 weeks training to go, and intend to spend most of that on the wattbike. Malcolm Thornton http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/revolution_27_-_wattbike_team_time_trial/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1016/ The Wattbikes played their part in the Revolution 27. On the night of Revolution 27 the guys at the Manchester Velodrome used their Wattbikes to run a 250m team time trial, each rider chose to represent 1 of the 8 teams and then the combined times for the best adult, boy and girl were put together for that team. It was a hard fought event with Dynamo just coming out top with an overall time of 48.37seconds followed by Forza with 48.70sec and in third Rollers with 49.11secs. The points were then added to the overall points total for the night's event, please see the link below for a full report. http://www.cyclingrevolution.com/content/en/news_details_gb.aspx?guid=AB7F0E25-0849-4568-86B6-B8D4A16C5F63 The Wattbikes will be back in action on the last of the Revolution series for this season on the 28th February. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_mentions_on_the_web/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/1005/ There are a few good articles and mentions of Wattbike around the web, I have listed some of the interesting ones here: Norwich Wattbike League – photos and results at http://www.lotuscycleracing.org/ Altered Images doing some interesting things with the Wattbikes - http://www.alteredimages.tv/revolutions/ Lichfield Wattbike League Report on the British Cycling Website Riders out in force for the Wattbike Challenge at the DHL sprint day - on Retford Today Website Phil's Road Biking Blog - Spinning Classes at the Manchester Velodrome   http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/tri-coach_sessions/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/986/ Yesterday, we ran our first Triathlon coach session at our HQ in Nottingham. It was a very successful training session and attendees did a series of easy-to-run tests and that showed their pure power and power endurance. They also got the chance to record their cycling technique and then analyse it with their coaches. They took away the images of their cycling and tips on how to improve it so that they can translate what they learnt during the day into their Wattbike cycling and outdoor cycling. Take a look at Darren's shape below, which shows a consistently strong application power between the left and right. Tips to improve for Darren: to cycle as through you are trying to scrape mud off the balls of your shoe. This means greater flexibility of the ankle and there will be less of a drop-off in power before the other leg drive begins.   We are running more training sessions aimed at Triathlon coaches and athletes this month and next., they are free but places are limited. There are also swim sessions available with White Dolphin technology Interested? If so, please call me, Steve, on 0115 945 5454 or email info@wattbike.com. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/friday_night_wattbike_league_is_back/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/958/ Friday Night Wattbike League - Lichfield Friday 5th January saw the return of the Friday night Wattbike league at Friary Grange Leisure Centre. The Wattbike league is based on the type of racing commonly seen at indoor velodromes and provides 5 different events for each competitor to participate in. Riders are split into 3 groups of 10 riders. The first race of the evening was the 500m time trial, Chris Stilgoe blasted to the fore with a 33.25 second ride ahead of Beth Clayton’s time of 34.39; David Beattie made his first appearance at a wattbike event and came third with a 34.85 ride. In group 2 Neil McDonald’s time of 30.83 ensured him of the win ahead of Steve Clarke in 31.02. Tony Wrighton’s 31.32 earned him third place. With both groups having such close finishing times between the top 3 riders all eyes turned to Group 3 to provide similar racing. Clearly, Ian Beard had not read the script so far and powered away to win in 26.31 seconds. David Hirons 27.63 gained second place but was still 2 seconds clear of Steve Clayton who finished third in 29.95. Race organisers in a cruel streak according to the riders then imposed the distance races as the next event. Normally left to the end of the evening, this promised to turn proceedings upside down. The sprinters could find themselves too fatigued to gain valuable league points, although the riders who preferred the longer distances could suffer even more in the later sprint based events. Group 1 also had to contend with an extra kilometre, being made to ride 3 instead of the normal 2. Beth Clayton showed her form by winning in 4.20.62 with Chris Stilgoe second and Alison Holmes coming through to third. In group 2 meanwhile Rob Cox continued his good form in the distance races to secure first place in 4.08.86, Tim Challinor was second and chris parlour took third. Group 3 race over the 4000m distance, Matt Gee’s ride of 4.56.86 secured him first place and a new event distance record. Steve Clayton finished in 5.06.17 with Graham Birch taking third. A short respite in the evening’s races allowed riders time to recuperate whilst the teams were decided for the next event: The Team Sprint. Each rider completes in turn 250m their cumulative time deciding the placings. Organisers try to team riders together with the aim of creating an evenly matched race. Debbie Capewell and David Beattie took the honours in Group 1, giving Debbie her second team Sprint win in 2 weeks. In Group 2 Tony Wrighton and Pat Staite won whilst in Group 3 Ian Beard and Phil Kelly took the honours The Devil race, with pre-determined distances used to eliminate the last rider to reach it, guarantees fast and furious racing in which tactics are all important. Alison Holmes did enough to ensure she wasn’t eliminated in any of the sprints and finished ahead of Beth Clayton in second and David Beattie in 3rd. Tim Challinor proved the stronger rider in Group 2 ahead of Chris parlour and Rob Cox. Matt Gee, Steve Clayton and Graham Birch finished in that order for Group 3. The 500m Handicap event, the last of the evening, sees riders set of at intervals dependant on their times in the 500m time trial event. If the handicapping is done well it should see all riders crossing the line together. It does however rely on the riders not holding back in the first event, as if they would consider doing so! Anne Robinson held on in Group 1 to win ahead of  Alison Holmes and Debbie Capewell. Pat Staite took the first place in Group 2 but was hotly pursued by Tim Challinor and Rob Cox. In Group 3 meanwhile Ian beard proved to be the 500m specialist taking the final event  despite being set off las with a 5 second deficit. Ian Simms took second and matt gee 3rd By the end of the evening Alison Holmes and Beth Clayton tied for first place overall in Group 1, Chris parlour and Tim Challinor also tied for the top place in Group 2. Group 3 was more decisive as Ian beard took the overall ahead of Matt Gee and Steve Clayton. If you would like to participate in this event which is open to anyone to do so please contact Nigel Capewell on 07768 560932 or Phil Kelly at the leisure centre on 01543 308842. Full results and details are available on www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/wattbikes http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/cycling_tips_have_a_ramp_test_on_the_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/925/ Australian website Cycling Tips have a video and article with comments about doing a Ramp test on the Wattbike. There is some interesting information there. We will soon be launching our Training centre which will include information on testing and training, it will include all the formulae mentioned as well as information about how to do the tests safely.  http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2010/01/how-to-do-a-map-ramp-test/ Note: we do not recommend a ramp test unless you are already at a high level of fitness and should discuss this with a physiologist and your Doctor prior to undertaking any maximal intensity test.     http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/altered_images_wattbike_classes/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/918/ Altered images have posted three videos on Youtube about their AIRbiking - Altered Images Revolutions biking. It is a very good use of the Wattbikes in a gym environment.   http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/nick_dunn_-_winter_training/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/917/ Now all this snow is finally starting to melt I have dusted off the road bike - went out today but still abit dodgy (will give it a few more days I think, not worth slipping on the ice.) The Wattbike has been amazing over the last few weeks - I dont know how I would have been able to train with all this snow and it has been fun with all my mates coming round with there turbo's.  They are all wanting to have a go on the Wattbike though and the ones that have, have loved it - so much more info than just sitting on your turbo (no numbers to crunch or pedalling actions to keep you occupied!) The extra few weeks worth of training I have done but could have easily missed might be very valuable indeed come race season! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/for_anyone_who_speaks_estonian/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/914/ There are a couple of videos of the Estonian Wattbike race league. If anyone knows what they are talking about please could you let me know. http://sport.delfi.ee/news/varia/jalgrattasport/video-ain-alar-juhanson-naitas-voimu.d?id=28039219 http://sport.err.ee/index.php?0&popup=video&id=9191 http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/debbie_flood_-_can_cycling_help_me_row_better/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/913/ On the front cover of Rowing and Regatta magazine is the caption - Row Better - Can cycling help?  I am going to test that theory (and am hoping that it will!) Let me introduce myself. My name is Debbie Flood and I have been a member of the British Rowing Team for the last 12 years (wow time flys!) for which most of I was a full time Lottery funded athlete. After returning from the Beijing Olympics in 2008 I decided that I deserved and needed a well earnt break as well as wanting to start my career pathway for 'life after rowing' if that indeed exists. I am the sort of person who will never stop doing 'something' exercise related, so kept myself occupied in my year out attempting a few triathlons and duathlons as well as doing some domestic rowing for my club Leander. I now continue to work in my day job as a Prison Officer full time but am fitting in rowing alongside this with the intention of hopefully getting back into the senior team and competing in this years World Championships in November.  This is a task that I am finding more difficult than I first thought - having the positive mindset of a racing athlete and thinking that I am always fit and ready to race anything, I find that I possibly havent been this unfit Ever. Structure and managing the spare time I do have are going to be key in my return to fitness. Rowing is an endurance sport hinging on the fact that an exceptionally high skill level is needed inorder to transfer that fitness and power into speed over the water. Sport specific training is essential BUT coming from a varied sporting background myself - running, shot putt, karate, judo and rowing - I am a firm believer in all round fitness and strength. The bike has more and more formed a part of our training in rowing as a squad. After our break following the end of our racing season we particularly use cycling on training camp to regain fitness and kick off our winter training. On my year out last year, the Rowing Team also started to use Wattbikes, and a few appeared at Caversham Lake - our squad training ground.  I had heard whisperings that the Wattbikes were really good and better than any alternative we had used before, so when I had the opportunity after the Indoor Erg Champs this year to use a Wattbike I jumped at the chance.  Cycling to work was forming the main part of my training and use of spare time, but with the nights already dark and the icy mornings drawing in, being out on the road was becoming less favourable. With the Wattbike charged and me ready and raring to go, it will form a new set of targets for me. Being less fit than I am used to, the ergo is frustrating as I can see that my times are not what I want them to be at the moment. But the Wattbike is an unknown to me and II look forward to seeing what I can do and charting my progress with my increasing fitness. Having taken a year out of international Rowing, the general consensus is that it takes a year to get back to that level of fitness, and even then you will be on catch up. I hope to be an exception to that rule. Bring it on! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/debbie_flood_joins_the_team/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/912/ A warm welcome to Debbie Flood who has started on the come back trail in an attempt to row at the London 2012 Olympics. She is one of Britain's greatest female rowers, with two Olympic Silver Medals, two senior World Championship Gold Medals and two Under 23 World Championship Gold Medals in her trophy cabinet. After Beijing she has taken some time out of training and is just trying to get back to full fitness ahead of the World Championships in New Zealand in November. We will be following her training through her updates of this blog as she tries to return to being amongst the World's best.  http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/review_of_the_group_cycling_on_the_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/911/ There is an interesting review of the group cycling classes that have been started at the Manchester Velodrome using the Wattbike on Phil's Road Biking Blog   http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/watt_is_this_weather_all_about/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/906/ Another cold and snowy day - did my proper watt bike session yesterday so  had planned an easy outdoor one today then it started snowing again! - so it was watt bike and a movie! - never watch 'Saw' while cycling- scary! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/the_wattbike_gets_everywhere/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/893/ My Google Alert for Wattbike spotted this today. http://www.krakow-poland.com/Pictures/tag/wattbike/page/1 Apparently there is a Wattbike race night going on in Krakow. The Wattbike Race Night is becoming like Fight Club! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/team_sky_launch_bradleys_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/842/   I'm not sure which was bigger news, Team Sky's official launch or news that Bradley Wiggins has been getting in extra training during the recent cold snap by bashing away on his Wattbike.... both revealed in central London today. The great and the good of British cycling were at Millbank Tower this lunchtime serenely overlooking the Houses of Parliament, the Eye and all the sights of London on a glorious blue sky day in Central London. They were there to witness the eagerly anticipated unveiling of Team Sky, the brainchild of David Brailsford and his British Cycling team and SKY TV. Kicking off with an early morning city centre bike ride that included all but 3 of the Team Sky roster, 300 lucky cyclists joined the team as they met up and cyled through the streets of London together for the very first time. With the team jetting off to training in Valencia tomorrow and then onto the Tour Down Under, there was just enough time for Dermot Murnaghan to introduce the masteminds behind the team, David Brailsford, Shane Sutton etc... and then the team itself headlined by Bradley Wiggins. In a packed out studio this was possibly the busiest media event that British cycling has seen barring their victorious return from Beijing. And, no one was left in any doubt as to their intent. They purposely didn't say they would win anything but it was abundantly clear that the team that have been assembled are there for just one thing - to win the Tour de France. A number of the riders were quizzed as to why they had joined Team Sky and they all were attracted by the scope of the new project, the professionalism of the team management and the chance to ride in what they believe is 'the best team in the world'. To a man they see Team Sky as the start of an amazing journey that will at some stage (sooner rather than later was the lasting impression) culminate in world domination. All very good! The really good news though came from none other than team principal, David Brailsford himself, who confirmed (what we knew from twitter) that in spite of the freezing conditions Bradley's training was continuing unhindered as he has been hammering away on his Wattbike over the Christmas break as he starts to gear up for the forthcoming season.... Now that is good news! http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wiggins_using_the_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/805/ The first that we heard of the Wiggins family having a Wattbike was when Cath Wiggins tweeted that she was using the Wattbike  Then the very next day...... So both Cath and Brad are using the Wattbike. Will get in touch and see what sessions they are doing. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/pushing_the_watts/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/795/ After a week off with a bad lung! not needed – I was back on the Wattbike last night pushing some big Wattage on ABGL 6, loved the feeling (afterwards!). Off out ont he raod bike today as heard its going to be icy over the next week so must get some outdoors stuff done before its all indoor warm stuff. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/a_velodrome_in_derby_-_that_would_be_nice/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/763/ Road.cc have reported that Derbyshire City Council have put forward plans to improve their sporting provision with a Velodrome and Olympic size swimming pool. Our friend Ian Drake (CEO of British Cycling) had this to say to the Derby Telegraph -   "If you look at the popularity of all forms of cycling, one of the biggest barriers is the facilities for people to take part in the sport.   "To have a velodrome in Derby is fantastic – the location is perfect and it complements the others in Manchester, Glasgow and London brilliantly. "It's a huge boost for the city and will no doubt help foster future sporting champions." Bring it on, close enough for us to cycle to, and hopefully they will have a Wattbike training area like Manchester do. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/nick_dunn_in_the_press/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/757/ Wattbike athlete and blogger Nick Dunn appeared in the Nottinghamshire Evening Post last month and it slipped past me, fortunately I now have a copy so here it is. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wiggins_joins_team_sky/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/590/ The news we have all been waiting for..... Bradley Wiggins has announced that he has joined Team Sky. It means that the top British GC contender has joined what we expect to be the top British team. More on the BBC... http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/_the_boat_race_only_on_wattbikes/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/354/ Since this morning Oxford and Cambridge have both had Wattbikes. We are waiting to hear of the first epic performance by one of their athletes, but as soon as we do we hear what the light blues are doing we will be winding up the dark blues for a bit of rivalry. Nothing like a bit of rivalry to make training a bit harder. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/christmas_training/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/355/ Spoke with Eddie (watt bike expert) yesterday about training zones and after my rest week this week I'm ready to hammer it over the xmas period. Got to have an excuse for all the mince pies I will be eating!! Did a vo2 max test at Nottingham Trent Uni this week and discovered they now have a few Watt bikes there aswell – so had a chat with a few guys about them and set them some targets so we can have a race in the new year! Should be fun. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/awards_and_first_wattbike_sessions/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/356/ Getting back into the routine of training now, after going to the awards for British Triathlon on Saturday night (won age grouper of the year, yipee!) and sitting with a world class table of athletes I am motivated to go. Eddie (Wattbike coach) and I had a phone conversation yesterday and he has provided me with my stats and training zones from the tests I did with him a few weeks ago. Did the first session he set me yesterday and it felt easy – just like he told me it should. I nearly repeated the session again afterwards but I don't think thats the idea! Got session number 2 tomorrow then the weekend off (well apart from a group ride saturday morning) – hope the gale force winds ease off abit. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/we_have_a_new_blogger_welcome_nick_dunn/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/357/ He beat me to it, and posted his first entry before I had a chance to introduce him, but here goes. Nick is the reigning World Age Group Triathlete and is just getting back into training in the lovely British Weather. Here is how he describes how he got into Triathlon and his plans for the future. My first experience of triathlon was in 2001 where I came 2nd in a novice sprint event. On a borrowed bike and with borrowed kit I loved it and was hooked. A month later and in training for my second race I was knocked off my bike and crushed two vertebrae. No more racing for me – triathlete no more! Four years and a few hospital visits later I finally got back into training and started racing again. That was 2005 and yet again I caught the triathlon bug. Every season since has got better and better for me. In 2007 I did my first ½ ironman, 2008 I qualified to represent Great Britain in World championships in Canada and then this season (2009) I won gold for my age category at the World championships in Australia and came third overall. So 2010….. I'm still planning it after 2 months off, but it's now November and time to get back into training. Main goals will be try some elite races as well as doing the age group European and World championships. Swimming and biking both need some work – so it's going to be early mornings in the pool and late nights on the Watt Bike – I hate these dark nights! Bring on the new season and some warmer weather." We are looking forward to following his training on the Wattbike over the winter and then his racing schedule through the summer. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/ready_for_action_finally/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/358/ After a few months of little training its time to get going again. met with Eddie (WattBike coach) least week and about to start my first session set by him on the bike – with the rain today im glad im inside. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/congratulations_dave/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/359/ We have just noticed that our friend Dave Reedle has picked up a silver medal at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Manchester. A PDF of results is available on the British Cycling website ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/sorry_jamie_but_your_200m_title_has_gone/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/360/ We were very impressed when Jamie Staff broke Chris Hoy's record for 200m on the Wattbike, and thought that it would last a while. Apparently we were wrong. Last week in Holland some of the Dutch rowers took on a few pro cyclists. Over 2oom Jan-Willem Gabriels, Silver medallist in the Dutch 8 in Athens and 8th in the coxless four in Beijing produced an incredible 8.84 seconds.   Jan-Willem Gabriels 200m score ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/pics_of_the_september_brereton_wheelers_wattbike_night/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/361/ Some good pics of the Brereton Wheelers Wattbike Night at Lichfield Friary in September can be found at Martin Sutton Photography ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/london_skyride_video/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/362/ This just caught my eye when looking through past emails…… Name check for Wattbike as well! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/para-cycling_track_world_championships/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/363/ Ben, Gary and I were at the World Cup this weekend doing 200m races, we saw some pretty impressive times and peak power scores. No power score quite matched David Readle from the GB Blind and Visioned tandem who showed us a picture of his peak power on his phone – a staggering 2180W! We were very impressed and we wish David and his stoker Simon Jackson all the best in the BVi tandem for this weekend's Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Manchester! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/cycle_show_time_trial_results/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/364/ Hello to everyone who raced on the Wattbikes at the cycle show. It has been an extremely busy few days since then however I am now back in the office and able to post the results of the Cycle Show. There were some exceedingly quick times and close races across all 4 days of the show. There will be full results posted on the site soon from our records, however take a peek at the final leader table below. Everyone who entered goes into a prize draw to win a trip to Lanzarote with Sports Tour International. Keep an eye on your mailbox for details on this. The prize for winning you may ask??????? Glory… just good old fashioned glory! Male Catergory Name Time Over 60 Peter Williams 00:32.18 50 – 59 Michael Fier 00:28.55 40 – 49 David Andrews 00:27.70 30 – 39 Jason Prior 00:27.21 Open Phil Williams 00:27.56 Under 18 Joe Moore 00:30.12 Under 16 Adam Finch 00:31.00 Under 14 Noah Smith 00:32.50 Under 12 Tom Lye 00:34.41 Under 10 Tomas Barnett 00:45.6 Female Catergory Name Time Over 60 Zanna Heighton 00:45.94 40 – 49 Ruth Hamilton 00:37.68 30 – 39 Nicky Hjerpe 00:35.84 Open Tanya Gibbs 00:34.80 Under 14 Ella Dobson 00:42.72 Under 12 Mabel Dalrymple 00:46.22 Under 10 Michaela Lysakova-Ivanova 00:42.08 ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/england_football_team_prepare_on_wattbikes_for_south_africa/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/365/   Yesterday, Ben joined the England Football team for some of their training for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. Ben meet the team at the Altitude Centre, a group of sports scientist who have trained many top sporting teams, most recently the Great British Lions Team before their tour of South Africa. Ben provided Wattbikes for the fitness testing during the sessions at the request of the Altitude Centre scientists as they needed reliable and consistent results on cadence, power and performance . The team underwent various tests designed to measure physiological and mental performance in similar high-altitude conditions as the team will find in South Africa next year. Protocols such as ramp tests and co-ordination tests were undertaken under varying altitude conditions simulated through masks feeding different oxygen levels during exercise. Players from teams already using Wattbike equipment, such as Manchester United, updated Ben on how they train and are tested on the Wattbikes in their clubs as well as their peak power performances. We would tell you how powerful the players are, but we wouldn't like to give the opposition any help…. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/sorry_sir_chris_but_jamie_has_taken_your_record/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/366/ I was not in London for the Skyride, but my phone was buzzing all day – apparently the 9.30 seconds for a 200m that Sir Chis Hoy produced at the Glasgow round of the Skyride was not unbeatable. Infact Jason Kenny got close with a 9.31s, but Jamie Staff introduced a whole new level of power, with a max power in the 200m sprint of 2080Watts and a time of 8.96 seconds! WOW ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/health_fears_over_inaccurate_exercise_monitors_in_the_guardian_today/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/367/ There is an interesting article in the Guardian today about the dangers of inaccurate exercise monitors. It sums up very succinctly our views on the importance of accurate monitoring of output on exercise equipment. Check out http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/sep/20/exercise-monitors-health-danger ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/see_the_wattbike_at_liw_and_the_cycle_show/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/368/ Over the next couple of months we are going to many shows around the countrty. The two largest ones being Leisure Industry Week (LIW) at the NEC Birmingham from 22-24 September, and the Cycle Show at Earls Court, London on the 9-11 October. We are going to have a large presence at both events, and at the Cycle Show there will be a 500m Sprint Challenge in association with Sports Tours International and Wattbike. There will be over a dozen Wattbikes for attendees to race and improve their technique on. Prizes will be on offer to competitors, and the race is a free-addition to the entry price to the show. To register your interest in the Cycle Show go to this link. It comes thoroughly recommended!! In addition to this at the NEC for Leisure Industry Week we will be on the Wattbike stand and the British Cycling stand, so there will be plenty of opportunity to see us there. However, if you cannot make either of these events, please call us on 0115 945 5454 and we will point you to the nearest place or event to experience the power of the Wattbike. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/mayor_of_london_skyride/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/369/ Ben, Simon and Gary were down at the Mayor of London Skyride this weekend, the last of the 5 large Skyrides across the summer. The 15km route started on the Mall and took in Trafalgar Square, Victoria Embankment, St Paul's Cathedral, the City and the Tower of London. The sun shone and cyclists arrived in their droves from all over the capital and beyond. There were lots of celebrities and sportsmen who joined cycling-enthusiast Mayor Boris Johnson. One of the athletes to race on the Wattbikes was Olympic champion Jamie Staff and we got him to race over the same flying 200m distance Chris Hoy did in Glasgow. Jamie showed why he was a world-class sprinter by hitting over 2000W in the 200m race which he completed in an astounding 8.96s, beating the previous best seen by Chris Hoy of 9.30s. Lots od other families and individuals challenged the time and over 600 people competed across all ages. The big question is though…..is 8.96s going to remain the 200m record for long? ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/tour_of_britain/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/370/ Stage start at the Britannia Stadium This week has been a very busy week! We have been at 2 of the stages of the Tour of Britain, the Mayor of London's Skyride, and the ISAF Sailing World Cup Series. Stoke-on-Trent On Tuesday we joined the Tour of Britain riders and organisers for the start of the Stoke-on-Trent stage at the Britannia Stadium. The crowds grew for the start of the race, and Ben and I were there to show the crowds their cycling style and get them measured on our Peak Power board. We had lots of participants at the Britannia Stadium from local cycling clubs to hordes of school children enjoying one of their first tastes of competitive cycling. Once under way, we moved into the Stoke City Centre to carry on the activities in the events area shared with bicycle-powered Scalextric cars, Extreme mountain-bikers and a collection of the weirdest and wackiest bikes we've ever seen. The crowds kept on coming and there was lots of good scores including a 1338W from Lyme CC's Ian Crooks and a very impressive 1179W from 14 year old school boy Brad Simpson. London – Final stage On Saturday, we were on the track side about 200m away from the finish lane for the final stage of the Tour, a great spot to watch the tour riders sprint past at the indecent speeds of over 30 miles per hour. When not enthralled by the peleton screaming past we had around 300 cyclists doing races and testing their peak power. The sunny day brought out the competitive nature and lots of people came back for several goes and the top power of the day was in the 40+ category of 1653W. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/rya_take_delivery_of_their_wattbikes/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/371/ For the last two days Wattbike have been with the RYA at the Sail for Gold Regatta offering sailors some insight into the Wattbike. Pete Cunningham (head physiologist of the RYA) has had a Wattbike at his base at Chichester university for a number of months and has been very impressed with them, and feels that they will benefit the testing and training of the athletes. This is especially good as some of the sailors, especially World RSX (Windsurfer) Champion Nick Dempsey does a lot of cycling for training and it would be beneficial to be able to train indoors, and also monitor his fitness on the bike. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_in_the_antipodes/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/372/ After a trip through Australia earlier in the year and some serious work by our Australian and New Zealand distributors have caused a real buz around the Wattbike. In New Zealand alone, we have a world rowing champion (who beat the British pair into a silver medal I might add) who says: "The Wattbike was a key tool in my 2009 World Championship campaign. Although I am predominantly a rower I have done a lot of cycling and found the Wattbike provides the closest experience to actually being out on the road. Setup is fully customisable and the whole machine is as simple or complex as your required need. The vast amount of interactive feedback provided by the display meant that I was able to easily monitor my training level and progress. The Wattbike was my chosen method of cross-training for when I needed a break from rowing on the water. I would recommend the Wattbike to anyone from beginner to elite cyclist and challenge you to have a crack at my World Best half hour distance." As if the rowers were not enough, there has been interest from all the big boys… like the North Island Academy of Sport and a little know rugby team the All Blacks! As if that was not enough, Eddie is over in Brisbane for the ITU World Triathlon Championships with the guys from Wattbike Australia. We have already had a few tweets from people who are going to check out the Wattbikes, so if you are there don't be shy, introduce yourself to Eddie and the guys. http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_in_the_press/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/373/ We have had a good few mentions in the press and online recently, so I thought I might share some here. The online coverage can be found at: http://www.tri247.com/article_5843_Wattbike+Time+Trial+debuts+at+Cycle+Show.html?region_id=&category= http://ibikeride.com/wattbike-time-trial-debuts-at-cycle-show.html http://www.lanzaroteinformation.com/content/wattbike-cycle-challenge http://www.bikebiz.com/news/31087/Wattbike-set-to-make-Cycle-Show-debut Unfortunately there is an error in the original Press Release, as the eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed Victoria Pendleton is not the Olympic Champion in the 500m – that award actually went to Anna Meares (Aus) who won the event the last time it was held in the Olympics in 2004. Appologies to Anna for upgrading Vicky P from 6th to 1st. There has also been some coverage over the summer in Triathlon magazines, and Cycling mags, but I do not have electronic versions, but here is some coverage from Health and Fitness Magazine  ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/eurobike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/374/ Last week I had one of those days, I wrote this on my iphone, but never thought to post it, so here it is… Today is one of those days that makes this job really fun, actually getting paid to look around the largest bike show in Europe. The show is in Friedrichafen, on the banks of the Bodensee, in Germany. We arrived in Zurich last night to a wall of summer air – 27 degrees is so much nicer than the 14 we left in England. This morning we caught the morning shuttle to the event, passing through vinyards and small villages on the lakeside, bathed in late summer sunshine, the only slight thorn in an otherwise perfect morning was the stop with customs who made you feel like someone was about to lose something dear to them – like their life! In fact it was mostly just large amounts of money for anyone taking a bike across the border. The show was very impressive, with a selection of really nice bikes on offer, and the usual display of crazy stuff, some cool, others just plain ridiculous. I took a few photos whilst I was there, thought I would share them here: Hmm the Livestrong Bike The New Trek Madone The best looking bike there! I seem to have come back without two pictures that I should have taken, the Merida Oh 9 – 0.9 kilo hard tail mountain bike frame, and their new timetrial bike – both of which were sweet! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/skyride_leicester/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/375/ We have had a lot of requests recently for the results from the Wattbike races at the Skyrides, we have not forgotten about updating them, but are just waiting for British Cycling to supply us with all the data that they collected. In the mean time, here is a picture from the Leicester Skyride. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/good_luck_to_asda_pedal_powers_andy_bond/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/376/ As you read Andy Bond is on his way from Land's End to John O'Groats, a voyage which has been supported by Wattbike. The ASDA president and CEO has set up a route that takes him to 21 ASDA stores along the journey that is over 1000 miles in distance. Each of the stores is joining Andy in raising money by getting staff and customers to use Wattbikes in store and raise money for the ASDA pedal power cause and get more people out on their bikes. So keep an eye out for the Wattbikes as the ASDA stores, and see if you can beat Andy and top GB athletes. Good luck Andy! We are sure that all the Wattbike training he has been doing over the past few months will put him in good shape for a quick trip! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/skyride_glasgow_youtube_clip/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/377/ See Chris Hoy racing on the Wattbikes about 60 seconds in! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/sir_chris_hoy_and_ross_edgar_do_battle_on_the_wattbikes_at_skyride_glasgow/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/378/   Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar showing true Scottish grit during racing Sir Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar were the Scottish Olympic medal heroes encouraging the people of Glasgow to pick up their bikes and join them around the city streets on British Cycling's Skyride Glasgow this Sunday 23 August. With lots of activities on offer the Wattbikes took centre stage in the busy Skyride Active area in the middle of the scenic Glasgow Green. Hundreds of people came and raced the flying 200m race on the Wattbikes to give Sir Chris and Ross a record to beat. Despite some very gallant attempts in the over-40 and under-40 categories few got close to the two Olympians. Halfway through their packed day, the crowds amassed ten deep around the Wattbike arena as the two Scottish cyclists jumped onto the Wattbikes in their shorts and jeans with celebrity TV-presenter Gethin Jones. After just a few minutes warm up and practice, the three men challenged each other to competing over the 200m flying lap course. With a fantastic display of power and efficiency, Chris Hoy took just 9.30 seconds to cross the finishing line in first place posting a new World Wattbike record in the process! Not only was it the quickest 200m yet seen on a Wattbike, but it was at a cycling efficiency of nearly 80%, which is extremely impressive for such a short sprint! Ross Edgar and Gethin Jones were not far behind either, but it definitely looked like the 3-times Olympic-medal winner could take that time down a touch with his next performance.   Ross Edgar and Gethin Jenkins race in behind a distinctly unsatisfied Chris Hoy The crowds duly kept the Wattbike team very busy throughout the whole day and they were a massive hit with families, and cyclists of all ages and abilities. Take a look at the Skyride Glasgow photo album as well as the Skyride website for all details. A big well done to everyone who took part, and made such an effort. We look forward to seeing you at Skyride Leicester and Skyride London!   A group of young cyclists follow in the Olympians pedal turns ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_visits_loughborough_university/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/379/ Well, that in it self is not really news. Half of us did our Sport Science degrees at Loughborough, and still know many of the people there, but this was a slightly different visit. We were demonstrating the power of the Wattbike to assist in training, rehabilitation, monitoring and of course, throwing in a few races here and there. The set up at Powerbase – Loughborough Universities conditioning suite is very good, possibly one of the best in the country, but where it does fall down is in the facilities for cardio training, with no bikes offering any quality training, some treadmills, a couple of versaclimbers and a bank of rowing machines. The rowing machines were the only pieces of kit that actually worked and were being used. The benefits of the Wattbike were immediately appreciated, and the ability to demonstrate the polar view showing the force application from both legs caught the imagination of the guys there straight away, and a couple of peak power tests appealed to their competitive nature. Once we demonstrated the software and the ability to race they could immediately imagine how they could use the bikes in parallel with the rest of their facilities to get the most out of the athletes. We left the Wattbike in situ over night as the following day Michelle Dillon and a couple of her athletes were coming to be introduced to the bike. They were very keen and interested in monitoring their cycle training to a higher degree, so the Wattbikes made perfect sense to them. We are looking forward to working with them in the future. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/congratulations_to_alastair_brownlee/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/380/ Today Alastair Brownlee produced a really solid performance at the London round of the Dextro Energy World Championship Triathlon Series to win in emphatic style. It was a key round for Brownlee as it now puts him at the top of the leaderboard for the series, but more importantly it stamps his authority on the course that will form the backbone of the course for the Triathlon at the London 2012 Olympics. It was very interesting to see in the BBC coverage that Alastair and his younger brother Jonathan train at home in Yorkshire through all weather, which will certainly help him should the weather turn foul in London. Congratulations again Alastair. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wakefield_triathlon_club_promo_day/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/381/ Written by Robin Clough, Wakefield Triathlon Club secretary Wakefield Tri Club members getting the public started On a sunny Saturday in July, Wakefield Triathlon Club was invited to exhibit at a 2012 Olympics connected event organised by Wakefield Council. The theme of the day was to encourage shoppers in the busy Wakefield Cathedral precinct to eat healthily and take up exercise as well as picking up life-saving tips from St John's Ambulance. Other exhibitors included the Wakefield Wildcats who occupied the stall next to ours. The WTC stall was manned by volunteers from the club who mingled with shoppers and handed out leaflets about the club. The centrepiece of the WTC exhibit was two Wattbike exercise bikes. The bikes are high-tech and endorsed by British Cycling (see www.wattbike.com for more details). Passers by were challenged to complete 300 metres on the bike in as quick a time as possible. Best times were displayed on a Top-Gear-like leader board and there were categories for Men, Ladies and Children. Everyone that had a go got a swim cap, and those that broke a record were awarded a WTC T-shirt. Determined WTC triathletes competed with the public in the quest to get the fastest time of the day. Given the relatively short distance the endurance fitness of the triathletes didn't really come in to play. In the end honours were even with a member of the public getting the men's fastest time but Vic Burrows-Bilton managed to achieve the best ladies time of the day. Vic happened to be looking after a stall for Pugneys further down the precinct. All in all the day was a great success and certainly helped raise the profile of the club. Many thanks to those that volunteered to help man the stall, mainly: Phil, Alison, Tony, Bill, Robin and Greg. Extra thanks to Greg who spent all day on the stall as well as helping to ferry the bike too and from Nottingham.   Wakefield Tri Club members practise at the start of the day ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_at_the_manchester_skyride/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/382/ Last Sunday saw 5 of the Wattbike Team at the Manchester Skyride. We were working with the British Cycling membership team ably led by Terry Greenwood, the membership manager for British Cycling. The Wattbike tent was really the activity zone providing people the opportunity to try to be the best in their age group, with winners of each age group getting a signed British Cycling jersey. The day started slowly, but once the ride got going we were inundated all day, with people queueing up out through the barriers that had been errected. The best times of the day came late on when one 50 year old rider produced a 9.99s for his 200m, the only two people to beat him were Jason Kenny and Ed Clancy – who are pretty impressive. Jason Kenny produced a 9.59s with a peak power of 1581W whilst Ed Clancy who led up to the last few metres in their race produced a 10.89s and 1340W peak power. Both of them comfortably beat Syride celebrity Gethin Jones who managed a 13.18s 200m. Gethin, however, was the favourite with the female members of the Wattbike team, especially when he came back onto the stand to commentate on a race between a few of the British Cycling staff. Throughout the day the British Cycling stand also featured interviews with athletes, staff and coaches from British Cycling and turned up some very interviews, most notably Shane Sutton and Dave Brailsford. Vicky Pendleton was also interviewed, although the commentators seemed more interested in the fact that she had been on the cover of FHM than the fact that she has been the golden girl of British Cycling for years, although that interview did produce one of those moments when you do not know quite where to look when the interviewer introduced VickyP…..FHM cover girl but not as hot as Megan Fox! Not sure he could believe he had just said that, but Vicky took it in her stride. The other quote of the day was from Jason Kenny. When asked what his favourite bike was, he responded "My facourite bike is a Wattbike". Sounds like someone is looking for a freebee. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_at_skyride_manchester/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/383/ Sunday will see the launch of the Skyride series with Skyride Manchester. The Skyrides see Sky and British Cycling teaming up to provide an opportunity to ride around the centre of Manchester, Glasgow, Leicester and London without the traffic or pollution. Along the route will be a series of different events, with a chance to ride through the velodrome, a family section, the go loud tunnel and Albert Square which will have British Cycling and Wattbike set up to offer a chance to find out more about Cycling in the UK and an activity zone – the Wattbikes. The road is closed for the whole route and is open from 10am to 4pm. The Activity Zone is also open for the same time, so come and have a go on the Wattbikes where we will have a 200m challenge going on, but be gentle on us, we will be there from 6am for set up so maybe drop by with a coffee – mine will be a cappuccino if possible. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/a_pause_for_thought/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/384/ I caught the "Pause for Thought" feature on Radio 2's Wake up to Wogan, and although it started with one of those Wogan links where they are having a conversation about something completely staged – in this case how fit Wogan is looking – then seemlessly drop into the visiting speakers thought, it hit a nerve with me today. The speaker today was Sarah Joseph, editor of emel, the Muslim lifestyle magazine. The bulk of her thoughts surrounded the fact that with 3 kids, a full time job, speaking engagements and some volunteer work she had become unfit, and her solution was to get a pedometer and some decent shoes to walk in and put it right by walking over 10,000 steps per day. It had made a huge difference to her life, she was feeling fitter, had more energy and enjoyed the challenge of going from 3,000 steps per day up to 10,000 and beyond. It was the motivational value of her targets, and specifically the need to have some data so that she knew if she had acheived her target or not, that was most interesting to me. As we get older I have found more and more of my friends getting unfit and becoming overweight. Much like Sarah Joseph we all have busy lives, but those that are able to fit some exercise into their lives have more energy, and stay slimmer! The key motivator seems to be a target, whether that is running a half marathon or riding 1000km it is reaching towards those targets that is key, and setting some data points along the way so that the target it not 6 months away. That is what we like to do with the Wattbike, set a target work towards it, one pedal revolution at a time, and it is the data feedback that keeps it interesting, can I average a few more Watts each session, can I go further with the same average power (improve efficiency), am I lighter, stronger, fitter, healthier. In the end though it always comes down to one thing, does all this effort make me happier, and if done right the answer is most certainly yes. ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_talent_id_athlete_wins_at_paralympic_world_cup/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/385/ Ben went up to Manchester Velodrome last Friday for the DHL Sprint School where the young athletes were practicing the Team Sprint and Kierin on the track. They also had a session on the Wattbikes where up and coming BC riders Helen Scott & Chris Lyte gave the guys some tips for the 2 events especially on their starts, griping the bars, their position on the bikes and using their body weight to maximum effect. Using their new skills they them had team sprint competition. http://www.sprintschool.com/content/home.asp Whilst we were there Dave Reedle one the BC psychologists popped down, Dave, a former shot putter and now GB track cyclist, first realised his potential as a cyclist at last year's World Cycling Championships on a Wattbike. Whilst having a go a the Wattbike peak power test he managed just short of 2000watts. He has since taken up the sport and last May was selected as a tandem rider and won Silver in both the Kilo TT and Tandem Sprint at the Paralympic World Cup. Fantastic work by Dave! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/wattbike_a_letape_du_tour_mondovelo_sous_le_soleil_du_ventoux/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/386/ Setting up the Wattbike tent at the Mont Ventoux étape Wattbike at L'Etape du Tour Mondovélo under the sunshine of Mont Ventoux Wattbike France launched the Wattbike at L'Etape du Tour Mondovélo to the thousands of the competitors who came to attempt one of the most famous and tricky mountain stages of the Tour de France, Mont Ventoux. It was a very busy few days where 8500 cyclosportifs fought against the infamous mountain roads, accompagnied by another 20,000 visitors. The sun shone, and the temperatures were high especially when the windy mountain lost its gust for the Sunday. The Wattbike tent was extremely busy across all the days as it was the only booth around where everybody could come and try the product. Everyone who had a go were fascinated by their power profile on the polar graph, and lots of group were very keen to compete against each other on the Wattbike challenges. Customer sensations were described as the best ever felt on a stationnary bike, far better then on the usual or top turbo trainers. The information provided by the monitor was very interesting to the customers, with the star is the Polar Graph ! Sunday was very much an international day as 3 out of 4 demos were done to non-French residents. Many came from the UK and Spain, but some came from South Africa (most living in London), Canada & Quebec, South America (Argentina, Mexico). Look out for our booths at forthcoming events, such as the Cycle Show in Earls Court, and the Skyride events across the UK this summer! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/triathletes_world_august_09_features_the_wattbike/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/387/ Triathlon World August 2009 Have just seen the coverage of the Wattbike in the August edition of Triathletes World. The bike gets a good write up and there is a nice image. They do a section at the end of the piece where they outline if the item is essential, and if there is an alternative. Was obviously disappointed to see that they thought it was not essential, but then they have not seen the effects that understanding pedalling efficiency can have on your cycling! They do however understand the value of the data from the Wattbike and explain that there is really no alternative to the Wattbike if you want to accurately measure your power output and cycling efficiency! ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/shows_meetings_jenson_button_and_the_bbcs_guestimation/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/388/ It has been another busy week with the Wattbike being displayed at shows, events and meetings all over the country, but without a doubt the most exciting visit was to Brawn GP to test Jenson Button. I will write a full blog post on that session, but for now will just say that he is just like he appears on TV, very down to earth and personable. We also did a bit of testing with his two engineers who were also great guys and very interested in the polar view, especially when they were slightly better than Jenson! The Wattbike has also been used in filming for the new BBC Show Guestimation, a game sho, which will go out around the National Lottery on Saturday nights. The Wattbike was connected by the show's technicians to a wall of lights with each one representing a number of Watts. The aim of the game is for two families to guestimate how much power the Olympic BMX rider Liam Phillips can produce. Obviously telling you would be to ruin the surprise, so you will have to look out for the Wattbike Guestimation Challenge to find out more. Liam has also been selected to represent Great Britain at the UCI World BMX Championships in Australia ----- http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/henley_royal_regatta/ http://wattbike.com/uk/blog/post/389/ After the Lincolnshire show, where else would you expect to find the boys from Wattbike, but of course darling, at Henley Royal Regatta. The rowing community have been very fast to pick up on the benefits of the Wattbike as they are familiar with monitoring their training data from the rowing machine. With this in mind we were ready to explain to them the benefits of cycling, of the Wattbike and of course excite them with the polar view. Well, we did not really need to! Almost as soon as we set up a group of rowers came up to the stand to have a go, with one of them explaining all the features of the Wattbike to his friends. Apparently rowers also read the cycling press, check the website. A great five days were had at Henley although I have to say that Wendesday, Thursday and Friday were too hot to expect anyone to do any of the ranking distances, but we did have a good peak power from one of the dutch rowers, 1688Watts. Our premise that you cannot predict who will be most powerful without testing was definately proven when he went to get the "most powerful" person from his crew to see what he could get. He struggled to get over 1300W with a final score of 1306W. I am sorry to say that ruined his credibility and his weekend – you cannot hide on a Wattbike! We also had some good feedback from some of the rowers who have been using the Wattbike to supplement their training or because they have back or arm injuries and cannot row. All of them reported that they were performing better in their fitness tests after using the Wattbike – they put this down to the fact that they are removing the imbalances between their legs that the a-symetical rowing action causes. -----