“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

~ Confucius ~

Check out this fantastic YouTube video…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki2re9uILtc

The YouTube clip is a mini-dcumentry featuring one of the members of the British Cycling Sprint Team.

Join Kinetic Edge for a Friday afternoon social recovery cycle and coffee.

Each week the ride will start from a different Auckland location and take in a different 1-1.5 hour loop and end with a coffee at a cafe along the day’s route. Kinetic Edge staff will be there to lead the ride. It will be a great opportunity to meet other Kinetic Edge athletes and to wind down into the weekend. This will be a fortnightly event initially.

The first two rides are detailed below :

When : Friday 4th December
Where : Mecca Cafe, 1 Victoria Road, Devonport
Time : 2.30pm (be ready to roll out)

When : Friday 18th December
Where : Columbus Coffee, 226 Lincoln Road, Henderson
Time : 2.30pm (be ready to roll out)

KE athlete Glen Frost broke the 22min barrier and rode a pb in the Waterfront Time Trial in Auckland on Saturday. After some setbacks with injury recently its great to see Frosty coming good.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.‏”

– Benjamin Franklin

By Richard Speer

This was to be my fourth half marathon of the year. From what I had been told this was to be a fast fast course and the place to go to record a fast time or break a PB over 21.2km. I have wanted to crack 80minutes ever since I started down this running tact earlier this year. So this was the place to do it apparently. I also was looking forward to the weekend for social reasons, as it would conveniently couple as an opportunity to have a good weekend away up north and out of Auckland and to catch up with some friends I haven’t seen for awhile. I love Northland, something about the warmer climate, the coastal views, the beaches, the narrow winding coastal roads and the fact Auckland is left far behind makes it one of my favourite places to holiday.

Skipping all the details of the actual race my reflection of how the run race went for me would be described by the phrase : ‘an unspectacular performance but solid.’ Why such a description… well I ran 80minutes exact for the 21.2km (I finished in 10th place overall too). Unbelievable. One second faster and I would have had 1hr19min59sec and I would have been over the moon. The Kerikeri course is fast, but I believe the course is fast for fun runners or your average runner, for the fast runner it is very challenging. The first 7km is all uphill with 2×1km at 6-8% gradient, then the remaining 14km is flat and downhill with some equally steep downhill sections of 6% for several kilometres. For a runner to succeed on this course you will need the strength to climb hills and the leg speed to run like a maniac downhill and you must combine these seamlessly together. I had the strength for the climbs and the flat, but given I was just finishing up a 5week hard strength/power block of training the speed was lacking greatly. So I suffered the most on the downhill sections. The heart and lungs were not the limiter but the speed at which I could turn my legs over…. my legs just couldn’t go faster! So what does this mean…. I have the strength, the endurance, and my form is perfect. My training program for my season goals is spot on. What comes next is speed work for my running. It means one mile repetitions in the domain. It means doing rolling 400meter efforts on the running track as well. I have never done these before but these specifics will aid in making me run faster!

What is the next goal….. I would like to think that I can finally crack 80minutes for 21.2km. But I would like to think that in the coming months I can get close to 76minutes.

Become more confident on your road bike!
Learn to be comfortable on the bike!

Toni Bradshaw, in association with Kinetic Edge is running women’s cycling courses for those wanting to learn more about road cycling.

Toni is a Commonwealth Games and current NZ road cycling representative. Toni has international racing experience and has spent many seasons racing for professional women’s cycling teams.

Each week you will learn a new skills while cycling :

understanding how your bicycle gears work, posture on the bike, pedalling effectively and efficiently, how to hold the handelbars, cornering technique, climbing in and out of the seat, descending, sprinting and accelerating, riding over obstacles, bunch/group dynamics, pace judgement and drafting, eating /drinking on the bike, skills for riding in traffic.

The sessions will be run on the bicycle and run every week for 1-1.5hours in and around central Auckland.

When : Wednesday 2nd December (first session)

Time : 7am

Where : Meeting point to be advised upon sign up

What : The session will run for 1-1.5hrs.

Group size : 10 maximum

Price : $15 per person per session

Click here to look at the Women’s UpSkill Flyer.

The limited spots will go quick so make sure you book in now!

Book in with Richard Speer : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 09-368-7819

Report by U19 Kinetic Edge Cyclist : Hamish Elley-Brown.

Wednesday 21st October

Time trial today starting from a sports hall in upper motueka in the beautiful Tasman Region. Staying on the outskirts of Nelson, in the suburb of stoke we didn’t have to leave too early at all with my start time at 2.30. I woke up feeling fresh and rearing to go, managed to get in a good breakfast and then an early lunch. Finally we left at around midday and got to the start with plenty of time to warm up and get ready, my time trial set up was reasonably legit, the trusty Avanti Kona had Aarons well used, vintage Zipp disc on it and also a 404 on the front from Mr. Mullaly, equipped with a giro advantage aero helmet and of course the counties skinsuit. I began my full progressive warm up around 1.35 and pretty much had it sorted down to the line. Warm-up was great and got to start 10 minutes before I was to go in order to do roll out and in case the were running ahead of time. My start was good, I felt amazing but then again it was a tailwind the whole way out on the 25 kilometer, dead flat course with picturesque surroundings. I got to the turn feeling great and coming out of the turn getting back into my rhythm was hard and I didn’t hold the speed I wanted to, obviously going too hard on the way out, the 14 clearly a gear too heavy. The way back was hellish and this is where I lost a lot of time. I was caught by the rider behind me Brad Evans with 2 kilometers to go which was demoralizing also. I finished strong and felt pretty wasted when I had finished which was good. My inconsistency in pace and average strength on return meant I finished in 19th place which is still reasonably solid, for a 1st year under 19 and non time trial specialist. Michael Vink won by a large margin with Paddy Bevin in 2nd and Josh Atkins 3rd. The result here would be largely because of the flat course, not suited to me at all. Time trialing is my growing edge. Good things take time.

Friday 23rd October

Road Race today. 128 kilometers around a 16 kilometer circuit, so 8 laps. There was one reasonable hill around the back of the circuit, which was more of a power climb and didn’t split the field much at all. The race, like most junior races got off to a normal aggressive start with Tom Findlay attacking from the gun and doing his best to draft on the lead vehicle. Tom Hubbard and Patrick Bevin also managed to get in the break, I was considering going with it but didn’t fancy myself staying up the road for 130 kilometers. The break stayed away the entire day, there was a bridging group at one stage that got up to the three at the front but deteriorated and strangely came down to the same three as it was. I was meters off getting into this bridging group after trying to bridge to it a couple of times. Ended up being a frustrating day in the bunch and too hard to get anyone to work. Guess it just want my day, finished in the bunch with around 25 riders in 19th place, same as the ITT. Paddy Bevin won of course with his blistering sprint, with Tom Hubbard in 2nd and Tom Findlay in 3rd but disqualified after a tantrum at the end of the race, so Cameron Kowalski was 3rd. Tom Findlay managed to throw his bike from the middle of the road over a farm fence about 10 to 15 meters, right after he threw his helmet on the ground. He had apparently shook with Hubbard on the bike in the break to not sprint for 1st or 2nd because he was sitting on. When Findlay slipped his cleat in the sprint however, Hubbard rolled past for 2nd and it went from there. Lots of drama!

For me I was quite disappointed, I was looking to have a strong Nationals down here but I guess after a long, hard season and as a first year Under 19 I can’t complain. When you come out of a race and you’ve learnt a lot, you can say you’ve had a good race, because it’s all development as a cyclist. At this time of the year, motivation is often low so a break is what I need and am currently enjoying! After nearly three weeks off now I am feeling more motivated than ever (no exaggerations), to have an amazing season next year and get back on the bike back to full training mode. No Taupo this year though. Next year is last year in the junior ranks, better make the most of it. Junior Worlds Italy here I come!

The new cycle gear is pimp’n! New Zealand’s own Tineli have done a really good job of making the kit. So if you missed out on ordering a set of the summer white KE cycle kit we have extra sets in all sizes. Plus we also have a couple skinsuits extra. So make sure you get in quick otherwise you will miss out!

Contact Richard on : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

“A leader goes where there is no path and leaves a trail.‏”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson