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Endurance Nation


  • I am coached by Endurance Nation. EN has proven to be the most effective, value-fulled coaching option I have ever used. I am over the moon about this program, the coaching, and the gains I am making. These smart guys have created a nation of interconnected athletes that motive, inspire and hold you accountable. It's like 1:1 coaching for a fraction of the price. You won't believe the value for your membership--free ebooks, podcasts, webinars, blogs, videos, white papers--you name it. Check them out. Better yet, join!

Bodywork Revolution


  • Steve Cunningham of Bodywork Revolution is the central reason why I can get through Ironman training in one piece. No one is as good a bodyworker as Steve. No one. The nuero-stretch class he offers is so good, my teenagers don't miss it! Check it out. He also offers acupuncture, massage, meditation classes, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Ironman Florida Photo Album

My Oprah Appearance

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May 11, 2008

How to Make A Customer for Life--Infinit Nutrition and Foot Solutions

As consumers, we often we struggle to get good service, and hope the products we choose to buy are even remotely as good as the claims that precede them. Skepticism has become a way of life. Recently, however, I had two experiences that have turned me from a customer to a customer for life.

Infinit_3 Michael Folan, owner of Infinit Nutrition is one of my two new my poster boys for customer service. Many triathletes I know swear by the Infinit products, and I thought I would give the sports drink a try. If you are not familiar with Infinit, they offer pre-mixed formulas OR the option to customize a brew just for you--more electrolytes or less, caffeine or not, higher or lower calories, lots of flavor or a little--it can all be made to order.

I had visited the Infinit site a number of times in th past, and was never quite sure what I wanted. I finally dropped Michael an email asking for some additional direction. Know what?  He actually called me! On the phone. Talking person to person. Not only did Michael call me once to review my needs, he followed-up (unheard of!) and called again to review his suggestions! He also helped me figure out what my swimmer boys might need. That's it. I'm sold. I'll tweak the Infinit product till the end of my days to get it right, and stick with a guy who puts himself out there to that degree to stand behind his product and make customers happy.

Foot_solutions My second poster boy for customer service is Abe Hirsch at Foot Solutions. I have terrible feet--flat, bunioned, pronating disasters. I have had orthotics for years, and couldn't do all that I do without them. You name the foot doctor/podiatrist of note in the Boston area, and I've seen them. Probably got orthotics from all of them too through the years.

About a year ago, I stopped into Foot Solutions on a whim to look for shoes. My orthotics were beyond worn out, and Abe showed me his system for making custom orthotics. I was skeptical--so conditioned was I to thinking only podiatrists could help me and provide the proper orthotic. But I took a chance (I mean, I was already in the store and time is precious), and I got my orthotics from Abe. Truly, I have NEVER had a better pair.

Now here's the customer service part. I went back to see Abe last week to get a new pair of orthotics since I'm training for Ironman. Abe took a look at the ones I got from him about a year ago, and said, "These are perfectly fine. They'll hold up to your training without a problem." I was stunned. Think about it. I was standing there willing to plunk down my credit card for a new pair on the spot. Instead of taking my money, he sent me home with the reassurance that my orthotics were fine. That saved me $300. $300!!!! I could not be more grateful.

So thank you Michael and Abe. The least I can do is give you both a blog nod, and hope others make their way to you.

You can find Michael Folan and Infinit nutrition here, and Abe Hirsch at Foot Solutions here.

April 24, 2008

Bike Fit Series--Post 3--Using Retul In Time Trial Bike Fitting

Fit_lab_smaller_2 Welcome back to the Bike Fit Blog Series!

In this post, we'll see two videos documenting the final stages of the time trial bike fit using the Retul Fit System. We’ll watch our volunteer Nolan Watts get wired up to be analyzed. The Retul sensors on the rider's body allow master fitter Husam Sahin to make the corrections that take Nolan from his before to after position on the bike. We’ll also learn a bit more about how the Retul system works overall.

Husam also has some valuable words setting up a racer’s power position as perfectly as possible. He also talks about the relationship of power and aerodSensors_for_post_3ynamHusam_measuring_post_2ics.

USING RETUL IN TIME TRIAL BIKE FITTING

FINAL TIME TRIAL BIKE FIT ADJUSTMENTS

Previous Posts
Series Introduction; The Laser Jig, and the Argon Fit Bike.
Introduction to the Retul Fit System

Coming Up
Dartfish Video and How to Pick A Frame
Husam Sahin, Owner of ATA Cycle Riffs on Bike Fitting in the US
Customer Nolan Watts Reacts to the Fit of His New Look 496

Ata_exteriorATA Cycle
Husam Sahin, Owner and Master Fitter
93 Thoreau St., Concord, MA  978-369-5960
1173 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA  617-354-0907

Husam Sahin is known across the country as the go-to fitter for cyclists serious about getting the proper bike, whether they be recreational riders or Olympic athletes. In fact, Husam recently fit USA Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker who will compete in Beijing this summer, as well as his wife, Canadian champion Alicia Kaye. Customers fly to the ATA Fit Lab from all over country to work with Husam. He uses the cutting-edge technologies including the Retul Fit System and Dartfish videos.

Thank You
A huge thank you to Nolan Watts, who was kind enough to allow us to film his bike fitting. Nolan is tearing it up in the Boston area on a gorgeous Look 496. We wish him many happy, safe, and happy miles!

 

April 22, 2008

It's The Bike Fit Blog Series!

Fit_lab_smaller_2Welcome to the Bike Fit Blog Series!

For the next several days, I will be hosting a video tutorial on bike fit with master fitter Husam Sahin, owner of ATA Cycle located in Concord and Cambridge, MA. Husam is renowned across the country as the go-to fitter for cyclists serious about getting the proper bike--whether you are a recreational rider, triathlon age grouper, time trial specialist, or Olympic athlete. In fact, Husam recently fit USA Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker who will compete in Beijing this summer, as well as his wife, Canadian champion Alicia Kaye.

Customers fly to the ATA Fit Lab from all over country to work with Husam. He uses cutting-edge technologies including the Retul Fit System and Dartfish videos. We'll take a good look at both. In fact, Retul was recently selected by USA Triathlon as the fit system for it's national program.

After being fit for both my road bike and new time trial bike by Husam, my feeling is if you want the perfect bike (and I mean the perfect bike), he's your man.

Today's Post
I'll do a brief intro to the series, then we'll take a look at two pieces of fitting equipment Husam Sahin uses in his initial fit assessments:

The Laser Jig
and the
Argon 18 Fit Bike

Hussam_setting_jig_smaller_2 Hussam_measuring_fitbike_smaller_2

INTRODUCTION

THE LASER JIG

THE ARGON FIT BIKE

Next Post
Retul System Intro

Upcoming Posts

Using Retul In A Time Trial Bike Fit

Final Time Trial Bike Adjustments Using Retul

Dartfish Video and How to Pick A Frame

Husam Sahin, Owner of ATA Cycle, Riffs on Bike Fitting in the U.S.

Customer Nolan Watts Reacts to His Experience at ATA Cycle

 

Ata_exterior_3 ATA Cycle

Husam Sahin, Owner
93 Thoreau St., Concord, MA  978-369-5960
1173 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA  617-354-0907

April 08, 2008

The End of Flat Tire Nightmares?

Pitstop1 Did you know about a product called Vittoria Pit-Stop? These are, quite possibly, the most beautiful words I have ever read:

Vittoria Pit Stop is a pressurized cylinder filled with compressed gas and polymer foam sealant. You carry the cylinder with you in a bike bag or jersey pocket. When you have a flat tire you simply open your valve stem, press the nozzle on the Vittoria Pit Stop canister onto your valve stem and press toward the tire to release the compressed gas and the liquid foam sealant. Both substances shoot into the tire under pressure. The gas inflates the tire while the foam sealant flows into the puncture and instantly dries, sealing the hole and fixing the flat.

I'm sitting here thinking--are you kidding me??? Something like this exists and might work???? And I didn't know about it?????  You don't need to take the wheel off (think the rear one), or use any tools! If this isn't intervention from the Divine, I don't know what is. On top of everything else, I've heard from a couple of people that it actually works!

Yes, I can change a flat, but I really don't want to in an Ironman, or any race for that matter. It gets even more complicated when you have bad close up vision. I don't need glasses for far away, but I can't see the details of tire changing very well. I just refuse to carry a pair of "readers" in my tool bag!

This could be the stuff that peaceful dreams are made of. I, for one, am ready to lose the race-day-flat-tire nightmares. I'm going to give it a try and report back.

Here's the review I read at Bike Sport Michigan.

I also welcome any other suggestions that have changed your cycling life!

Don't Stop Believing

  • My kids picked Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" as the theme for Ironman '06. As they hoisted the sign at the swim start, I thought, "Oh yeah, I'm going to make it!"

You Can Get It If You Really Want


  • The boys chose Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It If You Really Want" as the anthem for Ironman '08. Need a lift? Motivation? This will be the best three minutes of your day! Take a listen. "You must try...try and try..."

Linda Patch & Associates

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