Controlling As Much As We Can

“You only control the effort, not the results.”

 Ryan Holiday

 

Hello ,

Wow, how is it already May? The summer peaks are closing in quickly and I’m feeling very confident where the Tempo crew is in their process goals. 

It seems like many people are making travel plans to races for the first time in years ( I’ll be at USA MTB Nationals, Big Sugar, and hopefully UCI  Masters Track Championships, off the top of my head) and I’m excited for them! I LOVE planning logistics and supporting athletes, leaving as little to chance as possible.

Things don’t go our way so much of the time in bike racing, its an extremely fickle and emotionally brutal sport. Finding ways to minimize bad luck and high stress is key to having the energy needed to succeed in your goal event. Lets work on those scenarios together.

 

Results And Kudos

 

Noah Hayes- P33, ITT USA Collegiate National Championships, Augusta GA

 

Noah Hayes- 30P,  Collegiate Road Race Nationals, Augusta GA

 

Noah Hayes-19P, Collegiate Criterium Nationals, Augusta GA

 

Elliot Irving- P6, Boggs 8 hr 2P, Lake County, CA

 

Owen Irving- P6, Boggs 8 Hr 2P,Lake County, CA

 

Noah Bott- P3, 15-16 Expert,  California Dirt # 1 ,Nevada City , CA

 

Bike Fitting Thoughts

Finding the right saddle for you is much more than measuring your sit bones

There’s a reason many bike fitters and stores have an assortment of saddles and a quick change seat post on their fit bike. Saddle choice is a very individual thing! 

The width of your ischial tuberosities, or “ sit bones” can be a good place to start, but the higher the angle your pelvis tilts due to event-specific needs, the more you actually sit on the Pubic Ramus, which is forward of the sit bones. The good news after all that anatomy talk  is saddles in general are WAY better than they used to be! 

Three points that will get you in the ballpark selecting the right one for you

• Measure the sit bones, if only to get an idea of pelvic width
• Start with the saddle level. This may need small adjustments and is saddle specific, but being able to steer a bike with your hips is key for most disciplines of riding and racing. If the nose “ falls away”  too much its hard to keep contact between your thigh or inside of the hip and the saddle. It also often results in “ sliding forward”
• Think about what you are using the saddle for. You may need a specific “ noseless” saddle or one that fits in one position perfectly, or you may need to move all over the bike shifting your weight. Find one that fits what you are doing.

A great saddle is one that you don’t think about! Let’s get to that happy place!

Be well,

Coach Johnny

 

 

This is a good short article and something that I’m tinkering with on my own camping rig right now, with a new SQ Labs 30 X 16 bar and inner bar ends. The more hand positions and for me less stress on the forearm the better. I may also try a 12 degree backsweep bar from them and one will go onto the e-bike as well, where the 660 Bontrager Satellite bar and Bontrager grips have never been great.