Kinesio Tape at the Olympics

Many of you probably saw athletes at the London 2012 Olympics sporting brightly coloured tape in strange patterns.  You also might be wondering what it is and why so many of the athletes are using it.  Is it just a fad?

Kinesio Tape on a Cyclists knees

Well it’s definitely not a fad and is becoming increasingly used by professional athletes in many sports including Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins during the tour de france as well as Super Rugby players here in Australia.  The tape is designed to help support the muscles and joints whilst not restricting movement as a traditional, rigid tape does.  The advantage for water polo players is it is also waterproof!

The tape is called Kinesio Tape and was designed by a Japanese doctor in the 1970s, but gained notoriety after widespread use at the Beijing Olympics.  The tape is cut to fit the region by the trained health practitioner so that the method is specific to each individual’s anatomy and requirements.

Why use the tape? It has applications in rehabilitation from injury recovery or to help support an injured or over worked muscle/ joint to support through an event.  Many of the athletes at the Olympic Games have been training for many years and are unlikely to reach the games in 100% fitness.   They are often carrying small niggling injuries, hence the use of the tape, to get them through an important event.  This is an important reason for cyclists use of the tape, especially during the longer 3 week grand tours.

Is it helpful for weekend warriors and non-athletes alike? Yes definitely in fact in clinic we often use it to help rehabilitation from injury or aid our patients to still compete in that 10km fun run despite a slight muscle strain.

Clinical experience has shown us that the tape can help release stiff lower backs during latter stages of pregnancy, allowing an increased range of movement in the lumbar spine.  Other uses in clinic have included- reducing Iliotibial band tension in cyclists and runners, helping support the knee cap in Patella tracking disorder, lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling from a sprained ankle.

Dr Drew Blatchford –Osteopath-

City Osteopathy West, Suite 1104, 488 Bourke St, Melbourne, 3000. Ph 03 9663 5450. 

www.cityosteopathy.com.au

Bike n Bean Customer Profile- Nicola

Each month we will introduce one of our unique customers, and their background to cycling and why they ride today.

We introduce Nicola

1. First name, Suburb and approx age 

Nicola, South Morang, 33

2. Employment/Study status and job title

Part time Mum, Part time Partner at Bike n Bean

3. Family status- married/non married, children

Married with 2 children

Nicola after riding up Humevale Hill, a mini-victory!

4. When was your first proper bike

My parents bought me a mountain bike to get to school on in South Africa from a big superstore (similar to Costco). It was heavy and clunky but got me there in the end.

5. What bike are your riding now, why did you choose this model?

I'm currently riding a S-Works Amira, and have a Specialized Jett Mountain Bike to take the girls around in the bike trailer

6. Where do you go riding normally & how far

I attend the Bike n Bean beginners ride most Sunday mornings, which can be around 35-45km distance.  I also drop my eldest daughter off at Kinder in the bike trailer, as its only 7 mins by bike or 30 mins by car with traffic jams!

7. Why do you ride? (fitness, social, de-stressing tool etc)

I ride for fitness and to get around to places easier.

8. Do you have any rides/races you want to attend within the next year?

I'm riding my first BUPA Around the Bay this year and will look to do more group rides in the future.

9. How would you encourage others to ride?

The freedom of being on a bike is addictive, the more you ride, the more you want to ride!  I think social group rides are a great way to start out, that way you can ask questions and get a better understanding.  Bike n Bean offer Beginners Road Rides on Sundays, whilst Whittlesea BUG offer social rides on weekends and week days.

If you would like to feature in our Customer Profile, just email us with your replies to the 9 questions above and a few photos.

Whittlesea Cycling Club

Nicola & Sienna collecting the $1000 Grant

We received a $1000 Community Development Grant from Whittlesea Council on 4 Sep 2012, towards starting the Whittlesea Cycling Club.



Objectives
The Club's main objectives will be:
1. Organise and run cycling events in Whittlesea (Road, Mountain & Cyclocross)
2. Encourage members of the community to undertake cycling for recreation and exercise at club level
3. Assist in training programmes for personal cycling development with mentoring system for beginners




Events
We hope to arrange cyclocross events during Winter and Road Crits during Summer, with both day and twilight racing. Crit course will hopefully be dedicated course away from traffic. Also looking at TT and team events too. We hope to cater for beginners and women too.

Club Affiliations
The club will become an incorporated association shortly (application in process).
Once we have 10 paid members we will also apply to become a Cycling Victoria Affiliated Club.

Club Committee Members
We are seeking committee members and volunteers to assist with the running of the Club.  It would mean a once a month commitment to meet up, clubroom at the moment will be at Bike n Bean, South Morang store.

First meeting will be Tues 11 Sep 2012 at 7.30pm at Bike n Bean store, 797 Plenty Rd, South Morang. Please RSVP to info@bikenbean.com.au to let us know you are coming.

The first meeting will discuss the rules of the club, plus nominate positions for: President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. Plus any other positions that people would like to help out with: Marketing, Events, Female Sub Committee etc.  We will also discuss the first events that we would like to get going.  Bike n Bean will support the club, but we can not run it soley due to other commitments.

Remember the more you input into the Club, the better it can be, so please consider joining the Committee

Organized Cycle Events- are you ready?

To get the most out of an organized ride, be ready for anything.

WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT, certain questions may run through your mind: Will I be able to handle the challenge? How should I prepare? Even the pros go through this kind of stress.

By following a plan (suggested below), you should be ready to enjoy whatever cycling challenge you've chosen.

First Step As soon as route information is available, make sure you're aware of the course length, any big climbs or descents, and rest-stop locations.

Two Months To Go Plan your training around the length of time you'll be riding, not the distance. Over a period of at least two months, gradually increase your riding time. Make sure you do all your Gear purchases that you need to get used to- saddle, shoes etc

One Month To Go While you're training, visualize good pedaling and breathing techniques so that when you get tired, you'll be able to ride as efficiently as possible. Remember a steady pace is better than going all out fast at the beginning and running out of energy later on.

Two Weeks To Go Make a list of items to bring: a pump, a tool kit, water bottles, nutrition, sunscreen and extra clothing. Plan for a ride this week that will take the same amount of time as the event. Book your bike in for a service, keeping in mind all bike workshops will be very busy with pre-event servicing, so earlier the better.

One Week To Go It's taper time: Do two or three shorter, easier rides. Clean your bike and lube the chain. Pack your seat bag with two tubes, tyre levers, a minitool, CO 2 cartridges, cash and an ID. Bike n Bean have all these accessories, bike wash and lube instore now for your event day.

One Day To Go Inspect tyre treads, looking for cuts and debris. Pack your clothes bag with all possible options. Long-finger gloves (worn over your cycling gloves), arm warmers, and knee or leg warmers can be stashed in jersey pockets during the ride.

Event Day Bring a vest or rain jacket that can be stored in a jersey pocket, along with food bars/gels and drink bottle and drink tablets/powder. Apply sunscreen, pump tires to the proper pressure and give each wheel a spin to make sure the brakes aren't rubbing. You're good to go!

Shotz Products-Gels, Bars, Tablets

At Bike n Bean, we suggest using Shotz products for your Nutrition needs. Shotz Energy Bars, Gels & Electrolyte Tablets are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, and are preferred by athletes as they are not heavy on the stomach or sickly sweet.  They are low in sugar, and the gels are gluten free. 

The most important goal for longer rides is to build up carbohydrate stores. Carbohydrates are the most important fuel source for prolonged exercise and make a difference between doing your best and hitting the wall early.

Carbohydrates are absorbed into the bloodstream from the gut. When there is plenty of carbohydrate available, such as after a meal of pasta, the extra that is not used is stored in the liver and muscles. These stores of carbohydrate are called glycogen.

Eating plenty of carbohydrates in the 48 hours before the big ride will help fill your glycogen stores. The night before your event, it is a good idea to include more carbohydrate in your evening meal than you usually have.

Bike n Bean Customer Profile- Liam

Each month we will introduce one of our unique customers, and their background to cycling and why they ride today.

We introduce Liam, our Junior Sponsored Rider.

Liam sporting the Bike n Bean 2012 Kit

1. First name, Suburb and approx age 

Liam, Bundoora, 16

2. Employment/Study status and job title

Greensborough college student year 10

3. Family status- married/non married, children

Uhhh I'm a child!

4. When was your first proper bike

My first race bike was an old Hillman road bike borrowed from the cycling club with the gear shifters on the down tube which I won the state hill climb on in U/13s

5. What bike are your riding now, why did you choose this model?

Specialized Tarmac Elite SL3 because that was what was on offer at the time and it was a huge upgrade from what I had and there is still room for improvement

6. Where do you go riding normally & how far

I ride on the ergo a lot I ride along Plenty road but I do like to explore through Strathewan and Arthurs Creek also Warrandyte and in summer I love doing crits

Liam leading the charge at 2012 Shepparton Junior Tour

7. Why do you ride? (fitness, social, de-stressing tool etc)

I ride for fitness and I love racing and meeting new people just to have fun I love it

8. Do you have any rides/races you want to attend within the next year?

I compete in just about any race I can but I'm U/19 now so I’m not really sure I’d love to do the Tour of Bright though just try different races

9. How would you encourage others to ride?

Encourage them by explaining the many benefits fitness, good for the environment meet new people and push yourself towards your own goals you find out a lot about yourself and once that bike bug sets in I don’t think they will need much more encouragement.

If you would like to feature in our Customer Profile, just email us with your replies to the 9 questions above and a few photos.

Specialized 2013 Launch Highlights from sunny Cairns

Aug 20th - 23rd 2012 saw all Specialized Australia and New Zealand Dealers attend a fantastic 2013 launch of all 2013 Specialized products to hit our shores in the next 6 months or so.

Our very own Bike n Bean Paul was invited to attend and sent us back some good shots of the bikes and some accessories.  Here's some more in the flesh pictures and prices.

If you are interested in any of these products, give Paul a call on 03 9437 8501 to discuss the benefits of the 2013 range and get pre-orders in.

2013 S-Works Road Shoe 

We have already secured a pre-order of the first shipment of the highly anticipated 2013 S-Works Road Shoe so be quick to get your name on the list.






Here's the highlights of the Launch:

For the Guys

2013 S-Works Tarmac SL4 SRAM Rd X2 RRP $8999

2013 S-Works Tarmac SL4 SRAM

2013 S-Works Epic 29er XTR RRP $9999

2013 S-Works Epic 29er XTR

2013 S-Works Epic XX

              

2013 Specialized Langster Pro $1999

2013 Specialized Langster Pro

Cool stuff

Specialized power meter and computer. No GPS, but still very cool.

Specialized PowerMeter

Specialized E-Bike. 

It's never been so easy to hit 45kph!!

2013 Specialized E-Bike

For the Ladies

Specialized Hairport- great for pony tails and long hair

Specialized Hairport 

2013 S-Works Ruby

2013 S-Works Ruby

2013 S-Works Amira SL4 RRP $7999

 

2013 S-Works Amira

Amira Specialized Lululemon RRP $5699

2013 Amira Team Replica- Specialized/Lululemon

Lululemon Prevail Helmet RRP $300

 

Lululemon Prevail Helmet