Health: Keeping it up

Health: Keeping it up
By Nik Morgan

Understanding how Viagra works could help your cycling (Roland Magunia/AFP/Getty Images)
While Viagra is well known as a performance-booster off the bike, understanding the way it improves blood flow – not the Viagra itself – could help cyclists gain extra speed.

In June last year, Italian police found 82 pills hidden in toothpaste tubes in the car driven by the father of Gerolsteiner rider Andrea Moletta. Moletta was later suspended by his team for suspected doping, but the police could not prosecute the rider on the basis of the pills because they were perfectly legal. They were Viagra.

It’s possible that Moletta – or his father – was using the Viagra for the reasons with which the drug is most commonly associated. But more and more evidence is starting to suggest that Viagra may be performance-enhancing when used at altitude.

Testing the science of Viagra

A team of scientists from Stanford University and the Veteran Affairs department of the Palo Alto Health Care system carried out an experiment in which cyclists completed an identical time to exhaustion test at altitude with and without Viagra, or sildenafil as it’s known in scientific circles. On average, performance was improved when taking Viagra by a whopping 15 per cent. But the average result masked what was really going on.

Some responded to the Viagra in an incredibly positive way, recording a 39 per cent average improvement, while others found no improvement or even a slight decline in performance.
Why Viagra is not recommended for sports people

One reason might be susceptibility to side effects. When taking Viagra some of the cyclists in the study said they suffered from headaches, a flushed face and blue-tinged vision. One individual had to withdraw from the trial altogether because of the severity of the headaches. Even some who improved said they felt more fatigued and less able to focus when taking the drug. Anne Friedlander, who was part of the research team, believes this could be due to the Viagra making them push too hard.

“The improved performance could cause side effects from over exertion at altitude beyond what the body would normally be prepared to do,” she said. “There could also be side effects we don’t even know about resulting from the changes in the direction of blood flow to less optimal tissues.”

For this reason Friedlander and her co-researchers do not recommend Viagra as a performance-enhancing drug for sports people, especially given their experiments also showed it didn’t improve performance at sea level.
Blood-pumping good news

Although Viagra might not be suitable for cyclists because of its possible side effects, understanding the science behind it certainly could be. Viagra has the effect of widening blood vessels and attacking the plaque-like patches that build up inside arteries and attract cholesterol. These cause heart disease and high blood pressure, and also prevent oxygen transferring as easily from the lungs into the arteries. Viagra was in fact originally developed as a drug to reduce blood pressure, before its other qualities were discovered.

“The hypothesis is that Viagra widens the pulmonary vessels, thus allowing more blood to leave the heart,” said Friedlander. “It also removes the ‘patchiness’ which means more oxygen can pass from the lungs into the blood. More oxygen in the blood plus more blood being pumped means more oxygen reaching the tissues and increased performance.”

In the study, the cyclists who responded well to Viagra found the drug increased the amount of blood pumped from their hearts by 25 per cent at rest and 32 per cent during exercise. Stroke volume, the amount of blood pumped with each contraction of the heart, was also significantly increased. So the Viagra partly counteracted the effects of altitude – lack of oxygen – and meant that blood flow was not reduced by nearly as much as it normally would have been.

This also explains why Viagra is not effective at sea level. It’s only when blood flow from the heart is reduced that it can help. At sea level, pulmonary constriction is not limiting to performance because oxygen is so plentiful that the red blood cells, which transport the oxygen round our bodies, get completely saturated with oxygen whether our arteries are constricted or not. It is only when the air is thin and oxygen is less abundant that widening the arteries has an effect.

Attacking the problem with natural solutions

Cyclists are better known for attacking the problem of improving blood circulation – and hence performance – from the opposite angle. Rather than widening arteries to let more oxygen be transferred and more blood to flow, they’ve found ways to get the body to produce more of the oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

To do this you need more of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the production of red blood cells. This can be done naturally – and legally – by altitude training: the brain recognises that there is less oxygen available and therefore produces more EPO to compensate; or it can be done illegally, as the sport of cycling knows only too well, by simply injecting the EPO.

But that doesn’t mean cyclists can’t also look at ways to widen and clean up their arteries too. After all, it’s good for preventing heart disease as well as for cycling performance.
Garlic is often called the natural Viagra as it contains a substance called allicin which improves blood flow. It’s also an anti-oxidant meaning it attacks the patches of cholesterol that build up. A joint study by researchers from Oxford and the US found that 261 subjects who took a garlic supplement for 12 weeks reduced their cholesterol level by 12 per cent.

Other foods high in antioxidants like broccoli and berries will do likewise. Similarly, Omega 3s, those helpful unsaturated fats contained abundantly in nuts and oily fish, have many healthy properties, and one in particular is to thin the blood, making it flow more easily and meaning those plaque-like patches don’t form.

Of course, the most effective way for a cyclist to improve blood flow and performance is through training. Standard training techniques work on all the aspects of blood circulation discussed here, and in general do so far more effectively than Viagra or any other supplement is ever likely to. So, until you feel you’ve trained all that you possibly can, you can probably go on deleting those Viagra spam emails just a little while longer.

Special Edition Livestrong Straight Jacket

Livestrong STRAIGHT JACKET Sunglasses

Few can imagine the level of raw stamina and never-say-die determination it takes to win the Tour de France. Winning it seven consecutive years defies possibility. Imagine achieving that after battling cancer with multiple surgeries and body-slamming chemotherapy, and you’ll understand why Lance Armstrong is a living legend.

The Livestrong™ foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer, and we’re supporting its ongoing mission by providing $20 from each sale of this Oakley Livestrong™ special edition. “For nearly 20 years, Oakley has been there for me — on and off the bike,” said Lance. “Together with your support, we are now making a difference for the millions of people living with cancer.”

Laser etched with “LIVESTRONG” near the edge of the lens, this unique rendition of STRAIGHT JACKET is the rebirth of aggressive styling that first emerged more than a decade ago. The Black IRIDIUM® lens coating has always been a Lance favorite for the way it cuts glare and balances light in bright sun, and the comfortably lightweight O MATTER® frame proudly carries the colors of the Livestrong™ foundation logo.

This performance instrument utilizes our permanent HYDROPHOBIC™ lens coating, a technology that maintains a smudge-resistant barrier against skin oils, sunscreens and lotions while repelling dust and preventing water from leaving sheens that can corrupt vision. In addition, the pure PLUTONITE® lenses filter out 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm.

Oakley STRAIGHT JACKET sunglasses meet every standard of ANSI Z87.1 for optical performance and impact protection. The peripheral clarity of XYZ OPTICS® is just one of the patented innovations that make HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS® (HDO®) unbeatable. To optimize comfort and performance, UNOBTAINIUM® components increase grip with perspiration while a Three-Point Fit holds the lenses in precise optical alignment. Lenses with prescription correction can be fitted into this frame.

• Durability and all-day comfort of lightweight, stress-resistant O Matter® frame material
• Comfort and Performance of Three-Point Fit that holds lenses in precise optical alignment
• Optical precision and impact resistance meet ANSI Z87.1 optical and basic impact standards
• UV protection of Plutonite® lens material that filters out 100% of UVA / UVB / UVC & harmful blue light up to 400 nm
• Includes Oakley’s proprietary smudge proof hydrophobic coating which resists water, oils perspiration and dust
• Patented hydrophilic Unobtanium® earsocks and nosepads ensure a snug, secure fit, and increase grip with perspiration
• Metal icon accents
• Designed for medium Faces
• Glare reduction and tuned light transmission of Iridium® lens coating

Oakley Radar

RADAR®When Christophe Moreau earned his second career Dauphiné Libéré victory, he took advantage of the most technically advanced performance gear on earth: Oakley Radar® eyewear.

Every stage was a physical and mental challenge. “The descent down to the finish was tricky and I had to make double sure of myself,” said Christophe, and he had the unbeatable clarity of Radar® to get the job done. All-day comfort, patented optics and a specially engineered coating gave him critically precise vision, enabling him to focus on victory. -->

When Cedric Gracia charged through the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, he saw the constantly changing terrain through a new form of eyewear, Radar®. Searching for the soul of MTB on perfect trails in the wet dense forests of Oregon’s backcountry proved to be daunting task, and Oakley’s latest eyewear shielded Cedric from all the elements that were thrown his way.

Radar® features an interchangeable lens design that lets athletes optimize vision in any environment. A revolutionary Hydrophobic™ lens coating repels water, skin oils and debris, keeping the optics crystal clear. The frame architecture creates a cooling flow of air, and the design features an interchangeable nosepiece for a custom fit. The result is a new milestone in performance technology.
-->

The Best Vision in Sports
Engineered to serve the demands of world-class athletes, Radar® completely reinvents performance optics.

Hydrophobic®

Oakley Hydrophobic™ is a permanent lens coating that prevents water from leaving streaks and sheens, which can compromise vision. Whether it’s rain, sweat or splashing runoff, H2O can’t get a foothold. And that’s just half the story.

Skin oils, fingerprints and lotions are easily wiped away without leaving a residue, eliminating the haze that makes ordinary lenses a nightmare to keep clean. We even made the coating anti-static so it won’t attract dust and dirt like ordinary lenses.

High Definition Optics® (HDO®)

High Definition Optics® (HDO®) take advantage of patented innovations, like XYZ Optics® for unbeatable clarity at all angles of vision — even at the sides of lens contours that open peripheral view and optimize protection against sun, wind and side impact. HDO® lenses surpass all ANSI Z87.1 standards for clarity, refraction and prism.

Interchangeable Lenses

This gives athletes the best performance possible in any sport environment, and even lets them keep up with changing light. We created a full spectrum of lens options that help them optimize their vision.

Gear Review - hope pro II hub and Shimano DX pedal

Scott11 - International Mountainbike Downhill and Fourcross Team
The Team's Scott Gambler (spyshot)

Hope Technology Pro II Hubs









By Jenn Hopkins
£50 Front, £120 Rear
Hope's Pro IIs have been about for a while now and fast became a favourite. The improved drive system - four pawls running round a 24-tooth ratchet - which gives a super quick and accurate pick-up while still being easy and quick to strip and service.


It does make a bit of a racket but this calms down after a few miles to a reassuring tick - no good for sneaking up on race rivals but very handy for echo location on nightrides. Both the bearings and freehub are kept away from grit behind decent seals and a full range of spares is available at Hope dealers nationwide.The weight is on the sensibly solid side of svelte and it enables the hub to tackle anything from purest cross-country to all-mountain and beyond.



Just about every possible combination of spokes and fixtures is available - 28-, 32-, or 36-hole, bolt-through, bolt-on, singlespeed, quick release... The only thing missing is a Centrelock version. Pair with good rims and matching skewers for one of the prettiest and most functional wheel packages going.




Shimano M647 DX Clipless Pedal




By Justin Loretz


Here's Shimano's dependable SPD system in a bigger, easier-to-hit pedal. This is a trail pedal you can clip into, stand on, whack into rocks and not worry about.



The usual clockwork precision of the SPD entry and exit will delight Shimanoites, as will the durability.Shimano has made metal-bodied platform cipless pedals, but its cheaper resin-bodied ones turned out to be more durable as well as lighter, so Shimano came up with this high-end version.



It's also believed that in some circumstances the resin body will slide over rocks rather than gripping and launching the rider over the bars, so if you're prone to pedal-snag crashes, these might save you a flying lesson.



Detractors will point to them being less than optimum for planting errant feet, and they’re only okay at dealing with thick mud.


Essentially, if you like pedalling where others don’t, then save yourself at least one avoidable crash and use the resin-bodied DX.

Explore Sungai Siput New Offroad

even i'm smoking, but the main point is i'm relax and recharge my enegy. : }

This trip, our tyre been punture 3 times. : {

did you see the lion hill

oooo.... sleepy man

my bike.. hehe

the band of brother II

nice view

Hi Everybody, i'm Jack : ]

Yeah, i did it, i did it

Perak River

Emergency bike repair

Emergency bike repairs
By BikeRadar

Seatpost Emergency Repair (BikeRadar)







What do you do when your bike breaks down miles from home? You can stick out your thumb, you can call a cab, or with a bit of preparation and ingenuity, you can get yourself home. Here's how.

Preparation is the key. As well as the basics of a pump, multi-tool and a spare inner-tube or two, carry a survival kit of essential spares and materials. Use a small container, such as an old Tip-Top patch kit box or a 35mm film canister, and fill it with the following, packing them in tightly so as not to rattle:

Small and medium zip-ties

A small piece of cut-down Biro casing wrapped with a length of duct tape
One or two SRAM Power Links, 9 and/or 10-speed, depending on your bike and those of people you ride with if you want to be Bicycle Repair Man.

These links will work with most chains
A small length of malleable wire (copper wire that can be twisted by hand is best)
Some 20p or 50p coins

A piece of tyre casing or other suitable material cut down to about 5cm square
Optionally, a spare 5mm Allen bolt or two, about 2.5cm in length, and 4mm and 6mm Allen bolts if you have enough space to fit them in your container
A St Christopher medallion or lucky charm!

Bike prep for panic prevention
Replace a couple of your shorter 5mm bottle-cage bolts with longer ones that are 3-4cm; these can be used on many modern twin bolt seatposts or clamps.

Fill your tubes with tyre sealant such as Slime. This can be extremely effective at warding off the debris from recently trimmed hedgerow. You can buy pre-filled tubes or inject sealant into Schrader or two-piece Presta valves. To treat tubes with one-piece Presta valves, you can cut a hole in them (as small a possible!), inject the sealant and fix it afterwards.

Buy a couple of spare normal spokes of the right length, with nipples, and tape them or zip tie them tightly under the left chainstay to keep them out of sight – they are handy to have in reserve. Now you're all set, here's how to use your emergency kit to deal with common problems

Loose jockey wheels

Jockey wheels have an annoying habit of coming loose, usually because they weren't tightened correctly after cleaning. That piece of copper wire or the 5mm bolt you've got can now do its thing. Just loop the cable through the centre of the jockey wheel to keep it in place.

Badly slashed tyre

Use your handy survival kit duct tape and install a slightly larger piece overlapping the bead of the tyre, thus anchoring it securely when inflated. You might want to put a second layer, or even use the piece of cloth or tyre casing, which you also happen to have in your box of tricks.
Broken seatpost clamp

No spare tube

Carefully tear the tube apart at the puncture, then tightly knot both ends; or do the same with your handy zip-ties. The tube will expand back into the tyre upon infl ation, but go easy on the pressure.

Bent rear mech or gear hanger

Place the bent rear mech into the smallest cog and big ring, then carefully and slowly pull the derailleur back into position. The cage of the rear mech should be in line with the smallest sprocket and check that it's pointing in a perpendicular direction to the ground.
Be careful when selecting the lowest gear while riding afterwards though, as the derailleur might no longer be as well adjusted and could get caught in the spokes.

Broken Rear Mech Or Gear Hanger

If your derailleur or hanger is broken beyond repair, you can remove it entirely and then shorten your chain using the SRAM Power Links in your survival kit. This repair depends on a bit of luck and preparation –

having a multi-tool that includes a chain breaker will make life a lot easier, though you might not be able to get ideal chain tension if you have vertical dropouts. Try to get the chain line as straight as possible.

Bolt-on repairs

You can pinch a bolt from a place on the bike where it can be spared, and use it where it's more critical in an emergency. If you lose a stem bolt, for example, you can borrow one from a rack strut or from a water bottle cage bolt. But be careful and go easy until a permanent replacement can be found, especially if you think carbon parts might be damaged. Run a cloth lightly over suspect areas to check for a cracked surface – any small cracks will pull the cloth's threads.

Pretzeled wheel

If replacing a spoke won't do or isn't an option, a pretzeled wheel can be straightened sufficiently to get you home with a bit of technique and brute force. Place the wheel with the axle and high point of the buckle against the ground, then firmly push with substantial weight while gripping the rim on either side of the bent zone. You can focus and increase your leverage by using your feet in place of hands and body weight, along with a stone or raised surface feature such as a kerb.

Having your brake quick release open will reduce the chances of the wheel rubbing all the way home. Exceptions might be if you have a delicate carbon frame with tight clearances, where a few miles of tyre rub could not only result in a blowout, but put a hole in your chainstays, seatstays, or fork blades. Those spare coins might come in handy now if you forgot your phone or ran out of battery charge.

Tyre removal

A useful trick is knowing how to remove a tyre without the aid of tyre levers. First, make sure all the air is removed, then lean over the wheel, holding it vertically against the ground. Starting with both hands at the top, pinch and manipulate the tyre beads into the centre of the rim channel simultaneously, with both hands working downwards.

As your hands meet towards the bottom you'll find that you've gained a substantial amount of slack, which should be enough to just pull the bead over the rim flange. If it's still a little tight, remove your quick-release skewer and use the lever – it works!

Check the tyre for any debris before fitting the new inner tube. Run your hands all the way round the inside of the wheel rim to feel for anything that may have pierced the casing such as a thorn or piece of glass, taking care not to cut your fingers.

Gear cable repairs

If you break a gear cable, it's most likely to be the rear one, in the lever itself or near the head-tube where most friction occurs.

Remove your front derailleur cable and carefully thread it through the right lever (you'll probably have to twist it in the direction of the winding to stop the strands from fraying). Tie it using a square knot onto the cable attached to the rear mech, about halfway along the down-tube.

Before tying the knot, push the mech up onto the big cog. This will take up any slack when it's released – though with a multi-tool you can take up the slack in the usual way.
You can also immobilise the derailleur in a specific gear if all cable options are gone – jam a twig or piece of debris in the parallelogram, after placing it into the desired gear.

Yeti 575 09" review

It’s light, it has almost six inches of travel and it’s controlled, smooth and accurate. The Yeti 575 might just be the ultimate trail bike.

There are heavy 5in travel bikes on the market, and there are light 6in travel bikes. And there’s the Yeti 575. The name refers to its 5.75in of suspension travel. On the face of it, the Yeti offers the best of both worlds.

The 575 comes close to being ideal for my preferred type of riding. It rewards smooth style, but allows you to throw caution to the wind when you’re trying to stick with guys on more hardcore all-mountain rigs on the downs. Then you just pull away from those riders struggling with their 34-pounders on the ups. That’s my sort of bike.

Ride & handling: smooth, plush medium-hit eater

You’ll instantly notice how buttery-plush the 575’s ride feel is. Obviously this depends on how you fettle the shock, but the attributes of the frame would be wasted if you set it up harsh. Set up soft, the back end makes small rocks and roots irrelevant, and medium-sized hits barely hinder your progress.

If you’re comparing the 575 with Yeti’s shorter-travel AS-R, it’s on those medium-sized hits where you can really let loose on a 575. The AS-R demands more finesse, but the 575 allows you to get messy from time to time. It forgives occasional bad line choice and permits the sort of carefree antics you expect from a 6in travel bike, but don’t always expect from a sub-28lb bike.

While everything remains plush over most terrain, a ramp-up towards the end of the compression means it takes a really big hit to reach maximum travel. You always feel as though the bike is holding a little reserve for blunders and risks. That’s a good feeling.

The ride is stable and efficient under steady pedal power, but if you’re an out-of-the-saddle uphill power masher you’ll need to use Fox’s ProPedal settings and lockout lever on the rear shock. Elsewhere, you’ll just want to make full use of the deep-pile-carpet ride.

It’s a joy on fast and challenging singletrack, and we couldn’t find a descent that fazed the back end, even when we were getting almost full travel on the fork.

Frame: Tuned for fun & feel

The detail of the 575 shows off almost every single recent advancement in frame design and building. The swoopy hydroformed top tube is octagonal in cross-section, beefed-up behind the reinforced head tube and generally shaped to boost stiffness along its complete length, but in particular where the shock and the dogbone link tube are attached.

The new rear triangle is carbon composite.

The top tube’s radically downward swoop – to improve standover height – the generous mud room and quality pivot bearings throughout stress Yeti’s thoroughly practical approach.
Every single frame segment is sculpted to achieve the ideal mix of high strength, lateral rigidity and low weight.

The dog bone bridging the seat stays and lower shock mount across to the top tube is a crucial part of the design. It guides and braces the carbon swingarm, controls the shock’s compression curve and lessens side loads on the shock.

This all combines nicely with the slight vertical flex built into the swingarm by the drop-outs in helping to dictate a super-plush ride.

The frame’s main pivot sits just above the bottom bracket, between the inner and middle chainrings.

Neat aluminium sections holding the bearings are bonded into the asymmetric carbon swingarm.
A tough wrap-around sheath with an extra deflector plate by the chainrings stops chain slap from damaging the right chain stay.

There’s a single set of bottle bosses, and a through-guide option of running full outer cable to the rear gear.

The medium sized frame weighs about 6lb, including the Fox Float RP23 shock. While unwanted shock bob isn’t really an issue here, there are three ProPedal damping settings and a lockout option.

As well as the anodised pewter of our test bike, it comes in anodised black, team turquoise or orange.

Verdict: perfect hard & fast trail bike

We can understand why Yeti bikes command passionate loyalty from those who own them. Every model in the range has an aura of pure performance, not to mention the classy and thoroughly practical design and build quality.

The 575 frame is lighter than most that offer this much travel, and it’s by no means the sort of bike you’d go throwing off big drops. But, built with sensible XT level componentry and beefy tyres, it’s a great choice for the sort of hard and fast trail riding that most of us can manage within the limits of our nerve. -->

Quote " Steve Worland, bike radar, Yeti 575 (09) review, http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/575-09-32275

MTB technique sharing

Bunny hops. may this video will improve your mtb riding technique






Front Wheel Hops

Wheelies

forward foot technique

Endo Side Drop

unveil new offroad ( Sg siput)

Today 4pm with raining, we plan to explore more offroad for Sungai Siput MTB team, thus we have start to explore one very interesting offroad with great view, passing palm estate, rubber farm, pig farm. unfortunately we don't have enought time to continue the route. but very soon, we will reveil this mystery route. however i have upload the route detail and evelation for your reference. Dude, i hope soon or later we can ride this route again..