annika smail: September 2009

26 September 2009

getting a new bike yipee! :)

my new bike is being built up...., I am very excited about it trying out. unfortunately the weather is rather miserable so will have to wait at least until tomorrow. :(

Rob and Mike already tested their new carbon lts and love them! to be honest I thought my santacruz lt was 'mean as' but if I can trust the boys' verdict (and normally I can) the carbon frame is EVEN BETTER!?!? crazy! not sure how that can be but I shall find out soon ;)

my new bike is a new santacruz carbon lt with the new fox float 150 forks and the new sram xx gear (10 speed), mean!!!

will get a pic when it's all built up and 'hopefully' not too dirty yet.

happy trails.... :)

11 September 2009

a few images from our trip to Switzerland

Rob in Livigno (Italy) having a play on the burms

on our way up...

same trail still but a bit further on
above St Moritz at Lake Suvretta, ... taking in the sights and having a breather before enjoying the super long and technical downhill single track ;)

07 September 2009

update - finally

it's been, once again, ages since i updated this site, sorry! at least i have a good excuse this time ;) i have been in Switzerland visiting my family and having a fantastic time, good enough an excuse?

this is in the Swiss alps above St Moritz, riding there is just amazing! ;)

i'll be quick as i should be other things this time of the day and week (oops)
Rob and i got back from our holiday on thursday morning so we are still a bit jetlagged. glad the sun has been out every day since we have been back, it helps heaps!

i did the final of the three 1/2 halfmarathons in 3 month in Taupo on saturday. almost 1000 people lined up to do the run or walk of the W2K- and Headlands track loop. we couldn't have wished for a more stunning day, it was sunny and mild. we also got spoilt with worldclass views across the lake where we could admire the mountains covered in white, there was a clearing with a seat somewhere along the track; i was soooo tempted to stop there ;)

running i felt better then i first expected, not too fresh but pretty good considering the circumstances. so i managed to make it three wins in a row, very happy about that.

i went for a spin on the bike yesterday to stretch the legs and ride some of our world class trails (there are one of the best for sure ;) ) the body wasn't feeling to fantastic but thanks to the great trails i seemed to find a little bit of energy to get up to hot-x etc... good times ;)

Well done Fiona for doing so well on the weekend and looking forward to the next challenge.

sorry for not having any pics, i will add some 'shortly', at least one from a ride in the Swiss alps ...

bio trace products i use and why

I have started taking Elete Electrolytes Liquid sometime in May 08 as I have had ongoing issues with overheating when racing (it's not a very pleasant feeling to be shivering while actually being too hot and struggling with keeping balance while trying to stay on the bike and single track). I find the Elete Electrolytes Liquid and tablets great for hydration before, during and after training and racing as it is free of sugar and sweeteners and seems to get absorbed easily by the body and I haven't had any more issues with overheating (even in Napa Valley racing in 35+ degrees).
In addition I have taken Concentrated Mineral Drops (CMD) to ensure my body gets all the necessary minerals.

I have recently switched to taking Electrolyte Stamina Tablets instead of Elete & CMD, and they seems to keep me going really well, I find I recovery very well from training and racing even when I push my body hard. I use Elete for racing and on longer training sessions to help with hydration still.

I have been struggling with tendinitis and tennis elbow from having done a bit much training on the single speed through winter (from soaking up the bumps on the hard tail and pulling on the handlebars too much on the steep climbs), Ultimate Bone and Joint Tablets have helped easy the pain and inflammation majorly!

To give my body the extra assistance for training and racing am also taking Max Stress B Nano-Plex & DHLA Nano-Plex. These products support my body through the long and intense training weeks.

ULTIMATE Bone & Joint and Quantum Nucleotide Complex to help my body recovery after some hard racing.

If you are so unfortunate to come off your bike, like i have done myself, then you will want to be able to get back on your feet and bike as soon as possible. i have found that what speeds up the recovery after a crash are: ULTIMATE Bone & Joint (especially if there was quite an impact) and Element Zinc (if there is some damage to your skin eg gravel rash/burn) both these products will no doubt speed up the healing process.

for more information click this link

my bikes

my favourite ones:

santa cruz trc

my new favourite!! it's so fast and nimble, stable and sooooo much fun!! :)

Shimano XT 10 speed build with Fox Kashima Forks

plus the new wheels are the bomb! they are Easton EC90 carbon wheels.

santa cruz blur ltc

and that one was even better, i could not believe it but it was!

santa cruz blur lt

man it's fast and so much fun...

Fox 32 Float 15mm QR forks
Hope Pro 2/Stans Race wheels
Gravity dropper of course
Gripshifters and sram mech’s
Avid Juicy Ultimate brakes
Salsa flat bars

my last bike was a santa cruz nomad, which rode amazingly but i decided the blur lt was going to be a better all round bike as it is a little lighter and still has plenty of travel. it is therefore suited for racing as well as being a play bike.

santa cruz chameleon

best hard tail i have ever riden!

Fox 32 Float’s
Single speed ratio 29-15 (at the moment)
Gravity dropper post
Salsa 660mm flat carbon bar and bar ends
(see picture at bottom of page)

santa cruz roadster

my roady does get quite neglected as i do prefere riding the trails, but how could you not with the trails we have here in Rotorua?

i have also owned a blur classic - what an awesome bike and very competitive, managed to get 14th at Fort William World Cup 06 and had so much fun through the technical stuff. (see the black bike in slide show)

the bike after the classic was a blur xc - it's a nice little light race bike, very responsive and super fast and also a lot of fun through more technical trails. (it's the orange bike in the slide show)

i have also borrowed a heckler for a couple of weeks. this is a very handy play bike, it will get you up and down pretty much any trail with a smile on your face.

santa cruz bullit

i was so fortunate that i have been able to borrow and test ride a couple of different bullits for shuttle runs of the jumps track and dh course. they either had boxxers or fox 40, both forks felt mint as! the bike rides great, super plush, easy to handle and move around. it makes a wicked shuttle bike but also a great trail bike depending on the setup and componentry.

tires i use

most of the time i ride Maxxis Advantage tires (2.1). they are great for all year round trail riding, they have plenty of grip but you can also let them slide you through corners and know that they will grip again, wicked fun :)

for racing i use Maxxis CrossMark tires (2.1) as they have still plenty of grip but are lighter and faster rolling. a great tire especially for hardpacked or little more rocky trails.

the DH tire i used for me few downhill runs where Maxxis Minion (2.5), they have so much grip and still role very fast! - in the dry.

annika smail