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2009-05-07T13:50:00.001+08:00

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ARCHIVE MAR-APR 09

2009-05-07T11:59:00.005+08:00

ADVENTURE RACING – THE NEW CONTIKI

Contiki tours offer a unique experience. You visit exotic places with like minded people, experience the local culture and see the sights and sounds of the local tourist attractions. Then after a hard days travelling you kick back and enjoy a few frosty ones with your new friends in your free T-Shirt.

Adventure Races offer a unique experience also. You visit exotic places with like minded people, experience the local culture and see the sights and sounds of the local tourist attractions. Then after a hard days travelling you kick back and enjoy a few frosty ones with your new friends in your free T-Shirt…mmm. The only difference is you’re the one doing the hard days travelling not your young attractive bus driver.

I spoke to Brent Burton from the Mandurah Tri Club down at the Anaconda Adventure Race last year. He’d just returned from the Great Southern Adventure Race and although overwhelmed by the difficulty of the course (yes – everyone found it hard) he was impressed how the course was orientated around all the sights and sounds of Albany. ‘You really wouldn’t need to visit Albany again, we saw it all.’ So it really begs the question: Is there a better way to experience travelling foreign places than to jump right in and get down and dirty with an adventure race? We searched around for some of the more exotic adventure races and here’s what we found.

Adventure Races can last from a few hours to multi-day events. They vary from exhausting desert races to arctic crossings. Let’s check out the Adventure Racing scene in of all places…

Greenland.

(Thanks must go to the producers of this video who have allowed us to embed it in our website. All words, images and video are copyright protected) Producer: Inuk A graduate of Film & TV-studies at the Department of Information and Media Studies, University of Aarhus (2005-2007). More videos from this producer can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/inukjorgensen

There is simply no better way to experience the nature of a region than traverse it on foot, bike, and kayak or simply swim. Let’s not forget similar to a Contiki tour when you finish you get to piss it up with a whole bunch of strangers in you free T-Shirts. So, if you planning your next holiday interstate or overseas consider an Adventure Race to add to your itinerary.

So this month we ask:

What are the ingredients for the perfect Adventure Race?

Have you say on the sidebar survey.

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HOW TOUGH IS YOUR TRAINING PROGRAM?

Yeah we praise the elite athletes and aspire to go faster but train too hard and we could be doing more damage to our insides than what we think. This month we hear from Ryan who takes us through a dialogue about training, overtraining and what effects it has on our body. Yes training is good but overtraining is detrimental to going faster and possibly detrimental to our health and wellbeing.

Have a listen to what Ryan has to say and think long and hard about how tough your training program is.

(Thanks must go to the producers of this video who have allowed us to embed it in our website. All words, images and video are copyright protected)
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5 DAMS RIDE

Now let’s be honest, Perth’s Flat. We do have hills but in the grand scheme of cycling we certainly don’t have any mountain passes to conquer. Cyclists from Europe, the US or Canada they all say Perth suffers from a lack of ‘Big Rides.’ These ‘Big Rides’ they talk of are usually circuits that can traverse several mountain passes, states and even countries. Several ‘Big Rides’ in the US are century rides meaning over 100 miles long and some are classified as double century rides – yes we’re talking miles so multiply by 1.6. US riders have also coined the term ‘Credit Card Ride’ the idea being: you jump on your bike with your credit card and take off for the weekend. At the end of a days ride you find a place to stay for the night, then jump on your bike and ride back the next day, just you, your bike, your credit card and the freedom of the open road. This idea conjures up visions of epic cycling trips, great scenery and mateship amongst the peloton. Unfortunately Perth suffers from a lack of these epic rides…that is until now!

Let me introduce you to the 5 Dams Ride. A ride I’m predicting will be the next ‘Big Thing’ when discussing cycling in Perth. Triathletes have the Ironman in Busselton, Swimmers have the Rotto Swim, Paddlers have the Avon Decent and now Cyclists have a ride I’m predicting will be the benchmark of ‘Big Rides’ in WA. Although there is no race or event scheduled around the 5 Dams Ride I don’t think it will be long before someone sets one up.

Justin Lewis has ridden the 5 Dams ride and has formed his own Facebook group. Read his tracknotes on the completion of the ride in the anticlockwise direction. Link Here

So here's a summary of the ride in the clockwise direction:

The 5 Dams Ride is exactly that, you pass the 5 dams nestled amongst the hills of Perth. I would expect most to start their journey in the CBD of Perth and head up Welshpool Road through Kalamunda and along Mundaring Weir Road to Mundaring Weir, the first Dam. You then take a series of back-roads passing through the back of Pickering Brook and Roleystone until you reach the next Dam; Churchman Brook Dam. It’s only a hop, skip and a few hills over to Wungong Dam before back-tracking a little to tick off Canning Dam. You then have a long ride between Canning Dam and your final Dam that of Serpentine Dam by this stage the legs are starting to hurt and you’re Damn sure you’re never going to do this Dam ride again! But don’t be put off as there are only a handful of cyclists who have actually completed this 230km epic so you can be damn happy with yourself knowing that you’ve just joined one of the more elite ‘clubs’ in town.

ZIPP SLIPS A NEW DISC

For years the disc wheel has been king. Unsurpassed is its ability to aerodynamically slice through the air. The disc’s domination of the aerodynamic throne has never really been under threat. The greatest discussions regarding the disc have usually involved the argument that it should be allowed in the Hawaiian Ironman (it is currently banned due to the high winds Hawaii can experience) or the banter between which front wheel to match it with. In this case you usually belong to one of two parties; the tri spoke party or the deep rim party. But be warned, choose your side carefully else expect the usual ‘you’re one of them’ comments at the bike rack.

Now, for the first time in years, the disc wheel has once again become one of the most talked about topics in the cycling community all because a bunch of engineers from Zipp went wind tunnel testing one afternoon and came back with some numbers with a (+) symbol in front of them. Zipp had stumbled upon a prototype disc that actually pushed the rider along rather produce the normal aerodynamic drag. Wouldn’t you love to have been a fly on the wall when that happened? Along the way they found that their clincher disc was actually faster than their old tubular disc. Hmmm, is that the sound of my old clincher going up in price?

‘It started with our clincher disc
which almost on accident we
found was faster than our old disc…
we had to reinvent the wheel…’

A few months later Zipp released to the world the Sub-9 disc wheel. Upon hearing the news cyclists and triathletes around the world sat up and took notice as never before had a piece of cycling technology actually provided a positive force, science had always been geared to discovering ways to reduce the amount of negative drag. If before the disc was king it must now be surely approaching god-like status.

Watch below as Mark from Zipp takes us through the new Sub-9 Disc.

The video above of the Sub-9 is provided to us by Competitive Cyclist. Full authorisation and permission has been obtained form the producers of the video to embed it in our website. It is protected by all copyright rules and regulations. More videos from Competitive Cyclist can be viewed from their site http://www.youtube.com/user/competitivecyclist

5 DAMS RIDE NOTES

2009-03-03T15:04:00.001+09:00

Perth 5 Dams ride

The 5 Dams ride is about 230km of cycling, with 2,000 vertical metres of elevation gain included. It is a decent challenge - of legs, and mind. Sure, you can do more in Europe – but you can do this in your own backyard, as often as you want.

Starting in Perth, the ride heads south at a steady pace along the Freeway cycle path, before turning East onto Mundijong Road and heading for the hills behind Serpentine. That is about 70 km from the start - so it is quite a hike along the flats, to find a hill! Most people find that by this point, their butt is sore and they just feel uncomfortable from holding a similar riding position for so long. Fortunately, this gets better for this point on, as the terrain becomes more variable.

The first climb is up Kingsbury road, past the Karnet prison farm. This is one of the longest and steepest climbs of the day, and is a sharp reminder that is, indeed, a hills ride. It is also important to remember that this is before the half-way point - and so some restraint is advised.

After a bit of undulating road through some trees, Serpentine Dam is finally reached. That is dam #1, after about 80km of cycling. No gifts on this ride! After some further undulations, Jarrahdale is reached. The cafe here is the main feed stop for the ride, with coffee and cake being the usual much-needed order.

After refueling, quick time is made along Jarrahdale Road to Albany Highway, and then along Albany Highway back towards the city. The pace is often quicker than you want along here, and it starts to become evident who has good legs on the day – and who doesn’t.

The turn-off to Canning Dam is the first major decision point – to continue, or to head for home. From here, it is still over 150km once you reach home – and with only 1 Dam credit! It is a strange feeling – to get home after a 150km ride, and still feel like you only did a half-hearted job!

The ride into Canning Dam is ok to bag dam #2 for the day, but there is a steep climb on the way out. That one hurts – physically and mentally – especially because you know that you are back-tracking, and this pain could all have been avoided!

Once the escape from Canning Dam is made, it is short work to zip down hill along Albany Highway to Wungong Dam, to pick up dam #3. Again, the climb back out is the issue here – quite a long, steady climb awaits – and the legs are starting to feel the accumulated work they have already endured.

Not too much later, Churchman’s Brook is wizzing past, on one of the better descents of the day – so, dam #4 is no drama. This leads to another break at Roleystone Deli, for more supplies and the final question: “Is there enough energy and enthusiasm left, for the big trek over to Mundaring Weir?” At this point, there is the best part of 150km on the clock already - with nearly 50 more kilometers of hills between here and the Weir. And then the small issue of getting home again, afterwards. It is no small decision…

Brave soldiers head up Brookton Highway, for one of the longer continuous climbs of the day. At your own pace, it is manageable – but is the group going at your pace? Not for everyone, unfortunately – by now, the strong people are clearly differentiated. Also, on a hot afternoon, there is nowhere to hide along here – potentially adding to the difficulty of the day.

Canning Road heads towards Kalamunda, and continues to add fatigue to the legs, via rolling hills and more distance. What would be considered to be gentle hills on a shorter ride start to take on more significance, as the number of kilometers in the legs increase. A few twists through Pickering Brook bring you to Mundaring Weir Road – about 20 kilometers from the destination. However, this is again a useless loop consisting of continuous hills that has to be back-tracked - and the mind always finds that a bit hard to cope with. Why am I doing this, again? Who really cares about dam #5?

Reaching Mundaring Weir, after almost 200 km of riding, is quite a relief. 5 Dams! Yes – what an achievement! Except - that isn’t the end of the ride. You know that you still have to ride back out that last 20 km of hills. Then climb Weir Road, into Kalamunda. Then descend Welshpool Road. Then cross the 20 km of flats back top the city, and then home. Yep, it is a long day…

I think 5 Dams has become a love-hate thing, for me. After successfully completing it, there is a great feeling of achievement. However, the lead-up is usually full of uncertainty regarding form, weather, and all of the rest. The feeling associated with not finishing can also be disappointment, too - depending on the reason. But you will never know, if you don’t try, and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone occasionally is good – and can do wonders for your riding form, too.

5 Dams. Every ride is slightly different, even if the route is largely fixed. Who turns up, what your personal form is like, the weather conditions and mechanical issues can all subtly change how the ride goes. Regardless, you know that you have done well if you have finished the day with all dams accounted for.

Justin

Route: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/australia/perth/260387145764
Web site: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76462985184

ARCHIVE JAN-FEB 09

2009-02-28T20:34:00.001+09:00

ARCHIVES FROM JAN-FEB 09 EDITION

Featured ride of the month

Round the River (42km)

Why we like this ride: Probably the most popular riding circuit in Perth and with good reason, 42km through some of the most expensive real estate in the country. If you like you can play a game of spot the house under $2mil, trust me it’s hard. Good views and a few short kicking hills Johnson Pde, heading up to the bowling club my favourite.

What to look out for: Old, rich people in their BMW’s trying to run you down as they head out for a day at the country club.
2007-10-13 Round the River at 7am
Find more Bike Rides in Perth, Australia

LATEST NEWS

2009-01-23T10:51:00.012+09:00

Oriental Recipe for Endurance Event

Ingredients:

1 x long run (42.2)km
5 x Perth-Central Park stair climbs (5000+)
1 x Oriental backdrop flavour (Great Wall)

Method:

Place athlete in the heat for around 4-7 hrs to achieve a nice to ‘well-done’

state of exhaustion. Reload athlete with lots of local carbs to achieve

maximum sensation.

There you have it folks, the perfect recipe for an Oriental Endurance Event.

It just so happens that here’s one we’ve prepared earlier…

Many of the summer events like the swimming calendar and the tri calendar are coming to a close so we thought we’d wet the running appetite by previewing the Great Wall Marathon. This year the event is held on the 16th of May so perhaps something you can pop into the calendar for next year, unless you happen to be in the region and marathon fit??? As the name suggests it’s a Marathon along the length of the Great Wall of China (not the whole length). It’s quite unlike any of the other great marathons (Boston, Chicago, London…) along the way you’ll climb up and down around 5000 stairs. If you’re wondering how many that is? it’s equivalent to climbing the Central Park tower (this can be done as part of the Step Up event) 5 times, or, for you King’s Park regulars it’s about 17 flights of Jacobs (Try pumping that out on your Sunday morning!!) But, like all the great marathons it’s more than just running 42km as you’ll have the opportunity to run along one of the world’s most recognisable structures. Now if you’re looking for results the pro-male winning time is around three and a half hours while the pro-women are around the four hour mark. This gives some indication of how tough it is, in fact any time under 4 hrs 10 min would have placed you in the top 10 finishers overall ! So when you finish you’ll have a new appreciation of the Great Wall and people will have a new appreciation for just how crazy you are. Upon completion you’ll have a T-Shirt to say you’ve finished one of the world’s great marathons and along the way have come to realisation that Emperor Nasi Goring and his army did a hell of a job keeping those rabbits out.

DISCLAIMER

2009-01-22T10:55:00.001+09:00

THIS IS MY TRIBE including any predecessor or affiliated companies, does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the advertisements (collectively), i.e. links, downloads, distributions or other information accessed directly or indirectly from host advertisements contained on this Web Site (Service), nor the quality of any products, information or other materials displayed, purchased or obtained by any consumer, as a result of an advertisement or any other information or offer in connection with the service or products. THIS IS MY TRIBE, shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions contained within any 3rd party advertisement contained within its Web Site, and reserves the right to make changes and regulate content without notice. Accordingly, THIS IS MY TRIBE, and 3rd party information are provided "AS IS." You, the consumer, acknowledge that any reliance upon any materials shall be at your sole risk.

THIS IS MY TRIBE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS.

In no event shall THIS IS MY TRIBE be liable for any damages, whatsoever, and in particular, shall not be liable for direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages, or damages of lost profits, loss of revenue, or loss of use, arising out of related to any portion of this Web Site or the information contained in it, whether such damages arise in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, in equity, at law or otherwise.THIS IS MY TRIBE is committed to the privacy of individuals and organizations. Information provided, i.e., e-mail addresses, direct-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and other personal information will not be exchanged, sold or shared in any means, shape or form for any purpose. If you are a subscriber to any listserv or e-notification, you may be removed by sending us an e-mail stating so to: thisismytribe@live.com.au . When ordering products or services from our site, YOU ARE USING A SECURED SERVER, and your personal information will not be compromised, sold, exchanged or shared in any means, shape or form or for any purpose other than to fill your order or notify you of other offers or products offered solely by or in partnership with THIS IS MY TRIBE. If you have additional questions related to information privacy please e-mail: thisismytribe@live.com.au . All information, images, and design of this Web Site are the property of THIS IS MY TRIBE. Reproducing, transferring, and partaking in commercial usage of this site in part or whole is prohibited. We will prosecute any violator of such copyright infringement if and where appropriate and applicable. If you intend to use any portions of the information, images or design of this Web Site for any purpose, please seek permission prior to doing so. Send your submission by e-mail to: thisismytribe@live.com.au

WIN WIN WIN

2009-01-21T14:14:00.012+09:00

How do I win free stuff?

*Join our facebook group. Every 10 new West Australian based Endurance Athletes that join go into the running to win a free T-Shirt and car sticker worth $65 and you have a 1 in 10 chance of winning. By joining our facebook group you will also receive notification of when we’re running our SUPER HOT SPECIALS for example auctioning off one of our cycling jerseys with no reserve price, $10 T-Shirt weeks and crazy prices on Car stickers and other merchandise.

Every month when we do our website update if you’ve had your blog added to our ATHLETE PROFILES or you’ve sent us a VIDEO of your endurance race then you’re in the running. the best entry for the month wins a T-Shirt and car sticker worth $65.

MERCHANDISE

2009-01-08T10:45:00.031+09:00

The following merchandise is available from our eBay store. Click on the image or sizes below to view or purchase these items.

CYCLING JERSEY $99

MORE STOCK AVAILABLE MARCH 2009

So you and your riding possie are looking for a new way to stamp your authority out there on the road. Well you’re going to need one of these then: The new carbon fibre cycling jersey by THIS IS MY TRIBE. It’s a classic unisex short sleeve, 8 panel, ¾ length hidden zip, raglan sleeve with 3 back pockets. This jersey is not available in stores! Jersey is made by Sprint Design. Fabric: Duk fabric, coolmax style, breathable fabric, anti-wicking, anti-bacterial.

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LARGE VINYL CAR STICKER (48cm x 12cm) $25

NEW STOCK ARRIVING SOON

So you’re cruzin with your homies in your pimped out ride. When you pull up to the lights some other bro’s in their ride pull up next to you and call out to you, ‘Yo Bro!, ain’t you missin somethin?.’ You think to yourself, ‘Yeah I am’, I need one of those pimpin stickers from THIS IS MY TRIBE.

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Cotton T-Shirt $40

NEW STOCK ARRIVING SOON

'The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this.'

~Mark Twain~

So if your society demands more then you need the latest T-Shirt from THIS IS MY TRIBE. There is no better way to show your passion for your sport and respect to your rivals.
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RIDES

2009-01-06T17:31:00.016+09:00

Do you remember your first time?

You were exhausted, your body ached all over but you kept going, in pursuit of the ultimate goal. When it was all over you had that warm fuzzy feeling inside that made you feel like a real man…or woman.

Now get your mind out of the gutter and realise we’re talking about the first time you racked up three digits on your bike speedo. That’s right! your first 100km ride. I remember mine it was a ride down the freeway starting from the city. I reached the service station down there at Baldivis, it was the only building in sight back then. No Hungry Jacks or shopping centre. On my return the speedo clocked a little over 80k’s. I was spent, my legs ached and I was ready for some lunch and a lie down, as is the usual start to a Saturday morning for many. I stopped off at the overpass which would take me back home and I thought to myself…’you know I could keep going.’ One more leg out to UWA and back again, plus a bit more, that would take me past 100k’s. Then I thought if I rode past UWA and that would be more than I needed. All I had to do then was ride home and I’d be over 100k’s for the day.

Is it possible?

So off I went, my goal was to ride as far as I could away from home to rack up an extra 10km. That would mean I was only 9km away from home and 9km away from 100k’s for the day. Now what better motivation is there to reach 100k’s for the first time than to have home waiting for you on the other side? The plan was simple, out and back. It was executed to perfection, well nearly. There appeared to be a small glitch in the matrix that morning as I miscalculated by 200m. That saw me ride one lap around the block before riding up the driveway. There was no way I was racking the bike with 99.8km on the speedo, though the thought did cross my mind to sit the thing upside down and spin the front wheel round a few times. So there it was my first, of now many, rides over 100k’s. the seal had been proverbially broken…now what next.

If you’re looking for your first 100km ride we’ve got the one for you. It’s a great mix of coastal riding up to Scarborough then back down to Freo to meet up with the round the river ride. There’s usually fairly heavy cycling traffic along this route especially during weekends and warmer weather so there’s plenty of others out there to motivate you along. There are some downfalls you have to be weary of though. This ride passes plenty of café’s and chocolate shops so be strong and don’t get distracted along the way. Be sure to choose your starting and finishing point carefully as to have a crowd around so you can brag out loud about your ride when you’re done and hopefully gain a few peloton brownie points for your efforts. Once you’ve completed your epic journey find a nice café order a half a dozen chocolate chip muffins a mammoth double espresso, full-strength milk, triple sugar coffee, find a quiet corner to sit in and think to yourself FIGJAM, because you are.

100km saturday ride
Find more Bike Rides in Perth, Australia

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The following provides links to free group rides in Western Australia.

If you know of any group rides in Western Australia that are not listed please feel free to contact us at thisismytribe@live.com.au

ABOUT US

2008-12-22T10:06:00.008+09:00

BRAD KROKOSZ

I’ve been a competitive triathlete for about seven years now, have raced across all distances from sprint to Ironman, and have recently enjoyed the variety that multi-sport and adventure racing events have brought to the scene. I think the best advertisement for endurance sports is the community that it creates. We’re all out there to enjoy ourselves but inside all of us there’s a little ego that would like to go a bit faster. The primary aim of this website is to foster the community that we are ‘ THE ENDURANCE ATHLETES’ and provide the links with those out there that can help you reach your goals.

So set your goals, plan your work and work your plan, run your k’s, swim your laps and when the body screams for it, rest. On top of all your achievements, your marathons, channel swims and Ironmans your greatest achievement over our desk bound executive friends in their tailor made suits, designer watches walking the terrace sipping their skinny soy lattes, I promise you this:

you’ll outlive the bastards!

CONTACT US

2008-12-22T10:06:00.005+09:00

We are always open to your ideas and suggestions. Feel free to contact us at:

thisismytribe@live.com.au

ADVERTISE WITH US

2008-12-20T14:51:00.001+09:00

FREE ADVERTISING IN 2009

WOW!

That’s right, we’re offering free advertising to all endurance associated businesses, coaches or products in 2009. No strings attached – that’s it. Contact us now

thisismytribe@live.com.au

RECOVERY

2008-12-20T13:51:00.034+09:00

The world’s worst eating habits

If you demand the maximum from your body you have to fuel it correctly. We all know that, but balancing that out is a little devil on our shoulder that makes us human and once in a while we ‘let ourselves go’, even if it’s only for a quick chocolate binge. So of all the calories we take on in our moment of weakness what’s the worst? Well Ryan is here to run us through the answers and dive a little into the psychology of how to keep it real!

(Thanks must go to the producers of this video who have allowed us to embed it in our website. All words, images and video are copyright protected)

We will be hearing more from Ryan in the months to come as he takes us through a series of videos about health, wellbeing for endurance athletes. Below is a link to his website.

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Massage, acupuncture, chiropractic work, physio and green tea, no, we’re not talking about packing up our incense and moving to Byron Bay. Alternative heeling and nutrition is here and here to stay. Our human bodies weren’t designed to take the punishment we dish out to it. To keep it in tune and repair it when needed we’ve compiled the best recovery, nutrition and heeling physicians around. Here they are:

Sharon Zaunmayr - Massage & Injury Management Clinic

Where you'll find them: Warwick Healthcare Centre 9, 26 Dugdale St Warwick WA 6024

Why we like them: From the tired and stressed to the weekend warrior, endurance warriors and the elite athlete we can help assist your recovery and help restore the zest in your life.

*We provide specific massage treatment aimed at relieving post-event pain, stiffness and muscle soreness. It is very beneficial in the maintaining peak muscle condition.

*Specific techniques can be used to break down scar tissue.

*Open seven days a week

*Professional premises

*Qualified staff

*Open twelve hours Mon-Fri

*Generally three therapists on duty

*Male & female practitioners
*Clinic open 7 days a week

The details:
Monday - Friday 8am - 8pmSaturday 8am - 4pmSunday 8am - 2 pm
telephone for appointemnts on 08 92437052
http://www.massageclinic.com.au/
info@massageclinic.com.au
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Local Businesses

DO YOU WANT ATHLETES TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS?

FREE ADVERTISING IN 2009

That’s right, we’re offering free advertising to all endurance associated businesses, coaches or products in 2009. No strings attached – that’s it. Contact us now

thisismytribe@live.com.au

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Online Shops

SHOPS

2008-12-20T13:36:00.031+09:00

ALL WHEEL DRIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE

(Yes our prayers have been answered!)

Let me ask you a question: What’s the difference between a road bike and a mountain bike?

Now let me ask you another question: What’s the difference between an on road car and an off road car?

Sure, when you compare these questions you see there’s the obvious upgrade of tyres and suspension, ground clearance and engineering for increased strength, but there is a substantial difference in traction control. Your off road car has traction to all wheels while your mountain bike still has the same power plant as your on road bike.

Mountain bikes still provide only one rear tyre to deliver the power from the rider to the ground.

So this poses the question: What if you could transfer the power of the rider into both the front and rear wheels of your bike? Think of the additional traction available to the rider. Climbing hills on your mountain bike could now be done in the standing position as against trying to pull off that balancing act between keeping the back wheel from slipping and popping a wheelie.

Well all our prayers have been answered as Christini have designed an ALL WHEEL DRIVE mountain bike. There were several all wheel drive concept mountain bikes floating around towards the end of the eighties with different pullies, chains and external shafts but it’s Christini’s design that has impressed us the most as only a small percentage of energy is lost when the all wheel drive is engaged. It would seem that this is a small price to pay for the advantage of additional traction.

Christini aren’t new to this idea they’ve been trialling it in their motor-cross bikes for a few years now and have recently had success in the Dakar Rally with their motor-cross bikes.

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Local Shops - Free advertising for 2009

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Shop Online (Australia and International)

COFFEE SHOPS

2008-12-20T13:12:00.009+09:00

COFFEE ART

I think it all started with a movie back in 1988 staring Tom Cruise, a killer sound track including the Beach Boys and such memorable quotes as: ‘When you see the colour of their panties, you know you've got talent.’ Alcoholic beverages weren’t just liquids you drank anymore. Visiting the cocktail lounge was now about experiencing the razzle and dazzle as you watched the bartender flaring the bottles with such speed and such accuracy it left you begging for more.

The humble cup of coffee has now followed a similar trend as Coffee Art, the latest café trend, sweeps the globe. The flat white you order at your local café every morning is no longer just a crushed bean in hot frothing milk, it’s now a canvas for the brazier to create a tropical island, a romantic heart or perhaps, leave a personal message. Visiting your favourite cafe is back in fashion as people flock to drink skinny soy lattes flared by their favourite brazier.

Below is a video of some of the worlds best Braziers creating works of Coffee Art.

(Thanks must go to the producers of this video who have allowed us to embed it in our website. All words, images and video are copyright protected) Producer: Scottie Barista training, coffee, working as a barista, food, wine and coffee they are all good! Good for you, good for me, here on my YouTube chanel I will be posting videos of my latte art and other cafe, restaurant, kitchen, providor experiences http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottieCallaghan

So next time you’re at your local café don’t just ask for a flat white, set the bar a little higher and ask them to decorate it.

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Yeah, yeah, we all know how inappropriate it is when we arrive at our local café and park our bikes, en masse, in the most inappropriate locations. We arrive sore, smelly and often wet. We roam the café in our lycra while speaking our secret sports jargon. We order the house out of food and coffee and clog up the waiting line to the snare of our desk bound executive friends in their tailor made suits and designer watches. But once in a blue moon you come across a cafe who opens their arms to our quirky peloton and embraces the subculture of endurance athletes and yes, we’d like to celebrate them. So here they are:
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We're looking for WA's most athlete friendly cafes so we can give them a plug. Let us know where you hang out - post training.

thisismytribe@live.com.au

ATHLETE VIDEOS

2008-12-20T11:04:00.008+09:00

So, you want to be rich and famous? Let’s face it, who doesn’t? Well we can help you out. Send us your videos of you competing or up load them to YouTube. Email at thisismytribe@live.com.au with the details and we’ll put it on our website where very wealthy talent scouts search for potential sponsorship deals. You get noticed and talent scout signs you up for million dollar contract. So there you have it wealth and fame heading your way. (Thank you for listening to my story)

(Ironman WA 2006)

PODCASTS

2008-12-20T09:25:00.023+09:00

So you’re out there, pumping out the k’s and your Ipod has just finished the third cycle of its random selection. You need something new to listen to. Try a podcast. You can get anything from professional programs in audio to uni students’ podcasting in their dorms, either way there’s plenty of knowledge out there about endurance sports and you’re sure to learn a thing or two. Here’s a good place to start:

Thanks to the following organisations who have provided their logos for us to use.

Recently on multisports.com

(Compression Sox ??)

Recently on IM Talk
(Rolling Resistance, different brands, very different results)

Recently on The Fred Cast
(Controversy at the Tour of Turkey)

Recently on Endurance Planet
(Cyclocross - the new duathlon)

Recently on Tri Talk

(Why altitude training works - but not for you!)

GOOD TECHNIQUE

2008-12-19T20:23:00.000+09:00

So you want to go faster? Let’s face it, who doesn’t. Check out the following links showing videos of the experts and pro’s showing you how to improve your technique and ultimately…

GO FASTER!

PHOTOS

2008-12-19T12:11:00.006+09:00

THE BEST ACTION SHOTS…EVER!

Don’t get me wrong, digital cameras are great. You can take as many photos as you want in the hope of capturing the perfect action photo. It’s certainly better than the ‘good-ol-days’ where you’d spend a fortune on film, then catch perhaps one or two good shots after again paying for the film to be developed. Having said that, one of the pitfalls with modern day digital cameras is there’s a lag in the time between when you push the photo button and the camera’s digital card captures the image. This leaves you frustrated as you’ve just missed your perfect shot. More expensive cameras are getting better at trying to reduce the shutter lag and several camera models even have multiple image capturing ability. There is however an alternative that works very well. If your digital camera has a movie option you’re in luck. Follow the video instructions below and learn how to turn your average video footage into great action photos.

(Thanks must go to the producers of this video who have allowed us to embed it in our website. All words, images and video are copyright protected) More info on this and similar topics can be found by visiting http://www.jamiekeddie.com/317) or http://www.teflclips.com/

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The following companies have taken photos of endurance events in WA. If you’re a keen photographer or trying to break into the professional photographic circuit let us know and we can assist in promoting your work.

Thanks to the following organisations who have provided their logos for us to use.

GEAR REVIEWS

2008-12-17T19:11:00.026+09:00

So you’re thinking about trading the wife and kids in for a new set of Zipp wheels?*

Before you go making any crazy or rash decisions like that, you want to be absolutely sure you’re getting the right wheels for what you need!

(*Please note: THIS IS MY TRIBE does not encourage this sort of behaviour – though they are nice wheels!)

Check out the websites below which review all the latest gear to ensure you're getting what you need.

Thanks to the following organisations who have provided their logos for us to use.

Recently on Trifuel

(blueseventy Reaction)

Recently on About.com
(DeSoto T1 two piece wetsuit)

Recently on Roadbikereview.com
(R3-SL Cervelo's best ever)

Recently on mtbr
(Christini's AWD Mountain Bike)

Recently on Runner's world
(The best shoes for off-road running)

Recently on Paddling.net
(KayakPro Speedstroke Kayak Ergometer)

If you know of any other decent gear-review websites let us know.

thisismytribe@live.com.au

SCREEN SAVER

2008-12-17T19:11:00.013+09:00

Screen saver image of the month.

Click on the image to enlarge it then save it as your screen saver or background.

FORUM

2008-12-17T19:10:00.008+09:00

So, you’ve just returned form your first race and were overtaken by some guy sporting a steel frame bike, 36 spoke wheels and a fluoro Stack hat. You pack your $8000 bike into your $2000 car and realise, yep! You’ve got questions! Well this accumulation of the best forums around should help out

Thanks to the following organisations who have provided their logos for us to use.

COACHES

2008-12-17T19:08:00.047+09:00

If you want to go faster, you need a coach. If you want assistance with your training program, you need a coach. If you want to meet a supportive network of like minded athletes, you need a coach. If you want to train correctly and avoid long term injury, you need a coach. In short YOU NEED A COACH. We’ve compiled a list of the best around and here they are:

Elite Sportz and Altitude Plus

Where you’ll find them: Swimming, riding, running, and other endurance sports all around Perth and via online training. They work with some of the best athletes in town including world record holder Eamon Sullivan. Their home base is Unit 7/44 Hutton St Osborne Park WA 6017

Why we like them: Along with every qualification under the sun Andrew Ivey and his team have been training and working with athletes from novices to the elite of the elite since 1978. They are also the only place in town that offers high altitude training, so if you want to take your training to new heights their altitude plus training program is the way to go.

How they can help: There is a variety of programs that they offer across all endurance sports from bike set up to video analysis of your swim stroke.

How do I find out more?
On the web:

www.elitesportz.com.au
Email: sally@elitesportz.com.au , andrew@elitesportz.com.au
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Ross Pedlow - Exceed Triathlon

Where you’ll find him: Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre, Inglewood and surrounding areas

Why we like him: Ross himself a former elite triathlete has a great philosophy on training. From beginners to the elite athletes Ross’s holistic approach to training has helped many athletes go from conquering their first triathlon through to qualifying for the Hawaiian Ironman while still maintaining a healthy mind and body and avoiding burnout.

How can he help? Swim squads with specialist stroke correction coach, Running squads and Group Rides

When do they train? Swim squads: Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning and evening. Running Squads Thursday evenings. For more details check out his website.

On the web: http://www.exceedsports.com.au/
Email: ross@exceedsports.com.au

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Where you’ll find him: In and around the waterways of Perth.

Why we like him: With the qualifications like BSc in Human Movement, Grad Dip Ed in Phys Ed, Accredited Sprint Kayak Coach and having worked with elite athletes from WAIS. Ty is well equipped to helping you reach your paddling goals whether it be your first Avon Decent or the State team his instruction on paddling technique will have you increasing your speed through the water.

How can he help? Group or private lessons, Technical sessions, training programs, specialist Avon Decent training.

When do they train? Contact Ty for session times and locations.

For more details check out his website

On the web www.precisionpaddling.com.au
Email: ty@precisionpaddling.com.au
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Online Coaching

EVENTS

2008-12-17T19:08:00.030+09:00

SERIES EVENTS

Thanks to the following organisations who have provided their logos for us to use.

ANNUAL EVENTS

If you have an event you would like us to promote or you know of any WA events, that have their own website, that we’ve missed please let us know.

thisismytribe@live.com.au

CLUBS

2008-12-17T19:07:00.037+09:00

8 good reasons why athletes should have a blog

CLICK ON THE ATHLETE OR CLUB IMAGES BELOW TO SEE THEIR PROFILES

Recently on Kate's Blog

(Kate gets a lesson on life)

Recently on Peter's website

(Robbo to focus on half ironman distance)

Recently on Jo's blog

(Jo places 3rd in 100km Odyssey)

Recently on Raf's blog

(Raf heads to Europe for Duathlon series)

Recently on Carrol's blog
(Carrol chews a few Swan River Jellies in prep for Channel Crossing)

To create your blog click on the blogger image below

Once you've created your blog you need to email the following information to

thisismytribe@live.com.au

1) Your Name

2) Your Club

3) A short description of your career highlights

4) the URL of your blog eg www.johncitizen.blogspot.com

5) Attach an image of yourself that we can use to link to your blog

STADIUM TRI CLUB

2008-12-17T16:28:00.007+09:00

STADIUM TRI CLUB

Click on the Athlete's image to view their blog

Recently on Brad's blog

(Brad goes top 20 in solo to Rotto)

ENDURANCE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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