In this issue:

November Specials

Review – Rotor Q Chainrings

Reminder: Fusion Criterium this Sunday

DeRosa VIP Night – register now

Fusion at Noosa Tri Festival

Customer Profile – Brian Clarkson

Upcoming Events

Tour Down Under – Tour Groups

Nutrition Tips – Sports Drinks

We would really appreciate your feedback on our e-news.

Please click here to let us know of things you like, don’t like, improvements, suggestions…….. it would be great to hear from you!

November Specials

Team Fusion Teschner Race bikes now for SALE!!

These top of the line Teschner race bikes retail for $8999 and are now for sale for less than half that!

The bikes have been ridden by our race team over the last 12 months and none of them have been in a crash and have been so well maintained, (that is, in the shop being tweaked almost weekly!) they are in excellent condition.

All team bikes have Sram Red Groupsets.

Euro Pro 2 x size 58, 1 x size 56 $3750
SL9 1 x size 56 $3999 (2009 model)
Team Race 1 x size 58 $3999 (new wheels)

Review – Rotor Q Chainrings

Rotor Q-Rings are an oval or elliptical shape and are designed to minimize the time spent in the dead spot while pedalling, to give a more efficient use of power. This means you can potentially ride at a higher average speed for the same amount of effort, especially in hill climbs.

While oval chainrings have historically been controversial, Rotor have made the Q-Rings able to be customised to maximise performance. Instead of the usual four or five bolt pattern, Q-Rings have 35 holes placed all the way around the inside of the chainring. This allows a very wide range of adjustment so that the rings can be custom-fitted to the rider and riding position. This makes sure that you're getting the maximum possible benefit from the chainring's design.

Another benefit of Q-Ring cranks is the relief of knee pain. The elimination of the dead spot and general smoothing of your pedal stroke is very good for your knees.

Matt is currently testing them out on his new Cannondale Supersix, so please have a chat to him next time you are in the shop.

RRP: $360

Reminder: Fusion Criterium this Sunday 8 Nov

Come and support our local road cyclists as they battle it out for a share of $6000 in prize money at Nundah this Sunday!

Racing from 7.30am. Presentations at 11am. Click here for more info.

De Rosa VIP Night – 6pm Thursday 19 Nov

2010 DeRosa Merak

De Rosa bikes are hand made in Italy by the famous Ugo De Rosa and his sons. De Rosa are launching a new King and a new Merak for 2010. Join us at 6pm on Thursday 19 November to find out what makes DeRosa such a premium brand and how the DeRosa team are pushing the boundaries to create their unique products.

Click here to register now.

Fusion at Noosa Tri Festival

The Noosa International Grand Prix Criterium last Saturday saw two of the Fusion Cycles Race team members competing with Peter Thompson contesting the final sprint finishing 7th!

Team Fusion supporters at Noosa Crit 31 October 2009

Customer Profile – Brian Clarkson

Name: Brian Clarkson
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Occupation: Investor

How did you get into cycling?
Bikes have been a part of my life since early childhood when I remember riding around the local country roads in England. At school in Australia, all of us had bikes that took us where we needed (and sometimes, weren't supposed) to go. The element of freedom that bikes brought us was as significant then, as now.

I stopped riding a bike when the Goss government brought in the cycle helmet regulations. "I'm not wearing something stupid like that. It compromises the sense of freedom!" I thought and dismissed bikes and bikers for many years.

An old work colleague (or rather, a colleague of long standing!) got me back into bikes. He took up cycling to lose weight and gain fitness. He dropped from 130kg to just over 80kg so that encouraged me to take up cycling somewhat seriously.

And now?
I try to ride most days and get a huge amount of pleasure from riding with the Fusion people on Sundays and some Saturdays.

What’s next?
I really want to do some much longer rides. There are so many of them to choose from, including some of the well-known overseas rides. It would be great to do those with some 'sympatico' people. Anyone interested? Let me know. I have a DeRosa King 3 with Super Record, because I like really good gear (toys).

It would be great to improve my riding so that I'm somewhere near the ability of my bike. Well, around 1/3rd as good would be a great achievement I reckon. Ah dreams! It doesn't really matter though, because, as we all know "Whoever has the most toys when they die, wins." At least that's a race where I'm quite competitive.

Tour Down Under – Tour Groups

Peter York of IRide Toowoomba is organising a group of 10 riders for the Tour Down Under in Adelaide in January. He has two spots left. Tour details: 5 days, 20-25 Jan, $2250 including flights, accom, legends dinner, group rides daily, race tour daily.
Call Peter for more info 0438 463214.

Fusion customer Helen Bianchi is also organising a group of 8 riders for the Tour Down Under and has one spot left.
Tour details: 10 days 15-25 Jan, $1500 including accom and car hire. Flights not included. Call Helen for more info: 0438 742041.

Nutrition Tips – Sports Drinks

What should a sports drink look like? They have pretty colours, fancy ingredients and vary in taste dramatically. But take it all away and what should an effective sports drink contain and what is just marketing hype?

Carbohydrate - Amount
We all know that carbohydrate is important for performance and to couple it with fluid and consume it from one source is a logical end point - hence the advent of the sports drink. Most sports drinks are between 4-8% carbohydrate. This is the amount of carbohydrate that is accepted to ensure suitable transition time through the stomach.

Carbohydrate -Type
Historically when we talk about carbohydrate in sports drink it has mainly been glucose or sucrose. The problem with glucose is that you can quickly overload its absorptive capacity and this becomes a limiting factor in getting sufficient carbohydrate sources to the working muscle to sustain high intensity performance.

Inventive scientists have now started manipulating the type of carbohydrate to increase the amount absorbed and delivered to the working muscle. This has had a flow on effect into the sports drink market with companies advertising their products as having unique formulas for faster delivery of energy to the muscles. This is achieved by adding other carbohydrates such as fructose and/or Maltodextrins to the sports drink in combination with glucose.

Electrolytes
These have always been a major marketing buzz word associated with sweating, dehydration and sports drinks. Electrolytes are mineral salts the body loses in sweat during exercise. The major electrolyte of interest is sodium. Sodium is important in a number of bodily functions from the maintenance of blood volume to facilitating nerve impulses. When a lot of sodium is lost in sweat it can have a major effect on performance and bodily functioning.

Sodium is often implicated in severe "exercise associated muscle cramps" but has been over emphasised in the common problem of cramps (will look at that another time). Sodium is identified as the most important electrolyte for replacement due to sweat containing large amounts of sodium. Sodium intake during exercise also facilitates faster rehydration and carbohydrate absorption. Athletes should aim for sports drinks with sodium concentrations in the range of 50mg/100ml (20mmol) - 120mg/100ml (50mmol).

Other electrolytes such as potassium, chloride and magnesium are important electrolytes within the body but research has shown that they are not lost at levels (that are difficult to replace) that adversely effect performance in the average athlete.

So when looking for a sports drink that is right for you ask yourself - "What are you trying to get out of it?" Is it carbohydrate, sodium, fluid, or taste and how will that sports drink then affect your other food and fluid intake during training and a race (ie how will it interact with gels or solid foods)? These are all important questions that need to be asked when looking for a sports drink that works for you and improves performance rather than just being a colourful alternative to water.

Greg Shaw
Sports Dietitian
Department of Sports Nutrition
Australian Institute of Sport

To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please click here