Equipment Matters

Recently we got my wife a Masi road bike for the summer so we could do some riding together.  On average, we’ve been doing at least one good, long ride each Sunday (18-25 miles) before I head into the studio to train clients.  I’ve been riding a 2006 Specialized Allez  Sport Triple for the last couple of years and have enjoyed it very much, but recently I decided to treat myself to something a bit more suited for my comfort and more importantly, for my performance.  I have been finding that my cycling has gotten better but I couldn’t help feel that the effort I was putting out wasn’t reflected in my performance (I was working hard to maintain a 17 mph pace) so I went to see my man Manny at Eastern Mountain Sports in Eatontown, NJ and we discussed some options for me.  After careful consideration, I decided to go with the Felt F5 and man I’m glad I did.  This past Sunday my wife and I went out and did 25 miles along the beach front and when we got back home it felt like I did a leisurely ride around town.  Thursday morning I went out by myself and did a solid 18 miles in just about an hour – that’s a steady 18mph pace on a damp and windy day and it felt effortless.

Now, I’m not saying you always have to go high-tech (as we know using a dumbbell can get the job done when it comes to strength training) but it sure does make a difference when you find the right piece of equipment.