Hi,

I love the non-sweetness of the isotonics, but have also found my head stays much clearer at the end of long rides and hard mountain bike races.  Something that has stood out all over again when I ran out and had to go back to a different brand, so thank you so much for bringing them in and keep up the excellent work!!!

I hope you had a great long weekend.

Kath

–
www.kathbicknell.wordpress.com

Last Saturday we attended the 1st ever Sydney Sprint Series ( as far as I am aware of).  The event was smoothly ran by Paul of RAW fame.

The 50 competitors achieved some pretty amazing times and performances.  I think we all had a great time and cant wait for the next one.

I would like to thank all the participants for their chats, visits and questions about our VEROFIT range of sports nutrition products and the new FRS healthy energy drinks and chews.  Hopefully they all enjoyed the free sport drinks and my explanations.

If you want to read more or be ready for the next one, just visit http://bit.ly/bbWAQW

CLINICAL STUDIES

FRS Enhances Work Performance
Study # 1 - Durak, E. and Bell, M. May 2005 During a six-week study, university employees were asked to perform their daily jobs, which required physical exertion, lifting, repetitive movements and attention to detail. At the end of the study, scientists measured the work performance and found that when the workers took FRS they experienced:

FRS Fights Fatigue
Study # 2 - Durak, E. and Taguchi, J. MD January 2005 Researchers gathered a group of volunteers aged 49 to 69 who had been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer for at least 1.6 years. Scientists found that when patients consumed FRS on a daily basis, they reported:

Quercetin (the active ingredient in FRS) Reduces Susceptibility to Viral Illness
Study # 3 - Appalachian State University,February 2007A U:” “:ubjects were subjected to extreme physical stress during a five week period. Half were given 1000 milligrams of Quercetin daily (equal to 3 servings of FRS) and half were given a placebo. The results were dramatic!

FRS Boosts Sports Performance
Study # 4 - MacRae, H. and Mefferd, K. 2006 An independent, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study on the effect of FRS on cycling performance in eleven elite cyclists was completed at Pepperdine University in June 2004 and is being published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. The results were dramatic - one minute and 31 seconds improvement in a 30 km simulated mountainous time trial.

FRS 354% More Powerful Than Other Drinks!
Study # 5 - Brunswick Laboratories The ORAC test measures the total antioxidant power of foods. The higher the ORAC score, the better a food or beverage destroys free radicals. Recently, researchers conducted an ORAC test of FRS and compared its score to other popular antioxidant or energy drinks. Here’s what they found:

Alex,
Thanks for the samples.
I gave them all a try over Easter. I did a three day walk into the Wollongambie Wilderness. see attached pics.
I suffer from cramps doing this type of exercise and did not have even a hint of one in the three days of walking with heavy pack in rough country.
Often gatorade or powerade seem to only partially address the cramping.
At recommended strength the isotonic tasted very strong but seemed to work well.
The bars were good. I liked the chocolate one better than the berry.
Orange chews taste great. A bit hard to pick their effect. I used them yesterday when we were pushing to get back to the car on a series of long up hill sections. About 9km in total.
My energy levels were good right to the end but I was consuming a lot of food as well.

Ian Spencer

Verofit training log

As a competitive cyclists and a Defence Force Employees. The Defence Cycling Team’s time to train is limited most weeks. So to help get in the most effective combination of training possible. It is very important to have a structured routine that includes, Time management, Correct nutrition and the right amount of recovery and rest between work outs.

The following is a general idea of my training schedule/ Diet on a week to week basis.

Monday Rest day. Do core work. Get a massage every fortnight. Try to get plenty of sleep to prepare for the week ahead.

Tuesday Hills ride. Up at 4.30 AM. Eat a banana and drink a Biden of Verofit Regeneration. Fill the bidens with Verofit isotonic drink and Ride to meeting point in centre of Newcastle for a 5.30 start. Then a 45 km bunch ride taking in most of the decent hills around Newcastle. Generally it is a fast pace up the hills and a re-grouping and recovery along the flats and downhills. From there it is a 30 km ride out to Williamtown RAAF Base. This is done at a solid fast paced tempo to make sure we get to work on time at 7.30 AM.  As soon as I get to work. I drink a high quality Protein Shake from Australian Sports Nutrition’s Range Evolve. Called Anabolic Injection and also and a multivitamin. In the afternoon it is a nice easy 30 km Spin home. During the day I eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and have a shaker of Verofit Isotonic drink and Branch Chain Amino Acids to maintain Electrolyte balance.

Wednesday Tempo ride. Up at 5.00 AM and on the bike by 5.30. I have the same diet in the morning as yesterday.  My diet remains pretty similar all week. Then out on the bike doing efforts at about 75 – 85% of my max sustainable power output. This ride gives me about 60 km before work. After work. I do a nice easy 30 km spin home.

Thursday Aerobic Threshold training. I have a late start on Thursdays so I try to get at least 100 km before work. I do 4 * 10 km efforts at 90 – 105% of my max sustainable power out put. To improve pedalling efficiency I try to keep my cadence at, at least 95 – 105 RPM. This helps raise the heart rate and also keeps your legs quick. Very easy ride home. Keeping gears very small and nice paced cadence.

Friday Is an easy ride to and from work.  A total of 70 km for the day at a very easy pace.

Saturday. In the morning, track training with sprint work and motor pacing. In the afternoon in winter either Race or group ride with the team.

Sunday Long ride most weeks, with Hills and plenty of time in the Saddle. Building to 9 hours saddle time with plenty of climbing. The big goal for the year is Grafton – Inverell in October and Defence National Road Cycling Championships and Australian Master Road titles in September.

I always try to get as much sleep as possible and often take a 20 minute nap during the day to help get through the day. My wife is a great cook so I get plenty of very healthy meals with good quality Carbs and Proteins to keep mu body fuelled and ready to go.

I hope this can help you structure a program for your self and give you a bit of motivation towards achieving your own goals.

Kind regards

Mick Rand

Australian Defence Cycling Team (ADCT)

Manager/ Rider/ Coach.

The Australian Defence Force Elite Cycling team uses VEROFIT.

We are proud to help and learn from this amazing group of people, able to perform at the highest level both at work and on the saddle!

In the last months the ADFEC has been using our Isotonic Electrolyte Drinks and Regeneration recovery drinks and they are very happy with the flavours and the results: 

Michael Rand- Team Manager:

G‘day Alex.
How are things?

Just a quick update on the teams progress.
Recently myself and 1 other person competed in the Masters NSW State Track titles.
I walked away with 1 silver medal and 2 Bronze medals from the Meet. Absolutely Stoked with that by the way.
Dean Benedetti got a bronze as well.

On the weekend just gone. We had our first major races as a team.
We sent two guys as a part of a 4 man squad to the Mont 24 hour Mountain bike race in Canberra.
They got 4th out right and 2nd in the 4 man teams division. Major achievement against pro mountain bikers and high quality opposition.
Our guys loved the Verofit. Also the other guys on the team used the Isotonic drink and raved about it also.
We will hopefully have some new customers on board for you there soon.

In Newcastle we had the Kooragang Kermese State Open road race.
We had a team of 4 guys in B grade. David Elliot, Chris Holbert, Martin Lewis and Myself.
We also had 2 guys in the C grade race. Michael Greck and Dean Benedetti.

Well I won the B grade race with a successful 4 lap break away with 2 other guys.
I must say mate. The more I use Verofit. The more I like it.
The taste is awesome and when combined with gels it gives me every bit of energy that I needed to be full of energy the whole race and to be able to ride away from my break away companions at the end of the race for the win.

Verofit is easily the best Isotonic drink I have ever used.

Alex,
You may not remember me, but I hit you with some questions late last
year and started using your product this year.

Previous to Verofit I was using Endura. I would often cramp on the
bike after 2 to 3 hours of hard riding.

Recently I went in the Mountains to the Beach (unfortunately because
of my fitness levels, I missed 2 stages so I wasn’t an official
finisher). During the event I was exclusively using Verofit’s Lemon
Lime Isotonic drink (from my own stock and what was provided on the
course). I didn’t cramp once in nearly 27 hours of riding, including 2
days of 7 hours 50 minutes +. I was officially last on the Verofit Big
Day out and I got a lot of cheers when I thanked Verofit and Osprey
for getting through the 90 k’s.

I will be recommending it to all my friends.

Thought you might want to know.

Regards
Greg Seaegg

On the 6th March, Martin and his crew had a great 1st MTB Cruise day at Mt Stromlo.  A great event both for beginners and experienced riders because you could choose among different distances.

For us in VEROFIT it is a pleasure to see the Rocky Trail Entertainment events become bigger and better!!!!

VEROFIT is a proud sponsor of the Mountains to Beach MTB week race that takes place in NSW Australia.  It is an amazing event that starts in Thredbo, close to Mt Kosciuszko and finishes at Batemans Bay.

The fact that everybody spends 5 days together allows for heaps of shared adventures and stories.  The mix of riders is also incredible from MTB world champion Jason English to 1st time participants in an MTB event.

Last year the Ice Tea Isotonic product was the biggest surprise and we sold all our canisters by Wednesday.  Some people still remember that.

This year VEROFIT not only sponsored the race again and supplied free drinsk to everybody.  We were also very happy to sponsor Andy Blair and his team in the race.  Andy finished 2nd for the 2nd time. An amazing accolade when you see the top guys.  He has been very kind in putting together his experience in words.  Enjoy and see next year in this amazing 5 days of mountain biking in Australia ( scroll down all the way to see some pics and beautiful NSW scenery):

The DT Swiss Mountains to Beach is a 5 day stage race; held over 385km from the roof of Australia at Thedbo to the NSW Sapphire Coast. Representing Redshift Racing at the 2010 event was myself and my team mate Nick Both.  Looking back at the 6 race stages, I am content that we did everything we could to take control of the race, but once again the overall win has eluded me and I will have to be happy with 2nd place.

On day one, it was tough to extract myself from my cosy bed in the Thredbo Alpine Hotel for the freezing chairlift ride up to Eagle’s Nest.  The race started with a 12km individual time trial from the top of Thredbo ski resort down to the village.  This year’s longer course and addition of a large climb did not seem to suit me so well and I wasn’t able to repeat my stage win from last year as I came in 2nd, giving Jason English an early lead in the general classification.  In contrast, the afternoon stage at Lake Crackenback went exactly to plan with a group of about 6 riders still together going into the final kilometres.  I knew that I wanted to be at the front in the last few kilometres, which is primarily single track, so with about 3km to go I launched an attack.  From there, all I had to do was defend my position and I was able to cross the line ahead of Andy Fellows and Jason.

Day two was the 80km race stage from Perisher to Buckenderra on the shores of Lake Eucumbene.  Over some iconic scenery of Blue Cow and down through Guthega and Island bend, the main group of 5 was all together and everyone seemed to be saving themselves for the big climbs.  The day’s biggest climb - the 400m ascent up to the Snowy Plans soon whittled the group down to 3 with Nick Menager and Brad Morton dropping off leaving only Jason, Andy Fellows and I in the front.  I was feeling like I didn’t have terrific legs on this day and it was all I could do to crest the hill on the wheel of Andy and Jason, and hope to recover on the flats.  Unfortunately when we hit the next climb of Nimmo Hill, both Andy and I were unable to match Jason’s acceleration.  Deciding that we were now teammates for the day, Andy and I pushed hard over the top and set off down the other side in hot pursuit.  Nimmo Hill is a super fast and fun fire road descent, and Andy and I were hooting at each other all the way down. Unfortunately for Andy he blew out a corner right near the bottom.  I hesitated about waiting for him for a while as we would be helpful to each other over the final 25km of open fire road, but I decided to push on as Jason was still down the road and I had to limit my losses.  I eventually dragged myself into Buckenderra 6 minutes behind Jason, and Andy was further 4 minutes adrift.

Day three was the relatively short day with only 26km of racing, but it was made tough by the 5:15am race start!  The course was 2 laps around a predominately fire road circuit with a few short climbs, and plenty of erosion gullies and sand traps to keep us all on our toes.  Smashing around rutted trails in the dark can be daunting, but with my new Radical Lights strapped to my handlebars and helmet, I had more lumens than I knew what to do with, and I was having a ball.  I made sure I was always well positioned on or near the front of the main group as there was a high chance that a crash could cause a split in the bunch.  It was all going well until the climb at about 5 kilometres when Jason surged and the group exploded.  Andy Fellows was the only one to stay with him and I was left on my own to chase.  The two of them worked together until Andy attacked to take a well deserved win, Jason was 2nd and I was 3rd.

After a good nights sleep in my own bed I was ready for the “Verofit Big Day Out”; an 89km marathon from Cooma to Yowrie.  Trailing Jason English by 7 minutes and sitting in 2nd position on the general classification, this was my last big chance to make any major time gains, so I gambled everything on this stage.  At the 29km mark we hit the steep 400m ascent of Numeralla Mountain and it was time for me to attack.  I knew it was a very long way to the finish so I did just enough to get a small gap over the top and then worked very hard to build a lead through the following kilometres.  This was always going to be tough as the next 25kms were primarily fast open fire road. Jason was behind in the main group chasing with Andy F, but thankfully they didn’t have too many allies that were keen to chase me with my team mate, Nick Both, as well as Nick Menager and Brad Morton getting dragged along for the ride.  I was pushing hard as I approached the big descent down Conway’s Gap thinking I could recover on the 700m plunge from the escarpment down to the Wadbilliga River, but after the recent rain it was quite rough and I found it difficult to rest.  With 10km of undulating terrain before the final 300m climb of the day, I started to ease the pace off a little; having smashed through nearly 3 litres of Verofit Electrolyte, it was starting to be a long day and I wanted to have something left for the final climb.  Meanwhile Nick, who was in a perfect position on capitalise on Andy and Jason’s chase, flatted on the way down Conway’s Gap and was no longer in contention for the stage. This left English to escape from the front of the chase group and he bridged across to me at the base of the last climb.  Feeling far from fresh I was unable to stay with him on the hill and I had to be content with 2nd on the stage.  I was happy that I had ridden a smart and aggressive race; any other tactic would have resigned me to 2nd overall.  The gamble didn’t pay off, but I didn’t leave any questions unanswered.

The final stage from Bermagui to Narooma was always going to be a big ask for me after a long solo breakaway the day before, but Nick was starting to find his legs as the week went on and we felt that we were a good chance at taking the stage.  The first 15kms involved a couple of laps around the Bermagui mountain bike park and it was easy to pick who the XC racers were.  Nick and I were able to gap the lead group on every descent and make them chase back up the climbs.  We left the park with a small advantage and pushed on up the coast to Camel Rock.  From here the race was neutralised for 30 minutes in order for us to negotiate the mouth of Wallaga Lake that had opened to the sea due to the recent rains.  This was the worst possible timing for us as Jason had just flatted and he wasn’t carrying a tube.  The 30 minutes of neutral riding allowed him enough time to borrow a tube off someone and fix the flat without losing any time.  After the neutral section the bunch of Nick and I, Menager, Jason and Fellows regrouped and Nick and I took turns attacking off the front.  When we hit the first beach section we were faced with a creek crossing that came up to our chests.  The sand on the other side was super soft and difficult to ride.  I would find a hard section for a bit and then suddenly hit a soft section and have to run.  Once I got my head around the line choices, my huge 2.25” Maxxis tyres kept me floating on top of the sand, but English now had a gap and for Nick and I the chase was on.  He managed to build a small lead which blew out in a moment of confusion when he apparently didn’t hear the marshal telling him to walk across a bridge, so he was able to ride a 200m section that everyone else had to walk.  From there we weren’t able to bridge the gap and ended up finishing a slightly disappointing 2nd and 3rd.

One stage win and 2nd overall was not quite the result I was hoping for, but I finished the week strongly and the form should be good now going into the Oceania Championships in Dunedin, NZ.  For Nick and I, it was our first race on the new Felt Six Team bikes and they worked perfectly.  It is the kind of bike on which you can immediately feel comfortable and they were the perfect rig for such a tough stage race.

Special thanks to our soigneur Rosie, who drove for us and cooked our meals.  Also a big thanks to Swell Design Group, as well as Thredbo Resort, Felt Bikes, 2XU clothing, KOM Cyclery, Verofit nutrition, Radical Lights and Maxxis tyres for making this week of racing affordable, comfortable, fast, fun, nutritious & illuminating.  Of course thanks also to the entire Wildhorizons team for putting on such a wonderful event, it was an especially good effort to sort out a rideable course for the last day considering that mother nature had resulted in the Bega Valley Shire being officially declared a natural disaster zone only 2 weeks prior to the event.  I am looking forward to next year’s event, it was great this year to catch up with many of the friendly faces that I met at last years event, as well as meeting plenty of new people.  Hopefully they will all be back again next year for the 2011 Mountains to Beach.

Mountains to Beach MTB week race 2010.Mountains to Beach MTB week race 2010.