May 2003 News Archives

Team X Cycling's Steve Rouff continues to capitalize on his excellent spring form. Steve raced 2 time trials, 3 criteriums and one road race this weekend to win the 1st annual Wheat Grass Tour De Kansas. Steve won 3 events outright and placed 2nd in the others. Steve's coach Jim Whittaker attributes it to Steve's hard work and reliance on short intervals rather than group rides. Final Tour De Kansas Results

Alta Sport would like to thank Sunflower Outdoor &  Bike and Cycle Works the two finest bicycle shops in Lawrence, Kansas. Buy local = race local. The King of the Hill award sponsored by Free State Brewery. The best place for post race recovery.

Every racer receives an official Perry-Roubaix T-shirt. However they won't arrive until the April 19th Bunny Bash. Don't worry you'll receive yours even if Lance and Company has to deliver it!

The winning break on Heartrate  237.

Perry-Roubaix, the long and winding road. Click here for more photos and race results and story.

Bunny Chase Crit  Top Three 1st-Steve Rouff, 2nd- Jim Whittaker, 3rd Jason Knight. More photos and results.

Think before you Drink.

New Research shows effectiveness of Endurox, a carbohydrate and protein post exercise recovery drink.. The February 2003 issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research had this to say. Research findings indicate that the rate of (exercise) recovery is coupled with the rate of muscle glycogen replenishment and suggest that recovery supplements should be consumed to optimize muscle glycogen synthesis as well as fluid replacement. Researchers found that post exercise consumption of Endurox resulted in 92% greater insulin response and a 128% greater storage of muscle glycogen over a carbohydrate only sport drink.  (what does this all mean?)

Research Abstract

Team X Cycling had a great weekend of racing in Wichita, Kansas. Below is Saturday's Category 3/4 finish at the River Fest Criterium. Team X Cat 3/4 placing were, 1st Steve Rouff, 2nd Andy Chocha, 3rd Lance Sulzen, 6th, Jim Whittaker, 10th Kevin McComas. Both Steve and Jim were off the front several times and Steve's last solo attack stuck it. But it was close. Notice the tell-tale sign of Rouff Engine overload...

Team X minus Jim Whittaker and John Hackman. Eight riders racing and 5 in the Top 10.

Mighty mini's. More pics to come in the next week...

The Team X Category 3 team attacks Joe Martin NRC stage race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This just in, John Hackman 17-year old Cat 3 places 3rd in 4 mile, 900 ft hill climb. Then John hammered Sunday's crit and finished 2nd over all in the Category 3 race while surviving a crash.  John's teammates played an important role. More news to follow...

Alta-Sport spoke to John's coach Jim Whittaker who is an USA Cycling licensed Elite level coach. Jim is very pleased with John's spring peak but not surprised at his success. Last year John won the Category 4 Star Signs Classic Stage Race while putting in a great time trial performance. John's progress has been steady and measured in his young cycling career. Jim's custom training targets specific energy systems and John trains enough to improve his performance but not so much that he's continually fatigued or nagged by various ailments. Jim said that his smart training applied cycling intensity judiciously like you were shaking a champagne bottle and wanted to open it at the right time for maximum effect.. The #1 mistake of most dedicated cyclist is training too hard too often. Jim says "Many regional Cat 1/2/3 cyclist are guilty of doing too much all the time, consequently they ride at 90% of their ability 9 months out of the year. It just so happens that they are very fast at 90% but rarely enjoy the rewards of racing at 100%. To ride at 100% you have to accept riding at 60 to 80% through out the year. That's not a lot of fun and takes a real commitment to excellence and discipline to peak."