NOTE: This is a guest entry by Coach Andy Leuterio who just arrived from dreamy Monterey, California for the annual Specialized Product Launch. Just by reading this article you know that he’s still on Cloud 9. For all you biker dudes out there, this one’s for you. Read and drool… (more…)
Specialized Philippines announced its 2014 ambassadors a few weeks ago. First good news for that night? I found out that I was one of them! Woot!
Joey Ramirez, Chief Executive Officer of Dan’s, the Philippine distributor of Specialized proudly said: “Specialized has been sponsoring a number of athletes for several years now, but it is only recently that we have come to have such a diverse group of athletes. We have always been about performance. In selecting our ambassadors, we consider their racing credentials as well as their enthusiasm to really represent Specialized in their training and racing lifestyle.”
In my case, I’m guessing Joey voluntarily overlooked the “racing credentials” area and gave me 200% for enthusiasm and passion for the sport. Sweet! LOL. Thank you so much to Joey and the rest of my Specialized family!
Second good news that night? They announced Matteo Guidicelli as one of the new brand ambassadors of Specialized! That makes us practically siblings! (Wait, if he starts calling me Ate that ain’t good news at all!)
with Joey Ramirez and Matteo Guidicelli
Here’s the list of all 2014 Specialized Ambassadors:
Matteo Guidicelli – Mountain biker, Triathlete, and Actor
Monica Torres – Professional triathlete
Ariana Dormitorio – teenage phenom in the mountain biking scene
Nino Surban
Other ambassadors include: Fitness First Cycling and Triathlon Teams and The Isuzu D-Max – Team Prima with rising star Jerich Farr.
Before the night ended, it was also announced that, for the second year in a row, Dan’s was awarded the coveted Specialized Distributor of the Year Award for the Pacific Rim region thanks to its aggressive promotion of Specialized, its signature Body Geometry FIT methodology, and fruitful partnerships with its ambassadors. Congratulations Specialized Philippines!
After years of running, I started biking seriously last 2012. While running will always be my first love, I must admit that biking comes a close second. I ride two to three times a week now and I look forward to my long rides every Saturday morning just as much as I get excited over my Sunday long runs.
Most of the time, I ride with the boys because there just aren’t too many women on the bike. Occasionally, I ride with good friend Tessa Prieto-Valdes in Nuvali. My Coach created a “team” for us called: The Sisterhood of the (Suffering) Shivs. Suffering was included there because, well, my Coach loves to make us work hard on the bike!
– Tessa and I and our gwapo bikes –
In time, I hope to be riding like these girls…
If you’re a woman and you’re interested in biking, there’s good news for you. Dan’s, the official Philippine distributor of Specialized, just launched the 2013 line of women’s specific road models! Take your pick:
DOLCE
If you’re just getting started but want a bike with a top-dollar ride, then the Specialized Dolce fits the bill. The DOLCE is a bike that will help you achieve your fitness and distance goals, all while respecting your budget and needs. With its comfortable and fatigue-busting ride quality, courtesy of the FACT carbon fork with Zertz and endurance geometry, the Dolce is the perfect bike is a great addition to your fitness arsenal. Dolce highlights include an oversized downtube for enhanced stiffness, and Zertz dampers on “S”-shaped seatstays on Comp and Elite models for added compliance. It’s fitted with a Women’s Body Geometry Riva saddle designed to relieve soft tissue pressure. The cockpit features a Comp handlebar with 75mm reach and 123mm drop for a comfortable, confidence-building riding posture.
– Dolce Compact –
RUBY
With its FACT carbon fiber frame, the Ruby is light, fast, and all-day comfortable. It’s the perfect tool for Gran Fondos, long training rides, or weekend adventures going out of town and into the hills. Climbing, going fast, or going long, the Ruby responds in a way that inspires confidence while looking good. Zertz viscoelastic dampers in the seatstays and fork absorb road vibration for added comfort, while the FACT triple monocoque construction is lightweight and strong. Women’s Body Geometry contact points feature ergonomic and size-specific components including the cranks, handlebars, and saddle for the most comfortable and efficient fit.
– Ruby Comp Compact –
AMIRA
It. Just. Rocks. The AMIRA is a no-nonsense thoroughbred—born to race and always quick to react. Its stiff, lightweight frame cranks up the speed dial for fast accelerations, while the tapered headtube delivers precise steering and handling for carving corners or dominating tricky descents. The Amira SL4 is the race bike of choice for Team Specialized-lululemon and has taken impressive victories at the Tour of Qatar and La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. Whether you’re bridging a gap or creating one, the Amira will fly. You don’t have to be a pro cyclist to reap the benefits of Amira, however. Whether you need a hard core training bike to complement your TT bike, or just want the lightest, fastest bike you can rock at the weekend group ride, there’s an Amira for you.
– Amira Comp Compact –
– Amira Elite Compact –
Specialized Women’s Road Bikes are exclusively available at Dan’s. For inquiries call 894-5110.
Some pretty exciting stuff has been happening over at Specialized. I told you about the brand new Specialized concept store over at Pasong Tamo. Now, they’ve launched the Body Geometry FIT. I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to try it.
[WHAT IS BODY GEOMETRY FIT OR BG FIT?]
BG FIT (Body Geometry Fit Integration Technology) is a comprehensive fit philosophy created to help cyclists ride faster, longer and in greater comfort, while reducing the chance for injury. Developed after years of working with Dr. Andy Pruitt Ed.D., Director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, it is a comprehensive fit system that creates the perfect marriage between bike and body.
Locally, there are only three certified experts who can give a you a BG FIT: Andy Leuterio, Keshia Fule, and Jami Ramirez.
– BG Fit experts Andy and Keshia –
Check out this video about the Body Geometry FIT…
[MY BODY GEOMETRY FIT]
I arrived in full bike gear ready for my BG FIT with Andy Leuterio who happens to be my tri coach. Allow me to walk you through the entire process:
1) OPENING INTERVIEW: Coach Andy asked me about my history as an athlete and as a cyclist, my profile as a cyclist, past injuries, and more.
2) 20-STEP FIT ASSESSMENT: I went through a series of very simple tests from measuring my butt using the ass-o-meter (I kid you not!) to measuring my leg length and more.
– Andy and the ass-o-meter. I like the sound of that! –
– My left leg is shorter than my right. Boo! –
Here are some embarrassing facts about my body flaws as gleaned by Coach Andy from my assessment. Written in his own words:
3) SIDE VIEW ANALYSIS AND FRONT VIEW ANALYSIS: Andy asked me to ride in aero position on the bike and assessed my position.
4) DETAILED EQUIPMENT ADJUSTMENTS: Coach Andy then made the following adjustments to the bike. Here he explains each one:
Remedy 1: Replacement of saddle with Oura Pro. Measurement of your ischial tuberosities (the “sit bones”) revealed a width of 130mm, which in turn necessitates a saddle width of 155. This ensures your sit bones are properly supported so you can sit “square” on the saddle. Riders new to such support often experience a “different” feeling as the bottom is now supported on the bone rather than on the fatty part of the buttocks. The benefit is they now won’t feel the need to constantly shift to support their weight.
– Thank you Specialized for this Oura Pro. I know exactly why they call it this. When I sat on it for the first time, I said: Oooooh-Ra-Ra! Ultimate comfort! –
– Coach Andy explains sit bones like a doctor! Methinks he needs a lab coat –
Remedy 2: Saddle height and fore/aft optimized for your “short leg”.
– Andy moves my saddle up and forward. Bike adjustments took most of our time. It was trial and error as I had to ride on the bike to check if each adjustment in the saddle and aerobars were comfortable with me. Good thing Maiqui Dayrit of Fitness First Team and Yurbuds (who incidentally bullied me way back in college!) dropped by for some chit chat –
Remedy 3: Placement of your right cleat further back than the left to effectively “shorten” your right femur and make it approximately the same pedaling length as the left. (the femur moves more along the horizontal plane compared to the tibia)
– Andy adjusts the cleats –
Remedy 4: Blue” BG footbeds with additional varus support compared to the standard 1.5mm support of your current Trivent shoe footbeds. Plus additional 1.5mm varus wedge under your left footbed. Additional foot support places a firm platform to quell the foot collapse so there is no power loss. This helps cure the knee “wobble” (or more technically, your knee tracking in varus) and, thus, ensures no power loss as your leg drives downward. Imagine a piston cleanly tracking up-and-down versus shaking throughout the stroke.
– Andy gave me a new footbed and a wedge underneath the left footbed –
Other Adjustments: Move your aerobars further back so your elbows form a 100–110 degree angle in aero. This ensures the cockpit provides ample skeletal support so you have no need to stretch out to place your forearms on the aerobar pads.
5) FOLLOW UPS. I was told I would have to come back after a few weeks to make adjustments. Coach Andy advised that there is an adjustment period as my body becomes acquainted with the new fit, especially with the saddle. He reminded me to be patient and ride the bike regularly for the next 3 weeks, and to inform him immediately if there is any pain or discomfort not associated with normal rider fatigue.
– After 3.5 hours, we got the BG FIT right! –
[THE VERDICT: ONE WEEK AFTER]
Two words: Woaaaah baby!
The first few short rides out and on the trainer were adjustment periods. I felt uncomfortable at times and slightly lowered my seat (with Andy’s approval.) Today, I rode 75k in Nuvali. I felt more powerful. It was much easier for me to pedal faster and harder, I was more comfortable in aero position, and OMG my feet were in heaven because of those footbeds.
I had to temporarily replace the Oura Pro with my old saddle because we’re still waiting for the saddle adapters to come in so I’m looking forward to an even more comfy (and hopefully faster) ride when I use those.
Huge thank you to Joey and Jami Ramirez, Andy Leuterio, Keshia Fule, and Specialized mechanics for the help!
I wanna be like Emelia Fahlin when I grow up!
[DO YOU WANT TO GET A BG FIT DONE?]
Introductory rates for a BG FIT are at P4,000 for Road/MTB and P5,000 for Time Trial/Triathlon bike. For inquiries and appointments, call Keshia Fule at 0919-860-3241.
[TIPS WHEN GOING FOR YOUR BG FIT]
The premier bicycle brand in the world officially opened its doors in the Philippines with the new Specialized Concept Store. Located at La Fuerza Plaza 1 along Pasong Tamo Avenue, it is the first of its kind in the country and was built to provide the full scope of products and services for Specialized customers.
The Specialized Concept Store features a comprehensive lineup of Road, Triathlon, Cyclocross, Mountain Bike, and Hybrid bicycles as well as all of the latest accessories and components.
– Two floors of Specialized bikes and accessories! –
– How can you not fall in love with bikes when you’ve got set ups like this? –
– At the Specialized store opening with my Unilab Active Health teammates Drew Arellano and Javy Olives and Team Fitness First’s Ton Gaitmaitan –
The new store also features a dedicated Service Area, and an exclusive studio for its Body Geometry Fit Integration Technology (FIT). Lead by Dr. Andy Pruitt, the Director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, Body Geometry FIT is the state-of-the-art and scientifically proven method of fitting the bicycle to the rider based on his personal strengths and limiters such as Range of Motion, possible Leg Length Discrepancies (LLD), and riding style, among others.
Body Geometry FIT has been used with great success to help professional athletes like Alberto Contador, Sylvain Chavanel, the Specialized-Lululemon women’s cycling team, and countless amateur athletes and recreational riders who have wanted to enjoy their bikes to the utmost. I’m going for my Body Geometry FIT this coming Thursday and you’ll read more about it here!
– my coach, Andy Leuterio, does the Body Geometry FIT for Specialized –
“We hope that with the opening of this store, all our customers will better appreciate what it means to ride the premier bike brand in the world.”, says ATHLEEMA president Joey Ramirez.
– with triathlete and Specialized distributor, Joey Ramirez –
– with friends Anthony and Maricel Pangilinan and Maiqui Dayrit –
– Fantastic and friendly service team –
Customers who wish to avail of the Body Geometry FIT method can call 0919-8603241 for a reservation.
SPECIALIZED CONCEPT STORE
Units 14 and 15 La Fuerza Plaza 1
2241 Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati
