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Editor’s Letter
Letter From The Editor Welcome to this issue of ing system in the heptathlon could be improved through Sports Performance & Tech. I am very excited about this is- looking at the data and resue as we have, in my opinion, sults in a different way. some of the best articles we have seen in the magazine. As well as that we also have a section based on new cycling technology, an area that is growing every day.
We also have our first column in collaboration with Sporttechie.com. We are very happy to be working with what many to consider to be the best sports technology site.
There is also our cycling section where we look at various new technology, apparel and opinions on the current state of cycling as both an amateur and professional sport. As always, if you like the magazine please share it. It was created to spread ideas and if you think there is something in here that somebody else would find interesting please send it along to them.
There is a fascinating article on the importance of trusting your head rather than relying on technology from Neville If you have any questions or feedback please contact me Gaunt, CEO of Mindfit. Kristof De Mey also reveals at ghill@theiegroup.com to us the new muscle talent scanning techniques being developed at Gent University that can help to identify people who would excel in different sports without the invasive and often painful biopsies that were previously needed. Clifford Giles from CryoClinics gives us an insight into how this new technology can help with both recovery and rehabilitation in sports.
George Hill Managing Editor
Managing Editor: George Hill Assistant Editors Simon Barton Catherine Jackson Art Director: Gavin Bailey Advertising: Hannah Sturgess hsturgess@sportsperformancetech.com
Contributors: Neville Gaunt Kristof De May Jack Dowie William Tubbs Tanya Partridge Freddie Faull General Enquiries: Editor@sportsperformancetech.com
Are you are looking to put your products in front of key decision makers?
For Advertising contact Hannah at hsturgess@ We also hear from Jack Dowtheiegroup.com ie who believes that the scor-
Contents
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Contents
How are golfers preparing themselves mentally before matches? Neville Gaunt, CEO of Mindfit, explains all
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Kristof De Mey gives us the lowdown on muscle talent scanning, a new non-invasive technique spearheaded by Gent University
Cryotherapy is now being used widely in athlete recovery. Clifford Giles from CryoClinic shows us how it works
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Taylor Bloom brings us the first article in collaboration with sporttechie.com on technlogy in cycling
We take a look at the Sony Action Cam, the latest offering in wearable cameras from Sony
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Jack Dowie discusses the issues surrounding the heptathlon scoring system and how we can use new data to improve it
The Eastway RD 1.0 is a bike designed for performance in urban environments, we see how it fares on the streets of London
Simon Barton gives us a critique on the issues surrounding cycling safety on the roads today
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Global partners
Contents
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We test out the Lazer 0 2 helmet, does it live up the pedigree that the oldest helmet company has created?
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As Tribe Sports moves into cycling jerseys, we see how it compares to others on the market
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We look at how Pearl Izumi’s jerseys compare to others on the market
P. 45 Is the Nike Flash Allover a game changer for high visibility clothing?
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How does the Rapha club jersey fare as one of the world’s foremost apparel company’s flagship jerseys?
How effective is the AdiVIZ high visabillity windstopper?
P. 48 Tribe Sports Performance Tights are out to prove that new distribution techniques mean better quality at better prices, have they managed it?
We take a look at the Helly Hansen Wind Blocker tights, designed for cold and rainy conditions.
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Mental Training in Golf
Performance Using The Best Computer You Have Neville Gaunt CEO, Mindfit
Mental Training in Golf
you will start to experience the difference and that little voice inside you will be saying “that’s exactly what I wanted” compared to “Wow that was Whether it is measuring the golf lucky!” In everyday life be ball, the player, the club or some it in sport or in busiother element of performance, ness there are technology has a place at the perception/ gaps but elite level, but what about the r e a l i t y mostly we average golfer? don’t know they To date with all the advancare there. Howeves in technology, clubs, er, the top performers in courses and business and in sport know knowledge they not only exist, but they there has know what they are for them been no and they also know that with foimprovecused practice they can and do ment in close them. What they end up the handicap of the average doing is coaching themselves – golfer. So why are we bothering that’s great because on the golf with more technology? course they have to! How about starting where the When it comes to our coaching elite players know the game is at Mind Fit Golf, we trust the won and lost – the 5 inches be- very task the golfer is doing, ie tween your ears - your brain? hitting the ball, to tell us what The elite players know what actually happened. We know we it’s like to succeed and Arnold can measure it with technology Palmer for one said “Success in and sometimes we do, but we all golf depends less on strength have a brain that can handle lots of body than upon strength of of information and it’s always mind and character”. hungry for more, so why not In the world of golf, technology now plays an enormous part in helping golfers to learn, play and understand what they need to do.
In our coaching we spend a lot of our time explaining to golfers about the gaps and traps they encounter that will impact their performance. One of these gaps is the difference between perception and reality. “What you think you do and what you are actually doing can be very different”. When you close that gap
start giving it relevant information it can use? The rush to use technology to do this can take the control away from the golfer. The brain is the most so-
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Mental Training in Golf
phisticated computer known to man, so let’s feed it and start by applying simple understanding and then layering more understanding on a solid foundation. Introducing technology could be one of the upper layers once the foundation is strong. After all, this layering approach isn’t new. It’s similar to what we have done at school and even before we went to school. So at Mind Fit Golf we start with the physics of the ball and understanding simple facts that occurred at the moment of impact to raise the golfer’s awareness of what they did to cause the effect. Did you know that perfectly striking the ball just 1mm off centre and your ball will miss your target at 150m by 6m? That’s either side of your target. Most golfers don’t know that – a dimple on the golf ball is nearly 4mm in diameter – so a dimple out and you’ll miss the fairway!
raising the awareness of the golfer that is fundamental to improving their golf. All the research and evidence shows the fundamental principles behind coaching of 'raising awareness to generate responsibility' are sound. However, by far the major cause of coaching failure is the attitude and behaviours of both coach and coachee. Attitude doesn’t come from a golf club or technology; it also comes from the 5 inches between the ears. Advances in neuroscience now occur almost daily but it has only recently been accepted that our brain, once considered to operate like a computer, does in fact have an amazing capacity to process information. Once it has the right information to work with, learning happens, as long as we allow it to happen. Therein lies another ‘trap’ – allowing it to happen
To improve your performance What has been discovered in our you need to raise awareness approach to the learning proand that’s just one example of cess in golf is that with a ‘Can Do’
Mental Training in Golf
mindset amazing things can and will happen. Whether on the golf course, in business, at school or in life, having the right mindset is the key to development. Henry Ford said “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right” – it’s the way you view it and your attitude towards it will be what counts.
He said, “As soon as you know you are going to kick you fall into that routine, which more or less shuts you off from everything. So I set the ball up, move back a certain number of steps, check everything is in line, do a visualisation of the path of the ball – where it is going to go and where I want it to go. Then I move to the side so I am now ready to kick. The routine then continues in a visualisation kind of way, but it’s actually more of a sensation; I imagine the feeling I have when the ball hits the foot, the perfect feel of how I want it to feel when it hits my foot, where I want it to hit my foot – what it’s going to feel like when it goes right.”
The golf swing has been analysed from every angle, more than any other movement, so surely by now we must know how to do it? And there is the problem. We know every movement in minute detail, but how is the golfer supposed to consciously coordinate all those moving parts into no more than two seconds of movement and “Then I find a tiny dot dead cencreate the shot they want. They tre between the posts, or wherever I’m aiming. I visualise the can’t! In the book ‘The Golfing Ma- line of the ball to the dot, as if chine’, Homer Kelly explains that it were on a wire attached to it. the golf swing can be broken Then I have a kind of ‘centring’ down into 24 basic components, response, where I visualise all each having around 144 compo- the power going from my central nent variations and statisticians point down to where it needs to have calculated that there are be, down my left leg and explodover 400 quadrillion permuta- ing from my left foot. I really feel tions, good luck then in finding that sensation. Then I really focus on the exact point on the ball what works for you. I am going to hit and the part of In ‘Mind games’ by Jeff Grout & my foot that I want it to come off. Sarah Perrin, they refer to how Then I send the ball up the wire. Jonny Wilkinson the rugby union player is famed for using his So I don’t stand by the ball and imagination to handle a massive say, “I am going to kick this, I feel number of permutations when fantastic.” It’s that as soon as taking a penalty kick. In essence I am given the kick I go into the his penalty kick is the same as a routine I have done a hundred times a week in practice.” golfer taking a shot.
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Mental Training in Golf
Flexibility and adaptability are essential ingredients for success and what technology gives us is a specific set of numbers, but how certain can we be it was what actually happened? Imagine walking up a flight of stairs. We do not know the height of each step, in fact they vary. We could measure them in advance, but it would just be more information, unnecessary information when our unconscious mind has the capacity to do it for us. Every step might look the same but we are making minor adjustments on the fly as we ascend the stairs. We could share with the golfer the length of the club, their arms, how far the ball is away from their eyes, how much flex is in their knees, I think you get the message and yet the beginner golfer may still miss the ball. But surely they have the facts so why do they miss it? It seems that if something can be measured it will be and if enough evidence is gathered to suggest a trend that produces a successful outcome, this then becomes a fact and now if everyone does it that way a successful result must occur. Until it doesn’t! And then what do you do? So let’s get back to the 5 inches between your ears – and use it in a positive and constructive way. Start by mentally imagining and living the swing, the point of
connection with the power behind the shot. You see in your mind the ball flying down the fairway landing exactly where you wanted it to. Then the journey towards the green when you actually hit the ball becomes easier. Through focused practice you will improve and close the gap between your perception and reality. And it works! Alternatively you can do what you’ve a l w a y s done and keep trying to make sense of all the technical stuff. Bottom line is it’s YOUR choice!
Heptathlon Scoring
Heptathlon Gold To France Not Ukraine Jack Dowie Professor, LSHTM
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Heptathlon Scoring
…And the gold medal for the Women’s Heptathlon at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow goes to Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida of France. No, that isn’t right. Surely, the winner was Ganna Melnichenko of Ukraine. Yes, Melnichenko was the gold medallist under the current and conventional scoring system for the heptathlon. But that scoring system, like that for the men’s decathlon, both infringes a fundamental principle of all sporting competitions and is inequitable in relation to the multiple disciplines involved. The fundamental principle breached is that only the relative performance of the competitors on the day (or days) is relevant to the outcome. Scoring performances in relation to world class performance in each individual discipline, rather than solely in relation to the performances of one’s fellow competitors may provide interesting insights. However, it should play no part
in determining the result, any more than performance i n relation to the world s t a n d a r d affects the result of single events. Inequity arises when the best performer in each of the multiple disciplines is not rewarded equally and the disciplines are therefore not weighted equally. It is common that some disciplines produce a best performance with well over 1000 points, while in others the best is invariably less than 1000. The way to correct both the breach and the inequity is simple. The leading competitor in each discipline receives 1000 points irrespective of the rating of their performance by some external tariff. The other competitors are scored proportionately, depending on their perfor-
Heptathlon Scoring
mance relative to the leader in terms of distance, height, or time achieved. When we make the necessary corrections, Antoinette Ida rises from 8th position to take the gold medal in the 2013 World Championship, Ganna Melnichenko goes down to silver, Brianne Thiessen-Eaton down to bronze and Dafne Schippers loses her medal. Lots of other ranking changes occur throughout the 28 athlete field, some competitors rising or falling by 5 or 6 places. Of those who ‘suffer’, Katarina Johnson-Thompson falls from 5th to 10th.
the discipline has Calculating the equitable scores been established. This is a simple procedure, but feature may well be requires that every individual’s regarded as a disadvantage, score be calculated only after but is part of the price to be paid each discipline has been for genuinely equal weighting completed by all competitors. of the disciplines. The best Neither the competitor nor the performance in each component audience will therefore know event, whoever that competitor how well they have done and is, is awarded 1000 and all other what points they have earned performances expressed as a until the best performance in permillage of this.
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Heptathlon Scoring
Details for the leading 10 competitors in the 2013 World Championship appear in the Table. Note that by chance the same 10 appear in both original and equitable rankings. Why is a scoring system that is inequitable between the disciplines and breaches a fundamental sporting principle used? It is presumably because criteria other than the relative abilities of the competitors taking part in this particular competition are accepted as legitimate influences on the result. Three such considerations come to mind: • The desire to permit precisely the same scoring system to be used across all similar competitions, both spatially and temporally • The desire to enable each competitor (and the audience) to know their individual score for an individual element (e.g. heat) within a discipline and cumulative score for the overall competition - as soon as they themselves have completed
their element, irrespective of the later performance of other competitors in the competition • The desire to assist audience understanding and maintain interest/excitement by making a multi-stage event into an event where the positions of all competitors are known after each element and there can be a true ‘finish’ (e.g. in the 800 metres, where the leading competitors are put into the final heat and can work out what they need to do relative to each other without being concerned about the fastest time in this, or earlier, heats).
lon are part of a much larger programme. With multiple event disciplines such as the triathlon or 3 day equestrian event, this aspect may be much more significant. What one can reasonably ask those responsible for designing the rules for combined events is whether they have confronted and acknowledged the way these other aims can undermine what are surely the two key principles – giving equal weight (or intended explicit unequal weights) to each element in terms of the relative performances of the competitors in this particular competition, irrespective of the quality of the performances in relation to some external standard.
These may indeed be worthy objectives and ones possibly crucial to the economic sustainability of the discipline The practical solution is to – though this seems unlike- have two sets of rankings and ly in the athletics case, where medals. the decathlon and heptath-
Muscle Talent Scan
What is a Muscle Talent Scan? Kristof De Mey, Victoris
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Muscle Talent Scan
The Muscle Talent Scan is the world’s first technique for non-invasive fiber typing that is available to the sports community. It is a fast scanning technique devel-
oped at Ghent University, Belgium. The scan is taken at rest, is painless and gives an estimate of the fast-versus-slow fiber type ratio of an athlete’s muscle. This information uncovers your genetic endowment for sprint versus endurance type of exercise and can be used for orientation towards the most suitable sports disciplines. In addition, it provides valuable information for trainers and coaches in planning training modalities and recovery. In the past, the only way of discovering this information was by taking a biopsy sample which was then investigated in the lab. However, this direct muscle-biopsy-based technique is invasive, painful, slow and has poor reproducibility. Therefore, it was time to develop a new method that can really be used in sports (medical) practice. Slow and Fast Muscle Fibers One of the main factors determining whether a person has talent for either short sprint-type exercise or rather longer duration endurance-type
Muscle Talent Scan
exercise, is the muscle fiber type composition. In humans, skeletal muscles are composed of fibers that exist in two main categories, slow-twitch (ST or type-I fibers) and fast-twitch (FT or type-II) fibers. Slow fibers can hardly be fatigued but are characterized by a lower power output. Fast fibers, however, are able to deliver high power outputs but are rapidly fatigued. So both types each have their advantages and disadvantages. S o m e people have predominantly fast fibers, and are born sprinters, and others have relatively more slow fibers, and are destined to become e n d u r a n c e athletes. A lot of people, however, have a roughly
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equal distribution of fast and slow fibers. Classical research papers from the 70’s established that athletes that are successful in short, explosive exercise types, such as the 100m sprint all have a very high portion of fast fibers (70% or more fast fibers), whereas long exercise duration athletes, for example marathon runners, require a high proportion of slow muscle fibers to be highly successful. Although there is an ongoing scientific debate on fiber type transition, thus whether a fiber of one type can modify into another type in humans in response to training, there is a consensus that at least a considerable portion of the variation between individuals is genetically determined. Therefore, measurement of the muscle fiber type composition is certainly a valuable tool for sport talent identification. Scanning Technique The research team lead by professor Wim Derave researched this topic for over 5 years in order to come up with a non-invasive alternative for the biopsy procedure. The new method is based on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) measurement of the muscle carnosine concentration. Carnosine is a molecule that is typically present in fast fibers and only to a lesser extent in slow fibers. Therefore, the carnosine content of the total muscle is
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Muscle Talent Scan closely and positively related to the percentage of fast fibers in that muscle. The results of more than 500 individuals of various ages, gender, sports background and athletic skill level have been performed at Ghent University. These results now form the knowledge base for the Muscle Talent Scan interpretation. The accuracy of the Muscle Talent Scan has thus far been tested in a number of elite athletes of various sports, such as trackand-field, triathlon and swimming. The results of these investigations illustrate that in elite track-and-field athletes there is hardly any overlap between the athletes of sprint disciplines and those of endurance disciplines with regard to estimated muscle fiber type composition. Practical Issues How is it done? First, an intake is planned with the athlete and his/her coach before planning any investigation in order to set realistic expectations. If appropriate, the Muscle Talent Scan is done at the Ghent University Hospital, the only place in the world where it can be done according to state of the art instructions. Normally, a scan of the calf muscle is taken in a resting position, although other regions (e.g. shoulder) are also possible. The scan takes about 20 minutes, and is fully painless and harmless. The researchers hope that this new method can now be conducted in a growing amount of athletes for which this
information may be part of the bigger picture of talent identification and athletic career development. Making an appointment can be done by sending an email to Victoris@ugent.be. After the investigation is done, each individual gets personal feedback from the research team, including a written report on which can be found: • The muscle fiber type composition, relative to general control and specific elite sport populations • Personal orientation within different sports • Practical tips related to training People who are excluded from the testing procedure are pregnant woman and people with prostheses or a cardiac pacemaker are not allowed in the scanner. In those people who have taken the nutritional supplement 'beta-alanine' (3 months) prior to the measurement, the validity of the results is minimized. Conclusion Whereas a biopsy and accompanied laboratory testing was necessary in the past to gain insight into the slow versus fast muscle fiber distribution of the athlete, this can now easily be done with an NMR scanner based on the carnosine content in the muscle.
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We are always looking for new writers for the magazine, to spread new insight and ideas into new techniques, technologies and training If you want to contribute please contact editor@sportsperformancetech.com
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Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy For Player Recovey Simon Barton Assistant Editor
Cryotherapy
Modern professional sport has evolved to such a level today that athletes can be compared to a Formula 1 racing car – highly tuned machines that need to be kept in peak condition. In order to get to and maintain this level, athletes and teams endure the most punishing training regimes in pursuit of excellence and success in their performance. In this quest the human body is put under huge stress and recovery from training and competition is essential so that the athletes stay in peak condition enabling them to maintain that level of training and compete at their absolute optimum level. Professional sport is always searching for that edge, which can mean the difference between winning and losing. A typical Premiership rugby club player will play between 30-40 games per season, with the length of a full season, including pre-season being about 47 weeks, giving players only a 5 week off-season break. It is evident that there is minimal time available between training and competition for rugby players to physically recover and regenerate. According to Takarada (2003) rugby matches and training can result in serious structural damage to the muscles, the extent to which is highly dependent on the number of tackles made. Thus a one week recovery period appears to be the minimal duration between two competitions (Elloumi et al., 2003). The obvious answer to resolve the situation would be to reduce the training load and frequency of training
in order for players to fully recover between competitions, however this would inevitably lead to a decrease in physical conditioning. Subsequently, management and coaches are seeking the best strategies and techniques to speed up the recovery process, between training and competition, which will enable their players to continue training at an optimal intensity during the week. This search is supported by the leaders in performance themselves: …..“We have been using WBC for some time now and it has become an integral part of our recovery program. WBC helps the players recover quicker from very intensive training sessions while assisting them complete a higher volume block of training. The enhanced recovery benefits definitely contribute to being able to enhance levels of fitness, player feedback has always been very positive in this respect.” Adam Beard (Head of Physical Performance at Welsh Rugby Union)
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Cryotherapy
Rehabilitation The professional era of sport has seen a surge in popularity from both a commercial viewpoint in terms of sponsorship and money spent on marketing and from the spectator viewpoint in terms of the global audience sport is attracting. This coupled with the huge sums paid to athletes, increases the pressure on the athletes to train and compete that much more in the constant battle for success. This pressure and the inherent nature of
professional sport inevitably results in medical problems, namely with the accrual of acute and chronic injury traumas. It is essential that from the time the injury occurs, these athletes are back on the playing field in the shortest possible time – it is a matter of urgency. This subsequently puts added pressure on sports medicine to find solutions that will assist a quicker and more effective rehabilitation process from sporting traumas.
and not to mention the financial impact on revenue generated from games with star players not playing.
As sport has evolved there has been a parallel increase in salaries and rewards for success. High net worth va l u e sports such as football, remunerate their players with exceptionally high pay packages and if these players are injured and out of action, for even a week, that is a large sum of money sitting on the sideline of unproductive wages - even more so if it were a number of players. The knock on effect can have a detrimental effect on the team results, dynamics
Financial Impact of Injuries to Sports Enterprises Football Injuries: With player wages as they are, there is an enormous financial impact of money lost through unproductive wages, and it is estimated that during an average season injuries cost professional clubs in England in excess of ÂŁ75 million, with 10% of squads unavailable at any one time*.
By leveraging Whole Body Cryotherapy, sports enterprises can integrate best practice strategies and techniques to speed up the recovery process, between training and competition and improve athletic performance to find solutions that will assist a quicker and more effective rehabilitation process from sporting traumas to reduceing the financial impact of inF i n a n c i a l juries in sport. Impact Statistics
Rugby Injuries Rugby Union is one of the most physical sports and this is demonstrated by an injury rate averaging 92 injuries per team, per season in Premiership rugby, with each player on average spending 19% (69 days) of the calendar year injured.
Cryotherapy
…..”We have been using the cryotherapy chamber from CryoClinics for recovery purposes and also as an adjunct for rehabilitation. We now have firsthand evidence that it has reduced muscle soreness and also have been able to apply it with great effect in the rehabilitation of our injured players. Cryotherapy should be used as a tool for elite athletes.” Andy Walker – Former Head Physiotherapist – Saracens RFUC The Independent and The Professional Footballers’ Association, 11 April 2006. The England Rugby Solution Whole Body Cryotherapy helps in the search: • For the best strategies and techniques to speed up the recovery process, between training and competition and improve athletic performance. • To find solutions that will assist a quicker and more effective rehabilitation process from sporting traumas. • To reduce the financial impact of injuries in sport. Whole Body Cryotherapy is exposure to cold temperatures as low as -140°C to decrease inflammation, pain and spasms, and promote healing. It is not a medical procedure, but a Non-Invasive option for people seeking faster muscle and joint recovery from injury and fatigue.
Widely used in training and wellness centres across Europe, the treatment has not been readily available in the U.K. until now. CryoClinics installed the UK’s first Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) chamber in a hospital and launched in partnership with the BMI The Garden Hospital in Hendon, north London. The facility provides cutting edge recovery technology to promote healing and pain relief by exposing the entire body to temperatures as low as -140°C in a cryochamber for up to 3 minutes. Most recently, with BOC (UK) and Sappari the business has launched a mobile service to allow clients the option of treating their squad at their own facilities. Dr Colin Crosby, Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine at The Garden Hospital, London adds, “I have had considerable success in treating a wide variety of musculo-skeletal conditions including Rotator Cuff lesions of the shoulder, Anterior Knee Pain, Muscle and Ligament tears and Polyarthropathies. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Panos Thomas at BMI The Garden Hospital adds, “This is a truly exciting new treatment pathway that is truly at the forefront of innovation in this pioneering medical field.”
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Cycling
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Cycling Tech In this section we take a look at the latest in cycling technology, apparel and techniques. We are also excited to include our first column in collaboration with Sporttechie.com
Radu Razvan / Shutterstock.com
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Sony Action Cam
Review: Sony Action Cam George Hill Managing Editor
Sony Action Cam
The now infamous wearable camera has caught several key incidents over the years, from monumental extreme sports moments to every day life in extreme areas. It has however become almost synonymous with Go Pro, the best known of the action camera brands.
cable ties.
Turning the camera on and off was also very simple and could easily be done with the camera in place. At the rear of the camera there is a large record button that will turn the camera from off to recording in only 1 or 2 seconds. I also liked that However, Sony has joined the when turning recording on and market with the second genera- off there were clear and distinct sounds that could be heard even tion of it’s Action Cam. The camera itself is less bulky when cycling. This meant that than the Go Pro 25mm wide, rather than going on faith that 47mm high and 82mm long and the camera was functioning, you has a more aerodynamic design. did not need to take it off and Whereas the GoPro is almost a make sure. box camera, the Sony Action The picture quality whilst reCam is sleeker, having the bulk of cording is also excellent. There the camera directly behind the are several settings in order lens, rather than surrounding it. to customise and achieve inThis combined with the relative- creased quality or greater ly light weight (90g) means that recording time. despite being slightly high off the top of the head, it is still easy to wear. Attaching it to a helmet is also fairly easy. The camera comes with two brackets, one with a curved underside and one with a flat underside. Both also come with an adhesive strip to help with attachment. I found that the adhesive strip alone was not particularly reliable when using on traditional road cycling helmets, but as the brackets also include handles on the side, it was very simple to further secure the camera with some well hidden
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Sony Action Cam
that has improved on the previous version is the use of GPS. This allows for the Playmemories software to project speed, time, distance and various other aspects on the video during playback. This is great as an idea, but in reality the complexities behind this are frustrating. The box claims to have apple compatibility but only when I The sound capture is also good, couldn’t make it work and after even when used within the in- checking online, did I find that it cluded waterproof case. It al- wasn’t yet supported. This did lowed voices and larger move- let down the product slightly as ments to be detected whilst this would have been a major minimising any rattles or bumps plus especially during training. that you would expect from hav- Overall the camera has some ing a camera attached to the big positives with the waterproofing whilst also allowing for top of your head. The waterproof case itself is also functional use. The high quality practical without being overly imaging and audio is also a plus bulky. The previous iteration of for a camera of this size and the camera also included a wa- practicality. The only let down terproof case that allowed for has been the complicated nause up to 197 feet under water. ture of the GPS functionality in This extreme depth meant that the videos. This allows the camera to be used for a variety of purposes, be it recording one off actions in high definitions or longer uses where high definition is not necessary. Whilst using the camera I was recording cycling trips of between 20-30 minutes, meaning that I used standard definition, which was more than adequate for purpose.
the waterproofing was bulky and also did not allow for use of camera controls through the case, instead it meant that the camera needed to be removed from the case just to turn it on or off. By reducing the depth threshold to 16 feet (more than adequate for the majority of uses) it allowed Sony to cut down on the size of the case as well as include almost full use of all controls for the camera. Another aspect of the camera
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Want To See Your New Ideas and Technology Here?
For Information on Opportunites In The Magazine Contact Hannah at hsturgess@sportsperformancetech.com
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Bike Technology
The Bike, Some Tech & A Thin Line Taylor Bloom Sporttechie.com
Radu Razvan / Shutterstock.com
Bike Technology
As soon as the modern bicycle was created, racing quickly followed and Cycling became so popular it was included in the first modern Olympic games in Athens, Greece, 1896. Since then it may not seem like the sport has transformed all that much to the novice fan who occasionally tunes in during the Tour de France. A two-wheeled machine with brakes and handle bars is still powered by a pair of legs and the most physically fit Cyclist who can endure the most pain usually wins the race. But while the fundamentals and visuals of Cycling are the same, the sport has actually leveraged scientific and technological breakthroughs (some legal, some not) to become a finely tuned and fiercely competitive test and display of human limitations. An argument could be made that Cycling has relied on technology more than any other sport because it entirely exists because of the bicycle; which now numbers around one billion worldwide and has remained one of the most effective and efficient methods of transportation since its invention in the 19th century. Today, technology is at the forefront of the sport of Cycling more than ever before. Every millimeter and ounce of a racing bike is precisely engineered and every aspect of a rider's training and recovery regimen are analyzed using GPS devices, mobile apps
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and numerous hi-tech gadgets with one common goal in mind: speed. Strong and Light Major technological shifts that the bike itself has undergone in recent years have made it stronger and lighter. In the early 2000's bikes built from carbon-fibre became a major advancement that would change Cycling forever. This material was originally used in the aerospace industry but was a perfect fit for the cycling world (when the tech advanced enough to bring manufacturing costs down) because it has a superior strength to weight ratio. Carbon-fibre and other lightweight materials were so effective in making bikes lighter and faster that the world governing body for sports cycling, the International Cycling Union, actually made a rule in 2000 that bikes could not weight any less than 6.8 kilograms (14.9 pounds). This regulation was put in place in order to m a k e sure the struct u ra l i nte grity of the Radu Razvan / Shutterstock.com
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Bike Technology
bikes being manufactured remained safe and to ensure that all athletes were competing on a level playing field. However in the tech world fourteen years is a very long time. Since the 6.8kg limit was instituted in 2000 technology has outgrown this restriction. Many athletes and their teams at recent Tour de France's were actually adding small fishing weights to their bikes to make them heavy enough to meet this outdated weight regulation. This acted as a sure sign that technology has advanced quicker than the International Cycling Union was able to and is evidence that advancements in engineering are impacting the sport of Cycling at an increasingly rapid pace. Hi-Tech Devices and Methods In addition to innovations in the material that the bike is constructed from, there is a slew of high-tech devices and methods that cyclists use to track, analyze and improve performance. Smartphone apps and wearable devices provide Cyclists real-time feedback that calculates their pace so they can know when to step on the gas or ease up in order to meet their time goal. Other apps and GPS tracking devices can show riders their race path and how far they deviated (deviation can be just a few feet or inches) from the path that would allow the course to be completed the fastest.
But perhaps the biggest advantage that technology has provided elite cyclists is the ability to detect and mitigate drag. Pro Cycling races are so competitive amongst the elite athletes that a few hundredths of a second shaved off of each mile over the course of a 1,500-2,000 mile race like the Tour de France can be the difference between a yellow jacket or a missed opportunity. As a result, companies are specializing in analyzing cyclists on their bikes in wind tunnels to calculate how to reduce drag. They do so by making changes (sometimes on the microscopic level) to the surfaces of cyclists to their bike and gear. This makes an important difference because the human body is not exactly aerodynamic so lots of expertise and money is needed in equipping riders with the gear that will make them cut through the air with the least resistance. Technological practices like this have had a huge effect on Cycling. The fastest average speed of the Tour de France winner in 1903 was 15.9 mph. In 2013 it was 25 mph. Doping, Tech and the Thin Line Like the relationship between the bicycle and racing over the last century or so, blood doping and its use by cyclists has remained the same in concept but continued to be advanced by science and technology. Even though advances in technoloRadu Razvan / Shutterstock.com
Bike Technology
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could argue that technological advancements are just as artificial with boosting athletic performance and may also be unfair Doping is the use of banned when money determines access performance enhancing drugs to technological resources. and there have been numer- Even though injecting technoloous cases and methods in some gy into the sport of cycling is not form throughout the history of physically harmful or as moralCycling. None more publicized ly unsettling when compared to than the blood doping saga with injecting PED's into cyclists, one Lance Armstrong which cast a should stop and think about the enhancements dark shadow over the sport of performance Cycling and put the successes of that are made possible by technology. It can certainly be arall riders into question. Blood doping works by increas- gued that the aforementioned advancements ing the number of red blood cells technological in the bloodstream in order to give athletes the same unfair enhance an athlete's ability to advantage that doping does. So deliver oxygen from the lungs will there ever be a point where to muscles. This allows muscles technology propels cyclists to to perform at higher rates and a level that is deemed unnatuincrease an athlete's overall en- ral or unfair because it creates a level of physical performance durance. too far beyond that of a regular It is no secret that Cycling's rep- human being? Society in generutation was damaged by the al and the International Cycling use of performance enhancing Union certainly believe this to be drugs in recent history and many the case with performance encyclists who took these drugs, hancing drugs. But why not tech‘Armstrong’ most noticeably, nology? Why is a breakthrough were banned from the sport and in carbon fiber technology that were labeled as cheaters and allows a bike to be lighter and frauds. stronger, therefore making it But there is a very thin line be- faster, not looked down upon in tween doping and using tech- the same way that a new type nology to gain an advantage. A of performance enhancing drug line that is worth further exam- that allows athletes to deliver more oxygen to the muscles is? ination. gy drastically increased speed and efficiency over the history of racing, riders have still looked to gain an extra edge with doping.
Cyclists who doped received The difference is that doping an unnatural and artificial per- has very serious health risks for formance boost. However, one those who use them. The best William Perugini / Shutterstock.com
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Bike Technology
arguments against doping highlight the adverse side effects that it causes in athletes and the problems it poses for youth when Cycling role models are taking illegal substances. But the argument against doping does not seem to be only derived from the physical maladies they cause. After all, the proverbial "asterisk" that accompanies doped up athletes does not demonstrate that an athlete doped and accepts the physical consequences. Instead, the asterisk symbolizes that they competed unfairly and labels them as "cheaters" and "frauds" and says that they are performing "unnatural" acts to athletically advance. But if we truly followed this "unnatural" approach then all athletes would have an asterisk next to their name because all athletes are guilty of using technology and science to get the most out of their innate abilities. Ultimately, both tech and doping propel athletes to physical levels that they could not achieve on their own but socie-
ty is okay with one because it does not cause physical harm to the user. Cycling happens to be the perfect sport to examine uses of technology and doping because it is an extreme endurance sport reliant on a machine that tests humans capabilities. The slightest edge over an opponent is of utmost competitive and financial value and tech and doping can each provide it.
side of the road, think about the changes the bicycle has undergone throughout its history and the sport it created that simultaneously reflects our ingenuity and moral ambiguities.
With its true technological breakthroughs and the shadow of PED usage, Cycling is the ideal sport to examine this conundrum and reflect on what we as a society considSo the next time you watch er an acceptable scientific or Cycling or see a cyclist on the technological advancement.
Eastway RD 1.0
Review: Eastway RD 1.0 George Hill Managing Editor
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Eastway RD 1.0
Eastway are a company born out of their environment. Created by two urban cycling enthusiasts and named after the famous Eastway Velodrome, which has now been replaced by the Olympic Velodrome in east London. The ideas behind these two aspects are to create performance bikes for an urban environment. This is often the most challenging kind of cycling due to the amount of traffic, potholes, manhole covers and roadworks. Due to the proposed hard wearing and performance aspects of this brand, I was interested to see how far I could push the RD1.0, the top spec model for the company. The initial impression of the bike is impressive, the lines are clean and the overall look of the bike is good. One of the most innovative aspects of the bike are the disc brakes. These are still rare on a performance bike such as t h i s and as well as
providing an interesting visual aspect in themselves, they have a knock on effect. The forks have been enlarged and the rest of the bike has clearly been built for robust use in urban environments. It is also impressive to see a tyre hugging fork combined with disc brakes, which are normally seen on more utilitarian bikes. It certainly makes the bike look sleek and maintains the effective lines. There were several times that other cyclists would comment on the bike and how good it looked during testing. Combine this with the use of high end components and it is a bike that is both fast, light (7.9kg) and good looking. The disc brakes are certainly effective without feeling intimidating. Having been more familiar with traditional rim brakes I was worried
Eastway RD 1.0
about stopping too abruptly, but the brakes are well adjusted and this issue has clearly been well thought out by the designers. The only downside of the brakes was the noise, especially in the wet. They did squeal in the wet very loudly, which despite not affecting effectiveness, was slightly embarrassing.
tended endurance riding.
Overall I was impressed with the RD1.0 and it does seem that it hits the criteria of urban performance, allowing for both speed and durability. Despite a double puncture (easily explained by particularly harsh conditions) I found the bike easy to ride in a variety of conditions. It cerIt certainly feels like it is always tainly performs better at higher trying to push you to go fast- speeds but is not terrible at reger and works more effectively ular urban pace. It is also future in turns and ride quality when proof with the frame allowing for moving at full tilt. This is curious upgrades to electronic shifters given the basis of the bike being or hydraulic lines if necessary. It usability in the urban environ- means that it is not only durable ment, where top speeds are sel- to conditions but also to time. domly hit and there is frequent low speed use. The time of the year that I was using this bike was particularly challenging due to extreme weather in London, meaning potholes, puddles and excess debris. During this time I did suffer from a double puncture and given the durability that this bike is attempting to achieve, perhaps more durable tyres (reinforced such as Continental Gatorskins) could have been added. However, this was a particularly freak weather situation and almost every cyclist I know in London suffered similar issues. The ride is relatively hard which means that it is probably not suited for longer rides, but for the distances that I was looking at (between 5-25 miles) it was not uncomfortable, but would perhaps not be suited to ex-
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Cycling Safety
Cycling Safety, Can We Do More? Simon Barton Assistant Editor
i4lcocl2 / Shutterstock.com
Cycling Safety
amount of money spent on it, more and more people are considering it. We are seeing a real drive from governments and NGO’s to get the general population healthier but the most We are seeing more and more obvious way of doing this is incasualties from cycling in both creasingly seen as unsafe and urban and rural situations and many are scared due to the rewith the massive benefits that ports of injuries. people gain from cycling, this is Looking at the video, it is evident that this is an extreme example, unacceptable. Whilst reviewing the Sony Action but in reality this is the kind of Cam for this magazine, Our edi- thing that you see on the roads tor caught an assault on a cyclist every day, with road markings on film and posted it on Youtube for cyclists being ignored bein order to find the people in- cause that is all they are; markvolved. This quickly became vi- ings. The only way to avoid this ral and currently has more than kind of issue is to adopt the same one million views and thousands kind of approach to that used of comments. The worrying thing in Amsterdam, with separated about these comments is the pathways for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The issue with level of vitriol towards cyclists. this approach for many urban Many of the comments were de- environments is that there is litfending the actions of the man tle space already, so there is no who assaulted the cyclist. Regardless of what was said or done, this level of violence towards somebody is never acceptable. As we are looking at cycling technology in this edition I think it is important to look at the issues currently surrounding many cyclists around the world at the moment.
I am a big advocate of cycling and have preached the merits of it to friends and colleagues for years, however, we are increasingly seeing confrontations between cyclists and motorists on our roads and governments need to be doing more to make sure that both sets of road users are safe. Cycling is a fantastic sport and with the improving reputation of the sport and the increased
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Cycling Safety
who make it to the top is going to be poorer. With the media coverage and stories that we hear about cycling accidents, amateurs are not willing to make the first move which There are several devices to makes the top of the sport make cycling safer, from hel- poorer as a result. met cameras that record in- There will be dangers in any cidents to lights that make it sport, from twisted ankles practically impossible to miss to concussions, but generala cyclist, but they are still not ly speaking these can be negoing to solve the issues sur- gated from external factors. rounding space and the bad When running, courses can blood between motorists and be chosen to avoid certain ascyclists. The reality is that bi- pects, when playing tennis, it is cycles will never be as fast within a court and when playas a car and being stuck be- ing soccer, it is played within hind a group of cyclists can be a closed field. In cycling the primary place to participate is frustrating for drivers. The reality of cycling, as with on roads where numerous exevery single sport, is that the ternal factors including other grassroots of the sport are vehicles, need to be avoided the most important for future every day. room for them. In rural areas this kind of work is made difficult through both the length of the paths needed and the cost of them for rural authorities.
ation and the first Briton to ever win the Tour De France, suffered an accident familiar to many regular cyclists, when he was knocked off his bike by a car shortly after his victories in the Olympics and Tour de France. This is a risk that puts off many who are considering cycling. The fact is that one false move by somebody in a car can easily end your life and many of us are not willing to take that risk.
At present there is nobody who has come up with a real answer for some of the areas with the highest concentration of cyclists, but we need to address these issues, not just for those who commute to work but for the quality of the cyclists at the top of the improvement. If less people Even Sir Bradley Wiggins, one pyramid. successful are entering at the bottom of of the most our generthe pile, the quality of those cyclists of
Lazer 02
Review: Lazer 02 Helmet William Tubbs Sports Tech Leader
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Lazer 02
With the current heightened media reporting surrounding cycle injuries, cycling safety has become one of today’s key issues. Here, we look at one of the latest offerings from the world’s oldest helmet company.
of the helmet, which means that there is less helmet to actually shift around.
aged to mount one effectively with minimal fuss whilst maintaining stability during riding.
The ventilation on the helmet is also impressive, allowing for extended or intensive activity without excessive sweating. This makes it a good choice Lazer was originally found- for both short bursts and ened in 1919 in Belgium and has durance races and would casince become one of the lead- ter to both users effectively. ing helmet manufacturers. I Luckily during the review, I tested out the 02 one of it’s didn’t need to use it for it’s latest offerings. primary purpose but I have
Overall, this is a helmet that impressed me for comfort, durability and safety whilst offering a stylish look without the ‘mushroom head’ that many complain about when wearing helmets. Due to its durability it could be considered for both day-to-day and performance purposes.
When unboxing the helmet, one of the first things that you notice is how light it is compared to others in the same price bracket. Although not as light as some of the more expensive offerings, this is impressive for a helmet that won’t set you back a considerable amount of money.
heard from others who have used the helmet and been unlucky enough to need it for protection, that it performs very well. Somebody told me that they had an accident that was severe enough to break their arm and despite a heavy knock to their head, they had no head injuries due to the helmet. From my experiences with it, I was impressed with the sturdiness and despite it’s light weight, it always felt that it provided good protection.
On the head, the helmet also feels light and well ventilated. It features a unique fitting system which adjusts around the entire head rather than just at the back like most traditional helmets. This is done through a simple adjustable wheel on the top of the helmet. This meant that it was not only easy to fit but also gave an impressive level of comfort without one area being too pressed or too loose.
In addition to this, the helmet also allowed for non-conventional use. One of the aspects of many higher end helmets This level of comfort also is a lack of opportuworked well with any potential nity to mount helmet helmet shifting, which is also cameras on it. In the helped by the slimline design case of the O2, I man-
Rapha Jersey
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Review: Rapha Club Jersey Comfort: Very comfortable, merino wool makes it soft but breathable. The drawstring element at the back of the top also means that it can be adjusted for tightness or looseness based on personal preference. Fit: Sits well without riding up thanks to the internal grip tapes to stop it riding up whilst cycling. Also elongated back panel with pockets mean that it is practical without losing the shape. Style: Good looking in a variety of colours. The colour reviewed was black and grey with a fluorescent pink strip through the middle. Looked good and could be worn in a casual manor during more relaxed rides. Quality: As you would expect from the most expensive of the reviewed jerseys, the quality is of the highest standard. Materials used are top spec and the quality of stitching is brilliant. Feels durable and useable. Overall: Very impressive, this is a top of the line jersey and many would baulk at the price, but when the price brings this kind of quality it is forgivable.
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Tribe Sport Jersey
Review: Tribesports Performance Jersey Comfort: Due to the flexibility of the material it is comfortable to wear in a variety of conditions. I tried it out in both bright sunshine and pouring rain and it maintained comfort with good breathability. Fit: Skin tight due the material may not be to everybody’s taste when wearing it, however this is personal preference. The elongated back and pockets at the back were also useful, I found that the elongation was more than most jerseys and this was a definite plus for ease of movement during cycling. Style: The black and yellow of the jersey works well as a style, but I think that in terms of safety it would be good to have it available in brighter colours. That said, the overall design of the jersey is good and is definitely comparable to more established brands. Quality: Of the three jerseys tested in this edition, this is the cheapest by a long way, coming in at £29.50 ($45). However, the quality of the materials matches those which would cost twice as much. It is not necessarily at the same level as a Rapha or Assos but competes well against jerseys that would cost twice as much. The quality of build is good with strong stitching allowing for durable usage. Overall: Very impressive for a company making its first steps into making cycling Jerseys. Clearly there has been a lot of weight given to the opinion of the Tribesports community who helped create it. Given that it comes in significantly cheaper than a more established brand of equal quality, it is a great product.
Pearl Izumi Jersey
Review: Pearl Izumi Womens Elite Thermal Jersey Comfort: This jersey was very comfortable without any riding up or tightness when moving. Also high quality of material meant that it maintained a good level of ventilation whilst also providing good thermal qualities. Fit: Being a size 8 this fitted me perfectly, there was no tightness or excess bagginess and the seams were well concealed to avoid any rubbing. Style: At first I wasn’t sure about the purple/ bright pink combination but after wearing it a few times I really grew to like it. Also, the pink markings wrapping around the waist added style as well as being flattering. Quality: The jersey is really good quality, shown through the attention to detail and useful extras. I was a big fan of the zip pocket on the back which is larger than most that you would find on a cycling jersey allowing for additional items to be carried without the need for a bag. Overall: A really stylish and practical jacket, definitely good for cold/medium temperature cycling so well suited for the time of year it was tested. Also the additional touches like the quality of material and oversized pocket showed that there had been genuine thought put into the product.
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Nike Flash
Review: Nike Allover Flash Running Jacket Reflectivity: Amazing for high visibility if you have a light shining directly on you, However I didn’t feel visible overall at night from a variety of angles, for example, coming round corners. The light has to hit you first meaning that in a more urban environment it is great but use of this is a rural setting may not be as effective. Comfort: For use where limited movement is not a factor this jacket works well. For instance regular road cycling or short runs. The jacket does not perform as well when used for longer periods or for activities that require a more varied range of movements. Waterproofing: The jacket performed adequately when called upon during the rain. It probably wouldn’t function brilliantly in a prolonged downpour, but that is not what is designed for. Style: The jacket has a great cut, it is not frumpy or tight and hangs well for use outside of a sports function. Practicality: Very practical it was light yet surprisingly warm, and has a hood that rolls up so that it isn’t flapping around if you don’t need it. Overall: A jacket that does allow for high visibility but only when light is shining on it. This may be a concern for safety as if it is beside or behind another road user this would probably not be seen. As a jacket it performs well, allowing for a range of uses, but perhaps making it more flexible to allow for a great range of sports could be an improvement for future iterations.
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AdiVIZ
Review: Adidas AdiVIZ Wind Stopper Reflectivity: The jacket, despite being sold as high visibility, is unfortunately far from it. This even came down to a policeman advising me that ‘you should really be wearing a high visibility jacket in these conditions’. The only time this wasn’t the case was when taking a photo of the jacket with a camera in the dark and with a big flash.
could easily be carried or placed in a small bag when not needed. Overall: Poor as a high visibility jacket with no added safety benefits, but as a general running jacket it is impressive. It is a real shame that the main selling point of the jacket lets it down so thoroughly, but aside from that, a good jacket.
Editor’s Note: The item tested was Comfort: Away from the high viz as- the blue model, the flourescent yelpects of the jacket, it performs very low version is reportedly considerawell in terms of comfort. It is easy to bly better for high viz. wear, lightweight and given the almost ‘floaty’ nature of the material it isn’t too loose or tight at all. Also highly breathable allowing for good heat management during more intensive workouts. Waterproofing: Not a jacket that is designed to withstand a sustained rainstorm, but performed well in light and medium rain. Style: The lines on the jacket do make the wearers look a bit like somebody from Tron, but overall the jacket has a good cut and good fit. It isn’t a jacket that you would wear for anything other than sports, but that isn’t what it’s designed for. Practicality: It allows a good range of movement and maintains a good level of breathability whilst also being very light weight. This combined with the relatively good waterproofing mean that it is very practical and
Tribe Sports Tights
Review: Tribesports Performance Tights Comfort: These tights are very comfortable given their durable but flexible material and impressive ventilation system. They also have Aegis antibacterial treatment meaning that they maintain freshness if they need to be worn multiple times. Flexibility: These tights allow for an impressive range of movement, with the triple panel system allow for a wide range of sports without restriction. They are suitable for use across multiple sports from running to climbing to cycling. Practicality: They offer a wide range of movements that mean that they are incredibly practical for use as both an under layer or outer layer. They are also lightweight yet protective meaning that they can be used in a wide range of conditions, meaning they really fit the one size fits all needs of many athletes. Quality: The most surprising aspect of these tights is that they are ÂŁ25 ($38) meaning that they are considerably cheaper than almost all other tights on the market. The quality is similar to tights that would cost twice as much. They benefit from ventilation panels and flat lock seams that add to both the quality and the comfort, which make them a great investment. Overall: Impressive tights and easily compete with more established brands who would charge considerably more for similar quality. The ventilation and range of movement that they allow are very impressive and make them a good all round option.
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Helly Hansen
Review: Helly Hansen Windbreaker Tights Comfort: Comfortable to wear although they do require the drawstring to be tied in order to avoid movement during extensive exercise. Not too tight as you sometimes find in running tights and are flexible to a variety of leg shapes. The inner lining including fleece is also a good addition and means that areas which are more prone to splash when running are well protected and warm. Flexibility: Some flexibility of movement is slightly restricted due to the relatively heavy duty material used. As they are running tights designed for cold and windy weather, this is forgivable. Practicality: The tights could do with a bit more ventilation, although not uncomfortably hot during cold weather, this would be needed in order for these to be more utilitarian and adaptive. I found that when the weather was initially cold and then changed mid-run, it would have been better to have more flexibility in their use. Quality: Quality of materials and the strength of stitching is fantastic and with stretch panels above the knee also allows for muscle flex during exercise. Overall: Impressive tights that allow for a range of movements. They could do with increased ventilation but for cold, wet and windy days, these perform very well.
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