There is not two without three

Nowadays we are living in an ice box with temperatures flirting with the 20s and winds that exasperate the situation. Still serious riders are managing to ride their bicycles logging some 3-4 hours training sessions as soon as the thermometer goes above the freezing line.
A couple of weeks ago, in one of the weekly FinKraft Coaching rides led by Roger Aspholm, we left the Westwood Cycles shop for a long loop that through a sequence of scenic local NJ roads brought us to the bottom of Perkins and then to Harriman Park. The nature around us was gorgeous: a sharp blue sky was the perfect contrast to the accumulation of white snow from a recent storm. In such conditions it’s very easy to get flats as the roads are often marked with crossing lines of debris mixed to salt and with the inevitable asphalt cracks and potholes caused by the low temperatures.
Indeed this time the lucky guy was our friend Andreas Runggatscher who while standing up over the pedals on a short hill realized to have a flat on his rear tire. No problem, we pulled over on the side of the road and with the help of a teammate Andreas mounted a new tube. As soon as the wheel was back on his bike he realized that there was a leak. It was a big surprise because they didn’t make the mistake of using the tire levers to mount back the clincher over the rim. The best part was that when the tube was removed we were not able to find the leak! There was not time to waste since it was cold, so another tube found its way on Andreas rear wheel. Now according to an Italian saying there is not two without three, so as soon as Andreas jumped back on his bike he realized that even his front wheel had flattened in the meantime.
In all my years of riding I have never seen such a thing! Anyhow since I am aware of the risk of multiple flats I have always with me the so-called Alex’s survival kit:

· Sci'Con saddle bag with integrated tire levers
· Spare tube with a 70-80mm valve to fit even high profile carbon rims without using any extension.
· A little box with a tube repair kit
· A bicycle tool kit
· $20-50
· One or two Cliff or Hammer Energy Gels
· A portable pump

Yes, even some sugar, because too many times I found myself with too little food and especially in cold weather the last thing that I want to experience is a classic bonk.

And you ... do you ZYM too?

Cycling has changed so much in the last three decades. Bicycles are now light and nimble, clothing has seen breakthrough changes and supplements are now a huge market. If you go through any supplement catalog you will find an endless list of products that on paper will let you train harder and make you faster. On the other end, today's athlete needs are still the same: the right mix of healthy carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, vitamins and minerals. Twenty years ago in racing we did not use power-bars, pre or after training supplements, engineered meals but only real food! The only common supplement was electrolytes. Over the years the tendency has been to mix minerals to sugary drinks, a great idea that finds it's limit in the quantity of plain sugar that we want to ingest. Especially in training I like to have full discretion on the total intake of calories, so until last summer, I had been using Nuun, sugar-free electrolyte tabs. Then in September I discovered ZYM. What it makes ZYM better than any other direct competitor product is the total absence of "sodium benzoate", a preservative that it's quite common, especially in carbonated drinks. The issue with sodium benzoate is that in combination with Vit C and potassium benzoate it creates benzene, a recognized carcinogen. But even by itself sodium benzoate has been linked to damage of the DNA at mitochondrial level, right where our cells consume oxygen to produce energy. The issue must be relevant because it seems that even Coca Cola Company has decided to gradually eliminate sodium benzoate in its drinks.



I am not a doctor, but when it comes to my body I try to fuel it with the most natural products in the market. Even though the quantity of sodium benzoate found in a tablet is very small, over the season I drink countless bottles of electrolytes and of course things can add up! That's why I drink ZYM. Beside this reasoning, I have to admit that I love it's fresh taste too, something that it reminds me Europe, maybe because I know that it is produced in Spain.
ZYM is sold in two flavors: Lemon-Lime (Endurance) and Berry (Catapult). The latter one comes with a generous amount of Guarana, the equivalent of 100 mg of caffeine. That's another reason to love ZYM. Any caffeinated product that it's not pure coffee, it was added caffeine. Where did they get it? Well, decaffeination most of the times is done with solvents, and among others, guess which one? Benzene! Yes, the same chemical compound that I have just mentioned above. Of course by the time we drink our decaf java or our caffeinated soft drink, that dangerous chemical has been removed, but again in big quantities who knows if there could be any bad effect.
I love my espresso but when it comes to hydrate my body, to prevent cramps and add extra endurance, I just ZYM it. And you ... do you ZYM too?