Riding with her Rocket7 custom track shoes (white with red trim), Jennie Reed will now head into Bejing as a favorte for gold.

"This is the first world championship of my career and I have got a gold medal so I am just elated," Reed said, as she came off the track.

Well this has been a learning experience, as for the first race of the WC was the points race and the USA didn’t start off so hot as we didn’t get anyone into the finals of the points race.

I ended up tided for 9th I needed points in one more of the 6 sprints. I only scored points in 2 of 6 since not racing at this level since 2003 I had forgotten haw many FAST guys there are out there and this being the largest WC ever everyone body was hear to shoot for the Beijing Olympics. Lots of the top people in didn’t make finals like the World champ in the scratch race and Pro Tour rider Magnus Backstead Winner of Paris Roubaix a few years ago and Mark Cavendish from T-Mobil doing there best to get into the finals.

Since I had both of these riders in my heats and beat them I guess I was doing a little better then some of the guys that do this for a living.

The Scratch race was a better race for me as about 15 laps into the heat it started getting crazy as small groups would go off then come back a group of 7 finally got some separation and started rolling and looking like things were very over for me I had Dave Mc Cook are defending National champ in the scratch race with me and Cavendish and a few others still looking for the last spot an Assi made a move off the front and no one looked like there wanted to go after him. So I made a hard move to get across to him and for the last 8 laps we traded pulls and I was thinking all was good then Cavendish made his move to come across as well but with only 3 laps left he couldn’t make it. But only thinking that 6 made it around back to the group I didn’t realize that I would have to sprint at the end of the this race and just didn’t have any punch left for the sprint. Which doesn’t happen all that often but it did. Then Leigh the guy that I was with went on to get 5th in the finals showing that there are no slow guys out here.

I felt much better with this race and now getting ready to head for China and getting to see Annette in a day will be a good thing!

So I’m off for the next part of the trip and I hope to let everyone know that I will be making a final is this one!

Ciao, Kenny Williams

Since my last report way back in July I spent a couple weeks up in Victoria which is pretty sweet in the summer. I did a couple of Canada Cups for the first time in years which was fun; even got to do one in my hometown at Mt. Washington. Got to go swimming in the river with the dogs and even had a nice BBQ with all my friends I never get to see because I am such a transient.

After that it was back to hyperventilation country for the last couple NORBA's; Brian Head at 10000-11000ft and Snowmass at 9000-10000ft. I knew it was going to be an uphill battle to try to catch JHK in the NORBA XC Overall and I wasn't quite up to the challenge as he road away in Brian Head; I battled it out for 2nd and suffered like a dog to finish 3rd in Snowmass at the Finals; good enough for 2nd Overall in the XC series. JHK has definitely been at the top of his game this year and took the overall for the Yankees; first time in quite a few years. The press make a big deal about an American winning it but I think it is about time; they have 10 times as many people as us up in Canada. In a couple of tactical Short Tracks I ended up with a couple of 2nds which was enough to lock up my three peat for another NORBA Overall STXC Championship.

Altitude has a way of making you feel pretty pathetic and I was hurting after Snowmass; I tried to recover for a few days before heading off to Rotorua and the World Championships. I left on Friday and got nailed going both ways; I got caught with terrorist materials which got confiscated; my echinicea throat spray on the way over and a bottle of wine on the way back. I kind of forgot about the rules for no liquids or even chapstick for that matter; I mean come on.....I am crazy and I have some lip gloss; watch out.

Anyway I made it to Rotorua fairly easy and it was winter this time; a little cooler than back in March. We had a good time, although sometimes boring, time hanging out and waiting for our race. There was a lot of hours to kill with just 4 TV channels, no internet, and one good book. The racing ended up being pretty average for myself. I got caught in a fifteen minute hailstorm during the relay and all Canada could manage was 9th which wasn't what we were hoping for. Plaxton rebounded for a great bronze medal ride for Canada in the U23 but all I could muster up was a 36th in the big show on Sunday.

The Kiwi's tried to cheer me up the steep hills but I was doing all I could. They were a bunch of hecklers in red capes I was afraid to look at for the first five laps for fear they were naked. Ended up they did have speedos on with big "merkins" hanging out. That was my new vocabulary for the week: "Merkin" - a hairpiece for down under or you could call it a stunt bush. Anyway Toulouse made it in for 48th and local hero Kirckaldie finished 21st in the DH in his big retirement race; he was the big TV celebrity all week.

After the race we all went out to the Wooly Bugger for Kirkcaldie's last free meal; Toulouse and I were pretty hurting and could barely get the food down. Next morning before I started the journey home we went to race some short track Dune Buggies where you could really get bent. Kirkcaldie beat me out by a tenth of a second for fast lap but we all left with big grins on our face.

The results weren't always what we were hoping for this year but everyone supporting Team Maxxis did a great job and we had fun anyway. Have to go back and do some more homework this winter and then try to stay healthier next year. I still have a busy fall and will try to stay as fit as I can for Pan Am Championships and a bunch of cyclocross that I will try to milk my fitness through. That all starts after wedding season; I have 3 in 4 weeks coming up with the big finale in Victoria on October 7th when Keri and I tie the knot; should be some good times.

Over and out,

To his sponsors, we thank you loads for your support and your great products and he will endeavour to do you all proud while out there riding a lap of France.

His results in International Keirin in Japan April 22nd to May 16th 2005: 3 wins and 3 times 2nd place out of 14 races, 5th ranked overall for the series.

With winds gusting to 40 mph at midnight before this year’s inaugural Honu Half Ironman, some anxiety struck most of the 716 athletes preparing to start the newest Ironman qualifier only seven hours later. The Big Island of Hawaii is known for its mystic and magical qualities, though, and as the sun rose above majestic Mauna Kea on race morning, only a slight breeze greeted each athlete as they touched the white sand beach at Hapuna.

The field of athletes participating was as varied as the Hawaiian landscape itself. Triathletes, ages 17 to 74, registered from 15 countries and 38 states, all of them with aspirations to finish, most with hopes of gaining one of the 85 Ironman Triathlon World Champion slots up for grabs. Thirty-five of those slots were going to Big Island of Hawaii residents, twenty to athletes from the state of Hawaii, and thirty slots would be allocated to international athletes (those not meeting the strict longtime resident of Hawaii/Big Island requirements).

On the women’s side, three professionals and pre-race favorites were: Michellie Jones, Olympic silver medallist and distance champion; Heather Fuhr, 1997 Hawaii Ironman champion; and Tina Walter of Germany, who placed ninth overall in Kona last October. Just as the men had age-group contenders, so did the women. Sian Welch, a former professional and now 38-year-old mother of two, was out to prove she still had what it takes. Monique Petrov and Cathleen Calkins, both of California, and Kailua-Kona’s own Bree Myers were also ready to take top honors.

On race morning the feared mumuku winds seemed to disappear and the deep sighs and audible celebration amongst athletes created a calm almost equal to the ocean’s surface as the clock ticked away towards the starting canon.

Within minutes, a lead pack of eight turned around the first buoy and by the halfway mark, five had broken away from the pack. Tim Marr led the swim, followed closely by Van Lierde, Seymour, Hauth and Hursty. In the second pack, it was Michellie Jones and Lauren Welting in amongst the men.

Just over a minute later the first women arrived. Welting edged Jones over the swim finish line by a second at 25:49 and 25:50, respectively. Third was Caulkins at 27:45 with Fuhr and Petrov a minute behind her.

Out on the lava fields, Mother Nature seemed to be holding her breath. She was, however, heating up the bike course and the hills leading towards Hawi were becoming hotter than ever.

By the bike turn around at Upolu Airport (a few miles shy of Hawi), the winds greeted the first group with a relatively light 8-12 knots. Marr had created a minute lead over Van Lierde, with Seymour, Hauth and Hursty now spread out three minutes apart. Amazingly, women’s leader Jones was in seventh overall, with a lead of four minutes over her closest female competitors, Myers, Fuhr, Walter and Petrov.

Jones continued to move closer to the front as she arrived at T2 and only 11 minutes off Marr’s pace. Walter was in four minutes later with Fuhr, Petrov and Caulkins coming within seconds of each other but eight minutes off Jones’ lead.

All reports from the run course had competitors dousing themselves with water and ice at every aid station, with the ambient temperature nearing 90 degrees and the lava reflecting heat and making things even hotter. The winds had now picked up on the course, but they were tailwinds that offered no relief to the searing sun’s rays.

Jones continued to move towards the front and was in a solid fourth position overall at the halfway point on the run. In second, and in hot pursuit, Fuhr was now in her trademark run pace and searching the course for Jones. Walter, Petrov and Caulkins continued to push as well but salt-stained skin and shorts told the tale of suffering in the Hawaiian heat.

With only four miles left on the run, Hauth saw Marr at last and passed him to take the lead. Marr attempted to match his pace but Hauth pulled away convincingly, and with a time of four hours, fifteen minutes and fifty-four seconds, Hauth became the first Honu Half Ironman champion and secured his place in the record books. Marr followed in second at 4:19:40 and in third it was…Michellie Jones, first for the women at 4:28:16!

The remaining top five men had Patrick Baldwin, third at 4:30:42; Luc Van Lierde, fourth at 4:31:51; and Peter Hursty, fifth at 4:35:42.

Coming in sixth overall and taking back three minutes on the run, Heather Fuhr placed second for the women at 4:34:10. Tina Walter placed third at 4:38:28 with Monique Petrov at 4:49:40 and Kathleen Caulkins at 4:56:16, fourth and fifth respectively. Amazingly, Sian Welch was a close sixth at 4:57:59.

“What a grueling course!” exclaimed race winner Hauth. “The key was being out here on the bike course and not in Kona. The run was incredible with the grass, dirt and pavement all mixed in. It was just incredible.

Despite her amazing finish, Jones was humbled by the race. “Hawaii is always beautiful but it was damn hot out there today!” beamed Jones. “There are never any guarantees in triathlon and this run course, while beautiful, was very challenging. The golf course sections were really slow and the changing terrain really messed with your rhythm and your head.”

Men 1. Chris Hauth 4:15:54 2. Tim Marr 4:19:40 3. Patrick Baldwin 4:30:42 4. Luc Van Lierde 4:31:51 5. Peter Hursty 4:35:42

Women 1. Michellie Jones 4:28:16 2. Heather Fuhr 4:34:10 3. Tina Walter 4:38:28 4. Monique Petrov 4:49:40 5. Kathleen Calkins 4:56:16

Woody Cox had a tremendous week on his Rocket7's, winning three golds, a silver, and a bronze in the 45-49 age category.

Kenny Williams, who was attending his first Master's Worlds, topped the field by taking home three gold medals and a silver in the 30-35 age category. Says Kenny, "The Manchester track is fast. Really fast. The best in the world!"

Anton Quist and Stan Gregg continued the winning streak by each winning a pair of gold medals!

Annette Hanson set a new world record on her Rocket7's, winning a gold medal and two more silvers.

Mark Rodamaker, from Northern CA, also picked up a silver and bronze medal, followed by a bronze from Mike Eddy.

Overall, Rocket7 shoes were on the feet of 11 gold medal rides in England, an amazing number for it's first year at Worlds! Rocket7 would like to congratulate everyone for their incredible efforts! A job well done!

While most cyclists rely on expensive titanium parts to reduce the weight of their racing machines, it is actually more beneficial to choose lighter cycling shoes.

The ability to accelerate quickly out of a turn or in a final sprint is beneficial to cyclists. That’s why lighter shoes should be considered. Not only are lighter shoes easier to climb hills, they are also easier to accelerate.

For example, it takes nearly twice as much energy to accelerate a wheel with the weight concentrated at the outer rim/tire than it does to accelerate a wheel with the weight concentrated in the inner axle/hub. This same principle can be applied to the weight of a cycling shoe spinning in circles. A lighter shoe will accelerate faster than a heavier one. Because of this…

1 pound added to a cycling shoe is equivalent to nearly 2 pounds on a bicycle frame.

Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D., a well known author of several books on cycling physiology and training, has stated that 1 pound added to a wheel or shoe/pedal system is equivalent to nearly 2 pounds on a bicycle frame. (see Velonews Vol 28, No 16) Furthermore, Burke’s study showed that adding 250 grams per shoe required an additional power output of 1.5 – 1.7 percent. And with just 125 grams added to each shoe, oxygen consumption increased 1.3 percent while riding at 25kph on the road (200 watts of work).

Rocket7 road shoes weigh just 390 grams per pair (size 40), compared to 700 grams for a good road shoe. That’s a savings of at least 300 grams, or 150 grams on each leg! Burke’s research shows that this is a net savings of nearly 1.5 pounds and requires lower oxygen demands.

Still, many cyclists continue to focus on expensive titanium parts for weight savings. A 169g titanium bottom bracket will save about 60g at a cost of $.75 per gram, and a 170g cleat system will save about 430g at a cost of $1.47 per gram.

Lightweight cycling shoes appear to be a smarter investment. Consider a good pair of 700g road shoes costing $99, and a custom pair of 400g Rocket7 shoes costing $499. You’ll save 300 grams at a cost of $1.33 per gram. But factor in Dr Burke’s research on acceleration, and the cost is reduced to only $.66 per gram!

Finally, it should be mentioned that a custom pair of Rocket7 cycling shoes provides additional benefits than just weight savings. Custom fitted shoes, by definition, simply fit better than mass-produced shoes, and are therefore more comfortable for most riders. Because Rocket7 custom shoes are built around an actual mold of the rider’s foot, there is no need for expensive orthotics either. The Rocket7 custom carbon footbed offers excellent arch support and improves pedaling efficiency for riders with pronation problems. And the 100% carbon fiber sole is extremely stiff with a low profile (5mm at cleat), maximizing power transfer from the foot to the pedal.

Elite cyclists understand the advantages of lightweight custom cycling shoes. Buy a pair for yourself and feel the difference! Rocket7 custom shoes are lightweight… strong… and comfortable.