FLASH-POINT BLOG ARCHIVE: Feb 2007

A recent article in the spring 2007 issue of MIT Sloan Review suggests marketing folks have been barking up the wrong tree (really mixing metaphors here). They should abandon market segments and product characteristics as the way to understand what they sell, and ask the customer "what did you hire this widget to do for you?"

When you approach Flash-Points from this angle, you may come up with these reasons:

Help me go faster in my next tri bike race

Get me reliably and hassle free from A to B

Provide me aero advantages at a price I can afford

Give me a very comfortable ride vibration wise

Supply me with the best low maintenance hubs around

I would be interested to hear what YOU would hire a FP wheel set for.

Well, let's start out by saying that the weather where I am right now is not very conducive to cycling. This is absolutely killing me, because my shiny amazingly awesome new FP 60s are sitting in my basement screaming at me to ride them. But, hopefully the ice will thaw out here in the next few days and I can take 'em for a spin!

In the meantime, here's a repost from last year when I was training for Ironman Wisconsin and got caught in a storm....
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Sunday, May 14, 2006

Okay, I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

The hardest class I ever took in my entire life (that includes undergraduate courses at Miami University (OH) and graduate courses at Cleveland State University and Georgetown University) in any degree I was working for (including B.S. Ed. and M.A. History) is my junior year high school "Science Major" Physics class.

Aka SM Physics.

Aka "So Much" Physics. As opposed to, NSM, or "Not So Much" Physics. (or, Non-Science Major in the real world)

Why on earth, you might ask, did the girl who studied History and Political Science sign up for a course called, "Science Major Physics?"

Hmmmm...not 'cause it was a weighted course, like Advanced Placement (AP) courses. A "B" in an AP class equaled an A in a standard class. SM Physics was not weighted. A B was a B. A D was a D.

So why did I do it?

I knew it would blow my GPA. I knew it would blow any chance of me graduating in the top 5 of my class.

Um, once again....WHY?!

Well, the only answer I have for you is that my parents taught me that you should always challenge yourself. I knew I could take the NSM class and probably do well. But I knew I could take this class and make it through--it would be hard, but I would make it. And for some reason I thought that would make me a better person in the long run. Sounds pretty dorky, but I guess guilty as charged.

I never dreaded writing papers or taking essay-based tests. I can write you a 10 page paper in a few hours. Gimme a topic and I can pull it off. I am a master at the art of B.S. (Remember--I earned a B.S. in Education.) ;)

I never worried about getting my English papers done, or my Government cases briefed. But I did worry about that lab coming up in Physics. Would I be clueless again? Would my lab partner roll his eyes at me? Would I have to come in early to work with Mr. Wagner?

Yeah, probably. So I'd better just deal.


Mr. Wagner was the reason I took SM Physics. His subsequent retirement at the end of that year was the reason I did NOT go on to take AP Physics. This guy was a riot. He was an older gentleman, always dressed to the nines in his suit, and he resembled Colonel Potter from M.A.S.H. He arrived at school daily at 7:00am, turned on orchestral music of Looney Tunes, and got the labs ready for the day. I spent many a morning in Mr. Wagner's room trying to figure out what the F was going on. F=MA? D=v/t? I don't know.

But I really did enjoy the class. As hard as it was, as much extra time as I had to put into it, I learned more in that class than I did in most of my other high school classes combined.

Now, my "homework" is my training. I look forward to my long runs. I wish they were longer. I enjoy swimming and love trying to improve my sets and my stroke.

And I just don't have quite the same love--or maybe I should say the self-confidence-- for my weakest link, the bike. Not yet at least.

It's harder for me. It doesn't come naturally. I have to REALLY work at it, and then I'm still not the best at it. There are others who just seem to get it on the first try and don't have to work as hard as me.

So today, as I rode on my bike, I thought: hey, it's like SM Physics again. So I could let this thing hold me back, or I could go in early, stay up late, practice my formulas, do a few extra labs, and master it as best I can.

And it will make me stronger in the end. Even though it doesn't seem worth it now.

I set out for what would be an easy ride in my recovery week, and found that Route 6 (a nice, flat, straight road along the Lake) was finally done in this little lake town--they were resurfacing it! Woo hoo! I kept on going, when I thought initially I'd have to turn around and do another loop. When I reached about 20 miles away, I stopped for a Hammer Gel and checked my stats.

I had averaged 18.1 mph on the nose.

Huh?

Is this really me?

Strange....

But also strange were those dark clouds to my southwest. There's been a swirling green funk over Cleveland the past two days and I thought I could beat it on this ride. Uh oh. Better turn around.

Here comes the wind.

Whoa. Now it's getting hard.

(V=d/t? 6.0 X 10 to the 23rd huh? Wait, that's SM Chemistry...)

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the monsoon begins. I felt the temperature drop to about 50 as I shivered in my short sleeved-jersey and shorts. I pulled over to a little hardware store and hid shivering under the awning.

Oh boy. What have I done to myself? I could have been on the trainer today, nice and warm with a movie...I could have gone for a nice run, yeah, that's it-- I love running in the rain...

Nope. Time to do this thing that is the hardest for me. Gotta bear down here.

I called Matt. What's it look like on the weather channel?


Did you say, GREEN everywhere?

Shoot.

He started on his way to pick me up. I felt like such a chump. But it was coming down so hard and I just wasn't dressed for it. I was cold. I wanted to get home.

But then, after about 5 minutes, it slowed. The sky grew brighter.

I called Matt. Abort mission! I can do this.

Are you SURE? he says. He tells me he has a sweatshirt and a towel for me.

Oh boy is that tempting.

NO--I can do this. I will do this. I've already had to slow down a ton, but I can still make this a respectable ride. It won't be the best performance--not top notch, but it will be good. But I tell him to remain "on call." Just in case it starts lightening again.

I take off. The cold rain stings my red arms. As a car passes me, the perfect timing of a well-placed puddle splashes me with mud.

I laughed. What else could I do?

This is gonna make me stronger somehow...

And then, there was the sign saying "Welcome to (My City I Live In)." I was almost there! I kept a nice high cadence and started to get momentum.

I pulled into my driveway to find Matt with a strange look on his face--kinda laughing, kinda disbelief, kinda like he knew it would end up this way all along.

40 miles, average speed 17.0. Not the best performance in the world, certainly not top of the class, but very respectable. Not the easiest or most comfortable thing I could have done today, but one that made me stronger.

And about that class I took 12 years ago? I ended up with a B+...the hardest-earned B+ of my life. Not too shabby though. Did it blow my GPA? Yeah, a little bit. I didn't finish in the top 5. But I did finish #11. And I do credit Mr. Wagner and his class with helping me to nail the Science portion of the ACT, which helped my overall ACT score and was good enough to help me land a hefty scholarship. So despite mild short-term setbacks, in the long run of life it mattered quite a bit and it made me a heck of a lot stronger in mind.

Am I glad I'm a person who obsessively challenges herself?

As I stood grinning at Matt today, covered in snot, mud, rain, and Hammer Gel, I thought, "Yeah...I sure am."

Thanks, Mr. Wagner. And sorry I bugged you all those mornings.

I wanted to get a good picture of my new Flash-Point wheels but all of these other cyclists kept getting into the frame.

All week long I've been looking forward to taking my new wheels for their initial ride. I decided I would take them along my regular bike route down to Long Beach to see the final stage of the Tour of California. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get the ride I wanted: oh, the wheels were great and I'll talk about them in another post. The problem is that about 5 miles down the trail it started to pour rain. And of course, with the rain was all the wind from the storm. I wasn't really dressed for the weather and was a bit miserable for a while, but fortunately the rain lasted "only" for about 30 minutes and things cleared up by the time I got to the race.

This stage of the race was ten 7-mile out-and-back loops, which meant we got to see the riders about 20 times. I was surprised just how close we were to the bikers; we could literally feel the wind as the pack went by and at some points you could reach out and grab on to a racer if you were so inclined. (I was not so inclined.) It was a great race, very spectator-friendly, I'll be back next year.

So long as it doesn't rain.

I'm a decent swimmer. I can run. Because of these things, I consider myself an athlete.

But here's the catch...

As a triathlete, you also have to be able to bike. And when you get to the longer distances, you have to be able to REALLY bike. You can no longer get away with just getting through the distance and attempting to make up for your lost time on the run.

You have to be a cyclist.

The bike portion, afterall, is without a doubt the longest portion time-wise. In an IronMan Triathlon, the swim could take an hour or so, the run will probably run 3-5 hours, but the bike? You're talking at least 6 hours, and with me it's definitely closer to 8.

What does that mean? It means the bike needs to be your friend. And more importantly, you have to be one with the machine. Your bike can no longer be something external; it has to be an extension of yourself.

Because, I think that's my problem with the bike. It's still a contraption to me. To me, the other two sports still seem a little more simple, more organic.

With swimming, it's just me and the water. Sure, open water can be scary, but ultimately, you just have to rely on yourself.

Running is the same way. It's you and your legs...you just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you're guaranteed to cross that finish line.

But with biking? You have so many more things to worry about. Flat tires, crashing, dropped chains, not to mention the fact that biking can be just plain uncomfortable.

I'm not talking about seat blisters or neck aches (which I am the first one to say can also be horrible); I'm more talking about the fact that mentally you have to be ready for the bike.

The bike does not and cannot have a mind of it's own. You control it, and you control yourself. You have to get out there and let the bike become a part of yourself.

Because, in the past I've tried so many different things.

I've tried avoiding the bike. I've tried yelling at the bike. I've even tried sweet-talking the bike.

And the best excuse? The one where I insist that I'm just not a natural biker and since my body isn't made to bike, it's just never going to be my forte.

But then I remember how hard it was to run even one mile at the beginning, and how 1000 yards in the pool used to feel like an impossibility. And I remember how much work I've put into both swimming and running, and most of all I remember all my excuses with the bike.

And so, as triathlon season is starting up again, I'm admitting that to be a triathlete, I'm going to have to do something a little different this year.

I'm going get outside, and I'm going to bike.

I definately feel that Deep section rims actually are more comfortable and with superior aerodynamics outperform box section rims which maybe much lighter. It seems like the pro peloton is finally seeing the advantages..

My new Flash-Point FP60s arrived in the mail today.

I saw the big box waiting for me when I got home and I immediately knew what it was. But when I picked it up - I swear to you - I thought it was empty. It was so light it felt like there was nothing in it. My second gut reaction was that maybe they sent me just a t-shirt or bike jersey, but why would they use such a large box? I then of course realized that bicycle wheels don't have to be heavy and that the wheels were in fact packed inside.

I don't trust my non-existant mechanical skills to change out my rear wheel, so I'm dropping the bike off at the shop this evening. I'll break them in riding down to the Tour of California on Sunday.

Just one of many obscure thoughts that rippled through my brain as I plugged away at a 12 mile run on Saturday. Wildflower protocol calls for hills and more hills, so I ran west into the hills and as it turned out, into the wind. Running uphill and into the wind makes you feel like a lousy runner. Of course the lousy feeling had absolutely nothing to do with the late night spa, wine, chocolate, wine, chick party I hosted Friday. Wildflower is making me feel like a lousy athlete. How do I let myself get talked into these things? (uh, Trimama, post race drinking, Iron poolside euphoria come to mind?) Oh that’s right. In a state of post Ironman, anything is possible elation I agreed to sign up for the world’s toughest half ironman, Wildflower. Currently the hills of Wildflower are making me feel small. And I hate feeling small. Feeling small ticks me off. Being ticked off triggers a shot of testosterone right down to my freshly pedicured toes and all of a sudden the hills start to flatten out. All of sudden I’m ready to b-slap that trail run. And I begin to run with no fear. Running is good.

Life is full of challenges and hills, and sometimes life just takes testosterone. I want my boys to be men who dream big and flatten awesome hills, even if it means cleaning the bathroom floor more often.

In case you’re wondering, the girls will continue in traditional fashion...until they learn endurance cycling. :-)

Several months ago a friend of mine announced she was going to do the Ironman Arizona Triathlon in April (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). I foolishly offered to support her any way I could. I had run a marathon and a few (much shorter) triathlons, but my longest bike ride had been about 30 miles. I assumed that "support" would mean a few runs after work every now and then, and making up t-shirts and posters for the big day.

As it turns out, supporting an Ironman-in-training means joining them for their long weekend bike rides. Which over the past few months has meant 28 miles. Then 56. 84. 112. Another 84. Let me tell you, if you're not an experienced cyclist this is not the way to build up your miles. It has been too much, too fast, and my legs have felt like jelly for about 2 months now.

This weekend called for a brick workout, doing a 56-mile bike ride followed by a one-hour run. I think my legs may finally be toughening up a bit because for once I actually felt pretty good at the end. Tired, but good. Those century rides are still a bit daunting, but I'm getting there.

I'm a runner.

Of course this is a cycling blog, and I guarantee that once the weather breaks, it'll be all biking, all the time.

But, while schools are still being canceled because of treacherous roads, I'm (unabashedly) going to write about my running training.

I am at the crux of my LA Marathon training, so it makes sense in that regard as well. After that March 4 race, it'll be back to triathlons, with my efforts working towards my first tri of the season--the Wildflower Olympic race on May 5.

On Sunday, February 11, I ran the Bronx Half Marathon, the second race in the New York Road Runner's Grand Prix Series.

I love racing. I know that the whole triathlete thing is more about about the lifestyle and yada yada yada, and in theory I wholeheartedly agree. But, I gotta say that when I get to a race and soak in the whole atmosphere, I just love it. I love all the healthy people and I love the competitive atmosphere, and I love the mental aspect of 'how far can you go?', and I really just love pushing myself.

First things first...I PRed. I ran a 1:47:07. My previous PR 3 weeks ago had been 1:52:45, so I was pretty damn happy with that improvement.

I didn't know what to expect going into the race. I had been doing the vast majority of my training on a treadmill, and I knew I was getting faster on the machine, but I just didn't know if that would translate to a faster road race. I'm ecstatic that it did.

The course wasn't 'hilly', but it was by no means flat. There were countless inclines as we ran up and down highway over and under passes. It wasn't a pretty race. I've heard the Grand Concourse that we looped up and down is pretty in the spring, but in the winter it's kinda boring. I didn't really mind the lack of scenery though. I just wanted to see what I could do, and I did it.

My spoken goal was the break 1:50, and I crushed that. But, I had this inside I-can't-say-this-out-loud goal of perhaps running closer to 1:45, because that would prove that I had the slightest chance to qualify for Boston at the Los Angeles Marathon.

I know, I know. No one goes from running a 4:18 marathon to qualifying with a 3:40. That's why I've kept my mouth shut with this one. My original goal with this training and upcoming race was to break 4 hours, and I'm now very confident that I can do that. But, as you see yourself get faster, how do you not up your goal? How do you not keep pushing yourself to the next limit?

I don't think there is anything wrong with always upping the ante (because otherwise what's the point?), but what about the necessity of feeling happy that you reached a goal? Because, yesterday I was very happy that I broke 1:50, but I still kind of had this ache that made me wish I had just ran a bit faster. I know I could have. Definitely on a different course, with less wind and maybe a bit warmer temperature, but probably even on this course under the same circumstances. But, it doesn't matter, right? There will always be those doubts, and the important thing is that I had fun out there, regardless of the time.

For LA, I'm going to go out trying to break 4 hours and see what happens. If I'm easily running an 8:30 pace, I'll go with that (cause Boston requires 8:28 splits). If not, I'll be happy with the dramatic amount of progress I've made since November, because I really should be both happy and proud. Boston can wait until later.

And if even 4 hours doesn't happen? I'm still happy and proud. I've broken through to find something new within myself, and that's all I wanted anyhow.

And now, the ever-popular, all-inclusive....
SPLITS!

mile 1- 8:49 (dodge-city)
mile 2- 8:22
mile 3- 8:03
mile 4- 8:21
mile 5- 8:10
mile 6- 8:04
mile 7- 8:12
mile 8- 8:05
mile 9- 7:57
mile 10- 8:06
mile 11- 8:18
mile 12- 7:57
mile 13- 7:53
last .1- <:48 (I waited to stop my watch to avoid the 'stop-button-watch-picture' we're all so familiar with)

total: 1:47:07

The water stop miles? Still painfully obvious, and I couldn't help myself from stopping at almost every one. I didn't need it, but I was always scared that I would need it before I had another chance. Nutrition-wise, I also wish I had had a Gu with me, because I felt myself wanting something more than Gatorade by mile 8 or so. The miles with inclines or the ones that were against the wind might have been slightly slower and required more effort, but all in all what slowed me down most was the water stops. That should be relatively easy to fix, right? Any suggestions?

So, I guess that's the news from Lake Woebegone. I don't mean to be down on myself or the race; I had a blast running, and I can't wait for next time. And a PR by more than 5 minutes in a half marathon? I really am thrilled. All the questioning of one-self and hoping to go further and faster? That's the best part, I think. What else makes you examine yourself so completely in mind and body? Music does for me, but there is always room for another outlet. And what's more?

I love it.

I'm addicted to this.

I can't stop thinking about this feeling I get when I'm thinking about this sport.

In a world where there is so much negative...where wars and budget deficits and terrorism and yellow alerts and poverty and hurricanes haunt the six o'clock news every day...this bizarre addiction gives me a little high and lets me be in control of my own world even if it's just in my head.

In a world where sports are king--and by sports, we mean money, we mean the "clear" and the "cream," we mean indictments and disappointments and screaming parents at referees and bitter players...where children don't even want to play anymore because it's not fun anymore...this sport restores my faith in athletics and in my very definition of sport.

In a world where your body is all that matters--where Miss Universe was just yesterday judged by her swimsuit, where I see young girls tanning themselves literally to death, where I think of how much, at age 10, I used to hate the way I looked and how my shoulders were "too big" from swimming--I see strong, beautiful, muscular, confident women triathletes, and I breathe a sigh of relief as I look in the mirror at my freckled-face, bike shorts-tan-line, and swimmer's shoulders.

In this selfish world--where it seems as if everyone is out for themselves, where whomever has the best toys wins, where your bank account is seen as a reflection of your worth--I see so many people giving their time and efforts to better themselves.

People stepping outside of their comfort zone, and jumping into the open water of life. Murky, choppy, and uncharted....and coming out of the water smiling to take on the next endeavor.

Because I love to compete, but more against myself--because I love to watch my friends succeed--because nothing gives me more joy or makes me smile like hearing about a successful race--I am an addict.

I'm an addict because it makes me step outside of my little world--because it scares me and because I don't know if I can do it at times. Because nothing is quite like the sting in your eyes from sweat and sunscreen as you cross the finish line of an event. And even when I fall, when I fail, and when I don't reach a goal, I know that the salty tears of frustration that might roll down my face will lead me to another victory on another day with salty tears of joy and disbelief.

Because there was a time in my life when I was an addict for other things--for insecurity, for self-doubt, for partying to cover up these things--I embrace this addiction wholeheartedly.

I am addicted because this sport has given to me so much...because I am a better person, a better friend, and will someday be a better mother because I have grown from it.

In this uncontrollable and unpredictable world, this addiction gives me a small amount of control in my destiny--of who I am, of where I've been, and of where I'm heading.

And I don't think I can ever give that up.

This is a Shimano cassette taken through the spokes. We were talking the other day about how Flash-Point is perceived in the market. Here are some thoughts:

An entry wheel for tri and TT athletes just starting in the sport and wishing to gain from a true aero wheel design?.

An all round high-end recreational wheel for those team rides around the neighborhood and beyond?.

The wheel of choice for cross State and century riders, where they will benefit from the sidewall flex and the vibration dampening technologies.?

We are seeing quite a few visitors from Velonews coming to the site.

BTW have you seen the March 2007 issue of Bicycling, page 96? There is a wheel to wheel comparison of Mavic's Cosmic Carbone SL permium, Hed's Jet and the Flash-Point 60. I think FP showed the other wheels the way in terms of price, aero performance and value. FP was a little heavier - but hey you can't have everything in this world!

I can't wait to get new folks blogging - need to prod the web guy.

This coming week we will be introducing 5 new bloggers from outside of Zipp and more new faces within the company. This will ensure fresh content, expert opinion and lively stories. We will be concentrating on the triathlon community and have 'signed' some of the best blogging talent out there - watch this space.

Here are the FP40 decals, once again on uni-directional carbon. Have you seen our advert running in Velonews? It is a stunning yellow 1/2 page that you just cannot miss.

BTW I assume you have already subscribed to our blog feed using your favorite new feed reader or aggregator? You certainly will not want to miss the new content that will be coming, stories from the trenches, personal sagas, triumphs and disappointments, these bloggers will tell it like it is and as it happens - watch for those pings!

Alright folks! I'm back and this time with a re-vamped website for Flashpoint. I'm still on the original pair of FP 40's that I started with and they are holdling up just fine. As the blogs are back up and running, you'll start to hear more from me again, especially as the weather warms a bit here in the Midwest.

For quite some time now, we have these 'new' more popular decals with a white logo on a transparent carrier and the FP flash that gives more "pop" and bling to the wheels.

Here is an image of the FP60 decals laid on some uni-directional carbon material. Again thanks to Joe for the photo.

BTW did I mention that you can purchase these and apply them to your own wheels. Give our CSR a call at 1-800-230-2387 and they will get a set of these out to you in no time.

Joe - our expert photographer here at Zipp has taken some great shots of the Flash-Point hubs close up. We do not have a huge demand for Campy style drive systems and many customers are unaware that we even offer this choice.

The Campy cassette bodies are quite hard to identify if you are not looking closely, but those characteristic grooves are unmistakable once your eye is in.

Flash-Point sales continue their upward trend as we slowly gain exposure in the market and the product becomes better know. We plan to get the wheels to more races this year and to have demo sets available for folk to try before they buy.

If you have something to share please drop us a line or pick up the phone, we are always keen to hear your point of view and to listen to a good story.

How do you like the new web site?