Zack’s Guide to Hammer Nutrition

Frequently I hear a lot about proper hydration on race day, soreness after the race, or even feeling fatigued on race day.  I thought it would be easier to explain what I’ve found works well for me.  We all hear and are bombarded with the new products out there that are supposed to make you stronger, better, and faster, but I can say I’ve had the best experience with Hammer Nutrition products.  I used to struggle with fatigue, headaches, sluggishness, arm pump, and various things that slowed me down on race day and during the week.  Hammer Nutrition has alleviated a lot of this.  Below I’ve listed some of their products I use along with how they’ve helped me.

Hammer Gel:

I’ve tried Clif Shots, Gatorade gels, and a few other energy bars, but Hammer Gel is by far my favorite Hammer Product.  It comes in a small packet for a fanny pouch or a five serving flask that can be filled with their large 26 serving container.  It provides the right amount of energy after a section or mid-race.  If you watch closely in the GNCC videos, you will often see riders take a hammer gel during their pit stop.  I use the flask with the vanilla flavor which is easy on my stomach.  I take one serving after each section in order to stay energized.

HEED:

HEED was the third Hammer product I’ve tried and I’ve used it ever since.  Prior to Heed, I used water, Gatorade, or Powerade but often lacked energy with it.   Now that I know Powerade and Gatorade are mostly sugar and water, I tried HEED.  At each race, I will mix two scoops of HEED with two water bottles and half to a full container of powerade.  The main reason I still use Powerade is for flavor as my stomach is so used to the blue flavor.  HEED has eliminated my arm pump and more efficiently kept me hydrated.

Recoverite:

I often refer to Recoverite as the “magic” solution.  It is pretty much whey mixed with complex carbs and put into a simple packet.  I often mix it with one water bottle to dilute the flavor.  Recoverite should be taken immediately after exercise or within 30 minutes for best use.  It has cured any soreness after race day and brought my energy back a lot faster.  I usually take the vanilla flavor as it is easiest on my stomach.

Fizz:

Fizz was something that I just threw into a water bottle one day to try.  It is purely electrolytes with about ten calories in each tablet.  I throw one tablet into my camelback or one into a water bottle.  It has a light flavor (I prefer grape) and gives a carbonated taste.  I can’t say I’ve noticed a huge difference with Fizz but I haven’t had any problems with it either.  The grape or grapefruit flavors are my favorite.

To get 15% off an order of Hammer Nutrition, use the code: 214793, my name and my email: ktmracing323@yahoo.com.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Foggy Mountain National Enduro

Race: ECEA Round 9: Foggy Mountain National Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 1^st  A-200, 40^th Overall

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, EBC Brakes, Fly Racing, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Matto Cycle, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, G2 Ergonomics, my family, Erin Fisher, and my Dad.

Photo by Erin Fisher

Report:

            The past few weeks of racing have been awesome for me as I’ve accomplished a few things that I’ve always dreamed of.  A few years ago, I never expected to do well in racing whether it be at the A, B, or C level.  But the past year, I’ve stepped it up and continued to improve slowly.  I’ve always been a consistent rider, but this year has been great.  Two weeks ago, I won my first Overall A at the HMDR Enduro and took a season best of 9^th overall.  This weekend, I checked off another milestone.

            On Friday, we headed to Foggy Mountain which is one of my favorite tracks on the ECEA circuit.  It is usually rocky, but the trail flows really well.  It can be technical in spots but it is a blast overall.  I mounted up a Vee Rubber trials tire along with a M59 as I expected the track to be rocky and hardpack. On Saturday, I had the chance to walk the track with some fast AA and Pro riders which was a good learning experience.  We walked the start of five out of six tests.

            Sunday morning, I was excited to race, but nervous as I wasn’t sure where my current speed would place me in the overall.  At the NEPGs earlier in the year, my best finish was 70^th overall.  I had a lot to prove in the rocks, and I wanted to be in the top 40 at the end of the day.  The first two sections of the day went great as I rode awesome.  I avoided arm pump by using HEED in my Kriega hydration system.  The 3^rd section ruined my overall for the day as I missed a turn and got stuck in a ravine.  Now that I look back on it, I could have saved myself a lot of time in there but I wasted time turning around (too many logs in the ravine).  I was able to regroup myself for the last 3 tests where I landed in 33^rd, 33^rd, and 38^th overall.  I still made some small mistakes but I felt great with my riding and fitness.  After 6 sections, I was able to win the A-200 class and place 40^th overall.  This was also my first ever National win which is something I’ve wanted to do for years.  I’d like to thank everyone for their continued support!

ECEA Round 4: Greenbrier Enduro

Photo by Joann Hauser

Race: ECEA Round 4: Greenbrier Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 1^st A-200, 18^th Overall

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, EBC Brakes, Fly Racing, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Matto Cycle, Offroadviking.com, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, G2 Ergonomics,  Joann Hauser, my family, and my Dad.

Report:

            I have been looking forward to racing the Greenbrier Enduro for a few months now.  It is always known to have great trail that separates out the competition fairly well.  I have been working hard to make subtle changes on the bike this season so that I am more prepared for the races.  Sunday morning, my dad and I drove down to the race.  I rode on row 28 with Ben Smith.  My plan is to ride the rest of the year with Ben as I am hoping to learn a lot from a AA rider so that I can hopefully race AA next season.

                My day started off a little slow as I shook out some cobwebs and missed the first couple flips.  Total, I missed 3 flips by fewer than 10 seconds which is frustrating but shows that I am on the edge of taking my speed to the next level.  Early on, I decided that subtle suspension changes were needed since the trail was smoother than previous weekends, and my front end seemed to be diving too much.  Once those changes occurred, I was able to finish the rest of the day strong.  I was surprised at my conditioning for the 15 mile section which I set a fairly good time in.  I am learning to keep my intensity up which can be tough in a 15 mile section.

I am going to keep this week’s report short as I am in my final two weeks of school and finals are next week! Yikes!  But at the end of the day at Greenbrier, I came out with another A-200 class win and was able to finish 18^th overall in a stacked class.  As long as I finish top 20, then I am happy with my riding because consistency is key for me making AA.  I want to thank everyone for their support as well as the Hammer Nutrition Recoverite product which got me back on my feet by Monday!  It is magic for the body.

Photo by Joann Hauser

ECEA Round 3: PBER Enduro

Photo by Joann Hauser

Race: ECEA Round 3: PBER Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 1^st  A-200, 14^th Overall

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, EBC Brakes, Fly Racing, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Matto Cycle, Offroadviking.com, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, G2 Ergonomics, my family, and my Dad.

Report:

            Since the last enduro, school and my other commitments have taken up most of my time.  Unfortunately, I did not get to ride at all, but I was able to focus on some training.  Prior to this weekend, I have been mountain biking close to ten miles each day.  I am hoping this helps with my results on the weekends.  Coming into Sunday, I was hungrier than ever for a top 20 finish.  I just wanted to put in a solid ride where I could showcase my speed and progression.

            Sunday morning, my dad and I left for the PBER enduro.  Once we arrived, I got prepared for a good day of whoops and made sure my bike was all ready to go.  It was ready to hit some sand whoops and prepped to withstand the sand with my DT-1 triple layer air filter.  The first 20 miles of the day consisted of time keeping which I luckily only lost 1 second on.  The second loop of the day was where the majority of the racing occurred.  The first section was close to 13 miles long.  This wasn’t just any section, but the roughest section of sand whoops I have ever been on.  It was just whoop after whoop after whoop which caused me to get arm pump.  I made a few mistakes in here as I got lost twice and missed a turn.  Needless to say, this cost me valuable time and my poor score reflected it.  Additionally, I decided I needed to go in a new direction on suspension settings.  They worked great in the whoops the weekend before but the trail was so beat up that even stiffer settings were needed.  One thing I have learned is to not be afraid of making changes.  These helped a lot as we headed into the next section.  This time, I rode great with strong intensity throughout the section.  I felt awesome and my changes helped a lot.  I was unlucky though and missed the flip on the way out by 3 seconds. 

            At the 2^nd gas stop, I did something I have never done before.  Because of the rough trails, my stomach was in knots and ended up puking.  Now that is what rough whoops do to you!  The rest of the day was uneventful as we hit another sneaky check and then rode back to the finish.  At the end of the day, I won the A-200 class and finished 14^th overall.  This is certainly an improvement but I feel I haven’t been able to showcase my full potential just yet.  We will have to wait until the Tri-County Enduro this Sunday.  Thank you to my dad for his pit support and everyone behind me!

ECEA Round 2: Curly Fern Enduro

Photos by Joann Hauser

Race: ECEA Round 2: Curly Fern Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 1^st  A-200, 18^th Overall

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, Fly Racing, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Matto Cycle, Offroadviking.com, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, G2 Ergonomics, my family, and my Dad.

Report:

            One thing I am hungry for this year is success and it is a hunger that is going to be hard to feed.  Going into the first round of the ECEA series, I was disappointed with all of the mistakes I made on the riding side, but happy with the glimpses of speed that I had shown.  Going into this past weekend, I was excited to hopefully improve on my previous result.  I knew going into the weekend that it would be tough because the event was going to be a lot of time-keeping (I lack experience on this side) and I would be riding alone.  Normally, I try to ride with an AA rider which helps keep my intensity up and minimizes stupid mistakes.

            My dad and I left at 5:30 am to head down to Curly Fern.  Once again, it was another freezing morning with no hopes of warming up.  I got ready and made sure I ate a good breakfast to fuel my body for the day.  I also decided to wear a heavy jacket which was a blessing with all of the road we had to ride.  The first half of the race was fairly basic but featured a ton of emergency checks which are hard to zero on the 30 second mark.  A few of them were in tricky locations so my times weren’t looking that well.  Because of this, I knew I had to ride well in the points taking sections.  The end of the first section ended with a 3 mile piece that was muddy, rooty, and featured an endurocross section.  I felt good in here except I stalled on the tire section and ran out of gears on the wide-open sections.  I missed the flip by 4 seconds which was disappointing as my times were close to some AA.

            After resting at the gas stop, I geared up for the second half of the day.  I continued to focus on improving my day and rode well in the second half.  I zeroed most of the emergency checks.  I also felt I had great speed and my WER suspension worked awesome with some of my adjustments.  One thing I have learned is to not be afraid of making changes during a race.  I think you learn a lot and it is a good experience.  Towards the end of the day, some points taking sections were thrown in.  I made a costly mistake of not going into the check early which cost me two extra points.  After this, we headed back for another crack at the 3 mile section.  This time, I increased my intensity and hung it out.  I rode flawless except for getting stuck behind a rider who fell across the trail and getting pointed to a wrong line in a muddy section.  I was able to make the flip this time and match some AA times.  I feel I had a lot more in me and will be back to give it my best next race.

            At the end of the day, I won the A-200 class by a point and finished 18^th overall.  I think I could have scored 3 points less on the day which would have put me inside the top ten overall.  We will race the PBER Enduro in a couple weeks where I would like to get another win and finish inside the top ten.  Until then, I am going to test some jetting, change gearing, and find a better sand tire.  Thanks to all for their support and especially my dad for pitting for me!

ECEA Round 1: Sandy Lane Enduro

Netraphotos.com by Art Pepin

Race: Round 1: Sandy Lane Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 1^st A-200

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, Fly Racing, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Matto Cycle, Offroadviking.com, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, G2 Ergonomics, my family, Netraphotos.com, and my Dad.

Report:

            After starting the season off poorly in previous years, I was determined to change that for 2013.  Over the winter, I made sure I had everything prepared for the season.  I took the opportunity to race the first two NEPG races which were great practice for the opening round of the ECEA Enduro Series.  Needless to say, I felt ready for the first enduro this past weekend.  Unfortunately, it was extremely cold but I was excited to ride.

            The first section of the day was the tightest but somehow I escaped arm pump.  I made a few mistakes along with a superman dive after bouncing off a couple trees.  I scared myself at the end of the section when my clutch started to slip (got a little too hot).  I was able to drop a 5 which was what Jeff Melik and Ben Smith dropped as well.  My goal this season is to drop scores similar to AA riders so I was happy with the result. I certainly had it in me to ride better though.

            For the next couple of sections, I struggled to ride mistake-free but I was riding fast.  At the Georgia NEPG, I didn’t crash a single time but my speed wasn’t there.  I was glad to have the speed but frustrated with the mistakes. If I can eliminate mistakes and keep the speed, I know I can be in that top ten overall group.  I continually stayed fueled throughout the day with Hammer Nutrition gels and stayed warm thanks to the Melik family.

            In the last two sections of the day, the trail opened up a bit more and I was able to find a groove.  With the help of Ben Smith as the leader on my row, I was able to keep my intensity up.  I stayed with him for close to 2 miles but he eventually pulled away.  It is my goal to try to latch onto AA riders for as long as possible.  At the end of the day, I was able to finish 1^st in A-200 which is a lot better start than last year.  I will carry this momentum into the Curly Fern enduro next weekend! Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

River Ranch GNCC Video

A great video from the first GNCC
2013 GNCC River Ranch Charlie Mullins

Round 2: Sandlapper National Enduro

Beginning of the second test.

Race: Sandlapper National Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 5^th A-200, 70^th Overall

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, Fly Racing, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Matto Cycle, Offroadviking.com, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, G2 Ergonomics, my family, and my Dad.

Report:

            My dad and I headed down to the Sandlapper National Enduro on Saturday and arrived at our hotel in Columbia, SC around 4PM.  I chose to stay at the hotel and rest instead of going to hang out at the race itself.  I have been under the weather with a nasty cold since Georgia and can’t seem to stop hacking up a lung.  After a night of sleep, we headed to the race at 6AM.  It became apparent fairly quick that the forecast of 55 for the day was not going to happen.  Instead, it was 30 degrees and overcast.

            I spent a half hour prior to the start getting warmed up and adjusting some jetting.  Unfortunately, I found it hard to get jetting right with the cold conditions but found something that worked.  The first test of the day was a lot of fun with flowing trail, whoops, sand, and some tight-sections.  I made a few mistakes by blowing some corners but managed to stay upright. After the section, I went to put my bike on the stand and realized that what was normally an easy task was difficult.  Sometimes when you are sick, you don’t realize how sick you are until you have difficulty doing something that is easy.

            The second section of the day was my least favorite as it didn’t flow very well but I managed to ride consistently.  One thing I seemed to struggle with was keeping the RPMs up on the bike in the sand corners which is something I need to work on.  The 3^rd and 4^th section were more open and flowed well.  I felt I rode well in these sections although my times don’t exactly show it.  My main problems were being consistently smooth and braking gradually.  I need to adjust my braking a little bit so it is more gradual.

            My 5^th and 6^th sections were my worst of the day.  As the day went on, I felt more sick and my endurance was decreasing.  Normally, I would excel in these wide-open sections but struggled to push all the way through.  At the end of the day, I placed 5^th and 70^th overall.  Although I didn’t crash all day and rode smooth, I didn’t perform according to my expectations.  It is my hopes these two National Enduros will help me start strong in the ECEA enduro series and place top 20 consistently at each race.  I want to thank everyone for their support and my dad for pitting for me this weekend!

2013 Race Bike ready for the Sandlapper!

Round 1: Cherokee National Enduro

Prepping race bike in 20 degree weather! Stickman graphx look sweet!

Race: Cherokee National Enduro

Bike: 09 KTM 200

Result: 3^rd A-200, 76^th Overall

Sponsors: I would like to thank Stickman Graphx, Unabiker.com, EKS Brand Goggles, Kriega USA, Rekluse, All Balls Racing, Fly Racing, Matto Cycle, Bicycle Therapy, Mika Metals, DT-1 Filters, Works Enduro Rider, FMF Racing, Vertex Pistons, Powerseal USA, Offroadviking.com, Clockwork KTM, Torc 1 Racing, Motorex, EBC Brakes, G2 Ergonomics, my family, and my Dad.

Report:

            My dad and I headed down to Georgia on Friday and didn't get there until Saturday after passing through white-out snow conditions.  I was a little on the nervous side as I have only ridden once this winter with school being so busy and it being so cold, but I was anxious to just ride.  I went into the weekend confident in my motorcycle as I have had years of testing on it.  The added parts this year like a Rekluse clutch, G2 throttle cam system, G2 Ergonomics hand guards, Stickman Graphx, and my Kriega USA hydration system only put the icing on the cake.  I went to tech Sunday and my FMF Turbinecore had the bike running crisp. 

            Early Sunday morning, we woke up to 20 degree weather which was shocking since we were in the South.  I escaped State College for some warmer weather.  I showed up to the line for the 54^th minute and was pleasantly surprised to have my own row.  The first section of the day was decent and I felt comfortable on the bike.  The bike was running flawlessly and I was the only thing holding it back.  The second section was very rutted and I was held up a little in there.  The third and fourth sections were decent for me but I had trouble seeing the trail with all of the pine needles.  My fifth and sixth sections were my worst.  I made too many mistakes on the trail and was lacking the endurance to run at my best.  When you become fatigued, you lose that mental edge and I didn't have it.  Although I was happy with two of my test times, I have a lot to work on.  A first place finish is within reach, and I am hungry to get one.

            I am looking forward to a stronger ride at the next round.  I will be riding again this weekend to prepare for SC and then using the week days to mountain bike.  On the bright side, I have started off the year better than in the past and am looking forward to a great season! Thanks to everyone that has supported me along the way.

2013 Sponsor: Rekluse

I am excited to be running Rekluse products during my 2013 race season.  I will be using their high-quality clutch cover as well as their friction clutch plates.  It will be nice to run such a high quality clutch cover since the stock ones wear out so fast from my boots.  For more information, go to rekluse.com.

Winter Riding

Stickman Graphx

The racing season is right around the corner.  This past weekend, I got to ride with 3 AA riders, Ben Smith, Glenn Cordova, and Des Conboy.  I have always been intimidated when riding with faster riders, but I now enjoy the challenge.  For the past year, I have treated it as a game when I ride with faster riders and each time I try to stick with them for a longer period of time.  Early in the day, I was getting left behind by the AA riders, but was able to stick with them by the end of the day.  It was nice to get on the bike, make some suspension changes, and shake off the rust.

In addition to riding, I have been working hard on designing graphics with Alex Engle over at Stickman Graphx.  I am waiting for responses from two sponsors and then I will get them printed.  In the last week, product has showed up from Kriega USA, Acerbis, Mika Metals, DT-1 filters, and G2 Ergonomics! I can't wait for the first enduro.  And lastly, I have recently joined forces with offroadviking.com so check them out for some articles I will be writing this coming season! BRAAAAPPP!

Ebay Deals

I am one of those people that loves to find good deals and recently came across a deal on two different wheels.  Since KTM wheels are now silver, it is hard to find any black wheel sets with polished hubs.  I came across this wheel on ebay and couldn't pass it up.  The wheel showed up at the door today, and I took the time to clean and polish it.  Next step is to get some rim decals from Stickman Graphx.  This will help keep the rim safe from rocks and keep it from getting marked up during tire changes.   I am now looking for another black 18" rear wheel so I can have a spare set during the season.  When you travel as much as I do, you don't want to go home from wheel problems.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

2013 Sponsor: Kriega USA

I am happy to announce that I will receive support from Kriega USA in 2013 and will be wearing their  Kriega Hydro 3 enduro pack and R8 motorcycle waist pack as well as using their haul loops.  They offer the ultimate hydration systems and I am excited to use them in 2013.  With the long enduros and sometimes not seeing a gas stop for 40 miles, the 3 liter pack is the ultimate package.  For more information, go to http://www.kriega.us/products/.

Another Day in Paradise

Hand-built tire rack with storage area

For 2013, I am hoping to make my blog more involved and informational so that people who follow it will come away with some good ideas that they can start doing of their own.  One of my biggest pet peeves as a rider and mechanic of my own bikes is a dirty shop.  I will never work on bikes if they are dirty or if the shop is dirty.  It has become a regular thing for me to clean the shop twice a week by vacuuming and wiping down the surfaces.  In addition to keeping the shop clean, I also like to keep everything organized so it can be easily found. This past weekend, I rearranged the shop again and put my home-made tire rack in the middle of my work benches.  Previously, it had been hidden by the family trash cans but now it's easily accessible for storing wheels and tires.  I also added two more shop lights so that it isn't as dark when working at night.  My next plan is to make a suspension holder that will stand on the side or front so that I can safely store forks and shocks.

Pit Posse Bead Breaker and Tire Changing Stand

Another thing I have gotten recently is the Pit Posse bead breaker and tire changing stand which will help with making the dreaded Techtube/Bib Mousse change.  To make things easier, I mounted mine on a 5/8" thick piece of plywood which keeps it weighted down.  A more intensive route would be to mount the tire changing stand to the cement floor and have quick-release pins so that you can easily pop it on and off.  That is all for today, but I am going to try to document more of the day-to-day shop and race preparations for the 2013 season.  Pictures are always cool so I will take more!