Originally designed in Switzerland as a physician prescribed ,therapeutic implement for foot, knee, hip, and back pain the MBT shoe has been helping individuals with these problem areas. Thankfully, I do not have any specific ailments in my joints or muscles, however, I still benefit from wearing the MBT shoes on a daily basis. Below is a brief blog post on how using the MBT shoes has helped my performance as a professional cyclist.
One of the wonderful aspects of cycling is that it is a little to no impact sport. Unlike running, my body does not take much of a beating from the hard impact of every footstep in a runners stride; this is both a blessing and curse. As a result of hours and hours of this non-impact, linear movement, I have had very few injuries but have lost much of my balance and stability muscle development in the process. Enter the MBT.
There are three aspects injury and they are prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. I have personally put a strong emphasis on the prevention techniques because it is the most simple and less costly form of dealing with an injury. By wearing the MBT I am encouraging my body to protect itself naturally by using stability and core muscles. The sole technology mimics walking on soft, natural ground the way our bodies were designed to walk. In fact, MBT (mesai Barefoot Technology) is a tribute to the Mesai people of Africa who had nearly no indications of joint pain amongst their entire population, due in a large part to the natural ground they walked upon. The sole includes a rigid middle shank and pivot which is what triggers the balance and stability muscles through your legs, trunk and core. Recently, I have learned some fun plyometric techniques where I use the shoe much like a stability or BOSU ball found in a gym…the shoe is basically a mobile gym and phyiostherapy clinic all in one!
Supplementary to the injury prevention aspect, my MBTs help reduce the shock and increased blood flow while standing and walking. Cyclist try to spend as little time on their feet as possible to “save their legs”. With my MBTs I am able to encourage more blood flow through my legs and feet to help me recover if I need to be standing for extended periods of time. Further, while I am walking to the hotel, dinner, or wherever I may be headed, the reduced shock helps relieve the pressure on my legs giving me the slightest edge on my recovery for the next day.
Cycling is a sport where all the little things matter. A sport where minute details can make or break a race. With MBT as my chosen footwear I am adding a few more tallies to my column – I am helping prevent injury, promoting good blood flow for recovery while standing, and reducing the shock and saving my legs while I walk. For these reasons MBTs are one of the first items to go in my luggage as I pack for the races.
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
The riders and staff of Jelly Belly p/b Kenda recently held two training camps in California to get in top shape for the upcoming season.
Check out our photo album on Facebook, and while you’re there, Like our page!
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
During team training camp, the Jelly Belly riders and staff took to a different kind of racing — K-1 indoor go-kart racing.
For a team bonding exercise, the squad raced one round for fun, a second qualifying round, and a 16-lap final.
Brad Huff won the big prize (bragging rights). Sean Mazich was second and Nic Hamilton was third.
Team director Danny Van Haute finished sixth.
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
During team training camp, the Jelly Belly riders and staff took to a different kind of racing — K-1 indoor go-kart racing.
The team raced one round for fun, a second qualifying round, and a 16-lap final.
Brad Huff won the big prize (bragging rights). Sean Mazich was second and Nic Hamilton was third.
Team director Danny Van Haute finished sixth.
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda riders took a detour during their training camp to visit the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame.
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
FEBRUARY 4TH BOULEVARD ROAD RACE SAN DIEGO, CA
8TH SEAN MAZICH
FEBRUARY 14TH CENTRAL COAST CYCLOCROSS MARINA, CA
1ST MENSO DE JONG
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
Congratulations to Jeremy Powers for his fantastic victory in the USA Cyclocross Championships! Powers is a veteran road racer for Jelly Belly p/b Kenda. We are thrilled and proud for his success in cyclocross. Check out this interview following Jeremy’s big win.
http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247673-USA-Cyclocross-National-Championships-2012/video/562567-Jeremy-Powers-What-It-Means-To-Be-Champion
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
As the Holiday Season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and on those who have helped to shape our business in a most significant way. We value our relationship with you and look forward to working with you in the year to come. We wish you a very happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity.
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda rode through its 12th season in the professional ranks this year, picking up 24 victories and more than 100 top-ten finishes, and participated in dozens of events off the bike to promote the sport and the team sponsors.In 2011, the team raced in eight countries — the U.S., Australia, Holland, South Korea, Belgium, Japan, Canada and China — in front of more than 5 million fans. Important victories include the Tour of White Rock, Nature Valley Grand Prix, Tour of Korea, Tulsa Tough and the Oceania Cycling Championships. Jelly Belly riders placed in the top ten in both the criterium and road national championships.
“We posted another strong season this year, even after some experienced riders moved on and we brought new, young talent on board,” said team director Danny Van Haute.
Van Haute welcomes back most of the 2011 roster next year, including eight-year team veteran Jeremy Powers and four-year team veteran sprinter Brad Huff. Sergio Hernandez and Sean Mazich will return for their third seasons, and 2011 neo-pros Alex Hagman, Nic Hamilton and Emerson Oronte will be back as well. Joining the organization in 2012 will be climber Scott Stewart from Team Type 1 and Ricardo van der Velde, plus two neo-pros Menso de Jong and Luis Enrique Davila.
“2012 is shaping up to be a great year for us,” said Hamilton, who won the overall at the Tour of White Rock. “We came a very long way this year in working as a cohesive team and we will carry that into 2012. I will certainly put more pressure on myself to win races now that I have my first year of learning the ropes under my belt.”
Added Huff: “2011 will go down as the year Jelly Belly pulled together as a unified machine to overcome difficulty and set the tone for years to come.”
Longtime riders Bernard van Ulden and Will Dickeson are both retiring from the team.
“Bernard and Will were big assets to the team,” Van Haute said. “They will be missed. The riders who replace them will have to fill some big shoes next year.”
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda riders and staff also embraced their roles as ambassadors for cycling by participating in charity rides, autograph sessions safety talks at schools and hospital visits throughout the year. The team counts more than 5,000 fans on Facebook and Twitter.
“I’m proud of all we have done, of the riders we have developed, and I look forward to another great year of racing in 2012,” Van Haute said.
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda put two riders in the top 10 overall at the Tour of Taihu to close out the 2011 season with a bang.
Brad Huff placed second in Stage 3 of the five-day race in China, and Ken Hanson took third in Stage 4. Huff ended up in sixth overall, and Hanson was seventh.
“This was a huge team effort to get Brad and Ken to the finish line to give them a chance to win a stage, and we came very close each day,” said team director Danny Van Haute.
The squad, which also included Nic Hamilton, Alastair Loutit, Will Dickeson and Bernard van Ulden, placed in the top 10 in four of the five stages.
“I have seen the team race like this before, but their consistency day after day was what impressed me,” Van Haute said. “It was a great week of racing to end the season.”
Go to the Source – jellybellycycling.com
Originally designed in Switzerland as a physician prescribed ,therapeutic implement for foot, knee, hip, and back pain the MBT shoe has been helping individuals with these problem areas. Thankfully, I do not have any specific ailments in my joints or muscles, however, I still benefit from wearing the MBT shoes on a daily basis. Below is a brief blog post on how using the MBT shoes has helped my performance as a professional cyclist.
