Why do you buy product "X"?

"X" as in fill-in-the-blank product.

So I received the 3rd edition of Lava Magazine in the mail. Other than being a complete ZIPP advertisment edition (nothing wrong with this! just noting the obvious), they did write an article on the most widely used equipment @ Kona (page 38).

Some of the winners?

Cervelo held the title for most widely used frame @ 468. Runner up was Specialized @ 113 frames
Zipp wheels DOMINATED the field with 1910 wheels to HED @ 255 as the runner up.
Continental Tires was another big winner @ 704 tires vs runner up Vittoria @ 193 tires.

So why were these frames, wheels, and tires used more than other companies?

Is it marketing? (plain old advertisement?)
Word of mouth?
Are these products actually more superior to their competitors?

Regardless of your sport, why do you choose the fitness products that you use the most?

Let's do a quick poll:
What kind of bike frame do you use if you ride a bike?
What kind of running shoe do you use?
What kind of workout clothes do you use? (tri, running, cycling, swimming, weigh lifting, etc)
What kind of nutrition do you use?


Do you choose your items because everyone else uses em?
Are you a person who tries out everything but then will settle on the best item?
Does cost affect your item's purchase?

For me, I ride a Cervelo because, yes, I am a lemming and the price can't be beat, and the bike fit me, the price still couldn't be beat, and the frame looks F-ing cool and doesn't scream that I am a fatass tool riding a superior bike frame that I shouldn't be riding.

I use Mizuno shoes because they were the first I tried on, they fit, and I haven't had any issues with them in the 3 years that I have been seriously running.

I use Pearl Izumi cycling and tri clothing because I have always used them. I guess it is a legacy thing?

I have used Zipp wheels before because they were the easiest to get ahold of. I think they are a great product and if I am the limitation, then the wheels clearly win, no matter what brand I use.

I use Gu exclusively and sometimes gatorade. I use Gu because I love the flavor (Chocolate Outrage baby!) and it gives me just enough energy without spiking my blood sugar.

What about you?

Your hips drive your swim; Finish Hydro Hip product review

I am going to do another product review for the Finis Hydro Hip.

Why two reviews?

I knew that this thing helped right off the bat of using it, but I had NO idea that it would make me faster while working MUCH less hard.

I was always told that you swim from your hips and that your hips drive your rotation and keep you balanced. See, I didn't know what it meant to rotate from the hips. I had never felt the sensation and feeling of rotating from the hips. I thought body rotation was rotating your upping body to get your arms out of the water. WRONG!

You rotate from the hips and not only does that get your arms out of the water stress free (no load on the shoulders), but it also adds propulsion because you are getting full body anticipation and movement in your pull. Pull = propulsion.

Think of it this way:

Take a ball, and without rotating your body and ONLY using your arm, throw the ball. How far did it go? Probably not far.

Now try throwing that ball again but ONLY with your arms and your upper body. Keep your hips square and stationary. How far did the ball go this time? Probably a bit further.

Now throw the ball a third time and get your hip rotation into it. How far did the ball go this time? The furthest most likely.

This same concept is true with swimming. The more body/hip rotation you get into that pull, the more "OOMPH" you are going to get = more propulsion. Your pull is not just your arm, it is your whole body pulling your arm through the water.

So the Hydro Hip gave me that sensation of what it meant to rotate from the hips. I am swimming only 1500-1750 yards a workout right now (yay offseason!) and I am noticing that I am hitting faster times without working as hard for them. What did I change in my stroke? My hip rotation. Or rather I added proper hip rotation to my stroke.

My super swimmer buddy, Bob, said it best, you never want to swim flat, you always want your body to be rotating\ through the water.

If you don't know what it means to have that sensation of proper hip rotation, give the Hydro Hip a try.