Rocket Fuel in training – La Gazzetta Della Bici massage oils

Working out is well hard work. If like me, you are doing weights everyday and as much cycling as possible as well, your legs are going to get tired. Adequate food and hydration help but a sneaky trick that not nearly enough people take advantage of, is a massage.

Massages can hurt as they take away knots and force you to totally relax yourself into it, but hurt in a good way. That kind of hurt where you know you have used your body and now if you can just relax it will feel great and what’s more you’ll wake up the next day, ready to do it all over again.

If you want to make your muscles feel even better and get a spectacular massage then start using La Gazzetta Della Bici‘s range of massage oils. They smell amazing, fresh, herby, spicy and feel even better (during winter when my skin gets a bit dehydrated I was using the Rosa as moisturiser on my arms and hands, worked brilliantly). The oils are light but allow you extra movement while massaging so you can use nice even passes to get your muscles feeling supple. Even if you are not getting professional massages they work great with a few sprays to your legs and gentle manipulation of the muscles while you are watching TV at night.

I’ve been using Rosso after riding and it leaves my skin feeling fresh and tingly and my legs refreshed. I tend to use Rosa at night after weights as the smell is more relaxing and really helps with the wind down of the day.

I’ve also been using Rosa when I get migraines. I’ve had migraines since I was a kid and they can’t find out what triggers them (the fitter and healthier I am the less they turn up which is good incentive to keep training). Once I can feel the migraine coming on a few sprays of Rosa to my shoulders, back of neck and some massage and it has either relived some of the pain and stopped the migraine or at least slowed it enough so I can turn off all noise, lights and get into bed before the big pain hits.

Highly recommended and something I’ll continue to use as part of my training.

Thanks to Simon at La Gazzetta Della Bici for making such a fantastic product that caters to a cyclist needs, awesome work.

The best blog posts of 2010 as chosen by Rocket Fuel

In no particular order the blog posts from 2010 that made me want to be more, work harder, be inspired and forever grateful that I learnt to ride a bike,

2010 Rapha Gentlemans Race Report by Grit&Glimmer

“suffering like a pair of pitiful, mutant bicycle siamese twins, we pedal on”

If Heidi’s account of riding a tandem didn’t similtanously make you want to never ride a tandem and vow to get out there and ride a tandem then I don’t know what will. (Truth be told I could have chosen almost any post from Grit&Glimmer for the entire year, inspiring beyond words).

The Stelvio and Gavia, Northern Italy by La Gazzetta Della Bici

“experience everything by myself, alone, the way I like it, freewheeling exhausted all the way down”

Simon has strength beyond measure and the way he speaks of his struggles so openly just proves even more the strength he has. This post on his ride up some of his favourite passes makes me want to dream bigger and achieve more and the struggle will only make the achievements feel even sweeter.

2010 Melbourne to Warrnambool by Cycling Tips

“a wall of 60km/hr winds and downpours of sleet and rain would hit us straight in the face”

This was a hard choice I couldn’t decide between this and the lead up posts to the Geelong World Championships that Wade did which were invaluable in planning our trip to the Worlds in Geelong. This post on the “Warny” won out because not only it is a great read on what must have been a horrible day in the saddle, but also because it celebrates a race in Australia that is as full of history and characters as many a European race. Proving that history is what you make of it and just because Australia is far away doesn’t mean there aren’t everyday hero’s riding right here.

This year has been filled with high’s and low’s and so many wonderful people, times and rides. Next year I’m taking Heidi’s advice setting some real goals and fighting for them. Hope you can all join me for the journey.

La Gazzetta Della Bici

Have been feeling like Rocket Fuel is all a bit famous this week.

This is why….

La Gazzetta Della Bici cycling caps from Rocket Fuel – vintage cycling style Jesus Christ wept tears of blood! Could my day get any better? Also in the post this morning came these amazing La Gazzetta Della Bici cycling caps from the beautiful and talented Susan at Rocket Fuel Style Cycling Caps in Sydney, Australia. I didn’t know these were coming so this is an amazing surprise and I am so chuffed with them. Susan and I have regularly talked about making caps together and she has send me these two little beauties. A Belgian style one with ear warmers and a traditional cotton cap too. Both have been handmade by her and anyone who reads this blog knows I am really fussy about handmade cycling caps as usually they are not up to standard but these are perfect and beautifully crafted. Susan thank you so much I can’t thank you enough. I demand that everyone goes take at look at Susan‘s amazing work and orders caps from her this minute as they are truly mini works of art and you can literally see the care and attention put into each cap. Also in the package was a tiny baby cycling cap for my neice Trashcan which I have not been able to photograph yet as she is running around the flat with it on but these children’s caps are just as beautifully cared for and made as the adult ones, all of which can be seen on Susan‘s website.

http://www.rocketfuel.net.au

What a fantastic write up from Simon, his comments caused my Twitter account to get flooded with new followers and lots of requests for custom caps, which is both brilliant and very flattering.
If anyone is interested in getting a La Gazzetta Della Bici cap of their own get in contact with either Rocket Fuel or Simon.
Go check out the La Gazzetta Della Bici site, filled with photos of the PRO’s from now and the past it’s one of my must read blogs.