Bike Review! Marin Toscana CX

This is a new release from Marin! They are getting into the Cross scene with an awesome entry level machine! This bike will be at home on the cross course or the daily commute! It has everything you need at an exceptionally affordable price point! Highlights include the new Sora/Tiagra drive-train, carbon fork, and event mounts for your panniers!

Come by the Fluid booth at the next So-Cal Cross series race to check out this sweet machine! Fluid founder Richard Smith will be racing on this rig, and you can come take it for a spin around the course too!

Fluid is proud to have Marin bikes with us for the remainder of the cross season, and we are stoked to gather feedback for them, and continue to write reviews on their products!

We will see YOU at the races! Check out the So-Cal Cross Series website HERE!

With love,

Rich, Dave, and all of Team Fluid

Athlete Spotlight: Ethan Brown

Ethan Brown is one amazing athlete exploding into the spotlight of triathlon. After a successful college cross country career, he won the U23 National Championship last year, and defended his title winning again this year. He's traveled all over the world, representing Team USA, and doing an absolutely fantastic job. We at Fluid are very proud to call him one of our sponsored athletes! Here is a video performance of Ethan competing recently in San Luis Obispo, CA (our hometown) at Scott Tinley's Triathlon, check it out!



Great job Ethan!!

JEEP 48 Straight

The JEEP 48 Straight downhill mountain biking series wrapped up in San Luis Obispo this last Saturday and Fluid was there to provide these amazing riders with some much needed Recovery.



The surfing legend Tim Curren stopped by to check us out and say what's up as well.



The sky was full of sunshine, the air was warm, and the wind was waining. Perfect weather compliments to the sweet sounds of Brett Dennen. If you haven't had a chance to check this kid out, head over to his website and give him a listen.

From 2008-10-27 fluid 48straight jeep bike slo

One of our buddies over at Ride Clean, Joe Backus made it into the main event on Saturday and did exceptionally well against Brian Lopes (the number 1 qualifier). Good job Joe!

Weekend Race Recap, Cyclocross Baby!!

Another wonderful weekend filled with Cyclocross Racing in Southern California. Team Fluid was rockin' out at the races! There is something magical about an ice-cold cup of Fluid after a cross race!

SPOOKY CROSS, Irvine California
Saturday, October 25th 2008

This was an insane evening. If you were not there, it's hard for us to put it into words. This was a night-time cross race under the lights. Right in the middle of the course was the Boost Mobile Free-style Motocross performers. These guys were doing back flips over a bus while racing was going on! It was absolutely nuts! The fields were huge, the racing fierce, and the costumes well.... revealing. Nothing like a banana-hammock on a cold evening!

BLACK CAT Urban CROSS #2, Torrance CA
10/26/2008

A perfect day for racing cross! The Urban Series continues to impress! The race was help in Torrance, just minutes from the south bay beaches, and it was tough! Each lap had a 100ft sand dune that needed to be "run-up." The rest of the course was fast with loose turns, and a ton of sand! The race also followed with a kids race, that had nearly 50 kids duking it out over a short course! It was wonderful to see such a great turnout! We are excited about the next event, and we hope to see you out there!

Genuine Testimonials

At Fluid HQ, we look forward to feedback on our products every day. Here's a great testimonial we just received from a long time endurance athlete and coach that we'd like to share with you:

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Rich,

I just wanted to take the time to let you know my feelings on your product. I got a jug of Tropical Escape a few weeks ago and I'm just getting a chance to use the product regularly.

It's the BEST TASTING recovery drink I've ever used. Period. I used to really like Powerbar Recovery but your product puts it away for good. I'm stoked about the fact that you use whey protein, but the whey formula in your product mixes so well and doesn't end up clumpy and gross like other drinks I've tried (especially Recoverite). It almost gives the drink a creamy flavor. The L-Glutamine really seals the deal. I discovered that Glutamine was key for my muscle recovery several years ago. It's nice to find a company that sees its importance as well.

In the future I'm going to do some tests to see how your product will work for me as nutrition during long endurance events such as half ironman and long road races.

Anyway, I hope you find my feedback helpful and encouraging. Keep up the good work and look forward my improved training and performance now that I'm hooked on Fluid!

Sincerely,
Nathan Chaszeyka
Las Vegas Multisport

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Thanks for the feedback Nathan! Always great to discover a new fan! Make sure to check out our friends at Las Vegas Multisport here!

Cheers,

Rich & Dave, The Fluid Guys

Fluid Training Tip of the Week!

Hello!

From week to week you can expect training tips, nutrition tips, and wellness advice from the experts here at Fluid! We spend tireless hours to find the latest and greatest information to share with you in modern training journals, and from some of well respected coaches!

The tip this week: FUNCTIONAL TRAINING!

What does that mean? Well, it's quite simple. It basically means that your training should mimic your sport. For example: You want to ride your bike faster right? That means you need to generate more power in your pedal stroke. simple huh?

Strength training exercises that mimic the pedal stroke like squats, lunges, and hamstring curls can increase power in those areas. Strength specific exercises on the bike can also be performed. These include big ring climbing on short explosive hills, and single leg drills.

The idea of functional training can be applied to all sports specific movements. Its all about realizing where it is important that you are strong, and where it does not matter as much. Think about it!

On a side note, remember that injury prevention and proper recovery is also just as important. Working on your weaknesses should also be included in a well rounded program, however that is a tip we will share at another time!

Have a wonderful day, and keep strong!

With Love,

Rich, Dave, and all of Team Fluid!

Cyclocross - Just too much fun!

Hello Friends!

Every single weekend you can find a Fluid street team out and about in the world providing Fluid for athletes when they need it most. This last weekend we supported TriFit LA's in house triathlon, the LAPD's 5k charity run for fallen officer Randy Simmons, Adam's Avenue Cyclocross, and SCPS Cyclocross #3, hosted by Celo Pacific in Oceanside, CA.

So, after another weekend of fun filled cyclocross racing, we just can't tell you enough how much you need to try or at least go watch this sport. Check out these photos and see for yourself!



This has got to be one of the funnest, most grueling, and enjoyable sports to watch and to do, all wrapped up into one! Get out to a race and support while the season is in! You can check out the schedule online at http://www.socalcross.com/schedule.php.

Rockin out like its our job,

Rich & Dave, the Fluid guys

Team Fluid Raises $5000 for the MS Society!

Hello Friends!

We do have a lot of catching up to do on the bog don't we? This is a post covering the Waves to Wine ride to benefit the MS Society! It happened a few weeks ago, but it is a wonderful story that we must tell!

A team of ladies (and one lone ranger) completed the 2 day, 150 mile bike tour through the beautiful bay area. The famous ride brings a ton of much needed money to the battle against MS! Team Fluid had a wonderful weekend, and raised over $5000!

You can check out the event:

Waves to Wine MS Ride


Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

Cheers!

Rich, Dave, and all of Team Fluid!

Back in Action!!

Hello Friends!

Its been awhile since our last blog post. Things have been a mile a minute here in the Fluid camp! We sold out of Tropical Escape 1 month ahead of schedule in September, then we did the same thing with Berry Treasure last week! But don't worry, we're hanging on and rockin' out like its our job!

We've got events every weekend booked for the rest of the year. To see them at anytime, just check out our public event calendar here.

Update from last weekend's events:

CORBA Fat Tire Bike Fest
Castaic, CA

Every year, CORBA (Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association) puts on a giant bike festival as the major fundraiser for their non-profit organization. They count on participant support to help raise funding to gain and maintain access to trails for mountain biking throughout Southern California. This year marks the 21st anniversary and was to be bigger than ever, featuring fun for the whole family with rides, activities, and prizes. Each year, generous supporters from the biking and related industries donate 1,000s of dollars worth of merchandise for our raffle. This year people went home with free bikes, frames, tires, clothing and other amazing items!

Check it out here!


Urban Cyclocross # 1:
Palos Verdes, CA

Cyclocross season is in full swing in Southern California now with two series' for racers to participate in. Sunday was the first of the Urban Cross series, atop a beautiful venue of sea cliffs and bluffs on the Palos Verdes penninsula. Fluid is the Official Recovery drink of SoCal Cyclocross, and proud to be at every race for rider support!

• Urban Cyclocross
• Socal Prestige Series Cyclocross