I recently got the Icetoolz Advanced Mechanical Tool Kit. It's awesome! I tend to work on my bike a lot. This tool kit has everything you need in it. Check them out at http://stores.twowheelogic.com/-strse-IceToolz/Categories.bok 

2009 is going really well so far. I haven't done too many big races, but I have gotten some good results in the local races. Check out my results to see. I've also been doing some 1/2/3 crits and my best result is 21st out of around 60. I want to try and break the top 15. 

I've also just started working with Scott Moninger. He is a former professional rider for BMC and Health Net and won the NRC series. He e-mails daily workouts, and I send him my power file from my powermeter.I have been using a powertap, but I am upgrading to the iBike. 

My only bad race of the year was Tour of the Battenkill. It is one of the biggest races in America. I put on brand new tires the day before the race and still flatted twice. I only had 1 tube so I couldn't finish.

I will keep you updated as I race more.

I am going to be on Loop'd a lot more now so leave me some comments!

Thanks,
Max

 Hey everyone,

I would like to tell you about a new powermeter on the market called iBike. The iBike is the most advanced cycling computer on the market. Traditional powermeters require you to have a special crank, hub, or bottom bracket. The iBike does the same features as all these computers, without the need of these special parts. How does it calculate power then?

The iBike uses the laws of physics. While riding, there are many forces pushing against you. The iBike measures all of these. It uses the formula P = GMVg(K1 +S) + K2 x (Va x Va)Vg where P is in watts, G is Earth's gravity, Vg is ground speed (m/s), M is bike/rider mass in kg, S is the grade (m/m), and Va is the rider's speed through the air (m/s). K1 is a lumped constant for all frictional losses (tires, bearings, chain), and is generally reported with a value of 0.0053. K2 is a lumped constant for aerodynamic drag and is generally reported with a value of 0.185 kg/m (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_performance). This formula is basically Force X Speed.

Some people out there think that there is no way the iBike can measure power accurately. For all you doubters, check outhttp://www.ibikesports.com/documents/Johnson_ride_analysis.pdf. Boyd Johnson, a pro cyclist did a long ride with 3 different power meters on. Although the numbers weren't exactly the same from all 3 powermeters, the numbers were EXTREMELY close. No one truly knows which one is right.

Traditional powermeters usually cost around $1,000. The iBike iSport is only $199. At a fraction of the cost of other powermeters, it doesn't sacrifice any performance. The iPro comes with a little more features and starts at $429.

The new iAero is nothing short of amazing. Every year, professional teams spend thousands of dollars sending their riders to the wind tunnel. The iAero gives you your aerodynamic drag in a $799 computer. Along with power, the iAero can also tell you how much time you gained from being "aero."

There are so many features that I haven't talked about in this email. I encourage you to check them out at http://www.ibikesports.com/ to learn more, and add them as a friend at http://www.loopd.com/Members/Ibikesports/Default.aspx. I can't wait to improve my performance with an iBike for 2009.

Thanks,

Max Kaplan

I raced central park today and did the 3/4 race. I told myself if I stayed in the field for half the race I would be really happy. I ended up staying with the pack the whole race and beat a lot of people! On the second lap, a tree branch got stuck in my wheel and bent my spoke. My wheel was rubbing really badly from that so I ended up finishing the 3/4 race with a broken wheel! I am really happy and I am on really good form right now. Hopefully I will keep this form for the rest of the season. Once I get my wheel fixed, I am going to race and hopefully win. Great way to start the season!

Pictures coming soon

hey everyone. I made a new website. you can view it at http://kaplansports.blogspot.com/. It will be constantly updated.

Hey guys, I usually don't write in this, but I am really bored right now and there isn't anything else to do at 11:30 on a school night. This winter has gone unbelievably well. I have grown about 2 inches more since August, and I can average close to 40 more watts on the computrainer. Last year at this time I was not even able to stay with my own team on our group rides. Now, I am right in the middle of things. I am really hoping for a good 2008 season, and I am confident I can do just that. Dan Coleman, the coach of Colavita, has been really great and I suggest if you are looking for a team to join, join Colavita.

I have a lot of things going on. On sunday I fly out to Argentina for a training camp with Mike Fraysse. The day I come back, we have the Colavita U19 team Presentation (http://www.bikereg.com/events/ConfList.asp?EventID=5801). The week after the team presentation is my first race (Branchbrook). I really hope I can win the 4/5 so I can get some upgrade points to get to a cat. 3. My ultimate goal is Nationals. I will be racing the road race and the time trial. The crit is not for a 93 pound guy like myself. If I can get top 30 at nationals, I will be extremely satisfied. I also hope to do get top 10 at the sunrise mountain TT (part of the can-am). That is my type of race. I'll mostly be at any hilly races during the season. I hope to do well at some flat NJ races also by attacking. Anyway, good luck this season. I know that was a really long update.

Max Kaplan

I guess its been awhile since I wrote a blog, so I will write one now. 2007 is going great. I completed my season's goal which was to qualify for the Regional Development Camp in which I just came back from. It was great, and I learned so much. Every single coach there taught me so much stuff. My form is coming along nicely, as I just completed 12 laps of a cat. 4/5 crit averaging 25.6. The race was 15 laps so i got dropped with 3 laps to go. I couldn't have done that before so I am very pleased. Track nationals are coming up, and I feel like I am in great shape going in.

Since February 9th, I have been at training camp in Argentina. Six juniors including me are here from America's Cycling Team. We've did about 275 miles in 5 days. I have really improved from this camp and I think I will get better results than last year. I have been training at the track every day also. I think I can get some results in track also this year. I will sign the rest of my sponsorship contracts when I get home around the 22nd.

Yesterday, I was playing kill the carrier with my friends and I missed a tackle and ran head first into a wooden fence. I cant ride for a week outside. This really hurts my training because I am taking the week before Argentina Training Camp off. The camp is in 1 week and 6 days. Can't wait!