Tim Berkel

Well, my favorite time of the year has arrived. Shimano just picked me up, and I’ve re-signed with all of my sponsors. I’ve got a boatload of new gear coming my way, and I couldn’t be happier. This is much better than Christmas. Wanna see what’s got me so excited? Have a look.

The New 2011 Canondale Slice
I just got this bike, and it rides like a dream. The Slice is the best tri bike I’ve ever ridden, and the results show. I won Challenge Copenhagen on this bike, and I think that if I weren’t riding it, I would have been much more tired for the run.

It all has to do with the way this bike is engineered. The Slice has a shock dampening micro suspension (called the SAVE system) on the rear. It reduces a lot of the wear you get from riding long distances, and in my case, it kept me feeling much more fresh once I hopped off the bike and did the run.

I’ve got some pretty serious bike training coming up in the next few weeks, so the new Slice will certainly come in handy. The Abu Dhabi triathlon features a 200k bike section, so I’m planning on slowly increasing my distance on the bike before I head over there in March. During my most intense week, I’ll be biking an insane 1000 kilometers. Just so you know, I’ve never done that before.

Shimano’s Dura Ace DI2 Electronic Shifting System
You can really see the evolution of bike racing with this new Shimano gear shifting system. There are no cables, so you get a super smooth transition between gears. This is actually really handy. When you add up all of the little delays in a race, something like this can make a big difference.

Being that these have be designed triathletes, the new system eliminates the need for me to change hand positions during shifting. I can change gears at the base bar as well as the bar extensions because the system is linked.

Also, the electronic rear derailleur system is the fastest & most precise shifting I have seen. It’s made from Aluminium and Carbon which is why the whole rear derailleur weighs in at only 225g.

But you haven’t even heard the best part. The DI2 self-tunes. What a timesaver. No more trekking across town to the bike shop to get it done (not that I mind it). What could be more useful in the middle of a big race?

Shimano has also been kind enough to give me some new shoes, wheels, and bars. Thanks again guys!

I’ve gotta shout out to Scody and Daikin. Thanks for your support.
What second Christmas is complete without some new clothes? Scody always has the most colorful and interesting designs out there. I love working with them because I get to be a part of the process, helping them come up with gear that makes me look good. It’s win-win all around.

I’ll be blogging about my training schedule shortly. Like I said, it looks like I’ve got a lot of intense weeks on the bike ahead of me. I’ll keep you all posted on my progress, and if they have to scrape me off the road during that 1000k week, you’ll know.

Not too long after my [intlink id="456" type="post"]Challenge Copenhagen[/intlink] race win, 220 Triathlon contacted me for an interview. We sat down and discussed some of the thoughts going through my head up to the start of the race and afterwards. Both Bek and I made the magazine, and I couldn’t be happier with what they’ve done. They brought out the best in both of our personalities.

I know you’ve got some time to look at the article right now. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading my blog. So go ahead, dig in. Here’s a link to subscribe.

See you in Port Macquarie

I just got back to Australia after spending the summer in Boulder Colorado, and man am I missing the sunshine. So far, it’s been nonstop rain every day I’ve been back. Of course, that hasn’t interrupted my racing. I just wrapped up the Gold Coast Half Ironman in Brisbane, and although I couldn’t finish because of a leg cramp, I did manage to get top four in bike position. That’s got me smiling.

So with all this rain, I’ve decided to take a quick trip over to Hawaii to watch the Ironman World Championship in Kona. I’m partly going so I can do some recon for future contests, but I also just love the atmosphere of a good competition. And seriously, what better place to compete in an Ironman? Kona is stunning!

I plan on catching up with Bill Rudell, the [intlink id="109" type="page"]Cannondale[/intlink] crew and all the guys over at Compressport. I’ve been really excited about my bike lately. I just got a first-rate tune over at [intlink id="109" type="page"]Godron Street Cycles[/intlink] and I’m very patiently awaiting my new 2011 Cannondale Slice. I can’t say enough about this bike. I’ve ridden lots of other bikes, and the Slice just puts me in the right position to get prepared for the marathon section. I seem to hop off of it refreshed before every run.

For those who haven’t seen what this awesome machine will look like, here’s a peak at what’s to come.

I’m also going to run the Kona Energy Lab race. It’s kind of funny. Most people think the energy lab race was started by some energy bar company, but that’s not so. It’s actually a real natural energy lab where scientists are testing all kinds of new technologies. And this place is incredibly hot. It gets as high as 37 degrees celsius, enough to wear down any contender. If history repeats itself, we’re going to see a lot of people laying low and barely making it through this one.

After my trip to Hawaii, I’ll be right back here in Australia to ride a 227km bike race on Clayton Fettel’s team. It’s a little longer than what I’m used to in the Ironman races, and it has two big climbs that I’m a little concerned about. That aside, it will be excellent preparation for the Port Macquarie Ironman that’s going to take place the week after.

So even with a little vacation to Hawaii, my schedule is still looking pretty full. I’m not sure what’s better, pounding rain or 37 degree weather. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

Wish me luck!

It’s been a beautiful summer here in Boulder CO – and an excellent chance to train with my friends. Now it’s to time to pack it all up and head back to Port Macquarie Australia to prepare for one of my favourite events of the year. The Gold Coast Half-Ironman will take place on Sunday, October 3rd at Calypso Bay in Brisbane. It will be a race to remember.

Boulder is such a fantastic place to train, and it’s a bit of a shame I have to leave (although It’ll be great to see my family). You get the high altitude exertion and a fun community with lots of friends who lead very active lifestyles. I spent most of the summer hanging out with Tyler Butterfield, Matty White, James Hadley, Matty Reed, Joe Gambles, Mitchy Robins, Tim Reed, and Adam Hoborow. You guys are the best, and I’m sure we’ll keep crossing paths.

What a rush these last few months have been. I still can’t believe I made away with the [intlink id="456" type="post"]Copenhagen win[/intlink]. It’s really exciting because it’s going to set me up pretty good for next year. And what a fun competition. You almost never see an Ironman that goes through a city, with one monument right after the next. Team Challenge did an awesome job of making us feel relaxed and at home. I rarely go to an [intlink id="21" type="category"]Ironman[/intlink] where I get to let down my hair and party like a rock star afterwards. I’m definitely looking forward to this competition next year!

So after about a month and a half in Australia, I’ll be back in the United States for the World Championship 70.3 Ironman in Clearwater Florida. It’ll be nice to get a bit of a recharge back home before tackling this race. I can’t wait to take my bike into Gordon Street Cycles to get it tuned. I’ve noticed it hasn’t been running quite the same, and they always do a banger of a job. I can’t thank them enough for what they do.

If all goes well, I’ll get my 2011 Canondale Slice in time for the Clearwater race. The Slice has a whole new design this year, and it’s performing better than ever. I would say my win in Copenhagen had a lot to do with this bike. My best mates were getting punctured tires, and I somehow made it through. But what can I say? I’m a sucker for that new bike smell.

I love this time of year. I travel so much I barely get a chance to be in a place I can call home. If you’re going to be in the Port Macquarie area, I’m sure I’ll run into you.

Here’s to seeing you on the other side of the world!