GerryVasbenter

For Sale; Pro II Steadicam package, excellent condition. Includes: Pro II Rig, Donkey Box III, 2" XCS Post and Gimbal, Tilt head, Archos on-board recorder, Lithium iron Batteries (3 months old), G4 Preston, 3 Motors, Hu3 & FI handsets, Super Post, DSD Harness a complete working package. £42000.00 For full list and pictures please contact gerry.vasbenter@hotmail.com

Pro Steadicam Rig with Pro arm, Pro MII Monitor, Donkey box III, XCS Post and Gimbal, Tilt head, Super post, Spare monitor and many extras. Owner Operator equipment, regularly serviced. In great condition. £33000.00 G4 Preston remote focus kit, Hu3 handset, FI handset, MDR/transceiver, three motors, plus many extras. £15000.00 Will sell Preston with Rig or separately after Rig sale. For more information please email: gerry.vasbenter@hotmail.com See full list below SLED 1x PRO SLED + UPPER JUNCTION BOX, XCS 2”x 40’’CARBON FIBER POST, 2X DOCKING CLAMPS,PRO II BATTERY MODUAL ,1x Betz tilt head 1x PRO DONKEY BOX 3 1x PRO II MONITOR & XCS MONITOR ARM & CABLE, SUNSHADE 1x PRESTON MDR 2,TRANSCEIVER, MDR AERIAL. 1x 2” XCS GIMBAL & RH ERGO HANDEL 1x Archos hard drive + Accs’ 1x PRO II RECORDER MOUNTING PLATE(attached to Archos) 5x PRO DOVETAIL CAMERA SLIDE PLATES. 1x Mesh Bag, Red laser pointer, Spare spirit levels, Monitor cloth, Spare Kipp handles, Post step down ring, Donkey box tool, 1x Mesh bag Super post ,1x Pro post wrench,2x Pro arm wrench,1x 4’ monitor cable,1x Marrel lowmode cable, 1x gimbal Allen key 1x Mesh Bag, 2x Pro jumper blocks, 2x Battery terminal covers,1x Archos to USB. BATTERIES 2x PAG PULSAR CHARGERS 4x PAG L95 BATTERY 7x FREZZEI BP142EG BATTERY G4 PRESTON REMOTE FOCUS 1x PCS MOTOR DM1 1x PCS MOTOR 1 DM2 1x PCS MOTOR DMIX 1x FOCUS IRIS UNIT 1x HU III +hand grip 8x HAND SET BATTERIES 4x 19MM MOTOR BRACKETS & STEP DOWN BUSHES 3x PRESTON BATTERY CHARGERS & ADAPTORS 4x MOTOR CABLES 1x CINETAPE INTERFACE CABLE 2x 19mm 3” MOTOR RODS 1x HU3 side plate ,MDR brkt screw, 3x HU3 12vt lgtr pwr supply, 1x cinetape Noga arm & mounts. 5x PRE MARKED FOCUS DISCS HU3, A-E 2x WIDE MOTOR GEARS 1x 12VT TO 24VT UPCONVERTER 1x MDR BRACKET & SPEEDY CLAMP 16x BLANK HU3 FOCUS RINGS 12x BLANK FI RINGS ACCESSORIES AND SPARES CONTAINER: various 2xmotor brackets,4x rods, sqr/round19mm rod. Step downs 6x19/15,4x19/.625 CONTAINER: Various video cables CONTAINER:1x PV y-cable,1x Red start, 1x cinetape 12vt pwr, 1xF23/F35/Genesis pwr CONTAINER: 1X Millennium Pwr, 2x XL Pwr, 1x Panavision Start cable,1x Genesis start,3x Genesis batt screw,1x PV to MDR pwr 1x PV focus,1xPV Iris,1X PV Zoom gears CONTAINER: 2x pwr 1x Arri 3pin rs start, 435/535,1x Arri offset 1x Arri/Movcam MDR PWR, Pwr, 1x Arricam interface CONTAINER: BLlII/IV 2X PWR,1X Arri 11pin fshr START,1X 11 pin fshr to 4 pin XLR, 1X Arri H/S CABLE, 1X FUJI, 1XCANON, 1X .40,1X.80 drive gears, 1x pkt drivr gear ,mtr circlips. screws,6x kipp screws,4x spare bat fuse’,1x mdr step dwn,1x serial port cable. CONTAINER: 2X MDR PRO/PRESTON PWR, 1X ATTON START 1x Archos snap on pwr ,2X MOVCAM PWR.3x MDR aerial,2X Archos CONTAINER: 1X 30” command cable,1x MDR 24vt/XLR Arri1X MDR24vt/XLR PV, 1X 12vt XLR 1x, bag of various Pro start plugs CONTAINER: 1,Spare socket block, 1x spare docking spigort, CONTAINER:, Pro arm spares, 2xcartridge v link pins,1x horizontal pin, 1x vertical pin cap, 1x vertical pin, 1x socket block pin washer,1x socket block pin circlip, 10x horizontal bumpers,1x aircraft pin,1x arm wrench,1x Gimbal wrench, XCS kipp heilcoils. 1x pag to xlr cable, 1x xlr to AB mount, 1x 4 pin Xlr/ mini pin pag , spare monitor sun shade. 1x ¼” tbar Allen key. arm alun key, 2xV-lock batt adaptors,. 2 x Garden design Light weight flags 1x PV 1X Arri. 2x Navtech Pwr/video cables,2x Alexa pwr,2x Genesis pwr Ycables ,1x Long MDR PWR cable,2x Gyro post clamps,1x Arri cheese offset, 4x Aerials 2x cables for F/I unit 1x Short motor bracket,1x Spare Pro monitor PWR supply MARELL 2 CHANNEL VIDEO SENDER 1x VIDEO LINK TX, 2X AERIALS 1x VIDEO LINK RX, 2X AERIALS 1x RX 12VT MAINS SUPPLY 2x RECEIVER TO 4PIN XLR CABLES 1x MESH BAG: 4X PRO TO TX PWR/VIDEO CABLES,1X435 TO TX CABLES,1X PANA XL TO TX CABLE, 1X TX TO 4 PIN XLR,1X 4 TO 5 PIN XLR ADAPTOR 1x MESH BAG: VARIOUS THIN BNC CABLES , BARELL CONECTORS, AERIAL CONECTORS 1x NP1-BP90 BATTERY ADAPTOR TO 4-PIN XLR LOWMODE AND ACCESSORIES 1x JH GARFIELD MOUNT 1x 16SRIII L/M BRKT 1X BL 3 L/M BRKT 1x ARRI 3 L/M BRKT 1x JH 435 L/M BRKT 1x PRO SLED SOFT CASE MODULA 51 1x ANTLER MAST 2x ANTLER BALANCE BARS 2x ANTLER WEIGHTS 1x ANTLER COUNTER WHEIGHT 1x LOW MODE COUNTER WEIGHT PRO ARM 1x PRO-ARM With 2x Blue 2x Black arm springs 1x Modula 51 SOFT ARM BAG 1x BLUE LWT. SPRING SPARE 1x BLUE LWT. SPRING SPARE 1x BLACK HEAVY SPRING SPARE 1x BLACK HEAVY SPRING SPARE 1x 2x 6” fingerposts, 1x 12” finger post, T-bar allen ¼”, low mode D-bracket 2x PRO MONITOR WET WEATHER COVER, , 2x PRO BATT WET WEATHER COVER 2 x PRO ARM W/W COVERS, 1x MARELL BACKUP MONITOR 1x Pro + various manuals SUPER POST 1x XCS 2”X66” CARBON FIBER SUPERPOST, 2X DOCKING CLAMPS AND CASE. MAGLINER AND ACCESSORIES 1x STEADICAM MAGLINER WITH LOCKABLE DRAW, BUMPER PADS, RISER AND DOCKING STATION, VEST HANGER AND VEST SHELVE. 1x MANFROTO LIGHT STAND & SHOT BAG 1x XCS DOCKING STATION AND SPIGOT 1X BLACK STAND BAG 1x ONSET BATTERY BOX, 1X SPACE BLANKET, 1x DUST COVER 1X WIND BOARD 1x MAGLINER MOTORCYCLE COVER

Pro II Rig, complete kit includes, Sled, Monitor, Donkey box III +Tilt stage, Pro Arm, Preston Hu3+Fi unit, Onboard recorder, Sender, BM Harness, and many extras. One owner, all in great condition, I’m not interested in breaking up or selling individual components. Reason for reluctant sale, going lighting :P !!! £60000.00 or best offer, for full list please email gerry.vasbenter@hotmail.com Gerry Vasbenter (UK)

Eureka!!! Hi gain antennas all round and DP's phone doesn’t have to be off. We now have antenna outside the black tent as well as on the cameras up high from the MDR's and so far so good, the range for FI unit is comparable to standard focus hand set, with the FI antenna attached directly and seems the same when on a cable from inside the tent. Back to the good old Preston we know and love. Cheers Gerry. :D

Thanks Guys , we're not mixing 3 and 4G, thanks for the handset swap idea will try that. Cheers G ;) Can you switch units to give the DIT the (more powerful )HU2 handset and the AC focuses with the(less powerful) F/I unit? Just trick the units by making iris focus and focus iris. (DIT has to use the knob instead of slider for iris though)We do that as the DIT is always further away than the AC. Helps a lot.... Doesn't completely solve it but cuts the hits way down. Then try to get the DIT to power down after he sets the stop. That WILL eliminate the problem. Best of luck, Rich Davis LA

Shooting with the Alexa, A and B cameras in production mode C camera on the rig, 2x Hu2's with F/I units and Hu3 with F/I unit all on iris, well that’s the set up, simple enough. Every day we have a major iris spikes/blips/jumps,(link lost) call it what you like it’s a big problem. The normal film best practise of setting the focus handset iris sliders to the working stop, are not working as the shooting in variable sun conditions means the change between the DP taking a reading and getting back to the tent, rolling decks, slating, can be huge. The whole processes is slow enough as is with out having first AC checking with DP, DIT and confirming stops with B and C cameras, HD is a complicated process. (On my HU3 we’ve turned off the iris function, this helps but not possible on HU2’s) (( Hard wiring is great though what’s the point of having an FI unit if you can’t use it, also impractical)) When the Iris jumps it’s an added hassle we could do without. Alex Golding our DIT has been working on getting extension antenna’s for the MDR's (Alexa is a non accessory friendly camera so the MDR’s are bolted on in odd places) Also we have found Bluetooth close to MDR or FI unit is not good (try getting a crew to turn phones completely off on set, near impossible!!) Add wifi used by the electricians that seems to be strong enough to have an effect. Lots to choose from, to eliminate all the possible’s is impossible!! Meanwhile Preston have been thinking about this issue and have come up with a view on the tented environ used for HD and FI unit aerial reception! Not compatible. So they have suggested using an external aerial for the FI units in the black hole (tent) will try this next week and keep you posted... If anyone has tried this already dose it help? Cheers (Desperate in the UK <_< ,) Gerry

Hi Thomas, I agree it’s hard to fit in gym time as well as work. I have found that regular exercise at home everyday, stretches, squats, sit ups, press ups, especially on working days to start of warmed up, combined this with gym twice a week when working, more often when not, work does not hurt... :rolleyes: this applies to regular operating as well as rig time. Gerry

I've read the posts and wonder what the future holds! I just finished two TV movies using the F35, flying with deck-on (deck off = 2x cables) the first time I thought that was going to kill me, though after a few scenes I managed to adjust to it feeling OK. I've also done a show with F23 and day playing with Genesis on a couple of shows/pictures, my chosen cable path has been small loop to the gimbal and larger loop to my right shoulder. My interest is how to get rid of the cable dependency, the DOP's not mine. Flying with the deck on obviously requires no cables, the same with the fabulous SSRs, the rub is the need for iris control at video village and not with the 1st or 2nd AC's. Particularly on the latest two movies, being fast turnaround meant a fair bit of iris pulling. It also seems the popular style with HD is shooting shallow, so focus feed back is also useful, these needs seem to out weight the added dicipline required to work with a cable and entourage of bashers. What I'm thinking of is not sending a HD signal when ever that becomes an option, but getting monitor that could be good enough to set exposure on, offering the choice of walking the set to set the positions for stop pulls (traditional method tired and true) or having someone walk with me watching my screen and making adjustments on the fly, it sounds a little clunky but has anyone tried it? Or attempting to tweak the iris myself with with a control on the rig/gimbal? something that could be developed, establishing the stop range as above and addressing the timing and application during the shot myself, not ideal but somethings got give!! Cheers Gerry

Hi!...What rickshaw?.... Thanks Just finished some Steadicam intensive shooting on which the rickshaw was brill. The rickshaw is a prototype unit built by Optical Support in the UK, it based on their original design, this unit is for stepping on and off, it has a very low platform and a sort of reverse cow catcher support post for the operator to lean /rest against, it enabled me to do some very long takes, using the rickshaw for leading and following and then getting off to do stairs, lifts(elevators) etc. Although some mods will improve this set up, it's a gr8 start. I certainly would have been unable to do a 20 min takes required for this job without it. Gerry B)

I have been working on a BBC drama flying an F23 using SSR flash mags and have been trying out Power cubes and Endura 10 batteries. I'm getting about 40mins record time off two batteries of either style , no noticeable difference other than weight. I want to try the same thing with the Genesis and 435. How are other ops finding either type of battery in the field? Having used the SSR mags there is no going back, it makes the whole system user friendly in high or low mode. However it is true Directors do want to do longer takes as a result. Some of the longest takes I've ever done 16 and 20 min takes are part of this dramas typical style. Cheers Gerry.

Thanx Guys I've found a low rickshaw designed by optical support which looks like the business, will see how it goes this week. Cheers Gerry.

I'm looking for ideas on the use of low platform type rickshaw to step on and off during a long walk and talk. I've not done step offs with a rickshaw before and wonder if there are some established conventions. Its all on flat smooth terrain, apart from the mechanics, things I have to consider are, the shots i'm doing will be unrehearsed and shot with F23 one piece with a flash mag, a heavy payload from all accounts. Communication is one thing, I'm thinking comtec as used by crane ops, a seat or post to lean against? Shooting in both directions, pulling verses pushing the rickshaw possible ? I've seen Elephant, and the u-tube excerpts from Russian Ark, any other films using this technique worth watching? All ideas welcome, what doya think would work? :rolleyes: Cheers Gerry

<_< Just down loaded the latest MDR and HU3 software/fimware updates from Preston's site, anyone know what they do? I noticed a new high/low RF power option has turned up, how dose this work? Will contact H and ask if no replys here. Cheers Gerry.

We have been having odd glitches and interference when running to MDR's close togeather, ie; A & B cameras side by side shooting coverage down the line, spoke to Howard who passed on this table that could be of use to others see attached. Cheers Gerry :rolleyes: Channel_Interference_Table.pdf

:rolleyes: Hi y'all I've finally got my new HU3, FI unit, MDR2, three motors etc, a complete package. my questions for the forum are what do other owners do to commission /test their units. What degree of accuracy is expected and accepted? So far I've been through the basic functions of both units without lens mapping, on a millennium XL body with a 75mm Primo lens down at PV UK, so far so good a small amount of drift on the trims, or is it just parallax from the viewing position? (it's been a while since I focused anything other than an eye piece diopter :blink: ) Tomorrow I'm going to meet up with my regular 1ST AC to go through both units on an Arri and PV camera/lens setup with lens mapping etc. Any page one user mistakes to avoid? and save my embarrassment when I ring Preston and say " it doesn't work for me..." Cheers from London town Gerry

Hi Dan I did a job in the Morocan desert last year and as I discoverd after day one, and my first 4pm sand storm, there is no way to keep the sand out effectively It gets a lot further into things than I thought possible. So I asked for a repair or replace deal, quotes were sort and I think the final bill was £1000.00 for the UK GPI agent Optical Support to strip down the Sled, Donkey box, arm, remote focus etc it took about two days. So don't go in to low with your invoice as once they open up the gimbal and donkey box you may well need new bearings. This bill was highish but it got my rig back into reasonable shape. It didn't cover the usual ware and tear broken anttenas, flight cases, batterys cases, cables, etc. Good luck B) Cheers Gerry Vasbenter

Nic,I have a copy of Peter McCafery's wind board, it is about 5'x7' made out of 1/4" steel frame hinged in the middle with a piano hinge and covered with trampoline material. It works well with one person holding it, they don't get blown away, they can also see through the mesh covering, and also the central hinge helps form a V that can be wrapped around the rig quite close without getting in the way. I've been using it for 5 years and it works a treat. I sometimes use a bottom heavy rig, or antlers or gyros as well as the wind board in windy situations. Cheers Gerry.

Thanks Ramon I think the vest and an arm bag will be a good purchase. Do you know if the Euro harness will fit in the vest bag? Gerry !! :)

<_< I'm just about through my thrid soft arm bag with my Pro Arm, I'm thinking of making a more robust case to use on set (when ever the Arm is on top of a magliner it ends up bottom of the pile!) hanging on the stand is ok till I need to balance or some helpfull person tries to move the whole lot,rig,vest, arm,focus. I'm thinking maybe a laser cut hard foam block for a magliner, or somesort of hard foamed out tube mounted verticaly on the rig stand. what's out there? All sugestions welcome!! Cheers Gerry

I'm in the process of selling of some of steadicam equipment, and wondered how others takle the sale process? Dealing with ops from around the world I guess trust on both sides and clear comunication is the starting point. Any ideas welcome!! Gerry.

3A arm for sale, Gold springs, 3 x gimbal finger posts, D-bracket, soft case. £4000.00 or best offer.

TVC using rig for FX shots. The brief is to replicate the same shot: a straight line push forward, with different players in each take, the two elements to be combined- a poor man's mocon. Has anybody tried this successfully? Issues to be addressed so far (rig running gyros set up for max stability) a) Timing each element to the same length, click track? Music? B) Maintaining match frame height and focal distance and camera position, cross hairs? laser? Sonic tape/s? Given that Digital post involved will be put to the best effect, does anybody else think its possible, or just a nightmare waiting to happen - or both!!! Gerry

Found this review of Endurox when trying to find a UK supplyer, Endurox, sport nutrition supplement Endurox: Don't be taken in too soon by the claims of this latest " magic potion" If you're an athlete who attempts to stay up-to-date on the latest sports-nutrition research in order to find products that will help your performances, you must be crying out for relief right now. As you'll know from recent issues of PP, the number of supplements currently on the market is overwhelming, with creatine, vanadyl sulfate, choline, DHEA, HMB, branched-chain amino acids, conjugated linoleic acid, lean-mass stimulators, antioxidants, ephedrine, Echinacea, caffeine, glutamine, ginseng, glycerol, sodium bicarb, cow colostrum, carnitine, co-enzyme Q-10, cytochrome C, chromium picolinate, arginine, ornithine, and inosine (to name just a few) all vying for your limited sports-nutrition money. Some of them are not yet available in the UK, but can usually be ordered on the Internet. A few of the supplements actually have a decent chance of making you stronger or getting you to the finishing line more quickly, but most are more likely to propel you toward a bankruptcy court rather than a super-fast race. Since the products are usually extremely expensive, even when they have little chance of upgrading your athletic capacity, you have to be knowledgeable to avoid being burned. The hottest new product on the market is something called Endurox, formulated by the entrepreneurial people at Pacific Health Laboratories. It seems to be another one of those supplements you 'just can't be without', since it lowers heart rate, lifts lactate threshold, and helps you burn 43-per cent more fat when you train, according to the marketing hype. It's advertised heavily on the airwaves and on the net (you can visit the Endurox home page at www.endurox.com), and that fine endurance athlete, Joe Montana swears by the stuff. Sales are soaring. Shades of Ma What exactly is this new, potentially potent performance enhancer? It's a herbal product, formulated from a Chinese plant commonly called 'ciwujia', which grows in the swampy, spruce-fir taiga of northern China. The scientific name used for this bushy plant, according to Chinese botanical convention, is Radix Acanthopanax senticosus. The fact that ciwujia is a Chinese herbal preparation makes it exciting to many athletes. For one thing, many of them remember Ma Junren's herbal 'caterpillar-fungus' concoction, which supposedly helped transform ordinary Chinese working women like Wang Junxia and Qu Yunxia into world-record-holding runners. They hope that ciwujia might have a similar power. Ciwujia's entry into the athletic arena is fairly recent, but its use by humans actually goes back a long way. Although the plant has not found its way into the pharmacopoeia of Western medicine just yet, it has been used continuously in traditional Chinese medicine for about 1700 years. In China, the root of ciwujia is often prescribed as a 'tonic' to reduce fatigue and boost energy levels. Ciwujia is also used to treat diseases involving pain and inflammation of the muscles, connective tissues, and joints, including rheumatoid arthritis, and many Chinese medical practitioners believe the plant has prophylactic properties for such serious disorders as bronchitis, high blood pressure, and ischaemic heart disease (in which heart muscle receives an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen). In China, there is also a widespread belief that ciwujia can enhance immune-system activity. Chemical analysis of ciwujia's ingredients has led to the isolation of eight 'saponins' commonly found in the plant. No need to review your biochemistry right now: saponins are simply compounds formed of sugar and 'something else', with the 'something else' often turning out to be a steroid compound. As you know, steroids are chemicals involved in key physiological processes within the body, including those reactions which build and repair tissues. Thus, if ciwujia can indeed produce positive physiological changes in humans, it's likely that the saponins will be the responsible parties. In the case of ciwujia's saponins, which are called 'ciwujianosides', it's known that at least two of them - ciwujianoside C1 and ciwujianoside D1 - can have some fairly dramatic effects on cells cultured from laboratory animals. Studies carried out at Tokushima Bunri University in Japan demonstrate that C1 and D1 can significantly reduce white blood cells' production of a chemical called histamine. Since histamine promotes inflammation and swelling of tissues, C1 and D1 appear to have anti-inflammatory properties. And since histamine is a major player in allergic reactions and asthma (it dilates blood vessels lining airways and causes them to leak fluid into the surrounding tissues, helping to close off air passageways and making breathing more difficult), the Japanese researchers speculated that C1 and D1 could be powerful anti-allergy and anti-asthma agents. Indeed, in the laboratory research with cell cultures the two ciwujianosides proved to be about 6800 times more potent than a commonly prescribed anti-allergic drug ('Ciwujianosides D1 and C1: Powerful Inhibitors of Histamine Release Induced by Anti-Immunoglobulin E from Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells,' Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 81 (7), pp. 661-662, 1992). Hold your horses However, before you get too excited about ciwujia's potential puissance, bear in mind that this Japanese work was an 'in vitro' study, eg, one carried out with isolated cell cultures in a laboratory - not in actual living organisms. It's important to remember that many chemicals that work very well in in vitro studies often turn out to be poor performers when they are tested in humans or other live animals, because the biochemical environment in which the compounds are asked to perform is totally different in a complex living system - and the actual concentrations of the chemicals may be quite different (usually lower), too. The fact that the rather stunning results obtained by the Japanese in their in vitro research were not followed up with published work demonstrating the ciwujianosides' anti-allergic properties in humans or other animals tells us that perhaps the compounds flopped in the 'in vivo' environment (inside living things). Nonetheless, interest in ciwujia has remained high, partially thanks to anecdotal reports from mountain climbers, who have used ciwujia root to heighten vigour and withstand the debilitating effects of low oxygen pressures during high-altitude Himalayan climbs (these adventurers commonly chewed about an ounce of the raw herb per day). Investigative efforts carried out by Chinese scientists have suggested that ciwujia might increase the oxygenation of heart muscle and help laboratory animals survive low-oxygen conditions for longer periods of time. Impressed by the mountain-climbing reports and initial laboratory ciwujianoside studies, Chinese investigators began to utilise ciwujia in research that focused on the plant's potential ability to expand overall physical endurance. These initial efforts were simple - and brutal: laboratory rats or mice were given ciwujia or some other supplement and then tossed into a huge bucket filled with water, while researchers recorded the amount of time they were able to swim before sinking. These experiments, carried out at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene in Beijing, seemed to support the idea that ciwujia could promote endurance. In these as-yet unpublished studies, ciwujia was compared with ginseng, caffeine, and mixtures of ginseng, cordyceps, and wolfberry (other plants which have been suggested to have fatigue-resistance properties). The write-ups of this research indicate that ciwujia always came out the winner. For example, mice given ciwujia a couple of hours before they took the plunge could usually swim for 70 to 100 minutes, while control animals who went cold turkey lasted just 25 to 60 minutes, and cordyceps-ginseng-wolfberry animals swam for only 37 to 75 minutes. These crude efforts were followed by work with human animals. In the study which Pacific Health raves about on its Internet home page, eight healthy (but untrained) adults pedalled on stationary bicycles for 21 minutes. Initial work-load was set at 60 Watts, with intensity increasing by 30 Watts every three minutes (the final three-minute interval was at 210 Watts). To determine anaerobic power, each subject also worked at maximal intensity for a period of 30 seconds. Heart rate, lactate production, and fat metabolism were closely monitored during these exertions. Each of the eight subjects then ingested 800 mg of ciwujia per day (the amount in two capsules of Endurox) over a two-week period. They then reported back to the laboratory and repeated the initial exercise tests. The results were striking, to say the least, and, as mentioned, the seemingly overpowering data are proudly paraded on the Endurox home page. Basically, fat oxidation rose by an average of 43 per cent after the ciwujia dosing. Lactate levels plunged by 30 per cent or more, and lactate threshold was up by around 12 per cent. In addition, heart rate during recovery (a 15-minute period following the bike exertions) was down by 10 per cent. It makes a good story: the bikers burned more fat after taking ciwujia. Since they were burning more fat, they must have been breaking down less carbohydrate, so there was little lactate build-up and lactate threshold was higher. Somehow, the heart was stronger, too, and needed to beat only mildly during recovery. So, when American football star Joe Montana says that ciwujia 'has really helped me get more out of my workouts', it seems believable, given the striking results. Except for one thing... But, if you were following carefully, you may have noticed that there is a major problem with this research: there was no control group! All the subjects took the exercise test, dosed themselves with ciwujia for two weeks, and then repeated the tests. And that simple fact makes the study essentially worthless.The enhanced fat-burning, lower lactate, and assuaged hearts in the second test might have been due to a learning effect, not to ciwujia. For example, during the first test the subjects may not have been familiar and at ease with the oxygen masks they were required to wear (and breathe through), or the pedal resistance on the bikes, the moderate-to-high intensities used during tests, or the overall laboratory set-up. The second time around, they were no doubt more comfortable (they had learned what to expect and were confident that they could handle the situation) and therefore found the exertions less stressful. That alone could account for lower lactate, relaxed cardiac action, and better 'butter burning'. Or perhaps the subjects took their own bikes down Beijing boulevards at high speeds between the first and second exertions in order to 'tune themselves up' for the second test. Since there was no control group, we don't know what really happened. It's actually very common for individuals to perform better on a second exercise test, compared to a first, even without any specific training or physiological improvement, simply because they have become more comfortable with the total test environment. In addition, the performance upgrade on the second examination may have been at least partially due to the well-known 'placebo effect', in which subjects perform better simply because they believe they have been taking a substance which improves performance. One might argue that the subjects 'served as their own controls', since they exercised both with and without ciwujia, but that is not really true. To make such a study work, you would have to use a 'crossover' design, in which some of the individuals would take ciwujia before their first test - and then placebo capsules before their second test. That would allow one to skirt the learning-and-familiarisation (and also placebo) effects which we discussed above. Unfortunately, the other research that has been recently carried out with ciwujia is pretty much in the same league. In one study done by researchers from the University of North Texas, 13 'elderly' (actually, their ages ranged from 50 to 57) subjects 'peddled' at speeds of 60 rpm and a meagre intensity of 75 Watts for 44 minutes, with and without pre-exercise ciwujia dosing. It's not clear whether this mercantile activity had any effect on their physiological responses, but the cyclists did have 7- to 8-per cent lower heart rates following ciwujia ingestion. Interestingly enough, however, exercise economy was actually harmed after ciwujia intake, with oxygen consumption rising by 6.5 per cent, and total energy expenditure heightened by 4 per cent, perking up the ears of those people who are interested in weight loss. The main problem with this North Texas study was that the methodology was flawed in the same way: there was no control group. Subjects took part in the exercise test, supplemented their diets with ciwujia for 10 days, and then simply re-took the test. This kind of research just doesn't tell us anything useful. So, although the ciwujianosides, the bio-chemically active ingredients in Endurox, do seem to have some strong physiological effects in in vitro research, it's far too early to tell whether ciwujia can actually improve workouts and heighten performances, in spite of all the claims being made by its marketers. Ciwujia and Eleutherococcus senticosus As you read the above, you may have noticed that the scientific name for ciwujia, Radix Acanthopanax senticosus, seemed somehow familiar. If you're a regular subscriber to Peak Performance, you may recall that we recently provided (in issue 65, January 1996) a fairly positive account of Eleutherococcus senticosus, a plant which grows naturally in Russia and is considered to be one of the key 'adaptogens'. Adaptogens are defined as protective, non-toxic compounds which may increase one's resistance to stress and normalise physiological processes which have been disturbed. Radix Acanthopanax senticous and Eleuthero-coccus senticosus are indeed very closely related. In fact, some experts contend that they are actually the same species of plant - but with different areas of growth. Basically, E. senticosus is found in Siberia, while Acanthopanax senticosus grows in Manchuria and northeastern China. Extracts of Eleutherococcus senticosus have improved immune-system functioning in high-quality research ('Flow Cytometric Studies with Eleutherococcus senticosus Extract as an Immunomodulatory Agent,' Arzneimittel-Forschung Drug Research, vol. 37(10), pp. 1193-1196, 1987), so isn't it reasonable to expect that the closely related ciwujia would have the same useful properties? Not necessarily. Reports have indicated that ciwujia may be deficient in a chemical called Eleutheroside B, which is believed to be the most potent ingredient in E. senticosus. Thus, it's not at all clear that ciwujia would work as well as the Russian variant. So, what's the bottom line? Is Endurox (ciwujia) actually worth buying? Well, despite the fact that fine American athletes such as Jeff Galloway and Frank Shorter have offered glowing reports on the product, we don't recommend that you purchase Endurox at this time. The research so far has been positive, but it has also been of very low quality, so it's wise to wait for the results of investigations that are carried out in a sound manner - with actual placebos and control groups (Pacific Health indicates that such studies are being conducted at the moment). If such research shows that Endurox can actually help you train more effectively or get you to the finishing line more quickly, only then should you open your wallet or purse and send some of your hard-earned cash to the people at Pacific Health. Owen Anderson I'm still keen to give it a try, I have been using Lucazade for a bit of extra ommphh for those long dialogue takes, I find the lift in energy arrives 45 to one hour after dirnking it, and no help for recovery there after. Gerry.

I have pretty much everything on your list, for sale. Drop me a line and we can talk futher if you are still looking. Cheers Gerry. 0044 (0)208 810 9352