Any Spring Valley YMCA Members?

Really, the only thing you ultimately have to do is fix a flat.  As for how to learn that, I learned through reading about it online, then having to actually do it.  It takes some practice to do (the first time took me a good 30 minutes, at least). 

Other than that, I would look to see if any of the bike shops are willing to show you directly.  I know of some that offer classes, usually for free.  I think High Road Cycle in Wayne offers classes on that.  You could also ask the guys at Performance in Paoli. 

Sorry to raise out of the dumpster but I work at the Spring Valley Y (hooray for lifeguarding) and just fyi there is now a time limit for machines. The limit is 30 minutes per type of machine, I think this was mostly set in place because of the new treadclimbers being hogged, though it's really never busy enough that it matters. Nobody will really bother you if you're on them any longer because typically there are 5 other machines just like it which are open. So. There is not however any limit on the amount of time you can lap swim. Just know that there are most certainly peak times you'd want to avoid, and other times when (if you can get there) the pool is literally empty. Peak times are most mornings from about 6 to 8, though Tuesday and Thursday mornings are almost always less busy, lunch hour (from 12 to 1) can get tight, and due to swim lessons the time from 9 am to 12 pm can also get jammed because they typically take two lanes for the older kid's swim lessons. ALSO very important, Saturday mornings typically range from hectic to absolutely insane, depending on the time that you arrive. Sometimes you'll get lucky and 2/3 of the pool will be open but more than likely you'll get there with a million people who are making up workouts from the week and are very reluctant to share with you. Sorry if that sounded offensive and please don't take it as such (since if you're on here it's probably not you), but it's what I've found. And speaking as a Saturday veteran of over a year I kind of know this place and its trends. Just saying.

SO when is a good time to swim, you ask? Well my friend, anytime before 6 AM (the pool opens at 5:30 sharp so if you can get there then you'll get first choice of lanes and the other people getting up later will have to work around you.) Also ANYTIME from 1 to 5 is typically a great time to swim in the indoor lap pool. We also have two outdoor lap lanes for member use AFTER 11 am in the summer (camp is there before and believe me, you do not want to swim laps with those kids in the pool), which has the pros of music playing and sunshine and the cons of jerks who think that they can cut through there (which most of the other guards don't enforce, and for that I'm sorry.) Other good times are most evenings after 8 PM (swim lessons also occur between 5 and 7:30 pm most nights along with adult fitness classes, so the indoor lap lanes are almost gone from that), but the pool does close 10 minutes before 10 pm so please, don't make the lifeguard have to chase you down to get you out of there. We love our lap swimmers but after working a long second shift day all of us are tired and we'd greatly appreciate your speedy departure. Though we would welcome you any other time of the day. Saturday good times are from 1 to 8 normally, since there are no night swim lessons. I'm not so sure about the Sunday good times because I never work then but I do know that swim lessons are from 5 to 7:30 pm again, and they also take up lap lane space, so.

In terms of the Tri Club the official brochure has said that "the Tri Club will meet informally throughout of the summer. All communication will take place via e-mail. For more information contact the Spring Valley aquatics director at 484 984 2011 ." At this number you will reach either Julie Hanley or Mary Cook. They asked interested members to register for the "class" to be on the roster and receive meeting times and locations, but since registration has passed I'm sure that you could just call and they could add your name to the e-mail list. It's free to full and program members. Also this summer Mary Cook is teaching a triathlon swim class from 11 am to 12 pm every Monday and Wednesday. Mary is an experienced aquatics coach who recently completed a triathlon, and hopefully will be running a class similar to this next summer (or possibly in the fall? I don't know though, triathlon season is over by then.) In the meantime since registration has passed there is always the Spring Valley Gators masters swim team. They hold practices Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:30 pm and Saturday mornings from 8 am to 9 am (before the swim lesson rush). Their season starts in September and ends in mid May so it's perfect if you're looking for something to keep you swimming and in shape over the winter. Call 484 984 2012 for more information, this is an ALL abilities swim team, must be 19 and up to participate, though.

Other than that I guess you'll have to ask someone else. I've never taken a spinning class but they look like they're good, and I've heard good things about them. Hopefully I will see you soon in aquatics, though I can't really talk to anyone on the stand saying hi is completely okay. =) And just have a wonderful day, PM me if you have any questions about the Y (not triathlons in general so much, as I still have a month and a half before I actually compete in one.) OH and since I've heard complaints before about us not being vigilant about keeping kids out of lap lanes, just do us a favor and shove them out of the way if they're in there. We're trying to make sure that every new person (and even those of us who've been there forever) enforce all the rules but we're not super people. Feel free to help us put kids in their place, most of them know that they need to be 12 and swimming laps to be in there, so if they choose to ignore it do us a public service and kick them for us? Kthanks. Haha, but really try to cut us some slack. I try really hard to make the pool a friendly and welcoming place and I especially try to accommodate lap swimmers but we're only human. So anyway, thanks for being a part of why I think my job is the best in the world (well, for now), and I hope really to see you soon!  

I know this is a dead thread, but I wanted to say thanks to sln5024 for this useful information...especially about the pool.  I get so frustrated (being a newbie) when I go to swim laps at the pool and it's completely full...I mean 2 or 3 per lane.  I'm slow...i mean really slow and I hate having to worry about getting run over by a couple of torpedo's!  I think I'll try to pick a better time to get to the pool and hopefully I'll have better luck.

Thanks.