Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 10)

Daffodil - 2009-12-17 7:38 PM Hi All.  I have a quick question for those who have done a lot of trainer riding.  i went downstairs tonight to ride my trainer and discovered that my tire was flat.  like completely no air left flat.  (the wheel that is on the trainer).  i can't for the life of me figure out how I could have got a flat from the trainer.  Is there anything I need to know before changing the flat?  I don't want to change it and just get another one in a couple of weeks.  I last rode on it on Tuesday for about 1:35.  Do I really need to get a trainer tire?  would this make a difference with flats?  I hate change rear tire flats!!!

Thanks

My experience with the trainer (and living in upstate NY I have plenty) is that the trainer tire helps slow down the wear and keeps the tire dust down, but doesn't help with flats.  My trainer has been pretty easy on tires so I just use old road tires.  The flats I have had on the trainer generally are due to either something being in the tire that I don't see that gets pushed deeper into the tube by the trainer, or more likely when I air up the tire I mess up the presta valve and it leaks off.

Good luck!!!

My road bike has been on the trainer since 2 weeks ago and that beast is not coming off till April haha. I'm a wuss when it comes to cold weather!

I've been crushing some solid intervals though and I've just picked up a Netflix membership so I'm ready for the winter riding :-)

Shanks

Hi guys thought I'd repost this on BT - it's a shortened version of something I sent to local Virgin Island Riders - several of us are in training for a 3 day cycle tour during early February.

.....managed to bike 108 miles yesterday - my first century (six lengths of the island of Tortola BVI - Sopers Hole, West End to Trellis Bay, East End) - I'm based on St Thomas USVI and went to Tortola to get some mostly flat miles under my belt - turns out this will be a great training location for IMFL.

I really didn’t prepare properly for this ride – treated it like a normal long Sunday ride, I should have put a bit more thought into it – for example….. I usually use my phone for speed and distance, but realized that this could cost a kings ransom @ roaming rates – so tried to tried to use my wireless bike computer which would not connect – so didn’t have any real idea on distance. Also I have new pedals and shoes and couldn't seem to get the cleat position correct on the right foot, don’t seem to have the same amount of “float” as the left, so I had to stop a few times to tweak…

I had a boat in Sopers Hole Marina at the west end of the island so was able to refuel in 33 mile increments, 1st turnaround went OK, but I started to feel the sun during the second lap (I'd started at 4.20 am), I ran out of fluids about 20 minutes from the end of my second lap and by the time I reached the boat to refuel, I reaslized that I’d messed up badly on nutrition – my hands were actually shaking when I got to the boat……. I devoured, A bagel with cream cheese, 20oz Gatorade, 2 cans of coke zero, 2 kit-kats, a banana and some squerms – all in about 2 minutes….. bystanders best keep their hands clear……….

For the last lap, felt much better after eating something – no issues as a result of the poor mix of foods, but realized I was drinking a lot – probably due to the full stomach soaking up so much of what I was drinking.

My lower back started to get stiff and my butt was certainly aware of time in the saddle, I had liberally applied bodyglide before the ride – but have realized that you need to keep applying until you reach your shoulder blades ;o) – also was starting to get some nipple chafe – used to this with running but a first for biking!

Total miles charted on Google Earth – 108, time a little less than 7 hrs. So pretty happy. Roads were generally quiet – but overtaking on blind turns appears to be the BVI national sport….. Next time, I will carb load properly the evening before and make sure that I have more than an energy bar before I start in the morning. Also I didn’t need to use a washroom for the entire 7 hrs – this probably means that I was dehydrated, so I would plan to drink much more in the early miles (as I was probably drinking double the amount in the second and third laps).

Feel good today, not sore, was slow out of bed this morning, but other than that all good,

I've learned a few lessons &  definitley plan it better for next time, but its great to have my first century behind me )

Glen

Planning to repeat this ride on Jan 3^rd and 17^th

Thanks guys, I will be sure to use the 7P approach for the next long ride (only 12 days away eeeak!)

Merry Christmas IMFL peeps! No snow at our house. I'm enjoying the "off season" just a little too much! Planning on getting back to business seriously next week.

Thanks for the wheels advice guys, will get something reserved in the new year.

Phatknot, would love to get some feedback on your new watch, I invariably loose count when doing laps.

Had a fairly big biking weekend, 64 miles of flats Saturday and 62 miles mostly climbing on Sunday and have another century planned for next Sunday - all in training for the tour of Puerto Rico in Feb. For the first time in living memory, I might just end up the holiday season weighing less than when it started )

Happy New Year to all,