BrotherTri’s - Triathlon Training Support Group - CLOSED (Page 11)

Finally finished my old school Fixie:

I like the way it came out, and it rolls pretty nice as well, given the around the block test. I'm taking it out for it's maiden voyage tomorrow, if everything works out for me.

Thanks, it rode nice. The fixed gear forces 2 things for me. 1 is to keep spinning. 2 is that it makes me work at the stop and go stuff. I figure it will really push my leg strength. And I was right. I could feel it, so that must be doing the job.

SEXXEH!!!!

Racing with the kids - AWESOME!  

Wish you had better weather (it's all the way up into the 20's here today, but snowing, so I'm going to be on the drainer).

I'm sure you'll have a great time either way.  Hope you both enjoy the heck out of the race and racing together!

Matt

DP

Not a stupid question at all.

I *believe* the rule is that you may use one in a race, but that you are then ineligible for the podium (either overall or in your age group).  So, it sort it makes it an unofficial race, from a time standpoint.  However, if you're trying to get the experience of a race (which is valuable) but are not yet confident enough in the swim, it's one way to do it.

However, I'd recommend continuing to work on your swim (great job taking the swim class - that should pay off handsomely soon!) until you feel confident enough to do the distance in the open water.  Having grown up and then spent a good portion of my life on/in the water (but never swimming laps in pools until really the last year), I tend to give the water a LOT of respect…  The race experience will come and you'll be ready for it sooner than you think, if you stick with the work you're doing in the pool.  Better to be solid in the water first, I think.

Just my opinion, though.  

Matt

Scott, I was using a snorkel to help me develop more endurance, but it ended up messing up any breathing technique I had. So, a part of my swimming is back at square one. My experience is that there is no replacement for work, time, and experience in the water. I would echo the suggestions of Matt and James. Continue getting help locally and work on technique and you'll be in a better place in the long run. You'll be surprised at the gains you can make just being consistent in your training in the pool. 

Hey guys, I asked this in my other group, but I'd like to get more of an idea of what people are doing for training plans? 

1. Do you have a coach?
2. How do you communicate with your coach?
3. Do you use a plan or a program?
4. How do you maintain that?
5. And the question that should come first is the one that drives the answers to the others, IMO. What are your goals or objectives?

Thanks for any input you may have on my questions. Any thoughts or opinions are certainly welcome.

One thing I found helpful was a bike skills class, done by a member of the local bike club. It was geared towards older folks, but there were a few tips that I found real helpful. You might want to look into that through the LBS, local bike club or some such area. And of course there is the ever popular "ride more" comment, but it is true as you probably realize. Every time you get on the bike, you become more comfortable with it.