Stuck in the Middle - May Challenge (Page 13)

Thunderstorms this afternoon, so opted for a ride on the trainer vs. a wet ride home from work (YES, I'm a wimp)...

49 min at Z2 max (136 bpm)...

says the man that races in the snow.....................

wimp, I think not! 

a swim for sure after work and possibly a run - we shall see how the day goes

Today: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South southwest wind between 10 and 13 mph.

That means there is a 60 percent chance of no showers or thunderstorms. I rode in today. My weather check this morning consisted of looking out the window. It looked nice. :-)

Look at all the swimming going on.  I love it!

Well, after run intervals yesterday I have.... bike intervals this afternoon!  This is getting ridiculous.

Sunburn status:  itchy

Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from Barb and Beth, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

Wimps don't ride trainers.  The most diabolical and evil contraption man has ever invented. 

It's good to see all the commuters here. Maybe that will help motivate me to get up and do it. We've got some pretty crappy weather here too, but I don't mind riding home in the rain. I don't think my fellow employees would like it much if I was drenched and grimey coming in to work I'm actually depending on riding to work for most of my miles.

I'm doing great on the swim and probably have sandbagged a little, but I probably won't swim 4x per week once I find a commuting groove. Or, maybe I'll increase my swim goal a bit.

I really need to run tonight. 

Ahhh...point well taken...(now I have GUILT!)...j/k...

It's time for me to just buck up and do it...what's a little rain?

The only advice I can offer is figure out how to stay relaxed and loose when riding.  If you're stressed and tight, you'll be twitchy and it will only make things worse.

For baby steps, you can go half-way where you've got one arm in the aeros and the other still on the hoods. Once you're comfortable with that, try lifting your hand off the hood, but keeping it just above so you're riding one-arm aero. Once you can do this for a few seconds without tensing up, go full aero.

Barb, I don't know what else to say besides find a low traffic road and just do it.  Being comfortable in aero is just something that comes with doing it a lot.  There's no way to practice the balance required on a trainer.  I don't know of any tricks that help either.  In fact, any tricks and tips would probably just take your focus off the most important thing.  Going in a straight line.

You also need to stop having visions of road rash and the maiming of children.  Thinking about crashing is about the surest way to make sure you do crash.  Look ahead on the road to where you want your bike to go, and that's where it will go.

Also, how good are your normal bike handling skills normally?  I know you said you haven't been doing much outdoor riding, and handling skills can fade pretty quick.  You may need some normal ride time to boost the confidence before you attack that aero position.  I'm really just now getting back into the "it's second nature" mode and I've been outside for about a month now.

DO NOT go into a race and try to ride aero if you aren't comfortable with it.  It will slow you down more than it will help, and you may wipe out.  Ride lots in aero, get comfortable with it, then translate it over to the race, and you will have no problems.

I'm in a similar situation to Barb in regards to riding aero.  I have about 40 days to work with and would really like to get used to riding aero.  In the past the only bike I have ridden was a mountain bike.  Switching to a tri-bike was a HUGE adjustment for me in itself.  I didn't feel steady at first and could barely ride a straight line.  I could barely move my hands from the hoods to even shift gears on the end of the aero bars without the bike shaking pretty bad - almost to the point of crashing.  I think maybe the lack of control was coming from the muscles in my neck and shoulders getting so fatigued.  I say this, because my shoulders and neck were incredibly sore the first several rides.  After just a few minutes on the bike I was so stiff I couldn't look to the side to see if anyone was coming up next to me . . .  Did anyone have a similar experience when first trying out their road or tri bike? 

Thankfully, riding on the hoods has gotten much better.  Last night I did an hour on my bike and felt steady for the most part.  I tried aero a few times, probably less than 1 minute at a time.  I could feel it in my neck and shoulders almost immediately.  So I'm also wondering if anyone had these feelings at first when switching to aero, and if so, how long did it take to break in your neck/shoulders?

Thanks for any help!  GOOD LUCK BARB!!  I feel for ya!

Renee

The soreness will go away as you get better at it and learn to relax.  Tense muscles hurt more, and start to hurt faster.  A strong core will also help take some of the reliance off the arms, neck, and shoulders when aero or when riding the drops or hoods.  So strengthen up those abs and lower back.  Might I suggest the butterfly?

Now, if it's a pain other than muscle... check your fit.

Thanks Sesh . . .  So I guess it comes down to practice and relaxing hmmm?  I just hope I have enough time to adjust!  I'm working my core and will keep working it . . .  The BUTTERFLY?  As in the SWIM stroke . . . the one that looks like it requires a whole lot of coordination?  HA - THAT would be funny! :P  I'm lucky I'm swimming at all!  I mean . . . I love to swim, I love to swim, I love to swim   Speaking of, I haven't been in the pool yet this month.  This is where the challenge will help!  I know what I'm doing after work!  Noooo not the butterfly, but the pool, yes!

Renee

Sure am . . . but DANG is it coming up fast or what???  From the sounds of things, I REALLY need to find some hills to practice on!

no butterfly?

Try this link then: 

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=486

I try to sneak these in after a run.

Thanks Bill . . . that looks like a great routine - I will give it a go!

You gonna let a little thing like a Thunderstorm stop you...  WIMP !  

Ya think you'd melt if you got wet!   -- FEEL THE GUILT!!!

 You are a swimmer if you can butterfly -- heck -- I can't even go 5 yards in the fly without getting all out of sync......  Nice job if'n you're doing that!  That's a killer stroke!