left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 174)

Yes, sighting means just that. Being able to navigate you way through the course. It is not exactly hard to do. But it does take developing certain techniques and takes practice. You have to remember, once you start getting into longer distance races there won't be any land for you to go by. You have to learn to spot the bouys you are swimming to which means being able to look fowards. Something that normally you cant do while swimming freestroke. You need to learn to do it without stopping. They will place bouys only several hundred yards apart. They can be difficult to see. Especially once you're in a wave of people splashing around in every direction. Never follow another swimmer asuming they know where they are going, most likely they don't.

It is also important to learn to breathe every third or fith stroke. It's callled bylateral breathing. You do this so that on one stroke you breathe to you left then the next stroke you breath to your right. There are many reasons why this is important, there could be tides keeping you from breathing on one side or another swimmer slapping you in the face on one side but the most important one is if you only breathe to one side, one arm will pull water more efficently than the other. Over extended lengths you'll end up swimming in circles. In open water there will be no black line for you to follow.

you can find out the distance by going to web site like www.gmap-pedometer.com. using the tools provided you can plot out the circumference of any given lake to find out the distance.

Just thought I would chime in that I ride the 56CM version of that exact bike. Same year and everything. I remember doing all the research on bikes back then and choose that bike because I belive it to be one of the best bikes you can buy in its price range. A 58 is a pretty large frame. I am 6'-1" and ride a 56. But if it fits you you would be very hard pressed to find a better bike at that price point.

Do you mind me asking what direction you are going for your bike that makes you feel this one won't work for you?

wow yes small world, I am still out in Brentwood.

For the WF sprint do you need a mountain bike?

What Gary said when looking for OWS locations. You local tri club will be very knowledge about such things.

Locally here to Houston there are 2 scuba diving parks that allow swimmers in for a small fee. One is $5 the other $7. Maybe you can check and see if there are scuba parks in your area...

I mentioned Mt. Bikes and the post went dead, did I commit a sin???  LOL

I mentioned Mt. Bikes and the post went dead, did I commit a sin???  LOL

Sorry for the double post, not sure how to remove it????

Of course not. I did triathlons for my first two years on a $200 hybrid bike. I personally would not recommend buying a tri bike until you've raced at least one race and preferably a full season of races. For your first time out any old bike you can scrounge up will do. 

Lets face it, you may do one or two races and then decide that triathlons are just not what you want to spend all your time doing. There is nothing wrong with that. This way you can find out before you go and spend $1,000-$3,000 or even more on a bike you'll never use.

Edit: Just wanted to add that you will definately not be the only person racing on a mountain bike. There will be many many people riding inexpensive bikes like that. There are usually so many that mort sprint tris have special classes for first timers or moutain bike riders.

Don;t feel too badly. The Felt S32 is a highly respected bike. If I was to sell mine today I wouldn't let it go for less than $1,000. I don't think you'll have too much trouble getting your money back out of it.

Jeff, I think I speak for us all when I say...I Hate you! :P j/k

It is amazing how each person is so different. I guess that why its true when they say there is no one dieting solution for everyone. Each of us must keep trying different thing until we find something that works.

I spent almost all of my twenties and thirties right at 190, no matter how many beers I drank or Hooter's wing I ate. After 35 though I kept creeping up and up until I got to 215. And it seems I need to do more and more to keep the weight off