tcovert's Winter 2009 Mentor Group - FULL (Page 18)

There is a video on BT's home page on "why tri bikes."  Time trial bikes offer a different frame design to move you forward of the pedals so you are using different muscles than you would use otherwise.  I'm told the shift makes it possible to "save the legs" for the run.  That said I also have friends who are Ironmen who say no matter what you do, your legs are toast after 112 miles.  Without getting on a TT bike I would have to agree.  112 miles is a long way on two wheels unless you've got a motor on it.

I have two perfectly good road bikes.  So, my reasons for getting a TT bike to build up are;

- If there is a way to help myself on the run, I want to try;

- If there is a way to make myself more aero and save more time on the bike I need to because that is where I will save time if I can anywhere along the way.  I'm 6 feet and weigh in the neghborhood of 220 and though fit, I am not built to be aero.  I need help;

- I made extra money writing freelance articles for fishing mags;

- I don't drink, smoke or have other expensive habits.  I'm driving a pickup with 111,000 miles on it.  My boat is 14 years old (and looks like it came from the showroom.)

- I love bikes, I'm addicted and what the heck. 

- I took bike building classes to build bikes.  I love doing it.  I need a frame to do that so there you are; 

- Kathy says it's OK.  (This is huge.  If she had said no, that would have ended it.  You must keep your spouse/partner in the loop all the way, on training time, on money, etc);

- The bike is good enough that if I keep the build costs down, I should at least break even and maybe make a few dollars if I sell it.  Orbea Ordu is a great name thanks to the win at Kona this year.

 You probably do need a decent road bike and clip-on aero bars that will get you down low and more aero on long distances.  But need a TT bike?  No.   

Thank you everyone for the feedback on the tri bike.  I actually don't have a road bike either, it's a commuter with aero bars and is fit to me perfectly so, I will likely stick with it while I tackle the sprint level. 

I spent this afternoon x-country skiing and have attached a photo showing that we may be stuck with a boatload of snow and cold all winter but, we make the most of it

Cycling tomorrow...

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What's a "commuter" bike?  Is that a hybrid?  if so, for a sprint, you will do fine.  You can make them more road worthy.  For one, you might consider getting narrower, smoother tires than usually come with them.   

You look like you're having fun in the snow.  Good for you.  I used to do lots more ice fishing than I do.  One reason - climate change has made my area iffy for safe ice over the past 30 years.  Also, my attitude is not so open to freezing on a biucket when I could be riding or running or swimming indoors and then soaking in a nice hot tub.

Matt

  It's doable. I have never done an Ironman, just a half. I figured I'd do that first to shed some light on the "Ironman goal". What I found was that it wasn't that bad....the day of the race I mean. Unexpectedly, the day in day out, week in week out, multiple two hour days every week....training volume was the challenge. A few months in I thought "I just want the race to come so I can return to life as I knew it". It was mentally very difficult. On race morning, though, I was ready!

  My point is, that's the question. Can you do the day in day out, week in week out, month in month out journey. Only you can answer that.

Jake

Goals for the week:

Tue and Thurs: 3 mile run

Sunday: 5 miles

2 cross training sessions, not sure when or what they will be yet though

Aloha all

I'm p***ed off! Fortunately I.m not so bright so I'll get over it real quick. LOL - Well reason for slightly tarnished attitude:

A commuter bike is basically a hybrid; it's literally designed to allow you to commute on typical urban roads and has enough flexibility to get you out of traffic trouble, or into it if that's your thing.  They are tough enough to hop sidewalks and potholes and cabs  and have a wider handlebar width than a road bike.  Mine has 1.25 slicks and has never seen anything but asphalt.  I bought it for commuting back when I worked in Boston in a building with locker rooms but now I just use it to ride long distances because my job is walking distance from my home, my other bike is a 1970 Schwinn Collegiate (creampuff).  Despite the Fuji not being a road bike it is built for speed so I'm confident that it will serve me well in a sprint, perhaps olympic but, that's not in the very near future.

I had a blast xc skiing and the dogs had even more fun.  I see lots of people in NH ice fishing but I'm not really a lover of cold so I have to keep moving when out in it.

Goals this week - keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.

good feedback Todd, thanks.  I will definitely do the first one or two tri's with the Fuji and then make a decision about switching to a road because I know I'm gonna luv doing tri's... now to just pull the trigger and sign up for one or two.

 I rarely jump into new things without doing alot of thinking first.  It's good when we know these things about ourselves, no?

Susie - yes, I've been a downhill skier for a long time but I rarely do it these days, too expensive between upgrading the equipment and lift tickets.  The good news is that xc skiing is completely unrelated other than the fact that there are two boards attached to your feet.  It's a great aerobic sport and very easy to get into, no leassons required.  Go rent a pair and find a snowy terrain like a field or perhaps there are trails for it where you live; it's a rythm thing that's very fluid and gives a great leg burn.  Snowshowing is fun too and great aerobic conditioning.

enjoy!

I started in earnest last year, three to five days a week.  There were times my pickup didn't move for two weeks at a time.  I love it.  About 10 miles to work on semi busy roads.  No real problems but I insist on land command - law here allows us 3 feet of clearance and I can ride well away from the curb to avoid gutters and debris.  That means people have to slow down to go around.  I stay on four-lane roads much of the time so they have plenty of room. 

I also ride my bike when I can elsewhere.  I usually average 20 miles a day just getting from here to there.  The miles do add up. 

I have a Trek Pilot 1.2 for the purpose.,  Fenders help keep me dry and I have a rack, bags and lots of light.   

Scout out the safest roads and be aware of what's going on.  Stop at stop signs and be predictable.  It's a really cool thing to see several bikes along the way.