BikerGrrrl's Group - CLOSED (Page 2)

Welcome Leslie, Lauren and Steve!  Since I've never done this mentoring group thing before, I will close the group now.  That way we can keep track of each other a little bit more easily.

More follow-up soon... Have to do some work at work occasionally

Leslie - that's funny that we're so similar!  It makes a huge difference to have a bike riding partner.  My husband had to take a few weeks off when he was sick, and it was SO boring to do my longer ride.

I recommend that you log your training on BT, unless you have another system that works for you.  I love to look back on my progress.  

I'm jealous you have a tri coming up so soon!  The water is still too cold here

Lauren -  have fun with the bike shopping! What are you looking at?

But now you have to introduce yourself.  Can you handle the estrogen?

Carrie - glad to hear that about the suit!  I have a new Xterra myself and was impressed how it felt when I tried it on.  I am christening mine at the Rev3 in Knoxville in May, when I do the swim portion of the relay.  Fortunately the folks I am racing with (other BTers) don't care about my speed, so I thought it was a good chance to try it.

I know what you mean about following a scheduling.  I would always load a plan then promptly stop following it, doing my workouts when I felt like it.   I am being more strict now since I am paying for the coach, so I figure I'll improve just through sheer volume.

Bummer about the shin splints...  Is there anything you can do to improve that?

By the way, I am Athena too.  When it's available, I race in that category.   I like being in the smaller group, and I actually got 3rd place in a race because of it.  Of course, there were only 3 of us.. 

Carrie - I just realized you'll be at Knoxville too.  You will have to come to the BT tent so we can meet.  We'll be swimming at the same time!

Brooke - stay tuned into the "official BT gathering" thread on the main forum and there will eventually be info about a meeting place.  You should come, even if you don't want to race it.    Good luck with the bike ride.

I tried to ride my bike to work morning and it was too cold, so I turned around and went home.  I put my bike in the car in hopes of riding home tonight and then back in the morning.  I don't mind the colder temps (30s), but I wasn't dressed for it and my extremeties were telling me to cease and desist.    It's a 14.5 mile ride each way, so I couldn't really tough it out for fear of losing the skin on my face!

Sounds like a fun trip!    What's the plan for your trip?  I hope you're going through Memphis and visiting Elvis.

I am not sure what happened, my last two posts did not post!

Carrie, we are not too far from each other, I am in Plainfield and sometimes I do rides with another BT'er (only when it is WARM!) on the Fox Valley River trail from Aurora to Elgin, so maybe we can meet up for a ride sometime!

I have not been able to find time or get motivated to do anything this week, my son has started Baseball now and my husband is going back to school, so it looks like I will have to shift to the 5 am workouts, which means I have to shift to the 8:30 pm bedtime.  Boo. 

Steve - that's an unfortunate list of ailments to live with.  I hope the consistent activity helps you achieve your goals, healthwise. 

I agree that "just running" or in my case "just going to the gym" without purpose, was totally boring.  I am sure I'd be back to square one if I hadn't found a sport to immerse myself in.  There's so much to do like try new distances, acheive personal goals, try new races, that I can't imagine losing interest.   It's nice, too, that's something you can do year round.

That's a good suggestion about not having heavy dinners.  I enjoy a nice dinner and when I counted calories, I would save more than half for the evening (between dinner, wine, and dessert).  It is an activity that I do with my husband and it would be wierd to change that.  But sometimes I just feel like having cereal   We order pizza a lot...

I am up for rides, just not sure about riding on trails. Just worry about not having enough room to ride and be able to do the speeds or workouts I might need to do.  I will try anything once though.

I am riding with a Lifetime Fitness group this weekend.  Over time I will compile rides and I can do with anyone then.

I am guessing not all trails are equal.  I DEFinitely avoid the "around the lake" trails in Minneapolis.  They even have a speed limit.  I am always surprised when I see anyone other than a casual biker on them.  We have some great trails in the twin cities that I would describe as more "bicycle highways".  No speed limit, one ways, wide, etc.   Pretty lucky!   I am able to take one of these for 9 of my 14.5 mile commute.

Don't ask about the other 5.5 miles - yikes, scary.  But it does get the adrenaline going.  It's at least better than when I biked from downtown Minneapolis through rush hour traffic, left turns, people crossing bike lanes, busses, oh my.

THis is my "winter bike".  An old steel roadie with fenders and studded tires.

(embike.jpg)

Wow, nice ride for the winter, big props for riding when there is snow on the ground!

The fox river trail is not too bad, pretty empty but we usually go early in the morning and makes for a long ride.  Otherwise we have a lot of open farmland out here to ride, but it gets really windy until the corn grows high enough to block it.

Gonna try to get a ride in this weekend, and will start to ride my bike to work in June, can't now due to my husband's schedule and kids in daycare, so I am looking forward to combining my commute with training!

I never do anything outside in bad weather (total baby) . . . but since you already admitted to running in the rain, SUCK IT UP, its only 8 miles.  (I am riding on the trainer tonight)

Just be careful and don't get fancy.

P.S. I am not sure when I will do if I face a bad weather race.  Haven't so far . . .

I personally avoid riding in the rain if possible.  It's dangerous (the painted lines are SUPER slippery), cold and then I have to clean my bike.  After riding in the rain, the bike gets a total wash and chain lube.  On those days, I either rearrange my schedule or ride inside (trainer, or gym bike, depending on the workout).

That said... it's a good riding skill.  I have ended up in the rain on longer rides, unintentionally.  It's not as bad in the summer.  You have to ask yourself if you would ride in the rain for a race.  If yes, then best to try it.  If no, then you have your answer!  Everything is harder.  Sometimes I cannot wear my sunglasses because they get too wet and I need wipers. Othertimes, you need the eye protection.  You also want to be careful of getting too cold.

Okay, I admit I walked through all the slushy bits! At that time they were few and far between.  Black asphalt dries up pretty fast.

Being able to commute by bike saves so much time.  Good luck working it out.