kenj's group - closed with a great bunch of triathletes in training!!! (Page 22)

Good info Scott and you are absolutely right about getting familar with bike mechanics!  Unfortunately for me, our local bike shop has a course every winter that I have yet to make due to scheduling conflicts!  But I have read the Zinn book you mention and due to the businesses I am in I have a fairly strong mechanical back ground.

The only things I can add to what Scott posted is my group rides 90% of the time are with other triathletes and we are all on TT bikes.  We respect that fact so there is no drafting (usually  )  But he is absolutely correct if you are riding in a mixed group or non-tri group.  In most cases if you are only going to have one bike, it should be a road bike for just this reason.

The other thing I will add to the fitting comments is to periodically have it checked.  As we become better cyclists and improve our bike fitness adjustments can be made to take greater advantage of these improvements.

According to the weatherman we are going to get some great weather this weekend to finally get the bike outside!!! Already have a small group ride set for Saturday!  Unfortunately spending all day Sunday flying to CA for a week, but I have some great running routes out there (I go often) so that works out ok I guess.

Anyone else taking advantage of the weather this weekend?

How is everyone doing with their swimming?

I have been swimming consistently twice a week for the past couple of months, but doing it on my own.  I was getting in some real solid distance and my endurance was definitely getting to where I needed for my race schedule this summer, but I wasn't getting any faster and I was slower than I was the last couple of years.  I had planned on changing my schedule and returning to masters at least once a week so I would get pushed.  I finally did that last night and my pace for that workout was .15 seconds per hundred faster than I had been swimming on my own! 

My point here is that as uncomfortable as we may be with our swimming, getting into a masters group or finding some other triathletes to train with is a good way to push ourselves and step outside of our comfort zones.   Even if it is once every couple of weeks! 

Happy Easter and have a great weekend!!!

My masters group is a great bunch of guys/gals.  2 reasons I don't swim with them more is that they generally swim shorter sets (under 2000 yds a practice) which is fine for shorter races and to build speed and improve form.  But my biggest reason for not swimming with them more is that I am a morning person, up at 4 or so and they don't start until 8:30 at night.  Still, it is worth it to get there at least once a week to have that type of workout as part of my swim training.

I'm with you Scott on the swim goal.  Can't win a tri in the swim, but it sure can cost you if you aren't prepared!

Enjoy your Easter break with your family!  We'll still be here when you get back!!

Good perspective on the swim Scott!  Unfortunately some people get themselves so worked up over the swim that it over taxes them to a point of hurting the bike and run results.  Getting the time in the pool is great for building swimming skills, but also confidence to complete the distance.  Nothing prepares us though like some quality time in the open water with our wetsuits on. 

Ouch!  I had the same injury about 5 weeks out from the Disney marathon.  I tried to train through it, and for the most part did, but the long runs suffered and subsequently so did my race.  My advice would be the same as Scott's with the ice, rest, ibuprofen and massage.  May be a good week for a swim focus training! 

Good luck.

Glad to hear that you are back on your feet (and bike)!  Take it slowly and listen to your doctor and it will be full steam ahead before you know it!

Good luck to your son at St A's! 

You are right on for the basics.  A race belt is not necessary, but nice.  I prefer using one and the one I have has elastic hoops for gels which is nice.  They will give you straps for your chip, some times they are the plastic ones which may rub your ankle the wrong way.  You should also have a towel and another for a mat or a mat of some sort to lay out your transition. 

You will want sun glasses, maybe socks if you haven't been training without them.  There may be others that I am not thinking of.  Here is a link to an article here that also talks about the basics.  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=101

There are a lot of other good articles for your first tri, just click on the button above and look around!