Mad Manatee Mentors 2013: CLOSED (exc/ Pop Tart bribes) (Page 238)

No babies?  That can be so frustrating.  I'm sorry.

We had no lambs this year and it was a little heart breaking.

Hugs to you.

Good luck Jen :)

Mon!! Hope you had a great race lovely lady.

Good luck to Salty, Jen and Brie.

Woo-hoo!

Originally posted by StaceyK My wonderful DH started using my bike and trainer for his ACL rehab this week but he found out that he has a soft butt and needed some extra padding

Is that a Giant Avail - that's my old bike wish I still had it I loved that girl.  I'm sorry but I don't love my Trek at all.  We begrudgingly tolerate each other.

so after my awesome lesson with Coach Piglet Mark yesterday I decided more practice was in order.  I am not ready for the road yet - I have to master the art of stopping so today I just went up and down the footpath braking, unclipping and trying not to fall into people's front yards.  Tick that box - a couple of wobbly stops.  But I rescued it and that's the main thing. 

It is not a natural instinct for me yet and Mark says that's what I need to aim for, like driving a car, you don't think depress clutch ease up on the gas change gear brake, you just do it.   That's what I need to be like on my bike stopping.  I have to talk through it, relax, brake, unclip come forward stop.  The unclipping you'll be pleased to know isn't an issue it's the stop come forward without losing my balance.  It's just an oxymoron to me that I have to put my weight in my right foot but reach down and lean to the left.  But it's getting better.  Phew.

Anyway I think if I do that every day up and down the footpath I will gain confidence enough to get me on the road again without stopping by just reaching down with both feet - effective as that may be!

So Manatees - it's going to be an early morning thing I'm just going to do half an hour of that.  I have another session with Mark next Saturday so that should do it. 

My confidence though boosted is still shaky.  I wish I could keep Mark in my pocket!

I suppose the only thing that I need to focus on is it's not that important in a race.  I only have to probably stop once in a HIM at the end.  And in the Full - well that's 8 months away I'm sure I'll be fine by then, no doubt an expert.  And again probably need to only stop two or three times.  And I'll be peeing on the bike!

Thanks for bearing with me Manatees.  I really am a klutz.

Originally posted by StaceyK

Originally posted by jobaxas

Originally posted by StaceyK My wonderful DH started using my bike and trainer for his ACL rehab this week but he found out that he has a soft butt and needed some extra padding

Is that a Giant Avail - that's my old bike wish I still had it I loved that girl.  I'm sorry but I don't love my Trek at all.  We begrudgingly tolerate each other.

it sure is, the poverty pack special. The only upgrade she has had is some Conti 4000s tyres cause the roads around here are major suckage with big chip seal no shoulders and honky nuts from hell (she spends most of her time on the indoor trainer). This summer she will get some new bar tape which will definitely not be white!

cantstopraffing at the modified saddle now that's a bonzer solution!

Sorry about the puppies

That's fantastic!

After getting this, it's funny going back to flat pedals and trying to figure them out again. I still instinctively "clip out".

Perfect timing I tuned into a podcast this morning with an interview with Grant Peterson - owner of Rivendell Bicycles author of the book Just Ride.

He was talking about how unnecessary all the 'gear' is  - tri bikes, carbon fiber, lycra, clip in shoes etc.  He said unless you have the engine of Lance Armstrong or other such folk - it's all not strictly necessary!  - I take comfort from that.

However I am a fan of all the gear and no idea, so i shall continue!

Not so sure I agree with that all together.  If the gear was not necessary, why not just ride a mountain bike in races?  Because riding a 30 lb monster with fat knobby tires would be a hell of a lot harder than riding a nice, lightweight, carbon fiber tri bike.  No lycra - sure, just where swim trunks.  No clip ins - not nearly as efficient and you will work way harder (no matter what your speed is).

Does 1 lb difference in total bike weight or a few grams here or there matter much - not for the average Joe.  Does a set of zipps versus an entry level pair of racing wheels with bladed spokes make much of a difference - I doubt it.  If that's all he is saying, I totally agree.  

Maybe I just didn't understand your summary of what he was saying, but if I did - I think that's BS to say that.  

Hey Manatees - do you know what today is?  It's my anniversary.  Today is the day I decided to change my life 2 years ago. 

This was me on 7/28/11:

And this is me today (I just took this picture 5 mins ago):

After an awesome, totally fun swim workout this morning, I'm looking forward to celebrating with a healthy meal and a good nights sleep.  Wow times sure have changed!  I kind of like loving myself.  I think I will do this for many, many years to come.  

I want to do that race...I have never been so motivated to place in my age group.  Does only 1st place get a trophy?  Btw, nice job if that's yours :)

I just realized I have no idea how old you are Ben :)

No his take on it was - that so many ordinary people won't ride a bike because they have been intimidated by all the gear.  He said that if you're on a 16lb bike and weighing 200lbs - won't make a jot of difference!  Funny coz Vinnie the ultra cyclist rides a steel bike coz he says when you're riding 500mile races comfort is way more important than speed, zipp wheels etc.  He gets his clients to ride his bike and they call it the 'couch' coz it's so comfortable!

His view is if you're gonna be on there a long time, comfort will outweigh the benefits of speed.

That's all.  For me - a very everyday Jo(e) this is very true.

Old enough.

Good for you, Chad! Happy anniversary.

I think the smile says it all - yeah you lost weight but you found happiness.  That's the best thing.

Don't scare him!

I ended up doing that TT this weekend.  It was fun.  I'd like to do another one fresh sometime.  They also have a local 10 miler (instead of a 20).  Really kinda dig the TT format. I could see getting into those, though I do not like getting my azz handed to me so readily.  Fach.

RR is up http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=496453&posts=1&page=1