Gray Guys/Girls Master's Focus Triathlon Mentor Group--Now Open (Page 26)

Deb, Once again I enjoyed reading your race report.  Sounds like you had a good solid race.

I do have a couple questions for you - What were you singing to yourself? and What does the diluted gel taste like?

I'm asking because one race I did I got a song in my head (North to Alaska - why that song?) and I couldn't get it out.  Then the diluted gel might be a way for me to take in some good calories.  Up to now I can't bring myself to try a gel.

Chris, I use 2 pairs of cycling shoes ... a pair of Scott shoes for road riding exclusively.  For triathlons, I use a pair of Lake TX212 models (I think).  These are the cheapest model and have one wide strap ... not the typical 3 strap w/ratchet which cycling shoes have.  It's super easy to reach down and pull up the one strap 150 yards or so from transition and ride with my feet atop the shoes.  Once I come to a stop, I'm either standing one-legged on a pedal or hop off and run thru T2 barefooted.I did a tri once with road bike shoes after using the Lake Tri shoes, and said I'd not do that again.  Having to fool with the ratchet, the straps and such vs. pulling one strap was too much to deal with.

I'm not a fan of the SPD clips for road biking.  To me the metal to metal clip to pedal surface is kinda slick and I've had trouble clipping in with these ... particularly when I'm trying to go fast thru transition, etc.  I like the LOOK style pedals.  The clips are huge, but super easy to clip in with and also have other good features too.

I usually run out of T1 in my shoes, but run into T2 barefooted.

July 4th Weekend.  For me that means the beginning of the Tour de France and barbecue! 

So today I did some honey-dos - or stated another way, I earned points for the inevitable day when my triathlon passion intrudes upon marital bliss.  Specifically, I moved furniture.  Then I moved it again.  And again.  FINALLY, it was decided everything was in it's new home (it's worth mention that, in an effort to earn additional points, I had very little to do with the decision!).  Since it took longer than expected to get everything done, I ended up missing my run because the outside temperature had climbed to over 100.  I figure there's some training value in moving furniture around . . . right?  And certainly you must get extra for "move it a couple inches to the right . . . no move it a little to the left . . . more . . . no, back to the right" - 37 times! 

Seriously though, few laps in the pool and a long ride tomorrow morning, then a long run on Monday to earn a juicy steak.  Fireworks are banned in the tinder box that is Southern California so the closest we'll come to "the rockets red glare" and "bombs bursting in air" is watching the National Fireworks on TV.

What's everyone else have on tap?  Anybody racing this weekend?  Anyone else obsessing over the Tour de France?

Quiet 4th for us here too.  It's been raining pretty much all weekend.  I did manage to get in a ride early on Saturday (rode the course for next week's race with a couple of other people), a run yesterday (dodged a few raindrops on that one), and a ride this morning.  I went over to the park and the roads/paths were a little wet along with some misty weather.  I just took it slow and used the ride to play with my gears a little.  I have a triple on my bike and spend about 98% of my time in the middle chain ring.  I've been trying to make myself use the big ring more so did that today.  I realized that if I use the big ring and some of the bigger gears on back, I can get more speed with the same amount of effort as the middle ring/smaller gears.  I know that's probably common knowledge to most but as with most things cycling - I'm a little on the slow side .  

Janet

I had to kind of chuckle.  I was going back through older posts to make sure I hadn't missed anything and came across what Deb said about practice, practice to get your feet in and out while moving on the bike . . .

Yesterday in Stage 2 of the Tour de France, Alberto Contador, one of the pre-race favorites, had a minor crash.  He was back up and on the bike fairly quickly, but a couple minutes later, they showed him doing a shoe change . . . on the bike . . . at 30+ MPH.  He was using the best road shoes you can get that had ratchets, not Velcro.  I thought it was pretty telling that he had the bike handling skills to get a shoe changed going that fast!  Never mind that someone had the foresight to have an extra pair of shoes in the team car.

(contador.jpg)

His day one crash, he went down on his right shoulder then slid into a curb, followed by another rider riding up his back - OUCH!

Day two, he went down fairly "easy" - if you can go down easy, and then three guys landed on top of him.  I'd of been curled up in a ball with my thumb in my mouth after the first crash - these guys are beasts!

Photo - L->R - Contador on the ground about to hit curb, rider about to up Contador's back, Contador's foot under a couple other guys.  Not a good start to a 21-day Grand Tour but he got up and rode away.

(day1-_-2.jpg)

It may look in the picture like he was getting assistance but in the video he pretty clearly isn't.  The teammate was merely keeping him guided the right way when he was bending down putting the shoe on.  In any case, this all took place at a pace far exceeding what most of us mere mortals do on good day.

The only racks I would consider are Thule or Yakima.  Prices range from a couple hundred to "take out a mortgage."  Most of the hitch racks are secure and provide for locking the bike to the rack.  Hope this helps.

https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/bike-rack/hitch-bike-racks

https://www.yakima.com/mount-location/hitch

Good point Steve!  I made the comment that most hitch mounts are secure and offer a locking mechanism for the bike.  I didn't say, and I should have, that I don't consider that secure.  It's fine if I'm sitting outside Starbucks and can see the car/bike(s).  I would not trust it for more than a few moments out of sight.  Best to have a secure chain around the vehicle frame and bikes.

Reading about bike racks and theft is why I don't want to get a hitch/hitch mounted carrier.  My husband does - he doesn't like it when I put my bike in the back of the car.  I told him it's part of the reason we bought this car in the first place - because my bike fit in the back (I have to take the front wheel off, but it works).  My bike is nothing special, but I like it and can't afford to replace it.  

Race coming up this weekend on Sunday - 1000m/20mi/4mi.  It's actually more of just a training day for me to see how things go and what I still need to work on before Ohio in 6 weeks.  I'll be volunteering at the kid's race tomorrow, then hope to get a short ride in with some people from the tri club if the weather holds.

Have a great weekend!
Janet 

Morning All - I'm just killing time waiting to head downtown in 45 minutes or so to ride in our local Axel Merckx GranFondo.  Today, I'm riding the VeloceFondo distance of 126km (about 78.3 miles).  It's not a race, although everyone does, it's more about riding and chatting and Aid stations.  Actually, I'm in it for the free beer ( I lucked out with three free beer tickets but I'll share with my wife).

Weatherwise it is a bit cool for the day, overcast but dry.  My riding time with some pretty good climbs (5 specific hills) should be 5:20-ish but total time with stops about 6 hours.  It is usually a fun day.  

Just now the sun is rising over the mountains and shining straight into my eyes so I can't easily see my keyboard.

Hope everyone has a good day.

PS - There will be about 2700 riders heading out at 7am.  I'll be near the back of the pack so it will take me about 10 minutes just to get to the start line after the 7am start time.

Here's my race report for the race I did on Sunday.  Even though I finished last in my age group and near the bottom overall, I was very happy with my results.  I was using this as more of a training day anyway so didn't expect too much.  I had a general goal time in mind and only missed that by about 10 minutes (which I attribute mostly to my slow transition times and some headwinds on the bike).  Best of all, I actually felt good when I crossed the finish line.  Part of that was due to the nice weather - warm but not hot like it usually is - but I think part of it also is the training I've been putting in.  Even though I've missed some days, the long bike rides and swims have paid off.  And I'm starting to figure out what I need nutrition-wise - all good things for my race next month.  A couple more practice swims and some long bike rides and I think I should be ready for Ohio!

Janet

Sorry I've been AWOL for a couple days.  I had a good time on Sunday.  It only took 7 minutes to cross the start line (and we counted 2733 riders total).  At the end they give us a chip time - activated when you cross the start line and ended when you finish.  Plus they give your time as though you started at 7am before crossing the start line.  Not sure why they bother with the 2nd numbers it is the chip time that tells how long your ride was.

I haven't had time on the computer the last couple nights but I'll write up a report tonight.  Normally I am well to the back of the pack so I was pleased to finish 49 out of 74 in my Age Group.  Now I can say I was "at the front of the back of the pack".  It's not a big deal but it felt like improvement.

Now I want to go read Janet's race report.

Hey Janet.

Good race report!  Sounds like you had a good time and met your expectations.

That's what it's all about!