triOK's Group - CLOSED (Page 29)

Question for the veteran swimmers out there.

I did my first drill with paddles today. Very humbling I must say....obviously need to work on upper body strength. But I noticed that I was much weaker on my left side. I felt my lat engaging on my right side, but I seemed to be all shoulder on my left. Do you think this is a strength issue or a technique issue? I generally breathe towards my left side.

Thanks in advance for your help!

It seems to me that would be technique.  Try working on breathing on your right side for a while and see if that helps.  I generally alternate sides that I breathe on - the easiest way to do that is to plan on always looking at the same side of the pool when you breathe when you go in either direction. 

That looks confusing - I mean I alternate on each length.  So I go out breathing on my left, and come back breathing on my right.  After practice, you'll get good at both sides.  When I started, I could only breathe on my left, now I can breathe on my right just as well.  It's also good practice for bilateral!

That's hard to say, but I would think that its probably a bit of both.  I have a HUGE problem with this right now that I am trying to work on.  I used to play volleyball a lot in a previous life and as a result, my shoulders are torn to shreds.  I have a very hard time with my rotator cuffs since I have major scar tissue build up in my shoulders.  But also, my right shoulder is MUCH stronger than my left since I used to hit right handed.

I am not the best swimmer in the world, but I have gotten some help with my stroke recently and I would like to pass it on here... its made a world of difference so far, but I am still a pathetic work in progress!   Its good that you are using your lats to pull through your stroke.  That's the way it should be on both sides.  I was told to imagine you are reaching over the top of a barrel, "break your elbow" and pull yourself over the barrel.  I was shocked when I started to feel all of the different muscles I wasn't using.  I have almost had to re-teach myself to swim, but I do feel a lot faster and stronger when I get it right.

I went and got an elastic band with a handle at a sporting goods store and I have been practicing my pull using that.  It will not only improve your strength but also your muscle memory...

Yep..  Attach it to door knob.

Hi gang-

Back from vacation...managed to get a pretty good amount of exercise, but also ate like crap!!  Argh.  Well, maybe I broke even.  Will check the evil scale in the am if I am feeling brave.  Still, it was nice to get away and have sunshine for a change.  My next tri is next Sunday!

We went to a small lake in far northeastern Washington, about eight miles from where I grew up (and from where I was the previous weekend for my reunion).  NE Wa is much browner than Western WA, yet it is mountainous and full of pretty farms in the valleys.  I lived waaaaaay outside of the small town for a few years on 10,000 acres.  Now that was remote!  It is really beautiful out here in the Seattle area, and although I complain about the rain a lot, it keeps it green and lush!  My weather complaint for the day is that it is not even supposed to hit 70 on race day, and the swim is in Lake Washington (cold!) at 645 AM.  I will have to ride and run hard just to get warm!!    I really wouldn't want to live anywhere else.....I just need to get used to working out in the rain!!

-Leslie

Hey gator,

The Red Sox making you nervous yet? That 4 game lead just isn't enough for me.

willie05 - 2007-08-14 12:10 AM Congratulations to Dan for 2nd place OVERALL in the Steelman Olympic tri this past weekend!

WOW!!!! Awesome job Dan!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I am nervous about the Sox. Every true Red Sox fan expects and epic collapse in heartbreaking fashion. My girlfriend is a big Yankees fan and reminds me of the shrinking lead everyday....

I have mid-size North Face backpack that I wear when I ride to the gym to swim. It has a chest and waist strap, so I really do not know its there. It is also great for hauling my kid's stuff on day trips.....and chicks dig it!!!

I have Shimano shoes and pedals.  I assume since my shoes were Shimano that Shimano pedals worked the best with them.....I bought two pairs of pedals so I could have one on my mountain bike, but they are still sitting in the box.   Sigh.  You will LOVE the improvement once you have a shoe/pedal combo.  You won't believe the difference!!!

Since we are talking bikes....not to steal the attention in the forum.....I am wondering about climbing technique and the chain falling off.  I find that when I least expect it and am shifting into the small chain ring going uphill, the chain comes off and I can't get it to re-engage by pedaling like I normally can on a flat if that happens.  Someone told me that was from user error but did not go into detail about how to correct it...I sure had some bad language when it happened on a big hill this morning, with no shoulder to pull over to .....  anyway, any advice is appreciated!  I do try to be very mindful when shifting.

 Also, transition bag....I just use a mesh Jansport backback that holds everything.  However, I don't have a wetsuit (yet) and wouldn't be able to fit that in. For now it works very well.

As Medusa_Ann said, Shimano's are good pedals.  They have a large platform and are easy to get into.  The are similiar to LOOK pedals but with a larger platform and are lighter.  I just upgraded to them from my LOOK pedals and love them.

First off, your chain should NOT be doing that.  You need to get your front derailleur adjusted.  When it does happen, here is what you do: 
1) If it falls to the inside, you switch to your big ring and it should come back on.  Since you are going up hill, you will have to also switch to your large cog in the rear simultaneously or risk pushing an impossible gear for a couple of revolutions. 

2) If it falls to the outside, switch to the small ring and the front derailleur will force it back on.  Now this is easier because it's easier to spin.

If this happens randomly, then it's an anomoly.  If it happens regularly, then get your front derailleur adjusted.  When going uphill, there is more tension on your chain, so it's harder to switch gears.  Unless your chain gets stuck, you should not have to actually touch your chain to get it to go back on. 

Hope that helps.