Mad Manatee Mentors 2013: CLOSED (exc/ Pop Tart bribes) (Page 36)

Hi All!  Remember Me?   I have missed all of you. 

SKRAT!!! Hi buddy, we've missed you!!  {{{welcome back hug}}}  I haven't had the cojones or assistance to make a swim analysis video yet, but I will be sure to let you know if/when I do.

Best of luck with your move and training and your road trip, so exciting!!  I wish you were making it to the east coast (we're not all as bad as you once said).

Welcome back!

Please post your bio since this is a new mentor group and we have new Manatees!

(Manatee table updated)

Ok, so we went in to the trusted LBS today and I told James, the owner, about my conundrum. He explained to me the ways in which a new bike in my price range would be better than what I currently have. He did some measurments then brought out a beautiful Felt B 16. He explained how the geometry is different than my Giant and he made some adjustments and put on some pedals for me to take it for a spin. I was sooooo amazed at how much the carbon soaks up the rough-ness of the road!!! So I pulled it back in to the store and discussed it with DH with NO pressure from James. (And it wasn't even at the top of my budget) When we decided to buy it the other owner, Brandi, noticed that they had a helmet in stock that matched! Of COURSE I had to get that! They also had gloves that match but I resisted those (it'll leave DH something to buy for me ). Then we talked about what kind of tires to put on and discussed my bringing in my old bike to start swapping out components. We drove home, put away the groceries we got after bike shopping then I hopped on the old bike and rode back to the bike shop. James switched over my pedals and saddle then did an initial fit. He is going to make the adjustments and I'm supposed to pick it up on Monday. Then after I've had a chance to ride it some I'll go back and we'll fine tune the fit. I'm pretty excited about it now. I feel like I really thought it through.

So, without further ado, here she is (I'll take a better picture when I get her home)

Ok, so we went in to the trusted LBS today and I told James, the owner, about my conundrum. He explained to me the ways in which a new bike in my price range would be better than what I currently have. He did some measurments then brought out a beautiful Felt B 16. He explained how the geometry is different than my Giant and he made some adjustments and put on some pedals for me to take it for a spin. I was sooooo amazed at how much the carbon soaks up the rough-ness of the road!!! So I pulled it back in to the store and discussed it with DH with NO pressure from James. (And it wasn't even at the top of my budget) When we decided to buy it the other owner, Brandi, noticed that they had a helmet in stock that matched! Of COURSE I had to get that! They also had gloves that match but I resisted those (it'll leave DH something to buy for me ). Then we talked about what kind of tires to put on and discussed my bringing in my old bike to start swapping out components. We drove home, put away the groceries we got after bike shopping then I hopped on the old bike and rode back to the bike shop. James switched over my pedals and saddle then did an initial fit. He is going to make the adjustments and I'm supposed to pick it up on Monday. Then after I've had a chance to ride it some I'll go back and we'll fine tune the fit. I'm pretty excited about it now. I feel like I really thought it through.

So, without further ado, here she is (I'll take a better picture when I get her home)

Ok, so we went in to the trusted LBS today and I told James, the owner, about my conundrum. He explained to me the ways in which a new bike in my price range would be better than what I currently have. He did some measurments then brought out a beautiful Felt B 16. He explained how the geometry is different than my Giant and he made some adjustments and put on some pedals for me to take it for a spin. I was sooooo amazed at how much the carbon soaks up the rough-ness of the road!!! So I pulled it back in to the store and discussed it with DH with NO pressure from James. (And it wasn't even at the top of my budget) When we decided to buy it the other owner, Brandi, noticed that they had a helmet in stock that matched! Of COURSE I had to get that! They also had gloves that match but I resisted those (it'll leave DH something to buy for me ). Then we talked about what kind of tires to put on and discussed my bringing in my old bike to start swapping out components. We drove home, put away the groceries we got after bike shopping then I hopped on the old bike and rode back to the bike shop. James switched over my pedals and saddle then did an initial fit. He is going to make the adjustments and I'm supposed to pick it up on Monday. Then after I've had a chance to ride it some I'll go back and we'll fine tune the fit. I'm pretty excited about it now. I feel like I really thought it through.

So, without further ado, here she is (I'll take a better picture when I get her home)

Ok, so we went in to the trusted LBS today and I told James, the owner, about my conundrum. He explained to me the ways in which a new bike in my price range would be better than what I currently have. He did some measurments then brought out a beautiful Felt B 16. He explained how the geometry is different than my Giant and he made some adjustments and put on some pedals for me to take it for a spin. I was sooooo amazed at how much the carbon soaks up the rough-ness of the road!!! So I pulled it back in to the store and discussed it with DH with NO pressure from James. (And it wasn't even at the top of my budget) When we decided to buy it the other owner, Brandi, noticed that they had a helmet in stock that matched! Of COURSE I had to get that! They also had gloves that match but I resisted those (it'll leave DH something to buy for me ). Then we talked about what kind of tires to put on and discussed my bringing in my old bike to start swapping out components. We drove home, put away the groceries we got after bike shopping then I hopped on the old bike and rode back to the bike shop. James switched over my pedals and saddle then did an initial fit. He is going to make the adjustments and I'm supposed to pick it up on Monday. Then after I've had a chance to ride it some I'll go back and we'll fine tune the fit. I'm pretty excited about it now. I feel like I really thought it through.

So, without further ado, here she is (I'll take a better picture when I get her home)

It was 93 degrees F. today, so I REALLY wanted to get to my OWS! I did. It was short, but as I did end up switching to the Mini Tri next Sunday, it makes sense--I still did a bit farther distance though--I swam 600 meters or so (I think it was a bit more), but I did the whole distance in 15 minutes! Grant me a moment to say: THAT WAS MY FASTEST SWIM EVER!!!!---So...this is what happens when I rarely train my swimming skills?!?!? After my swim, I had the longest transition ever for my run because some ladies in the parking lot managed to find a baby rattlesnake who was heading for the family play areas...I wrangled the little guy with a couple of sticks and placed him in a nice area FAR away from the families, yet very near ground squirrel burrows...Unfortunately, he looked like he had a bit of an injury on his side. I hope he ends up okay...Anyways, that's two training session at that area in a row in which I have found at least one snake...yes, this is motivation for me to train more there!  After the rattlesnake fun, I did do my exceedingly slow run--1.5 miles in 20 minutes...13mph pace.......

Now that I don't have an unprepared for, scary race looming, I feel much less anxious. I am so ready to get back to it! ---and my quads aren't hurting! YAY!

Sooooo...I'm waiting for DH to come downstairs so we can watch the end of Game of Thrones Season#2.

I rode for 1:33 today (just under 26mi) in the wind. It was good, but CRAZY... 11.5mph into the wind, and 28mph with tailwind.  When I got home, I "hopped" off bike and ran a mile. Then...well,  I'd had enough for the day. 

Yesterday was super busy, and I forgot to say thanks for your nice comments on the race video. The whole morning was really an enjoyable experience once I got over my OWS jitters  

I love having the wind at my back.  Makes you feel super fast, doesn't it?

No pie and no beer (sad face).  Not sure how it got that name, but on Mother's Day weekend they have the Mrs. Smith's Challenge (with rolling pins as AG awards, not that I'll be getting one) for women only and Father's Day weekend they have the Mr. Smith's Challenge for men only but it's a 10K instead of 5 miles.  The men win trophies that look like the Incredible Hulk ripping his shirt off.  It's a trail run.   I love running in the woods. Fun!  It would be much more fun with beer and pie.  Or ice cream.