Beer Drinker Appreciation Society 2 - Closed (Page 51)

The only reason I haven't got a tri bike yet is I can't swing both and I will need my road bike to do a road race and group rides where the tri bike isn't allowed. It's my first season as well so don't let that be a factor if you should or shouldn't get one. The tri bug is the same whether one season in or ten seasons in. When it bites we MUST act!

If you do decide on a tri bike work out a doable budget and go from there. All of the makes are really close in specs just different geometry so the make you pick will just depend on which fits the best. One may have something slightly different in the spec although the prices are super close as well so it all boils down to fit, fit, and fit. There is more fit forgiveness on a roadie than a tri bike. When I am ready I plan to drop a few bucks on a retul fit and then go the used route from either the BT site or over at the ST classifieds. I would rather have new but something that is a year old and the seller got upgrade fever works for me as well. More bike less money and in some cases a huge amount of difference. From what I understand the weight isn't a huge factor since we don't do much if any climbing so don't get caught up in the "must have top end components to save weight" thinking. The way I understood it was more aero trumps weight in tri bikes.

If I could swing the coinage right now I would be riding a tri bike for every training ride I did and loving every minute of it without regret. Long ride or short ride would still be on the tri bike.

The women who came in dead last today (5:25) put it best. She crossed the finish line, feel down in the grass, looked up at us (who had her water, her medal) and said, "I don't give a F@@@ what my time is, I finished!"

Great to have that 2nd bike for when 1 is in the shop getting tune up/broke down/upgrade. Don't get rid of road bike if you can swing it. It's too versatile. It's better on hills. It's the only thing allowed on group rides. you can put it on a trainer while the other one is for the road or vice versa. If you can swing it, keep it.

That being said, if you can swing it, get the tri bike. You only live once. Life is short and we must play hard. I love the fact that your having a great "rookie" season, and looking forward as this is the ground floor and the potential to go further is infinite. Keep that attitude in the lean times and you'll be a HIM finisher next year.

So glad to hear that you are enjoying it. God, I love this sport and I am glad you do to!!! Make it your goal to complete a HIM next year. Then do it!

So, you want a new bike... I think WANT is the operative word. I did a HIM on a road bike and it didn't kill me. You can too. While the Madone 1.5 isn't the best bike out there - it will get the job done all the way to Ironman (with tri bars added).

With that said, feel free to put the money into a tri bike if - 1) You want more comfort. I have the 3.1 and it's great. I tested the 1.5 and felt the extra 600 was worth it. 2) You want to get faster - some people are motivated by speed. Up to a point - $$$=speed...3) you know that sinking money into a bike will motivate you. When I chose the 3.1 - I knew that it was a major investment. I rationalized that it was worth the money because I would feel guilty if I didn't use it considering how much I had spent (it was the 3rd most expensive purchase I have ever made). I swear that bike talks to me (Hey a$$hole - I cost 2x what that couch in front of the TV did - why don't you get off your butt and ride me for a change.).

Really depends on your situation. If you have the money - do you research and get it now. If you are counting your pennies - wait til the off season and 1) buy a used bike (cheap but you never know the real history) 2) Wait for the next model to come out and buy the old model for a bunch less. I would trade in your road bike but that us just me.

Really when it comes down to it - go to a LBS you trust and try a bunch of bikes. By the one you enjoy sitting on the most. Tell the salesperson not to tell you anything about the bike until you have taken it out for a ride. I bought my bike when after haven ridden it for all of 10 feet my butt proclaimed - damn this feels good!
Good luck.



Edited by Qua17 2013-08-25 10:51 PM

I agree with both you and Bill - you still got out there and (at this point) that i all that matters! 3 weeks is a great start. Keep it up and you will be back to your old self in no time.

I had such a nice Tri day today. I volunteered at a local race and was assigned to the finish line where I handed out water bottles. I had a blast. It was nice to give back to repay the debt I owe to those who had greeted me at finish lines in the past. I managed to take home a few free water bottles and a t shirt. Plus - it was a beautiful day up here in boston and the ride there with the windows down was even better than enjoying 4 hours without any kids.

Working the finish line was so motivating. God, I love this sport. Just being around it makes me happy And while I was bummed to think that I have taken a few steps backwards this year, seeing all the joy of those people crossing the finish line motivates me to get my butt back in the game.

The woman who worked for the company that ran the race was telling me about some of the other racesthe company sponsored. One of the races was a super hard race with tons of hills (one finisher last year crossed the line and demanded to speak to the race director. When he finally found him - the participant asked, Are you the sick F$%@ who designed that little taste of hell") which might be a great confidence builder for my IM. I am 99% sure that I am going to sign up for IMMT this week and a hilly half would be a confidence builder for me.

Embracing the less is more attitude - I did a 17 minute bike in honor of Matt Kenseth who won his 5th race yesterday.

BDAS WEEKLY GOAL CHART 8/27/2013 - Question what are you going to do this week to move you closer to your goals!

DQ - Waiting to hear what my new coach has cooking.

BDAS WEEKLY GOAL CHART 8/27/2013 - Question what are you going to do this week to move you closer to your goals!

DQ - Waiting to hear what my new coach has cooking.

Kevin- Continue to log workouts even as I start back at school this week.

Edited by kevinbe 2013-08-26 6:50 AM

Alex - Keep on the rehab exercises morning and night so I can continue training

Time to make it official... I just signed up for Ironman Mont Tremblant which will take place on August 17, 2014. Pretty stoked. Thanks to everyone so far for your help with getting me to this point. I really appreciate all of your support!

whoo hoo!!!!

Sweet! So awesome.

Big Time!

The last time I was there I was 18 years old and it was my first legal drinking experience. I had a Grolsh after I had too many other Molson Excels. I was amazed at the flip top.

Enjoy the journey!

Bobby- weekly goals: get in the pool for some time and distance

Ok - it has finally happened and I am stoked. Tonight after dinner the fam went to the pool. When we got there - my eldest son asked how long a swim was for a sprint triathlon. I told him and he said he wanted to do it. Being the supportive dad, I told him that people sometimes do plans that take weeks to work people up to a sprint distance swim but he said he wanted to try. So, he dove in and swam 400 yards! Then when he was done he asked how far I had gone (500) and proceded to swim another 5 lengths so he could beat me.

As we were walking home - he asked if we could do a 50 mile bike ride so he could get his 50 miler award. Scouts and tri - it doesn't get any better. Then it did - he asked if he could get a BT account. Guess what were gonna do next!

Awesome!

That's great! Full year to train. you've got this!

So happy for you. Nothing like having common interests you can do together. That's awesome!

Good luck and enjoy the training!

Wow! I just caught up to all the happenings around here and I find you guys are doing great keeping each other motivated. I've been kind of busy and I just got finished my ace report from my HM two weekends ago.

http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid...

I was targeting 2:15 but I started out too fast and ended up with a 2:24 finish, still a PR for me but not the time I wanted.

On a tri note, I've volunteered twice in the past month and I'm eager to get out there and compete. My first tri in next month and I'm very anxious, in a good way, like I said I just want to get out there and be a triathlete. Today I did my first real OWS out in the ocean, not the bay like in the past few weeks. Let me say that I'm humbled, I always respect the water and today was a reminder why. Nothing bad happened but the 0.54 mi swim took a lot of effort, I know I just started swimming a couple of months ago but todays experience just made me realize how much more work I need in the water. Then I come here and I read about Alex's mental hiccup and I say to my self, "hey you got out there, yes you need some work but make it a positive experience", back in May I couldn't make it across the pool and today I swam 0.5 mi in the ocean, wearing a wetsuit of course.

All I have to say is that I'm glad and came home and read the last 4 pages of this thread, thank you BadA$$ers

My race report for the Chicago Triathlon is up. I made some very poor nutrition decisions, and lived to rue them. It was not a good race at all, and about 90 minutes slower than my previous race (on a much harder course), but most of that was me sitting under a shady tree while the medics checked me out.

On the plus side, both my wife and I did finish it, on our own power, together, hand in hand. As bad as it sounds, I am still looking forward to the next race.

It's also shown me just how important proper nutrition is on race day. I went over-board, and it almost sent me to the hospital.

From here on out, it's going to be mostly running, and my masters group starts up again in late September.

Charles - Lesson learned. Actually it was damn nice of you - to sacrifice your own well-being to support your wife. You are willing to go the extra mile and I applaud such an unselfish act : ).

Seriously - congrats on finishing. At my tri on Sunday where I volunteered - a woman took 5:25 to finish (what was cool was that one of the volunteers actually ran 3 milesback to where she was struggling and then ran with her to the finish line). When she crossed the line and proceded to fall down and didn't move for 15 minutes. So - you beat that! And - you will be will hydrated for your next race.

More importantly, what beer did you drink to rehydrate?

Today's workout pretty much sums up everything about where my brain is at in regards to tris... My knee hurt (about a 3) and so I decided to do the shorter route. I didn't make it 2 minutes before I had to stop and stretch (perhaps I should do this - warmup stretch, run). As I was running it was hard not to push my pace especially towards the end. I was listening to Beethoven's 9th (I have eclectic tastes when it comes to workout music. So there I was and despite my knee hurting and my plan to cut it short, I was actually thinking of extending my run so that my finish could coincide with the music. Duh... Luckily I was able to cut that idea off at the pass and took a shorter route home and fast forwarded the music. But that is what I am facing - an insane desire to always go the extra mile and for the most trivial of reasons. And my knee still hurts. grr.

One of the people I have been corresponding with talks about the fact that ironman is really a voyage of self discovery. I'd say I was getting off to a good start in that regard. In all areas of my life, I go 110%. If I could learn that 99% is ok - then the challenges will be worth it. Can I get an amen?!?

To celebrate - I'm drinking a Heady Topper tonight - best imperial IPA on the planet!

How was the plan leading into the race in training? Did you stick to what worked in training, or do something different? Were the conditions different at the race and you had to adjust your plan? All good questions moving forward so you can dial it in during next training cycle.
You did not quit. It would have been easy to quit, he77, you were with medics. But you did not quit. Kudos to you for the determination to stick with it and finish. Id've probably quit. Way to go.

A big fat nothing today. Took daughter to theme park yesterday and her and I got the poisoning from the park food. Me worse than her. (go figure, I ate half of her food). I projectiled 4x and lost 8 lbs. The Silver Lining: I'm under 200 at 198! Hoping for energy to hit it hard tomorrow and erase the sickness memory. I'm pretty drained.