ATLrunr's IM/HIM group CLOSED and training!! (Page 6)

Having been on vacation last week, there was a lot of catching up to do (both at work and at home) during the week and again this weekend.  As such, I didn't get as much accomplished as I had hoped.  Having said that, I managed to squeeze in a 6 mile run today (7:15 pace).  I did a speed run earlier in the week, which really helped me with my run today.

Question - any thoughts on a good beginner bike?  And what should I expect to spend?

For a beginner bike, IF you can figure out what will fit you first, you can get more bang for your buck if you go used. I know opinions are polarized on this though. Maybe if you have a shop near you, you can try some (if they will let you) then look for a good deal from there. Obviously, they really don't want you to do that though, so when you Need a used bike most (when you start, generally) it's generally Hardest to get one, because you lack the info you need about what you want, what will fit etc.

That said, you can pick up a new road bike or entry tri bike for maybe 1000 plus. Also, need to research if you want to go triathlon bike versus road bike.

Getting a new bike can be daunting, I know. If you really don't know anything about bikes AND don't have the local support of friends or a tri group who do, then you might benefit more from the leverage that buying a bike new from the shop gets you... free tuneups, warranty, that sort of thing.

Everyone else, please chime in on this, too.

Hey, 11 hours isn't too shabby!

I bought a new bike from the LBS.  I did buy a 2011 right as the 2012's came out so I got a good discount.  For me, going in and getting sized up and having 6 months to go in and have them make any adjustments for me for free, along with the last year's discount was worth it to me.

Friends...  After running 22 on Saturday, my buddy comes by on Sunday for what I thought was going to be an easy 20 mile bike ride.  What it turned out to be was a 30 mile hilly leg burn out.  I think he intentionally found the biggest hills in our area just so he could see me grimace.  Good times.

This was a GREAT weekend because I've been searching on ST, BT, ebay, and craigslist sometime for some racing wheels.  Found a super deal on a set of 2011 Reynolds SDV66c already with a Sram cassette and he even threw in and mounted a set of tubes and some new Continental GP4000s for me at no charge (they are 25mm, so not sure how different that will be than 23mm since everyone online has their own personal opinion).  Heck, I didn't even have to use my kids college fund to get them.  NOW that is a GREAT weekend.

Hope everyone is having a great week of training. Looking to get back at it in the morning.

I just didn't feel I was trained well enough to actually RACE the race.  It wasn't an A race for me, so I didn't taper or anything and I want to continue my training without taking a couple of days for recovery.  Just where I'm at right now.

sounds like a great deal! Sure feels good to not pay full price, doesn't it

Cool... I was just curious. I have basically been doing that for all my running races this winter too. I still try as hard as I can, but don't rest for them at all.

So what's on tap for everyone this week? I am on a mandatory two day rest break for being quite over-reached. I really really need it!!

Tomorrow is a return to training with an easy swim and bike. Thursday is a trainer ride/brick. Fri swim/ Sat group run/ Sun trainer ride/brick.

I also got an initial fit today .. my 239580th fit and none of them ever work out. This time is different though, because I'm shopping for a new bike! So excited...

What about you guys?

Good luck and have fun with your new bike purchase..it adds tons of motivation and incentive to all of your workouts. In early December I bought a 2010 P2 and had a full fitting done and cannot believe the difference in comfort compared to my roadie with aero clip-ons. Even better than the comfort factor is how a proper fitting cured the pain in my right knee almost from day one.  Money well spent for sure.  Now I just hope that the learning curve isnt too bad when I get the bike on the road.  Anyone with experience going from road bike to tri bike and how long it took to feel confident?

Hope everyone is having a good week. I've been in the pool quite a bit, and taking it a little easy on the legs. Saturday should be an adventure.  I have an 18 mile run planned, but a roadie called and asked if I would come ride, so gonna run the 18, change out gear, then ride 30 miles. I know that's backwards, but gotta do what ya gotta do.

Anyone else gonna tear it up this weekend?

Sounds awesome! I dunno about tear it up.. but I have a long run/swim tomorrow.. then probably a long trainer ride/brick Sunday. Sadly, it's supposed to rain ALL weekend so not very pumped about that.

You're an animal.  BTW...been reading your blog.  Glad to see another E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES fan in the group .  (And shame on you for rooting for the Giants)

Oh yeah an Eagles fan for sure. Had to cheer for the Giants, can't stand the Pats.  Great game last night for sure.

I'm 12 days out from my marathon, so this week I will be biking more and a little less running.  I'm not slowing down my training for the race, because my big goal is in April, just modifying.

Hope everyone has a good week of training. 

Japewang- me being a newbie to the tri world, that's a good question that I can't answer from experience. With marathon racing and when I've missed, I just moved on.  You could take my technique to triathlons and not have a plan, then you have nothing to make up   I've got a plan that I'm using as a guide (for HIM), but I modify it to suit me and my work.  Not sure this is the best answer, but I'm sure if I write out what I do everyday, I bet someone has made a plan up that is pretty similar to it. Swim 3 days a week, bike 3 or 4, run 3 or 4, and a brick a week.  I'm sure the experienced people in our group will probably say I'm way off, but heck, it's working for me, or at least I think it is. Hope you get to feeling better.

Today at lunch, got in a good two hour ride outside.  Due to the weather, the outside riding has been limited lately to say the least, so it was good to be on the roads and not on the trainer.  Time to start ramping up the distance for sure.

Hope everyone else gets some good workouts in the rest of the week.

If I woke up with a chill and a stuffy nose, I'd see how the day progressed.  If I still felt bad in the evening, I might skip the workout.  If I felt better, I'd probably try to run.  If I started running and after 10 minutes or so still felt miserable, I'd bag the workout.

When I'm following a plan and I miss a workout, I usually just skip it and don't try to make it up.  If I can rearrange the rest of the week to incorporate it and not over do things, I'll try that route, but in general, a missed workout is just a missed workout.