QUEEN ZIP & KathyG - CLOSED (Page 67)

Celcius!!! Its only just autumn here! Besides it DOES NOT snow here!!!

For wet riding I have a sleeveless vest that was actually a hand me down from CG.... apart from that... ummm nothing!

I got given some socks for my birthday, proper Capo forma and Nallini cycling ones so at least my toes have some extra warmth now...

Monday I pulled out a short sleeved sports top that I got for running a few years ago and wore that with the vest on top... that was probably warmer than my cycling jersey...

Im thinkng Arm warmers might need to be the next big purchase...

Im also contemplating riding in my compression socks

We can still hang out here right? Id really miss this group if it disappeared!

aquagirl - 2009-04-09 9:14 AM So.....aquagirl went swimming 3 days in a row......trying like mad to maintain this low stroke count which my dear coach feels I am capable of. 

But it is hard.Very hard. I cannot do more than 100 meters at a time before becoming hypoxic. She assures me it will come with time. Right now it feels like a step backwards. I am so used to being able to swim FOREVER without a break.......makes me feel like a rank beginner.........its kinda hard to take if you want the truth....      

So so so very hard to relearn some swimming! I feel your pain...

Just stick with doing it properly and stopping when you start to slip... Im sure it will all just fall into place then!

If you need a day off to rest from it you wont loose anything in a day! Promise!

QueenZipp - 2009-04-09 11:13 AM I think we can still hang out  

The Queen has spoken

I am freaking out about the anticipated water temp next week....mid 50's.  I don't have a tri specific wetsuit, my husband bought me a diving one and I don't have the heart to get rid of it...though I wonder if the dive shop would consider accepting it as a trade in towards a tri specific one (if they can get a tri specific for me)  Only wore it a few times.  I had a major meltdown swimming in it the first time I raced in it.  f the water weren't so cold I'd consider going without.

Hi Mina,

Helen has covered it really but Im going to add my thoughts anyway because I just cant helpmyself  

1. No comment

2.  x2 what Helen said - go get the springs in the pedals loosened. It makes it SO much easier to clip in and out if it hasnt already been done. Go to somewhere you feel safe, even an empty shopping mall car park works and practice...practice...practice. If you are uncomfortable leave one foot unclipped for starters!

You can also practice at home... just practice swinging your leg over the bike and clipping the first foot in as if ou were going to push off and start. The other practice at home is a little trickier but get in a door way/hallway/couch and get on your bike (if you have an obliging friend or SO they can hold your seat) then practice clipping in and out on the other foot as this will be the one you clip out and put down when you stop.

Here is a trick I used a lot when I started...I would give myself plenty of time to stop so clip out one foot early, slow right down (initially I never quite stopped before I put my foot down - not smart as you tend to slide a little but not disastrous either) and then tell myself to step down heel first (to try and avoid slidingon my cleats) (I have the other foot - the one still clipped in down aroundthe 6 o"clock position so Im just stepping down). Having a mental picture in my mind of how it was going to work BEFORE I did it really helped me!

3. I never practiced a transition either! But you can do it in your appartment really easily. First - make a list of all the gear for race day. Then... in your house set up your transition area with your towel underneath and your shoes/glasses/water bottle/hemet etc on top. Then work out how you are going to do it...

I know that I get out  of the swim and while jogging to my transition area I take off my goggles and cap ready place down when I get to my bike (not throw anywhere or they just end up in your way for t2 or you lose things.)

Then I have my  transition area set up with my on helmet on top of my bike shoes and facing upwards ready to put on my head and my shirt and sunglasses resting inside my helmet (I make sure the shirt is the rigt direction so I can just slide it on and my sunnies opened ready to throw on my face. So when I get there its in order.... sunnies, shirt, helment, shoes, grab bike and GO go go!

For T2 you rack the bike (dont forget you must have your helmet on and done up the entire time you are touching your bike) and switch shoes...you can also put a sunhat on top of your running shoes. 

I also have an additional water bottle in my transition area in case I want to either: take a gulp to clean my mouth out, run with it or need it to clean my feet off after the swim before putting my bike shoes on... I dry them on the towel if needed.

Basically visualise what you need to do at each transition, practice setting up your area - in a way that makes things really easy for you!

4 - Tri Clothes. I did my first ever race in a swimsuit with a tshirt and shorts over the top. The only thing is getting shorts on over the wet swimsuit was yuck!

Im self conscious about my body - whats worked for me is trishorts and a tri/swim top with a tech shirt/singlet over the top (I put the top on in T1) or a one piece tri suit with a tech shirt/singlet over the top.  Im used to riding in lycrashorts so I can deal with my bottom half exposed and the really light tech fabric top means the top underneath still dries quickly but also the areas Im self conscious about are flattered a bit more! Plus because its a bit loose its easy to throw on at T1 without loosing any real time

5 - HAVE FUN!!!! This is all about the fun and this race will be like a learning experience on how it all works so dont worry you wont be the only first timer! If on race day you have questions ASK them... talk to the person racked next to you, the people waiting for your wave to start in the swim etc

I am so excited for you!

Cat

velcromom - 2009-04-09 6:59 PM GREAT!  I hadn't even THOUGHT about water temp.  Make it number 18 on the list of panic items.  What's good?!?  I know I like it at 80 to work out in, and 78 to race in the pool.....

However, Judi, I do think you can rent a tri wetsuit at most races.....maybe look at the website for your event?

Linda

I'm combining the answers to your questions from both posts here....

Tri top is similar to a bike jersey but more fitting.  Pockets for gu, snacks, spare tube/CO2 cartridges.

Water temp in mid 70-80 is okay but kinda warm for racing. The core gets too warm and overheats creating a recipe for a long day if you don't get enough hydration/electrolytes in.  Folks in New Orleans last weekend said on LOOP1 of the bike there was NO GATORADE.  Not a good thing on a hot day to only have water.

I am actually going to PM Artemis (Jen) to see if I can borrow her wetsuit.  She has a tri specific suit and I could get it next week after work.  I am going to call my local dive shop though and see if they'll be willing to get a tri specific with a trade in of the other suit.  Otherwise I may have to learn how to sell something on ebay

I hate being cold.  I have thyroid function from a bottle (seriously) so I get cold easily.  Someone posted on the race forum that weather is predicted mid 60's and rainy right now with water 55-57.

Big key for you will be getting in the lake and RELAXING.  Start off towards the back of the pack.  Give yourself space.    Also, some races will give you a different color cap from your wave if you're nervous so the kayakers can watch out for you.  If you dig in my RR's you can find Cayuga Lake 2007....my first ever OWS race.  It took over 30 min to do 750 meters cause I had a major meltdown in the lake. Had a kayaker follow me the whole swim. 

You can make up a bad swim with a good bike and run split.  I was last out of the water in that race, but passed a whole lot of folks on the bike and run who had kicked my tail in the lake.

QueenZipp - 2009-04-10 10:40 AM

velcromom - 2009-04-09 6:59 PM GREAT!  I hadn't even THOUGHT about water temp.  Make it number 18 on the list of panic items.  What's good?!?  I know I like it at 80 to work out in, and 78 to race in the pool.....

However, Judi, I do think you can rent a tri wetsuit at most races.....maybe look at the website for your event?

Linda

You can make up a bad swim with a good bike and run split.  I was last out of the water in that race, but passed a whole lot of folks on the bike and run who had kicked my tail in the lake.

Judi is wise.. Im a good swimmer and loose a whole lot of places, especially in the run!

Thanks for letting u know, I hadn't made my way over this mornong when I checked in then I saw this and stopped by