BHannahs's Group - FULL! (Page 7)

A cadence meter is helpful, especially if you plan to do any indoor trainer sessions with structured workouts.  I do a lot of these workouts, and feel that they are helpful because they force me to vary my cadence and feel more comfortable at both high and low cadences. 

However, I don't necessarily agree that you 'need' to spin at a higher cadence to be better off.  He is right in that you will tax your legs less by using a smaller gear and spinning faster.  The down side to that is that you tax your aerobic system more and may go slower overall.  I believe that as you ride more, you find a cadence that is natural and comfortable for you and that is the ideal.  I don't think there is a 'magic number' that fits everyone.  I probably spin a little faster than I did a couple of years back, but that is a result of experience and increased aerobic capacity.  I keep adapting.  That said, my natural, comfortable cadence is in the low 80s, rather than 100+, which some people recommend.   Experiment a little as you build into cycling and find what works best for you.  Vary your cadence on your rides.  It is likely that due to different terrain, you'll find yourself in situations where spinning fast and light is best and where power is best.       

Well I finally I feel like a tri-athlete again well at least a tri-athlete in training I started my open water swims today.

55 degree water full 3mil wetsuit, hood, gloves & boots I’d like to know who came up with the saying HTFU

 Really it was very doable and not that bad.

Congratulations, Adam!  The first open water swim is a HUGE step - and in 55 degree water, you certainly earned your HTFU for the day!!

I was thinking about doing a race in June. I'm not committed to doing it yet, but I might be ready for it. The swim is the typical out and back, the run is an out and back but the bike leg is confusing as hell. You go down the road hang a right, make a few more rights, loop around a residential subdivision, back track a while, hang right for and loop around another subdivision then back track the rest of the way.

I realize the course is marked and they should have people at the turns directing us but it’s a little confusing. Anyone ever get lost on a tri?

PS We hit 9 pages on this thread!

I almost got misdirected on a couple of occasions, but never completely.  Most events will have plenty of volunteers directing and you'll likely have plenty of people to follow (at least I do - that's one advantage to being in the middle to back of the pack    ).  That said, it is the athlete's responsibility to 'know the course'.  I know when looking at a route map online or reading the directions, it can be confusing, and it is always helpful to preview the course if you can or drive it sometime beforehand to remove any doubt.  You'll likely have the safety nets of other racers and volunteers on race day, but if you can have some mental notes beforehand from previewing or driving, you'll not only have seen the course, but you'll also know where there are hills, sharp turns, rough roads, etc.  I haven't always been able to see the course beforehand, but if I do, that is one less thing to worry about on race day...

No doubt I would be following a few racers...LOL My July race is right in my backyard and I know the course blind folded. But I was a little taken back by the route of this race. Thers a lot going on and it would be easy to miss a turn.

You've got that right!  As much as I dislike wind and hills (I am a heavier rider, which eats me up on the hills, and I am wide, so I am a really good sail in the wind), I know they will make me much faster in calm conditions and flats.  Those 40 mph gusts must have been brutal.  They all make you stronger in the end, though! 

All things being equal, I like the SPD-SL pedals better, and they are what I am using now.  I prefer the wider cleat and feel like I am spreading the pressure of my shoe/foot to the pedal out a little more, whereas SPDs put more pressure in a  smaller area.

However, the versatility of the SPDs is a big plus.  Since you can use them in spin class as well as riding, you would be able to use one shoe/cleat combination  for both (honestly, I still have my old shoes with the SPD cleats 'just in case' I need them for a loaner bike or if I take a spin class at some point    ).  So the versatility is a factor to consider.

Any chance you could put the SPD-SLs on your bike and shoes, and find some cheap or used shoes to have with SPD cleats for spin class?  Just a thought...best of both worlds scenario.  And isn't it just like a triathlete to think you can never have too much gear? 

Not always, but sometimes, two days after is the worst - you're not alone.