DRM's Group - FULL (Page 7)

My tri-bike also has a Cateye CD300W (wireless) Computer (speed, Cadence, Lap, etc) and Jetstream NXT aerobar 28oz water bottle.

Here's the rest of my list:
- Mizuno Wave Creation 7 Running shoes with lock laces
- Two QR 5-pocket Tri Suit (white and blue)
- Aqua Sphere Seal XP swim goggles 
- QR Tri shorts
- Several technical shirts
- Zoomer Blue Fins
- Promotion Sleeveless Power Glide WS
- Cheap Polar HRM
- Fuel Belt 4 bottle

I really like using the tri-suit, been using the Desoto brand 5 packet TS now for about 2 years (see Avatar chg), it has longer legs than most others at 9.5 ".  No worries about putting on a shirt in T1.  Under a wetsuit it's a skin buffer.  Only thing I really would need to cutout of T1 would be putting on socks but it seems that I'm not one that can do that as I always seems to get blisters on my back of my heals.

Hey Guys,

FYI, I'm inviting a tri newbie to join us.  He's a local here where I live and has expressed interest in joining our group.  I'll have in intro himself to us all and we'll go from there.

Powder blue, yup I like the powder blue, went 9-1 in middle shool lacrosse playing in "baby blue" "girly blue", etc, that other teams called us!!!  I actually sent an email to DS last year asking them to get a bit more "manly" with their colors!

BTW, the 06 DS tri suits can be had on the net in closeout for a low price of $65-$80.  You have to do a search engine to find them.  I'll be happy to inform you (Cameron!) that I ordered a Red/Black suit for this years races.

Closet art!

Steven,

I totally respect that you going with the Trek 1200 for IMAZ!  I road a very bottom of the line Fuji RB from July 05 to Sept 06.  The difference is amazing going up to a higher end TB.  I recall coasting next to Cameron (Titan IV) with his Cervelo P2SL on rides and he would always coast away from me, not anymore! 

Any thought on renting some race wheels with high end hubs to help out with the power loss? It'll add up over 112 miles...

You are killing me 'cause I have the means to take the step up.  I had been thinking of a Cervelo Dual.  I know I would use the bike and it's nice to know there is equipment out there that would make a me faster.  We'll see. I'll show my wife thispost.  HEh heh.

Damn...after reading all of this, can you say "Yard sale?!!"  That's a lot of gear gents.

I'm just getting rolling with this game, so my list is relatively short:

• Giant TCR Aero 2 (2003, I believe), full Ultegra (stock was 105), with Time RSX pedals, and PD CGT Aero bars; this bike is somewhat of a hybrid - not true Tri/TT and not true Road...has attributes that work both ways.
• Sigma BC1600 cyclometer
• Shimano SH-R98 road shoes (first pair)
• Sidi Genius 5 Lorica road shoes (Christmas present) - very nice and comfy!
• CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer
• Trek 930 MTB (not sure of year, '94 I believe), Rapid Fire shifters (love these!), and not sure of components
• Tyr Aqua Sphere Seal XP goggles
• Sigma P6 HRM (though eyeing Edge 305 or Polar S625x, among others)

Welcome Tod - glad you're joining us.  This is a great group.

FYI and FWIW, I'm a newbie as well and looking forward to my first tri in April.  The encouragement I've received from this group and others (local GA folks) on this site is awesome.

Cheers!

Welcome Tod!

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Well, I think it is smart to stay with the bike you have until you know you will stay with the sport. I did my first 1.5 years on a Felt F75 RB with tiagra and 105 components. When you do upgrade the bike though, as I told Don, make sure it is one you will be happy with for a while. If you get the Dual, are you going to want a better one in a year? Maybe do like Don did and get a last year model closeout for a great price.

Welcome Tod. I also live in your area and ride with Don on Sat some mornings. You will have to join us. I have a similar background to you with mostly fast twitch sports and started this slow twitch stuff a few years ago.

As for races, the Moss park races are very small and low key. There is on in March and July. Also Pineappleman in June in Melbourne.  Where do you work. I am also a SW eng @ CSI who became Essex who will become Northrop Grumman next month.

This is my third year biking/running.  I've been a swimmer most of my life, but not for endur.   I'm in the sport for the long haul.  I feel like once I have the IM under my belt, show myself that the engine is responsible for the finish, then I can start concentrating on speed and more advanced equipment.  Its not entirely logical, and a it's a bit of Spartan (masochistic?) thinking.

  Part of me want to just splurge and get a sweet ride so I can have a lower time.  Get a power tap, get a top of the line ride, get a coach, etc. etc. So far I'm leaning towards minimalism. 

Story of my life!  I was riding my MTB when I first met Cameron (Titan IV), I know he thought I was nuts!  In '05 I went on our annual vacation in upstate NY and found a local sprint tri that I could do.  I drove the bike course and said no way to riding the MTB! Found a used low-end RB to do it with and to see if I would like the RB aspect of it all.  When I signed up for the HIM last year I knew at that point I was in it for life and was going to buy a TB when the sales started.  Now days I love to ride the MTB again, I love the power it gives me.  38+ lbs of low end bike makes me work harder!  When I get on the TB I feel like I'm flying with way less effort.

IMHO, seriously look at renting some race wheels or higher end wheels.  You have a great shop or two in your area to looking into this.

When I got the RB last year I wanted to learned more about pedal technique.  I found a pretty good technical article (attached pdf) explaining the details of the technique and went out and practiced as I rode.  Now remember this was with pedals with toe cages still.  When I got the TB with clips & shoes, I was amazed how easy it was to pedal!  I could easily up my pedal rate over 100 and keep it there.  However I was still thinking about the technique and found that it was hard to do this when pedaling at a high rate of speed.  This past fall, shortly after I got the TB, I read in a magazine (forgot which one) that made it all simple again.  Pretty much the article said over 95 to 105 RPMs forget about all the details on pedal technique.  Due to the momentum involved, at this point you simply cannot focus on implementing it as it will overload your thought processes.  All you need to do is pump your knees in order to release the weight on the upward pedal and push on the other, form is to not bounce in the saddle. 
Now the following is my opinion only, you may find info counter to or in support of, or have a different sweet spot in the pedal rate, etc.:

1. Below 95 RPMs or so, work on technique, like when climbing a shallow hill where you can stay seated.  Or mix it up and gear up to slow the pedal rate and work on bringing it around.  I work on it during warm-up when I first start my ride as my pedal rate is naturally slower at this point.
2. Above 95 RPMs or so, be an engine.  When I did my Bike LT a few weeks ago I visualized my knees being an engine piston, my lower leg the connecting rod and my foot/pedals the Crank arm.  I just worked on pumping my knees, not thinking about the other parts.  I was able to maintain a pedal rate of 103 to 109 the whole time.

I hope this helps, let me know what you think or if you have any questions…

Thanks Don - I've seen that article somewhere before. but didn't save it.  I did this time.  Good info.

Our Sat rides are mostly easy. We also work things out with some other guys who want to go shorter to just meet up somewhere or peel off and head home when they are at there miles.

Our two common routes are around South Tropical Trail along the river and loop around Pineda and Eau Gallie Causeways to US1. Our other one is River Road (I think also called Rockledge Drive). One guy will drive up to my house and start from there to make the ride shorter.

Just let us know how far you want to go and we can recommend where to meet.

Tod, PM me your email address and I will add you to our informal training buddy list we use to setup rides.