Mav's Massachusetts Mentor Group/Full for the Season (Page 8)

Lauren it really depends on what you want to spend. You can spend as little as $1500 to$7500. Depends on your price point .

The first question is do you want a tri bike or a road bike? If you really plan on doing tris I would advise a tri bike but if you enjoy road riding and plan on riding with a group then think about a road bike. A tri bike is more areodynamic as you ride with your body tucked and your arms on areo bars. This is VERY different than riding a road bike and something most people will need some time to become acustomed to while riding. The MOST important part of purchasing a bike is getting a proper fit. If it doesnt fit properly you wont want to ride it! Think of running shoes...If you wear a size 9 and you buy an 8 your run will be pretty painful. You can buy online( and there are a lot of great deals) but you need to make sure it is the right size and then you will have to pay for a fit. During a fit the bike shop will have you bring your bike clothing and shoes and put you on a trainer. They will tweak the position of your seat, bars, pedals. This process generally takes about 1-2 hours. Once you ride a while you may return to the shop and get adjustments if things dont feel right. A good bike fit cost between $100-250. There are tri stores in Mass and Rhode Island that might cut you a deal on a bike and a wetsuit...but its probably better to buy them seperately. If you buy a bike at a local bike store they generally include the fit in the cost of the bike.  If you are buying a new bike you will have to purchase pedals and shoes, also something to consider when buying a new bike.

There is a GREAT deal here on BT by Nytro...I dont know anything about this deal but they have a Kestrel Tri bike, blue seventy wet suit, helmet, shoes, cleats and a tri suit for 1999. Honestly...I think this is a great package...but again you must make sure you are going to like the size and fit of the bike.

Generally, when you go bike shopping the local bike shop ( LBS) will measure you and tell you what size would likely be your size. Then they will adjust any bike that you like to fit you. You come back on an arranged date and take the bike for a ride. You bring your helmet, shoes and riding clothes. The last bike I bought in february. The LBS let me take it to a bike path and I rode for an hour before I made the decision to purchase the bike. Bikes are expensive and its not a decision you make by going in and saying...I like that color!!!! Take your time and make a decision that suits your needs and your budget.

Carbon vs aluminum. Carbon is morse expensive than aluminum. Carbon cracks more easily ( in the event of a crash), aluminum is more durable. Carbon is generally more comfortable when riding but IMO you have to ride a while before you actually can notice the difference. Carbon is much lighter than aluminum...hence makes you faster...however consider if you lost 5 pounds.... you could NEVER make that up in the weight savings of the carbon vs aluminum debate!!!! AGain, consider what you are looking for in an entry level bike.

Components: This is a BIG part of the cost of the bike. The better the component ...the greater the price. Components include bars, shifters, crank, derailer, wheels. I cant possibly cover all the differnet types but you should read about what is out there, and have a general knowledge before you shop.

You can consider buying online or from Craigslist/Ebay. There are a lot of good deals out there...but fit is key. they also have a lot of used bikes for sale here on BT. MAKE SURE YOU ASK IF THE BIKE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. If the bike is carbon and has been involved in a crash I would be hesitant to purchase, as there can be small cracks in the frame that can not readily be seen...which make the bike dangerous and not rideable. I bought my first bike on craigslist...it didnt fit and I bought a new road bike a year later. I was sure at that point that I loved doing tris. The following year I bought a tri bike because i was REALLY sure I liked tris. I have owned that bike for 4 years...and have put almost 10K miles on it. I have definately got my moneys worth!!!! I may actually buy a new bike this year

Good luck Lauren and happy shopping!!!! Let me know if you have specific questions during your search.

I like Providence bike, ask for Joe if you are going there to shop. I also like Landrys in Westboro, ask for Alison if you go there.

Wet suits. I have opinions on this...I do not like Xterra, I call them Ripterra. Wet suits are made of neoprene and if you dont handle them properly when putting them on they can rip. My Xterra has a lot of rips and it is my newest wetsuit. The quality of the neoprene varies based on the manufactuer and price point. I have had a blue seventy for 4 years and it has no rips. I also own a 2 XU wetsuit which I like a lot. The problem with a wetsuit is fitting. A wetsuit when it is wet will feel very different than when dry. Tri sports.com will let you purchase the wetsuit wear it once in the water and then let you return it if you dont like the fit. Other places may do this as well, I just dont know of them. Check the policies for this when you consider buying the suit. Make sure you cut your fingernails before you put a wetsuit on...this will prevent most tears.

Erin I hope you are on the mend. This virus is going around and seems to take forever to get rid of!!!!!

What type of bike is everyone riding? Do you have clipless pedals? are you planning on buying a new bike this year? Just curious

That stinks that your tube exploded, Erica!  Hope your ears are ok!  Another thing on my 2012 things to do list - learn how to change a flat!!  I'm glad the IEP meeting went better than expected...

Lauren, I also own a Blue Seventy (Reaction) wetsuit and have been very happy with it.  I bought one size last year that I thought fit perfectly b/c it was SO SNUG, only to find out it was one size too big for me!  So as Marianne said, make sure it fits!!  I now have the correct size and went with a sleeveless option.

As for bikes, I rode a Trek hybrid for my first season of tris last year and upgraded to a road bike a few weeks ago.  I bought a Specialized Dolce Comp, which is one of the women's models that Specialized makes.  I bought it from Bike Barn in Whitman, which I thought were great.  Just had my professional fit today, which was included with my bike purchase.  It took about 90 minutes.  I can see a tri bike in my future, but I want to get 1-2 more seasons under my belt before I can justify another bike purchase to my husband, haha! 

One of my biking goals this year is to ride clipped in with cycling shoes.  I clip in at spinning class but have never out on the road.  I'm a bit nervous about this goal, not gonna lie!  I see many falls on asphalt in my future.

Hello, Daniel here...

I am alive.  Sorry about the absence.  Visited my two boys at college - they grow up so quickly.  And then my wife was out placed, along with her entire division (over 750 employees), after 31 years with her company.  Life goes on and she has a great attitude.  We have been smart with financial decisions but it is still a jolt. 

I have been keeping up my spin classes, have had two swims this week and ran 7 miles this morning in 5 inches of fresh snow.  I ran a comfortable 11 minute miles and am excited for next Saturday's first half marathon of the year.  Hope we get dumped with snow.  Why not?

More later. Spinach toast time.  Cooking healthy recipes from a great cook book I got from Santa at Christmas.

Daniel

Getting clipless pedals will be a huge improvement to your biking, second to purchasing a road bike. The fear of falling because you can’t get out of your shoes is definitely there, but it almost gets comical. I actually have been cycling for almost 20 years now, and 15 with clipless pedals, and I have fallen many times because of it.

Best story was that I was stopping at a red light, and couldn’t get out. So as I was falling over I grabbed on to the side of the car next to me and almost gave the grandmother a heart attack. Her face was priceless! I thanked her before she sped off.

I ride a carbon Kline road bike with aero bars. I am going to be riding this for one more season and then upgrading to a tri bike. 

Good morning...  Daniel here

Bike, clips and spin class.  I love reading about all the interesting topics people are writing about.  It is exciting that so much thought goes into triathlons in the middle of winter.  The Chicago Tribune had a huge section about "Gardening" for spring this morning...  And we are sitting in a snowy white winter land as I write this.

My road bike is a Masi (Italian) that I have ridden for five years.  I love to tinker with it and feel it is smoother and much nicer than the day I bought it.  My wife has a matching one.  I have always worn clips - she will not.  I really believe in clips but she has fallen twice and would rather sacrifice efficiency for safety.  Can not argue with her there.  I take at least one good fall on either my mountain bikes or road bike a year.  Always do but I expect it and it is partly from riding in wet sometimes icy conditions and cornering too fast.  Or being bumped.  It is an adrenaline rush that just goes with the territory.  I ride my mountain bikes more and more as riders keep getting clipped by cars where drivers are not paying attention. 

That being said, biking rocks.  And spin classes with clips make the experience more and more closer to resembling actual bike riding.  I listen to my spin teacher's instructions but feel I need to ride like I ride a bike in the real world.  Jumping in and out of the saddle for 3 minutes is just not a reality for me on a real bike so I either stand or get into an aero position for that segment.  The instructors are understanding.  I also ride with heavier resistance and a quick but not insanely fast cadence.  I admire how many of the women in my classes can spin over 110 rpm!  I am often 20 rpm behind them but in a much different gear. 

Swimming is still tough but I am getting more comfortable in the water.  My first tri race is May 19, a Duathlon.  2 mile run, 19 mile bike ride and a 6 mile run.  In hills!  Should be fun. 

Off to pick up my bib, chip for next Saturday's half marathon.  Should be fun.  Expecting snow!  My goal is to finish and have fun...

Daniel

I am!

Daniel here ...

I am!  Bears never win anything anymore.  The Packers let us down.  Go Pats!

Hi All:

How much snow did you MA folks get?  We got 3-4 inches overnight Friday into Sat - enough to get the snowblower out for the first time.

Answering the bike question...  I ride Trek 1000 WSD road bike with clipless pedals.  I love that bike because I've got an awesome fit.  I would like to get a tri bike too, but if/when I do, I won't get rid of the road bike.

As for wetsuits, I have a ProMotion full sleeve one (I look like some sort of odd superhero with the bright green swirly things on the shoulders).  I am contemplating getting a sleeveless as well.  I thought that I didn't like the way it squeezed my forearms, but maybe that's my imagination.  I did a 1.4 mile swim in ~63 F water and didn't notice that at all.  Despite everyone's advice to the contrary, I only swim in open water if I'm in a race or fall out of a boat. 

I am about 95% ready to sign up for Musselman (HIM distance).  Still questioning my sanity, but it seems do-able and then go back to marathon nuttiness in the fall.

Oh interesting story from this morning...  I was getting ready to go running when the dogs started barking like crazy.  My husband said, "Hey that's a coyote!"  I watched him for a minute and then all of sudden he took off.  THREE more came tearing across our back hill apparently after that one.  I watched them go back and forth for what seemed like a long time.  I thought my poor dog was going to have a little doggy stroke, she was so upset.

OK off to get a glass of water... I have a lot more trouble with the water challenge on the weekends.

Go Pats!

Ugh! No hot water for showers at the Greendale Y this afternoon in Worcester! They have no gas to the building, so check if you are going there before work Monday morning to make sure it's back on.

TriBeagle -- We have seen some HUGE coyotes in my town this winter. They almost look like they might be wolves they are so big, but it is my understanding the coyotes have had a lot of food to eat (lots of acorns = lots of squirrels and chipmunks) so they may just be more "filled out" than usual. One evening there was one right in my backyard when I got out of my car. A little scary but so beautiful! Best to keep your cats inside.

Had a nice walk/run, bike, swim down at the Y this afternoon though. Nobody but me in the pool.

Now my work is telling me that instead of cutting my pay by 20 percent, I can work one night shift a week. That might actually work out since it will give me more daylight hours to run and bike outdoors. And, I need the $.

Daniel, I'm sorry about your wife's job situation... That stinks, especially since she has been with that company for so long.  I'm glad she has a good attitude about it!  Your 1/2 marathon is right around the corner...  Good luck next weekend!!

I didn't get to watch the Pats game (was outside playing with the kids so my husband could actually WATCH the game uninterrupted).  But heard they won, YAY!

Courtney, that's neat that you saw such cool wildlife in your own backyard.  Although coyotes totally freak me out!!  We had a bunch of coyote sightings the past few years on the South Shore, but I haven't seen any yet this year.  Fine by me!

Nancy, sounds like that alternative could be promising...  It would be nice not to have a pay cut and you'd have the bonus of an extra day of training during the day!  Do you think your schedule would be thrown off following your night shift, i.e. would you be tired the next day following a night shift and need a day to catch up?

Good morning all

Its MONDAY MORNING WEIGH IN!!!! Bad news is...I didnt loose an ounce...goood news is I didnt gain. Ill take it How did everyone else do?

I was extremely lazy this weekend. Did my long run and a 1 hour trainer ride and then kicked back, and watched the tube. Sometimes you just have to relax.

Kristen, clipless pedals are scary at first. I would advise going on a very sparsely trafficed road and practice for an hour or so before taking to the "real'" roads. I went on a bike trail for several hours and I was pretty confident at the end of a few hours.That being said I have fallen 3 times while clipped in...once recently on my driveway. I refer to it as a "dork" fall.

If you havent had bike maintence done on your bike a lot of local bike shops will run specials on the off season. Last year Landrys ran a 20% off parts special.I would advise that you all consider building this into your budget...unless of course you know how to do it yourself. If you are riding your bike longer than 10 miles, the last thing you want is a breakdown. Chains should be changed every 1200-1500 miles, Cables should be checked for fraying, break pads should be checked for wear and de railer adjusted and wheels checked. Be ready...this can cost you. IMO it is a safety issue. Your bike must be in good running condition. If you dont know how to change a tire...LEARN NOW!!! You tube has videos. Practice. Nothing worse than being stranded and not knowing how to fit a flat. Be sure you carry supplies to change a flat in your saddle bag. You may also want to learn to clean your bike. There are videos on this on You Tube as well. I clean mine at least once a month. A dirty chain will "eat" your cassette and crank. Take the time now to learn these skills. You will be happy you did in the Spring!!!

YAY PATS!!!! ( I am not a football fan) I watched the last few minutes of the game

thanks for all the advice on being a beginner with the clipless pedals! 

i'm at the same weight as last monday...  no loss, no gain.  kind of bummed b/c i feel like i'm doing pretty well with diet.  hope i see some change over this coming week, even if just a 1/2 lb!!

I just downloaded You Are An Ironman to my Kindle and love it so far!  So inspirational...  Makes me think that someday I'll be able to do a HIM! 

Erica

I couldnt agree more!  Snowbound with my baby Saturday, Family over Sunday for the Game.  Weekend wasa BUST.  I think I need that book, it'll remind me I am training for tri.

My Confession: I HATE the bike, I Think I actually rode my bike 3x for my last tri. Love swimming, Enjoying running. Me and the bike havent reached common ground yet.  Fear of falling and living in a urban area at the time didnt help.

Clipless, sounds like a death sentence to me

Ok, I'm registering for the 5K tonight!  I'll only be up to 7 miles in my 1/2 mary training by that weekend, so I don't want to jump the gun and risk injury with the 10 miler...  Anyone else doing it??!!