BrotherTri’s - Triathlon Training Support Group - CLOSED (Page 8)

That's AWESOME!  Congrats on the race - and it's a PR!

Pacing gets easier, but is always a challenge.

That's great that you enjoyed it so much - it's a total addiction.  

Matt

I got back into tri through riding, after a colleague at work convinced me to try a new bike.  I bought a road bike about 2 years ago, a Specialized Venge, and road a ton for 4 or 5 months.  Decided since I already ran some and occasionally would swim when down the cottage and such, I'd try a tri after a couple decades off, that fall (2012).

About halfway through an 8-week plan for two fall sprints, I put a power meter on the bike.  Now I use wattage pretty routinely for training and, at the end of last season, for racing, too.

Last spring I decided that 2013 would be a mostly tri year (although still did a bunch of running races late winter through spring) and bought a used 2009 Cervelo P2C.  Also bought a quiver of used Zipp wheels over the course of a couple months.  Wound up with, for me, a fast package at a fraction of the cost (used and tubular wheels - so it didn't have that new bike smell and flats could be an issue).

About half way through the summer, I bought another Quarg (also used) for the tri bike and put it on just before Timberman last August.  I now use power a lot, but still integrate HR (I think the picture is incomplete without HR and RPE, but many of my roadie friends disagree - oh well).

So, I now ride the tri bike WAY more than the road bike.  I just love the way it rides when I get in aero and start cranking along!  For group rides, I'm glad I have the road bike (which is, ironically, much "nicer" than my tri bike - but as engine is my limiter, my legs don't know that!), but I love the tri bike.

Matt

DP

I'm riding a Fuji Team SL from 2006 that I have adjusted a bit and put aero bars on. It is quick enough for me for now, but a tri bike is in the future. I also am starting to build a fixie/single speed for training. A number of the guys I ride with swear by the gains they have seen using them, and since I am chasing those guys on Strava, I have to believe them. I figure it's simply a tool to help me improve my strength and to have fun on.

In so far as cadence is concerned, I think each of us is a bit different, some mash along just fine, while others prefer to spin. I think it is important to find your sweet spot, while continuing to improve. Also, keep in mind that there is an entire footrace to be had after you get off the bike, so you really need to find the spot where you can dismount and go. My only advice is to try anything and everything and see what works for you.

Really, triple post????? ARGH

Danged DP

Great job!!!! How cool that you had a great time doing it. So good to see, keep after it!

Matt - How cool to see the wildlife! This morning there was a hawk on a phone wire that was watching me. One of the trails I run on goes under an eagle nest. It is so cool that we can still see some of this, and in your area at that.

OK - just about 2 weeks in the books this year.  How is everyone's training going?

I just finished my "Base 1" (of 3 base) cycles and am on a "rest and test" week.  I can definitely feel the strain of the last 3 weeks in my legs - feels almost like a mid-season "build" block, but I think that's because I'm working in a bit more intensity in the run than is called for in the tri plan (I have a HM in about 9 or 10 weeks, so I'm doing a bit more there).

Running is coming along well - responding to last year's effort, I think, even after over a month of nothing serious.  Swimming is interesting, as I'm now doing workouts with sets rather than hopping in Walden pond and swimming across and back (my go to last year).  Biking?  Well, at least I'm spending time on it, but I'm a long way from my power of last season.

The bike is what I am a bit concerned about this season.  To improve my times, it's bike and run.  I'm on a run focus now, but I'm not sure I'll have the time to really build the bike to where I need it come June 8th (first HIM).  Almost certainly by AGN/Timberman, but only if I focus on it.

Juggling is fun!

So, how's it coming for you?  What is going well?  What's concerning?

Matt

Matt - I am settling into my running after fighting a pretty bad upper resp cold that put me out for 2 weeks. I am getting into a pretty good place between fatigue in the legs and desire to keep adding distance. It is supposed to cool down a bit at the end of the week, which is good because I have trail time on Saturday. We'll see how it goes. Another month or so of just running, then I'll start to add in the bike. Pool  time will come shortly after that, probably early March. I may start looking for a swim coach or masters or something to help me get better, as it is truly the anchor in my past races. I'll figure it out later though, for now I simply run.

In more fun news, my bike  is painted and I should be stopping by the LBS this week to order parts. 

Keep on keeping on everyone!

Off to get a tune up to my bike fit today.  Last time was earlier in the season last year, and I've changed it quite a bit over the course of the season as I got more fit/used to it (it was "new to me" last season and I dropped the cockpit about 1.5-2cm - one spacer at a time - over the season and moved the seat forward a bit, and up a bit, as well). 

So, I'm now a little more stretched forward than I'd like, but I can't figure how to get the arm rests back or my body forward enough to have a 90 degree bend in my arm.  We'll see what the local guru says...

If you haven't ever done so, and can afford the hundred plus or so bucks, getting a fit is a VERY good idea on the bike.  Have any of you all used fitters?

Matt

Matt, I was fitted or positioned, on my road bike a while back. I have to find the measurements, now that I think about it. I have since added the clip on aero bars and changed seats and made a few minor adjustments. All have moved me in the direction of more comfort. Next is spacer removal to drop my front end a small bit. I have found that I can only change one thing at a time and give it a couple of rides before I make a decision for myself. I may try some fitting software when I get the Fixie built, just to fool with it and have some perspective before my next bike.

Totally agree with the above.  

This was a re-fit for me, after making the bike a bit more aggressive on my own over the season (dropped the cockpit incrementally over the season and couple other things).  

It was interesting, as I'm not in peak form at the moment (ahem… not even near it!), so I expected to make it a bit less aggressive.  What he did was keep the cockpit low (and recognize that I'm rounding my back more than before and I need to work on stretching my hammies a bit to be able to flatten out over the next couple months), move the seat forward (I was beginning to stretch onto my bars, which gave my lats and tris NO rest - brutal in a HIM) to match what I'd done dropping my bars and to move the pads slightly wider (this allowed better breathing, but still kept my arms inside the outer edges of my thighs - so no aero penalty).

In short - just dialed it in a bit, as the fit wasn't far off.  I'll tell you, it felt MUCH better riding it right afterward.  For a sprint, I might pull the pads in a little (less than an hour and I'll pinch my lungs for a little aero), but otherwise I'm hoping this is the fit for the season...

The first couple times I was fitted, though, saw MUCH bigger changes from the first to second fit as I got used to the aero position and a tri bike instead of my roadie.  So, the first fit is critical, but I'd recommend a re-fit a couple months later during your first season on the bike (as you're likely to be able to handle a bit more change than a re-fit after a year on the bike).

Matt

Another trail run in the books, this one was much better than last week. I think things are starting to come together, so I will celebrate with a trip to Disney World tomorrow. I may wear the GPS and see what a day of theme parking comes in as?

I hope the weekend is great for everyone!