SBR Utopia Season II - OPEN (Page 87)

The cold is ok for me, relative to everyone else, since I train in it most of the year.  I have all the gear for it.  There's probably a mad rush of Californians scrounging for toe covers this week.  I just hope it's not frosty / icy at the start of the bike.

Jim, I can give you my feedback as I just finished the program recently as part of the ST challenge (cut down from 12 to 9 weeks).  Overall, it was a positive experience, and I really felt like my balance in the water improved, the drills focused me to think about and work on certain aspects of my body position, there was a lot of concentration on the kick and timing of the kick - although we did not do very much in the way of kick only drills (thankfully), and we swam at a lot of different speeds - there was focus on descending sets, or negative splitting a set.  That said, I did not come away from the program any faster, and I'm not sure that I was going to based on hwo the program is setup - if I was a slower swimmer then I could see how the program would lead to speed improvements.  But, I do think the program gives you some tools to be a faster swimmer - it becomes a case of taking all the drills and workouts, and layering in harder more intense sessions.

For me personally, and I said it in a prior page, I still second guess if I'm doing things right.  I think this was also my issue with Toarmina's book.  You can think or feel something is being done well, but unless someone reviews and corrects the specifics of what you are doing as an individual then you don't really know what is good/bad about your stroke.  I asked the question about masters vs coaching, but in my head I really need someone competent to analyze my stroke, and tell me what I'm doing right and wrong. 

Didn't work on my current frame as it was too short, but held onto it in the hopes I'd buy a new one, which I did, so going to try it again.

I did a few rides, including trainer sessions and a 4 hour ride that was a sufferfest by the end, couldn't really sit on it the way it was designed.  When in aero I'd find myself falling off th front of it, quite literally.  It was schizo though, some days it felt good, but that one 4+ hour ride was just torture by the end. 

Hoping it works well with the new frame

Good luck on the new frame.  Of all the things I want/need to spend money on, I've decided that a saddle is a priority.  Things get rather uncomfortable after only a short time on the trainer, and with trainer season approaching I want/need to find something that won't make me cringe at the idea of more time in the basement.  I've thought about the Sitero, Hilo RXL, or an ISM.

I hear ya.  Might want to consider a de soto seat pad, makes things a little better on the trainer, although I stopped using mine on the trainer going into IM because I started using the tribib, and wanted to get used to less padding

Thanks for the insights Neil.  I had the same thoughts as you about second-guessing myself.  I have gone several years without anyone analyzing my stroke.  So, before I embarked on my goal to try to get my IM swim closer to 1:05 I contacted my old swim coach a couple weeks ago to see if there are any glaring technique errors that can be corrected and go a long/partial way towards reaching my goal before setting up the training needed to get there.

Not right now, but I'm wondering if there is greater benefit for me to find a good online video stroke analysis site vs spending money on 1-2 coached sessions.  Just a thought for later - not sure if anyone else has gone that route in the past.

I went through hell with saddles for a year.  I tried an Adamo Road (hated it), Cobb V-flow Plus (took me a while to really decide, but I ended up hating it even more than the Adamo), back to the Adamo Road (tolerated it), Adamo Attack (thought I loved it for about an hour and then decided I hated it for the two after that...), Hilo (thought it was okay on the trainer and hated it outside), back to the Adamo Road (tolerated it)....

And finally ST did their saddle demo tour (which I believe does not help you at all, being in Ontario, iirc) and they put me on a Profile Designs Tri Stryke.  I took one look at that saddle and said, "No freaking way.  That's the ugliest saddle....plus it's all padded and gel-y....it's definitely going to give me saddle sores."  He put it on the bike and I desperately wanted to hate it, but I didn't....and I don't.  It was like $60 (way cheaper than all the other saddles I've plunked down serious $$$ for) and I've been quite happy with it.

Saddles, like everyone has said, are incredibly personal, so I don't know that I'd recommend you rush out and try the Tri Stryke, but if you can find a shop that has a fit bike and 20 different saddles, maybe you can try a bunch before settling on one??

Great feedback Nicole.  I've posted twice on ST asking about Cdn cities, but no luck so far for the saddle tour.

I initially liked the idea of the Sitero because Specialized put out demo saddles, but to date the local shop (biggest dealer in the province) doesn't have one, and I'd have to spend the $200 and hope for the best with buying it  The Bontrager Hilo on the other had should offer a 30 day guarantee, so I at least can find out if the saddle works for me. 

Don't you hate it when you want to really hate something but then you don't?  

Saddles are so freakin' finicky with how they are set up too.  When Tab got back on her Slice that had an Adamo on it she couldn't tolerate it at all and couldn't believe that she had done 4 hour trainer rides on it before her accident.  I ended up raising the nose by maybe a degree or so and lowering her seatpost by 3mm and now she's good to go.  The 3mm drop fixed some achilles strain she was feeling too.

I am in the process of testing Adamo Road and Racing saddles. My LBS has a demo program of sorts. I'm not sure I could pick out a whole lot of difference between the two of them. I liked them both, although I see a break in or adjustment period for either of them, just since they are a bit different.  I will say, no numbness after 27 miles, which is about when the discomfort starts on my current San Marco.

I just got an Adamo Road to try out this week.  I can definitely tell that the contact points are right on my sit bones.  I have only had one short 40' ride so hopefully I can get some longer rides and see if its going to work.

I have tried the Cobb Plus and Max, Fizik Arione Tri and all of them were not great.  I do not get any numbness, the area just gets sore (not saddle sores) the longer I ride.  I am just not getting my sit bones to make contact on the others I guess.  I found myself moving around on the saddle alot with the Cobbs.

It is definitely frustrating.

Kim - I am fortunate enough to be in the same camp as you. When I read of the saddle woes of others I almost feel guilty.... I did replace my tri saddle recently with the same one that was on the bike originally: selle San Marco Ponza TT. Road bike is a Fizik Arione CX, which also is just what came on the bike. I do notice some slight comfort issues depending on the bibs I wear - I prefer very light padding (Desoto tri bibs), especially when in the TT bike. Desoto 400 mile bibs are great on the road bike, but too much padding when I rotate forward into aero on the tri bike. It is a very noticeable difference; I wonder if it is possible that the discomfort that some folks have is not all caused by only the saddle, but rather the combine interface of saddle, shorts, and fit?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I dropped off the demo saddles this morning. I wore different bibs in my tests, and I have to agree with you, I really think it is a combo of saddle, short, sit bone, position, etc. I'm starting to think that the magic bullet is non-existent. Or, the magic bullet is T.I.T.S

I went on a four day backpacking trip last weekend (45 miles and 12,000 feet of elevation gain)....it was supposed to be fun, but I'm pretty sure it turned into something that was more intense and painful than training.  I tried to tell myself it was good mental and physical training, even if it wasn't SBR-specific.

Have a great trip!

Just putting it out there....

I have an Adamo Road, Adamo Racing, Cobb V-flow Plus (though a friend is borrowing it at the moment), and whatever Fizik came stock on my bike -- if anyone wants to try any of them, let me know and I'd be happy to ship it out.  If you like it, we can figure out a price for you to buy it.

Of course, I still suggest going to a shop with a fit bike (or even your own bike set up on a trainer) and have a fitter swap out a bunch of saddles to see if they work for you.  But I have a bunch of saddles just lying around and should eventually sell them and try to recoup some of my losses!

Checking in from Squaw Valley. 8:30am and 32F. Good times

They actually just added a clothes drop-off point after the 2nd bike aid station so we can strip when it starts to warm up.

I'm off to go do a little swimming.

brrrr...  Nice that they added that clothing drop though, that will help

Good luck!  Hope you rock it.  

Rusty, enjoy the trip.  Sounds awesome!

What's everyone else have on tap this weekend?

I'm still decomposing decompressing with a little off season lack of training.  I can't believe I've turned NOT working out into an internal competition (but I WILL make it one full week without exercising, d@mn it!).  Feels great, actually - first time I've ever needed an "off season," so I'm oddly even psyched about that (good year of training).

All I'm gonna do is help the better half celebrate her (recurring) 29th birthday!  Dinner with her and the kids out, maybe head downtown and poke around - all non-tri stuff (except the sitting down with her and planning our seasons next year, that is).

Hope y'all have a GREAT one!

Matt

Good luck!  I hope the weather cooperates enough that no changes are required (ie. shortening things...)

What's your bib number?

I have a 1:45 run tomorrow and then a 65k bike race on Sunday.