brick94513-GoGoGo Mentor Group - Closed For Now! (Page 89)

thanks. I'm with ya on the white, but it's the only color they come in.

I forgot to mention....

I'm thinking of making the move to sockless here. These are the only shoes I know of that allow that on the MTB. Is that the case?

Yeah.  There aren't many companies that market a MTB triathlon shoe.  I really like the two strap enclosure on the Sidi.  However, I will probably stay with Specialized and go with a three Velcro strap system with some home improvements to make them more tri friendly.

As for sockless, I know the big name "pros" are doing it, but I'm not so sure if it is the right path for me.  I usually end up with quite a bit of dirt, sand, gravel, etc. in my shoes after most off-road events.  I can't imagine my feet being in very good shape afterwards.  Not to mention, how good is sockless going to feel when I forget my insoles again?

LOL I don't have insoles. This gives me the option. I'm not sure I'm going to. I just wanted a great fitting shoe with 2 straps for Xterra's. If I find it's not good for regular MTB racing or training rides I'll pick up another pair with a ratchet over the winter. I looking forward on this one. I'm planning on 3 Xterra's for next season. I can't believe I'm looking forward to next season already! LOL

I ride sockless in regular old mtb shoes (three velcro straps) for most all my road riding, and all my garage rollers riding.  No problems in regular bike shoes, no fancy tri-specific liners or anything.

However, I don't mtb sockless.  Just too much dirt and stuff, it's like having sandpaper socks after a while.  In the one and only Xterra tri I did, I even went so far as to change into fresh socks between the bike and run cause they were so muddy.  I can't imagine what my feet would have felt like if I didn't have socks on...  No matter how soft and cushy the shoe liner is, dirt will still be able to easily get between the liner and your foot.  Socks help prevent that.

Yeah, that is exactly what I would worry about.  My next race has a nasty, sand hill climb that goes on for about three miles.  Last year, my shoes had a lot of sand in them just from pedaling up the hill.  I could just imagine all the hot spots and blisters without socks!

I've gotten real good at ignoring that stuff. I just want to try. If it sucks I can wear socks, no biggy. At least I have the option, and a nice pair of 2 strap shoes that fit well!

Don't get my wrong, I'm not trying to discourage you from going sockless.  It can definately be done with success.  I was just stating why I have avoided it.

You know you're an addict when you've planned out next season already. LOL

I'm planning on:
Xterra Ft. Custer
Palos Half Mary
Romeoville 5k
Xterra The Wilds
Xterra Dino
Naperville Sprint
Stealhead HIM
Matoon HIM

I'm trying to find another Oly for this year, but I'm in Vegas for the first 2 weekends in September, when it seems most of the upcoming ones are. So I decided to start planning for next year. My wife is also doing the sprint tri in Chicago. I'm going to play spectator for once for that one.

I was done w/ next season's list 6 weeks ago :D  I wish I could spectate for my wife at a tri.  I'm gonna volunteer for the O'side 70.3 next spring.  Tim, did you commit to that race yet?

Hey doodz -

I'm in Montreal and I freaking LOVE it! They have the best bicycle trail system I've ever seen, and I don't want to leave. I wish I would have brought my bike. I've been spending hours seeing the city via bicycle.

Went to the grand prix track yesterday.....it was packed with cyclists, but not unbearable. Rode around it about 10 times before deciding I would go insane trying to do 50 miles on that thing. No way am I going to do my first HIM on that. Cool thing was I met a guy from Calgary who gave me some cycling pointers and I had someone with which to speak English for a while. 

The Olympic pool was a disappointment. It's showing it's age, and the staff are rude. There's a surprising small number of pools around here which you can use to swim laps, so I guess if I want to swim anymore it's back to the Olympic pool....gah.


Soooo happy to hear your leg is OK, Tim!

 

I'm not sure yet.  That race might conflict with a local XTERRA event I would like to do this year.  Also, I won't know my work schedule for next year until December.

I really want to do this one though!

Sounds nice. How much longer are you going to be there?

Looking for some ideas on improving my bike and run.  I've progressed to the point where I'm very comfortable with both disciplines and my cardio/breathing recover quickly after workouts.  However, I don't feel as if I have any speed or "pop" in my legs with either event.  Hills/wind really slow me down.  On the run, stride feels "short" and tight.

On the flip side, am seeing some slow, steady gains on the speed.  Should I just keep building the base, or should I add something extra to the workouts?  Alternately, would strength training help?

FYI, last two weeks workout schedules have sucked do to work demands / previous logs are more indicative of what I have been doing and will be doing in the future.

As always, appreciate the perspectives!

Hills & wind are strength related, for both biking & running.  If your area has races with lots of hills, then you need to run & bike hills.  My area is very hilly.  As a matter of fact, there is NO flat route, so we run hills all the time.  Despite this, we (the runners), do dedicated hill training once per week.  Hill runners are a little different, just as cycling hill climbers are different from sprinters, etc.

For strength training, I would not start a new program until season is over.  When in the off season, this is a great time to improve on weaknesses you have identified.  For the run, you might keep base building, add a hill run per week & strength training (even rowing) for a change.

With a season under your belt, you are now identifying things you would like to change...

You are no longer a newbie!!!

Good Luck,

Richard, I'm down but not out!!!

 

Ahhh, Montreal (in my best french accent)...a very unique city!!!

Enjoy your time there!! 

R 

I'm beginning to think this MTB thing isn't for me!

I didn't do so well. That damn fast guy, Kevin, schooled me again!! LOL

I fininshed sport in 1:32 and change. Started off rough! I started off at the front of the pack. Got up to maybe 17-18 mph and next thing I knew was on the ground!!!! My friend Rick was right there next to me. He was behind me and to one side. I think somebody bumped him. He went off and took me out. I hope he didn't land on my rear wheel. Rest of the race went ok, but I'll admit I didn't want to be there anymore. Everything hurt!. After the race I assessed the damage.

To me: I have a sprained thumb, a knot and cut on my shin, a bruised quad, bruised calf, and my back got tweaked. I didn't feel the other stuff, but my back hurt pretty bad the entire race

The bike: my rear suspension was squeaking the whole race after the crash. The impact either wrecked my rear shock or tweaked something in the linkage. I'll have to take it apart to find out

Richards got the 411 on the strength training. Hold off till winter. Being in the flatland hills are difficult to find. I've got one in Lemont I try to hit at least once a month or so for hill repeats. I'm going tuesday night and your welcome to join me. With running, I like to do one of the hill workouts on the treadmill everyonce in a while. I also do a pyramid interval run sometimes to work on speed.

Hey everyone! I had a great running week - 34.5 miles in 4 days of running with the highlight being a solid 16 miler on Saturday. I'm starting to feel the confidence build for my marathon, which is still over 2 months out so I have plenty of time to work up my mileage. Just gotta stay healthy!

Oooh, one thing I do need to figure out is how much Carbo-Pro I should be taking. I usually throw three scoops into my water bottle (half water, half gatorade) before heading out for a long run. The catch is my long runs have been climbing, but my nutrition plan doesn't change. I'm probably not taking in enough of my drink...

Dave- nice job!! your running is really coming along!

My race report is up: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...

I hear ya buddy.  Some of those guys out there are just damn fast.  A lot of them used to race in their earlier years and have dropped down into the AGs as they gotten older.  I struggle too in most of my single sport cycle races.  I just keep telling myself if there was a run after this race, I would kick these guys butt!

LOL...Kevin's a buddy of mine. He's 29! I'm usually faster than he is. He came in about 1 minute before me even with my mishaps, and he had a clean ride. If there was a swim before the ride he would drown!. LOL I actually feel like I could have had a top 10 if I didn't get taken out in the beginning. I was being kinda sarcastic about that because I was sick at our last race and he beat me there too. Race before that I beat him, but the race before that I sprained my ankle in. He posted up about it on another message board we belong to. He said it best, that I have the worst luck in MTB racing. I can't seem to go out there and put together a solid ride. I go out there and rail through training rides. Kevin has a hard time keeping up. But for some reason when I get on the track things happen, whether I jump our front or work my way up from behind. Crapstorm just seems to follow me everywhere!

Edited by Meulen 2010-08-23 9:07 AM

Gotcha.  The other thing to consider is it is a lot easier to go out and crush a ride with one or two other riders around.  However, come race day, you not only have the trail conditions to contend with, but hordes of otherr riders.  That good line you would take in training isn't always available anymore. 

Thinking back, I have crashed more in races than in training on the trails.

yep, you're totally right! I just seem to be taken out by other people or just bad luck a lot. I can deal with taking a different line or getting slowed down a bit.

results are out. I was 86 out of 166 in my AG. So not terrible being dead last after the crash.

Edited by Meulen 2010-08-23 11:42 AM