McFuzz's Mentor Group 2011 - CLOSED (Page 95)

I have not been posting, although every few days I take a few minutes to catch up my logs, and read all the latest posts.  It has been a very, very busy month with our three businesses, and 1/2IM training peaking last week.  Finally on a taper, and only days away from the 1/2IM Racine.  I don't remember who all was planning this race at the same time as Maria and I, but if anyone is going to be there, feel free to call, or text me if you would like to meet up.  We will arive on Friday for early athlete check in, and are planning to swim in Lake Mich on Friday afternoon.

Thanks to everyone for all the support they have given to Maria all year.  I know she is gonna race like a champion on Sunday!

My number is (260) 243-1001

Josh

Good luck on the races.  I have an Oly Saturday here. 

- Bike components.  The gearing is important to understand and easy really.  Most bikes come with a standard crank up front of 53/36 or 52/36.  The big ring teeth number is the first numger, the small ring is the second number.  The bigger the numbers the harder to crank, but the faster it will go.  The smaller the number, the easier to crank like for climbing hills.

Some people who have hills to climb are going to compact cranks.  They are 50 in the big ring and either 36 (stand sized small ring) or a 34.  That makes it easier to pedal. 

The rear cassette gears (teeth count) are listed the same way  like 11/23 or 11/25 or 11/28 or 12/23, 12/25, and 12/27.  The smaller the number, the faster it will turn the wheel. The larger the wheel, the easier it is to climb.   So people who have flat areas mostly to ride can have a 53/36 in front and a 11/25 in back, no problem.  People facing lots of hills can have a 53/36 in front and like a 12/27 in back or have a compact 50/36 in front and 11/28 in back.  That last one is what I have now.    The 50 on front and 11 will help go fast on the flats and the 28 on back will help climb.  Best of both worlds.  The only issue is the gap between gears.  Since there are 10 gears in back, going from 11 to a 28 will require a larger jump form gear to gear.  Might seem less than seamless.  But frankly I don't notice it. 

You can also have more than one rear wheel so one is equipped with a cassette for flat rides and one is set for hills.  Or you can change cassettes on the same wheel if you have the tools.  It's not hard to do. 

Don't know if that helps but I love talking bikes. 

- Workouts have been good.  Ran a half marathon last night actually 13.2 in 2:26.  Runs have been quicker.  Rides have been good.  I worked with my bike fitter yesterday to add length to the stem to raise me up in front in hopes of stopping back pain on rides longer than about 60 miles. I pick it up tonight and Will give it a ride tonight before Saturday.  I will have my elbows at the same height as the saddle now.  Less aero a bit but I don't care.  It won't cost me much time and the important thing is ending the pain.  If my back goes out on the ride, I'm done at the IM.

- I was making a half-joke about the medical tent for the IM, but it is a reality.  Going that long is serious business in my mind and I try to lighten it up.  No way to do one before hand to see if I can or how my body will react so we will be going where no man has gone before so to speak.  I am positive I can do it.  That day will be all about execution of form, nutrition and hydration and mental toughness.   But don't worry.  I never had a problem up to half IMs.  They are great.  So I can do this and I would never have had a problem in my mind at all if I hadn't gone insane briefly and signed up for the IM.

You all have a great race weekend or terrific workouts.

I will be there!  We're not coming up until Sat. afternoon. Where you guys staying?  We are at the Radisson.

I'm just hoping to have a fun race.  My back is hurting this week, which the chiro says could be related to the hip, which has been achy. Seeing the Chiro tomorrow for another treatment and he's going to tape me up too. Should be OK.

I've got my "It's my 50th birthday!" tiara and will be wearing over my hat on the run. Gotta have fun with this big 5- 0 thing.

 Susie

Happy Birthday Susie, love the tiara. Have a great race everyone, cant wait to read the reports: )

Iceman,

Thanks for taking time to post about the gears.  Standard cranks are 53/39, compacts are 50/34 or 50/36.  (Triples are another option and are usually 52/42/30 or so.)  There is often overlap, so 39-14 (small chainring up front, one of the smaller cogs in the rear) is exactly the same as 53-19 (big chainring, one of the bigger cogs). 

Hope to meet you Saturday at Evergreen. 

Good luck with the shakeout ride tonight.  Even if it doesn't take you out of the IM, back pain can make a tough day down right miserable. 

You are totally right about the small gear, 39 not 36.  Brain fart.

The test ride was 40 miles in 2 hours.  Still tight in the neck and later the lower back.  I'm thinking I am just too tense up front.  When I focus on letting go, I am much more pain free.  If I stop and just get upright for a few seconds, it all disappears.  I think its me.  Have to mentally concentrate on staying relaxed above the navel. 

See you tomorrow.

Well, I'm getting ready to go to Racine. Leaving the house at 1pm.  Just hoping for a good day.

Should be interesting.  @#$! cold water and @#$! hot temps!   I can handle the hot weather, it's the cold water that gets me.

Quick race report (Today is a b-day party here for my wife and three grandkids who all share July 14-15 as birthdays.)

Met Mike, so that was cool.

2:51.  Time was down 20 mins over last year.

Swim was 35 mins for 1650.  Slower than I wanted by about 3 minutes.  2m11sec pace.

Bike was great.  22.3 mph for 25 miles.  

Run was not so great.  10m15sec pace, 1:03. 

Love racing.

Looks like everybody who raced today had great results   I'll post a race report later, but as a quick preview; I won my AG!  Of course, somehow I ended up as the only person in my AG (but I won't tell anybody if you don't).  This is a small race, about 550 in the sprint and 180 in the international (which is what I did); so its relatively easy to look like you're faster than you really are. 

Ann-Marie

Congrats!  Maybe your competitors saw the participant list and decided to stay home rather than lose to you!  

LOL, I'm sure that was it.

Steph, thanks for volunteering today.

Here's the link to my race report for those interested http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... I know there is a way to upload the race to the training log, anyone care to tell me how?  Thanks.

Ann-Marie

Yeah, mine too, I should just go with it an race as an Athena in August.

Its so cool that some of you live near enough each other to enter the same races and actually meet. Jealous.

Hi all!

I'll post a race report, but here's the short version of my race yesterday.

5:58:14   7/37 age group

swim - 44:08 (looked at my watch when I got out of the water and it said 42:00.  LONG trek up a sandy beach before crossing the timing mat)

bike 2:57:42  averaged 18.91

run 2:08:35  averaged 9:48

It was beastly hot during the run.  Temps in the 90's, not a cloud in the sky.  Heat index of 101.  But, despite the less than optimal conditions I'm very happy with my race and had a fantastic birthday! 

Congrats - you really know how to celebrate your b-day!

Ann-Marie

OMG amazing! You ROCKED it! Congrats those are some super speedy times.