A Little Tired

Did all of my runs this week as well as the VBC Time Trial Thursday evening. So, 13 miles of running and 11 miles doing a time trial....yeah - I'm a little tired!

One day to rest up and then I'm back at it on Monday....bright and early. Well, early at least :)

Stay cool and don't forget to HYDRATE!

Vroom-Vroom Season

TT Bars on my Fuji - they actually are now on my Trek!

Time Trial season is JUST around the corner! It has been a slow to start cycling year so far, but we plan to do the first time trial IF it is dry. It will be good to have something to look forward to since our financial situation is pretty much a road block for anything that we might be interested as a couple. Event registration fees are expensive! The good thing about the time trials is that it's FREE for VBC members...SCORE! $2 per person is still $2 and we get to pocket that for coffee or whatever!

Hoping that the rainy weather will move through and give us sunny blue skies on April 19!

VROOOOM!

Time Trial's Revisited

It's been over a month since our last VBC Time Trial (that we both rode together). I was a little surprised that my time last night wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My May 12th time was 33:10 and last night was 33:54, not too bad.

I got my Trek back a little while ago and had it looked over by Mark (formerly of Performance) and promptly installed the Aerobars and my new seatpost. These are a couple of items that help me become more aero on the bike. The other thing - should I choose to indulge, would be an Aero Helmet because we all want to look like this guy...

Looks good right? I don't know - if I don't have a "real" tri bike, I don't think I want the helmet.

So, my fastest time is 32:25...I have until September 8 to meet or break that record...

Maybe I should get the helmet!

Now What?

I have spent the better part of the last year thinking, preparing and training for my first triathlon. Now that it is done, I've been thinking, "Do I want to do another?" I was pretty pleased with the fact that I actually did the Novice Tri and that I finished that my answer to that question is YES!

Not that I'm totally in LOVE with Triathlon, but because I want to continue improving my swimming, riding and running. I did enjoy the experience very much, that much I can say with confidence. I just keep thinking that I can do much better in the swim. With the Blue Lake event in late spring, I have realized that open water swimming without a wetsuit really isn't that smart. I get cold just thinking about it, what with the average temps this past Spring hovering in the low to mid 50s for the past month or so. Also, without a wetsuit, I could not participate in the local swim club's open water clinic a couple of weeks ago or the clinic that was at Blue Lake. Probably won't be getting in on the clinic at Lacamas Lake either.

That problem will be solved come my birthday...I have decided that I would like a wetsuit for my birthday and started researching what my options are. So many different models and prices to match! So far the one that has caught my eye would be the Orca S3...

This suit is a bargain at $199.00 and has received excellent reviews.

I thought I might want to save up for this, but Tom had asked if I might want a wetsuit for my birthday. At first I said no, but after some thought, I could get out into open water more often with a wetsuit and practice more for my next Triathlon. I had thought about going to the Ocean Shore tri, but I'm thinking that will be out this year. Too much to do in July with Cycle Oregon Weekend ride coming up and then All Womens event. I think it will be time to research what other events will be coming up later this summer and shoot for one of those.


It took a couple of days of reflecting on my Blue Lake experience. It would be really nice to actually do the Sprint distance next time!


In the mean time, I have decided to focus a lot on running (which still sucks) and my swimming. The bike, even though I need to ride to improve in that area, isn't as critical as my really poor areas...swimming and running. Rest first, start a new running plan and swimming when I don't run!

There is no rest for the weary!

Natural Sprinters...

Man, this past Spring has been all over the place weather-wise! We have been able to get out to do some training runs and rides on the road and all, but over all, I haven't been out much to do much of anything else because of the training. We have been doing a lot of short rides 30-40 minute rides...and they don't add up to more than 7-10 miles at a time.

I can't help but think of this line from The Two Towers when Gimli says: "I'm wasted on cross-country! We dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!"

Okay, so this refers to running, but yesterday I got the same feeling while on my bike. Our longest ride this season was 16 miles and that was a hilly route that we took, but still 16 miles. Yesterday, we met up with Mark, Robin, Andrew and JB for a "friendly" ride to the end of Lower River Road. I wasn't feeling so good after we reached the end of the road and was in need of nourishment. As I mentioned before all of my rides have been training rides and I'm not in the habit of carrying food with me at this point. When the ride isn't more than 30-40 minutes at a time, there is no need. I'll be home soon enough! Yesterday I had a thought, with all the short distances that we have been riding, I've decided that I must be part Dwarf...hahaha. I like to think that I could be "Very dangerous over short distances!"

I love Time Trialing - I think that's where I am with my cycling. We have done the big rides, the goofy rides and rides with our friends. All good, but not as challenging as riding a course as FAST as you can. Riding fast on a course that is notoriously windy no less...that's where it's at for me right now.

Part dwarf. That's me!

Time Trials & Tri Training

VBC Time Trials...
Last night was our 3rd Time Trial and it was a good night! The day ended up being MUCH nicer than anticipated and there was a pretty big turn out...I know I spied someone wearing #35...there may have been a few more - we were lined up quite a ways out on the road. This week I was #10 and Tom was #11 - I like to leave before Tom so that when he passes me I'll have someone to look at for a little while. I also like to start within the first 10 starts or so...that way there will be plenty of people behind me and I won't feel like I'm going to be the last person on the course when I finally get my butt across that finish!

My start was a little slow (new start line pusher guy), but I got up to speed pretty quick hit the high 18s low 19s and tried not to blow up too soon - I tend to do that and then feel like I might die. In fact, I spend the first couple of miles wondering why I'm even Time Trialing. Oh, to challenge myself each week...that's right. Anyway, Tom passed me a few minutes in and then another rider and that was it for a few minutes. Soon enough then the TT bike riders started passing me...cheaters ;) I think fighting the wind was pretty equal going in both directions. I'm not good at tell what is a cross wind or not, but we had it all, except for a tail wind. THAT was pretty much non-existent. Gotta love Lower River Road!

Overall, I'm really happy with how my times are getting better. From the first week to the next ride which was two weeks later, there was no question whether or not my time would improve, the wind was THAT bad...fierce! The time improvement was about two and a half minutes. This week I improved my time by around 40 seconds, which seems more in the normal range of weekly improvement. I had to put in a lot of effort at the end when I caught sight of the finish, so much that I thought I might die! John says that if you are having a good time, then you are not doing it right. So I guess feeling like I might die is a good thing...hahaha!

I think we'll be working on the bikes sometime this weekend. After rooting around the Bike Garage a little I found that we have some shims that I can probably use to make my aerobars work on my Trek and get that all dialed in so I can start riding my fast red bike instead of my Fuji on Thursday nights. Finally implementing the plan that I thought up so long ago! The only problem I have with my Trek is that I will no longer have a computer to use since I have little real estate on my handlebars to support Aerobars AND a cycle computer. Dang it, I might have to get a new computer! Actually, that wouldn't be a bad idea. That would work out just perfect so I'll know exactly how many miles I have put in Time Trialing each season...very clever ;)


Triathlon Training...
I'm nearing the end of my 7th week of tri training, and this week was one of those weeks that I just wanted to get through the workouts. Not that I'm feeling uninspired, maybe just wanting June 11 to be here already! What am I saying?! I'm not ready yet!!! There will be a Open Water Clinic put on by Athlete's Lounge on June 4th at Blue Lake. Perfect! That weekend is my last weekend of training before Blue Lake Tri weekend, so I think I'm going to get in on that. Might also think about registering for Blue Lake while I'm thinking of it too...oh and get that wetsuit reserved.




So, until June 11th it's train, Train, TRAIN!

Slow Vroom

I looked forward to the first Time Trial of the season for so long that when it finally came and we rode and then finished, I wondered WHY...

Last Thursday was the first Time Trial AND It had to be THE windiest evening that I can remember since we started riding the time trials. Yes, I know that the wind whips up going down to Frenchman's Bar, but my gosh, it was horrible! So bad that about a mile into the ride I actually thought about stopping and just going back - but that would be admitting defeat and I don't want to be a quitter. I like to stop, but only after I have finished what I started. I had this feeling one other time, my first Century go HERE for that adventure. Quitting could have been an option, but waiting for a SAG wagon...yeah...well, that wasn't going to happen.

So I slogged it out 5 miles into the wind, wind that would stop you in your tracks wind and quite possibly cause you to go backwards. I had my cyclocomputer on my bike (Tom did not)...after about 1/2 a mile I was instantly demoralized. It was THAT bad. When you watch your average speed going down it's just not a warm-fuzzy feeling. Couldn't even get the right gear to keep at a decent cadence either...it was BAD. My very first EVER time trial was the last time trial of the 2009 season and it was better than last week's time. So...bad! I missed my first TT of the season goal by 1:21. I was shooting for 35:00. It took me 20 minutes to get to the turn around...that's like 4-5 minutes slower than my average times from 2010. That's how bad the wind was!

Okay, last week was the first TT and theoretically, I should get better times as the season goes on...I hope!

The only thing stopping me now is the RAIN...VROOOOOM!

2011Upgrades

A few months ago I found an old issue of Bicycling magazine laying around the house. Before chucking it into the recycling bin I thought I would take a look through it one more time. I'm glad that I did...I came across the gear page that listed 5 items to make a road bike into a multisport machine - SCORE! I have two road bikes - so why not convert the older bike to a Time Trail bike...yeah baby!

Here are the items:

1. AERO BARS - Check! Tom got me a set of bars for my last birthday and they are AWESOME!

2. CARBON WHEEL SET - this top of the line item cost over 2 grand - if I'm going to spend that much money, I think I would just get an entry level time trial bike.

3.  HYDRATION PACK - Got this covered too - I actually went and bought a camel bak for the 2010 Blue Lake event and it was AWESOME!

4.  AERO HELMET - Okay, this one I'm asking for my birthday (got that Tom?) I have a Giro helmet picked out and if I order it at biketiresdirect.com I will get a discount with my bike club membership and get to use my VIP points. AND if I decide to pick it up at the store...no shipping CHA-CHING!

5.  SEAT POST - To change my position on the bike...more forward. Which I think will be good on my Trek as I think the reach is a touch far for me, but not so much that riding is uncomfortable. I am now wondering if a shorter stem would be good, hmmm....


So, the two main items that I am shooting for this year are:

Profile Design Fast Forward Aluminum Seat Post

 

and:

Giro Advantage 2 Helmet

Okay, so the helmet wouldn't go on the bike, but it would be helpful to cut down on wind resistance. With the addition of these two items maybe I can shave MORE time off of my fastest time last season of go HERE for those times.

It appears that I have become a little obsessed. Doing a tri is on my agenda, but riding the Time Trials is really high on my list of things to do...ALL SUMMER LONG! They are cheap (free for club members) they are close to home...and we have gotten to meet some cool people.

I am starting to realize what a geek I have become. What a sad commentary oh well, here's to riding a sub-32 minute Time Trial this year!  

VROOOM....

Streamlining

Tom learned this week that if you want to do a faster Time Trial, the thing that will help you speed up is to get an Aero Helmet. This might be a little overkill...

Time Trial continues...

(My choice of shoes at last season's last TT in September)

We were back at it last night at the Time Trial. It's been a couple of weeks and I was hoping to get closer to my fastest time yet this year of 32:58, but it was not to be. My unofficial time is 33:43 that's about 10 seconds better than the last TT we did.

After we finished, Tom's spin class leader, John,  was hanging around the parking lot and rode over and asked how we did and all that and I mentioned that my glutes hurt...but good! He response was that I was doing it right! Woo Hoo! I understand what I need to do...pull up as I'm spinning...I guess I don't understand how I'm doing it. That's just one more thing to think about besides how much it hurts and that the turn around is coming up not soon enough! Seriously though, my goal is to beat my best time this year and there are 6 weeks left until the end of the TT season.

Once I'm done with the All Women's event I can spend more time focusing on cycling and swimming. I'll still be running, but I'm having a hard time right now figuring out where to fit everything with the time that I have available. I might have to make an adjustment in my work schedule to fit my runs on the treadmill at the station (ugh) - that's the only way I can free up a morning and/or evening to do the cycling and swimming [BIG SIGH] details!

Oh well, I need to think about tomorrow and getting the running done! Robin has it easy...lucky duck. Should be a blast and a perfect day to....

Run, Ride, Run....Bay-Bee!

33:10

 Just looked up my official time from our TT last Thursday...not too bad considering the last TT we did was May 13 (32:58) and there was some wind last week that slowed down some others that night as well.

Now that I have had a chance to use the aerobars for the intended purpose, I know now that I need to make some minor adjustments to my bike for optimal performance during the TT's. I'm going to try to raise my seat just a little so I can get a better extension on the pedal stroke....details! 

I like Thursday nights AND I like dry Thursday nights! Now if we could get a no wind Thursday...that would be PERFECT!

ZOOM-ZOOM Part 2

I got my birthday gift...a little early...yay me!

We'll see how much of a difference this makes...I read somewhere that the bars gave a rider a 1.5 mph faster time...that would push my average up to the high 19s. We have skipped out on the last two time trials now and I am not sure that next Thursday's weather will be much better. The 10 day forecast shows showers all next week which will include Blue Lake on the 5th... :(

Got the bike set up on the trainer to make the adjustments. I'm supposing that I will not keep the aerobars on my Fuji and will most likely mount them on my Trek road bike after Andrew outgrows it and it is returned "home". I'm entertaining the idea of converting my Trek into a tri bike as much as possible...probably should do research on that first. Although, I could mess around with the seat post height and saddle position so that it will work fine until I decide what I really want to do. I really don't know what to do - the guys at the shop would have some valuable insight...hmmmm, another visit to Performance!

Here's looking to some faster times during the weekly time trials!

ZOOM-ZOOM!

Mini TT Report

So last night was the weekly Vancouver Bicycle Club Time Trial. Tom and I worked it out so that my car would be here at work so I could bike commute yesterday (can't waste a gorgeous day) and then Tom rode and met me here at work to rack up his bike on the car and off to the Port Offices. Even with our earlier than usual arrival we were only a few places ahead of our position from last week #21 - me and #22 - Tom. I have no idea how we got #'s 1 & 2 the very first time we tried time trialing. 

Things that were different this week...

- more bikes with drop handlebars. TT bikes are cool, but not exactly practical...so I'm hoping for aerobars for my birthday. The fact there there were more people with drop handlebars made me feel more normal than usual. I knew that these were people that would not be passing me.

- a couple of local teams training for Team Time Trials (North River and another team out of Portland).

- Tom got a flat about a mile from the finish. Tom decided to ride without his seat pack and my remark was that he was feeling a little confident that he wouldn't get a flat...OOOPS...did I jinx him?

- I did better than last week. I felt a little slow, but it seems that I kept my speed up around 18 on the way to the turn around around 18-19 on the way back. I may have lost a few seconds when Tom thought he could get me to stop to retrieve the key FOB after he flatted...I'm lucky he is understanding and patient with me :)

We'll see how the weather looks next Thursday - the 10 forecast on weather.com shows showers all week. We might get lucky and get to ride again. If not, we have many weeks of time trials ahead of us this summer!

I like riding fast!

Ridin' FAST...

So obsessed! It's Thursday again and tonight is the VBC Time Trial! I'm pretty sure that I won't beat last week's time, but that's not the point. It's 10 miles of fast riding FUN! Hoping that the wind will cooperate...no wind, no wind...no wind!

Will update later with an unofficial time...IF I remember to un-click my computer. Oh, check out the weekly snapshot of times at http://www.vancouverbicycleclub.com/...my times are listed under TWO names.

****Update****

Posted another faster time over the previous ride...32:58! For some reason I thought I was slower, but I just wasn't remembering my time from the previous week...WOO HOO!

On the down side, Tom ended up getting a flat with 1 mile to go... :(

OH NO...I'm HOOKED

Last night Tom and I rode the final Time Trial of the season put on by the Vancouver Bicycle Club. It was a blast! I don't know what possessed me to even want to do it, but I set up a short list of goals for the year way back when and only got one completed before last night. I'm pretty sure now that I don't want to do a race at PIR...that would be waaay to stressful, but a Time Trial...that's just me against the clock. The only thing I gotta do is strip my bike down of items that would creat too much drag and too much weight to have to heft down the road, now if I could only get rid of my excess weight hmmm...

So we arrive at the Port Offices and start getting situated and wandered over to see about registering. Well, the guy was more than happy to get us signed up and handed me the clip board with an EMPTY sign-in sheet...NO ONE ON THE LIST! I asked if #1 goes first and he said yes so I then tried to get Tom to take the clip board, but he wouldn't, so I ended up wearing #1 YIKES! I spent a little time being a little anxious over the fact that I would be starting first, but then I decided that it doesn't really matter because at least this way I can keep an eye on other people on the course as they start to pass me...I knew that much for sure.

Since I was to start first, I started to get a little nervous about starting...HOW do I start a Time Trial? I mosey on over to the start in the first position where there are a couple of bike club members and they explain that one will be holding my bike by the saddle and the other would wedge his foot under my front wheel to stop me from rolling away. Oh, okay...got it...now I clip in and wait. The countdown starts at 20 seconds...that just long enough for me to start freaking out again. Calm thoughts...countdown ends and I get a big push off!  With 30 seconds between riders I thought for sure that Tom would be not too far behind, but the next rider that I saw was #3 passed me in no time at all, almost as if I were standing still. It was all good now because finally I had someone to look at for a while...until he sped off like a maniac. It was a while before anyone else passed probably another mile or so. Surprisingly, Tom was not one of the people that passed. In fact, he passed me after the turn around...stinker. It was all good, I now had someone to look at - I'm a visual person and need to see other people to know how I'm doing. I finished the course in 33:52. Not a bad time, but if the wind weren't so nasty in the first 5 miles it would have been much better. I'm pretty happy with my time AND I loved being out there.

The other thing that I noticed was that probably 1/2 the bikes out there were Tri Bikes or had aero bars attached...VERY COOL! I think I just might want a Tri Bike....