How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I got a new bike!

I made it to a second year of triathlons and decided to upgrade my bike to celebrate my now established hobby. See, the first year I went to the bike store proclaiming I had no idea how I'd like triathlons and that I didn't want to spend a lot of money, just in case. Bike stores are used to this, and a good store will steer you towards something that will get the job done, not set you back and arm and a leg, and won't be so hard to ride you never want to come back for an upgrade. 

I got my first bike from Spokes Etc. They were great, listened to me and my needs and gave me a few suggestions.  I bought a Trek FX 7.5 WSD (here's a more recent model for you visual folks). In plain English that means a Trek fitness hybrid with a women's specific design.  A fitness hybrid is more rugged then a road bike, with a bigger frame, slightly bigger tires and a more upright posture.  I was coming off months of physical therapy from a pinched nerve in my neck and it made sense to sit upright. The bike was wonderful for a first triathlon bike. I felt safe riding down steep hills with it, I didn't worry that I'd break it being a little larger then the average biker, and if I crashed it I wasn't upset (and I did crash it thanks to my clipless pedals).

This year, however, I was ready to get what I keep calling my "grown up bike".  My FX worked for me, but really it might as well have had a basket on the handlebars for all it's performance capabilities.  I did some research, returning to Spokes Etc, to tell them my needs and find out about what I should expect to spend.  At my current skill level, which is uber-recreational, there reaches a point where bikes cost significantly more but won't make a huge difference in comfort or race times. Let's face it: a 2 minute improvement on the bike doesn't do much when you are in the middle of the pack, and as long as my hiney isn't hurting I'm feeling pretty good. I knew I wanted a carbon frame for it's lightness, and 105 components, which were explained to me as bottom of the top tier. I looked at quite a few brands, and at quite a few shops and settled on another Trek.  Why? Well it was light and speedy, had great handling and shifting and was at the bottom of my price range. That meant I could get all the accessories I wanted up front without having to save up more money. Oh did I mention I saved up for this bike for the better part of a year so I could pay cash? Yep, no credit cards in my house! In any case, here's a picture of the new baby:

It's a 2010 Trek Madone 4.5 WSD, so you probably won't see it in stores now that they are releasing the 2011's, but if you do and you are in the market, snatch it up! It's price point is really good for a carbon frame and it's probably on sale now :). I do have to admit I got this bike from Revolution Cycles, not Spokes Etc. There's not good reason for the switch other then I found the right bike at the right time there. Spokes Etc would've had it too, I'm sure! Both are great stores with great staff who take time to answer questions and make sure you are happy. I will say I never got a professional bike fit with Spokes Etc. I sort of stumbled into one when I upgraded my seat and pedals on the FX.  At Revolution Cycles a professional bike fit came with the bike, which was also another chance to get questions answered. In any case, I love my bike!!

Riding With Strangers

Hi all, well I just got back from vacation in Florida. I am still in training for my half iron-man so I arranged to travel down with my bike so I could get in a long ride. I found a local riding group that met up about 30 minutes from where I was staying. Apparently, in these groups there are 3 levels called A, B, and C groups.  The A group is the fastest at close to 30 mph on average and they get slower from there. Although none of them are slow LOL. I had no idea what the group abilities would be when I showed up. Turns out, way faster then I imagined. The C group goes an average of 20 mph!!! I've never gone that fast without the help of a downhill :). One C group member there was convinced I could do it anyways, even offered to stay with me if I needed it.  Gosh bike culture is something else!  In any case as I talked to other folks there it came out that there was a new group started, a D group, that goes an average of 18 mph.  I was really nervous about that, too, but then I found out that group had a "no drop" policy, which means they won't take off and leave you. There must be a big bike culture there, because out of the 100 (!!) or so people that showed up there were only 10 of us in the D group. 

We set off on the ride with twists and turns through the neighborhoods. I was very relieved there was a no drop policy because I was lost before the first 5 minutes were up.   We rode along some major roads, which happened to be where I dropped one of my two water bottles.  Oops!  It rolled out into traffic and I knew there was no way I was getting it back, although one of the other riders offered to retrieve it--bike culture is so supportive.  Luckily I had another bottle, and the D group (along with the C group) has a policy of taking a break half way through their ride so I knew I could at least top off my other bottle. We stopped at a 7-11 after about 20 miles, everyone was eating a snack. Did I find the right group or what?? The funny thing is no one was eating those sugar gels, they all had substantial snacks of these giant oat bars and what not.  I felt right at home eating my yam cakes :). 

We continued on and I was still keeping up with the group. Flat Florida makes for a great biking situation!  I only fell behind twice, once when we hit a big overpass, and I promptly caught up, and another time on a big straight away when the group decided to sprint for fun.  I sped up to 22 mph, but sprinting?? Not if you expect me to finish 40 miles LOL.  I learned a lot of new things on this ride about riding in groups. There's all sorts of hand signals about slowing down and stopping, as well as pointing out glass or potholes for riders behind you to see.  These things are important because you travel very packed in and you can't see ahead, so you really have to bond as a group and trust the people in the front to give you information. I'm betting this is part of what makes bike culture so special. I saw all sorts of things on my ride, armodillo, snakes, buzzards, beautiful neighborhoods, and almost all the drivers were really nice. It helps to travel in packs, the cars seem to leave bikers alone more.  Overall, riding with strangers--these strangers--was really great!

When I finished my ride I went right to my extra water I keep handy post ride.  I was really glad to have it because it was 11am when we finished and that one water bottle didn't make it the whole trip.  Had more yam cakes and headed home for a post workout meal (scrambled eggs, brown rice cereal, coconut water, and plantains--hey, when in Rome/Florida....LOL).

First Ride of the Season. Clipless pedals 1: Heather: 0

Or as I like to call it: I didn't know my skin could turn that color.

Saturday I took my bike out for the first ride of the season. It was a gorgeous clear day with warm weather, and I knew there would be a lot of people out on the bike trails so I got up and on the road at 7:30am.  In retrospect I probably should have spent some time getting used to clipless pedals again. 

I got my first set of shoes and clipless pedals last season, maybe a month before my last race of the season.  Everyone told me I'd fall, and I didn't believe them. I practiced in a trainer at the bike shop for like an hour.  I told my foot exactly what it would need to do, and I felt confident that I would not be like everyone else. Oh humility, how bitter you taste!  I fell less then a mile from my house in the middle of a busy intersection.  I had to stop suddenly and couldn't remember how to unclip and I tipped right over. I couldn't even look at the cars around me, I knew they would be laughing. If I was in their place I would be laughing. I only fell one other time after that, when I was making a U-turn and removed the wrong food from the clip.  I hit my head that time and was reassured by my trusty helmet. Yep, always going to wear one!

So flash forward to Saturday, gorgeous day, finally have a spring triathlon on my calendar and motivation to get out.  I felt great, was cruising along at a pace that was pretty good for me.  I got to my 40 minute turn around spot, unclipped the inside foot this time and turned around. Right when I was about to go forward and back towards home I suddenly started to tip to the outside. Once you start tipping over the only thing to do is to twist your body so something soft and fleshy hits, and I succeeded in landed in my ample hip/behind.  The worst part about falling like that are the witnesses.  Cars were stopping, a runner going by was trying to commiserate with "we've all been there" and all I wanted to do was crawl into the shadows and lick my mental wounds.  I made good use of the stop, had some water, checked myself over for injuries and then headed home, deflated. 

I think the second worst part of falling is that it takes the joy out of the ride.  The rest of the way back I'm thinking about how my hip hurts, and how I hope I don't fall again.  I'm nervous about getting back on my bike. I even went to the bike shop to see if an upgrade in pedals would make a difference (answer: no).  The only way to keep from falling again is to practice.  I don't have a trainer at home but I do have a husband who can hold my bike. In fact, he offered first, which is why I adore him.  I won't have a chance to get back on my bike until Bike to Work Day in April.  I'm quite nervous about riding in a group and not being used to the pedals, so I'll need to squeeze some time in before then.  Wish me luck!