AM Ride With A New Guy

AM ride with a new guy

A few days ago I got an email from a friend looking to hook me up with a 'friend of a friend' to ride in the mornings during the week.  Awesome!  Sure thing!  Email introductions were sent, and after some back and forth we met up this morning for a 20+ ride.

We met up at the appointed time and corner.  Matt seemed like a nice guy.  Pleasantries were exchanged, and off we went.  I noticed that he was in the "big-ring" and as we started out, I noticed that I was too.  We both accelerated quickly, got to a pace that was most likely a little too quick considering the lack of warm-up that I had, and started to cruise. 

The speed didn't slow.  We were talking, asking the usual "get-to-know-you" questions, but the pace was up there.  Neither of us would shift out of the big-ring in front, and we kept the pace high.  I realized what was happening......it was typical, neither of us wanted to slow the pace for fear of looking like he couldn't hang with the other.  Or at least that's what I projected.

We continued.  The pace continued.  Yes, we both turned into "that guy".  Neither one of us would let up.  We started out hard, and kept it hard.  Big-ring all the way. 

Avg pace for 20+ miles was 18.5.  Not too quick for a flat loop, but this loop has some hills.  And yes, neither of us would get out of the big-ring for the climbs either.

All hills were attacked.  Out of the saddle climbing.  The conversation continued on the climbs.  Granted the questions had to be kept short - as did the answers - so you could keep breathing and avoid passing out.

Me (on a short, steep, hill.  Out of saddle in the big-ring): "So...(pause) *heavy inhale and exhale*....you from Texas originally?

Matt (on same short, steep hill.  Out of saddle in the big-ring): "No...(pause) *heavy inhale and exhale*....New Hampshire"

Finally, with 2 miles to go to the end of the loop where we would split off, there was one last small-ish climb.  I got half way up and my legs cried "no mas".  I shifted out of the big-ring, and announced: "that's it - I'm done".  With that, Matt immediately slowed, shifted down, and relaxed.  Damn it.  All I had to do was say that 8 miles ago?

You get the point.  We turned into total Type-A jackasses.

And we're riding together again on Friday.

Pre-Ride: Check Your Equipment

I was out on a training ride with one of my Podium Training athletes this morning.  It wasn't going to be a long ride, this athlete is gearing up for a sprint distance triathlon in a couple months, and I think 16-17 miles was in the cards today.  Anyway, all was good - about half way into the ride, and we're picking up the pace a little.  My athlete was down in the aero-bars, and we had a nice stretch at tempo pace.

Suddenly:  Bonk.  My athlete has dropped back on a fairly flat stretch so I start to slow.....slowing some more.... Um, still slowing..... What's going on?  We went from a nice pace to maybe 10 mph (not kidding).

I was informed that they just lost their mojo.  Okay, no problem, we'll spin easy for the rest of the ride.  But as we continued on, even at a slow pace, my athlete was just dragging.  Finally, I was informed - while their legs felt like rubber at the moment - that a "rubbing" on the front end of their bike might indeed be coming the brakes.  We pulled over and, sure enough, the brake pads were so tight that they were rubbing against the rim of the front wheel.  The calipers had the brake pads just about locked down on the rim.  I could hardly spin the front wheel when I took a look.  No wonder this person was spent - this ride must have felt like doing hill repeats for ten miles.

I did give this person a mild scolding for not checking out their equipment before rolling out that morning.  Everyone should do some basic checks on their bike before heading out.  Even if it's for a short ride.  Spin the wheels: any wobble or brake rubbing?  Check the brakes: stopping power is good?  Spin the crank arms and shift gears a few times: All shifts are crisp and no issues with the drivetrain?  Check the handlebars: Able to turn without cable or headset issues?  Tires are inflated and you have spare tube, air / CO2 / tire levers?

All in all this takes about 2 minutes - Max. 

Granted, we got a laugh out of it in the end.  If this were race day, that would have been one tough bike leg.

More importantly my next concern was about the bike shop that was being frequented for the maintenance on this athlete's bike.  I say this as I know it just came back from the shop for a basic tune-up. How could a mechanic, any mechanic, let a bike leave their shop with the brakes adjusted down this tightly?  Didn't they check things over once (or twice) before taking the rig off the stand and signing off on the work?  I was sort of stunned, as I know what bike shop was used, and I had thought them to be a pretty good place to go.  That opinion has changed a bit.

The moral of this story?  Always, ALWAYS, check your bike before heading out on a training ride.  And, make sure you've got a good mechanic whom you trust at your bike shop.

You can always do what I do once you do find a reputable shop and mechanic: Buy your mechanic a case of excellent micro-brew or craft beer a couple of times a year and make sure you're on a first name basis with the entire staff by doing the same.  It does wonders when you need a quick tweak on your rear derailleur and it's a busy Saturday at the bike shop.

Support, In Injury And In Health

I was out riding this morning, enjoying the fact that I'm able to be out riding after breaking the old ankle.  Granted, I've been swimming and cycling for a while, but I'm still having that little bit if euphoria every time I get outside on my bike.  Sorry, I digress.  Anyway, I was out riding this morning, thinking about how quickly, really, this rehab has been going.  I then started to think back to the accident itself, the surgery, etc, and realized I was pretty lucky - for a number of reasons - all in all, but more so that I had a great support system at home.

My wife JL was amazing during the whole broken ankle thing.  And I'm not just talking about taking me to the ER and then to the Orthopedist.  And then for an MRI.  And then back to the Orthopedist.  And then to the hospital for surgery and getting my prescriptions filled. 

I'm talking about having someone at home who understood that this was a major deal for an athlete.  She understood that this was going to really be a mental strain on me as well, and did an amazing job of keeping things in perspective.  Yes I was fortunate the accident happened in the winter.  And I was also fortunate that I could keep swimming almost immediately after the hard cast was taken off post-surgery.  But she really kept an eye on me and made sure I was following doctors orders and also made sure that I was being smart:
  • She made sure that I ate healthy, fiber-rich, foods.  Breakfast was usually a whole grain English muffin, fruit, and sometimes a veggie juice or a smoothie.  She also knew that without the exercise levels my body was accustom to, I needed to watch my food intake. 
  • She'd scold me for trying to do too much around the house - insisting that I keep my leg elevated.  Her favorite saying during the 3-4 week period of mostly immobility?  "Don't be a hero, get back on the couch".
  • When the desire to just sit back and have beer to drown my sorrows of not being able to go out and run would come around, she'd make sure I didn't.  "Stay off the hooch so long as you're taking painkillers".
  • Oh, and did I mention that she made sure that I didn't overdo it on the Oxycontin?  Granted I only used one or two of those (I found one of the other painkillers - a less addictive one - a more effective solution) but she made sure that I wasn't overdoing anything.
  • She'd even (on one occasion early on) put some chicken and veggies in a crock pot for me so I'd have lunch and dinner lined up for a couple of days.  And for a vegan to cook chicken, well, you know what I'm talking about.  That's devotion.
I know she was pretty damn happy when I was able to start carrying my own dinner to the table (when I could get around on one crutch).  And she was damn near ecstatic when I was able to navigate the stairs to the basement (I tend to do the laundry, and she wasn't happy about having to add that to her repertoire).

The point here?  (Yes, there's a point): It's good to have a support mechanism at home.  Not just when you get injured, but in general.

Triathlons, marathon training, whatever - you need to have someone who understands what you're going through, and why, and is supporting you in your endeavors.  I'm lucky to have someone who, on all accounts, is behind me in my training and mania.  I think I balance my life with triathlons pretty well, and it helps that she does triathlons herself.  But I'm pretty sure that without someone at home to support the early mornings, keep me in check when I'm overdoing things, and to cheer me on at T1, T2, and the finish chutes, well, I just wouldn't enjoy the sport as much.

Looks Like I'm Racing.....sort of

Not long ago, I wrote about my racing dilemma this upcoming season.  As I am already registered for a few upcoming races, I was contemplating whether or not I should race them in a diminished capacity.  By that, I mean do I do the swim and the bike legs of my upcoming triathlons and then withdraw from the race (as I most likely won't be able to do the run with any mojo what-so-ever)? 

A couple people commented on that post, and I was encouraged a bit by what was said.  It seemed like a reasonable thing to do - and it would allow me to get out and do something while trying to build my fitness back up.

I've been getting in some good swims workouts in lately, and the even better news is that I've been getting in some good training rides.  Outdoors.  Yep, I've officially turned the corner and am no longer resigned to spinning away on the bike trainer inside.  Paired with the fact that I can get around sans crutches now, my ankle is strong enough that I can go out and ride confidently.  Granted, I'm tragically building up my mileage and fitness at this point.   This compared to last year when I was already racing and would have had at least one 1/2 marathon under my belt and would be gearing up for a triathlon in just a few weeks.  Anyway, I digress.

I was still on the fence about this short term racing plan.  Was waffling back and forth on the pros and cons of it all.  Then my wife returned home from a work trip that took her to Arizona.  She was in Tuscon during the USAT Duathlon National Championships and, on the flight home, was the seat-mate of a sponsored elite athlete that had raced that weekend. They apparently talked about racing and triathlons a bit, and my racing and current situation came up.  I was pleased to hear that the response from an elite athlete was that I should absolutely do the swim and bike legs of my upcoming races.  That I shouldn't feel any apprehension about not doing the run. I've paid the entry fee, and people are responsible for their own race.  I can't take, nor should I take, ownership or responsibility of the race strategy of another athlete.

With that pleasing input tipping the weights solidly in my direction, I'm re-targeting the Mossman Sprint Triathlon and the Park City Olympic Triathlon in July and August.  These will help me get my fitness up and potentially be able to do something constructive at the Toughman Half Iron Triathlon in September.  Do I think that I will be able to run 13.1 miles by September? Ehhh, most likely not with any sort of intensity at all.  And to be honest, it might not be the smartest thing to do - but who can say!?  Regardless, if I'm able to get out and swim and ride competitively it will be a big mental boost.

With that said, I've been scouring the internet for fall triathlon in the north-east.  Not many to choose from once September wraps up.  I'd like to think that I could squeak out a sprint or Olympic distance race come October.  If anyone has any good suggestions, please speak up.