I Have a Headache

Seriously.

Now that spring is finally here, and I've finally been able to get out on the road I've had a slight issue with the new bike, Wilson.  It's not hills and gears, whole separate issues, and not without headaches of their own, it's the aerobars and my wrists.

The aerobars that came with Wilson are "S" bends, they are essentially straight bars.  To hold on, ones wrists need to flex into a position, that for me isn't comfortable. (Make a fist around a pencil and then flex your wrist so the pencil is basically parallel to your forearm).  I was hoping to get used to the position, but the pain has only gotten worse the more I ride.  It's a very strange, almost arthritic type pain in the wrist, creeping up into the forearm.  I'm not a big fan.

The alternative is to replace them with bars that have a significant bend.  I don't know what they're called technically, but you grip them in a much more natural position.  Lay your forearm on your desk, pinky side down, and make a fist, it's basically like that.

So I start looking into options, find some I like, check ebay, and one particular store is happening to sell complete setups (bars and aerobars) for less than I can purchase just the aerobars.  This is where it all goes downhill, or maybe uphill is the more appropriate term.

New bars are a different diameter than the old ones.  So I need a new stem, well besides the fact that stems come in an infinite number of lengths, angles, materials, and other seemingly significant designs, the steering tube where the stem attaches to the bike can also vary in diameter.  Some quick research and I of course discover that my bike has the more obscure diameter.

Somewhere along the line I decide I need to read an article on tri-bike fitting.  I went through a bike fit, or thought I did when I bought the bike, but in reading through the article, I realize one aspect of the fit was not done,  lowering the bars.  Some quick measurements and calculations and I realize I should be able to lower the front by a good 3.5".  Deep breath.

This can in part be accomplished with a new stem.  But now I can't just buy the same length and angle, I need one with some drop, and I think it could be shorter, but I could also take out some or all of the spacers, and then maybe it could be shorter still.

Of course, most of this could be avoided if I bought just the aerobars, but now I feel the need to lower the front end to where it should be, and then I'd need a new stem anyway.  And of course, even if I do get it all back together, I should maybe be refit just to make sure.  One more quick calculation on the cost and my head is ready to explode.

Offer and Advice Rescinded

This post is basically a comment on a comment I made to a recent IronMin post. But the comment got too long to really be a comment so now it's a post of it's own. Got it?

First, I think you're foolish to actually ride the IM bike course again. Personally, I'm going back to my old mantra, "There's nothing wrong with fat, dumb, and happy". Why torture yourself, make yourself completely miserable, let self doubt creep in, all that? Not worth it, not worth it at all. Do everything possible to rid the memory of that ride from your mind. If nothing else works, try alcohol, copious amounts of alcohol.

Second, I rescind any offers made to ride the IM bike course. See reason above referencing fat, dumb, and happy. I have no desire to ride the course, I will not be your Huckleberry. I'm finding a nice flat bike trail, something lined with wildflowers and butterflies, going to trade in wilson for a beach cruiser type bike with a cushy seat, a horn, and a basket.

Why the change of heart one might ask? A hill, one single solitary stupid hill.

The above is exactly what my thought process was as I was attempting to climb said hill and shortly thereafter. Those thoughts are diminishing, but they have not completely left me.

Let's backtrack. Inspired by Min's recent ride on the IM bike loop, I decided to extend my ride home from work by taking the IM leg out towards Verona before turning around and heading home. So I headed out Rimrock, left on whatever, right on whatever, right on whatever, left on whatever, and finally right onto Whalen. I'm not real good with names, or caring right about now.

For whatever reason the first hill on Whalen west of Fish Hatchery (going west) absolutely kicked my ass. I think there may have been a slight wind in my face, but I also felt like it was in my face when I turned around and headed east. I just don't know. And I just don't know what it was about that hill, but it left me with no desire to see the rest of the course.

I made it another couple of miles down Whalen before turning south to M and heading back towards Stoughton. The rest of the ride was uneventful. My detour stretched out what is normally a 15-mile commute to a 32-mile trek. Closer to Stoughton I got blown by like I was standing still by a guy on a tri-bike with tree trunks for legs. For about a 1/2 second I thought I would try to stick with him, twas not to be. He was out of site in a relatively flat area within minutes.

Give me a couple days and I may be back to being willing, but for now, fat, dumb, and happy is looking pretty attractive.

ICAW

That's right, it's International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW). There, I've done my part. Go forth and compost.

In all seriousness, composting is a good thing. Done correctly, composting does not produce offensive odors, doesn't need to take up a lot of space, can divert a ton of material from our landfills, and ultimately, produces a final product that plants love.

Back to your regularly scheduled triathlon related nonsense.

J-Hawk EarlyBird Tri

First triathlon is in the books for wife and I. It was fun. One of us got our ass kicked by the other. I won't say who beat who, but let's just say I'm not happy about it. G did a great job, placing 5th in her age group and 18th overall out of 100 women. She pulled out the big can of whoop ass today, and I humbly bow to her greatness.

As for me, I felt really good about the race until I looked at the actual race results. I did the entire thing without a watch so I had no clue what my actual time was as I went. I was guessing I could do 90 minutes, actually finished in about 95. It's only 5 minutes, but as far as immediate perception, it was disappointing. First time I finished slower than expected.

Swim (11:53)
Swim splits were taken as we left the building. I was in an earlier wave, and it was still damn cold out, so my time included a quick towel dry, putting on bike shorts, and pulling on a long sleeve compression top (not easy), was very wobbly going through this. I had to have been out of the pool in less than 10-minutes, which is a good 30-seconds faster than any 500 I've ever swam.

Bike (49:49)
Bike splits started from the time you left the pool building. From there I walked to my bike, got my socks, shoes, helmet, and glasses on, ditched my extra warm clothes and gloves, and walked to the mount line. Likely wasted another 2-3 minutes here.

Bike was largely uneventful. Slight headwind going out. With the wave starts there weren't many people on the course. I passed a few within the first couple miles, then it was pretty desolate until around the 7-mile mark, where I caught and passed the tail end of the the wave before.

Desolation again until about the 13-mile mark, when an older guy passed me. It was the first time I was passed on the bike. One of my prerace goals was to try and not let that happen, it was really only 17 people I had to hold off, minus whoever beat me out of the pool or transition. Two hills were between us and the finish and I caught him at the top of the first hill and beat him in. Small victory.

Run (33:06)
Run splits started the moment you arrived at the dismount line. I again walked back to the rack, changed shoes, threw on a t-shirt, and walked back out to start the run. I had a brief talk with the guy who passed me while changing. He said he was behind me the entire race and was thankful I was out there to pace off of. I never knew he was there. Probably killed another 3-4 minutes in T-2.

The run was a meandering off-road course. At times I felt like a lab rat in a maze trying to find his way to the cheese. Only saw three others on the run course with me, two I passed, one passed me. With no watch and no mile markers, I had no idea where I was on the course. Mile markers (and someone to chase) would have been nice. Nothing really noteworthy, had too much liquid in me from the bike and it was tough to get going.

Recap
I thought it was a well run event, other than mile markers on the run course, everything was well marked and very clear, and everyone I encountered was very nice. I think G and I will likely due another sprint before Bigfoot. I need me some revenge, and between you and me, I think she's hooked.

I feel pretty good, legs are a little fatigued, but not bad. Time to get back on the training plan. The last couple months have been very hit and miss. I blame the weather, couldn't possibly be my doing.

And the old guy, he beat me out of transition and I never saw him again.