One foot in front of the other.
Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headphones
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On my workout/ride home this evening I could see off in the distance a wicked storm brewing to the South of Boulder and heading North which just happened to be right in my line of travel. About 20 minutes into this ride, the wind started and it was swiftly followed by driving rain which brought along thunder and lightening. Good times.
The wind was coming in from my right at about 25 miles per hour and gusting well above that. the biggest problem with this is that my bike has an “aero” frame and as such has a fairly flat profile from the sides. This is great for going straight and fast, but not so great for cross winds that use it as a sail. Again, good times. Now, on top of that, the wind was pushing me on my right side and into the lane of traffic I was trying so desperately to avoid. This made for incredibly hard shifting and some very white-knuckled steering.
With the rain beating down, fighting the whipping wind and doing my best to avoid the cars that outweigh me by a couple thousand pounds, I was reminded of one of my favorite sayings that I seem to forget all too often. Pain is temporary. Even on our darkest days or hardest workouts; even when nothing is going right and the challenges of what we’re involved in at that moment seem to be literally kicking us in the gut, pain IS temporary. Sometimes it may seem interminable and we really can’t see the end of the storm, but it is there, lurking somewhere off in the distance.
Win a portable solar panel from Brunton!
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Lake Success, N.Y. (June 1, 2011) – Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technologies, today introduced the RCX5. Building on decades of experience, and a heritage of precision excellence in product design and functionality, the RCX5 combines Polar heart rate tracking accuracy with a slew of new features. Ideal for multisport endurance athletes, the RCX5 can accommodate the needs of today’s triathletes who want the best in training intelligence and tracking capabilities. It will be immediately available in “smart black” and will also be sold in “striking red” later this year.
New accessories for the RCX5 include the G5 GPS sensor – an incredibly lightweight and compact sensor which measures speed/pace and distance and provides an online map view of training – as well as the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, which provides heart rate data even when underwater. Additionally, an enhanced s3+ stride sensor is compatible with the RCX5.
“Triathlons are one of the fastest-growing sport segments in the United States, and we understand better than anyone in the market that multisport athletes demand data, whether they are training for their first regional event or chasing a lifelong professional pursuit,” said Jeff Padovan, President, Polar USA. “The Polar brand has been an established name among elite athletes for more than 30 years, and we are proud of the loyalty and knowledge we’ve built within the ‘tri’ market specifically. The RCX5 is the realization of everything we’ve been hearing that ‘tri’ users require to get to that next level, packaged in a new, sleek design.”
Sport Profiles: Essential for multisport and triathletes, this feature enables users to quickly switch between sports during training. With just a few button presses, this feature quickly adjusts settings to the current sport. It automatically detects any sensors needed, so that no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs. Four sport profiles come pre-loaded into the RCX5, and more can be added based on the user’s preferences.
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge and it depends on many factors, including physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature eliminates guesswork by adjusting personal heart rate zones based on a user’s current physiological condition. It guides training at the right intensity, making every session more effective.
Race Pace: The perfect feature for regulating speed and race strategy, Race Pace allows users to
set a target time for a certain distance, and then displays the current pace/speed, as well as how far ahead or behind the user is from the target.
Training Load: This feature within polarpersonaltrainer.com displays a color-coded graph of a user’s cumulative training load, notifying a person when he or she has recovered enough for the next session, and accurately predicting training developments to prevent overtraining. This data also provides intelligence to modify training sessions as necessary.
polarpersonaltrainer.com: Several upgrades have been incorporated into the free online training journal to support the RCX5 users. Users can now create complete endurance training programs for running and cycling, including warm-up, work and cool-down sessions. The training programs can be easily synched to the RCX5 via the DataLink data transfer unit. After each session, it is easy to track progress online over time.
New RCX5 Compatible Accessories:
G5 GPS sensor: The extremely small G5 GPS sensor measures speed/pace and distance and allows users to see their route on the new map view at polarpersonaltrainer.com after a session. Incredibly light (34g) and worn with a soft, flexible armband, the G5 has an 18-hour battery life and can be recharged via micro USB.
s3+ stride sensor: The s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate speed/pace and distance measurement. This small and lightweight (23g) sensor is shock and water resistant, handling even the most demanding runs. By monitoring running cadence and average stride length, s3+ can help improve running technique. The RCX5 can also calculate your Running Index, which scores a run, based on speed and distance data from the GPS or stride sensor. While cycling, users can get speed, distance and cadence measured by adding Polar cycling sensors using W.I.N.D. technology.
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter: The RCX5 provides heart rate data even in water with a comfortable, fabric chest transmitter. It transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz.
Product Sets Available:
RCX5 Bike (MSRP $389.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
CS speed sensor W.I.N.D.
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Run (MSRP $419.95):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
s3+ stride sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Multi (MSRP $469.95)
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
G5 GPS sensor
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
RCX5 Basic Set (MSRP $349.95) (Available July 2011):
RCX5 training computer
WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter
DataLink data transfer unit
Getting Started Guide
The RCX5 is also compatible with the existing G3 GPS sensor W.I.N.D. and the s3 stride sensor W.I.N.D. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
Alberto Contador gets one step closer to racing the Tour de France
Heat training by Torbjørn Sindballe
American Trail Running Association
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(Scotts Valley, CA) Giro, the cycling world’s design leader since 1985, has announced the launch of the all-new Selector helmet. Combining a built-in eye shield with a self-adjusting fit system and an adjustable lower tail section that optimizes the helmet to match the rider’s back, the Selector is a revolution in the aero helmet category. It’s also the most aerodynamically efficient helmet available based on Giro’s extensive test data, one that gives measurable real-world performance gains.
“The Selector is the only aero helmet available to consumers that benefits from more than 25 years of experience in designing aerodynamic helmets,” said Giro Senior Brand Manager Eric Richter. “It represents hundreds of hours in the wind tunnel, countless hours spent creating and evaluating models and prototypes, and real-world feedback from top professionals including…TBD. That all comes together to create the ultimate weapon when every split-second counts.”
With the challenge of optimizing helmets to match the body shapes and positions of so many elite
riders, including Lance Armstrong who requires a very specific helmet design to minimize drag, Giro engineers sought to create a helmet that could be customized to fit a wide range of riders and course conditions, without compromising performance. This line of thinking led to the Selector, a helmet that addresses the market with a customizable approach to performance, rather than the traditional “one solution for all” approach.
Giro engineers utilized their unparalleled testing resources to create the sleekest front profile possible. The built-in eye shield’s vents allow cool air into deep channels inside the helmet’s liner to help disperse heat, before sending it out exhaust vents to the rear. And it is at the rear of the helmet where the revolution truly begins. An uninterrupted transition from helmet crown to the rider’s back is one of the biggest factors in aerodynamic efficiency and the Selector is the first helmet to allow tuning of that transition. For the first time, riders can choose between a shorter, 10mm tail section for those with a relatively flat –backed position, or a 45mm tall section for those with a more compact or hunched position. Further optimizing aerodynamics, the Selector utilizes Giro’s new Roc Loc® TT system that self-adjusts, which eliminates the need for access to the system and allows the helmet to be closed at the rear.
The Selector was developed with the same core team of designers and engineers that have collectively helped Giro-sponsored riders to win countless major titles in the last decade, plus 9 of the last 11 Tours de France (confirm). This year, it will be the helmet of choice for riders from Radio Shack, Garmin-Cervelo, Rabobank and Trek-Livestrong U-23.
FACTS ABOUT GIRO’S NEW SELECTOR HELMET
Now that most of us have left the super cold winter in the dust, we have all this wonderful daylight to work with! However, along with all this sun will eventually come the scorching summer heat and humidity. To avoid this, if you’re like me, many workouts are shifted to predawn hours to avoid the heat of the day. As always, with any activity when it’s dark outside comes an added necessity of caution.
At its core, the Vis 360 from the folks at Light & Motion is a commuter light, and it has all the accouterments to prove it, but it also functions wonderfully for training rides when the sun sits below the horizon. Coming in at a very light 130 grams, the Vis 360 packs a big light punch in a small package. The front light boasts a 110 lumen white light with powerful amber side lights (hence the 360 part of the name!). The rear light carries four flashing, red taillights. Battery life on the light is dependent upon the setting; high – 2.5 hours, low – 5 hours, flashing 20+ hours. Charging the light is as simple as plugging in your cell phone since the Vis 360 uses a micro-usb plug and can be charged from many cell phone chargers or from any usb device (computer) using the included cable.
Mounting the Vis 360 takes all of 5 minutes, if that. On the front, wearers use the rubber/plastic mounting plat that can be swapped out for a wider disc for split venting on the front of some helmets. On the rear, a velcro mounting plate can be attached either horizontally or vertically depending on the helmet setup. Once the mounting brackets are in place, attaching the lights is as simple as snapping them into place.
I was truly surprised at the weight of the Vis 360. At 130 grams, Light & Motion claims that, “it is
32% lighter than the best selling bar lights on the market”. I haven’t tried every bar light on the market, but this claim sure seems as though it is dead on. However, even with that small amount of weight on your head, you can usually tell that something is up there and it may feel off. I found this not to be the case at all with this lamp. The balance between the front light and the rear light is so well designed that there is effectively no noticeable difference in the balance of the helmet.
Visibility with the light is excellent, though it does take a few times of reaching up to adjust the direction to get it dialed in for your specific preferences. I wore this on both a road bike and a triathlon bike and when in aero position on the tri bike it took a bit of moving of the front mounting plate to get the light right, but that is thanks to the much lower body position while riding. Charging is a breeze and was, for me, as simple as using my phone charger. Big kudos to L&M for really thinking outside the box and going for super easy convenience on that one.
This light is awesome, plain and simple. The visibility it gives you and the visibility it gives you to others is invaluable, especially in more heavily trafficked areas. This is a well thought out light, with excellent run time relative to it’s battery weight. Were it up to me, every athlete whose butt ever hops on a bike saddle should have one.
Click to visit the Light & Motion website | Click to buy on Amazon
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Wouter Weylandt dies in the Giro d’Italia
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So the wait is over! Here are some details on the new RCX5 training computer. This is a cutting-edge product ideal for endurance sports, with some exciting new features to coach you in planning, training and analyzing your performance in detail.
Some new features:
ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge as your condition changes every day depending on a number of factors, including your physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature in the RCX5 takes out the guesswork by adjusting your personal heart rate zones for every training session based on your current physiological condition. It will guide you to train at the right intensity to get the training effect you want, making your every session more effective.
Sport Specific Training: The RCX5 gives you sport-specific training data based on your personal settings. So the display views, training zones and more can be customized based on your sport. When you are doing brick workouts or racing, you can switch these sport profiles within seconds. Button pressing should be the least of your worries during transition, so we designed the feature along with the wrist unit design/button location to make this as easy as possible.
Swimming & Indoor Workouts: The RCX5 comes with the new WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter, making it ideal for triathlon and off season training. The transmitter has a dual signal, so it will transmit, display and record heart rate in the water. Also, the WearLink®+ Hybrid transmitter can be used to transmit heart rate to treadmills and other exercise equipment that is Polar ready.
New Sensors: New sensors will also be part of the RCX5 launch!
G5 GPS Sensor: The small G5 GPS sensor is rechargeable via mini USB. We will post a few pictures of this soon, but let us tell you, THIS THING IS SMALL.
s3+ stride sensor: The new s3+ comes with a new, firm shoe attachment which guarantees more accurate running pace and distance measurement.
And of course in the saddle you can get your speed, distance and cadence measured by adding compatible Polar W.I.N.D. cycling sensors.
With the sensor accessories, RCX5 keeps up with you in the water, on the saddle, during your run, and online.
There will also be big upgrades at polarpersonaltrainer.com to support multisport athletes in their training. Here are just a few:
The RCX5 will be available in two colors, the smart black and the striking red, and in four different product sets with different sensors. All black RCX5 sets will be available between May and July. The striking red color design will be available in all four set combinations in late September 2011. All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.
How can you stay updated on RCX5 and other Polar news?
Stay tuned on Facebook
Sign up for the Polar Newsletter http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/newsletter
And if you are on Twitter – Follow Chris @ twitter.com/chrispolarusa where he’ll be posting snapshots, video and more of the RCX5 in action.
For many cyclists, bib shorts (or tights) are one of those things that once you try them, going back to just shorts is just not in the cards. The most obvious of these advantages is that the interminable pulling up of your waistband is eliminated. Alos, your chamois doesn’t shift and the lack of a constricting waistband allows for more airflow.
Sugoi has a line up of four levels of bib shorts. Right at the top of the heap is their RSE bib short. Launched in Spring 2010, the RSE line is a step up on Sugoi’s award winning RS line. These shorts use the top end FXE chamois which is a big statement maker in the chamois wars of the past couple years. Made with Meryl Skinlife antimicrobial knit synthetic, the FXE has a welded center channel to aid in ventilation as well as pressure relief because, let’s face it, the last thing you want on a six hour ride is moisture and numbness in your crotch!
On top of the fabric and channels in the chamois, the FXE has two 3D mesh exhaust panels, one af the rear and one at the front. These vents run straight into the welded channels and funnel air in several different directions to maximize air flow. These things combined with four-way stretch side panels and intelligent deign features like the v-notch on the back side to add flexibility and still more air flow.
These RSE bib shorts marked my first ever endeavor into the world of shoulder supported cycling bottoms. The first thing that
caught my eye and more than that, caught the attention of touch was the chamois. This thing is lightweight but wonderfully firm and cushioned. In my experience some chamois’s (is that the proper plural?) aim to be comfortable by being super soft and cushy. The problem with that theory is that often the lack of firmness results in the collapse of any channels and contours. The firmness of the FXE keeps everything pleasantly padded and allows the contours to work as they were intended. My first impression of the mesh exhaust panels was that they were probably a gimmick that wouldn’t be able to work as advertised. I was wrong. The front mesh in particular allows for a good amount of air to get where you need air the most.
The front of the RSE has quite a high amount of rise that at first appears to be a bit much. I tend to be a massive fan of high-ish fronts on bibs. It really gives a nicely secure and well fitting feeling that makes for an even more worry free and comfortable ride. The flat-seamed, ten panel outer body of the RSE gives a wonderful amount of temperature regulation combined with the advantages of compression technology; all this combine into a wonderfully sleek looking and feeling bib tight.
Sugoi’s RSE bib shorts are perfect for lots of miles any time at all but truly excel in the heat. If you haven’t tried bibs of any kind yet, this is a great place to start. Yeah, they make bathroom breaks a bit tricky sometimes but they’re more than worth the trouble.
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Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC)
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Black RED – SRAM’s new color option for its top groupset
After the success of the Limited Tour Edition (LTE), SRAM RED will be available in a new color option: Black. With market trends focused on product customization, SRAM offers another choice to consumers and customers.
The Black RED groupset adds an elegant black finish (rear derailleur, front derailleur, and brakes), while the modern silver graphics are maintained. This new color option matches perfectly with all the framesets on the market.
The groupset includes shifters, rear and front derailleurs, brakes, cassette (same as LTE, w/11-28 option), crankset with black anodized rings, ceramic bottom bracket and chain.Features and benefits stay the same as the original SRAM RED, as it remains the world’s lightest gruppo, approaching 1800 grams in the BB30 version.
Look for several of SRAM’s top road and triathletes to be racing on Black RED…
Commercial availability March 2011.
Pricing – TBD
After famously un-retiring in 2008 to return to the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong has once again officially retired. Sitting down in an interview with the Associated Press (video below), Armstrong says that he wants to devote his time now to his family and the Livestrong Foundation. Of course, for those of us in the triathlon world, we do expect to see Lance toeing the line at multisport events around the world including the Ironman World Championship in Kona on October.
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I’m a bit confused as to what this means in terms of the UCI and racing in general but, apparently Alberto Contador has been cleared of doping allegations by the Spanish Cycling Federation. Backpedaling (pardon the pun) on their recommendation 3 weeks ago that Contador be suspended for a period of one year, they have now rescinded this ruling and a formal announcement is expected tomorrow.
Contador is set to go race in the Tour of Algavre in Portugal. However, the UCI does have a month to make a final decision on Contadors ability to race.
[Tour de France Champion Contador Is Cleared in Doping Case, El Pais Says]
Happy Monday and happy Valentine’s day! Today is the beginning of a very interesting period in my life and I thought I’d take a minute to share some thoughts on where it began this morning and where it may be headed. It does have something to do with running, triathlon and the like so, read on!
Achilles
A few weeks back I mentioned that while out on a run on a day with a lot of ice on the ground I
over-extended my trailing leg and “tweaked” my achilles. Since then I’ve had to kind of knock back the intensity of some of my runs and, to be completely honest, I’ve not run 100% pain free since. I’m not sure that I’d call this a true injury per se, but rather a small stumbling block.
I had a run last Friday where I was feeling my oats a little bit and so I took it out quicker than I have been. I wasn’t in pain while running, but I was aware of the tweak. After my run (about 8.5 miles at about 7:00/mile), as soon as I stopped at the front door of my building and began walking in the hallway, my achilles lit up. P-A-I-N. It seemed that the pain came not really when I put pressure on it but rather when I took it off.
I stretched immediately but couldn’t take too much time since I still had to get to work (yes, I managed to make it out for a pre-dawn run). Throughout the day I forced myself to alter my walking gait so as to avoid any pain. I guess I looked like I was limping a bit but it was a self imposed limp rather than my body NEEDING to limp, so that has to be something.
On Saturday morning I headed out the door for a 2.5 hour brick workout. I had spoken to Coach Jeff the night before and he told me to just do the ride and to forget about the run. So my ride, which was scheduled to be 1.5 hours got upped to 2.5 hours. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to ride outside so this was a welcome change from the monotony of the indoor trainer. Upon getting on the bike my achilles, which had been largely immobilized and set in ice for most of the previous day, was feeling quite tight and sore. I made and effort to gently stretch it out when I could and after about 30 minutes of riding it loosened up and even let me ride some large-ish hills harder than I thought I’d be able to.
When not chasing my daughter and packing/cleaning, the rest of the day was spent, leg elevated and on ice. Sunday’s run was also canceled and we’re now in some odd stasis waiting to see how I feel this week. I don’t have a run scheduled until Wednesday and then I hope my patience and wisdom don’t lose out to ego and pigheadedness. There’s no point in sacrificing an entire season for a few missed runs.
As an aside, and not to go down the technical road; when I was home and able to, I spent the ENTIRE weekend in just socks. I even walked my dogs in just socks on Saturday night. When I was barefoot, I hardly felt anything at all. Today I decided to wear a pair of Newton Gravitas‘ to work since they’re effectively flat and thus far, I’m doing well.
The Subway
I got on the subway this morning (the ever so pleasant downtown 1 train) at my usual stop. The train was not very crowded and I easily got a seat at the end of a row. I tend to go for those seats since that means that I’ll only have one person squeezing in beside me rather than two. The train went from my stop (215th St.) to about 110th St. without incident, or even that much of a crowd. At 110th St. a bunch of people got on the train including one of those people who like to stand IN the doorway and block the door for those trying to get on and off the train even though there is plenty of room to stand elsewhere.
It was this door-standing, super classy individual that started my day off on the wrong foot. This guys elbow was just about level with my ear. Since he was holding onto the rail attached to the seat I was sitting in, this is not out of the ordinary and no big deal. However, as the doors would open, he would lean basically into my seat (yes, I’m aware of the sometimes overstated “American bubble” that we prefer and are spoiled with. That said, I’ve been on a subway in Japan at rush hour and I know what “close” really is). Each time he did this he was coming about 9 inches across where he needed to be and he would push, not very hard but just inconsiderately so, his arm into my head. He did not say, “I’m sorry” or even acknowledge this annoying and obvious invasion of my space.
Now, had this been simply an invasion of my “space” and not an actual instance of me being touched repeatedly in the head by some stranger, I would not really have a problem with it. At about 72nd St. there was a rather aggressive push of my head with this guy’s elbow. So, I put my hand on my head, in between my head and his arm and gently moved his arm away and said, “Excuse me, your arm keeps hitting my head.” I didn’t say this loudly of in any kind of a rude tone. The rest of the conversation went like this:
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: I’m sorry?
Douchey McA-hole: I said, don’t touch me again.
Me: I’m sorry but you’ve been hitting me in the head with your arm for the last forty blocks.
Douchey McA-hole: I’m just trying to let people on and off the train.
Me: Well, you could go stand somewhere where you won’t have to do that and hit me in the head.
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: If you don’t touch me again then we won’t have a problem.
Douchey McA-hole: Don’t touch me again.
Me: Or what?
Douchey McA-hole: *silence*
He got off the train at 59th St. (Columbus Circle) without further incident. I don’t like confrontation, but when I’m put in that situation, with someone literally standing over me (since he was standing and I was sitting) my hackles rise very quickly. However, I did maintain a calm demeanor which was bolstered by the very nice woman next to me who was encouraging me to ignore him since he was clearly “that kind of person”. I just don’t get it. Why do people have to be like that? I was tempted to stand up and just stare at the guy since I had about 20 pounds and 3 inches on him, but I figured that would only serve to exacerbate an already tense situation.
So, Douchey McA-hole, have a happy Monday and I’m not hoping at all that you get dropped like a sack of potatoes by someone with less patience than I have.
Looking forward
Danielle and I are going to Milwaukee this week to sing Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Skylight Opera. Being there will be a nice break from living in New York for a while, though I must admit that I doubt it will instill in me the affection that some feel for this town.
While there I hope to take Gearist TV on tours of SRAM, Saris and Trek Bikes. Gearist is doing well and is further expanding passions of mine that have been emerging for a while. Upon returning from Milwaukee, we will be looking to the future. Our lease is up in October and we are moving. We don’t know where just yet but to us, anywhere is better than here.
The spring and summer will be spent training hard and racing. The biggest race of the season of course, is Ironman Canada. I’m still toying with the idea of doing a 24 hour live podcast to help raise money for Athletes for a Cure (PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE!!). If I do do a live 24 hours show I am certainly going to need people to call in and stop by to keep me awake!
I’ll be touching more on the reasons and desires of our move in the coming months as well as the direction we’re moving in. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.
On a bike, I feel like we often neglect our hands until it’s too late. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself shaking my hands out to get some feeling back after having had it vibrated away by the roughness of the road, or just because my gloves were falling apart prematurely.
The Sugoi RS glove sits at the top of the heap in their fingerless cycling glove lineup. Encased in its synthetic leather palm is Sugoi’s V-Control foam, which spans across the entire area of pressure points. The palm contains vent holes that allow air to circulate to help keep sweat under control. The bonded terrycloth thumb gives the rider a quick and easy way to wipe away sweat and also allows for quick evaporation and drying. The RS Glove is also available in a full finger model
In my experience, all the gels and foams and anti-matter that is put in gloves doesn’t mean a thing if it’s placed wrong for the rider. The V-Control foam that Sugoi uses does a great job of vibration dampening, but that’s not what makes the biggest difference for me. What matters is where the padding is. Sugoi has put big, honking patches of V-Control on a large majority of the palm. All hands are different and one glove, even if sized exactly may or may not work for a particular athlete. With this design, I’ve found that my hands are always in ample contact with the padding that I need.
You might be wondering why there are picture in this review of a pair of beat-to-hell gloves; well, those are my own Sugoi RS gloves. The reason I wanted to show them is because they have been sweated on, slipped on, rained on, crashed in, tire changed in, indoor rode with and I’m pretty sure puked on for about a year now. I have never owned a pair of cycling gloves for that long. I could speculate as to the mileage on them, but I can’t begin to think about that, but at peak Ironman training time last summer, they were getting 300-400 miles a week on them. At this point they have tears and holes appearing in various places, but even as I write this, they’re hanging up to dry after last night’s trainer ride and waiting for more.
I know that I’ll have to part ways with my RS gloves pretty soon, but I’m very impressed with their construction and feel. They’ve taken me a very long way and I think they’d be a great choice for someone who likes to wear a glove that has the tools to be worn into the ground.
Much has been made in the past of the Crowie and Macca rivalry. In fact, you may have even heard some hints of it in my interview with Crowie [LINK]. Usually we have to wait until Kona to see Crowie and Macca go head to head, but this year we’ll get to see them early! Both World Champs will be in the Abu Dhabi International triathlon which takes place on Mach 12.
As many have said before (not the least of which is Macca himself), Macca is considered to be a stronger cyclist than Crowie. With that in mind, the unusual distance of the Abu Dhabi course will favore the 2010 Kona champ. The distances are: 3 km swim (approx. 1.86 mi.), 200 km bike (approx 124 mi.) and 20 k run (12.4 mi.).
TriCenter this week did a bit of a highlight on the two heavyweights as they gear up for an early season showdown.
TriSports.com Phoenix Triathlon
Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island
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So I’m pretty sure that some of you will read this and mark me a certifiably insane, which is fine.
Yesterday evening as I was in the middle of a ride on my indoor trainer, I looked to my right where there was a mirror. The set I was doing was 8 x 6 minutes in heart rate 4-5a zones, hard effort with 2-minute recoveries, so needless to say I was whipping up a mighty sweat.
See, over the past few weeks I have had an extremely difficult time getting motivated to train. I’ve never been affected by seasonal influences before, but the shear amount of darkness and gloom this winter seems to have gotten a bit of the better of me. I’m not depressed by any stretch, but I just don’t “feel it” when workout time comes. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I wake up at 6 AM, leave my house by about 7 AM and sit in an office with no direct windows until about 5 PM. This gives me a grand total of approximately 30 minutes of sunlight in a day, which consists of my walks to and from the subway and my walk to and from getting lunch.
By the time I get home in the evening I just want to take the hour and a half that I have to spend with my daughter to do just that. After that if I have a run scheduled, it seems like the last thing I want to do is go out into the freezing cold and dodge snow and black ice for an hour. If I do run, my dinner doesn’t meet my stomach until 8 PM at the earliest and since I try my best to at least be in bed by 10 PM, you can see that my day gets exactly zero meaningful progress done, with the exception of spending minimal time with my family.
“Why don’t you just run in the morning?” Good question. I’ve never been that much of a morning person to begin with. However, morning is usually the coldest part of the day and to get in my workout, eat breakfast, walk the dogs, shower, move the car (depending on the day…NYC parking sucks) and get ready for work, that means I would be waking up at 4:30 AM.In the summer I do this no problem though I’m not entirely sure what the difference is. Maybe it’s that I don’t like the idea of going from a nice warm bed to sub-20° temps?
Back to the point.
So I looked to my right, into this mirror, and I started outlining my goals…out loud…to myself. Then I went over the uncanny ability I have to “logic” my way out of being motivated (see above). I talked to…me about what a waste any given day was when you’re perfectly capable of getting up and killing whatever challenges try to tear you down that day. I told myself that not being motivated doesn’t yield any results and that motivation begets motivation. That with each workout if I just relaxed and did what my body was ready to do, then that would in turn provide the energy and in turn the motivation for my next workout. I spoke to myself about how things had gone last year and the positives and the overwhelming negatives.
As I said all this, the me in the mirror listened intently and then said back to me, “Well, what are you wasting time being pissed off for? Get your ass in gear and get moving.”
Few workouts have burned so good. Now it’s time to get moving.
After a very public doping scandal following the 2010 Tour de France, Alberto Contador has officially been stripped of his title and suspended from competitive cycling for one year. Since being provisionally suspended by the UCI this past August, the Contador case has been in a kind of limbo while the cycling powers that be decided what course of action to take.
Contador’s suspension is the result of testing positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol, which is used to promote muscle gain at the same time as weight loss. Contador maintains his innocence saying that the chemical, which is also used in cattle, showed in his system as a result of eating tainted meat.
Contador has ten days to present evidence and appeal the decision.
[Contador suspended one year, stripped of 2010 Tour de France title]
It seems the types of workouts that annoy me are always the ones that find me indoors. The ride above was done on (begrudgingly) on my trainer since, by the time I was able to ride it was 8:15 PM and it was about 30° F outside with a bit of leftover ice thrown in for good measure.
Because I haven’t (yet) gotten my speed/distance set up for indoor use I am fairly uncertain how far I was going. So, since my workout was a distance based workout, I had to adapt it to be a time based workout. Here’s what I did:
15 minutes warm up
4 X 10 minutes – building to heart rate 3 to low 5b on each interval. 5 minutes recovery.
15 minute cool down
Not optimal of course, but you have to do what you have to do. As I noted, it’s my butt, or rather the part of my undercarriage that hits my saddle, that is going to need some adjustment time. I’ve been riding in the off season, but not nearly enough for my groin to be used to real, hard workouts. Other than that, this one burned good, though I will admit that getting to a solid zone 5 is a tough task.
Cycling biggest moron is now vying for the position of World’s biggest moron. Floyd Landis, disgraced Tour de France champion and admitted not-doper/doper/computer hacker has now come out with a new strategy for athletes…legalize doping.
His validation for the stance comes because, as he says,
“They [the testers] are so far behind in the testing organisations that there’s no way to change it now. Just accept that it’s here, that it’s not going away and that it’s just going to get more complicated and the fact that it’s not that complicated yet compared to what it will be. Ten years from now it’s going to be four times as hard as it now to test for things.”
This comes on the heels of Landis’ retirement earlier this week. While it’s a very glass half full kind of view, he does have some valid points about the ground the authorities have to make up on dopers.
Regardless of his pulling out of his first triathlon in a while, Mr. Armstrong Pelota is still getting in his workouts. Here’s a quick video of him in the water on the Kona course. (Get those hips up!)
Lance Armstrong has officially pulled out of his much anticipated re-entry into triathlon. Juan Pelota, Armstrong’s swimming, biking and running alter-ego has said that he will be pulling out of the January 29th Blue Lake multisports festival in New Zealand due to a sore left knee.
Regardless of his knee situation, Lance will be riding in the Tour Down Under (January 16-23) which has has said will likely be his last professional cycling race outside the US.
Hopefully the layoff from running won’t last too long for Lance since his long time coach, Chris Carmichael has already said that the seven time Tour de France Champion will indee be toeing the line at the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii in October. I know that I’d certainly like to see what Lance can do in the triathlon world and based on all the buzz, I’m far from alone!
[LINK]
When seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong toes the line in his return to triathlon in January, he will certainly have to bring his A-game and then some to step up to the competition. New Zealand pro Bevan Docherty will join Lance at the Blue Lake Multisport Festival as well as long distance pros Bryan Rhodes and Kieran Doe.
Not that anyone expects the competition to lay down for Lance, but one has to wonder if he thought he’d be facing athletes of this caliber when he hinted to this event under his alter-ego @JuanPelota when he tweeted:
“I’m thinking the first tri is here… 38°12′S 176°20′E”
If you’re wondering why I keep referring to this as Lance’s “return” to triathlon, it’s because before he was the yellow clad cyclist we know now, he became a professional triathlete at the age of 16. In fact in 1989 and 1990 Armstrong was the national sprint course triathlon champion.
He’ll also be in Kona next October, so this race marks the beginning of a very exciting chapter in his sports career. Oh, and the name “Juan Pelota”? Google translate and a little bit of humor helps.
Holy CRAP! Listener/reader Kevin sent this video clip over today. This appears to be some sort of training session for track cyclists. The leg speed this guy achieves is insane! I would be on the floor from losing my balance alone! Enjoy!
When I first saw this video I knew exactly what was coming. This cool little toy whipped up by some guys at Dartmouth allows the athlete to wear their running shoes on the bike, thus making their transition times disappear. Now, I know that a LOT of you will see this and say, “I totally had this idea!” like I did. well, they had the idea and built the thing! Of course, it looks less than lightweight and leaves a lot of questions to stiffness and power transfer, but it’s still really cool! Beside, I’m sure it can easily be made of carbon fiber…for a price!
We’ve arrived at that time of year (Ok, I’ve arrived at that time of year). The major marathons are over, triathlon season is hanging on to the last vestiges of warmth in the Northern Hemisphere and many of us are still digging our way out of a Thanksgiving and football induced coma. We have arrived at “The Off Season”.
As I look back at the past few months, since the remnants of the previous off season gave way to flowers and warmth, and I begin to lay out the next few months of my schedule, I’m actually quite surprised at how much “on season” stuff I’ll be doing. If you read or heard my race report from the 2010 Philadelphia Marathon or the comments that followed, you may have noticed that I really didn’t race that much this year and now that I’m not in über hard core training, I actually find myself wanting to race more.
2010 began well enough with a new half marathon PR in the Manhattan Half Marathon (part of the New York Road Runners half marathon series). That race marked a few firsts; the first time I had someone pacing me (thanks @RunningLam!), the first time I felt like I really “raced” a race of that distance no matter how humble my actual time was and also the first time I went into a race with a very distinct plan and was able to stick to it. I found that this race also got me moving in a solidly good direction in terms of my running. In fact, less than a month after this race I broke my PR time of 1:35:20 quite easily by over two minutes…during a workout!
The next race up was Ironman 70.3 Mooseman in June. Seeing as I had not been in an actual race since June, I was already falling into a pattern of training and not racing. Mooseman went quite well all thing considered such as the torrential downpour, hills that I was not quite expecting and the mud pit that was transition. Little side note, I set a new half marathon PR of 1:35:08 which should tell you something about the direction of my fitness since that was after a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile, HILLY bike ride.
Next up was the New York City Triathlon in the middle of July. It was a reasonably good race though I managed to swallow about half the Hudson River during the swim only to almost puke it up on the bike. Going into this race I had the goal of getting my elite time (2:15) and I did get that time…by 15 seconds. I’ll take it but I know that I can do better and while I’m not scheduled to race the NYC Tri this summer, I will be back and I will kill it.
By this point in the year I had only done three races and was training far to hard. Now, I don’t want this to appear as though I was being told to train as hard as I was. In fact, coach Jeff was constantly telling me to reign it in on my workouts and I and my ego didn’t want to listen. Yes, I was going faster and farther but I was in the process of peaking far too early. About a month before my biggest race of the year, Ironman Louisville, my body shut down and refused to go. For about a week I simply could not put together any solid workouts at all. During this time and in the rest of the lead up to Louisville, coach Jeff deserves a massive amount of credit from bringing me back from what could have easily been the end of my season right there.
If you’re not already aware, my Ironman Louisville ended in a medical DNF. This was due to still unexplained cramping throughout my whole body. Shortly after IML, I resolved to get back and do something and so I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon and shortly following that, I went to the Chicago Marathon with Newton Running (GREATEST RUNNING COMPANY/SHOES EVER) and while there had the opportunity to pace my brother-in-law in his first ever marathon. The run was amazing and I had a blast but I wouldn’t exactly call it a race.
Last weekend when the Philadelphia Marathon rolled around and I wound up in the porta-jon at mile 11, my race quickly switched from the full marathon to the half. This led to countless conversations since then about WHY. The answer that seems to be coming around was racing. See, in 2009 I raced in 15 different events and this year (2010) only 6.
Maybe I’m wrong about why Philly went bad and maybe it’s something that we’re all missing. I also have to give a big, unsolicited shout to Newton Running and to Jeff for keeping me injury free for so long (knock on wood)!
For now I’m going to race more. I’m going to have fun and I’m going to just enjoy the “off season” and really, REALLY use it to build strength. Hopefully when I come out on the other side of this period of the year it won’t feel like an off season at all but will have me itching to swim, bike and run FAST. Meanwhile, I’ll also be doing the stuff that winter allows for; skiing, hiking, camping, cross country and introducing my 8 month old daughter to the amazing world we live in.
How does your off season look so far?
The Look Keo Blade Carbon has been drool inducing since the very first day it was announced. It’s light weight, low profile, huge surface area and the fact that anything carbon is like catnip to cyclists and triathletes makes the blade an amazing offering from Look.
First, let’s talk weight. the Keo Blade Carbon Ti (the blade also comes in a CrMo axle model also) comes in at a minuscule *185.2 grams (6.5 ounces) per pair. This is thanks in part to the new tension spring system. Rather than the traditional metal spring that creates locking tension, the Blade uses a compressed carbon blade. The standard blade has a tension of 12 Nm for general tension and for riders who want more tension also comes in a 16 Nm version that is replaceable with a tool available from Look. The light weight is also helped by the injected long carbon fibers. These fibers are over 10 mm as opposed to the standard 1-2 m fibers.
Next up is surface area. The first Keo pedals I rode were the Look Keo Sprints. I still own these pedals and like them a
lot however the surface area is something that has resulted in more than one close shave with sterilization when my foot slipped off. The blades’ platform, where the cleat meets the pedal, is about 30% larger than the sprints and gives the pedal a rectangular look instead of the typical semi-triangular shape. This comes into play almost constantly while riding and it’s noticeable in terms of stability while riding and while clicking in and out. The amount of float on the Blades is, as with all Keo pedals, determined by the different cleats available.
The Blades are the basis of a couple of highly anticipated products that will be coming up fairly soon. The first of these is the “Blade Aero”, a time trial pedal that adds a carbon housing to the underside of the pedal. Look claims that this feature will improve aerodynamics by 2% while only increasing the weight of the pedal only 5 grams and making the pedal even stiffer. The Blade Aero has been ridden by Alberto Contador during the Prologue and final time trial of the 2010 Tour de France.
Perhaps the more anticipated version of this pedal is the offspring of the recent union of Look and Polar for the “Together Power” pedals. These pedals will have an integrated power meter in the axle and will bring about a product that other companies should be rushing to catch up to. [Original Polar press release]
Upon first stepping into these pedals I admit that I was petrified that I was going to snap them in half! Once clipped in, the wide base gave a fantastically secure footing. I have been using the 12 Nm tension carbon blade and I find it gives a perfect amount of tension while getting clicked in. The tension also holds my foot plenty secure and I didn’t feel my foot waiver in the pedal at all. Clicking out was just as easy and to be honest I find myself constantly noticing the smoothness with which I’m able to click in and out. The feeling of breaking the pedal also went away very quickly and the realization that this is an extremely well built and durable pedal is all that remains. They are quite high in price, but if the means are there they are well worth it. Look has a tradition of making high quality, reliable and durable pedals and the Look Keo Blade Carbon are no exception.
*Weight stats via Weight Weenies
Click here to visit the Look website | Click here to buy on Amazon
LeMond Fitness Revolution Trainer
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Upon opening the box of the Louis Garneau Carbon Tri Hrs shoes for the first time, I am not embarrassed to say that the first thing that came out of my mouth was, “Ooooo, gorgeous!”. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, on with the real review.
One of the first things I noticed on the Tri HRS was the Exo-Jet carbon outsole. Looking at it I was reminded of the massive air intake on the underside of an F 16 fighter jet. the purpose of the sole shape, aside from stiffness, is to maximize air flow not only on the front of the shoe but throughout the entire length. On top of the sole being shaped to maximize air flow, it also goes another step further by putting a durable mesh vent just under the arch of the shoe. All this happens while still keeping the bottom of the Tri HRS über aerodynamic and lightweight.
Being that the bottom of the shoe is SO vented, I was a bit concerned about actually getting too
Click the image to see the venting up close
cold when the temperature begins to take a dive. LG addresses this by including two different footbeds, one for hot weather and one for cold weather that blocks the cold air from wreaking havoc on feet. The upper is made of a micro-fiber leather which is also well vented and breathable.
The fit of the Tri HRS is something that LG has taken very seriously. The leather upper is 100% “thermo moldable”. Basically this means that you get the rare opportunity to toss your shoes in the oven! After the requisite amount of time, the shoes are them put on (with socks if you generally wear them) and after about twenty minutes, you’ve got shoes that are fit to YOUR feet (side note, you can even further customize the fit by using a heat moldable footbed like Sole’s custom footbeds)
The HRS in the Tri HRS stands for “heel retention system”. This system is made up of a 0.6 mm membrane that is designed to hold your heel in place during the power stroke. Also on the shoe are two, Kevlar reinforced straps. The lower of theses two can be adjusted and left alone, while the upper and larger of the straps gives plenty of room and ease of use for a quick transition. All these features come in at a measly 310 grams (11 ounces)!
When riding, the first thing that stood out to be with these shoes was their stiffness. Now, I’m sure that at least some people are wondering why stiffness is so important. Well, it’s like this; your leg is exerting all the pressure it can muster onto that one little point where your body meets the drive train, the pedal. If you’re exerting all this power and you have a sole that flexes and gives you’ll be losing that power you’ve built because the sole of the shoe you’re wearing is absorbing it. A stiff sole, means more power and in turn a more efficient and less fatiguing pedal stroke. These shoes are super, and I do mean super, stiff .
The overall fit, since it was largely determined by the exact shape of MY foot thanks to the heat molding, was fantastic. In fact, I am quite confident that even if I left the shoe completely un-strapped my foot would still be held comfortably in place.
The venting is truly epic. That being said, I can possibly foresee a problem riding in cold weather with these shoes. I do plan on wearing booties over them to keep my feet warm once is it necessary.
Though I do plan on updating this review once I’ve worn these shoes in a race setting, I already consider myself a big fan. Check them out at the links below!
[box type="info"]Click here to visit the Louis Garneau website | Click here to buy on Amazon[/box]
[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://gearist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ibmonogram.png[/author_image] [author_info]Review by IronBrandon[/author_info] [/author]
Honey Stinger Bar Review on Gearist
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For the past few months, I have had the opportunity to use the Suunto T6C Red Arrow. Along with the unit itself, the folks at Suunto were kind enough to let me try their “triathlon pack“, which includes:
Suunto Foot POD
Suunto Road Bike POD
Suunto Cadence POD
Suunto Memory Belt
Suunto Dual Comfort Belt (included with unit)
The first thing that I noticed about the T6C is it’s size. In the past, I’ve had a Garmin FR 305 as well as currently using a Garmin FR 405. The T6C is roughly the same size as the FR 405, but whereas the 405 feels to me like a computer in it’s rigidity, the T6C feels like a sports watch. The band is the same flexible yet durable rubber I’ve become used to on my Timex Ironman (which, as fate would have it, bailed out just before I got the T6C).
The face of the T6C is large enough to not have to (if you’re me) bring it within 2 inches of your fading eyesight. The display has three main lines or fields of display; top, middle and bottom. The middle display field is the primary and largest of the three. The top and bottom lines are significantly smaller, though still plenty visible. There are three buttons on the right side (lap, mode and light) and two on the left (start/stop and view back).
Unlike other units, the T6C’s battery is extremely easy to remove, not that I’ve had to remove it though since the battery has yet to die. It is very lightweight and equipped with ANT+ wireless technology. However, while it is capable of using ANT+ to sync to your computer, there is also an available USB method which, since I do not have their “Movestick“, is my preferred method of syncing. On a side note, I think Garmin really dropped the ball when they went to an ANT+ only sync. There have been several times with my FR 405 where I had trouble syncing with ANT+ and would have given anything for USB capability (see: Garmin FR 305).
I have used four heart rate belts in my time (did I just sound like an old man?) and this belt is by far the most comfortable. Traditionally, HR belts have a flexible plastic front and are about a foot wide until the attach to a soft, elastic strap. This belt is entirely soft and elastic with the exception of the plastic circle right at the front, which is hardly noticeable (note: Garmin has since come out with their own soft style HR belt).
In the past the only kind of foot pod-esque thing I’ve used is the Nike+ system. Since I stopped using that, I’ve used the GPS function on my Garmin FR 305 to tell me distance, pace and such. One of the issues I have with foot pods is calibration. First, I have a quick foot cadence that has the potential to throw things off a bit. Second, mine and everyone else’s foot cadence varies depending on the type of run and the length of a run (i.e. the more tired you get, your stride might become shorter or may stretch out).
The Suunto foot pod is very light and attaches fairly quickly. Calibration was and remains a slight issue, and at some point it actually seems to have gotten whacked out of calibration and had to be redone. The way I figure it, there is up to about a 1-2% margin of error over the course of a ten mile run.
The Suunto Road Bike Pod has probably the coolest method of attachment of any cycling speed I 
have seen. The front skewer IS the speed sensor! All you have to do is remove your own skewer, replace it with the Suunto Road Bike Pod skewer, attach the included magnet to your spoke in the proper place, enter your wheel size and go. That may seem like a few too many steps to be called “simple”, but it truly is and all totaled takes maybe five minutes at the most. Calibration is no issue and with the exception of having to replace the battery once, this has worked flawlessly (after pairing which I will address later).
Since first seeing this, I have discovered that Mavic has an almost identical product to this. If that works as well as this, I imagine it’s also a great idea.
The cadence pod is one of those things that, until you train a ton on the bike and realize that watching your speed is NOT the way to go, you may not see the value in. This cadence pod it meant to attach via zip-ties to the seat tube of your bike, just above the bottom bracket (how far above your BB is of course dependent upon the length of your crankset, mine is 175mm). The huge problem that I ran into is that my frame is “aero” and as a bladed seat tube. This presents two problems; first, the included zip-ties were barely long enough to fit around the right place on my frame. Second, since the back side of the seat tube of my bike is essentially cut to the exact size of my wheel, there is simply NO room, even for the thin zip-ties. After riding for only once, I discovered that dirt and such was building up between my tire and frame and the zip-ties were scraping my tire. Not good.
How did I get around this? Well, since I still had/have my Garmin bikepod (which incidentally contains both the speed and cadence sensor) attached to the non-drive side chainstay, that option was out. the only other option that I could see was to attach it to the underside of my drive side chainstay, essentially putting inside of the chain’s circuit. This worked out fine, though I’m certainly glad I never had my chain come off and either get tangled in the sensor or break the cadence pod itself.
The Memory Belt is probably one of the coolest toys in this bundle. The belt itself is similar to traditional HR belts with a flexible plastic front and elastic strap. What makes the memory belt so cool is that it’s a completely contained unit when it comes to recording data. In other words, let’s say you want to go for a ride or run without your T6C or other compatible unit, the Memory Belt itself will record all of your data for downloading later. According to the Suunto website, it can record for up to 24 hours without stopping. On top of that, the belt can give you real time feedback through the Suunto Monitor, part of the Suunto Training software.
This is my biggest issue with this product. Suunto’s Training Manager (and included Suunto Monitor) software is ONLY PC compatible and I am a Mac guy. According to Suunto’s forums they are “working on” a Mac version, but the software has not, from what I can tell, been updated since October of 2008. Of course, I did get the always present answer of , “you can run Parallels or
something”, when trying to find a solution. So, I did run it with Windows via VMware Fusion, but I felt that to be more trouble than it was worth.
The best solution that I have found and one that Suunto has worked hard on is Movescount.com. Movescount is a FREE web-based “sports community”, but the upload tool and available data from workouts is hugely substantial. While the data is not as entirely in depth as it is in the Training Manager software, it does go much farther than most people will need. Syncing with Movescount is both Mac and PC based and works easily via the Moveslink software.
Out of the box the T6C itself is pretty intuitive in it’s initial setup. I had mine setup with the time, date and personal information (age, height, weight, etc.) inside of ten minutes. The more info you give the T6C, the more useful info it can put out. As with any device like this, it pays to be honest in entering things like fitness level.
Then came the pairing. Pairing, for those of you who may not have ever had to do it is setting up one device to work in conjunction with another. In this case, I had to pair all the pods with my T6C (foot pod, cadence pod, etc.). Pairing all of these things was a seemingly impossible task. Not because of the number of devices, but because they would not pair! I probably spent two hours total getting things to connect to each other. Part of it was a bit of impatience, but part of it was the seemingly unnecessary methods (this pod must be upside down for pairing to occur (??)). All this said, since my initial pairing I have not had any pairing problems even when faced with having to change batteries.
Each of the pods delivered with flying colors in terms of ease of use. As I mentioned above, the foot pod left a bit to be desired in terms of accuracy, as most foot pods/pedometers do. So far as battery life goes, I have only had to change two batteries in the three months (give or take) that I’ve been using the Suunto system. The first was on the Road Bike Pod and the second was on the Memory Belt.
The Memory Belt is quite an amazing tool when it comes to “running naked”, which is to say, training without a constant eye on the clock. With that comes a bit of complexity that can be admittedly frustrating in the middle of a particularly long or difficult workout. The Memory Belt beeps. That is all fine and good as it different beeps denote different status updates. However, on more than one occasion I found myself having to remove the Memory Belt because it would not stop beeping at me. Additionally, different beep and flashing light combinations mean different things. For instance:
You can see where keeping all this straight in your head could be challenging. After a while of dealing with beeps on what seemed like every other workout, I reverted to using the sound-less Dual Comfort Belt and am much happier.
The T6C unit itself measures ascent and descent during training. However, there were several times that I noticed my T6C recording my total ascent in the 25,000 foot neighborhood. Granted, I was on a long ride, but the likelihood of me climbing 25,000 feet in one ride is fairly low. Another feature that I don’t quite get is the fact that whenever the clock is stopped and then restarted, a new lap is started as well. For instance, if I pause to take a sip of water and stop the clock and want to keep track of my true lap time I cannot because upon restarting, the lap timer starts anew. This becomes particularly annoying during swim workouts where I stop and start my timer several times during a workout. To be honest, this may be a feature that I can disable and just have not had the time to look into, so if I find that it is simply a setting, I will update this review.
The on-board memory of the T6C leaves something to be desired. I won’t venture a guess as to the exact amount of workout time and the number of workouts/events that the T6C can hold, but suffice it to say that it is not a lot. This is likely for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the T6C is a small device for its capabilities. Also is the weight, which comes in at a not-so-whopping 55 grams. As I mentioned earlier, I have taken to wearing my T6C as my every day watch and even though it has indeed been put through its significant paces, I have yet to change the battery.
This is by far the most significant obstacle to buying a T6C. The T6C unit itself currently retails for $282 on Amazon (Suunto T6C Personal Trainer Heart Rate Monitor
When I began using the T6C I freely admit that I had a slight learning curve coming from using the Garmin Forerunner series. However, along the way I have really come to enjoy my T6C. It is a solid, feature rich device that gives the wearer the flexibility of an every day watch that doesn’t have to be changed out for something else when workout times comes. There is also something to said for not having to worry before every other workout if you’ve remembered to charge the battery enough to make it for the entire time.
If you can get around the price point, the T6C is a great device that goes the extra mile in giving you real time feedback. I see this in my gadget arsenal for a long time to come.
Continued from: 2010 Ironman Louisville: Race Report Part 2 – Race Day
From the second I entered the water (and when I say the second, I mean right at that instant, not before and not after I began to swim) I got a cramp in an intercostal muscle on my right side just below my pectoral. I took a second and took a few long-ish strokes to stretch out that area. As soon as that cramp subsided, I felt my right quadriceps get a bit tight. From this point forward, I was dealing with some form of a cramp.
The swim itself began ok. I felt that the downstream current which had not been that noticeably present the day before at the practice swim, was about the same. I had worried a bit about this because the area in between Towhead Island and the shore could have caused the usually lazing current into something much more significant. There was quite a bit of people traffic to deal with, though it spread out fairly quickly and after the first half mile or so, I only occasionally came upon another racer.
Once I got to the turn-around point of the swim, which was about 1/3 of the way through, the course headed back downstream. The current did pretty much nothing for me (or anyone else that I noticed) in terms of speed. It was at this point however, that my cramping from earlier began to become a bit more regular. I was able to stave off the quadriceps cramp mainly by straightening my leg as needed. When I got to about the 300 meter to go point, my entire right leg seized. From gluteus, to toes was one big cramp. I compensated by using my left leg a bit more and by putting on the steam with my arms.
Since my right leg was essentially acting as a drag anchor, and due to the fact that my left leg was being worked a bit more, eventually, my left foot cramped up. As I approached the swim exit, I was truly unsure how I was going to get out of the water. As I came to the first volunteer on the steps, I said, “Both my legs are cramped and I can’t walk.” She and another person assisted me out of the river and onto the steps. Fortunately, once I began moving my legs let go enough for me to jog/run into transition.
Once inside the changing tent and with everything else on, I sat down on a chair to put on my shoes. As I did this, BOTH my hip flexors cramped. I immediately sat stark upright in order to stop the cramping. It took a couple of tries, but I did eventually get my shoes on, and headed out the door.
About my mental state at this point; To say I was panicked would be incorrect. I was concerned and knew that something was going on with my body that I had not expected. Unlike Ironman Wisconsin in 2009 when I had simply made MASSIVE nutrition errors, this time I was completely lucid and thinking clearly. I knew that something must be off with my electrolytes and in turn, my hydration. So, my plan was to take in my first hours worth on my Infinit blend in the first thirty minutes. At the same time, I would be taking two bottles from each aid station; at the first station, 2 waters, at the second 1 water, 1 Ironman Perform. I would alternate that pattern as long as I could in an effort to get as many fluids absorbed as I could.
I picked up my bike, ran to the mount line and got on. My very first pedal stroke was met with a quad cramp. To be completely honest, I cannot remember as much of the bike as I would like to because all I could focus on was getting rid of my cramps.
The bike course, is a good one but hard. After the first few miles, the challenges of constant rollers came often. Scattered among the rollers were many hills that were pretty significant and caused the heart rate to rise. The aid stations that I saw were all well manned and had plenty of everything I needed. I did hear later that several of the stations began to run low on water, even to the point of running out, but I didn’t experience this.
My goal for the bike was to maintain a speed of between 22 and 22.5 mph. This did not happen. For the first two bike splits, I held an average speed of barely under 21 mph. Every time I would ask more of my legs, they would cramp. My heart and lungs were feeling fine and were really itching to do some harder racing, but my legs simply would not let them. At about mile 70 of the bike, I began running over scenarios in my head of how to deal with the unrelenting cramps. At this point some part of my body was cramping at all times. Among the places that cramped were:
I’m fairly certain I even remember my eyelid doing a weird flutter/cramp thing at some point.
By the last twenty miles, I was a cramp. I mean that; I WAS a cramp. My energy was being sent fighting against my own body. My speed had dipped drastically to around 17 mph. Also at this time, the heat of the day was beginning to truly set in. The high temperature for the day turned out to be 96° F with 60% humidity. I wish I could blame the heat for what was going on with my body, but I cannot. I’m sure it didn’t help, but it was not the cause of my problems. I fought through the last stretch and after what seemed like forever, I made it to transition.
As soon as I dismounted and handed my bike off, I saw Trevor (@indianabackdoc). He and Kristine (@KGIRLTRIS) had volunteered to catch bikes from racers at the entrance of the second transition. Trevor recalls our conversation like this:
“Brandon, you gotta go man.”
“Dude, I am done.”
“What?!?! No way man. You are doing this!”
” I have cramped since I jumped into the water.”
“Really?!”
“Yeah, I think it’s over.”
“No it’s not, suck it up buttercup. Get your ass moving and finish the race. It’s gametime man, nut up or shutup. It’s go time.”
I hobbled my way into transition and to the changing tent. I found a chair in the tent and sat down. As soon as I did, everything below my waist locked up. I took several deep breaths and tried stretching my legs as much as I could. My legs eventually went from being seized to just cramping constantly (I still don’t know how to accurately define this, but the two are different). A volunteer came over and asked me what he could do to help me get changed. I asked him if he had a phone I could borrow, and he was so kind to bring me his.
I called Danielle is pieces and asked her to have Jeff call me back at that number. Jeff promptly called me. We went over and over and over again what was going on and it made no sense. Had the cramps begun somewhere on the bike or even after pushing hard on the swim it would make sense, but this did not. I was an absolute mess emotionally and mentally. None of what was going on made one ounce of sense. After much discussion and agonizing thought, Jeff advised to pull out. His main concern was that since these cramps were not exercise induced that if I continued, I could wind up in a serious medical emergency. In speaking with Laminator after the fact, he explained that out of control and persistent cramping like that can eventually spread to your diaphragm and then you have a medical emergency for real.
I asked the volunteer with the phone if he could help me to the medical tent as walking wasn’t something I was very good at at that point. He helped me to the tent, reminding me that just because I was going to medical did not mean that my day was over. I was given a cot to lay on and my legs were rubbed out. I was also given ice (truthfully I was not that hot because I was unable to exert myself as hard as I wanted to) and a cold bottle of Ironman Perform. Jeff had told me to get and IV of fluids, but apparently if you do that, they are required to pull you out of the race on the spot, so being hard headed and stubborn and hoping that I would still be able to get up and move, I stuck with ice and drinks.
The medical staff was amazing in asking if I was ok every couple of minutes. I lay there allowing my legs to cramp over and over. To give you an idea what it looked like, imagine being able to see hundreds of bugs crawling under the surface of your skin; that’s what I was seeing. It flt like each and ever muscle fiber was firing off at random non-stop.
As I lay there, many more people in the same shape as I was and worse were being brought into the tent. I eventually gave up my cot for a chair as there were many who needed it more than I did at that point. Sitting there, I began to take a hard mental and emotional look at the events. I will admit that I was at first extremely ashamed and embarrassed. However, that eventually gave way to acceptance and disappointment; not disappointment in myself, but for those (including me) that had given so much to see me have a good race that day.
After a while Trevor, who had been on the phone with Jeff off and on since he saw me come in, came over to the medical tent. We sat and discussed everything and I made the call. I hended Trevor my chip and he turned it in for me. My day was over. My first ever DNF.
To be continued…
Ironman Louisville Race Report Part 1
Ironman Louisville Race Report Part 2
Part 3 coming soon!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Polar and LOOK, the inventor and leader in clipless pedals, have merged their expertise to introduce the first clipless pedal that measures power output and cadence. Kéo Power is a must-have novelty for the ambitious cyclists who want to reach their maximum potential.
Polar P5 power transmitters and Look Kéo Power pedals comprise together the first-ever power measurement system integrated in the pedals. Easy to attach to cranks and switch between the bikes, each pedal comes with eight embedded gauges for extreme precision in power measurement. The two power transmitters relay the data from the sensors directly to a compatible Polar cycling computer on the bike’s handlebars.
Kéo Power gives instant feedback by measuring accurate power output in watts from both the left and the right pedal separately. By revealing the cyclist’s left/right balance between the legs, the system helps perfect cycling technique. In addition, current and average cadence is essential for those willing to optimize their cycling economy.
The system is compatible with Polar CS600X and CS500 cycling computers and works with any crankset on the market. The CS500 displays power output and cadence, whereas the CS600X reveals the left/right balance and Cycling Efficiency Index as well. The Polar LOOK Kéo Power system will become available in spring 2011.
My Top Ten Tips for Beginner Cyclists
Baker’s Review of the Catlike Whisper Plus
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There are so many tips for beginner cyclists floating around the internet that to cover them all could be a complete website unto itself (and probably is!). This list is the top ten things that I think every beginner cyclist should know (assuming you’ve already got a bike). Please leave your own beginner cyclist tips in the comments!
Again, this list is by no means comprehensive. Please leave your tips in the comments!
Sole Dual Layer Performance Socks
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Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am the social media manager and a customer service rep for Newton Running. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
Who: This contest is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and Canada (also APO)! Tell your friends!
What: Stuffitts! I have spoken about these simple yet awesome shoe savers in the past. Click here to read more about them. I cannot say enough how great they are!
When: Starting NOW! This is an ongoing contest that will be every month, or until every person on the planet has nice, fresh smelling shoes!
Why: Because Stuffitts are awesome! The folks at Stuffitts are being SUPER generous and I also want to give you guys something that I think is a great addition to any athletes arsenal!
How: On the last podcast episode post of each month (example: Episode 99 on June 28 HERE) entrants should leave a comment (however long you'd like). On the following week's show (the first show of each month) I will draw, by random number generator, one winner! That's it!
Good luck!
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