Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

[nmupiccdiva]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

CC to the Tri-athletes in here: that's my next objective on my endurance athlete Bucket List.

 

[BUT09]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I think I'm definitely pulling out of the tri I'm supposed to do in September - I'm not sure I'm really prepared anyway, and if I lose the next couple of weeks of training (since my ankle hurts walking, there's no way I can run), it would be pointless. Not to mention I have no desire to completely destroy my ankle right before hockey season.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

The burnout point is a good one though. I think I might be getting there myself

I'm still ok on the burnout...for the time being. The burnout for me usually happens about halfway through the cyclocross season.

Were you the one that we were posting earlier that bought the Quarq power meter for your bike?

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Finally registered for the Old Boys 1/2 marathon on 9/18; that should help me gauge my fitness for the Detroit marathon in October. With the new iron regimen and a better diet, hopefully I won't be crossing the finish line feeling like death in either race...

 

[nmupiccdiva]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I have a random question: can anyone here tell me what the heck this P90X thing is? I know of a lot of people doing it, and I'm curious as to what it is.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I have a random question: can anyone here tell me what the heck this P90X thing is? I know of a lot of people doing it, and I'm curious as to what it is.

Basically just a high tempo cardio regimen, with various exercises that work various muscle groups. I've done the Insanity workouts a little over the summer on our ship (doing them on the steel deck isn't really good for knees, though... so I quit doing them until I get back to school) and it's more or less the same training regimen, except P90x uses resistance weights and equipment, whereas Insanity is just your own body resistance.

Pretty good overview of Insanity: http://60dayworkout.us/

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

My normal offseason week is 3 interval sessions and 1 longer "base" session (1.5-2 hours). My IM bike training has also been very heavy on intensity which runs counter to most IM training philosophies.

The burnout point is a good one though. I think I might be getting there myself

yeah, that is quite different then from what I've read/heard about IM training. It sounds like you figured out though what works for you, and that's great. I'm really excited for you and hope you have a great time. I want a full race recap, you hear me?

What kind of wetsuit are you swimming with? And how about your bike? I bet your bike qualifies as bike porn.

 

[Patman]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I'm not sure which is worse... that I find myself thinking of the olympic lifting movements (I think its the adrenaline fix or something) or that I'm digging around for possible gyms to use on Christmas Eve (gotta keep that workout going).

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

here's a couple photos from the tri last week:

This is starting the 2nd lap of the swim:

Me about to touch the finish sign as I come in:

 

[Dirty Bottles]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I'm still ok on the burnout...for the time being. The burnout for me usually happens about halfway through the cyclocross season.

Were you the one that we were posting earlier that bought the Quarq power meter for your bike?

Yep, I bought a Quarq power meter back in last November. Really, really like it.

yeah, that is quite different then from what I've read/heard about IM training. It sounds like you figured out though what works for you, and that's great. I'm really excited for you and hope you have a great time. I want a full race recap, you hear me?

What kind of wetsuit are you swimming with? And how about your bike? I bet your bike qualifies as bike porn.

I hear ya!

I use an entry level 2XU wetsuit and I ride a Kestrol Talon so very average/entry level as far as tri bikes but still a nice bike.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Yep, I bought a Quarq power meter back in last November. Really, really like it.

Good to hear. I just picked up a Saris PowerTap earlier this summer. I'd been thinking on and off about getting one for awhile, and then took the plunge. I really like it too. Great training aid!

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I use an entry level 2XU wetsuit and I ride a Kestrol Talon so very average/entry level as far as tri bikes but still a nice bike.

maybe you can help us out with this then...we're already thinking of our next bike. Which one we want, etc. We're debating going either higher end road bike or entry level tri bike, as both are relatively the same price. What do you recommend? We think we can survive Ironman 70.3 on our entry level road bikes with proper training in the offseason, but do not want to attempt Ironman France without some upgraded equipment. Thoughts?

 

[Dirty Bottles]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

maybe you can help us out with this then...we're already thinking of our next bike. Which one we want, etc. We're debating going either higher end road bike or entry level tri bike, as both are relatively the same price. What do you recommend? We think we can survive Ironman 70.3 on our entry level road bikes with proper training in the offseason, but do not want to attempt Ironman France without some upgraded equipment. Thoughts?

If you can afford to spend in that $1,500-$2,300 you'll have lots of excellent choices. I would say go to a LBS and test ride as many as you can because the best bike will be the one that fits you the best.

In terms of road vs. tri - I think it really depends on how you train and personal preference. Do you do a lot of group rides with other roadies? If so then maybe a high end road bike with clip on aero bars is the way to go. But if you don't do a lot of group rides and your primary focus is triathlons go with a tri bike.

My wife bought a Quintana Roo last year and she loves it. But the biggest thing for her is she has longer legs with a shorter torso and this bike fits her perfectly and that's what really matters.

But maybe the guy on this board who is opening his own bike shop should weigh in on matters!

Ironman France? Wow, that would be a great first IM!

 

[alfablue]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

here's a couple photos from the tri last week:

This is starting the 2nd lap of the swim:

Me about to touch the finish sign as I come in:

Nice! Almost the agony of the start of the race- when you are nervous if you can even finish, and the extasy of the finish- when you now you DID!

Sweet- congrats again! that's pretty amazing to say you've finished a triathalon.

 

[pardonme]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I don't use aero bars for tris, mainly b/c I think it would be horribly uncomfortable with clip-ons on my current bike, and I'm too poor to buy a dedicated tri bike. I'll probably be one of very few people doing a half-iron without them, but I'm not going to be placing in my age group anyway. Also, I do a lot of group rides for training and aero bars are generally frowned upon in that situation.

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

I don't use aero bars for tris, mainly b/c I think it would be horribly uncomfortable with clip-ons on my current bike, and I'm too poor to buy a dedicated tri bike. I'll probably be one of very few people doing a half-iron without them, but I'm not going to be placing in my age group anyway. Also, I do a lot of group rides for training and aero bars are generally frowned upon in that situation.

see, I'm not a group ride type of guy. I spend a lot of lonely hours out there by myself or with my training partner. I'm gonna get clip on aeros for my Trek, but that's all for this year. Next year will come time to buy the tri or road bike.

 

[Sloe Gin]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Sweet- congrats again! that's pretty amazing to say you've finished a triathalon.

thanks man. It's a pretty cool feeling to cross the finish line of any race; crossing the finish line of an Olympic triathlon is something else, I tell ya.

Quiz and I evaluated ourselves in the offseason last year and decided that we were tired of all these people who do one triathlon and boast about how they are triathletes and they are so great and blah blah blah. Yes, by definition, they are triathletes, but we feel that to earn the title of triathlete, you have to get out there and be dedicated to the sport. That's why we stepped up our distance this year. Even though we were outclassed, we still achieved what we wanted to achieve. Next year brings new challenges and new adventures.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

But maybe the guy on this board who is opening his own bike shop should weigh in on matters!

Brandon, you and Quiz should take a trip to Phx and ride some bikes and pick out the ones you like.

That said, I agree wholeheartedly with these two pieces of advice:

I would say go to a LBS and test ride as many as you can because the best bike will be the one that fits you the best.

In terms of road vs. tri - I think it really depends on how you train and personal preference.

Yep.
The difference between the position you ride on a tri and road bike is pretty dramatic. You can adjust a tri bike to be closer to your road bike feel, but then you take away a lot of the benefits of the tri bike. Some people just never get comfortable on a tri bike, and if you can't be comfortable on a bike, you certainly can't go fast on it. Others take to it and never have any comfort issues. As Dirty Bottles said, test ride as many bikes (of both varieties) and see which one fits you the best.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

Brandon, you and Quiz should take a trip to Phx and ride some bikes and pick out the ones you like.

That said, I agree wholeheartedly with these two pieces of advice:



Yep.
The difference between the position you ride on a tri and road bike is pretty dramatic. You can adjust a tri bike to be closer to your road bike feel, but then you take away a lot of the benefits of the tri bike. Some people just never get comfortable on a tri bike, and if you can't be comfortable on a bike, you certainly can't go fast on it. Others take to it and never have any comfort issues. As Dirty Bottles said, test ride as many bikes (of both varieties) and see which one fits you the best.

This might be a dumb question, but besides the obvious aero position, but what makes the body position on a tri-bike that good? As I understand it, the position makes you use more running muscles, so when you get off, running is easier???

And if that's the case, what tubes are altered in the core design to achieve that? Or the trick question- is it possible to find a frame that is close enough that you can put aero bars on it and get most of the benefit?

that last part was more in the transient tri-racer- one who may do one sometimes, but not enough to justify spending the $$ on a dedicated tri-bike.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Diet and Exercise 2010, pt. 2: Never Going Back

This might be a dumb question, but besides the obvious aero position, but what makes the body position on a tri-bike that good? As I understand it, the position makes you use more running muscles, so when you get off, running is easier???

And if that's the case, what tubes are altered in the core design to achieve that? Or the trick question- is it possible to find a frame that is close enough that you can put aero bars on it and get most of the benefit?

that last part was more in the transient tri-racer- one who may do one sometimes, but not enough to justify spending the $$ on a dedicated tri-bike.

Having never done a tri before, I can't comment on the running being easier after doing a bike leg on a tri-specific bike.

It's more the tube geometry that is drastically changed. If you compare the geometry charts on the same size bike...one for a tri bike and the other a standard road bike...it is the tube angles that will be very different. The position on a tri bike puts you much further forward over the front wheel, allowing you to create a more aero profile.

You can always buy a standard road bike, and then put aero bars and a forward-offset seatpost on it to try and replicate the tri position geometry. It wouldn't be the exact same, but close enough that it would allow you to use the same bike for two purposes...when you want to ride road, you can just take off the aero bars and swap back to your old seatpost.