It's funny how I am in the middle of marathon training, yet all I can think about is how to swim and bike faster! Not that I don't want to run faster, but I feel I sorta know how to do that (even though I am feeling rather sloooow these days).
BIKE:
My plan this winter is to spend a lot of time on my bike. Since I can't really justify a computrainer right now, I decided to take classes at a nearby bike shop. I figure one 3-4 hour computrainer ride a month would be enough. I am planning on doing 3 rides/week during winter, on a trainer. Right now I have a roller trainer which I got on Craigslist for free over a year ago. I have been reading a lot about fluid trainers, and how they better simulate road riding. I am looking at the kinetic and cycle fluid trainers. Do you have any experience with fluid trainers and would you recommend them?
POWER METER:
Should I jump on the powermeter bandwagon? I just purchased a Garmin 305 with HRM, and will be starting to use that after my marathon. How do you feel about powermeters? Are they worthwhile? Are they easy to read/use? What type/brand would you recommend?
BIKE/FIT:
I am going to purchase a new bike. I decided to get a road bike and put aerobars on it. Most of the tris in this area are hilly, plus I want to do group rides, plus Gordo, who I respect a lot, gave this advice in a recent triathlete mag! Do you know of a good place in the area to get a professional fit, reasonably priced? (this is for the 2-3 MA blog readers:)
SWIM:
I think I am going to join masters. They meet Tue and Th at 8:45-9:45, which is not really a bad time as Petru would be asleep. I am a bit nervous because I can't do flip turns (have never tried, but I found a cool site where they explain it well). Do you feel learning to do flip turns is beneficial for swimming? How do you feel about using swimming cords?
BOOKS:
I love books. Books are better than chocolate icecream. Truly. What are some good tri books to look into?
Thank you, thank you, thanks you!!!
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9 comments:
chris has a road bike with aero bars, but all our friends who are big into tris have a TT bike also and claim it makes a huge difference... i have no idea :) chris said that some people in masters dont do flip turns, so you dont have to. he loves those classes though and they reallllly helped out his swimming. i have used my friends computrainer - its so fun! i know nothing else :)
watch out for you next spring when tri season starts!
a few of my tri friends have gone here
http://www.fitwerx.com/splash/
they have gone to vermont but I would imagine Peabody would be OK for you
many friends have tri bikes and a few of them don't like them even after getting "fitted"
I have a fluid trainer, a computrainer, and power meter(s).
Of these three, you will see the most improvement by using a power meter properly. The CT has a power meter built in but others can be used outside as well. The different ones have their own plusses and minuses but take a look at the Powertap. I also have a Quarq that I like a lot too.
The key is knowing how to use one. If you are looking for a techie read on this, read the definitive work of "racing and training with a power meter" by Allen and Coogan. A knowledgable coach can help a lot.
Feel free to drop me a mail if you have more questions.
great questions. the only thing i feel qualified to comment on is the flip turn issue. most of the triathletes i talk to say that flip turns are not a huge deal and that the disadvantage of the flip turn is that it tends to increase your heart rate at the same overall speed (because of the holding your breathe during the turn) and the goal for most long distance tri training is lowest HR for the distance... that being said, its always fun to be able to keep up with others and if they are doing flip turns you could always give it a try.
i look forward to hearing others' thoughts on these issues. great questions. i am grappling with many of the same ones...
Flip turns may not be totally necessary, but they're awfully fun and make you feel very powerful. Learn them, try them and then see if you want to actually tri them.
Your blog and energy and outlook just makes my day!
A powermeter is an awesome tool. Someone explained it to me like this:
No powermeter no heartrate is like going into a gym to lift weights and all the weights are the same size and color. Even if they are different weights. Having heartrate is like different weights being different colors, but you still don'w know the actual weight. Having power is, well, knowing exactly what the weight is you are lifting.
Using a powermeter is very similar to training by pace on the run. A watt is a watt is a watt. If you are pushing 150 watts it doesn't matter how hot it is, how high your HR is, you are getting the benefit of riding at 150 watts. Riding at 140 watts with a higher heartrate or in a hotter condition, is only riding at 140 watts.
Having a powermeter really helps you push yourself when training. Or go easy when you are supposed to. You can get a decent wired powertap for about $750. Less than $500 if you get a used one. There's also another brand, iBike, and it's about $400. But the interface with the computer is poor and it's a PAIN to set up.
The best trainer I ever used was the Kurt Kinetic. It's super quiet and has the most resistance of the standard trainers. For about $50 more you can buy something that shows power on it. This could get you started. But then know if you ride it and then get a PM for your bike, there will be a difference based on how efficient the measurement is (ie, if you are measuring power from the hub, some of the power is lost in the drivetrain, and if you are measuring on the trainer, some power is lost in the drivetrain of the bike and the drivetrain of the trainer), this does not mean you aren't riding as strong, jut that it gets lost turning different things before it gets measured).
And flipturns. They help with breath control. And if you join masters and others in your lane or section of the pool do them, then you will drop around a second everytime you don't. If you swim the first length even, then don't flip and they do, you won't be next to them, if you are using them as motivation to swim hard, you eventually fall back far enough (on longer intervals) and don't have them to swim against. Flip turns help you swim with the people you should be swimming with.
Phew, that was long.
A powermeter is an awesome tool. Someone explained it to me like this:
No powermeter no heartrate is like going into a gym to lift weights and all the weights are the same size and color. Even if they are different weights. Having heartrate is like different weights being different colors, but you still don'w know the actual weight. Having power is, well, knowing exactly what the weight is you are lifting.
Using a powermeter is very similar to training by pace on the run. A watt is a watt is a watt. If you are pushing 150 watts it doesn't matter how hot it is, how high your HR is, you are getting the benefit of riding at 150 watts. Riding at 140 watts with a higher heartrate or in a hotter condition, is only riding at 140 watts.
Having a powermeter really helps you push yourself when training. Or go easy when you are supposed to. You can get a decent wired powertap for about $750. Less than $500 if you get a used one. There's also another brand, iBike, and it's about $400. But the interface with the computer is poor and it's a PAIN to set up.
My comment was too long, blogger made me cut it up!
The best trainer I ever used was the Kurt Kinetic. It's super quiet and has the most resistance of the standard trainers. For about $50 more you can buy something that shows power on it. This could get you started. But then know if you ride it and then get a PM for your bike, there will be a difference based on how efficient the measurement is (ie, if you are measuring power from the hub, some of the power is lost in the drivetrain, and if you are measuring on the trainer, some power is lost in the drivetrain of the bike and the drivetrain of the trainer), this does not mean you aren't riding as strong, jut that it gets lost turning different things before it gets measured).
And flipturns. They help with breath control. And if you join masters and others in your lane or section of the pool do them, then you will drop around a second everytime you don't. If you swim the first length even, then don't flip and they do, you won't be next to them, if you are using them as motivation to swim hard, you eventually fall back far enough (on longer intervals) and don't have them to swim against. Flip turns help you swim with the people you should be swimming with.
Phew, that was long.
Whew! Jumping into catch up on your life sweetie and WOW! I can give NO advice on any of this except that I looked into the TT bike vs road bike and most everyone advised the road bike and I am loving it. Have you asked ShirleyPerly? Humbletriathlete.blogspot.com? She is the lady I ask ALL of this stuff of..
Thanks for your RLRF tips - I am going to tone down the tempo a bit because it is TOO much. Delighted you're doing SO well there Ana Maria - you have just jumped from one thing to the next. Is it really that easy?
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