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May 16, 2006
My New Toy
Grumpy beyond belief that it's STILL raining and I STILL can't ride my bike, so O thought it was time to buy a trainer. I had hoped to hold off until the fall when it was getting too cold to ride outside, but with rain forcasted until the end of time (seriously, like next Tuesday - a week from today!) we made the decision to get it now. It's awesome! I can watch reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond while getting my cycling in! I can actually drink my fluids! I don't have to wear a helmet! I don't have to worry about cars! It was pouring outside and I was still completing my workout! All very good things. Of course riding out on the roads is really where I need to be but this is a very nice alternative when the weather won't cooperate. I keep promising myself that I will ride when it's wet outside because if it's raining in a race I need to know how to deal. And I went home with every intention of riding outside. I had my mind set. I was going to ride rain or shine! But then it was seriously pouring - like I had my windshield wipers on FAST when I was driving home, and I knew I would kill myself. Thus the trainer. :)
Anyway, I rode for an hour. There is a DVD that came along with the trainer that you can ride along with but I just wanted to try it out for the first time by myself. It's a fluid trainer meaning that when I shift my gears it gets harder and easier just as if I was riding (vs a magnetic trainer which has a different mechanism of action). I didn't do any workout in particular, I just spent some time in each gear, granny ring and big daddy ring (I just made those names up - what I'm referring to are my two front rings of course... :)
And then I got off the bike and O and Roxy joined me on my 30 minute run. This is by far the best I ever felt off the bike. I felt like were were cruising. And I only took about 2 minutes to transition. I have a couple theories as to why I felt better - (1) I didn't work as hard on the trainer as I would have it I was actually riding, thus my legs were fresher (2) I'm getting used to the bike to run feeling and my body is responding to the training stress or (3) the adjustments that the bike guy made to my position on the bike helped keep my legs fresher. It's probably a combo of all three, but I told O if my legs feel that good in a race I will be one happy camper. By the way, it had stopped raining by the time we went running and it was a delightful 53 degrees.
And now somehow it's almost 9:30! We definitely got a late start seeing as how we had to go down to the bike store, pick which trainer we wanted, learn how to use it, set it up at home, etc... Good thing I only have 1 more day of work before my big 4 day weekend! :)
(and yes you will notice that indeed, that is a phone book under my front tire! - the bike guy actually suggested it, both because they were out of the thingies that you can buy to put under your tire and also because the phone book is free! :)
Posted by beth at May 16, 2006 8:58 PM
Comments
I was definitely in favor of getting the trainer. I didn't want Beth out on the roads when it was wet and dark. Perhaps I'll sneak on the trainer one of these days.
By the way, check out in the picture two interesting items....a PSU Nittany Lion in the foreground and a giraffe statue silhouette in the background by the window.
Posted by: O at May 16, 2006 10:01 PM
Rollers can be fun too but you can also wipe out. Also no wind indoors hay? I used to melt... Nice bike, and happy riding. Sounds like the dude at the bike store is quite useful :)
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at May 17, 2006 5:17 AM
okay, you are such a tri geek!! this is sooo cool!!!
Posted by: Audrey at May 17, 2006 7:38 AM
Beth I am so jealous!! That is sweet. I hope you guys see some sunshine soon!
Posted by: barb at May 17, 2006 10:26 AM