Its time once again for our yearly vacation to Maine. We will be spending the next two-week camping on a beautiful water front site. My wife and I have been camping there for the past 12+ years. We have always enjoyed our time on the lake, boating, fishing and playing on the beach with our children.
This year the lake will take on a new purpose form me... Open water swimming. In the early morning the surface of the lake is like glass and on chilly mornings you can see the steam rising off it. This will be a perfect time to slap on the goggles and go for a nice long swim before breakfast. I need the training!
Running should also prove to be a challenge while in Maine. The paved roads around camp for the most part are long rolling hills, but I welcome the change of scenery.
I can't wait to go! I'll try to keep a log and take pictures so I can post it when I return.
Pray for good weather...Take care!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
13th Annual Swin Buzzards Bay!
July 15th is the Annual Swin Buzzards Bay event. I've always wanted to participate in this event, but once again it falls on my annual two week vacation to Maine. Here is some information from the Save Buzzards Bay web site. I hope you can check it out and maybe even enter, the proceeds go to a great organization.
"Jump in and join us Saturday, July 15th for the 13th Annual Swim Buzzards Bay. By participating in the Swim, you are making the statement that clean water and a healthy environment are important to you and your family.
You are also helping to raise much needed funds to help us protect Buzzards Bay. The money you raise will go directly toward our education, conservation, research and advocacy programs.
The 1.2 mile open-water swim is ideal for individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Participants start at New Bedford's south end, swim across outer New Bedford Harbor, and cross the finish line at Fort Phoenix State Beach in Fairhaven to the sounds of cheering crowds, plenty of food and drink, and even massage therapists to help ease aching muscles!
Registration is Now Open!"
On the site you can get more information and a registration form. If anyone does decide to enter, please let me know how you make out!
Monday, June 05, 2006
Triathlon Community
One of the things I like about this sport is the sense of community. It's nice to know that there are people out there who are willing to share their experiences and give advise.
I posted a blog a few weeks ago, Triathlon -vs- Road Bike, here is a good example of the responses I received.
Thanks Bill!
Hi John,
I enjoy your blog. I can sympathize. I recently finished my first triathlon in 15 years. I did a bunch of them a long time ago when I was running, etc. a lot, before my kids were born.
I can't post to your blog from my email at work (Information Security Department Warning!).
I haven't any experience with a tri bike. My advice would be simply on the practical side. You know yourself better than anyone, so decide for yourself. Do you think you will stick with triathlon for a while? Or how about this check: do you have a closet full of dusty golf clubs, snow skis, tennis raquets, windsurfers, mountain bikes, kayaks, rock climbing ropes, camping gear, etc. ? If so, then get a road bike. It's more likely to be used for training, triathlon races, and later general riding.
Ask enough questions at a couple of bike shops on what size frame they'd recommend. Then go to ebay. Find a "normal" 3 to 5 year old bike, that is the right size frame, and is being sold by someone local enough to you so you can drive over and look at it before the last day of the auction. This takes a bit of looking, and is potentially disappointing, but you'll learn a lot and save 30 to 60%. Do enough homework to not overpay. Find several similar bikes (regardless of location) and put them on your watch list so you'll see their final sale price.
Once you get the bike, go to your local bike shop and tell them you want to pay for them to check it out, lube it, true the wheels and fit you (adjust the seat and bar height, maybe change the handlebar stem length) ($100 - $200). Get new tires if there's any sign of dry rot (not unusual on a bike someone's selling because they haven't ridden it in two years). This is inexpensive insurance against the hassle of dealing with a flat -- no guarantee, but it improves your odds.
Get the bike. Train, train, train. Change out the saddle, or computer, or pedals, or wheels. Train, train, train. Ride it in your first triathlon. Ride it for a year. If you're still enjoying triathlon, by then you'll be drooling over getting the latest Cervelo, or Trek, or Felt, or QR. You'll know more then what you want. You'll be able to sell your first bike on ebay, or to someone at the gym, for close to what you paid for it.
This is what I did. I still have my 20 year old Italian steel frame bike with shifters on the down tube. I still enjoy riding it sometimes. I'm also enjoying racing my lighter weight $2500 titanium Litespeed, which I got on ebay for $1000. We'll see if I upgrade next year. Those pure tri bikes are very sexy.
Good luck!
Bill Cox
Atlanta
Also, The training is going well. I still can't get myself up early enough to start running in the morning, maybe this week!
I posted a blog a few weeks ago, Triathlon -vs- Road Bike, here is a good example of the responses I received.
Thanks Bill!
Hi John,
I enjoy your blog. I can sympathize. I recently finished my first triathlon in 15 years. I did a bunch of them a long time ago when I was running, etc. a lot, before my kids were born.
I can't post to your blog from my email at work (Information Security Department Warning!).
I haven't any experience with a tri bike. My advice would be simply on the practical side. You know yourself better than anyone, so decide for yourself. Do you think you will stick with triathlon for a while? Or how about this check: do you have a closet full of dusty golf clubs, snow skis, tennis raquets, windsurfers, mountain bikes, kayaks, rock climbing ropes, camping gear, etc. ? If so, then get a road bike. It's more likely to be used for training, triathlon races, and later general riding.
Ask enough questions at a couple of bike shops on what size frame they'd recommend. Then go to ebay. Find a "normal" 3 to 5 year old bike, that is the right size frame, and is being sold by someone local enough to you so you can drive over and look at it before the last day of the auction. This takes a bit of looking, and is potentially disappointing, but you'll learn a lot and save 30 to 60%. Do enough homework to not overpay. Find several similar bikes (regardless of location) and put them on your watch list so you'll see their final sale price.
Once you get the bike, go to your local bike shop and tell them you want to pay for them to check it out, lube it, true the wheels and fit you (adjust the seat and bar height, maybe change the handlebar stem length) ($100 - $200). Get new tires if there's any sign of dry rot (not unusual on a bike someone's selling because they haven't ridden it in two years). This is inexpensive insurance against the hassle of dealing with a flat -- no guarantee, but it improves your odds.
Get the bike. Train, train, train. Change out the saddle, or computer, or pedals, or wheels. Train, train, train. Ride it in your first triathlon. Ride it for a year. If you're still enjoying triathlon, by then you'll be drooling over getting the latest Cervelo, or Trek, or Felt, or QR. You'll know more then what you want. You'll be able to sell your first bike on ebay, or to someone at the gym, for close to what you paid for it.
This is what I did. I still have my 20 year old Italian steel frame bike with shifters on the down tube. I still enjoy riding it sometimes. I'm also enjoying racing my lighter weight $2500 titanium Litespeed, which I got on ebay for $1000. We'll see if I upgrade next year. Those pure tri bikes are very sexy.
Good luck!
Bill Cox
Atlanta
Also, The training is going well. I still can't get myself up early enough to start running in the morning, maybe this week!
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