Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Wish I had of known sooner.

Tri bars make you faster. Or atleast they make ME faster. I cannot believe how much of a difference it made. If I had of known how much more powerful I felt in this position I would have purchased a set with my bike. I am still no Pro on the bike, but even a couple extra km's an hour works well for me.

I must admit though it took me a bit to get used too, and by a bit I mean maybe all of minute. If I could try and describe the feeling - I guess it's like trying to balance on a tightrope. If you lean either way a little too much you find yourself totally going in that direction. Engaging my core was of absolute importance to maintain a balanced posture on the bike.

There were a couple of downsides to being in this position:
  • Sore shoulders
  • Stiff neck
  • Sore under-carriage
  • Dribbly nose......++++
The positives:
  • Increased speed
  • Reduced pain in my back
  • I finally felt Tri worthy
  • Love the power in my pedals - could feel the bike surge forward with each downstroke
  • Reduced fatigue
I spent most of my 55kms today in that position, apart from the occasional "butt in the air" stretch. That always feels nice to do but not sure if it looks good from behind. Who cares anyway, my poor little toosh needs a break every now and then.

I remember back to when I first started riding my legs and butt would get super sore after 5km, now it's closer to the 50km. Everyone was right when they said it takes time in the saddle.

All in all, today was a good day. Glad I got to practice on the Tri bars before Sunday. Now I can really attempt to push hard on the bike leg. This is going to be fun.

9 comments:

  1. You are moving right along! Glad you got to try the bars out and that they feel so good.

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  2. Look out, next year you will be buying a P4 Carbon. Then you will be really FAST!!!

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  3. Dude...I'm not liking any of the down-sides. That said..once you adjust...you will be getting speeding tickets on your training days.

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  4. Thanks for the info on these.
    After the snow leaves (:(((....I'll need some of these for sure.
    Glad to hear you're feeling even stronger out on the bike!
    Can't wait to hear how it all goes down:)

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  5. I am with Jim, next thing you know, you will be pricing TT bikes

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  6. Aero bars definitely take some getting used to, but they are soooo worth it! I'm glad you had a good ride!

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  7. misszippy: Thankyou. They are just the best thing ever invented.

    Flatout jim: I wish. Not sure if hubby would cope. Maybe in 2 yrs....hahahaha

    Quinton J: Fingers crossed. I would love to be super fast like the Pro's.

    Dawn: These are a must. You can really feel the difference.

    BDD: I love how those bikes look. But 2 bikes in one year is the limit.....for now ;)

    Aimee: They sure are. You feel so much stronger in the legs.

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  8. Aerobars are the only way to roll in a tri! Over time the soreness in your neck and shoulders will go away of course. There is little better than knowing you couldn't have squeezed even one more kph out of your bike!

    Mike

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  9. Mike: Thanks so much for stopping by and following me on my crazy journey in this Triathlon world. I agree - I felt so fast. Can't wait to see how much faster I get as I get stronger.

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I am so happy you have stopped by. You have made my day.

Your hard work will be rewarded.

"The path to a dream is paved with sacrifices and lined with determination. And though it has many stumbling blocks along the way, and may go in more than one direction, it is travelled by belief and courage and conquered with a willingness to face challenges and take chances" Barbara Cage