Sooooooo slow on bike
garydee77
Posts: 63
in General Chat
hiya guys - got my first olympic tri now in less than 2 weeks - my first season in Tri and with one sprint under my belt im just finding the bike tough going...
I prob havent trained on it as much as I should have but to give you an indication of my times - im currently doing 40km in about 90mins which is terrible when I look up other Olympic distance results... grrr
My 10km run time is around 45mins even after the bike (done the full race distance brick on Sat past and was pleased to get through it unscathed!)
Just wondering what can I do to improve my biking? Any good links for tips about gearing and riding? I probably know the answer of just keep on training on the bike and eventually you will get faster.. but just asking anyway - probably just want to vent my frustration about it really!!!!
I bought a Specialized Allez 18 gear in my first season and I was told it should be a good enough bike for Tri. I havent put on Aero bars or anything as I wanted to crawl before I walked if you know what I mean!
Cheers guys
G
I prob havent trained on it as much as I should have but to give you an indication of my times - im currently doing 40km in about 90mins which is terrible when I look up other Olympic distance results... grrr
My 10km run time is around 45mins even after the bike (done the full race distance brick on Sat past and was pleased to get through it unscathed!)
Just wondering what can I do to improve my biking? Any good links for tips about gearing and riding? I probably know the answer of just keep on training on the bike and eventually you will get faster.. but just asking anyway - probably just want to vent my frustration about it really!!!!
I bought a Specialized Allez 18 gear in my first season and I was told it should be a good enough bike for Tri. I havent put on Aero bars or anything as I wanted to crawl before I walked if you know what I mean!
Cheers guys
G
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Comments
suppose only way is up isn't it??
im just yapping a bit!!! ill have a smile on my face when i cross the line as I know finishing the race is my main goal for this first season! I can work on the faster stuff over the winter for next year!
lol my girlfriend will take some look at me if I came home with another bike just mere months after buying the Allez!!! I can imagine the scene...
"Yes darling, the previous bike didn't work right, so I bought this one"
hehe, yeh I can appreciate the more expensive bikes have alot better components and weight saving aspects about them that will make you faster - but I think I gotta train hard on the Allez for at least the first year or two and then look about upgrading to something Tri specific.
But for now will perhaps get a set of Aero bars as you say TriFrog. I've dived into everything else and got through it (so far!) so might as well do that - will get a cheap set to kick me off.
Just a question tho - I'm still a mere novice regarding bikes etc - but I've heard the word Tiagra mentioned before - is this just the name/make of the derailler (thing that moves the chain over the rings) and I take it this is one of the better ones?
I'm still learning day by day! and loving it!
Thanks guys
I agree with treefrog, getting aero is required, it will not only help you bike times but also should aid your bike-run transition.
I would get a set of aero-bars, they don't have to be overly expensive, the profile centurys at 35 should do nicely. Then have your bike fit done properly, with the aerobars. This is important, as with the addition of aerobars you position will change, and you may need to make bike set-up adjustments.
It is well worth the money spent on a proper bike fit, as it will save your far more time than get a new lighter piece of kit. They should also give you a list of measurements, so if you get a new bike you can use those measurements to set it right for you.
Deda GCB Clip On Aero Bars at around £50 - so gonna perhaps call in tomorrow and get them fitted - will also then get my position checked whilst im there.
I'm only 10days away from my first Olympic tri so will get 3-4 practice rides in before it and try them out - if I'm not comfortable just yet I'll just resort to what ive been used to - take the first tri as a learning experience and build on it
Can;t wait!!
Thanks guys
this is probably nothing new to you - it wasnt to me either, but i hadnt actually concetrated on doing it before which probs sounds a bit daft. i dont even know f this is right advice but i'll watch this thread with interest for any other tips.
P.S. likewise my boyfriend nearly freaked when i actually did tell him " you know that bike i just bought and i went on about getting for ages....? it's rubbish, can i please get another". did not go down well. next one will be on credit!! [:D]
Give the aero bars a try, but as its your first OD race, you havent done 40k in race conditions. You will be faster on the race day
I do 43 mins for the run and about 72 for the bike, so yes you have some room to improve (as do I!!!!), but dont assume a bling bike will solve your problems.
one very simple thing I found was making sure tyres were well up. Had been running on around 80 -90 psi until I read on forum about them being up around 110+. Plus I put saddle slightly higher to really make sure my leg was absolutely at full extension. This seemed to make at least a couple of minutes difference, so worth considering.
think of it this way. You can prob work hard on your bike, get it down close to 75 mins.........Then think about the better bike, assuming you are still hard on it, triathlon wise
Cheers
I think you're taking it a bit seriously for your first season. There will be a massive improvment over the first three years and you'll need to pace yourself a bit. Maintaining your motivation for the rest of the season is important. Training on a heavier bike will probably be of benefit for cardio workout and you can rethink your equipment over the winter. If your training with a HRM you might see real improvments now, which show that you're getting fitter but might not yet transfer to speed on the bike - that will come in time.
Some good training, couple of half marathons, 10kms and one sprint tri later and I'm down to just over 12stone and feeling great!! The olympic distance tri now Sat week (16th) was my goal from Jan and have also learnt to swim as well since I started which is anther hurdle jumped!
I find if I don't set goals then I do fall at the wayside - im pretty much goal orientated so have to keep an eye on them - so prob do take things a bit serious at times but not to the detriment of my social life if I can help it!
I suppose ive hit all my goals bar one for this year (just got to finish the olympic distance tri and thats all the boxes ticked) and thats me for the year. I can start thinking about winter base training and next seasons goals then I suppose - one being to get bloody faster on that bike!! hehehe
Sorry for the life story - just in a good mood this morning and feeling good!
Hope to get the tri bars this avo and get out for a ride - although looking at the crappy weather outside its gonna take ALOT of motivation. But I love new gadgets and toys so the aero kit might just do it!
I started my triathlon's on a £250 Saracen entry level road bike and managed to pass some £3000+ bikes in my first year racing but never thought of myself as a cyclist. So it's not always about the gear but quite right in just getting tri-bars fitted and gaining a good few mins from the off.
Plus ridiculously jealous of your weight loss. I am 6 ft and weighed 17stone at turn off year, only down to 16st now, and love to weigh nearer 15 let alone 12st. Clearly done a damn fine job so far and it'll come together.
Have a good one!
The eating had to be curbed - not completely rabbit food but cut out bread in favour of wraps and the like - plus reduced meal sizes as well - that plus sweat ball-busting workout cardio workouts worked lol
I love chocolate as well and still am eating alot of it - hard to give it up but dont think i ever will be able to!! just will have to control it! hehe
Tri bars fitted last night - hope to get out on them tomorrow as I've my first open water practice tonight .... gulp.....!
Oh how did the open water swim go. I just can't get used to it, I do great for about 100m then panic sets in and my breathing goes to pot. Getting better though.
Tri bars are pretty cool looking hehe but I couldn't get down onto them without the fear of falling flat on my face! spent most of my cycle lying low on the ordinary bars then trying to get at least one arm - but an overall FAIL on that. Will just have to get used to them I think. I'm getting more and more comfortable on the bike each time I go out so it'll come.
I got a set of Dedas put on.
As for the open water swimming.... oh...... good.... God..... lol
what have I got myself into.... it wasn't the best experience I've ever had!!!! couldn't get a breath thru the cold and a bit of anxiety.... pitch black murky water... couldn't see... no edges... no floor...... but other than that it was brilliant!! no it wasn't actually....
Done it tho.... slowly - if the guy that won it last year was there I don't think I left him in a cold sweat of worry for this new guy on the scene ready to take his title! lol
ah well - ive come this far now, no backing out now - needless to say ill have a smile on my face if and when I come out of the water and heading for the bike!! lol relief more than anything!
Race plan is NOT to finish first (that would just be showing off and I wouldn't want to do that, leaving the Irish Olympic panel cursing themselves for not spotting me earlier and having me in Beijing right now carrying a flag) and of course NOT to finish last (which may be a little more of a struggle that the previous goal!) But main goal is to finish, shower then get drunk!!! lol