| In preparing to take on the challenge of
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| | know, I've done that.
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| a first Ironman, I believe far too many
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| | I had my best bike leg ever and my first
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| athletes put too much emphasis on the
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| | thought was to fix up the old bike and
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| bike they choose to purchase for the
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| | keep racing it. However, I let my bike
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| event.
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| | supplier talk me into buying a fancier,
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| Somewhere along the Ironman trail, many
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| | newer model that was so much lighter that
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| athletes have come to believe that the
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| | I would go even faster. I never, never
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| lighter, and more state of the art the
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| | matched my fastest bike ride over the
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| bike, the faster they will finish the
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| | next 10 years. Even on bikes valued 10
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| bike leg of the Ironman.
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| | times more than my old standby. It was
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| Nothing could be further from the truth.
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| | probably the biggest single mistake I
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| For example: You could put one athlete on
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| | made in my 20 year Ironman career. I
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| a $10,000 bike and have him train without
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| | should have gone with my very first
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| the aid of a proper diet or without
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| | instinct.
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| paying attention to proper hydration
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| | For some reason, a bike will just suit
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| choices and repacement drinks and the
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| | you. It suits your style, ability and
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| Ironman will spit him out like a cherry
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| | "fits" you like that favorite pair of
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| pit somewhere around mile 80 on the bike
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| | runners. When this happens, hang on to
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| course.
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| | that bike. If you have to, save it mainly
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| Take another athlete and put him on a
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| | for races and get a second bike for the
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| $800 reliable, average weight, used bike
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| | bulk of your training. That way your
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| fitted with proper pedals and aero bars.
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| | race-day bike will last you for years.
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| Then have him pay particular attention
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| | I've raced on more than one high-end bike
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| all training year to proper diet,
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| | that I was just never comfortable on, no
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| hydration, and raceday fueling techniques
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| | matter how light and fast they were
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| and somewhere around mile 80 of the same
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| | supposed to be. At first it may seem cool
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| course he will call out "nice bike" as he
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| | to be the recipient of envious gazes from
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| passes athlete number one who is in for a
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| | fellow triathletes when they see you on
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| very long, painful day.
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| | your bike the week leading up to the
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| Don't get all wrapped up in taking out a
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| | race. You are the bike "king".
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| second mortgage so you can buy that
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| | Believe me, its not so cool when these
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| "special" bike that is 6 ounces lighter
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| | same athletes pass you out on the course
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| than anything on the road. After all,
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| | with those dreaded words left in their
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| you're going to be loading 5 pounds of
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| | wake. "Nice bike."
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| water and food and gear on the thing
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| | Every time you hear that, you will want
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| before you even get out of transition.
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| | to sink further and further into your
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| This is not your normal bike race. If you
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| | bike seat. You will wish you were on a
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| were just racing a bike century and
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| | $250 beater. At least that way you
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| that's it, then that might be a different
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| | reason, you would have an excuse for
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| story. But that's not the nature of this
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| | getting passed over and over again. There
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| beast.
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| | is nowhere to hide out there.
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| First of all you've most likely been
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| | To save yourself a ton of embarrasment
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| bashed around for an hour or so in a wild
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| | and humiliation, be sure that your
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| free-for-all swim and for most of that
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| | ability matches the bike you ride.
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| time your heart-rate has been racing out
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| | All my bikes are gone now, except for
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| of control. Plus, you still have a full
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| | one. That same old bike is in my living
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| marathon to consider after you get off
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| | room on a wind-trainer and if I decide to
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| the bike.
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| | do this amazing race once again, when I
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| Your bike is just a small part of the
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| | turn 60, four years from now--it will be
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| Ironman equation. Don't get too wrapped
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| | on a very special, 16 year old bike.
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| up in light and fancy and expensive. I
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