What to Wear at My First Triathlon

I procrastinated for too long.  Today is Tuesday and my triathlon is on Sunday.  No matter what I buy I will have limited time to test it out for the swim, bike and run before the triathlon.

Disclaimer:  I still weigh about 280lbs.  I still have quite a bit of a belly.

Another Disclaimer:  I have absolutely no affiliation with Aero Tech Designs in any way.  I am fat and they are the only store I could find that happens to sell my size is all.

First I looked up tri suits.  Aero Tech Designs only sells one model (Triathlon Suits - Aero Tech).  I noticed the measurements in the sizing chart and got concerned that my belly would not fit into the suit so I called.  Their customer service rep (whose name I did not capture) was nice enough to pull a XXL suit off the shelf, stretch it at the midpoint and measure it.  Sadly the suite would not handle my awesomeness.  I would assume that these tri suits are geared for the tall and not so much the big.


Second I looked up tri shorts.  I happen to own two pair of tri shorts (one black and one blue).  I like these shorts for swimming, biking and running but they literally may not hold up in the race.  I have owned them for a bit and have spent a lot of time in the pool.  Both pair have lost some elasticity and are a bit lose - I suppose the fact I have lost a few inches in diameter has only exacerbated the issue.  When I kick off the pool wall I have to be careful or my shorts will slip down.

I would prefer a pair of tri shorts with a drawstring so that leads e to the other model of shorts they sell -  Men's Tri Shorts for Competitions and Training.  These will work and they have my size ... awesome.  Problem is that since I waited they are sold out of the colors I would have chosen like black or red.  Instead I had to choose blue; the only color left available in my size.  When they get black back in stock I will order a pair.

Third I looked up a tri jersey. Aero Tech Designs carries one model of tri jersey - Men's Tri Jersey - Sleeveless. After viewing the sizing chart it appears I need a 3x-large. They only have red, white or blue as color choices. I would have prefered a mostly black jersey with a bit of red but until I lose more weight I am limited in choices.

At this point I have a pair of 2xl blue shorts and a 3xl jersey in my cart.  I am going to look like an idiot in red/white/blue on a red/white bike.

I will give a report on the packaging and garments when I have them in hand.


Related Posts:
Tri Shorts - My First Triathlon Gear
My First Triathlon: What am I wearing?
First Pair of Cycling Bibs

2013 Trek Madone 4.5 Specifications

2013 Trek Madone 4.5

Colors

Viper Red/Crystal White

Frameset

Frame

400 Series OCLV Carbon, E2, BB90, DuoTrap compatible

Fork

Trek carbon road, E2

Sizes

50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm

Frame fit

H2

Wheels

Wheels

Bontrager Race, Tubeless Ready

Tires

Bontrager R2, 700x23c

Drivetrain

Shifters

Shimano Ultegra STI, 10 speed

Front derailleur

Shimano Ultegra, braze-on

Rear derailleur

Shimano Ultegra

Crank

Shimano R565, 50/34 (compact)

Cassette

Shimano 105 11-28, 10 speed

Components

Saddle

Bontrager Affinity 2, hollow chromoly rails

Seatpost

Bontrager Carbon, 20mm offset

Handlebar

Bontrager Race VR-C, 31.8mm

Stem

Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree

Headset

Integrated, cartridge bearings, sealed, alloy, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom

Brakeset

Shimano 105 brakes w/Shimano Ultegra STI levers

Accessories

Grips

Bontrager Gel Cork tape

Related Posts:
Photos of My 2013 Trek Madone 4.5
1,000 Mile Review of 2013 Trek Madone 4.5
2013 Trek Madone 4.5 Specifications

Naperville Tri: Welcome Athletes! - Email Contents

Welcome Athletes Thank you for signing up for the 2013 Orbea Naperville Sprint Triathlon presented by Experience Triathlon and taking the challenge! The information provided below will give you, your family members and friends a great Naperville Sprint Weekend! Only 100 slots remain so when they're gone they're gone! Click here to register:  http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2049916.  Online registration closes at midnight on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. Race weekend new registrations will continue on Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Naperville Running Company. Race weekend entry fees are Individual Entry $115.00 and Relay Entry $150.00. RACE START: Race starts on Sunday, August 4, at 7:00 a.m. from Centennial Beach Park, 500 West Jackson Avenue, Naperville, Illinois. RACE PACKET PICKUP: Packet Pickup will be on Friday, August 2, andSaturday, August 3, at Naperville Running Company, 34 West Jefferson Avenue Naperville, Illinois. See schedule below for specific times. There is no race morning packet pickup. FINISH LINE: This year’s event will finish in a new direction due to the bike and run course changes for the 2013 event. Each official finisher will receive our 2013 Commemorative Medals that have become a keepsake for every athlete. POST RACE PARTY/EXHIBITS – The post race party will be located in the same area as the finish line. Please visit the following vendors participating in the post race festivities: Propel Water Muscle Milk Mavi Bandz Power Bar Who Wants to Pawty, LLC DuPage Medical Group Experience Triathlon IMPORTANT RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Listed below are some important dates and times for you to know about the weekend of events: DAY TIME EVENT LOCATION ADDRESS Friday Aug 2 12:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Packet Pickup and New Registration Naperville Running Company 34 West JeffersonNaperville, IL Friday Aug 2 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Race Clinic Training Sessions by Experience Triathlon – Coach Joe LoPresto. Click here for more info:http://napervilletri.com/athletes/training/ Centennial Park 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL Saturday Aug 3 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Packet Pickup Naperville Running Company 34 West JeffersonNaperville, IL Saturday Aug 3 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. New Registration Naperville Running Company 34 West JeffersonNaperville, IL Saturday Aug 3 11:00 a.m.,1:30 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. Race Clinic Training Sessions by Experience Triathlon – Coach Joe LoPresto. Click here for more info:http://napervilletri.com/athletes/training/ Centennial Park 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL Sunday Aug 4 5:00 a.m. Transition Opens for Bike Check-in Centennial Park 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL Sunday Aug 4 6:45 p.m. Transition Closes and should be clear of all individual athletes and relay swimmers Centennial Park 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL SundayAug 4 7:00 a.m. Race Start Centennial Beach 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL Sunday Aug 4 11:00 a.m.(approx) Awards Ceremony Centennial Park 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL Sunday Aug 4 12:00 p.m. Bikes must be checked out of transition Centennial Park 500 West JacksonNaperville, IL ATHLETE CHECK-IN & PACKET PICKUP: All athletes must appear in person on Friday, August 2nd or Saturday, August 3rd at Naperville Running Company to pick up their own race packet (see schedule above). This includes each member of a relay team; however relay team members do not need to pick up their packets together. Your race wristband will be placed on your wrist at the time you pick up your race packet. If you are 18 or over, a government-issued photo ID must be presented in order to pick up your race packet. USAT ANNUAL MEMBERS: If you are an annual USA Triathlon member, you are required to present a valid (non-expired) USAT card or proof of number and expiration date at Athlete Check-In. Proof can be in the form of USAT card, a printed temporary card or a copy that can be viewed on a smart phone. MINORS: Minor athletes (athletes under 18 years of age on race day) MUST be accompanied by a parent to packet pickup in order for race waivers to be signed. After picking up your race packet, it is important to check the packet to make sure your bib number, bike frame number, helmet number, and wristband number all match the number on the label of your packet before leaving the packet pickup area. If there is an issue with any of these, you should return to packet pickup to get it corrected. ADDITIONAL IMPORANT ITEMS: When you check your bike into the transition area on Sunday morning, your bike number must be on your bike prior to entering. After the race, only you, the athlete, can remove your bike from the transition area. We will be matching your bike number to your wristband number upon exiting transition after the race. Once bikes are checked into the transition area on Sunday morning, they cannot be removed from the transition area until the bike portion of the race is completed. Bike warm ups are not allowed once your bike is checked into transition. All participants must wear a bike helmet during the bike portion of the race. Body Marking will take place just outside of the transition area and will continue at swim start for last minute athletes. Only registered athletes are allowed in the transition area on race day. NO EXCEPTIONS! The following items are not allowed in the transition area race morning: Balloons or other items that may become entangled in the gear of another racer Oversized tubs, oversized bags or objects that will encroach into the space of neighboring athletes Bike trainers Headphones (and all other audible devices) are prohibited on any portion of the racecourse. It is recommended all athletes review USA Triathlon’s Most Commonly Violated Rules: http://www.usatriathlon.org/about-multisport/rulebook/most-common-violations.aspx RELAY TEAMS: Each member of the relay team must pick up their own race packet. Teams do not have to be together when they pick up their race packets. Bikers and runners should be inside transition near their relay bike rack when transition closes at 7:10 a.m. When the swimmer enters the transition area, she will proceed to the relay bike rack, transfer the timing chip to the biker, at which time the biker will remove the bike from the rack and proceed to the bike out end of transition. Upon returning to transition, the biker will rack her bike, remove the timing chip from her ankle and transfer the timing chip to the runner’s ankle. The runner will then exit transition and complete the run at the finish line. Relay runners should collect medals for all relay members in the finish line chute prior to exiting. TIMING: The race will be timed using the ChampionChip timing system. Your timing chip will be in your packet. A strap for the timing chip will be distributed to you at packet pickup. If, for some reason, you decide not to race on Sundaymorning and need to return the timing chip or if volunteers fail to remove your timing chip after the race, please send the timing chip and strap in a padded envelope to: Premier Event Management 509 South Al Davis Road, Suite B Harahan, LA 70123 504-454-6561 RACE CLINIC: Jo Lopresto, triathlon coach with Experience Triathlon, will be conducting race clinics at the race site on Friday and Saturday of race weekend. You can find more information here: http://napervilletri.com/athletes/training/. He will cover topics regarding transition spot set-up, swim course, bike course and run course. This is the place to ask questions! First time triathletes are strongly encouraged to attend. COURSE MAPS: Please review the race website for an updated map of the bike and run course. A map of the race course can be found under the course tab on the race website: http://napervilletri.com/course/swim. We are “going green” with our race packets therefore a copy of the race map will not be provided in your race packet. We suggest printing the course map before traveling to the race 509 S. Al Davis Road. • Harahan, LA 70123 • pem-la.com • info@pem-la.com • 504-454-6561

1,700 Mile Review of 2013 Trek Madone 4.5

I was going to wait till 2,000 miles but I have a few items to report before then.

Tires - I have been getting flats more often that I would like.  About 1 per every 5 rides and always on the rear.  Due to my awesomeness (weighing 280 lbs) it appears that not only do I wear a set of tires more quickly but ... I am prone to sharp objects puncturing through the soft rubber of my race tires and into my tube.  After 1,000 miles I did replace the tires with the original tire (Bontrager R2) and after 400 miles and a bunch of flats I finally noticed a few holes in my tire.  Obviously at my weight I need a more robust tire.

While visiting my LBS I happened to inquire about tire choices.  After some conversation I settled on a hardcase tire.  I was told that Bontrager had recently released a new version of it's hard case tire and I might want to consider that offering.  The tire is a Bontrager AW1 Hard Case 700x25 tire and Bontrager states the advantages of their technology.

From the Bontrager Site:

"Upgrade to Hard-Case — the industry standard in 3-way, lightweight puncture protection — when your route involves road debris or patches of gravel. Also great for shoulder season riding:

• Aramid breaker belt protects against tread punctures
• Anti-cut, bead-to-bead casing resists cuts from glass and sharp objects
• Anti-pinch sidewall support prevents pinch flats, or "snake bites," from obstacles, potholes, etc."

I decided to purchase a single tire for the rear and try it out.  After 300 miles not a single flat.  Also there is no noticeable speed or traction difference.  I have not had a chance to ride nearly as much in the rain on these tire yet.  A soon as my front tire wears sufficiently I will replace it with the Bontrager AW1 Hard Case.  Same tire as the rear.

FYI the bike originally came with 23mm tires.  I switched to 25mm to just try it.  At my weight and riding ability the 25mm tires are the right choice.  In short my body does not get "beat up" while riding.  I was surprised to find how much more comfortable 2mm makes and at no noticeable performance loss!

Saddle -  I would experience some pain in my knees and feet from time to time especially after climbing hills.  Apparently my seat was about an inch too low.  I marked off my seat post with tape first for reference then began the process of moving my seat up and down to find the sweet spot for me.  basically I raised it till my hips started to rock  then lowered so my hips stayed even while pedaling.  This ended up being about 1 inch higher.  FYI I never adjusted the saddle height.  Silly huh?

I still have not gotten a proper fit on my bike.  I will one day.

Wheels - I will say what I can without incriminating anyone.  Long story short my rear wheel was creaking so my LBS tightened the spokes.  On the next ride I pop my first spoke on this bike and inspect the wheel and find that a nipple has torn the aluminum wheel.  Obviously not safe to ride especially since the wheel only has 24 spokes.  Sorry no pics.  The wheel was replaced and a few hundred mile later no issues.

Bar Tape - is getting nasty looking.  The tape itself is holding up good and still has good grip and feel.  It just looks like crap.  I will change it but must first decide on what color if not white to change it to ... maybe black?

Maintenance - I wash the bike every 2 weeks and keep the drivetrain clean.  After the cleaning I tune the bike up as much as I can and inspect the wheels and tires.

Summary - I purchased this bike new in April 2013 and after 1,700 miles I am still very happy with my 2013 Madone 4.5.  At my riding level there is no reason to upgrade anything.  Besides the wheels and tires I have had no issues.  My LBS performs tune-ups for life for free so I usually take it n every few hundred miles or 2-3 weeks.  If I had to do it again I would still purchase this bike.


Related Posts:
1,000 Mile Review of 2013 Trek Madone 4.5
Photos of My 2013 Trek Madone 4.5

Duathlon, Triathlon, Cycling Training Plan (Aug-Oct 2013) Part 1

Till now I swim, bike and run at my own discretion.  Each day I decide what will do for training that day.  This has been working and I am still losing weight and becoming more fit.  But ....

I have grand aspiration of completing an Ironman in the near future.  I obviously need a plan for fitness and nutrition to accomplish this goal.  I have devised a general training schedule I will use for at least August and September 2013 while the weather is still rideable.  I took into account several factors such as:

Requirements:

1. I like the group rides with my LBS on Monday and Saturdays
2. I like my group run with my running club on Wednesdays
3. The pool has open availability on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Other days the pool is available after 8pm.
4. I will swim and lift weight in the same facility.
5. Treadmills and stationary bikes bore me to death.
6. Yoga and spin classes are cool and available on Tuesdays in the same place I swim and lift weights.
7. I must have either Saturday or Sunday off per week to help keep my marriage in tact :)
8. I can devote 1-2 hours per weekday to training and 3-6 hours on Saturday.

Weekly Breakdown:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Swim		Z2 30min			Z2 30min		Off
Bike	Z2 90min (group)	Z2 30min	Z2 30min	Z2 90min		Z3 180min (group/self)	Off
Run	Z2 30min		Long 60min (group)		Z2 30min		Off
Weights		Weights			Weights		Off

Exercise Breakdown:

Honestly I think I an going to break each of the exercises down into seperate posts otherwise the post will get too long.

Swim:  (link to future blog post)

Bike:  (link to future blog post)

Run:  (link to future blog post)

Weights:  (link to future blog post)

What I carry in My Saddle Bag

I currently carry a relatively large saddle bag. Since I ride with others frequently and am in general a helpful person I tend to carry a bit more than I would normally need.

Contents of my saddle bag include:

• 2 x Tire levers - Soft race tires are easy to remove from the wheel with one tire lever.  hard case tires need 2 levers.
• 1 x Inner tubes - These days they are usually not new tubes but patched and tested tubes.
• 2 x co2 fills - Because it is easy to waste one.
• 1 - co2 fill head - Should not need an explanation.
• 1 x Multitool - Rarely used while out riding.  I tune my bike bi-weekly so this is not an issue.
• 1 x Powerbar - In case I forgot to eat before the ride or the ride becomes longer than anticipated.  Just remember to rotate this bar out as they do expire.
• 1 x patch kit - Have not used it while out riding but you never know.  It is tiny and weighs nothing so why not carry it.

My saddle bag only gets used in case of emergency.

Items in jersey pockets:
$10ish dollars in singles
My ID
A credit card
Phone

All items in my jersey pocket are in one sandwich zip-lock bag with the front of the phone still usable.

Anything I may need during the ride is kept in my jersey pockets.