LBS part 4

The best part of learning something new about your cycling equipment options is the confidence it gives you when you actually make your purchase. Finding a store that will walk you through the entire process is both important and difficult. If you have a bike store close to your house, check it out, talk to guys behind the desk, ask if the owner works there. Trust me, you will find out very quickly how willing they are to "help". Trust your gut. If you get the feeling that they are too busy to truly help... you're probably right. Again, Webster Bicycle was a pleasure to shop. Terry met us at the door and gave us the grand tour of the place, and get this... when we stumbled across an item that they did not have... he recommended me to a different source instead of trying to fit me into something that wouldn't be the best choice for me. Specifically, triathlon cycling shoes. I've been riding for about three years now with a pair of shoes that were a size too small. I'm a clydesdale with size 14 (50 euro) shoes and i was actually sold a pair of 48's because it was the largest they had, but Terry told me that the manufacturers they carried only made up to a 48 and it was not going to be a good choice for me. So, thanks Terry, my feet thank you. However, Their Shimano custom fit shoe is quite the amazing product. You get a carbon sole shoe that is placed on your foot and then placed in some sort of vacuum that shapes the shoe to the exact shape of your foot, then the shoe is actually baked in the Shimano "easy bake" oven and voila, one custom fit shoe that fits you better than anyone else in the whole wide world.

The Cannondale BB30 proprietary bottom bracket system is way cool. Terry gave me a hands on demonstration of the the "guts" of the whole thing. Some say it might soon be the industry standard as far as bottom brackets. It's possible, there are some advantages to it. It is probably lighter that the one most likely on your old bike, there are no cups on the outside of your frame that house the bearings and set your feet slightly wider apart (this allows your feet to be closer to the frame and directly under you), and the larger diameter provides greater stiffness so you can know that more of your clydesdale power is being transferred to the wheel.

Meeting Russ,the owner at Webster Bicycle, was definitely a treat. When you are able to talk to the owner, do it, it will tell you all you need to know about the shop. When the owner works at the store, you know that he's invested. He hasn't just purchased a shop and trusted it's well-being with some college kids who think bikes are pretty cool. Russ talked about the F.I.S.T. system for fitting a rider to his bike. You may have heard about Dan Empfield from slow-twitch, he used to be the man behind Quintana Roo, and he's kinda the authority on all things triathlon at the moment. Visit his website slowtwitch.com and follow him on twitter @slowtwitch and you'll feel like you are finally "in the loop". You will get the absolute latest on everything related to triathlon beamed straight to your laptop or smart phone. Anyway, Russ attended one of Dan's classes where he he learned the now industry standard F.I.S.T. bike fitting system (created by Dan himself... go to slowtwitch.com to read more about that) and has become the best place to get a proper fit for your tri-bike in the Houston area. Proper fitting for your tri-bike is every bit as important for the clydesdale as it is for the lightweight racer. The temptation to take shortcuts in fitting your customer on their bike in order to save money can be too great for a lot of shops, but if your shop has run you through the paces of the F.I.S.T. system you can rest assured that you will not only be comfortable, you will decrease your chances os injury from a "bad" fit.

Well that's the end of the LBS series. Now I just have to wait about a month for Cannondale to ship the bike. Next, it's time to get serious about training. I've started running and swimming, and have been doing light weight training to build strength back up after the back surgery. I need to start pushing it to see some real weight loss and increased fitness, but I don't want to risk injury... again. So, I'll be researching and focusing on core strength and cardio fitness. Anyway... Spring is finally here and it's warming up... it was 80 degrees here in Houston for about three days in a row... go outside and sweat.

Soulrider

LBS part 3

I took my trip to Webster Bicycle and loved every minute of it. Of course the 1 1/2 hour drive there was full of excitement because I'm about to have my first encounter with what I hope is the answer to all my LBS (local bike shop) woes. The trip back was just as pleasant because my excitement was not met with disapointment. I enjoyed every second I spent. Webster Bicycle has everything a bike enthusiast could want, from BMX to a sweet single speed. Part of the fun in purchasing a bike is dreaming... looking at what is possible (much like visiting a ferrari dealership), and thinking to your self, "maybe someday." There were plenty of those kinds of bikes too. But not only bikes, they had a wall of shoes, racks and racks of clothes, wheels, tires, and tons of gear. I walked in and was immediately met with a smiling face. I introduced myself and Terry immediately recognized me from the phone, went to get my order, and I placed my deposit for my Cannondale Slice 5. Step 1 complete. Sure that was exciting, but the cool part was what happened next. He let me and my buddy hang out and chat him up for the next hour. I got an education on shimano's custom fit shoes, Terry explained the ins and outs of the BB30 sytem (Cannondales' proprietary bottom bracket design), I witnessed a personal bike fitting, and (last but definitely not least... actually, probably most importantly) I got to meet the owner. I'll explain the importance of each of these things as far as how they affect clydesdales in LBS part 4... I've got pictures and everything.
Spring is here... go do something.
Soulrider.

The BIG Decision

If you're a clydesdale (+200lb triathlete), the chances you will be winning your "age group" at any particular race this upcomming season are about as big as your chances of fitting into that size 32" waist slacks that have been hanging in your closet since college... Even if you're not a "fat" clydesdale. I'm 6'5" and weigh 255 lbs (I just weighed in at the Y this past Tuesday and that's down about 5 lbs since the start of my running program about a week and a half ago) I could definitely stand to lose a few more pounds, but even when I do lose my goal of thirty pounds I am still, most definitely, a clydesdale... and have always had a bit of trouble keeping up with my fleet footed friends who tip the scale at 150-170. Let's face it, there aren't that many 6 1/2 ft tall sub 7 min milers in the world. I say all this in order to set up the most important question you have to ask yourself when choosing a brand new tri-bike... How competitive do plan on being?

If you do have hopes of winning your age group (as a clydesdale even) then by all means you need every advantage you can get, because the odds are stacked against you from the beginning. So more power to you, purchase the best equipment you can afford and try your best to be OK with the fact that anyone that passes you on their lesser quality bike has taken a mental snap-shot of you and is using that as inspiration for the rest of his racing career and talking about you to his friends. We've all heard it before... shoot, I've done it. "Did you see that guy on the P2 with the disc wheels? Yeah, I passed him 15 mins into the ride on my garage-sale 1983 Fuji!"

Keeping the proper perspective in mind and the necessary entertainment value that should be considered when spending this kind of money, you primarily need to be concerned about comfort, durability, and value. You probably don't need top-of-the-line anything, because you will look silly and that's ultimately not gonna be what helps you succeed. But, like i said, if you have the money and are a total gear-head (which I am somewhat guilty of)... more power to you. I am actually making a concious effort to be satisfied with the 105 components on my new bike, because I know that a Dura Ace rear derailler will only make it more expensive. If I ever get to the point where I'm in a photo finish and a couple seconds in the race would have made all the difference in winning, I might feel a bit more justified in purchasing the better stuff.

The frame is a differnt story. Aluminum has always been the better choice for a heavier guy. It is cheaper than titanium and lighter than steel. Heavier guys feel way less discomfort on an aluminum bike than the featherweights. The frame comresses more under the big guys and more of the roads vibrations are absorbed by the bike rather than being transfered through the bike to the rider. There has been a bit of a dark cloud when it comes to carbon and its weight limits. Most "people" I've talked to will say that carbon isn't rated for a rider over 200lbs... where they get this idea i don't know. Maybe they are thinking of the carbon bikes that were made 5-10 years ago. I've spoken with a LBS that said carbon Trek bikes don't have a weight limit, and I have personally corresponded with the manufacturer of Argon 18 bikes and asked him about one of their carbon bikes, this was his response... "Torbjorn Sindballe was riding that model when he broke the bike split record (in Kona) in 2006(I believe) Torbjorn is a pretty big guy and he's pushing really hard on the pedal. To resume.. no worries go get one." So, if the manufacturer is standing behind it and they're the ones providing the warranty, why should I worry? Besides, theoretically, carbon fiber CAN be made to be stronger than aluminum. "Well what if you wreck it?" you might ask... I wrecked an aluminum frame bike last year and ended up not keeping it because of the dents and scrapes, so what's the difference... right? The difference is, carbon fiber bikes are all the rage, and if you decide you want a different bike later you can sell a carbon bike quicker and for more money. Taller frames are always in high demand. So if you have one you want to get rid of, put it on Ebay... it will sell. I have yet to be dissapointed with a bike sale I've made on Ebay, and that's because the big frames are few and far between... I promise... check it out.

And this leads me to my new bike decision... I chose this.


The carbon frame should be comfortable and, because of the cannondale warranty, I'm not worried about it failing because of my weight. And by choosing carbon over aluminum I am able to get a frame that came out of the very same mold as their 10K bike. If you switch to aluminum you have to make a few compromises that i wasn't that thrilled about (as evident in the drastic differences in the jump that Felt makes between their aluminum and entry carbon bikes.) And if the component dork inside of me rears his ugly head after i get the bike, it's much easier to swap out a rear derailler than a frame. I like the fact that cannondale has a fully adjustable seat post. It's not a seat mast that has to be cut, and there are two positions (fore and aft) so I am relatively sure that i can adjust it to the geometry that best fits me. Also, Felt sells their bikes with a lot of house brand equipment. there's probably nothing wrong with it, but if i swap out something like the wheels or brakes or something, it will be a lot easier to sell a shimano wheel on ebay than a Felt house brand. And Quintana Roo is definitely coming on strong, but for some reason the brand doesn't excite me as much as it used to. They're coming out of a rough couple of years, and I don't have anything negative to say about them. But I do want to see them re-establish themselves among the leaders of the sport again before i throw down the cash and the commitment.

Well that's enough for today. I'm gonn go camping in the state park in Huntsville, TX tomorrow afternoon and Saturday, and hopefully get in some good trail running. I'm especially looking forward to some campfire skillet breakfast tacos. Tonight, the wife heads out of town for a weekend retreat and I'm gonna spend the evening at the Y and do an indoor brick workout. 30 mins on the stationary bike, and 30 mins on the treadmill. too bad i can't do it on the road yet... bike should be here at the end of April.

It's springtime... go do something.
Soulrider.

LBS continued

The Local Bike Shop is key to the bike purchase experience. Bikes are expensive, and they are much less forgiving than even a new car. They are a mechanical expression of you as a racer. It's like saying... "I'm not predjudice, but." As soon as somebody says that, you know they're about to say something extremely predjudice. So here it goes... I'm not superficial... but. You CAN tell a lot about somebody just by taking a quick look at their bike. If it is meticulously cleaned on race day, it's probably a sign that that person has truely prepared for the race. If the bike is brand new, has all the bells and whistles, and obviously cost a wad of cash, pay attention to that racer, you will either be impressed or entertained. If that person looks in shape but is riding on an old street bike, watch out... that person obviously has the confidence to compete no matter what he's riding, so no matter how prepared he is for the race on that day, he just might have what it takes to gut anything out for an hour or two.

Anyway, the best thing the LBS does for you is give you confidence in your new purchase. One, you've seen the bike... Two, you've ridden the bike... Three, you've met the people who will be servicing your bike... Four, you've been inspired by the others you see walking in and out of the store parading their 5K & 6K dollar bikes like proud parents. So when a LBS does the exact opposite, and removes all the buyers confidence in purchasing a new bike, the patron is better off purchasing on the internet.

I am the biggest fan of supporting your LBS, but I refuse to faithfully dole out money to an establishment of snobs who make you feel like they are counting down the seconds until you let them get back to what they were doing before you walked in the door. From the grey haired lady that hasn't cracked a smile in 15 years, to the creepy blank stares from the bike guru himself, all the way down to the young girl behind the counter who actually has to be told that you're ready to check out before she makes her way to the register to help the patron standing at the glass counter with his arms full of gear.

But I digress... on a related note, I've purchased no less then 6 bikes from my favorite LBS over the past 15 years... driving as far as 50-60 miles for service during a period of time when i lived a bit further away. Presently, living closer in proximity to my beloved LBS (in the Woodlands, TX) than ever before, have decided to purchase a bike from a new store about an hour and a half drive away. Specifically because of the reasons detailed above. I have put up with the akwardness, the frustration, the inconvenience for all these years out of compulsion to support a retailer that i desperately wanted to believe in. Now that I'm ready to make that big purchase, and I truely want to have the complete buying experience, I actually feel a sense of liberation. The sheer sense of excitement that was received after the very first phone conversation with Webster Bicycle in Webster, TX has been worth the whole process, and they haven't even seen one red cent from me yet. But I can tell you this... I placed a call, they called me back, we had an actual conversation, I hung up the phone with confidence. So thank you Terry, at Webster Bicycle. I will be comming to see you soon to place my down payment and secure the delivery of my brand new tri bike.

I will discuss the bike I chose tomorrow, but for now here are some links to the final three I was reviewing up until this past weekend. I will discuss everything from aluminum to carbon as it relates to Clydesdales, and everything from colors to components as it relates to your investment.

the Felt B16
The Quintana Roo Seduza
The Cannondale Slice 5

LBS

LBS is not just a 3 letter word for one of the requirements of being a clydesdale. It's also stands for one of the most vital resources for the success of a clydesdale or any beginner triathlete... the Local Bike Shop. The average beginner triathlete can't tell from pictures on a web page the three most important factors to consider when choosing a bike... fit, fit, and fit. And the only way to be completely confident in your purchase is to actually swing a leg over a bike, strap on a helmet and take a few laps around the parking lot. A quality bike shop will set your bike up on a trainer and watch you pedal away while making adjustments until you are adequately fit. It's way too tempting to choose a bike based simply on color scheme and brand recognition. These factors definitely have a lot to do with the decision but fit should absolutely be the determining factor. Well... now that I've said what I'm supposed to say, let's talk about what really drives anyone to buy such a big ticket item. If anyone says they just want a good bike at a reasonable price and don't care about brand, color scheme, or components, then a huge world of possibilities lies ahead of them. To them I would say purchase a Motobecane, Leader, Fuji, Windsor, or Dawes with an aluminum frame from Bikesdirect.com and a Shimano Sora groupset online, find someone to help you get it properly fit, and ride off into the sunset. If this sound like a deal that you might be a bit hesitant in pulling the trigger on... let's face it, you want something much cooler than "any old bike" and you want to ride something you'll be proud of. But, there are a few things you need to consider when choosing your bike to make sure you get the most for your money, cause let's face it... money is always an issue, components can come back to haunt you, and nobody wants to spend money on anything they will most likely be wanting to replace. So question number one, and what i will let you wrestle with until the next post is... What brands excite you the most and how adjustable is the geometry (primarily a fully adjustable and dual position seat-post). Next time, we'll talk about what type of frame you need to get.
Again, it's springtime... go do something.
Soulrider

Starting Out

Hey there,
While searching the internet for a good place to read about, learn about, and receive inspiration for... not necessarily competing... but participating in the wonderful world of triathlons, I realized that I didn't really relate to many of the articles, stories, and testimonies I was reading. I'm not a 5% bodyfat type guy, looking to one-up the guy next to me (component wise) in transition. I just love the sport, and I love staying active, and will forever be balancing this with my desire to enjoy the finer things in life... such as double cheeseburgers. I do believe that within most able bodied people lies the ability to transform their bodies into an extremely competitive racing machine, all it takes is discipline, time, intelligent training, adequate monetary resources, and a flexible support group. Not everybody has each piece of that puzzle at their disposal, and even if they did, not everybody desires to spend that amount of free-time away from the people they love or that amount of money on something so (in the grand scheme of things)... unimportant.
That being said, triathlon bikes are just incredibly cool, and I would buy one just to hang it on my wall and look at it. But to be able and get on one and pedal around a course with my age-group just a few minutes after the "elites", in my opinion, is like getting to strap up a pair of hi-tops and play some pick-up ball at the Toyota Center just after YAO and my beloved Rockets hear the final whistle and head to the showers. It's a rare experience in sport that allows you the very same experience the pros get.
So, feel free to check back here and see what's going on. I consider myself a beginner triathlete, even though I've been doing this for about 4 years. I have committed myself to complete my first 70.3 by the end of this year, and have targeted the end of next year to complete my first IM. I've gone through some injury and some economic issues as a result that required me to sell all 3 of the bikes i had in my posession to pay some bills. So you have a chance to travel with me through my journey back out on the road as I search for the perfect bike, and as I try to get myself back into shape and start enjoying the sport I've missed so much for about a year now. I will review the bikes and the specs I'm considering and maybe we can all learn something together.
That's probably enough for the first post, I've got some work to do.
Next post we'll get right into it and talk about the bikes I'm considering.
Cannondale Slice 5, Felt b16, Quintana Roo Seduza
Should be fun... Until then, Spring is here... go do something.
Soulrider