I have always talked about doing an Ironman. I got hooked into triathlons when I was babysitting for a family in the summer of 2005 in Michigan and both of the parents were training for Ironman Lake Placid. Let me be a little more specific, I was only the baby sitter when they needed to go out for their 4-6 hour bike rides at 5 AM in the morning. At the time I was the swim coach for their 8 year old daughter and they knew that getting up that early in the morning was natural for me... so I was a perfect fit for being the early AM sitter for their 3 active kids. After going on their family vacation to help out at Ironman Lake Placid and I saw their mom qualify for Kona World Championships, I was hooked and competed in my first olympic distance triathlon later in the summer in Michigan. For that race I bought this bike:
Quintana Roo Kilo
Ever since then I have been riding that bike. And I have to say, that bike did me quite well. It's amazing how over time the technology has developed... yet my QR was an aluminum machine that NEVER broke and I never had any major issues with. However, even though it didn't break, my body has broken down. My stipulation to doing a full Ironman has always been that I would need a new bike. I can't sit in the aero bar position on my bike anymore for an extended period of time without my neck getting major pain and my arm going numb. I have tried PT, massage, docs, etc. and it comes back to the bike. Seems easy enough right? Well, as of this past Sunday I met with a bike fitting specialist who takes measurements, health assessments, and tests you on a mock bike that can change to all different sizes with a power meter. Dr. Mike McMahon (http://tricoachonline.com/72/126.html) will be able to give me a list of bikes that can fit my dimensions. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he doesn't come back with "CUSTOM bike only." That will be a kick in the financial end!
Anyway, here's to a fresh start with a new bike... soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment