I'll be traveling quite a bit this year for triathlon, going to Maryland for Eagleman, and then flying to Zurich for my first Ironman in July.
One of the biggest worries of us triathletes is our bike, and making sure that it gets to destination in one piece.
I found Scicon bags and I will get one soon! I cannot wait!! No need to disassemble the bike. Just remove the wheels and slide it in. That simple!
Check out Sciconbag's website: Sciconbag Website
And if that wasn't enough, check out Frederik Van Lierde's youtube video demonstrating how easy of use it is!
Youtube video: Click here
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Undeniably the toughest bike workout I've done thus far!
What a tough workout!
I thought the 10x3' at 105% of FTP I did a month ago was a rough one...that was before tonight's training on the trainer.
After a 30 min warm-up, I had a 6x5' at 106-108% of FTP with 2'30 rest in between. I started really struggling after the second one, but kept up in the 3rd one. The 4th one was absolute torture. I had no juice left in the legs, and I could feel the lactic acid building up in my legs. The 5th one was beyond hard. My head started to hurt, and my body completely crumbled. I powered through the 5th one and somehow was able to stay within the power threshold.
The 6th one was one too many. I collapsed, almost throwing up and wondering what I was doing. I took 3 breaks in the 5' interval, but I needed them. I managed to finish it, way below my power threshold, only 102% of my FTP.
legs are shattered, but it feels good to push that hard. It will pay off, I'm sure...I hope!
Happy training all!
I thought the 10x3' at 105% of FTP I did a month ago was a rough one...that was before tonight's training on the trainer.
After a 30 min warm-up, I had a 6x5' at 106-108% of FTP with 2'30 rest in between. I started really struggling after the second one, but kept up in the 3rd one. The 4th one was absolute torture. I had no juice left in the legs, and I could feel the lactic acid building up in my legs. The 5th one was beyond hard. My head started to hurt, and my body completely crumbled. I powered through the 5th one and somehow was able to stay within the power threshold.
The 6th one was one too many. I collapsed, almost throwing up and wondering what I was doing. I took 3 breaks in the 5' interval, but I needed them. I managed to finish it, way below my power threshold, only 102% of my FTP.
legs are shattered, but it feels good to push that hard. It will pay off, I'm sure...I hope!
Happy training all!
Saturday, March 22, 2014
3rd OA and 1st AG at the Queens Half Marathon
Today's results
Total distance: 13.22 miles
Time: 1:20:18
Avg pace: 6:04
Avg HR: 170
46F feel like 42 Overcast 61% humidity
March 2013
Total distance: 13.22 miles
Time: 1:22:53
Avg pace: 6:17
Avg HR: 168
37 feels like 29 Sunny 44% humidity
What a great run today!
I did not know what to expect, and certainly had no ambitions to beat last year's PR of 1:22:53. I was looking to get back into the race atmosphere, and push myself like I always do. It's been a rough winter so far, with the foot injury lingering until the tail end of January, and bitter cold conditions that limited my runs and rides. It got more and more difficult to cope with the weather, and my patience has started to run thinner.
So this race came at the right time! Arriving at the race site and feeling the adrenaline, anxiety, and excitement of all athletes was fantastic. It turned out to be a beautiful day, despite the strong winds that made it a chilly day. I really can't complain if we compare with what the NYC half marathoners had to deal with (wind and sub 30F temperatures). I decided to wear my shorts instead of my running tights.
I felt great throughout the run, started slow to avoid burning myself out too quickly. I was able to build up my pace to progress towards a close-to or sub 6min/mile pace in the last 5 miles. The winds were strong, but my confidence really grew as I started passing more runners. I quickly found myself in 3rd, and held onto it from mile 10 to the finish.
Great race overall! I highly recommend it!
I'll write up a more detailed race report soon!
Total distance: 13.22 miles
Time: 1:20:18
Avg pace: 6:04
Avg HR: 170
46F feel like 42 Overcast 61% humidity
March 2013
Total distance: 13.22 miles
Time: 1:22:53
Avg pace: 6:17
Avg HR: 168
37 feels like 29 Sunny 44% humidity
What a great run today!
I did not know what to expect, and certainly had no ambitions to beat last year's PR of 1:22:53. I was looking to get back into the race atmosphere, and push myself like I always do. It's been a rough winter so far, with the foot injury lingering until the tail end of January, and bitter cold conditions that limited my runs and rides. It got more and more difficult to cope with the weather, and my patience has started to run thinner.
So this race came at the right time! Arriving at the race site and feeling the adrenaline, anxiety, and excitement of all athletes was fantastic. It turned out to be a beautiful day, despite the strong winds that made it a chilly day. I really can't complain if we compare with what the NYC half marathoners had to deal with (wind and sub 30F temperatures). I decided to wear my shorts instead of my running tights.
I felt great throughout the run, started slow to avoid burning myself out too quickly. I was able to build up my pace to progress towards a close-to or sub 6min/mile pace in the last 5 miles. The winds were strong, but my confidence really grew as I started passing more runners. I quickly found myself in 3rd, and held onto it from mile 10 to the finish.
Great race overall! I highly recommend it!
I'll write up a more detailed race report soon!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Brick training: Success!
My coach was not very delighted to hear that I rode yesterday, but he had to know. Rest days are extremely important, and by riding instead of taking it easy, I accumulated more fatigue than I should have. I had a 3+ hour ride with specific targets to hit, followed by a 45-min Brick run at high tempo.
The ride went really well. The first hour was slow, but the dry road and the sun really made up for it. I had to stay in a specific training zone, which I did, before jumping into a 2+ hour interval at a high training zone. That was the most important to me. The speed doesn't matter much as numerous factors can affect it (wind, road conditions, fatigue level, etc). I was right on the whole time, with good legs and good form. It was my first real ride where I spent about 85% of it on the aero bars. My neck was sore, but it's just a matter of going out there and getting more rides in before I'm fully comfortable again.
I got home after 3 1/4 hours, changed, and headed out for my 45 min run in high tempo zone. I felt great. It took me about 1 mile to get into it, but after that I felt great, felt I had a good form, and most importantly, I felt I could have kept it for a little while. I did 6.66 miles, which averaged 6:45min/mile overall! These numbers look good! I can't wait to ride and run in warmer temperatures!
The ride went really well. The first hour was slow, but the dry road and the sun really made up for it. I had to stay in a specific training zone, which I did, before jumping into a 2+ hour interval at a high training zone. That was the most important to me. The speed doesn't matter much as numerous factors can affect it (wind, road conditions, fatigue level, etc). I was right on the whole time, with good legs and good form. It was my first real ride where I spent about 85% of it on the aero bars. My neck was sore, but it's just a matter of going out there and getting more rides in before I'm fully comfortable again.
I got home after 3 1/4 hours, changed, and headed out for my 45 min run in high tempo zone. I felt great. It took me about 1 mile to get into it, but after that I felt great, felt I had a good form, and most importantly, I felt I could have kept it for a little while. I did 6.66 miles, which averaged 6:45min/mile overall! These numbers look good! I can't wait to ride and run in warmer temperatures!
Saturday, March 8, 2014
So much for my rest day: 4 hours & 72+ miles on the roadie
Ride: Blueberry-peach muffin / Large Chocolate ride
Distance: 72.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
Time: 3:57
Power: N/A (on my roadie)
Bike: Specialized Tarmac SL Pro 2009
Cadence: N/A (on my roadie)
Rode with a Texan (Glenn) and a Brazilian (Raph)
I should know better! Today was supposed to be a rest day, i.e., no training! Well, the sunny 50F weather was too tempting to stay in today. After a rough winter (and it is still cold out there), I was getting a bit frustrated with the idea of riding the trainer. The roads looked fairly safe for once, and my desire to ride my roadie was itching.
So I agreed to ride with Glenn and Raph on what was supposed to be a short ride to Spoon (about 28 miles north), grab a blueberry-peach muffin, a large chocolate, and head back. Spoon makes the best hot chocolate, and their blueberry-peach muffins hit the spot every single time. I must admit, it's probably not the healthiest option, and I will most likely have to cut it short soon, but for now, I indulge and enjoy every bite.
We left Hoboken at 7am and headed north towards Nyack. I took this opportunity to ride my roadie, which I haven't since I got hit by a car back in October. I figured I'd sit back and relax behind those two to coast to Nyack. A roadie is a lot slower than a TT, so we know that whoever is riding the roadie in the group will have it easy that day! :)
Everything went according to plan (minus the flat that Raph got 35 minutes into the ride), but when we got to Spoon, G and R wanted to ride some more, so we pushed further towards Rockland Lake, rode around Deforest Lake, and headed back home. What a fun ride! We saw kids walking and playing on the icy Rockland lake, and also saw a coyote walking on the iced-covered Deforest Lake few minutes later. We tried to turn around and take a picture, but he was already walking away towards the woods. Glenn's comment reminded me how different our experiences/backgrounds can be: "we don't get to see that down in TX"! frozen lakes are common back in the French Alps, and although it took me by surprise to hear that from him, it also reminded me how different our background and experiences can be.
So instead of sleeping in and relaxing in front of the tv, I ended up riding 72.5 miles and got home around 11:45, right on time to drop off the paperwork for my new apartment! Move in date: April 1st!
Distance: 72.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
Time: 3:57
Power: N/A (on my roadie)
Bike: Specialized Tarmac SL Pro 2009
Cadence: N/A (on my roadie)
Rode with a Texan (Glenn) and a Brazilian (Raph)
 |
| Me making fun of Raph after he got a flat |
So I agreed to ride with Glenn and Raph on what was supposed to be a short ride to Spoon (about 28 miles north), grab a blueberry-peach muffin, a large chocolate, and head back. Spoon makes the best hot chocolate, and their blueberry-peach muffins hit the spot every single time. I must admit, it's probably not the healthiest option, and I will most likely have to cut it short soon, but for now, I indulge and enjoy every bite.
We left Hoboken at 7am and headed north towards Nyack. I took this opportunity to ride my roadie, which I haven't since I got hit by a car back in October. I figured I'd sit back and relax behind those two to coast to Nyack. A roadie is a lot slower than a TT, so we know that whoever is riding the roadie in the group will have it easy that day! :)
 |
| surprising to see we were the only ones at Spoon this am! and we won't complain about it! |
So instead of sleeping in and relaxing in front of the tv, I ended up riding 72.5 miles and got home around 11:45, right on time to drop off the paperwork for my new apartment! Move in date: April 1st!
 |
| Glenn, aka the powerhouse! (aka the Texan) |
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Great deals on Continental 4000 tires going on!
I thought I'd share that on my blog.
There are great deals going on for those riding on Continental 4000 tires. "Pimp your ride" with yellow, blue, grey, or red tires!
I chose red as my Slice as a touch of red
Check out backcountry.com for more details!
Let me know if you find this useful!
Tire choice: The Continental 4000 / 4000s are my Favorite Tires for Training & Racing
I do not have much experience with tires yet but I've noticed a big difference between the continental 4000 Grand Prix I am currently riding on, and the Schwalbe and Specialized Elite Turbo I used to ride.
My choice goes to the Continental 4000/4000s Grand Prix tires. With the roads being tough on the tires in the greater New York area (lots of potholes, tranches, gravel, and debris of all sort) the 400 are more resistant overall, and their duration surpasses the ones of the Schwalbe and Specialized. Aside from 2 flats I got because of a handful of kids throwing tacks on the road, I never encountered any issues with the tires, even pumped at 120psi. I usually can ride up to 1,800 to 2,000 miles on them before I have to replace them.
The Specialized Elite Turbo last less as they are more geared towards racing They are comfortable to ride, but they wear on the top of the tire pretty quickly, which flattens the tires and makes turning at high speed a bit more challenging, and somewhat more dangerous. Coming at a higher price than the 400, I'd recommend them for nice and slick roads, and on race day.
I found he Schwalbe less comfortable to ride with a shorter life span than the 4000/4000s. Overall, I don't think those are appropriate tires for roads as harsh are the ones we ride on around New York City. On the plus side, I found the handling and grip on the road very good. I can't recall how much they retail for, but I do remember not being too expensive (I believe cheaper than the Specialized Elite Turbo).
Hope this helps anyone who's reading this. Let me know!
Happy riding!
My choice goes to the Continental 4000/4000s Grand Prix tires. With the roads being tough on the tires in the greater New York area (lots of potholes, tranches, gravel, and debris of all sort) the 400 are more resistant overall, and their duration surpasses the ones of the Schwalbe and Specialized. Aside from 2 flats I got because of a handful of kids throwing tacks on the road, I never encountered any issues with the tires, even pumped at 120psi. I usually can ride up to 1,800 to 2,000 miles on them before I have to replace them.
The Specialized Elite Turbo last less as they are more geared towards racing They are comfortable to ride, but they wear on the top of the tire pretty quickly, which flattens the tires and makes turning at high speed a bit more challenging, and somewhat more dangerous. Coming at a higher price than the 400, I'd recommend them for nice and slick roads, and on race day.
I found he Schwalbe less comfortable to ride with a shorter life span than the 4000/4000s. Overall, I don't think those are appropriate tires for roads as harsh are the ones we ride on around New York City. On the plus side, I found the handling and grip on the road very good. I can't recall how much they retail for, but I do remember not being too expensive (I believe cheaper than the Specialized Elite Turbo).
Hope this helps anyone who's reading this. Let me know!
Happy riding!
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