Manatee Mentors 2015.2 CLOSED (Poptarts? Pet pics?) (Page 77)

I am yet to try a fat tire.  I look at it as a novelty and I really don't want to try something else and decide I "need" that too. I do see value though, given the amount of sand in this area. We don't have dirt. Just sand. My MTB has 2 inch tires. I've had rubbing issues on the frame in the past, which prompted the overhaul. It barely has clearence and any little thing was screwing it up. But wider tires make it easier in the sand.

I met a kid last year that races MTB in college. She's on a Yeti. Kevin is right, it does want to go fast, from what I've seen.

Hey, if the flatwater yak is a sit-in style, single person, I may know someone that wants to buy it. Delivery might be a challenge though!

It could be a plausible excuse to meet Kevin.  And who would know if you "just happened" to slip over to the LBS while en route?  Except maybe Janyne when Kevin shows up with a new bike.

Janyne, how big is your garage?!

It's a two car garage.  The boats are on the ceiling -- pulley system.  I have a small car so my bikes fit fine in front of my car.  Kevin needs to do something about his side of the garage.  I'm not happy with his bike fleet storage situation.  That's too much... $uspen$ion ... to accidentally wreck.

Question. Did those with power meters use TrainerRoad or something like it beforehand? I'm wondering if a power meter would read my power higher than TR has it.  This is a guess based on the fact that my trainer estimates speed low, due to how much I have to tighten down the resistance cylinder to keep the tire from slipping.

Naturally I hope the true power would be higher.

I used a Travel Trac fluid and found it closeish to my PT, but overall it was a "it depends" type deal.  I'd just focus on keeping the setup consistent and try to make the number bigger.  Whether the real power number is bigger or smaller is inconsequential until you get an actual PM.

Race report is up. It's a bit wordy, you've been warned!

I am seriously thinking about selling my roadie and getting a Cx. But the MTB may fit the profile I am looking for completely. I am just not sure yet. I wish I just had one bike that did it all. But you know, a jack of all trades and...

Sounds like the Post-Race/Pre-Race/Preposterous Week to me!  Smart move to step down to the Oly.  That does seem like a bit much to try, IMO.  On the other hand, it'll be over so quickly you won't know what to do with yourself.  Maybe you should do it twice to split the difference between the Oly and a HIM.

If you don't road race (which I don't think you'd be interested in), the CX likely fits what you would want for road riding.  Now CX racing seems like something you'd be very interested in.

Keep riding the bike for awhile and see what you end up doing. Tri bike and mountain bike have been fine for me. Tri bike has done anything I'd do on a road bike just fine. Have thought of CX for a little more toughness, but it seems to have a more narrow range of use where it'd be better than either of the bikes I'm using now. Maybe, but I'd definitely be looking at something that would could handle gravel sections if I got something. Going just a little off road once in awhile might be nice, like a CX course, but I'm not really into CX racing. More sections of roads could safely open up with a bike that could handle some of the MUP more easily.

The fat tire bikes have been interesting, but also know that newer mountain bikes are coming with more clearance if they don't already have it. Not necessarily for the 4" tires, but for 3". The fat tire has seemed more of a novelty to me as well, for my purposes at least. Others do indeed use them that way, but I just don't have the sand around and am not likely to use it in the snow more than a few times a year. My brother has done some winter riding and noted that when used on the roads they would need to be rather thoroughly cleaned off quite a bit to get all the grime and salts off. Not a problem when he was still in the bike store, but is a bit more now in the office. On trails probably wouldn't be as bad as that's more just frozen water, less corrosive stuff in there.

It's still a Train Once, Race Twice situation.  Woo hoo!

Usually when I hit off season mode, which for me is around October I'll evaluate what I want to target next year and start planning my training around that.  I don't know what my goals will be after this year other than riding lots. 

No IM for me for sure. 

Originally posted by Richardsdrr How far ahead do you guys plan your A race? I'm guessing it has to be at least a year if you're going down the Iron Man endorsed race route. I just wondered if I could tempt any of you over to tackle the IM Wales course in September 2016? Plenty of time to plan, and although I have no room at our house to put anyone up, I'd quite happily rent out a farm house/cottage that would accommodate 10-12 people for a fortnight. Just food for thought if any of you had desires to visit the Motherland Make a proper visit of it and go on to do the touristy thing - Stratford, London, Edingburgh etc. Just food for thought. I probably won't race Wales next year (depending on how I get on this year) but am willing to sherpa.

I don't typically go with all my eggs in one basket t in terms of an A race. I usually have a few important races in a year, perhaps one a season.  If it's a marathon, I need to be more mindful of when it is and what other things are going on. I like to come into the marathon with a solid base and 12-16 weeks to do marathon specific training. So I like to know about 6 months in advance. 

For shorter A races it doesn't take as much planning but I like to be sure to have a block of specificity. An example is right now my 'A' race is the Mountain Running National Championship. For that reason I have dedicated part of spring and most of summer to trail running because just road running would not provide adequate training. So it's like 3-4 months advance.

Too bad I'm not a triathlete or that Wales IM would be tempting! 

Woooo boy, just booked my one way seaplane flight for the PCT run-venture. It's gettin' real now! 

I'd join you if it were feasible, but I'll be busy in Lake Placid with a hockey tournament.  I did the Quassy Oly 4 years ago and it is a beautiful course.  Well, the run course was a bit of a bugger but at least it was shaded. 

AAAAAWWWWWWW YEAH!!

Originally posted by Richardsdrr How far ahead do you guys plan your A race? I'm guessing it has to be at least a year if you're going down the Iron Man endorsed race route. I just wondered if I could tempt any of you over to tackle the IM Wales course in September 2016? Plenty of time to plan, and although I have no room at our house to put anyone up, I'd quite happily rent out a farm house/cottage that would accommodate 10-12 people for a fortnight. Just food for thought if any of you had desires to visit the Motherland Make a proper visit of it and go on to do the touristy thing - Stratford, London, Edingburgh etc. Just food for thought. I probably won't race Wales next year (depending on how I get on this year) but am willing to sherpa.

I wish, but a full IM still scares the heck out of me!

Stud!

It is hilly, but the extent people have exclaimed this is a bit dramatic. You'll be working at times, but think it'll be fine if your mindset is ready for always going up or down something.