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Virtual Tour Group: Tracking Distance Without Maps

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2008 edited
     
    stevecycle

    While we wait for MMF to get map editing working again, we can still keep track of our group's progress by clicking on the "Training" link on the group's home page. Here's the direct link:

    http://www.mapmyride.com/community/groups/808713641275/training

    It only works month-by-month, but it's better than nothing. 

    Steve

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLostsheep
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2008
     
    Lostsheep

    Is that so you can see who's in the close second spot? One of these months we'll catch you...

    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2008
     
    stevecycle
    Exactly  Tongue out
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLostsheep
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2008
     
    Lostsheep

    Better not start slacking, Steve, ehirning and I are coming for you!

    As of this morning we're only 10mi behind you. :)

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberehirning
    • CommentTimeJul 23rd 2008
     
    ehirning
    By my calculations, we've passed you Steve! Of course, you probably haven't entered your recent mileage.
    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008
     
    stevecycle

    Nope, you are correct.  The two of you combined, adding all of your miles together, have surpassed me, riding all by myself.  Congrats on your shallow victory.  Tongue out

    Don't pause too long to celebrate.  Wink

    Steve

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLostsheep
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008
     
    Lostsheep

    I find it truly amazing that it took BOTH of us to catch you... You sir, are a machine!

    As mentioned yesterday during the Tour de France, one rider has a diesel engine for legs and just won't quit...the others, well they have a simple gas burner. :)

    You must have the diesel. I'm still trying to get my legs used to the daily riding. I can manage 3-4 days in a row, but after that, they're jello and just weak. I am itching for the day I can do more than 20mi too! Slowly but surely, I'll get there.

    Again, WAY TO GO!

    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008 edited
     
    stevecycle

    Funny you should mention 3-4 days in a row.

    I did not want to sound like I was making excuses, but after 4 days of commuting in Minneapolis last week, my right knee said "no more". I laid off for 2 days, took a very slow and easy ride Sunday, kept downing Advil. This morning was the first day I've felt back to normal. 27 miles this morning without pain - hooray!

    Steve

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberFloridan
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008 edited
     
    Floridan

    Hey there follk! I got the friendliess non-spam e-mail the other. Boy was I surprised to see that it was from Stevecycle. Thanks for checking in on me. Despite my absence I have been busy running and keeping on the move. Last time I checked in I was not able to edit my VT map. I suppose that it still remains so. Glad to see everyone's still active.

    Return to:  Virtual Tour Group

  10.  
    jairadballerina

    This is probably a good crowd to ask.  Well I have been itching to try out a triathalon sometime.  Problem is my bike is a beat up old mountain bike with no front breaks and won't shift.  It's about 15 years old but still works.  Pretty sure I need a new one.  Have a couple good bike shops around my area but I know if I walk into one, I'm walking out with a bike.  Therefore I wanted to make sure I get myself knowledgeable. 

    Looking for something pretty durable, not too fancy.  I'll be using it for triathalons but I am not competing with the pros here.  Most of the riding obviously will be basic rides on roads and paved trails.

    My questions are, where are some places I can start looking for good info on the type of bike I need?  What am I looking to spend on everything including bare accessories (helmet, lock, etc)?  Any recommendations?  

    Thanks in advance, I know it's a very open question but looking to dip my toe in the water before I jump in cannonball style. 

    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008
     
    stevecycle
    jairadballerina:

    My questions are, where are some places I can start looking for good info on the type of bike I need? What am I looking to spend on everything including bare accessories (helmet, lock, etc)? Any recommendations?

    I have good news and bad news.  The good news is you are fortunate to know exactly what kind of bicycle riding you want to do.  The bad news is that you want to do the most expensive kind of bicycle riding there is.

    You are right to be concerned.  When you walk into the shop and ask to look at tri-bikes, the salesman's eyes are gonna look like dollar signs.  You should talk around your area and find someone who has a good relationship with a bike shop.  You're going to want to start a relationship there too.

    I don't have any recommendations beyond what you can find with a quick Google search.  Check out the wikipedia entry on triathlon equipment here for the basics.  Notice how they don't mention 15-year-old mountain bikes with rear-only brakes.  ;-)

    As a pure guess, I would say you should spend a minimum of $ 2000 for the major outlays: bike, helmet, and shoes.  Any less than that is going to cost more in the long run, because in a year you'll wish you'd bought better equipment.  If that's too much, look for a used bike on the bulletin boards at local bike shops or your city's craigslist.

    Still sound like fun?

    Steve

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLostsheep
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008
     
    Lostsheep

    JB, if it's anything to you, I've been looking at the same. It's going to be expensive. My current bike is the old college standby w/ the big knobby tires that weighs 50lbs. It's slow, squeeks, heavy, and shifts on its own. Oh well.

    I've gone into our bike shop, www.cahabacycles.com and looked at some of their bikes, talked with some of their dealers, and did the absolute best to not buy a bike. My wife wouldn't let me. Their site has lots of good riding information, how to read the gears, what to look for, and of course, their inventory.

    I'm looking into a basic road bike for now. IF it's something I'm going to persue, then I'll upgrade, but as of now, I'm looking at a Lemond Etape Triple. (How's that Steve?) The bike itself is nearly $725 plus the accessories. I'm no expert. That would be my first road bike that I've ever owned and hopefully a fun one to ride.

    If all else fails, I can probably still enter it into a dualathon! :)

    Oh, and thanks for the suggestion on the FIRST book. I've read it and have started a 10k training program for a race in November. So far it's tough, but I can already see some awesome improvements and my legs aren't killing me by the end of the week! Kudos to you!

    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 24th 2008
     
    stevecycle

    The Lemond bike looks nice.  And you get approximately 30% of your speed from looks alone.  ;-)

    Steve 

  14.  
    jairadballerina

    Wow, reading that wikipedia page made me realize the subtle but necessary differences there are in bikes.  I am guessing since 95% of my riding will just be normal road riding that maybe a tri bike isn't necessary.  Looks like I have some online researching to do before I walk in to the store. 

    @Lostsheep - Haha, that sounds like my wife too.  She knows if I walk in, I'm coming out with something and probably something way more than I needed and wallet way lighter than necessary.  Good luck with that program, it has done wonders for me.

    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008
     
    stevecycle

    I've never thought about doing a tri so I'm not into the subtle differences, and I haven't seen what kind of bikes the average weekend warrior shows up with.  My neighbor down the street is a tri nut.  He has a Cervélo, which seems to be the most popular bike I'm seeing in the Tour de France this year.

    I would think you could get away with any decent road bike.  I haven't been in the market for one recently, and the technology and prices change completely about every 5 years.   But I strongly believe the jump from an $ 800 bike to a $ 1500 bike is well worth the investment.  You'll get a lighter, stiffer frame, and much better components.  Above $1500, the marginal improvements become smaller, and much more difficult to explain to wives.

    Steve

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberehirning
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2008
     
    ehirning

    My wife just did her first sprint triathalon earlier this year abd rode an old Huffy mountain bike. This was a benefit tri and a brainstorm of one of her friends. She finished, but "hinted" that a road bike would be a better choice for any future events. I guess my two cents would be to try a shorter trialthalon with a decent road bike before completely investing.

    Use a reputable local bike shop. Tell them what you are after and they will steer you in the right direction. Lots of shops even offer lifetime maintenance if you buy a bike from them.

    Good luck and please let us all know when your first event is!

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLostsheep
    • CommentTimeJul 26th 2008
     
    Lostsheep

    Good luck with the shopping. I do know a friend who used his old Huffy, but he upgraded most everything and put road tires on it. Basically, he had the heavy frame but all the lightweight components to equal it out.

    After a few races, he was able to justify a new bike that wouldn't break all the time. Maybe that's the way to go?

    I'm still waiting on the Lemond I mentioned earlier. Well, that's what I've found on the net, before really diving into all the shops. After I visit those, I'll know more about what to really look for and what to expect to spend.

    Do let us know what you do...

  18.  
    jairadballerina

    Well after a little bit of researching I came across a used TREK 1000 (2006).  It comes with alot of extras (helmet, gloves, computer, upgraded pedals, etc).  Appears the owner took good care of it and looking at 600 dollars.  Everything I read says the 1000 is a base model and good for someone just starting out (that's me).

    What do you guys think?

    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeAug 11th 2008
     
    stevecycle

    I did a Google search on Trek 1000, seems to be well reviewed.  If you need all those extras then 600 sounds a bit more fair -- looks like the 2006 sold for about 700 dollars brand new.

    Just make sure the bike fits you.  Should be plenty of advice on the internet for figuring that out.  Good luck!

    Steve 

  20.  
    jairadballerina
    Thanks for the info.  Do bikes depreciate like cars or do they hold value well (assuming they are handled properly)?  I'll take a look through some info on making sure it fits but the current owner is 5'11", same as me.  Hopefully they are not selling it because it doesn't fit ;)
    • CommentAuthorHero!!stevecycle
    • CommentTimeAug 11th 2008
     
    stevecycle

    There are probably a few bikes that appreciate, but entry-level Treks ain't them.

    Frame size all depends on your inseam.  I'm 5' 10" and I ride a 53cm.  No idea if that is typical for my height or not.  Also important is how you feel over the handle bars - scrunched up or spread out?  That can be fixed by changing out the stem unless the frame is just way too big or small. 

    Anyway, as your first bike, it's probably a decent deal.  I assume you got to try it out, right?  Though, if you don't ride, probably nothing feels "right".  BTW, what are the components?

    Steve 

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberLostsheep
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2008
     
    Lostsheep

    Glad you found one! That's great news. I'm out on field work in Iowa and really want to get a bike to tour this place. Lots of these roads are really designed for bikes. Unfortunately, if I were to buy one, I'm not quite sure how I'd get it back home to Alabama. That'd be a little tricky.

    Like Steve said, make sure the fit is what you like.

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