Bad Idea! really, it doesn't take much to go down and I mean knocked out, off to the E.R. Hard and Quick! Take a Watermelon and drop it chest high** to the ground. That is what happens to your skull!
Wear a Helmet! :-)

Rob
** bookends have to use a ladder to get a normal height:-)
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uh....how did I miss that??

Dude...screw gloves, shorts, socks, bindings, glasses, gear....the ONLY...and I mean ONLY important part of your gear is your helmet.

I'm still on earth because of a helmet on more than ONE occasion.

I've retired more helmets than most people have probably bought in their lifetime for all the members of their family.

(and, for the record, it's currently 13 helmets over 24 years)
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I started off as a mountain biker my freshman year of high school and then moved to the road freshman year of college. I currently ride a 2002 Trek Fuel 80 mountain bike and a 2005 Ridley Scandium custom built with Shimano Ultegra SL and Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels. I've been racing road for the past year and this fall I'm getting into mountain bike racing. Pretty pumped!
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Me on my bike during the tri I did yesterday.
Image
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Okay -- you're a retro grouch, :-) but thanks for introducing me to the world of road bikes, Garry!! :-)
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went 65 miles yesterday, route id never done before, was warned of some hills at the end, but wasnt worried as thats par for the corse around here. turned at the last turn with 5 miles to go, 2 freaking climbs, 1400 feet worth, Absolute vertical. even out of the saddle at the end was only doing 7mph. killed my average, but damn felt good to finish through em.
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Which tri was it ? How long? and If I can make a suggestion. ( I will anyway you can ignore it if you like:-) )
Get rid of those toe clips and get some clip on shoes W/ cleats. Safer and will improve your time. :-)
Rob :-)
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I love my egg beaters! Honestly if your on toe clips clip-ins are so much easier to use and way safer in a crash.
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That was at the Chisago Lakes tri. I had just gotten the baskets. Maybe next year I'll get the shoes and such. Just started doing them this year (July 11th and July 26th), and haven't had the $ to invest in everything I want/need (wetsuit, aeros, etc.). Not only is there the cost for shoes, I figure I may have a hard time finding the size I need. Hell, basically I just got fitted for the bike, bought it, and saddled up and rode. :-) I don't know all the important things I need to know yet. All I know if that I have a 62cm frame (I'm 6'4") and I love my bike.
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If you got bigger feet like me, wear roughly a 12-13, the shoes exist. Nice thing is its all euro sizing so the fit is much closer to what actually fits your foot :-)
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I wish I only wore a 12-13. LOL
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Real gun boats eh? I know the shoes I got go upto a 52-54 euro
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you can order specialized shoes in pretty much any size you need. as in the bike manufaturer specialized
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You have the bike and helmet that's a good start:-)

DISTANCE
Sprint: 1/4 mile swim, 22 mile bike, 3.1 mile run
Half: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

did you do the sprint or the 1/2 ?



Good luck figuring all that out. I have done few and have learned some things the heard way and from asking. If I may...( ok I will anyway:-))
Get the shoes asap but only after you have done some real running and biking Why?/ Because your feet will swell and get bigger the longer you train and if you buy a size to small you will ride home one day with your foot out of the shoe because your feet hurt so much :-) yes I was laughing at myself the whole way home.

Also go easy on the wetsuit you don't need the most $$ just one that works, remember they don't last forever and soon you will be buying another. If you train mostly in a pool you might to see if you can rent one for the events and save some cash.

Rob :-)
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Did the sprint for the Chisago Lakes event. did my first tri 2 weeks earlier (July 11th), the Lifetime Fitness sprint.

As for shoes, well...I sold shoes while in college, and I know all about the swelling and such. For reference, my running shoes are 15s. AND I have VERY narrow feet (b width).

As for the wetsuit, I rented one for the Lifetime event ($15), and borrowed my brother's for the Chisago event. he bought his before the Lifetime event.

At this point, I'm thinking I may try to do ~4 next year, and go from there. It is an amazing sense of accomplishment to finish one, and I want to keep going! Maybe an Olympic or 2 next year, with a half iron and maybe eventually a full iron in the future (way future).

I've been an athlete for most of my life, so I'm no stranger to training and the effort involved. Doing these just stretches the challenge even further. Since I'm such a noob at it all, I welcome any advice you guys can give me. :-)
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Being an old fart and having 20 some years of toe clips and cleats, I can honestly say I miss them. No pulling out during a sprint, easier to get into for me on a start, things like that.

In this case I'd use toe clips and running shoes in a heartbeat getting into this. Just leave them a little loose so you can pull out if needed. Just my 2 cents.
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There is my second response, I wear a helmet every time I ride. I was just describing how important my gloves are for ME when I ride. I understand completely what happens when a unprotected skull hits pavement. maybe I should have said that my gloves were AS important as my helmet.
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Good thread.

I have a Cannondale Synapse 6, but this has been a bad summer for riding. With the kids off at camp, I have been travelling nearly every weekend, and I am on the road for work all week. I bet I have put on 10 pounds this summer, and this is usually when I lose. *sigh*

Ready to get back after it. The kids go back to school in a couple of weeks, so things should return to normal soon.
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Bikeforums.net
Roadbikereview.com
SoCalBikeForums.com

These are the cycling forums I visit regularly (daily :-)). Say hello to roadfix when you visit.
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BF is a rough forum. Specially the Road Cycling section.
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