Just wanted to introduce myself. Before I start the barrage of questions!
I'm a Cat 3 road rider, and have been racing now for two years and riding for three. I can do a 40km TT in about 55 minutes; but that's without swimming or running thrown in!
I'm hoping to get some advice around here about getting ready for next year. I'm not a bad runner, but swimming is a nightmare to me. I know it's about 90% technique and I've never really been into technique. But I've promised myself lessons so that should ease the pain.
I hope to do three or four Olympic distance tris next season, as well as a duathlon. And I will keep up my road racing, but probably limit it quite a bit to just TT's and hill climbs.
I've sort of burnt out on road, not only on the endless racing, but some of the attitude. From what I can tell, I'd fit in much better in the tri community -- I like the idea of competing among people of all ages and both genders for that matter!
See you on the road...or *shudder*...pool!
Dalai
10-21-07, 09:47 PM
Welcome Stallionforce!
I've raced both Road and Tri's (focussing on tri's) and find the triathlete's a much friendlier mob as a general rule.
My theory for this is that most triathletes are racing the course and for PB's not so much each other. Due to some very fast athletes in their age groups meaning they don't have a chance of placing. Where as the road categories being based on ability, so most have a chance at winning the race and therefore show more agro*
*very much a generalization - as there can be very competitive triathletes and supportive, mellow roadies...
Sesh
10-22-07, 10:18 AM
Swimming is just like riding a bike, the more you do it, the better you get. The good news is that the swim leg is the shortest, so even if you aren't very good, you can swim efficiently and get out of the water with a good chance of hitting your goal. I've found the swim to bike transition to not be too terrible. Maybe it's because I'm so happy to get on the bike and away from elbows and jellyfish. I was shocked at how hard it was to run when I got off the bike in my first ever tri, though.
There are triathletes and people who do triathlons. Most are the latter. We just have ADD when it comes to excercise, so we get together, do three events at once, then have a party.
Stallionforce
10-23-07, 11:43 AM
Interesting theories as to roadies versus triathletes. I don't want to go too far down that path except to say that I've found triathletes form a more supportive community. I'm not sure if that's just tradition (cycling being somewhat prima-donna-ish) or due to the extreme pain of triathlon in general -- communal suffering. But I like your theory too Dalai!
I guess I'm a bit OCD so when I'm faced with a (somewhat) new challenge, I tend to try to 'do my best'. I realise that swimming is 90% technique, as opposed to cycling where your movement is constrained by the machine; even running doesn't seem to be too technical -- at least compared to swimming.
It's all fun; and as you said, with tri it seems like it's more you-against-yourself, which I like.
^*^BATMAN^*^
10-23-07, 04:11 PM
Swimming....is definatly worth taking lessons if you arnt that good. Like was said by Sesh, the more you do it, the better you will be. I have been competitive swimming since I was about 8, I stopped when I was 17. Being 23 now, with minimal swim training, I am still in the top 10 in the local triathlons. I say based on tecnique almost alone.
^*^BATMAN^*^
10-23-07, 04:13 PM
Oh, and yes, roadies do tent to be more agro, and just snobish. I race MTB, Tris, and Road. I definatly see a difference in the 3. MTB, and Tri people seem to be more relaxed, way more friendly.
Stallionforce
10-23-07, 07:42 PM
Yeah, I would tend to agree, but I don't want to push that too far, because some of the best people I've met in my life have been roadies. But, overall, I'm ready for a change -- and part of that is attitude. But mostly fixating only on one activity has been driving me nuts. And the challenge of becoming a decent swimmer, which is so technique-focussed, excites me.
jahona
10-23-07, 08:50 PM
Wow, I'm basically in the same boat as you...except that I'm currently an out of shape cat 4 instead of a pretty good cat 3. I've tried to get more into road racing but it seems that it's too competitive - which leads to the attitudes and the egos. Tris and running are time based so it's competitive but not necessarily against one another - my theory anyway...
But yes, it is just a generalization. I know a cat 1 who is the nicest laid back guy ever. But then again I've met a lot of stuck up lawyer or doctor roadies (again generalization, if you're doctor/lawyer on BF you're good in my book! :) ) including one who asked me after a bad race, "Why don't you quit?" Oh and another that my girlfriend heard ask, "Why does he even try to race?" in a race earlier this year when I was doing bad.
So yes, like you, triathlons will be a needed breath of fresh air.
Stallionforce
10-23-07, 10:12 PM
I've had similar experiences. I don't know what it is about roadie culture; I expect it goes back to the 'old country' and the origins of the sport in Europe. But, you're right, triathlons are basically like one, long time trial of three events. And if I think of the comparisons of the roadie crowd, and the guys who really enjoy the road races and crits, and the guys who basically enjoy the TT's -- well, the TT guys are generally more easygoing and relaxed.
Looking forward to it, but I really do need some swimming lessons.