So,5 years ago, I did my last half IM, 35 yr old woman, 5:35 (pr at the time), and thought that was ok. It was a flat course, and at the time I had a tri bike with drop handlebars, and clip ons, because its hilly where I live and I couldn’t justify all the training rides with bar end shifters. Then stopped racing. Two years later I bought a road bike, and rode for fun. Last year bought mtb, and road it exclusively. Spring the trails were wet, so it was either hit the roads or not ride, so I had a new good group of girls to ride with, so I did. Things were going well, so I (maybe stupidly) entered IM AZ for 2008. Then thought I should do a half too. Signed up for Steelhead. Still just riding the road bike. early July I thought I ought to put a base bar and areobars on the tribike.Did that, and rode about 200 miles on that bike, maybe 1/3 in the bars (its hilly here).
So, race day yesterday, and I stayed in the bars for 30 miles, feeling good, then my hips, hip flexors started to hurt. Not just a little, but a lot. ANd I had to constantly coast, and shift position for the rest of the race. I could barely walk when I got off the bike, they hurt and cramped so badly. Luckily a very easy mile on the run and they loosened up, and I had a decent run.
But now I’m worried for IM. I think maybe my saddle is too low for riding in the aerobars. Does it make sense that you would raise the seat a bit compared to if you were riding more upright? It seems reasonable to me. I’m going put the bike on the trainer the next few weeks, and ess with the saddle height and try to ride 2-3 hours at a time and see if I can get through it pain free. Any other suggestions?
I saw noone replied so figured I would throw an answer your way… if you are on a roadbike and have put aerobars on I suspect your saddle needs to move forward, which means it will raise relative to your bottom bracket. This will open your hip angle and should alleviate some of the discomfort. Altrernatively get a forward seat post and steepen your seattube angle some…
I was on a 1999 Kestrel 500sci (tribike). I do have my saddle forward, and that is definitely most comfortable, but at 30 miles, my hips were killing me. I’ll try more adjustments and see how that works.
You have made a really big commitment to doing IMAZ 2008 and so I think that you would be very justified in going out and getting a really decent Tri bike. If you are a regular at this forum you are aware that there are several different really good bikes out there and that its really important for you to get measured and fit for it. There are various options depending on how much money you can spend, but in the end you can expect to be doing a lot of riding before race day on what ever bike you have and so make it a good one. Tim
I rode on a tribike. Bike split was 2:49, not great, not bad. I would love to get a new bike, this one is old. I know that. But, I’m not sure I’m ready to spend the money. I did Lake Placid in 99 on an even older bike. No guarantee that buying a new bike is going to be better for me.
I would suggest you ride the bike you are gonna race all the time. There can be a big difference in position and muscle strength between a road frame and the Kestrel. So if you are gonna buy a new bike, I’d do it immediately so you have the rest of the summer and fall to get used to the position (personally, i think your kestrel is just fine - my Litespeed Saber is a 2000, and while all the guys here think they need new toys all the time, we old ladies on our old equipment can humble 'em on their fancy-schmancy Cervelo P3’s :):).
My friend who is doing DaVille for her first IM later this month finally put aero bars on her road frame, and went out and did a half 2 weeks ago with them, and she had the same problem with her hip flexors gettting tired and cramping. She was miserable. I’ve been telling her since March that IF she is going to ride on aeros at Louisville, she needs to start getting DOWN with them and practicing the position.
In short, I think you just need more time in the saddle and in the position. You’ll be fine by IMAZ. Good luck.
I rode on a tribike. Bike split was 2:49, not great, not bad. I would love to get a new bike, this one is old. I know that. But, I’m not sure I’m ready to spend the money. I did Lake Placid in 99 on an even older bike. No guarantee that buying a new bike is going to be better for me.
Sorry about that I missed that you said it was a tri bike.
Ok so the good race 5 years ago did you train on a road bike or a tri bike?
Susan - thanks - that’s what I needed to hear! I will try to ride the bike more, but it won’t be a lot for a whle, because now I have to concentrate on xterra. But late fall and winter I will try to put a lot of time on it. I’d like to think I can get this old body to be happy on the bike in the aero position for 6 hours, or so, (6 hours would be great!
5 years ago - tribike w/drop handlebars & clipons, rode most of it out of aerobars . Ok race, 5:35.
yesterday, same bike now with base bar and aerobars, not ridden in 2+ years until early July, 5:15 final time. Bike split 2:49, I thought I could be faster, based on training on my road bike all spring and early summer, but as I said, the second half was very ugly, cramping and pain in the hips. I’m going to stick with this bike and try to get more sdaale time, and make some adjustments.
