News Update #1: I GOT A NEW BIKE.

I have so much to say I don't know where to begin, so I'll take it one news update at a time.

Let's review the facts: I was ready for a new bike after Vineman. As one can see from the pictures, it's not a horrible bike. Good carbon frame, great wheels. Just...too big for me and not a time trial setup. The combination of those two things made for what I now believe was a loss of energy/power transfer in a major way.

As I mentioned in my race report, I realized that with all the time, money and effort I put into triathlon, there's no reason I shouldn't have a bike that a) fits me right and b) is made to bring out my full potential. Cycling is, after all, my best event. I should have a great bike.

So, I talked with a few people, namely John M. He suggested the Cervélo P2 Carbon. It's nearly as good as the P3 Carbon but for less $$. I did a little research and decided it really looked like a fantastic bike. I e-mailed Robbie at Lombardi Sports. He had a P2C in a 54. That was good news. Taking a deep breath, I wrote the words "Let's do it." and clicked "Send."

Two weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Robbie saying the new sled was going to be ready for pick-up the following week. We arranged for Monday. I went into the store excited and giddy. I couldn't wait to see it.

Sitting on some chairs in the bike department, I heard Mike K.'s voice from around the corner. "Hey Sarah T." "HEY, MIKE K.! MY OLD FRIEND! LONG TIME NO SEE!" I cheerfully yelled back. I turned my head to greet him and there it was: a beautiful blue-and-white Cervélo P2 Carbon Time Trial bike, all set to go. Except this one had bows on it, like a present!

"Why the ribbons?" I inquired.

"Robbie, do you want to tell her?" Mike K. said.

Robbie responded: "Well Sarah, we had agreed on a set of components based on your budget; but John M. decided to take things a step further and rounded up some folks from Lombardi and from your bike group to chip in so that we could upgrade your components. It was really a way of saying 'Thank You' for everything you do for this team."

My jaw dropped. I was speechless. Humbled. I could feel that lump in my throat. I don't cry! My eyes began to get a little wet. Mike K. cracked a joke that suspended any more forthcoming tears. I smiled. I managed to eke out a "Wow." I smiled more. "I mean...wow. I just...REALLY? YOU GUYS DID THAT? HE DID THAT?" I was afraid I might choke up again but Mike K. was there again with another snappy joke.

He began taking pictures of me with my new bike. What an awesome surprise to an already great day!

Once the initial shock was over, we began to play with the positioning of the aerobars.

Finally, I had to get back to work but Mike was going to bring it over to M2 where he has his Human Performance Lab so that we could put it on a trainer and mess with the positioning more.

Later that week I indeed went over and got a better feel for the new toy...errr...bike. It was fantastic! We switched out the cassette in the back for a more hill-friendly setup and changed the tires. I was ready to bring it out to play on Sunday (8/19)- The Tour of Napa Valley!

News Update #3 (#2 is the Angel Island 12K Race Report from 8/18) will be the Tour of Napa Valley report where I talk about falling in love with cycling all over again. Stay tuned...

C'mon, GUYS!!

I was pretty upset to read this:

Vinokourov tests positive; Astana withdraws from Tour

Vino was one of my favorites and I called him to win the Tour in the WC Velo 'call your Top 3" challenge. I had picked Vinokourov, Kloden, and Leipheimer. *sigh* So much for my top 2.

More than anything, I'm just sorely disappointed. Bicycling Magazine had an article this month about how we're finally getting back to the pureness of this competition - it's about the Yellow Jersey, not about one rider. This year we've been seeing different guys wearing it and it's exciting to see what's going to happen next. Levi Leipheimer seems to be holding back a bit (in fact, many of them are) because they know they've got to save some of their energy for the days to come. That didn't happen when doping was so much more prevalent because they knew they could handle it. The race coordinators had to make it harder and harder every year because these men were enduring and going the distance with super-human abilities.

I really thought when Vino won the time trial on Saturday that his achievement was one of pure athleticism, will and a commitment to break through the pain that he was surely enduring that entire ride. That's not to say that none of that is true; he is still one of the best cyclists in the world and clearly fought hard to make that victory happen. It's just disappointing that it was done with the aid of something else.

My last point - it really annoys me that there is so much negative attention being given to the cycling doping scandals (and rightly so) and yet, so many people are caught up in the Barry Bonds chase to beat Hank Aaron's home run record. Do we not see a parallel here? Barry Bonds is this 'hero' of some sort and yet, the man clearly had the aid of steroids in the past as he made his way through beating home run records. It's utterly ridiculous.

I guess the Lombardi Sports guys' t-shirt is right: "Dopers Win."

Taper Revisited

I somehow feel much better about my taper this week than I've ever felt. Cristi commented on my blog the last time I mentioned taper and referred to "Reduce volume, keep intensity. You should get that "race feeling" in training sessions leading up to the big day..."

Hm, I've kept that in mind...I haven't quite followed that model completely. Yet, I've gotten a lot of fantastic aerobic exercise this week and reduced overall volume by only about 15%, which is right on target. Monday I went to yoga which was a great workout to follow my Sunday swim and long run. Tuesday I had to bring my bike in to Lombardi Sports, the fabulous store that sponsors the triathlon team I am so proud to be a part of and represent. Normally I might think "oh, just take the 8:44 BART train (bikes not allowed before then - SO COMPLETELY lame but that's another story) and get into work late." But...I've been good about getting to work on time. Didn't want to do that.

Other option? Drive in. No, not an option. I'm not spending another $14 in daily parking fee and driving into the City, not to mention the fact that I wouldn't be able to use the casual carpool because I'd have to bring my bike along. And I want to use my car as little as possible.

Third option: Ferry. Ride bike from house to Oakland ferry terminal. Ferry one way = $5.50. BART back to Berkeley and walk home. Awesome! Could time trial myself over to the ferry and get a nice 25 minute intense workout, and could make the walk back home a nice brisk walk - all uphill.

I did just that. I wanted to ride faster than I did over to the ferry but stoplights and cross traffic sort of got in my way. Still, it was a good workout. I raced a garbage truck down Telegraph Avenue, which was fun. I gave them a thumbs up for their hard effort, but I ended up winning. :)

I rode my bike from work over to Lombardi, which only took about 10 minutes (up Market street to McCallister and onto Polk...down Polk and there I was!). Took the MUNI back to work. Rode BART to Downtown Berkeley and walked a brisk 30 minute walk up the hill back home. So, 1:10 of exercise, 0:30 of it more intense, the rest aerobic! Great!

Wed morning I taught spinning but mostly took it easy with a few short bursts.

Thursday I got a LOT of walking in due to the fact that I had an appointment in the Marina and since the MUNI never made a magical appearance, I just kept on walkin'...and walkin'...and ended up at Lombardi to pick up my bike. Rode down to BART, time trialing again due to the fact that at 8 p.m. BART only comes every 20 minutes and I was desperate to make the 8:17 p.m. train.

Today I will teach spinning again and get in a few good intense bursts with easy spinning in between. Tomorrow I'll get a nice easy swim in. Overall, I just feel...READY. I feel GREAT! I AM READY TO GO KICK SOME BUTT!!!!!

David G. in my Wine Country Velo group asked if any of us had tips for the last three days of taper...here's what I wrote, based on reading and great advice:

1) Hydrate
2) Don't drink (alcohol)
3) Eat more carbs than usual (not TONS, but just a bit more)
4) Get your protein (tofu guy)
5) No last hill repeat/quality interval/insert hard workout here is going to help at this point. Allow your body to rest, recover, and be fresh for race day.
6) VISUALIZE. You know the course inside and out. Think about that quick climb at the turn on Westside. Imagine zooming past the vineyards. Anticipate that turn onto Canyon and how it's further than you remember. While everybody else slows down at the turn onto Chalk Hill because they think the hill is 'coming right up," keep up your speed and let them all be confused at why you're still going fast. As you visualize, imagine yourself not letting your cadence fall below 90 rpms. Practice your deep breathing. On Saturday, take 30 minutes to just meditate and visualize the entire race. Be ready.

Cristi had a great quote for me, which I just really loved. I'm all about mantras. Between this and Klaus Barth's "You have no idea what the human body can do" - I think I've got some great things to hold close to me during race day:

"One from Barb Lindquist is when going up hills, imagine a Japanese fisherman pulling you up the hill with his line in order to painlessly scale the slope."

If anybody has any other great tips, bring 'em on!

VINEMAN, HERE I COME!!


By the way...Lombardi is such a fantastic place. They saw that my rear derailleur cable just totally needed replacing and did it right then and there and made sure they stretched it out as much as possible...in other words, they just took such good care of me knowing I have a race on Sunday. Lombardi Sports (namely, Robbie and Scott) - YOU ROCK!!