The Week Before

The bike ride yesterday represented the culmination of a week of training--one very short on bike rides but otherwise full.

Proceeding backwards: Friday I swam in my new Speedo Fastskin unitard. After my first set of 500 yards I stopped because I thought my watch was wrong. It usually takes me about 10:39 (avg.) to swim that far and my watch said 9:52. I thought I had miscounted the laps. So I did another 500. This time: 9:48! Okay..... One more set: 9:49. Now I am a true believer in the "power of the suit." (It's not the same as the ones that were so controversial at Beijing--no way--but it is expensive, and now I feel, entirely worth it.)

Thursday was a day I'd rather forget. Indeed, I rather thought I was getting an advance on my "Friday the 13th." I experienced a host of small frustrations, such that when I sat at my desk later I thought, "Perhaps you should not ride your bike this afternoon." But it was a beautiful day and there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity. So as soon as I got home I quickly changed and got out on the bike. Things went swimmingly for the first 11 miles. Then I saw something shiny scattered on the road and before my mind could forumlate the word "glass"I heard "Thump! SSSssssssssss!!!!"

Shit!! There went ANOTHER $85 Vittoria tubular tire! And this time there was no friendly stranger around to help change it. So with a heavy sight I hauled it all to a safe place by the highway and got everything set up to change the tire. I got the spare Tufo out of the saddle bag, stepped on it and pulled to strecth it out as I had seen done, then proceeded to put it round the rim.

20 minutes later I was sitting in disgust by the side of the road. I had tried and tried to get that damned tire on without success: it was a stiff as a board, and every time I would get it over the edge on one spot it would slide off another. My exercises in futility had been viewed curiously already by the kids on a school bus, residents of a nearby house--none of whom could comprehend my frustration and humilation. It all worsened when I had to face the inevitable and call my husband, who was just getting off work in Grand Saline 30 miles away, to come get me. I hate appearing incompetent, but especially in front of him. And so I sat, and sat, until at last he arrived. I was beyond possible tears at that point, beyond mad. I was settled: those Dura Ace carbon tubulars were going on eBay. They are a sweet, sweet ride but they really aren't for training, and in my case, not for racing, either. (I triathlete needs an aero carbon tubular wheel. These are more for road racing.)

Next day I went into Elite (after my swim) and handed Dave the wheel. At first I was going to get another tubular so I could sell them, but then he told me I should not sell them with tires on--let whoever buys it choose their own. So I picked out a set of Kysirum SLs and asked him to put the cassette on them for me and I'd buy 'em. He was a little puzzled I didn't opt for the $2000+ pair of Zipp 404s--like I have $2000 to spend on a pair of wheels I'd use two or three times a year!--but I explained I wanted something bombproof for training. I really only needed the aero for my big race and I was renting those. (That puzzled him, too--probably worried him as well, as that undercuts a possible source of sales for him.)

I still haven't picked up the wheels but will probably do so on Monday when I get refit by John. Then I'll get down the business of selling the old wheels. They cost me $1000 but I hope I can get at least $800. (It is very, very hard to make any kind of profit on eBay unless you are a wholesaler dealing in bulk.)