250 Pit Bike

In preparing to meet the challenge of a first Ironman, I think too many athletes put too much emphasis on the bike, they choose to purchase for the event.

Somewhere along the path Ironman, many athletes have come to believe that the lightest and most state of the art of the motorcycle, the faster they will finish the bike leg of the Ironman.

Nothing could be further from the truth. For example: You can put an athlete on a bike and have $ 10,000 to train without the aid of adequate food or without attention to proper hydration and choice beverages Repace and Ironman spit as a core cherry, somewhere around mile 80 on the bike course.

Take another athlete and put $ 800 on a reliable, medium weight, used bikes with pedals and good Aero bars. Then make him pay attention all year training for a good diet, hydration and feeding techniques and Raceday at around mile 80 of the same course, he calls out "nice bike" as he goes number one athlete which is a very long, painful day.

Do not get all wrapped up in taking a second mortgage so that you can buy this "special" bike that is six ounces lighter than anything on the road. After all, you'll be charging 5 pounds of water and the Food and gear on the thing before you even get out of the transition. This is not your normal bike race. If you come from a century bike races and that's it, it may be another story. But this is not the nature of this beast.

First you have probably been stoned for an hour or two in a wild free for all swimming and most of the time your heartbeat was racing out of control. Plus, you still have a marathon to consider once you get off the bike.

Your bike is just a small part of the equation Ironman. Do not get too wrapped up in the light and fancy and expensive. I know I did.

I had my best bike leg ever and my first thought was to fix the old racing bike and keep it. However, I leave my bike supplier to talk me into buying amateur, newer model that has been so light that I would go even faster. I never, never reached my fastest lap of the bike over the next 10 years. Even on bikes worth 10 times more than my old standby. It was probably the biggest mistake I made in my career only 20 years of Ironman. I would have gone with my first instinct.

For some reason, a bike for you. It suits your style, ability and "service" you love this pair of favorite riders. In this case, hang on this bike. If you must, save mainly for shopping and getting a second bike for most of your training. This way, your bike race-day will last for years.

I ran the bike over a high-end I was just never comfortable in whatever light and fast, they were supposed to be. At first it may seem cool to be the recipient of the envious looks from fellow triathletes when they see you on your bike the week before the race. You're cycling "king."

Believe me, this is not so cool when the same athletes that you spend on the course with those dreaded words left in their wake. "Nice bike."

Whenever you hear, you'll want to sink more and more in your bike seat. You wish you were on a drummer for $ 250. At least that way you reason, you would have an excuse to go again and again. There's nowhere to hide there.

To save you a ton of embarrassment and humiliation, make sure that your ability to match the bike you ride.

All my bikes are now gone, except one. This same bike is old in my living room on a wave of training and if I decide to make this incredible race again when I turn 60, four years - it will be a very special, old bike 16 .