Question:

Thanks for info.  I am fairly new here also.  My real name is Ethan Turner.  I use the handle because I have worked all my life at some type of radiological facility.  I am 31 years old with type 1.  I started having symptoms about 6 months ago or more (but was not initially aware of why I had them) and was officially diagnosed 2 months ago and started on insulin at that time.  I realized that I had a problem when I came home, walked up the street to my mother-in-law’s house, checked my blood sugar with her meter, and found it to be 306. This was (and still is) the worst blood sugar I have ever seen. Fortunately for me, I never went through a ketoacidosis-induced collapse and wound up in the hospital like so many with type 1.       My family doctor initially misdiagnosed it as type 2 and told me that it could be managed with a low-carb diet.  The problem (both with his diagnosis and remedy) was that I was and still am a competitive triathlete and I typically train 5 – 10 hours per week at the swimming, bike riding, and running.  I have no family history of diabetes and am not, nor was overweight.  People like myself are not supposed to get type 2, thus I was very skeptical of his diagnosis. Sure enough, the tests results from my endocrinologist confirmed my worst fears – that I really had type 1 and would likely spend the rest of my life insulin dependent.   For me, the most depressing time was when I was controlling my blood sugars with diet.  I felt as if everywhere I went, I was surrounded by poison and was limited to eating things like subway chicken salads and fried eggs.  Not that these things are bad, but when they become your only option, it is very tiresome.  For this reason, I actually felt better the day I started on insulin, since I could then start introducing some carbs into my diet again and also start swimming more than 2000 yds at a time. I have read and heard about brittleness and I am trying to do everything I can to avoid becoming brittle.  I believe the key is to preserve both residual beta cell function and counter-regulatory response.  I believe that my counter-regulatory response is improving now because I am much less prone to hypoglycemia during long swims and bike rides than I was when I first started using insulin.  I have also figured out that high intensity exercise (like 100 yd sprints in the pool) is less likely to cause hypoglycemia than the slow easy stuff. I am also looking into experimental drugs that will stop the destruction of residual beta cells. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello,     My name is Darla Jean. I use jeana for news groups. I’m just lurking for now but wanted to introduce myself. I’m 38, look young and perfectly healthy for my age but don’t let the outside fool you. I’ve had brittle uncontrollable type 1 diabetes for 14 years now. My dad died at age 30 and his was so bad, when he was diagnosed at the age of 24 with type 1, they gave him two years to live. He lived to be 30 and took very good care of his self. Most people think that there are only type one and two but there are actually so many different types within those types and this disease is so diverse and complicated and not one diabetic is the same. I was on FIVE shots a day for years and did not improve. My A1c was so high. Then I went on the insulin pump and it has helped my glucose levels by 50%. However, i take about 13 prescription medications that I have to have to survive on due to diabetes complications just from having the disease all these years.     I recently lost my second dad this past Christmas Eve to pulmonary fibrosis and this has caused a lot of stress and I almost died in the hospital a couple of months ago. It’s been a night mare for the whole family this past year.     I take great care of myself but I have these blood diseases that makes your triglycerides extremely high no matter what you do. It comes with the type of diabetes I have. Several doctors have told me it doesn’t matter if i weighed 99 lbs or 500 lbs or what i ate, I would still have that problem because they have seen records of me very thin and heavier for many years and being thinner or eating better didn’t improve certain things. So don’t feel bad when you think your doing everything possible but still dont’ get results. Sometimes it’s just your body and chemistry is different and you have to try that much harder. My triglycerides were over 700 and then after seven months of taking two meds that they promised would bring them down like a power house, (zocor and zetia) my cholesterol and other lipids did come down, but my triglycerides went from 700 to over 2300. They don’t see how I can be alive by all medical records. Now they put me on advicore and in one month they went from 2300 to 491. They are getting better and im so happy but the side effects are so painful and hard to deal with.     I tell you this not to complain but to encourage ones that have a hard time and are tired of people telling them they aren’t doing right or they are cheating on their diet because until they’ve walked in your shoes, they need to keep their mouth shut. If you really are doing what your supposed to, You know and God knows. They used to accuse my real dad of cheating because his would go down as low as 20 and by law you should be dead at that glucose level and they checked his brain waves and never even had damage. His would go so high the machine couldn’t register it. It bounced around so much but when they would have him in the hospital, controlling every move he made and everything he ate, then they would see that he wasn’t like every diabetic they had dealt with and they would be fustrated because they couldn’t put him in a category with everyone else and didn’t know what to do. When a doctor don’t have an answer for something, they usually try to blame it on you. Make you feel like you are doing something wrong. Sometimes it may be true, but don’t buy into this guilt trip they try to lay on you when you know you are doing everything possible. It’s not easy and it’s a daily struggle as we all know so hang in there and encourage one another. Help each other with information we have and I pray each and every one of you have good family support because it’s very important.     Sorry if I went on too long. I will shut up now and lurk.     I’m inserting a pic of me below.

Response:

I too lurk here, but being t2 I post in alt.support.diabetes. Welcome, these people here a wealth of information and advice. Take the best… ignore the rest… Good fortune and the best of synergy with the universe. quirque

Response:

hi Darla Jean…welcome to this newsgroup. I’m Steve and I was diagnosed with Type 1 when I was 6 yrs old. I have been diabetic for 36 years. I have fortunately been complication free – only last year trace amounts of microprotein started showing up in my urine so I put on an ARB. Two years ago I purchased a MiniMed 508 insulin pump and I hope all of these things will help me live a long and productive life. I am very sorry to hear about your recent tragedies and I would like you to know that you have many friends with open hearts and ears in this group. Welcome. — Steve Type 1 DM since 1967 Toronto, ON Canada

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello,      My name is Darla Jean. I use jeana for news groups. I’m just lurking for now but wanted to introduce myself. I’m 38, look young and perfectly healthy for my age but don’t let the outside fool you. I’ve had brittle uncontrollable type 1 diabetes for 14 years now. My dad died at age 30 and his was so bad, when he was diagnosed at the age of 24 with type 1, they gave him two years to live. He lived to be 30 and took very good care of his self. Most people think that there are only type one and two but there are actually so many different types within those types and this disease is so diverse and complicated and not one diabetic is the same. I was on FIVE shots a day for years and did not improve. My A1c was so high. Then I went on the insulin pump and it has helped my glucose levels by 50%. However, i take about 13 prescription medications that I have to have to survive on due to diabetes complications just from having the disease all these years.      I recently lost my second dad this past Christmas Eve to pulmonary fibrosis and this has caused a lot of stress and I almost died in the hospital a couple of months ago. It’s been a night mare for the whole family this past year.      I take great care of myself but I have these blood diseases that makes your triglycerides extremely high no matter what you do. It comes with the type of diabetes I have. Several doctors have told me it doesn’t matter if i weighed 99 lbs or 500 lbs or what i ate, I would still have that problem because they have seen records of me very thin and heavier for many years and being thinner or eating better didn’t improve certain things. So don’t feel bad when you think your doing everything possible but still dont’ get results. Sometimes it’s just your body and chemistry is different and you have to try that much harder. My triglycerides were over 700 and then after seven months of taking two meds that they promised would bring them down like a power house, (zocor and zetia) my cholesterol and other lipids did come down, but my triglycerides went from 700 to over 2300. They don’t see how I can be alive by all medical records. Now they put me on advicore and in one month they went from 2300 to 491. They are getting better and im so happy but the side effects are so painful and hard to deal with.      I tell you this not to complain but to encourage ones that have a hard time and are tired of people telling them they aren’t doing right or they are cheating on their diet because until they’ve walked in your shoes, they need to keep their mouth shut. If you really are doing what your supposed to, You know and God knows. They used to accuse my real dad of cheating because his would go down as low as 20 and by law you should be dead at that glucose level and they checked his brain waves and never even had damage. His would go so high the machine couldn’t register it. It bounced around so much but when they would have him in the hospital, controlling every move he made and everything he ate, then they would see that he wasn’t like every diabetic they had dealt with and they would be fustrated because they couldn’t put him in a category with everyone else and didn’t know what to do. When a doctor don’t have an answer for something, they usually try to blame it on you. Make you feel like you are doing something wrong. Sometimes it may be true, but don’t buy into this guilt trip they try to lay on you when you know you are doing everything possible. It’s not easy and it’s a daily struggle as we all know so hang in there and encourage one another. Help each other with information we have and I pray each and every one of you have good family support because it’s very important.      Sorry if I went on too long. I will shut up now and lurk.      I’m inserting a pic of me below.

Response:

Question:

Dr Stuttaford in The Times today commenting on Pres. Bush says that BPM below 60 resting should always be investigated as they are dangerous.  He says Bush has a heart problem, not that he is fit.

Impossible. Politicians have their heart removed before entering the practice. Tom

Response:

John, I really cannot be bothered to argue with you any more.

Why were you even _attempting_ to argue?  The situation is a matter of fact — you were wrong in posting to rbr.  I pointed that out and you continue an untenable position.  I cannot understand why. In the future, please "bother" to check what groups you post to to make sure your posts are on-topic. Thanks. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

when running, blood vessels dilate to accommodate the increased flow. after a run it takes them a while to snap back particularly in geezers who have less flexible vessel walls. dilated vessels + decreased flow = lower pressure the explainer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

Response:

Perhaps we’re a bit more tolerant here. Jonathan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To be fair, it was cross posted to RST, RR, and RBR. Doesn’t make the responder any less of a jerk, though. The original post could be considered valid in all three forums. No it isn’t. I’m not familiar with the posting guidelines for rec.running and rec.sport.triathlon, but the post was off topic in rec.bikes.racing. Coming from someone not doing bike races, that is especially annoying. See the FAQ. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low.

You’re complaining about a resting HR of 35?  Do you just WANT everyone here to hate you?

Response:

As for the person who described triathlon as a "gay" sport.

In the area of the US where I live the word ‘gay’ has taken on the meaning of ’stupid’ or similar. At least that’s how my kids (in high school) use it. the Explainer

Response:

As for the person who described triathlon as a "gay" sport. In the area of the US where I live the word ‘gay’ has taken on the meaning of ’stupid’ or similar. At least that’s how my kids (in high school) use it.

Well if using "gay" is popular with high school kids, then that explains why it is B.Turdina’s favorite word…. Cathy

Response:

In the area of the US where I live the word ‘gay’ has taken on the meaning of ’stupid’ or similar. At least that’s how my kids (in high school) use it. Well if using "gay" is popular with high school kids, then that explains why it is B.Turdina’s favorite word…. Cathy

POTM

Response:

Dr Stuttaford in The Times today commenting on Pres. Bush says that BPM below 60 resting should always be investigated as they are dangerous.  He says Bush has a heart problem, not that he is fit.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. You’re complaining about a resting HR of 35?  Do you just WANT everyone here to hate you?

Response:

Oh yeah, like no one ever gets off topic in rec.bicycles.racing Been there, seen it. But I know what you mean. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To be fair, it was cross posted to RST, RR, and RBR. Doesn’t make the responder any less of a jerk, though. The original post could be considered valid in all three forums. No it isn’t. I’m not familiar with the posting guidelines for rec.running and rec.sport.triathlon, but the post was off topic in rec.bikes.racing. Coming from someone not doing bike races, that is especially annoying. See the FAQ. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

Why? Or are you saying that because I’m a triathlete I don’t race bikes? And I said "especially" on  my running days, not exclusively, as I have noticed this dizziness issue after cycling as well, just not as pronounced as after running. Marcus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To be fair, it was cross posted to RST, RR, and RBR. Doesn’t make the responder any less of a jerk, though. The original post could be considered valid in all three forums. No it isn’t. I’m not familiar with the posting guidelines for rec.running and rec.sport.triathlon, but the post was off topic in rec.bikes.racing. Coming from someone not doing bike races, that is especially annoying. See the FAQ. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

I’ve got a low resting heart rate and very often when I am sitting or doing somethng in a crouched or kneeling position I get so dizzy when I stand up that I almost fall over. This is particularly true if my eye had been looking down. This concerned me so much that I saw my doctor about it. In my case, the problem is just one of side effects of aging and its effect on the slowness of the inner ear balancing mechanism where it  tells the brain that it concurs with the brain that the body has in fact moved. I’ve got a two-fingered grip on the explanation. It seems the inner ear has a fluid filled chamber lined with cilia (small hairs if you will). When we move, the fluid flows by the cilia and they move. In an antenna like effect the cilia report to the brain just how much they move. The older we get, the difference between the amount of movement reported by the eyes and the amount of movement reported by the ear gets out of wack because of increasing mechanical slowness of the ear. The eyes generally remain fast. The effect of this, of course, may be different for each of us. Soooo…..,  if you can remember, and that gets harder as we age, raise your eyes and head  back to level BEFORE you attempt to stand. That also means don’t look at your feet as you go to get our of the chair. That’s harder on your weight transfer as you rock forward to rise but who said getting older is easy.

Response:

The point is your post if off-topic for r.b.r. Read the rec.bikes.* FAQ.  If you can’t even bother to do that, what basis do you have to even know whether your post is on or off-topic in r.b.r?   And if you’re too lazy to do so (which you seem to be), I’ll help you out:  It’s off-topic. Please remember that.

John, I really cannot be bothered to argue with you any more. I will therefore leave you alone in your lovely newsgroup to such varied and interesting threads as "Microwave a Twinkie", "Major XXXX shit" and "Football Deaths". Have a nice day. Marcus

Response:

Why? Or are you saying that because I’m a triathlete I don’t race bikes?

Triathlon is not bike racing.  It is triathlon.  Different sport. You’re a "reasonably fit age group triathlete"  not a bike racer.  But that’s not the point. The point is your post if off-topic for r.b.r. Read the rec.bikes.* FAQ.  If you can’t even bother to do that, what basis do you have to even know whether your post is on or off-topic in r.b.r?   And if you’re too lazy to do so (which you seem to be), I’ll help you out:  It’s off-topic. Please remember that. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

Whoa… I normally expect some nonsense when posting to newsgroups… But mate, you’ve done it! I’d be interested to know what sports YOU compete in….. And learn how to spell while you’re at it.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You should get a check up.  While you’re at it, you should visit a shrink in order to determine why you’d feel the need to compete in a sport so gay as triathalon. I hope that you work things out. Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

Response:

Well, the last replier should be somewhere else where they just sling insults at each other.

Nah, he should have added that maybe the doctor could tell what the original post has to do with bike racing. Nothing as far as I can see. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment.

Typical in fit individuals, especially the newly-fit.   Sit down again, or bend over, for a second or two. It takes longer for a fit heart to compensate for the greater force needed to keep blood flowing to the brain in a standing position, until one’s feedback mechanisms adjust to do it faster.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You should get a check up.  While you’re at it, you should visit a shrink in order to determine why you’d feel the need to compete in a sport so gay as triathalon. I hope that you work things out. Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

I’m guessing we’ve just heard from rec.bicycles.racing….

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the last replier should be somewhere else where they just sling insults at each other. Nah, he should have added that maybe the doctor could tell what the original post has to do with bike racing. Nothing as far as I can see. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

To be fair, it was cross posted to RST, RR, and RBR. Doesn’t make the responder any less of a jerk, though. The original post could be considered valid in all three forums.

Response:

To be fair, it was cross posted to RST, RR, and RBR. Doesn’t make the responder any less of a jerk, though. The original post could be considered valid in all three forums.

No it isn’t. I’m not familiar with the posting guidelines for rec.running and rec.sport.triathlon, but the post was off topic in rec.bikes.racing. Coming from someone not doing bike races, that is especially annoying. See the FAQ. JT — NB: reply-to address is munged Visit http://www.jt10000.com

Response:

Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case?

As for the dizziness, I have an explanation which sounds correct, though I have no data to back it up. I conjecture that the dizziness is caused by improved cardiovascular efficiency which reduces the resistance in your blood vessels. Thus, when you are fit and you stand up, the blood will more easily flow towards your lower body. In any case, this problem is typical for fit cyclists. It is usually called a "head rush", as in "Wow, head rush, got to sit down." Fred Matheny, in his book "Beginning Bicycle Racing" talks about how he had to be careful when teaching his classes because of starting to pass out when standing up to write something on the blackboard, this being one of his examples of problems cyclists have to deal with. As for the person who described triathlon as a "gay" sport. It is my experience that triathletes are usually fitter than cyclists in comparable classes. However, cyclists are usually much faster, because they do more speedwork. The best triathletes are as good as most cyclists. Hopefully, more triathletes will start training with racing cyclists, as this will help them get faster. -ilan

Response:

Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

Response:

You should get a check up.  While you’re at it, you should visit a shrink in order to determine why you’d feel the need to compete in a sport so gay as triathalon. I hope that you work things out.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

Response:

Well, the last replier should be somewhere else where they just sling insults at each other.  Your 35 bpm is quite low and that’s good.  It’s means that while the average person’s heart has to beat 72 times per minute, your heart has to only beat half as much to accomplish the same amount of blood pumping.  I don’t think there is any link between the low heart rate and low blood pressure.  The circumstances are more explanatory:  You were sitting for a while, your pressure dropped because you were physically relaxed, then you stood up quickly.  All of a sudden, your head got several feet higher aand you started to get light-headed before your pressure went up to supply blood to your brain.  I am 6′5" and this has happened to me occasionally since I went into puberty(40 some years ago).  It can still happen, like if I jump up from bed.  The answer is simply to stand up slowly to allow the pressure to build.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

Response:

<snip from David   I am 6′5" and this has happened to me occasionally since I went into puberty(40 some years ago).  It can still happen, like if I jump up from bed.  The answer is simply to stand up slowly to allow the pressure to build.

I totally agree with David here, however if it persists and not just an isolated problem I would go get it evaluated.  You are sitting all day and need to time to adjust to standing. Although getting a medical check up would not hurt either if it is bothersome to you, and if this is something that just started out of the blue. You are an triathlete and must be very fit conscious. Are you well hydrated? Does your HR go up when you stand. Are you near syncope? It can be nothing or it could be something.  Think preventive health and get a regular physical not just when you have problems.. Simple orthostatics  Blood pressure while lying flat then standing and they will check HR too May do sitting too. ( each MD is different ) If b/p drops within a certain range and the HR goes up within a certain range then dehydration could be one of many reasons. If you are getting out of you car and dizzy then I would certainly get it checked out. Stay healthy!!! Laurie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the last replier should be somewhere else where they just sling insults at each other.  Your 35 bpm is quite low and that’s good.  It’s means that while the average person’s heart has to beat 72 times per minute, your heart has to only beat half as much to accomplish the same amount of blood pumping.  I don’t think there is any link between the low heart rate and low blood pressure.  The circumstances are more explanatory:  You were sitting for a while, your pressure dropped because you were physically relaxed, then you stood up quickly.  All of a sudden, your head got several feet higher aand you started to get light-headed before your pressure went Hi, I’m a reasonably fit age group triathlete. My total weekly training includes approximately 3 km swimming, up to 150 km cycling and up to 20 km running. My daily job is quite sedate – office type work, but I train at least 6 days a week. I eat a healthy and varied diet and I think that generally I sleep/rest/recover enough. Most of my running is done early mornings, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On those days especially, I have noticed that I sometimes feel a little dizzy when getting up after sitting at my desk for a while. This always passes quite quickly and presents no real problem at the moment. Also, I have measured my rest heart rate. This morning at work, after running a slow 8 km at 6 am, my heart rate was around 35 bpm. This appears to be quite low. Now my question: is there a link between this low heart rate and possibly low blood pressure? Am I correct in assuming that low blood pressure is a possible reason for the dizziness? Should I get a full medical check-up just in case? Thanks, Marcus

Response:

Question:

Is there any independent research that proves the biomechanical effectiveness of steep frame geometry? I know of no such research but surely you could do your own research by moving your saddle all the way forward and seeing if you obtain any performance difference. You could also get a "forward" seat post that would allow you to mimic the steeper seat tube that most dedicated tri bikes have.

Thanks but this is too subjective, there’s too great a chance of the "placebo" effect. BTW, the steeper seat tube is only one characteristic of a tri bike that may help you go faster. A well designed tri bike will have much more directionality in the steering than a road bike so that less rider steering imput is needed and you can ride in the most straight line (= shortest distance).

Assuming the course is very straight? A lot of the sprints I have done have had pretty twisty bike courses. Phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hugh Enox

Response:

Is there any independent research that proves the biomechanical effectiveness of steep frame geometry?

I think my "enginerd" bio-mechanical roommate actually did her thesis on the effectiveness of steep vs traditional geometry.  If you really wanted the paper, I could probably forward it if she still has a soft copy of it. -Jed

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I think what Hugh meant is that some tri bikes have a slightly slacker head tube angle or a fork with less rake.  These characteristics make for more trail on the bike and a generally more stable ride.  However, many tri bikes retain a standard 73 degree head angle and 43-ish rake and are not difficult to handle once you get used to them. Regarding the seat angle thing, I agree that it’s best to just do some emprical research on your own and see what works best for you.  I have some lower back issues that tend to act up in duathlons especially, and have found that the only way I can get really low in front is if I rotate my body forward with a steep seat angle. Karen Smyers does really well with a slack seat angle while Steve Larsen does really well with a steep one.  Everybody is different… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How is a tri-bike more inclined to go straighter than any other bicycle?  If there is any difference I would say it is marginal at best.  In addition it is not all that hard to ride in a straight line with a litttle practice. Just ride some rollers a few times and you will find that it will do wonders for your ability to ride in straight lines. BTW, the steeper seat tube is only one characteristic of a tri bike that  may help you go faster. A well designed tri bike will have much more  directionality in the steering than a road bike so that less rider steering imput is  needed and you can ride in the most straight line (= shortest distance). Hugh Enox

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Then why didn’t she just use a forward seatpost?   Also, if she prefers steep angles, why was she on on of the OCLV TT bikes at Hawaii this year instead of a Hilo? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Karen Smyers does really well with a slack seat angle while Steve Larsen does really well with a steep one.  Everybody is different… smyers won IM on a slack-angled bike, but she hated it.  she gave up 12 minutes to newby on the bike leg that year.  but she was a longtime trek athlete and rode what trek gave her. i don’t think it’s accurate to say that smyers does well, or even prefers, a slack-angled bike (for non-draft racing). slowman

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Interesting to note, Karen rode a Trek Hilo in 1999 as Trek was ready to roll out the bike for the model year 2000. This is a 650 Tri bike (steep seat tube angle) Did she go back to 700 this year, because that is what Trek gave/made her to ride or did she have a say/preference in the matter? john, longtime Trek rider

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Then why didn’t she just use a forward seatpost?   Also, if she prefers steep angles, why was she on on of the OCLV TT bikes at Hawaii this year instead of a Hilo?

i’m just reporting what she told me.  as for the trek TT bike, etc., i have no idea how she feels about 650c v 700c.  i suspect it’s not a big deal to her either way.  but re the trek TT, why she rode it i can’t tell you, and it also did not appear to me that she significantly altered it forward.  she just has a habit of riding what trek gives her.   her approach to bike that appears to be accommodating-bordering-on-ambivalent.  if i was her coach i’d be a lot more proactive about her position.  but back to the subject, what i previously wrote here was based on my conversations with her.  perhaps in light of what she rode in kona that’s worth another query. slowman

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Karen Smyers does really well with a slack seat angle while Steve Larsen does really well with a steep one.  Everybody is different…

smyers won IM on a slack-angled bike, but she hated it.  she gave up 12 minutes to newby on the bike leg that year.  but she was a longtime trek athlete and rode what trek gave her. i don’t think it’s accurate to say that smyers does well, or even prefers, a slack-angled bike (for non-draft racing). slowman

Response:

Is there any independent research that proves the biomechanical effectiveness of steep frame geometry? In as much as the same runner runs faster after doing a TT on a steep framed bike than after the same ride on a conventional bike?

"Effects of Bicycle Frame Ergonomics on Triathlon 10km Running Performance" J. Sports Sci. Oct 2000 Vol 18 no. 10 p. 825-33 Garside & Doran looked at 10km performance after a 40km cycle, and concluded that a steeper seat angle improves run and combined cycle/run performance. Over these distances they saw improvements of 3-4 minutes, most of which was in the first 5km of the run. Surprised me, actually. Cheers Steve Dr Steve Pells Roslin Institute Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS United Kingdom stevie at holyrood dot ed dot ac dot uk

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How is a tri-bike more inclined to go straighter than any other bicycle?  If there is any difference I would say it is marginal at best.  In addition it is not all that hard to ride in a straight line with a litttle practice. Just ride some rollers a few times and you will find that it will do wonders for your ability to ride in straight lines.

I don’t agree with the way it’s worded below, but I do agree that a TT/Tri bike should be inherently more stable than a "typical" road bike.  This is to prevent the endless series of "S’s" that people tend to ride when they slap a pair of aerobars on a road bike.  You know that ones… On my bikes, the TT/Tri frames have a head tube angle that’s 1 to 1.5 degrees shallower than the road bike.  This increases the trail, which makes the steering more inherently stable – but without making it ponderous. Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW, the steeper seat tube is only one characteristic of a tri bike that may help you go faster. A well designed tri bike will have much more directionality in the steering than a road bike so that less rider steering imput is needed and you can ride in the most straight line (= shortest distance). Hugh Enox

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How is a tri-bike more inclined to go straighter than any other bicycle?  If there is any difference I would say it is marginal at best.  In addition it is not all that hard to ride in a straight line with a litttle practice. Just ride some rollers a few times and you will find that it will do wonders for your ability to ride in straight lines.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW, the steeper seat tube is only one characteristic of a tri bike that may help you go faster. A well designed tri bike will have much more directionality in the steering than a road bike so that less rider steering imput is needed and you can ride in the most straight line (= shortest distance). Hugh Enox

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Go to PubMed and do a lit search using terms such as "seat tube angle", "triathlon", etc. I’m sure you’ll turn up at least a dozen articles. Can’t tell you offhand what they show, though…not something that is really of interest to me. What I wouldn’t do is rely upon anecdotal reports, or information from somebody who stands to benefit from convincing you that steeper is better…. Andy Coggan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there any independent research that proves the biomechanical effectiveness of steep frame geometry? In as much as the same runner runs faster after doing a TT on a steep framed bike than after the same ride on a conventional bike? Phil

Response:

Is there any independent research that proves the biomechanical effectiveness of steep frame geometry?

I know of no such research but surely you could do your own research by moving your saddle all the way forward and seeing if you obtain any performance difference. You could also get a "forward" seat post that would allow you to mimic the steeper seat tube that most dedicated tri bikes have. BTW, the steeper seat tube is only one characteristic of a tri bike that may help you go faster. A well designed tri bike will have much more directionality in the steering than a road bike so that less rider steering imput is needed and you can ride in the most straight line (= shortest distance). Hugh Enox

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Is there any independent research that proves the biomechanical effectiveness of steep frame geometry? In as much as the same runner runs faster after doing a TT on a steep framed bike than after the same ride on a conventional bike? Phil

Response:

In as much as the same runner runs faster after doing a TT on a steep framed bike than after the same ride on a conventional bike? Phil

  The theory is that the steeper tube angle saves the hamstrings for the run. Other than empirical evidence based upon claims by some tri people I am not aware how much serious study this has received.  I did read one study over the net by an exercise physiologist that claimed the tri bikes really work. Have no idea for the url. Lots of good Iron Man competitors are on either kind of bike. In another note I watched the world championship cycle time trials from Portugal on TV. This was on a 19 km fast road course and not a little roundy-round track. The two fastest guys were just about even. One was on a dedicated trials bike configuration and the other a convential road bike configuration. Makes me wonder how much all this new bike technology is just b.s. From what I have noticed, at least at the age grouper level, a lot of people are reverting back to road bikes. If you want a bike for any other reason other than to just run a triathlon then I would stick to a road bike.

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Question:

I have just been lurking here for a while but this post made me want to jump in quickly and tell everyone how educational and inspiring this newsgroup is for me.  Like the writer below, I am into weight-lifting and especially aerobics, a combo that helped me drop 70 pounds over the past 18 months (220 to 150–less than I weighed in eighth grade over 10 years ago ). However, I have always wanted to run but worried that I wouldn’t be able to hack it.  Some of my students (I teach high school and have a few track team members in my classes) gave me a lot of hints and encouragement (and took the time to be running partners) and I am now up to some times and speeds I am actually sort of proud of.  I love running more than I ever dreamed I would (when I even dared to dream that my fat self would ever be out there with those joggers and runners) and look forward to getting better and better over time as it becomes a part of my fitness routine and thus my life.  I check this newsgroup almost daily–I love all of the helpful information and advice and reports from different running events.  Every bit of it pushes me to be a better runner, especially since summer is coming up and I plan to use the time off to focus on my time and speed.  You are all to be commended for participating in a newsgroup that doesn’t degenerate into regular flame wars or name-calling or petulance but is actually HELPING a lot of people, myself included–my thanks go out to you. MJ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a long time weight-lifter and aerobics enthusiast. Never had run much til started on treadmill a bit over the last few years. Got to liking the treadmill workouts…..and when invited last year to do a 5K run I said why not. I did "well" the first two miles and then as it was near 90 degrees the last third of the run….I wilted a bit and finished in 26:20. I ran my second 5K two months ago in another 5K race and finished with no walking this time, in 25:10. Another 5K run coming up in 8 days. This will be the first one I have trained for. I have been going to the track and running 2-4 miles 4-5 times a week and really enjoying it ! I finish the "run" and feel so relaxed and positive ! The next day I get up and can’t wait to hit the track again. Fighting a bit to try not to overdo it ! Getting excited about the race ! As an aside…I have seen a lady…it turns out she is 72 years old….running all over the city for the past few years, others tell me they have seen her for at least 5 years running. I told her how I see her running all over the place and asked her how far she runs. Turns out she says she runs 25 miles everyday .. 7 days a week !! And I tend to believe her ! Next time I see her I have to ask her what sort of times it takes to run 25. DIdn’t think anyone could do those distances at that frequency …. My best wishes to everyone on newsgroup….I have enjoyed the group muchly…. John

Response:

I am a long time weight-lifter and aerobics enthusiast. Never had run much til started on treadmill a bit over the last few years. Got to liking the treadmill workouts…..and when invited last year to do a 5K run I said why not. I did "well" the first two miles and then as it was near 90 degrees the last third of the run….I wilted a bit and finished in 26:20. I ran my second 5K two months ago in another 5K race and finished with no walking this time, in 25:10. Another 5K run coming up in 8 days. This will be the first one I have trained for. I have been going to the track and running 2-4 miles 4-5 times a week and really enjoying it ! I finish the "run" and feel so relaxed and positive ! The next day I get up and can’t wait to hit the track again. Fighting a bit to try not to overdo it ! Getting excited about the race ! As an aside…I have seen a lady…it turns out she is 72 years old….running all over the city for the past few years, others tell me they have seen her for at least 5 years running. I told her how I see her running all over the place and asked her how far she runs. Turns out she says she runs 25 miles everyday .. 7 days a week !! And I tend to believe her ! Next time I see her I have to ask her what sort of times it takes to run 25. DIdn’t think anyone could do those distances at that frequency …. My best wishes to everyone on newsgroup….I have enjoyed the group muchly…. John

Response:

Welcome to running and to this news group. Hey, your times for your first races are actually quite nice. (It’s taken me a few years to get down to 25:02 5K, just as a comparison if you like). SO ENJOY YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS! have a nice run. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a long time weight-lifter and aerobics enthusiast. Never had run much til started on treadmill a bit over the last few years. Got to liking the treadmill workouts…..and when invited last year to do a 5K run I said why not. I did "well" the first two miles and then as it was near 90 degrees the last third of the run….I wilted a bit and finished in 26:20. I ran my second 5K two months ago in another 5K race and finished with no walking this time, in 25:10. Another 5K run coming up in 8 days. This will be the first one I have trained for. I have been going to the track and running 2-4 miles 4-5 times a week and really enjoying it ! I finish the "run" and feel so relaxed and positive ! The next day I get up and can’t wait to hit the track again. Fighting a bit to try not to overdo it ! Getting excited about the race ! As an aside…I have seen a lady…it turns out she is 72 years old….running all over the city for the past few years, others tell me they have seen her for at least 5 years running. I told her how I see her running all over the place and asked her how far she runs. Turns out she says she runs 25 miles everyday .. 7 days a week !! And I tend to believe her ! Next time I see her I have to ask her what sort of times it takes to run 25. DIdn’t think anyone could do those distances at that frequency …. My best wishes to everyone on newsgroup….I have enjoyed the group muchly…. John

– Ed Prochak Magic Interface, Ltd. ORACLE services 440-498-3702

Response:

I am a long time weight-lifter and aerobics enthusiast. Never had run much til started on treadmill a bit over the last few years. Got to liking the treadmill workouts…..and when invited last year to do a 5K run I said why not. I did "well" the first two miles and then as it was near 90 degrees the last third of the run….I wilted a bit and finished in 26:20. I ran my second 5K two months ago in another 5K race and finished with no walking this time, in 25:10. Another 5K run coming up in 8 days. This will be the first one I have trained for. I have been going to the track and running 2-4 miles 4-5 times a week and really enjoying it ! I finish the "run" and feel so relaxed and positive ! The next day I get up and can’t wait to hit the track again. Fighting a bit to try not to overdo it ! Getting excited about the race !

It sounds like we hooked another one, guys. Who gets the trophy? <g <snip I told her how I see her running all over the place and asked her how far she runs. Turns out she says she runs 25 miles everyday .. 7 days a week !! And I tend to believe her ! Next time I see her I have to ask her what sort of times it takes to run 25. DIdn’t think anyone could do those distances at that frequency ….

Good instincts.  I think it’s safe to say that no one – and I mean NO ONE,  runs 25 miles a day, 7 days a week. Not the Kenyans, not the Ethiopians, no one. Especially not 72 year old ladies. I correspond frequently with a 60+ lady that does the Ironman regularly and is the current  Olympic Distance Triathlon World Champion in her Age Group.  I can assure you she doesn’t do that kind of mileage. Perhaps the lady mis-spoke or you mis-heard. Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 16:17:03

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She runs 25 miles everyday?  I’m sorry but that’s kinda hard to believe but I guess if she really does do it then good for her. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a long time weight-lifter and aerobics enthusiast. Never had run much til started on treadmill a bit over the last few years. Got to liking the treadmill workouts…..and when invited last year to do a 5K run I said why not. I did "well" the first two miles and then as it was near 90 degrees the last third of the run….I wilted a bit and finished in 26:20. I ran my second 5K two months ago in another 5K race and finished with no walking this time, in 25:10. Another 5K run coming up in 8 days. This will be the first one I have trained for. I have been going to the track and running 2-4 miles 4-5 times a week and really enjoying it ! I finish the "run" and feel so relaxed and positive ! The next day I get up and can’t wait to hit the track again. Fighting a bit to try not to overdo it ! Getting excited about the race ! As an aside…I have seen a lady…it turns out she is 72 years old….running all over the city for the past few years, others tell me they have seen her for at least 5 years running. I told her how I see her running all over the place and asked her how far she runs. Turns out she says she runs 25 miles everyday .. 7 days a week !! And I tend to believe her ! Next time I see her I have to ask her what sort of times it takes to run 25. DIdn’t think anyone could do those distances at that frequency …. My best wishes to everyone on newsgroup….I have enjoyed the group muchly…. John

Response:

She runs 25 miles everyday?  I’m sorry but that’s kinda hard to believe but I guess if she really does do it then good for her.

I wonder what she does for a long run.    -Phil

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have just been lurking here for a while but this post made me want to jump in quickly and tell everyone how educational and inspiring this newsgroup is for me.  Like the writer below, I am into weight-lifting and especially aerobics, a combo that helped me drop 70 pounds over the past 18 months (220 to 150–less than I weighed in eighth grade over 10 years ago ). However, I have always wanted to run but worried that I wouldn’t be able to hack it.  Some of my students (I teach high school and have a few track team members in my classes) gave me a lot of hints and encouragement (and took the time to be running partners) and I am now up to some times and speeds I am actually sort of proud of.  I love running more than I ever dreamed I would (when I even dared to dream that my fat self would ever be out there with those joggers and runners) and look forward to getting better and better over time as it becomes a part of my fitness routine and thus my life.  I check this newsgroup almost daily–I love all of the helpful information and advice and reports from different running events.  Every bit of it pushes me to be a better runner, especially since summer is coming up and I plan to use the time off to focus on my time and speed.  You are all to be commended for participating in a newsgroup that doesn’t degenerate into regular flame wars or name-calling or petulance but is actually HELPING a lot of people, myself included–my thanks go out to you. MJ

Good to hear from you all…..I’ll followup on the lady runner…..and GO MJ !! I ran 4 1/2 miles tonight at the track…mmmmhh…felt good !! John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

In article I think it’s safe to say that no one – and I mean NO ONE,  runs 25 miles a day, 7 days a week

That’s 175 miles a week, which has been exceeded by many people, doing two-a-days.  The old lady didn’t say she did a 25-mile run every day, only that she ran 25 miles a day, which is very different.  Assuming she’s retired, she could do five before breakfast, then run to her friend’s house for lunch, walk the dog in the afternoon, etc.

Response:

In article I think it’s safe to say that no one – and I mean NO ONE,  runs 25 miles a day, 7 days a week That’s 175 miles a week, which has been exceeded by many people, doing two-a-days.  The old lady didn’t say she did a 25-mile run every day, only that she ran 25 miles a day, which is very different.  

Sorry,  but I’ll stand by my statement. You say "many" people exceed 175 miles a week?   I can offer this. Matt Mahoney started a "Million Mile Run" a while back and has been tracking the mileage of a number of ultra runners at: http://www.he.net/~mmahoney/ultra/million.htm The top 5 runners there have gone over 10,000 miles in 28 months. They range from 10,683 (Steve Morrow) to 12,428 (Bill Misner). For Bill that’s an average of 443 miles a month, or 15 miles a day. For Steve it’s about 360 a month or 12 a day.  Now, if these elite ultra runners "only" average that, just what chance do you think there is that a 72 yr old lady is besting them by 10 miles a day? Or that "many" runners do, too? Your evidence? Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 16:17:03

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Question:

I heard over the weekend that the Texas Hill Country Triathlon would once again be cancelled this year. Can anybody out there substantiate this rumor? I hope it’s not true. Thanks, Tad Smith

Response:

Sorry to have to confirm, but the Texas Hill Country Triathlon is off this year.  I heard from a very reliable source at the Austin Triathletes club meeting held yesterday. Hope for next year, Cyndi I heard over the weekend that the Texas Hill Country Triathlon would

once again be cancelled this year. Can anybody out there substantiate this rumor? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I hope it’s not true. Thanks, Tad Smith

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Question:

Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a billiard table? Clayton Fopp Australia

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;Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a ;billiard table? ;Clayton Fopp ;Australia Just remember if you get one from the US that it will not be the same as  a real one[ UK type ],the tables here  are really pool tables which are smaller and have bigger  pockets which makes every thing much easier. Hey perhaps thats what you want.                       mjh

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;Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a ;billiard table? ;Clayton Fopp ;Australia Just remember if you get one from the US that it will not be the same as  a real one[ UK type ],the tables here  are really pool tables which are smaller and have bigger  pockets which makes every thing much easier. Hey perhaps thats what you want.                      mjh

The man didn’t ask about a pool table.  He asked about a billiard table, which has no pockets, large or small. Rick Marinelli

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;Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a ;billiard table? ;Clayton Fopp ;Australia Well after many e mails to various members of the group ,i think I have finally convinced those who think that billiard tables have no pockets ,otherwise .  A good starting point is the web site which at the onset states that billiard tables have six pockets . http"//www.bca-pool.com/history/hist.htm  just dont let the word pool fool you. after all isnt pool called pocket billiards ?

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ;Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a ;billiard table? ;Clayton Fopp ;Australia Just remember if you get one from the US that it will not be the same as  a real one[ UK type ],the tables here  are really pool tables which are smaller and have bigger  pockets which makes every thing much easier. Hey perhaps thats what you want.                      mjh The man didn’t ask about a pool table.  He asked about a billiard table, which has no pockets, large or small.

Don’t know about any plans for a billiard/pool table, but the UK does not have a monopoly on big tables with little pockets.  The smaller pockets are typically used for snooker, and can indeed be found here in the U.S.  I’ve seen quality billiard/pool tables ranging in length from 6 feet to 12 feet, with the longer tables for snooker.  If you’ve ever played snooker, it’s a rather difficult game as compared to the familiar 8-ball played on a 6-8 foot table.  And, billiard table to indeed have pockets, although carom tables (or carom billiards) do not. If building a table, you’ll probably get the most enjoyment out of an 8-footer.  Plus, most good pool halls in the U.S. use 8-footers (although there is one here in Cincy that has 12-foot snooker tables), so why not get good on an 8-footer then go out and win some $$$ to pay for new tools. — Marty Miller Proprietor of The Triathlete’s Web http://w3.one.net/~triweb

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Depending on where you live the terms billiard, pool, pocket, and snooker will mean different things. For most Americans the following paragraphs will apply. The term billiard was used in the early days of the sport to describe most any table (one with pockets or without). But today it usually follows the description below (exceptions may apply). There are 3 different table styles. They are 1) Pocket Billiard table(pool), 2) Snooker table, and 3) Billiard table (no pockets, sometimes called a carom billiards table) A Pocket billiard table has 6 pockets and for regualtion purposes the length must be exactly twice its width.  There are very specific measurements for the pocket dimensions (See Billard Congress of America rulebook). The ball diameter is 2 1/4" (or for rec.ww – 9/4"). The height of the table surface is another important mesaurement (Again See BCA rulebook).  This is the table most Americans have played on and can range from 3×6, 3.5×7, 4×8, pro 4×8, 4.5×9 and 5×10.  Please observe that the mesaurements for table size do not correspond to the inside rail to rail dimension but to a more general overall size. Example: a 4.5′x9′ table will actually meaure 48"x96" from inside rail to rail. The outside measurement will be closer to 4.5′x9′. A snooker table once again its length is twice its width. I have seen tables range in size from 4.5×9 to 5×10 and the English regulation size of 6×12′.  The balls are usually of smaller diameter than "pool" tables and are 2 1/8".  Therefore the pockets are smaller and have a different cushion profile (A more rounded entrance to the pocket). The height is sometimes taller that a pocket billiard table and the cloth used is different. (It has a nap to it) A billiard table generally denotes a table that is 5×10′ in size with no pockets, just 4 rails. There are many different "billiard" games that can be played on a "billiard" table, just as there are many games played on a "pool" table. One game is called 3 cushion billards which uses balls that are signifigantly larger and heavier than the 2 1/4" pool table balls. Sorry for the length of this post but it seemed necessary.   If one is interested in making a table, how about building a multi purpose table.  The idea would be to build a 5×10′ table with 4×4 timbers for the supports and a 3 piece slate with pocket drops cut out in the slate. Then build different rails that bolt thru the slate.  One set of rails would be for billiards, one set for pool, and another set for Snooker.  This would be the ultimate setup IMHO. Brunswick used to manufacture such a table. It was 5×10 and you could buy billiard, pocket billiard, or snooker rails for it. When bolting on the carom rails the 90 degree corners would cover the pocket drops. There are also companies that sell pocket inserts. These are short pieces of rail that are inserted into the pocket openings so that a 6 pocket table can now be used as a carom table with no pockets. One note:  Carom billiards might be a better term to use in the place of just "billiard". There are several www sites that might help you plan such a table. Try the BCA (Billiard Congress of America) site at www.bca-pool.com/hist.htm for Michael Shamos’ quick history of the sport. And try http://www.bca-pool.com/rules/bca_spec.htm for BCA equipment specs. I havent found plans for a table on the www. If you cant find exact plans, try looking at some of the heavier duty tables such as Brunswick Gold Crown III or the Connelly pro table made form oak. These will give you good ideas on how to support the slate and form the legs.  After writing all of this I would rather buy a high quality table than make my own. But it would definitely be a fun project. For slate and pocket sources check out billiard magazines such as Pool&Billiard or Billiards Digest (USA Printed Mags) Jeff Kavanaugh

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Years ago there was a published plan for a pool table in Popular Mechanics magazine.  (Might be mechanix illustrated…changed the name for a brief period)  Anyway, I’ve seen "Reader Project" photos in the editorials, and they looked quite nice. Basically it consisted of 4 massive looking hollow columns, a thick, supportive top, a slate (or concrete…an option) top, then felt…the rest was basically simple decorative woodworking.  It looked very doable, by the home woodworker.      – Chuck Knight

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Question:

– Does the mt. bike course actually go off the road to any significant extent?  I rather suspect that it just goes along a fire road that’s rougher than a paved street, but is that indeed the case?  Skippy is concerned that she doesn’t actually have any off-road handling skills. I’ve told her that I’m 99% certain she won’t need them, but can someone out there corroborate?

The 1995 Wildflower Mt. Bike Sprint Course was my first triathlon, so I have some idea where this is going.  I have to say that I was rather stunned to find out that I really didn’t need a mt. bike.  The offroad portion of the course is a downhill pseudo-single track with no technical difficulties. After that there is a slight (1/4 mile) flat stretch before getting back on the road.  Do that twice (2 loops) and you’re done. – How hilly is the bike course?  She’s a little concerned about this, but determined to try, no matter what.  I have an idea where the uphills are on this one and don’t think they’re too bad.  But then again, I’ve been a cyclist for 12 years, and it’s gotta be Beach Hill before I’ll admit it’s REALLY bad!

The course itself has only one major hill that you see twice, probably at mile 4 and 8.  It is nothing that a mt. bike can’t handle.  It might slow you down a little, but shouldn’t provide too much of a challenge. – Last question:  Is the off-road stuff significant enough that we should put her knobbies back on her bike?  We set her up with a pair of Fat Boys, but should we throw the others back on for this event?

No, the offroad isn’t bad at all.  If you could put some cyclo-cross tires on a road bike, I think you would have a major step up on the competition. I hope this helps a little bit. Christian — | Ch is i       uda                                      tur                  | |   r  t a  Palo                         i   c m        u   e                 | |         n          5 9-9  9  Fr m  h  m nd  o e  t   f                      | |                     4   26     o  t e          s  he                        |

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All right, fellow tri-heads, I need your help.  The famous Skippy has decided to go for the early-season gusto!  Instead of waiting for her triathlon baptism-by-fire at the Danskin San Jose in July  (August??), she wants to take the plunge and do the Mountain Bike Sprint tri at Wildflower in May.  She’s just a trifle concerned, however, about the bike course, and I myself did not know the answers to her questions.  Therefore, I put them before you: – Does the mt. bike course actually go off the road to any significant extent?  I rather suspect that it just goes along a fire road that’s rougher than a paved street, but is that indeed the case?  Skippy is concerned that she doesn’t actually have any off-road handling skills. I’ve told her that I’m 99% certain she won’t need them, but can someone out there corroborate? – How hilly is the bike course?  She’s a little concerned about this, but determined to try, no matter what.  I have an idea where the uphills are on this one and don’t think they’re too bad.  But then again, I’ve been a cyclist for 12 years, and it’s gotta be Beach Hill before I’ll admit it’s REALLY bad! – Last question:  Is the off-road stuff significant enough that we should put her knobbies back on her bike?  We set her up with a pair of Fat Boys, but should we throw the others back on for this event? Thanks for any help y’all might be able to offer.  Oh, and one last question:  Is there anyone out there who will be at Wildflower but not racing on the Long Course/Sprint day?  I’ll be somewhere out on the bike course throughout Skippy’s entire event, so I won’t be there to "capture the moments" on either film or videotape.  I’d be eternally grateful if there’s anyone out there who would be able to take a shot or two for me. Thanks for any/all help!                                 – o                      - o                                  -  /_                 – /_         `            ,        -  /-           – __/          ` /o__      -  (())    (())      -           /      

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Question:

I’ll be there, Bruce. -Charlie

: Are there any RSTers out there coming to Columbia this weekend?. : Bruce Platt

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If the weather along the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard holds out, we’ll be venturing down that way. See you there (blizzards not withstanding!)- Mike Llerandi

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I’ll be there ready to schmooze Rick

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Are there any RSTers out there coming to Columbia this weekend?. Bruce Platt

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 Are there any RSTers out there coming to Columbia this weekend?.  Bruce Platt

I’m not coming…  I’m already here! See you at the conference. |       Ray Plotecia            | |       Image Control           |

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I’ll be there, if my flight from Florida can make it up to the cold north.  Z Tom Ziebart – Exclusive Sports Marketing

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I’ll be there!   What’s this I hear about the Polar Bear Triathlon scheduled for Sunday a.m.? Fred Sommer CFT/Sommer Sports

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I’ll be there!   What’s this I hear about the Polar Bear Triathlon scheduled for Sunday a.m.? Fred Sommer CFT/Sommer Sports

If we can break thru the ice, it follows the same course as the columbia tri. Bring your snowshoes and your studded bike tires. Bruce Platt

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I’ll be there!   What’s this I hear about the Polar Bear Triathlon scheduled for Sunday a.m.? Fred Sommer CFT/Sommer Sports If we can break thru the ice, it follows the same course as the columbia tri. Bring your snowshoes and your studded bike tires.

If you don’t break through the ice, you can have a pretty incredible "swim" split.  (Clydesdales at a BIG disadvantage on this one)                                         — John — John Walker        Jackson & Tull Chartered Engineers, Seabrook, Maryland WWW:   http://rs733.gsfc.nasa.gov/~jntjw/

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Question:

Yes, the trainer can really suck.  But it doesn’t have to be completely miserable.  Here are some techniques I’ve developed to cope in the wintertime:

I second that  motion.  I would rather freeze for an hour outside than ride indoors, and thats what generally happens to me. I don’t think there is anything I can do to prevent damage to the bike, though (from repeated soakings with salty sweat), and this is a little worrisome. I only ride my old bike on the trainer, not my racing bike.  If you have an older bike that you use for foul-weather cycling, you might want to use it on the trainer.

I have the same problem  (i.e. sweating)  I purchased an Eclipse Sweatstop from Nashbar to help save the bike.  It looks like a long thin triangle made of terry cloth that attaches to the handle bars and seatpost. It effectively catches the sweat that would normally hit the bike.  It cost around 10 bucks.  Chilling the room down helps reduce the sweat factor, and keeps your head from getting light and hot.   What I really ought to do though, is buy a fan.  The problem is that no one sells them in the winter.

I find myself doing the same thing. (closing doors & opening windows)  I also use a small 6 inch fan that has a base with a clamp.  I attach it to the handle bars, plug it it and voila instant headwind.  I have also found that putting in old ironman tapes on the vcr helps but time seems to still pass slooowly.  Guess I need the stimulus of watching out for cars back and other cyclist ahead to try and run down to make the ride truely enjoyable! Good training. Mike

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I don’t do workouts, I do tests, MAF tests. First a warm-up. Then, … I guess you get the picture. Concentrating on keeping a constant heart rate and good form makes time fly. Yesterday, 1hour 30minutes just disapered. Before, I used to be quite ….. off after 1 hour. After a couple of sessions, I’ve discovered that I’m most efficient when pedaling 80rpm, at least at 140bpm. The fan I’m using is capable of delivering up to 50m^3/min. This seems to be enough for me not to sweat, quite nice. Jarek

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I don’t do workouts, I do tests, MAF tests. First a warm-up. Concentrating on keeping a constant heart rate and good form makes time fly. Yesterday, 1hour 30minutes just disappeared. Before, I used to be quite ….. off after 1 hour. Watching the cyclo-cross championships at eurosport probably helped too. Doing test also enables you to see if you are developing or not; and I am  . This surely is another boost in morale. After a couple of sessions, I discovered that I’m most efficient when pedaling 80rpm, at least at 140bpm. The fan I’m using is capable of delivering up to 50m^3/min. This is enough for me not to sweat, quite nice. Jarek (I hope you see this posting only once, If not, I apologize)

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Hi, I live in Ontario (Canada) so we have long and cold winters here so I train quite a bit indoors. I prefer to use rollers than a windtrainer. I also have two fans attached to them to increase the ressistance. The rollers have the advantage that you have to control your bike. They also improve your bike handling and force to pedal smoothly, otherwise you fall off. The disadvantage is, that watching TV is out of question you have to focus on your riding. For the sweat I use a sweat guard, I got it at Bike Nashbar, but I think you can find them just about anywhere. I also always use my HRM. Normally I put on a CD and warm up for two or three songs. Then I go one song hard and one song easy, at the end I cool down for two to three songs. These workouts usually last about a hour and are quite hard. Another I like to do is after warm up a 20km time trial, as hard as I can. This one is quite tough. Jo

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Does anyone know how to put in good LSD on the trainer, without going out

of your mind with boredom? The longest I’ve ever done is 95 minutes, and I was pretty much a basket case after it. I’ve got no trouble with intervals, but LSD seems to be hell (especially on the butt and brain) on the trainer. Suggestions?

I’ve always relied on TV sports…NFL games on Sundays would get me through December and January when I lived in Virginia, and then after an early Feb lull college hoops heating up would carry me through until things warmed up enough outside that I wasn’t going out for a 2 hr ride wanting to quit the whole way. Rental Video movies also help.  Not the "Cycle the Alps" stuff, but good, entertaining movies you wanted to watch anyway. Of course, I just did the most sensible thing for my interests and cold- weather wimpiness – moved back to Texas.  The temp for the "frost yer fanny duathalon" yesterday – 60 degrees.  Brrr…

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Yes, the trainer can really suck.  But it doesn’t have to be completely miserable.  Here are some techniques I’ve developed to cope in the wintertime: The thing that bothers me the most is that I sweat buckets.  After a while I just have sweat pouring off of me, soaking all my clothes.  This starts to feel really gross, so I try to wear as little clothing as possible. You can lose the shirt, socks, and gloves.  Unfortunately, your shorts and underwear will still be sopping wet, and this is unpleasant.  I also keep a towel within reach, so I can dry off when it gets bad.  I put towels out all over the floor underneath my bike so that I don’t stain the carpet.  I don’t think there is anything I can do to prevent damage to the bike, though (from repeated soakings with salty sweat), and this is a little worrisome. I only ride my old bike on the trainer, not my racing bike.  If you have an older bike that you use for foul-weather cycling, you might want to use it on the trainer. I have a small room in my apartment that I set up as my training room in the winter.  About an hour before riding I turn off the heat and open up all the windows in the room (with the door closed).  Chilling the room down helps reduce the sweat factor, and keeps your head from getting light and hot.  I live in D.C., and it hasn’t been all that cold lately. Sometimes I wish it were colder, so I could get my training room even chillier.  What I really ought to do though, is buy a fan.  The problem is that no one sells them in the winter. One advantage of riding indoors is that you can have all the food and water you want within easy reach.  I tend to drink much more indoors, simply because it is easier to do so.  I have a little table next to the bike which I keep lined with water bottles.  I have found that I feel much better and stronger if I drink massive amounts of water, leading me to suspect that I haven’t been drinking enough on my outdoor rides.   I address the boredom factor buy watching movies while I ride.  This usually works well, provided that I rent good ones.  I find that action, war, western, thriller, gangster movies work well.  Lately, though, I’ve been watching film versions of Shakespeare as the first film of my "double feature" rides (long slow distance).  The advantage here is that the language is so rich that you have to really focus on it, and not on how sore your butt is.   On all rides I use a HR monitor, and I couldn’t imagine doing without it. It lets you just pick a pace and then stay with it, without having to think about it.  This way you can devote your attention to the movie.  I try to think of these rides not as workouts (although they definitely are) but as chances to watch movies.  I don’t worry about form or position or the efficiency of my pedal stroke.  Its midwinter, and there will be plenty of time for that later.  Right now you just have to build a good base.   I’ve heard of some people reading while on the trainer (Jeff Devlin said so in Triathlete), but I don’t think this is for me.  I think I would sweat all over the book. This is probably a more detailed reply than you were looking for, but I guess my answer to how to improve LSD workouts on the trainer is to figure out how to be maximally comfortable, at any distance.  I used to really hate indoor LSD workouts too, but now I don’t mind them.  I can go up to fours hours now.  Proper thermoregulation may be the biggest difference.   Good Luck, Steve

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Question:

Dave, Maybe you have a bio-mechanical problem? My right foot tends to tense-up. This causes the right calf to tense. The result is lack of power in the toe-off. The other leg tries to compensate, etc. Either calf winds up sore, or pulled. This senario is caused by the right foot trying to hold the knee in alignment. (muscles under too much strain tend to cramp.) The lower leg should be relaxed in-between strides, and consistant between both legs. My problem took some years to develop and longer for me to understand. As an aside, stretching can cause pulls. Try not stretching and jog slowly to warm up muscles. Also massaging before you start works.

| So here’s the story, my potassum and electrolyte intake is sufficient and well | balanced, I warm up before I stretch and I stretch properly.  And I still get | cramps, but only on my left calf muscle.  This has really affected my perfor- | ance as a bi/du/triathlete, and is really becoming a pain in the younowhat. | So my question is how to prevent such cramps from happening, and does anybody | have the same problem? | | Tx | Dave

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So here’s the story, my potassum and electrolyte intake is sufficient and well balanced, I warm up before I stretch and I stretch properly.  And I still get cramps, but only on my left calf muscle.  This has really affected my perfor- ance as a bi/du/triathlete, and is really becoming a pain in the younowhat. So my question is how to prevent such cramps from happening, and does anybody have the same problem? Tx Dave

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