Question:

buy the Buffered Salt Tablets ( Thermotabs) at your Drug Store- I think I usually pay about 4-5 bucks for a bottle of 100. no shipping involved- this is a common item for most larger drug stores to have in the pharmacy

Response:

You can get Lava Salts from Squeezy/Lava which have been designed with the triathlete in mind at www.squeezy.com or www.hy-trition.com jeremy b – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m training for an IM, and would like to try out salt tablets.  Where can I find them?  I’ve checked bike/tri stores, bike/tri catalogs and no one seems to have them.

Response:

I get mine here: http://www.hy-trition.com/ Lava Salts are $12/100 and the Lava people ship very quickly. Kelly Vinglen fly: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m training for an IM, and would like to try out salt tablets.  Where can I find them?  I’ve checked bike/tri stores, bike/tri catalogs and no one seems to have them. TIA

Response:

I’m training for an IM, and would like to try out salt tablets.  Where can I find them?  I’ve checked bike/tri stores, bike/tri catalogs and no one seems to have them. TIA

Response:

Drug store. If they don’t have them in stock, they will order them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m training for an IM, and would like to try out salt tablets.  Where can I find them?  I’ve checked bike/tri stores, bike/tri catalogs and no one seems to have them. TIA

Response:

Question:

I’m a new amateur to triathlons, last season I competed in 3 sprints.  My general fitness is massively improved but I’m struggling to improve times, I seem to have a natural cadence, stride, stroke that I find very difficult to speed up.  I intend to do an olympic distance tri this season after a couple of sprints.  Any suggestions of where I can get a good training plan? Alastair

Response:

There are links to various coaches on the RST site. I use Rod Cedaro and I also know Coach Troy has an excellent rep. URL’s in my sig. Philip Squire Websites www.recsporttriathlon.com http://w1.116.telia.com/%7Eu11602093/intro.htm

| I’m a new amateur to triathlons, last season I competed in 3 sprints.  My | general fitness is massively improved but I’m struggling to improve times, I | seem to have a natural cadence, stride, stroke that I find very difficult to | speed up.  I intend to do an olympic distance tri this season after a couple | of sprints.  Any suggestions of where I can get a good training plan? | | Alastair | |

Response:

Check out www.teamsheeper.com (ecoaching) or www.asimba.com I’m a new amateur to triathlons, last season I competed in 3 sprints.  My general fitness is massively improved but I’m struggling to improve times, I seem to have a natural cadence, stride, stroke that I find very difficult to speed up.  I intend to do an olympic distance tri this season after a couple of sprints.  Any suggestions of where I can get a good training plan? Alastair

Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

I love Lance and his comeback and attitude, but did anyone notice that the really big names in cycling did not make the tour this year?  Riis, Jalabert, Pantani, Ullrich…to name a few.

Anyone who ever who any race only did so because the faster person didn’t show up.  The fact is that in this TDF Lance Armstrong is the strongest rider.  I don’t see the point in Monday morning quarterbacking. Gary McMurtrey Inland Inferno Triathlon Club http://members.aol.com/infernotri/home.htm

Response:

A few questions: Aren’t the French always crying or being rude about something?  This seems to fall right in line. snip I love Lance and his comeback and attitude, but did anyone notice that the really big names in cycling did not make the tour this year?  Riis, Jalabert, Pantani, Ullrich…to name a few.  Seems that the big race this year was the Giro d’Italia.

Maybe they didn’t come because of drug testing? ( Like LVL not defending his IM title)  We will never know.  But it does not diminish Lance’s acomplishment due to their absence. Bruce Platt

Response:

A few questions: Aren’t the French always crying or being rude about something?  This seems to fall right in line. If everyone is being tested randomly and knows the testing procedures, than it’s an equal playing field…Is that not fair? Is Lance Armstrong NOT THE MAN!!??? answer is no, he is the man! Why do most lazy Americans get excited about a bunch of geysers going around a track in a car and then ridicule a true race of endurance like the TDF? I love Lance and his comeback and attitude, but did anyone notice that the really big names in cycling did not make the tour this year?  Riis, Jalabert, Pantani, Ullrich…to name a few.  Seems that the big race this year was the Giro d’Italia. Why do you park a car in driveway and drive a car on a parkway?

Response:

Ah, Lance. Kicking butt, taking names, and making everyone forget about the drug scandal. yes and no, there have been MANY suspicious remarks levelled against Armstrong and his performances possilby being performance enhanced. see:

I’d say there have been many jealous remarks by the French tabloids, which have even less credibility than US tabloids.  An American is leading their race. What else would you expect? Bike racing like it ought to be. And doing it with those slow, stupid American domestiques, heh, heh. i hope this is sarcasm, but even if it is sarcasm, it’s in extremely poor taste and gives proof to the truth of your signature line.

Good grief, Mark. Chill out. You have to be the ONLY person that didn’t chuckle at Rick’s dig at the European teams.  The USPS team is doing a great job and everyone knows it. It’s got to be killing the Euro’s, especially Cofidis,who wrote him off. Lance has been pretty open that he’s out to get some revenge. <snip Rick "First time I’ve followed the Tour in years" Denney yes, it shows.

What’s with the attitude?  Rick expressed thoughts similar to what a lot of us are feeling. Pride in Lance’s and the USPS team’s accomplishments and belief that he’s clean. If you’ve got some secret pipeline to the "real" truth, call one of the French tabloids. I’m sure they’ll be interested. Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Ironman Canada ‘98 16:17:03 Great Floridian ‘99, 15:??:??

Response:

They haven’t — Lance Armstrong’s just given the media something more interesting to talk about. — MB.

And the scandal from last year at least made all the teams aware of the rules so that they would moderate their use to avoid getting caught. If everyone is using drugs to the same moderate level, then the athletes are competitive again, and probably no more drugged than other professional athletes in other sports. That’s probably as good as we can expect. Rick "I didn’t say drugs were eliminated, just taken out of the picture" Denney

Response:

Ah, Lance. Kicking butt, taking names, and making everyone forget about the drug scandal. yes and no, there have been MANY suspicious remarks levelled against Armstrong and his performances possilby being performance enhanced. see: from www.procycling.com

[Lots of stereotypical French anti-American crap snipped] Well, the French are rather known for being crybabies when their guys get trounced in their own race, don’t you think? And do you think their guys aren’t getting the same kind of help? So, why can’t they keep up? why does the euro press always think that a strong performance must be from doping?  If everyone or almost everyoned dopes- you still will see a strong performance from the superbly genetically gifted doped cyclist.  Conversely, if nobody doped (hah!) there would be the same superbly genetically gifted clean rider crushing all around. Armstrong almost died from cancer and is winning the Tour.  How many other riders could come back like he has- whether they’re doped to the gills or not?…  Probably zero.

That’s my point–everyone is using their drugs consistently, because the testing standards are now well known and understood. That’s the main result of last year’s scandal. And Lance’s genetic gifts and whatever enhancement he receives (probably from a hypobaric chamber) don’t diminish his accomplishments in my view. He is demonstrating extreme dedication, training, ability to suffer, and heart, whatever else he might also be demonstrating. He’s also doing it on his own terms, without the usual pro-athlete reticence. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -check out the following link about lance’s doctors and their opinion of Lance and doping possiblities/inuendo http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/sports/story.html?s=v/ap/1999… Bike racing like it ought to be. And doing it with those slow, stupid American domestiques, heh, heh. i hope this is sarcasm, but even if it is sarcasm, it’s in extremely poor taste and gives proof to the truth of your signature line.  the usps team (all americans except one in this years TdeF) has been winning the team title every single day this year, and just lost it today.  The american domestiques are doing an incredible job supporting and positioning lance so far.

Well, good taste is in the mind of the beholder. It definitely was sarcasm. I was lampooning the general opinion of American cyclists by Europeans in general, and the French in particular. I was also highlighting the point that not only was an American taking the race by storm, but doing so with an American team. That’s unprecedented. Remember the Olympics in ‘96, when Armstrong was victim to a mafia of European riders, and the Americans not strong enough to give him the team support he needed? Sure, he may have been suffering from the cancer even then, but I saw the race, and the Americans were not strong enough to enforce a winning strategy, especially against united Europeans. We’ve come a long way just since then, and that’s nothing compared to where we’ve come in the 20 years I’ve been involved in cycling. Kinda funny how the G.C. changes when the drugs are taken out of the picture. a very naive picture.  why would doping be taken out of the picture, when the really strong performance enhancers or undetectable with current drug testing methods- EPO, synthetic hemoglobin, and Human Growth Hormone- to name a few.

See my other posts. I didn’t say drugs were eliminated, just leveled to take them out of the competitiveness equation. But, doggone it, I’m getting tired of this ultra-cynical approach to everything. If everyone is taking drugs to a simialar extent, then Lance is still kicking butt on his own terms. I don’t think you are disagreeing with that, but I really can’t tell. Rick "First time I’ve followed the Tour in years" Denney yes, it shows.

Oh, please spare me. Rick "Remembering the days of Jock Boyer (only American in the Tour) and our pride at finishing 32nd or some such" Denney

Response:

FWIW, what are the odds that Lance, having survived cancer, which must alter one’s perspective on life dramatically, putting a screwy chemical in his body for the purposes of improving his cycling.  I’m not totally sure but I think that there’s no one really knows what long term use of EPO does.  Maybe cancer, seems like every weird drug/chemical out there causes it.  It just seems too unlikely that a cancer survivor would deem cycling, albeit professional cycling, important enough to risk any further damage to his health.  Just my 2 cents, Paul

Then again, there was that question they asked some number of athletes at the 84 Olympics — "if there was a drug that would ensure your winning a gold medal but would kill you in x number of years would you take it." From what I heard, 90% (?) of the respondants said yes. I would think a professional cyclist would answwer in the same manner concerning the winning of the TDF.

Response:

FWIW, what are the odds that Lance, having survived cancer, which must alter one’s perspective on life dramatically, putting a screwy chemical in his body for the purposes of improving his cycling.  I’m not totally sure but I think that there’s no one really knows what long term use of EPO does.  Maybe cancer, seems like every weird drug/chemical out there causes it.  It just seems too unlikely that a cancer survivor would deem cycling, albeit professional cycling, important enough to risk any further damage to his health.  Just my 2 cents, Paul

Response:

why does the euro press always think that a strong performance must be from doping?  If everyone or almost everyoned dopes- you still will see a strong performance from the superbly genetically gifted doped cyclist.  Conversely, if nobody doped (hah!) there would be the same superbly genetically gifted clean rider crushing all around. Armstrong almost died from cancer and is winning the Tour.  How many other riders could come back like he has- whether they’re doped to the gills or not?…  Probably zero.

And why is it that if an American is leading the TdF that all drugs must have miraculously disappeared? The chances as you yourself said are low. The recovery of Lance Armstrong is indeed incredible, but there is no need here to throw away a little bit of our protective cynicism on the strength of a fairytale ending (hopefully). I will cheer if Armstrong wins, but I won’t chime in with all the rest who proclaim that the TdF and cycling has been reborn because of it. I am already cringing at the thought of a made for TV special  showing the victory over adversity ( the deal must be in the offing, mustn’t it?) Andy A Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Kinda funny how the G.C. changes when the drugs are taken out of the picture.

see this article about chris horner a pro american cyclist who has been racing in europe for the past three years.  before he left, he was racing only in the united states and was one of the winningest riders for the 1996 us cycling road season… at the time many accusations from the cycling community were speculating his probably usage of illegal performance enhancements… http://www.uniontrib.com/news/uniontrib/sat/sports/news_1s10horner.html Mark Linenberg                                        o                       __o            </_                       <           __/    /o_           (()) (())           /

Response:

Lance is THE MAN!  The guy was given a 50% chance of surviving testicular cancer less than three years ago.  Now he is in the process of literally saving cycling’s image around the world, not to mention winning the Tour, God willing. I had the pleasure of witnessing Lance’s dominating performance in the USPRO championship in Philadelphia, 1993.  The man rode like he was posessed, breaking away from the pack on the Manayunk Wall on the final lap.  It looked like the peloton was standing still when he took off.  I saw the same look of determination on his face today in the time trial.  Barring an accident, this Tour is his. I don’t know what story is more incredible, though:  Lance coming back from cancer or Greg Lemond returning to win two Tours after getting shot in the chest in a hunting accident! Go Lance!!! Greg

Response:

just an update on the julich accident.  espn says only bruised ribs,  no broken bones. todd sandiego

Response:

I don’t know what story is more incredible, though:  Lance coming back from cancer or Greg Lemond returning to win two Tours after getting shot in the chest in a hunting accident!

Chest? I was told he was shot in his buttocks! Dunno what’s worse.. JeeWee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.990711164901.19303A- I just checked the news group again after awile off and I noticed the ARMSTRONG messages.  I don’t know anything about his history, but incase you are interested he kicked some serious ass today in the TT.  He won the stage by 58" putting him into overall first by 2′20"

It was amazing, the way he kicked Olano’s butt yesterday. *nodnod* If Lance survives the attacks in the Alps (that is, if the UPS team is strong enough to help him defend the jersey) there’s a good chance he’ll get the overall win. on a worse note, Julich crashed on a descnet and suffered at least a broken hip

Not that bad, happily! Nothing broken, just severely bruised. He had to retreat from the race, however. He crashed at a putative 90 kph (56 mph), I am not envying him… Cheers Jee "bored stiff on the Tour rest day" Wee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

So what’s the scoop on Julich?  I read on ESPN that it was just bruised, but the official Le Tour web site said x-rays confirm bruised ribs and a broken hip. Inquiring mind want to know. See ya, Brad just an update on the julich accident.  espn says only bruised ribs,  no broken bones. todd sandiego

– * Brad Speierman * If you plant ice, * your gonna harvest wind. – Robert Hunter

Response:

So what’s the scoop on Julich?  I read on ESPN that it was just bruised, but the official Le Tour web site said x-rays confirm bruised ribs and a broken hip. Inquiring mind want to know.

According to direct quotes from Julich, he has a broken left arm and three broken ribs. He slid into a curb after slipping out in a tight turn that he admits he took too fast. The first diagnosis in the local hospital declared no broken bones, but a review in a better and bigger hospital the next day revised the error. Ah, Lance. Kicking butt, taking names, and making everyone forget about the drug scandal. Bike racing like it ought to be. And doing it with those slow, stupid American domestiques, heh, heh. Kinda funny how the G.C. changes when the drugs are taken out of the picture. Rick "First time I’ve followed the Tour in years" Denney

Response:

Kinda funny how the G.C. changes when the drugs are taken out of the picture. Rick "First time I’ve followed the Tour in years" Denney

I haven’t been paying close attention to the Tour, but I was wondering how have the drugs been taken out of the picture?  Do they have different testing rules this year? Randy

Response:

They haven’t — Lance Armstrong’s just given the media something more interesting to talk about. — MB.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kinda funny how the G.C. changes when the drugs are taken out of the picture. Rick "First time I’ve followed the Tour in years" Denney I haven’t been paying close attention to the Tour, but I was wondering how have the drugs been taken out of the picture?  Do they have different testing rules this year? Randy

Response:

Ah, Lance. Kicking butt, taking names, and making everyone forget about the drug scandal.

yes and no, there have been MANY suspicious remarks levelled against Armstrong and his performances possilby being performance enhanced. see: from www.procycling.com Hanging over the race today were guarded suggestions in the French press that the American’s incredible comeback has been aided by performance enhancing drugs. In L’Equipe, the sports newspaper owned by the same corporation as the Tour itself, the headline on the story about Armstrong’s win in Sestriere was headed “At two speeds,” a common metaphor in France for the effects of EPO. Liberation, the leftist daily, said the stage showed that “sports medicine continues its great march forward.” While the main headline in France Soir was a play on the French words for stupefying and doping.  No one, however, offered any director evidence or made any direct charges. Armstrong was quick to reject the suggestions. “I got here through hard work,” he said after the stage. why does the euro press always think that a strong performance must be from doping?  If everyone or almost everyoned dopes- you still will see a strong performance from the superbly genetically gifted doped cyclist.  Conversely, if nobody doped (hah!) there would be the same superbly genetically gifted clean rider crushing all around. Armstrong almost died from cancer and is winning the Tour.  How many other riders could come back like he has- whether they’re doped to the gills or not?…  Probably zero. check out the following link about lance’s doctors and their opinion of Lance and doping possiblities/inuendo http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/sports/story.html?s=v/ap/1999… Bike racing like it ought to be. And doing it with those slow, stupid American domestiques, heh, heh.

i hope this is sarcasm, but even if it is sarcasm, it’s in extremely poor taste and gives proof to the truth of your signature line.  the usps team (all americans except one in this years TdeF) has been winning the team title every single day this year, and just lost it today.  The american domestiques are doing an incredible job supporting and positioning lance so far. Kinda funny how the G.C. changes when the drugs are taken out of the picture.

a very naive picture.  why would doping be taken out of the picture, when the really strong performance enhancers or undetectable with current drug testing methods- EPO, synthetic hemoglobin, and Human Growth Hormone- to name a few. Rick "First time I’ve followed the Tour in years" Denney

yes, it shows. Mark Linenberg                                        o                       __o            </_                       <           __/    /o_           (()) (())           /

Response:

I have a friend in Austin who used to bag groceries with him when they were teenagers. He said he could tell Lance’s heart just wasn’t in the grocery store business. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lance is THE MAN!  The guy was given a 50% chance of surviving testicular cancer less than three years ago.  Now he is in the process of literally saving cycling’s image around the world, not to mention winning the Tour, God willing. I had the pleasure of witnessing Lance’s dominating performance in the USPRO championship in Philadelphia, 1993.  The man rode like he was posessed, breaking away from the pack on the Manayunk Wall on the final lap.  It looked like the peloton was standing still when he took off.  I saw the same look of determination on his face today in the time trial.  Barring an accident, this Tour is his. I don’t know what story is more incredible, though:  Lance coming back from cancer or Greg Lemond returning to win two Tours after getting shot in the chest in a hunting accident! Go Lance!!! Greg

Response:

I just checked the news group again after awile off and I noticed the ARMSTRONG messages.  I don’t know anything about his history, but incase you are interested he kicked some serious ass today in the TT.  He won the stage by 58" putting him into overall first by 2′20" While I’m at it the UPS team increased their lead today to 1′51" on a worse note, Julich crashed on a descnet and suffered at least a broken hip  happy training,    Ben

Response:

Question:

As a triathlete and a tri-business, we feel that one of the best deals available right now is the Softride Windshear. The 97/98 Softride Windshear retailed for $1300 but is available as a new, complete bike, ready-to-ride/race for $875.00 shipped. We have sold many of these to both new athletes getting into the sport as well as seasoned athletes to use as a training or second bike that recognized that this was a good buy. The components are Shimana RX100 which are a step below the 105’s but it is a great entry level bike, especially given your budget. This would leave you with monies left over to buy the other things needed for racing. If you are interested or have questions about this bike, the Softride bikes or even the Quintana Roo bikes that we do carry, please feel free to ask.  We also have one of the largest selections of wetsuits, both Quintana Roo and Ironman Wetsuits (the largest on the Gulf Coast Area!). Thanks, Mark Tarver http://Tri-Specialties.com phone:318-625-9224 All, Looking for a novice tri-bike or what I should be looking for in a tri-bike. Looking to spend less than $1000.  All advice would be greate. As well, any good site/spots to purchase decent training rollers?  What kind is best?  Less than $300 Thanks Stephen B. finisher of 2 tri’s

Response:

All, Looking for a novice tri-bike or what I should be looking for in a tri-bike. Looking to spend less than $1000.  All advice would be greate. As well, any good site/spots to purchase decent training rollers?  What kind is best?  Less than $300 Thanks Stephen B. finisher of 2 tri’s

Response:

Question:

Hi,  Has anyone one run the Hudson Mohawk marathon in Albany N.Y? What’s it like? Also do they have a web site? Thanks…Bernard

The Mohawk Runners have a web site at: http://www.crisny.org/users/hmrrc/races.htm. Ken Ken Parker Runner’s Web www.runnersweb.com/running.html A running and triathlon resource site.

Response:

Hi,   Has anyone one run the Hudson Mohawk marathon in Albany N.Y? What’s it like? Also do they have a web site? Thanks…Bernard

Response:

Question:

Iron Pete says… She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal?

A co-worker roadie told me that certain time trial rules (USCF, others perhaps) are considering standardizing TT bikes to the diamond frame with other restrictions regarding components (aero bars, perhaps wheels).  I have not heard and have no idea if this will ever spill over to triathlon.  It might be nice, however, to level the playing field and take equipment advantages (read: money) out of the equation. Doug Fuller

Response:

You are right — recumbent bikes are illegal under USAT rules. Your comment on speed is interesting; I’ve NEVER been passed by a recumbent bike. The position looks aero enough, but seems like it would be tricky to handle. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was admiring a fellow triathlete’s Softride after a recent race, and mentioned that I had been considering purchasing such a bike.  She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? Thanks, Dave I haven’t heard that beam bikes are illegal, and I don’t believe it’ll ever happen either. Triathlon is considered one of  the "cutting edge" sports and have definitely pushed bikes along technologically since 1980. Without triathlon, aerobars and maybe even clipless pedals wouldn’t be invented. The UCI has been stubbornly traditional all these years, so I wouldn’t expect any inventiveness coming out of road cycling. Plus, all this inventiveness drives the triathlon economy. All the research on wheels and bikes, trying to make them faster, plus all the triathletes willing to buy this technology, however expensive it is, will keep the money flowing in this sport. With the growing list of beam bikes out there this past year, making beam bikes illegal just wouldn’t happen.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   | IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING" So where does this leave recumbents?  Will we ever see them in Tri’s?  I have friends who tell me they are faster then uprights except perhaps on the up hills.  I don’t know enough about them to know if they would be competative or not, but I do have to admit that I’ve never seen one in a tri and I assume its because they are not permitted. Bob

Response:

Iron Pete says… I was admiring a fellow triathlete’s Softride after a recent race, and mentioned that I had been considering purchasing such a bike.  She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? this sport. With the growing list of beam bikes out there this past year, making beam bikes illegal just wouldn’t happen.

I vaguely remember some discussion about this time last year amongst the local tri community which went along the lines that Beam bikes are now illegal for elite competitors (in drafting races) because of certain (unspecified at the time) safety issues.  Basically similar reasons to why the elite dont carry full aerobars either. Whether this is carried through to age-groupers only the individual countries Tri federations can say.   AJ — If swimming is so good for the figure, explain whales Simon Haigh Illawarra Triathlon Club – Australia http://members.xoom.com/ajsimon/index.htm   <—- New web site      

Response:

You are right — recumbent bikes are illegal under USAT rules.

I saw a recumbent in a race for the first time in Madison last weekend.  Oddly enough, it was a USAT sanctioned race, so I thought it was kinda odd, since I knew they weren’t legal.  I guess all they do is keep you out of the prizes, not out of the race. Ric

Response:

I have to disagree w/ money being the primary culprit.  Titinium, Easton, etc diamond shaped bikes are typically as expensive as the beam bikes when built by a reputible builder, and especially so when built custom.  What about the Hotta’s???  Kestrel has a classic diamond shape (although not seat tube) and they are carbon fiber.  What about that?  And to a pro triathlete or pro bike team, what is the cost of the bike when compared to the cost of travel and support?  I know that I spent as much on my wheels as I did on my frame, acutally more because I bought them new and the frame was used.  How much would the Cubs pay to have Sammy S. next year?  Maybe they shouldn’t pay that much be cause it wouldn’t be fair to the other teams. Just food for thought…ed m. Spend it if you’ve got it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Iron Pete says… She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? A co-worker roadie told me that certain time trial rules (USCF, others perhaps) are considering standardizing TT bikes to the diamond frame with other restrictions regarding components (aero bars, perhaps wheels).  I have not heard and have no idea if this will ever spill over to triathlon.  It might be nice, however, to level the playing field and take equipment advantages (read: money) out of the equation. Doug Fuller

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was admiring a fellow triathlete’s Softride after a recent race, and mentioned that I had been considering purchasing such a bike.  She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? Thanks, Dave I haven’t heard that beam bikes are illegal, and I don’t believe it’ll ever happen either. Triathlon is considered one of  the "cutting edge" sports and have definitely pushed bikes along technologically since 1980. Without triathlon, aerobars and maybe even clipless pedals wouldn’t be invented. The UCI has been stubbornly traditional all these years, so I wouldn’t expect any inventiveness coming out of road cycling. Plus, all this inventiveness drives the triathlon economy. All the research on wheels and bikes, trying to make them faster, plus all the triathletes willing to buy this technology, however expensive it is, will keep the money flowing in this sport. With the growing list of beam bikes out there this past year, making beam bikes illegal just wouldn’t happen.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   | IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

So where does this leave recumbents?  Will we ever see them in Tri’s?  I have friends who tell me they are faster then uprights except perhaps on the up hills.  I don’t know enough about them to know if they would be competative or not, but I do have to admit that I’ve never seen one in a tri and I assume its because they are not permitted.   Bob

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I believe this will be true for UCI-sanctioned road racing and probably the USCF will follow suit like the Spinaci issue.  The UCI is requiring a double-diamond frame.  I doubt triathlons are affected since you guys don’t care about the UCI or USCF…. Don (A road racer who thinks Triathletes are pretty amazing athletes and who might try a duathlon someday if he can teach his legs to unkink…the heart is willing but the flesh is weak…) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was admiring a fellow triathlete’s Softride after a recent race, and mentioned that I had been considering purchasing such a bike.  She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? Thanks, Dave

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  I would argue that it is entirely possible they could be made illegal by the itu, what with the safety issues involved in equipment in drafting style races. Perhaps it could be argued that there are more "pointy" things on a beam bike that could injure athletes in a pack collision.  Still, if you are anything like me, I tend to get a new bike every 5 years or so simply because I love having the latest thing, so go ahead and get a beam if you want one.. you can use it now, and you can always train on it if it is made illegal. -liu But with a version of our sport in the Olympics, who’s to say they won’t change the rules there to make the equipment more accessible for all nations? With the trickle down to "our" level? this sport. With the growing list of beam bikes out there this past year, making beam bikes illegal just wouldn’t happen.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   | IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

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But with a version of our sport in the Olympics, who’s to say they won’t change the rules there to make the equipment more accessible for all nations? With the trickle down to "our" level?

I sincerely believe that this fear is fostered by the UCI’s decision to illegalize beam bikes. The ITU may follow suit someday, but realistically, triathlon has been at the forefront of pushing the technological envelope. It just seems unrealistic that beam bikes would disappear from tri unless something superior came along. — Clay T

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But with a version of our sport in the Olympics, who’s to say they won’t change the rules there to make the equipment more accessible for all nations? With the trickle down to "our" level? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – this sport. With the growing list of beam bikes out there this past year, making beam bikes illegal just wouldn’t happen.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

Response:

I was admiring a fellow triathlete’s Softride after a recent race, and mentioned that I had been considering purchasing such a bike.  She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? Thanks, Dave

I haven’t heard that beam bikes are illegal, and I don’t believe it’ll ever happen either. Triathlon is considered one of  the "cutting edge" sports and have definitely pushed bikes along technologically since 1980. Without triathlon, aerobars and maybe even clipless pedals wouldn’t be invented. The UCI has been stubbornly traditional all these years, so I wouldn’t expect any inventiveness coming out of road cycling. Plus, all this inventiveness drives the triathlon economy. All the research on wheels and bikes, trying to make them faster, plus all the triathletes willing to buy this technology, however expensive it is, will keep the money flowing in this sport. With the growing list of beam bikes out there this past year, making beam bikes illegal just wouldn’t happen.                           |26      | IMC’96: 10:36:37          |   Fe   |   IMC’97: 10:42:53          |        |                  "THE BEST ELEMENT OF RACING"

Response:

I was admiring a fellow triathlete’s Softride after a recent race, and mentioned that I had been considering purchasing such a bike.  She told me that she wouldn’t buy a beam bike because they’d be illegal in triahtlon starting in 2000.  Is this true?  Who made such a rule? Why?  What kind of bikes will be legal? Thanks, Dave

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Question:

How do you get faster in it? You get conditioned over time by running in it. This is where I disagree with people who avoid the heat by running early morning or late night.

I think i may have to change too. My neighbors are getting pissed at me runnning after dark. Guess they get a little sick of seeing me running at night. One asked me "whats with all this running at night?" another looked angry and whistled at me to stop I’m thinking he would have started something with me. Another neighbor let both her dogs out and they chased me all the way back home. I think there are trying to tell me something? Its a shame they don’t understand how much I love running. I was wondering if any of the other night runners have similiar problems with dogs barking and waking the whole neighborhood? Jeff BA CS www.geocities.com/Nashville/2794/index.html

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Hey I have the same problem, I live in Georgia. Have you run lately? The humidity has been quite low. Today the humidity was down to 47%.

Last Tuesday we had that thick humidity again.  The air did not move at all.  Very thick. Instead of running 5, I could only run/walk 3.  The next day, everything was fine again, and I ran a quick, easy 5. GK Gary W. Kopycinski             Ecclesia Semper Reformanda! http://homepage.interaccess.com/~frodojrr      Team OS/2!           Shire Enterprises FAX * (708) 755-0915 * Bart’s Blackboard (7F10) : "I will not sell school property."

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Yea, exactly the same here. I could only walk 3 miles. The neighbors were watching me wipe the sweat off my brow and telling me I was gonna have a heat stroke out there. But hey every day seems hot here to me? But I have just been walking 2miles during the day. And running sprints at night 1 mile rest etc. run another mile. I don’t know if this will help me but at least i’m moving a little. By the way it hasn’t rained here in almost 8 weeks. We are close to loosing all of our drinking water. Jeff BA CS www.geocities.com/Nashville/2794/index.html

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Hey I have the same problem, I live in Georgia. I usually run 5K with no problem here late in the afternoon at dark or right before dark. Anytime before I will run a mile, walk maybe 7 yards stretch, run a mile walk a few yards etc. The humity is horrible here and sweat? Don’t even ask you will be soaked in sweat….. My problem is how can you increase your speed in this weather pick up the rythem i mean?

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Hey I have the same problem, I live in Georgia.

Have you run lately? The humidity has been quite low. Today the humidity was down to 47%.    -Phil

Response:

Have you run lately? The humidity has been quite low. Today the humidity was down to 47%.   -Phil

Yea, I ran 2 days ago. It was pretty hot it seemed. I guess because I was born in VA and the humidity is less there? Jeff BA CS www.geocities.com/Nashville/2794/index.html

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Hey I have the same problem, I live in Georgia. Have you run lately? The humidity has been quite low. Today the humidity was down to 47%.   -Phil

It was nice while it lasted, but the heat and humidity came back this weekend – big time. At least over on Jekyll Island. I did a 5 mile race Friday night (actually more of a jog) and then the Olympic distance Triathlon Sunday. It wasn’t pretty. And this week looks worse! To bradpit98: How do you get faster in it? You get conditioned over time by running in it. This is where I disagree with people who avoid the heat by running early morning or late night. You’ll never get used to it by avoiding it. If your gonna race in it – train in it. <If you’re not racing in it – ignore the above Mike "TriBop" Tennent Remove "nospam." for email reply WebRunner Running Page http://www.webrunner.com/webrun/running/running.html My Model Railroad Page http://www.webrunner.com/webrun/srr/

Response:

This is where I disagree with people who avoid the heat by running early morning or late night. You’ll never get used to it by avoiding it. If your gonna race in it – train in it.

I’ll have to agree with what you are saying. I have been running a little more lately during the day. It seems to be easier. I’m not running far just mile sprints in the heat. It seems easier to walk fast and get used to the heat here in Middle GA. Guess you just got to get used to it. Sounds like you did well in your run. I lived in VA for a while moved to GA when I was like 10 i’m close to 30 now. Guess one day i’ll get used to the humidity? Jeff BA CS www.geocities.com/Nashville/2794/index.html

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Question:

Can somebody tell me when the June 18th Big Bear Triathlon will be broadcated on ESPN? Best Regards, Fory Horio

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They announced just before the race start that it would be aired July 17 and 19.

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Question:

Joy Leuttner won the Danskin San Jose Triathlon today, by 40 seconds (or so) over Lauren Alexander. Leuttner led by about 10 seconds out of the water, just under a minute coming off the bike, and just less than that at the end. A woman from Boulder was third, with Holly Nybo in fourth. I don’t want to scoop anyone’s post but suffice it to say that local favorite TriBaby was *well up* in the standings. The most interesting feature of the race was that all the pros were wearing full length wetsuits (water temp 70 degrees, air temp mid 80’s), while virtually none of the age group competitors were wearing wetsuits at all; quite the opposite from most triathlons. This year’s race had more than 1300 competitors (up from 900 last year) and was described by the announcer as the largest women’s triathlon ever held. — Steve Patt  Stevens Creek Software  The Athlete’s Diary & Bookstore  WWW: http://www.stevenscreek.com  FTP: ftp.stevenscreek.com  1-800-TA-DIARY

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   Hi, I’ve been lurking here for a while, so I finally decided to post something!!!  By the way, I also added myself to the RST directory.     Sorry if this is kina long, I get carried away with these tri things!    Danskin San Jose, my fourth tri,aka Sara doesn’t feel like a beginner anymore!! =)    June 30, another strangely hot San Jose day, following a week of bizarrely cold weather! Smog rating in the "unhealthful" zone. (Fortunately I didn’t read that until after the race!)    6:30 am, I get all my junk out of the car and begin the trek from the light rail station parking lot into Lake Almaden park.  This is good, I know what I’m doing this time since I was here for San Jose International a couple of weeks ago.  Get body mraked, and find my bike rack.      Wow, there are a lot of bike racks.  It turns out there are 1300 participants, the largest women’s tri ever!     Anyway, I set up all my stuff, and start checking out all of the transition entrances and exits.  I find Tricia (aka Tri-Baby) and Skippy, and hang out with them for a while.       Then I am into my wetsuit and headed for the lake to do a quick swim warm-up before the race starts.  The lake is warmer than it was a month age, and most people aren’t wearing wetsuits.  But I’m a wimp when it comes to cold water, and I like floating too!     So I don my beautiful neon orange swim cap (I’m in the second wave, wow, I like this all wonmen’s thing, I actually get to start at the front, so I don’t have to spend the enire race trailing in the back!)  Anyway, it’s into the lake for me, and I swim back and forth a bit.  The water feels good, it is already getting hot outside.    I little before 8 am they start the line up for the swim start.  The pro’s are the first wave, and us 20-24’s are the second.  All of us orange caps gather as the pro’s head into the water for their start.  listening to the talk around me, I start to feel like I might actually not be in the back for this race.  It sond to me like I actually have more experience than  alot of the other women!!    Anyway, at 8:05 we’re into the water and on our way for a 1/2 mile swim.  I start out on the side towards the back ’cause that’s where I always start.  But this time instead of other people passing over me, I am passing over people in front of me!!!!!  Pretty soon, a group breaks off in the front, and I am at the back of that group!  Since only the pro’s were in front of us, the swim isn’t too crowded.  Pretty soon I am scrambling up the beach, I check my watch, it’s just about 14 min since I started.      As I make my way through  the sand, I attempt to yank off my wetsuit and hit the lap button on my watch.  I am semi successful, I get out of my suit with not too much struggling, and I eventually do hit my lap button, so my splits aren’t exact, but at least there’s something!     I jog my way up to my bike, dust off my feet, jam on my socks and shoes, pull on my singlet with my number on it, put on my sunglasses and fasten on my helmit.  About 2 minutes after getting out of my wetsuit, I’m ready to go!!!     The transition area is huge, and we’re not allowed to ride in it, so I walk/jog my bike to the bike exit, and I’m off!  I spin it not oo hard at first so I can get myself adjusted, and I am already passing one person. I start to push it a bit harder, and i catch another biker.  Then it’s uphill!!!  I think I have gotten better at these uphill things in my 6 weeks since I got home from Houston, but I still have along way to go.       Yay, I’m at the top, now it’s only downhill or mostly flat for the rest of the course.  Wow, this downhill is pretty killer.  I seem to just keep accelerating.  Even behind my sunglasses, my eyes are starting to water from all the wind.  i don’t know if I have ever gone this fast before! (After the race i check my computer, and I hit 39 mph on that hill!)    On to a flat, slightly uphillish bit, then some more downhill and more flat.  A couple people pass me, some from the next wave, but I still pass another bike or two.  Just as I am heading back into the park, who should pass me, but Tri-Baby herself.  Ok, so she’s got 5 min on me now since she was in wave #3.    Transition two.  I have no idea how long this was since I didn’t get a chance to hit the buttons on my watch!!!  Park the bike and head out for the run.    Wow, only three miles and this race is over,  This sprint distance sure seems short after doing an international distance race a couple weeks ago!  Yikes, it’s getting hot out!! Luckily there is still some shade on the run trail, but not much.  Tricia comes up behind me and claims that I am going to whip her butt on this run.  No way, she just didn’t know exactly how slow I am when it comes to running.  I think I need alot more work on those track intervals.  I end up sticking it out about 5 seconds behind her, and I finsh the 5k in about 26:45.  Actually, for me that’s not bad. It’s the best pace I’ve done in a tri so far!    Total race time, 1:26:40 for 1/2 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike and 3.1 mile run.  And it feels good to be finishing before the majority of the race!    To top off a good weekend, I made a new biking PR on my way to work on monday, shaving 2:30 off my old best time.  And it’s also nice that when you’re teaching gymnastics it doesn’t really matter if you’re a little sweaty to begin with!    3 days till I’m off to summer school, and I don’t think I am going to have email there =( so I guess this will be my last post until I get back to my computer in August!    Happy 4th of July everyone!    Just for fun…        Training so far in 96         swim 78.5 miles, bike 1056 miles, run 279 miles    =) Sara Gilliland       Palo Alto/Menlo Park, CA

Response:

Question:

I have a few questions about the 1993 Nationals held at Leon’s.  Since the 1994 version will be in (relatively nearby) Maryland, I’d like to know what I may be getting into. 1)  I assume that age-groupers (sound like fish) qualify for Worlds.  How many in each age group qualify? 2)  Does anyone have results in the 35-39 age group from 1993 Nationals?  I guess I’d need some description of the difficulty of the course to relate how I might fare. Unrelated questions: 1) What does it mean to be a "pro" triathlete?  Does it require talent, or is it an administrative thing? 2) Do pros have to qualify for Hawaii Ironman? Thanks for any info! Ken Lehner

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I have a few questions about the 1993 Nationals held at Leon’s.  Since the 1994 version will be in (relatively nearby) Maryland, I’d like to know what I may be getting into. 1)  I assume that age-groupers (sound like fish) qualify for Worlds.  How many in each age group qualify?

In 1991 it was the top 5, in 1992 it was the top 10, in 1993 it was the top 12. I think ITU allows each nation to send up to 12 people for each age group. For some reason Tri-Fed limited it to less in years past. 2)  Does anyone have results in the 35-39 age group from 1993 Nationals?  I guess I’d need some description of the difficulty of the course to relate how I might fare.

From memory, I think the top 12 times for 35-39 (men) ranged from 1:51+ to 1:58 at Leon’s, but the course was slower than in the past due to the weather (hot/windy).  In 1992 at NCC, the top 12 probably did sub-1:56 for 35-39. Unrelated questions: 1) What does it mean to be a "pro" triathlete?  Does it require talent, or is it an administrative thing?

Since Lauren just turned pro, we learned what the qualifications are, at least for Tri-Fed races.  If I remember correctly, you have to place in the top 3 (?) overall at three (?) races (Please don’t take this as gospel – maybe Andy remembers).  Then you need to pay an extra $125 per year for the pro dues.  By being pro, you usually get many perks that age- groupers don’t see.  For example, starting in the first wave, avoiding having to pick up your race packet at the expo, being eligible for the "big" pot of prize money for the top overall places.  Also, for certain international events, the pro committee picks up the tab.  Next year, a team of three men and three women will be sent to the Goodwill Games – qualifying will be done at the Orange County Triathlon. Some non-Tri-Fed races have pro waves.  You would have to check each individual race for their policy to race in the pro wave.  It is legal to race as an age-grouper at Tri-Fed races and pro at non-Tri-Fed races. 2) Do pros have to qualify for Hawaii Ironman?

Yes, although it is probably easier for them as the ratio of pros to pro spots is higher than the ratio of age-groupers to age-group spots.  The top finishers at Hawaii are probably automatically eligible for the next year’s race. Thanks for any info! Ken Lehner

Todd Jensen                                  o AT&T Bell Labs             ___^o_    __o    <| (708) 979-1254                     _ <_    

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   Todd wrote with regard to the Ironman: | Yes, although it is probably easier for them as the ratio of pros to pro spots | is higher than the ratio of age-groupers to age-group spots.  The top | finishers at Hawaii are probably automatically eligible for the next year’s race.    Top 15 get to come back.    Curt

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