Question:

Yeah, because looking like Rambo is always desireable when jogging.

Response:

Will  these belts hold the drinks that come in the foil 500ml packs with a straw sticking out the top? RedTC

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking for a drink carrying belt.  I saw one mentioned on this NG a while back but I cant remember its name. It held several little bottles, in harnesses around the belt (supposedly all balanced out for comfort) Does any one remember its name? ALSO will these belts hold the drinks that come in the foil 500ml packs with a straw sticking out the top? RedTC

Response:

Yes, although not as snug as the bottles that they come with. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Will  these belts hold the drinks that come in the foil 500ml packs with a straw sticking out the top? RedTC I am looking for a drink carrying belt.  I saw one mentioned on this NG a while back but I cant remember its name. It held several little bottles, in harnesses around the belt (supposedly all balanced out for comfort) Does any one remember its name? ALSO will these belts hold the drinks that come in the foil 500ml packs with a straw sticking out the top? RedTC

Response:

I am looking for a drink carrying belt.  I saw one mentioned on this NG a while back but I cant remember its name. It held several little bottles, in harnesses around the belt (supposedly all balanced out for comfort) Does any one remember its name? ALSO will these belts hold the drinks that come in the foil 500ml packs with a straw sticking out the top? RedTC

Response:

www.fuelbelt.com — Bernie Hall                 o                  __o        </_                    <      __/  /o__   (O)   (O)       /   __o ^^^^^                          ^    ^    2.4        112       26.2 Great Floridian Triathlon 2000~12:40.14 2001~12:30.36 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking for a drink carrying belt.  I saw one mentioned on this NG a while back but I cant remember its name. It held several little bottles, in harnesses around the belt (supposedly all balanced out for comfort) Does any one remember its name? ALSO will these belts hold the drinks that come in the foil 500ml packs with a straw sticking out the top? RedTC

Response:

Question:

Triathlon’s Olympic ‘oblivion’ Exclusive: Money, drugs and vote-rigging allegations threaten the Games’ newest sport with banishment and shame, says Steven Downes Sunday December 16, 2001 The Observer No sport has been expelled from the Olympic Games in the past 50 years, but triathlon – which was introduced only in Sydney last year – is on the brink of oblivion. Allegations of vote-rigging, financial irregularities and a failure to clamp down on drug cheats are all stacked against the swim-bike-run sport. Now, triathlon’s top official, Les McDonald, is accused of misleading Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee’s new president, in a desperate attempt to save the sport’s status, by suggesting that a lawsuit against triathlon’s world body had been settled. More… http://sport.guardian.co.uk/moresports/story/0,10330,619680,00.html Ken Webmaster Runner’s Web http://www.runnersweb.com/running.html A running and triathlon resource site

Response:

Webmaster wrote Triathlon’s Olympic ‘oblivion’

etc etc Mr S. Downes, if you are out there, please be so kind as to elucidate – did you by any chance place the germ of an idea in said IOC members minds, and pray tell, who were said members, or is that just speculative puffery? members, plural, or one? triboynz

Response:

Webmaster wrote Triathlon’s Olympic ‘oblivion’ etc etc Mr S. Downes, if you are out there, please be so kind as to elucidate – did you by any chance place the germ of an idea in said IOC members minds,

If so, I’d like to thank him.

Response:

"Brian Wagner" wrote…

| | Webmaster wrote | Triathlon’s Olympic ‘oblivion’ | etc etc | | Mr S. Downes, if you are out there, please be so kind as to elucidate – did | you by any chance place the germ of an idea in said IOC members minds, | | If so, I’d like to thank him. <Deep breath in… Ahhhhhhh, what’s that wonderful smell? Chaos, anarchy, rebellion. Mmmmm, smells good! stacy hills reston, va

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Brian Wagner" wrote… | | Webmaster wrote | Triathlon’s Olympic ‘oblivion’ | etc etc | | Mr S. Downes, if you are out there, please be so kind as to elucidate – did | you by any chance place the germ of an idea in said IOC members minds, | | If so, I’d like to thank him. <Deep breath in… Ahhhhhhh, what’s that wonderful smell? Chaos, anarchy, rebellion. Mmmmm, smells good!

It smells of victory. You just like playing me because it scares the hell out of the VC.

Response:

Question:

Hi,  Can someone point me in the right direction??? I want to get into Triathlon but don’t know where to start I currently do the following :- Cycle 24mile 4 – 5 time a week Run 8 Miles a week Aikido once a week. I do swim but not as often as I should, also I live in the UK (London) Thanks in advance James Mawson

Response:

You are well on your way to getting through your first sprint distance race already…first become comfortable with the race distances in each sport, then try combining then into "bricks,"  where you go from swim to bike, or bike to run without stopping. Try all three in one workout at a moderate pace to prove to yourself you can do it…after completeing that you’re better prepared for you first race than the majority! Consider hiring a coach like me to guide you through the process! Steve www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

You should have put AD before your post. Consider hiring a coach like me to guide you through the process! Steve

Most useless piece of info I’ve seen all day, are you Frank Day’s loev child? LW

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You are well on your way to getting through your first sprint distance race already…first become comfortable with the race distances in each sport, then try combining then into "bricks,"  where you go from swim to bike, or bike to run without stopping. Try all three in one workout at a moderate pace to prove to yourself you can do it…after completeing that you’re better prepared for you first race than the majority! Consider hiring a coach like me to guide you through the process! Steve www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

gradually pick up your running to 24 miles per week and bring up the swimming to 5000 meters for starters.  That will get you ready for sprints and even Olympic distance.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,  Can someone point me in the right direction??? I want to get into Triathlon but don’t know where to start I currently do the following :- Cycle 24mile 4 – 5 time a week Run 8 Miles a week Aikido once a week. I do swim but not as often as I should, also I live in the UK (London) Thanks in advance James Mawson

Response:

James – Head over to www.trinewbies.com  They have some information that you might find useful. Good luck, gordo

Response:

Hi,  Can someone point me in the right direction???

James You could do a lot worse than join a club. You don’t say where in London you are but there are clubs both "sarf" and "norf" ov the water, like. They will be able to help you out training wise. I want to get into Triathlon but don’t know where to start I currently do the following :- Cycle 24mile 4 – 5 time a week Run 8 Miles a week Aikido once a week. I do swim but not as often as I should, also I live in the UK (London)

Then your weak spot will be the swimming London isn’t exactly blessed with lots of pools in which to train. Most of the pools have one or two lanes for "length swimming" but even these vary greatly in their intrepetation of the term training . A tri club will, or should, have pool time a few times a week and should be able to get you going faster pretty quickly with the right technique input. Good luck and don’t hesitate to post your questions here, we were ALL beginners once. Phil (from but no longer in, London) Squire — Phil Squire www.recsporttriathlon.com The Online Home of RST – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks in advance James Mawson

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Question:

Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid of a cold?

Response:

REST ?!?!

Response:

    There have been several studies investigating the effects of severe cardiovascular exercise (i.e. triathlon, marathon) and the body’s immune system. The results are pretty conclusive- your immune system gets a severe kick in the groin in the few hours following a race.  Most of the damage, I believe, is due to an elevation in the body’s Cortisol hormone levels, which trigger a number of responses that can severely lower the immune response.  A couple of the studies have also shown that an intake of carbohydrates immediately after exercise will decrease the severity of the immune response being lowered.  Some people speculate that an intake of protein also helps as well (jogmate.com), because cortisol hormone is a powerful catabolizer that breaks down protein (i.e. your muscles, bones, nerves).  So the intake of protein may reverse some of the damage of protein breakdown.     Bottom line, eat like a pig and drink like a fish after races, preferrably something with lots of carbs and some protein.  What you could do now is treat your cold like you normally would- back off a little on the training, maybe take an extra day off, drink liquids like a fish (mostly water), good nights of sleep, and eat a good balanced diet.  If you have a HR monitor, shoot for the lower end of your HR range spectrum until you start feeling stronger.  Also, an intake of zinc may help (i.e. Coldeeze, zinc tablets).     Hope this helps. Mark Luttrell – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid of a cold?

Response:

Wait 10 days? If there were a way of "getting rid of a cold" I think the corporations would have packaged it and sold it by now. Phil

| Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid | of a cold?

Response:

If you catch it early, sudafed and twice hourly gargling with Listerine can keep the post nasal drip (usually the first stage from traveling down the repiratory tract, but if the sore throat has set in you just have to ride it out.  But then, that which does not kill you….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wait 10 days? If there were a way of "getting rid of a cold" I think the corporations would have packaged it and sold it by now. Phil | Race on Sunday and I have a bad cold today. Any suggestions on how to get rid | of a cold?

Response:

Question:

Ron: You are in luck. There are plenty of group workouts during the week that begin at the local Triathlon Store. Give Jerry Frostick a call at Final Kick Sports. (757) 481-3400. Cheers- Keith — Ironman Triathlon Wetsuits Website: www.ironmanwetsuits.com toll free order line: 800-897-6464 international calls: 804-288-6000

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll be in the Virginia Beach area next week on business and was curious if there are any scheduled runs or swims next Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday?  Also is there a good Tri Store in the area? Thanks Ron Fry

Response:

I’ll be in the Virginia Beach area next week on business and was curious if there are any scheduled runs or swims next Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday?  Also is there a good Tri Store in the area? Thanks Ron Fry

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Question:

(BTW, how *do* you spell anomolously? That sure doesn’t look right.) Rick "Anomalously" Denney

No, it’s ‘Enema lousy’ . . . oh wait, wrong NG . . . — TriathRon                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_ `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / (ASCII art blatantly plagiarized from TriBaby’s sig . . . )

Response:

    I went to Boulder last summer to work out for a couple of weeks and the thing that I noticed the most was that my heart rate at a specific pace was about 8-10 beats per minute higher than sea level. I don’t think that it affected my endurance nor did I feel like I was sucking for air. However, Boulder is only like 5000 ft and change, but when I went hiking up in Estes Park and got up to 10,000 or so I got headaches and fatigued easier.     I would just take it easy and not do anything real hardcore like mile repeats or something. Good luck. Marcus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi again, everyone.         I’ll be staying at 6000 ft for a week and don’t really want to stop training. Should I do anything different? I had assumed I’d just play it by ear, and expect things to be tougher, but if anyone has any words of wisdom, I’d greatly appreciate hearing them! — Amy Snyder Hale, GSR Dept of Geology & Planetary Science

Response:

In addition to slowing down, drink extra fluids since hypohydration headaches are common.  Also the air tends to be drier at altitude so you lose more water through respiration. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    I went to Boulder last summer to work out for a couple of weeks and the thing that I noticed the most was that my heart rate at a specific pace was about 8-10 beats per minute higher than sea level. I don’t think that it affected my endurance nor did I feel like I was sucking for air. However, Boulder is only like 5000 ft and change, but when I went hiking up in Estes Park and got up to 10,000 or so I got headaches and fatigued easier.    I would just take it easy and not do anything real hardcore like mile repeats or something. Good luck. Marcus Hi again, everyone.         I’ll be staying at 6000 ft for a week and don’t really want to stop training. Should I do anything different? I had assumed I’d just play it by ear, and expect things to be tougher, but if anyone has any words of wisdom, I’d greatly appreciate hearing them! — Amy Snyder Hale, GSR Dept of Geology & Planetary Science

Response:

Hi again, everyone.         I’ll be staying at 6000 ft for a week and don’t really want to stop training. Should I do anything different? I had assumed I’d just play it by ear, and expect things to be tougher, but if anyone has any words of wisdom, I’d greatly appreciate hearing them! — Amy Snyder Hale, GSR Dept of Geology & Planetary Science

Response:

The first and only time I’ve been at high altitude I felt like someone was sitting on me for a day or two.  The long, windy drive up the mountain and the changing air pressure nearly caused me to black out. It’s really awkward to get breathing hard and have the oxygen not be there.  After a day or two it wasn’t too bad, but all I can say is if you’re used to being at sea level don’t expect to train anywhere near as hard as you usually do. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi again, everyone.         I’ll be staying at 6000 ft for a week and don’t really want to stop training. Should I do anything different? I had assumed I’d just play it by ear, and expect things to be tougher, but if anyone has any words of wisdom, I’d greatly appreciate hearing them! — Amy Snyder Hale, GSR Dept of Geology & Planetary Science

Response:

I regularly go up to the local mountains for Mountain Bikeing as well as the annual Big Bear Triathlon. This is allat 7000+ feet. Yes, you will definitely get winded a bit easier, but it isn’t all that bad. Just remember to keep your heart rate about 5 beats lower than you would at sea level, and avoid going anaerobic, as it takes much longer to recover. You will also feel better the second day of activity at altitude as you begin to adjust a bit. Mark Rinaldi Inland Inferno Triathlon Club http://members.aol.com/infernotri/home.htm

Response:

Hi again, everyone.    I’ll be staying at 6000 ft for a week and don’t really want to stop training. Should I do anything different? I had assumed I’d just play it by ear, and expect things to be tougher, but if anyone has any words of wisdom, I’d greatly appreciate hearing them!

Listen to your heart and lungs and ignore your watch. But expect the unexpected. I have run happily in Albuquerque, elevation 5000 feet (in the Valley), and miserably in Denver, elevation 5300 feet. I even ran the La Luz trail, except for the boulder-scrambling parts, which climbs from 6000 feet to 10000 feet in eight miles. Rick "But I went slowly" Denney

Response:

Listen to your heart and lungs and ignore your watch.

I always do this anyway, since my heart rate is anomolously high for an "in shape" person. So far I think my lungs and heart do fine though I suppose if I ever want to really go to the next level I’ll have to buy a watch. Thanks for the advice! (BTW, how *do* you spell anomolously? That sure doesn’t look right.) — Amy Snyder Hale, GSR Dept of Geology & Planetary Science

Response:

(BTW, how *do* you spell anomolously? That sure doesn’t look right.)

Rick "Anomalously" Denney

Response:

Question:

At least you get your Triathlete ! Subscribed in April, still nothing quick $60.00AUD for no work. Lloyd

Response:

        I try to avoid being negative, but the writing in Triathlete magazine is pretty weak.  Outside and Bicycling magazines, otoh, are superb.         Dan T.

Response:

I disagree with your opinion. Mitch Thrower, Scott Tinley, Nancy Clark, and TJ Murphy to name a few write better training specific articles than I have ever read in any Outside or bicycle magazine. Mitch  Thrower has written some of the best triathlon editorial and insight ful articles anywhere in the sport. The latest Triathlete magazine has a beautiful story on IM and triathlon. The pictures are excellent also. Check it out. Alan Ley

Response:

I have to agree with Alan.  I’ve bought Triathlete for the better part of 12 years.  I’ve seen an issue here or there that was a little less than great, but for the most part, the mag is good month after month.  I especially love Scott Tinley’s slant on things (I usally turn to the the last page first..)  As far as I’m concerned, the mag rates on top, and I do read Outside, RW, and alot of the rest.                          Buck

Response:

i’m thinking of subscribing but I already have swim mag as well as runners world.

Response:

i’m thinking of subscribing but I already have swim mag as well as runners world.

I enjoy reading it, but Inside Triathlon is head and shoulders above it. — Rob Blomquist aka TriDog Seattle, WA http://www2.jps.net/~robbo

Response:

I get it….. it sucks!  Nowhere near the quality of Runner’s World, and getting worse with every issue.  I’m waiting to see teen heartthrobs on next month’s cover, or some such crap.  I get it because, frankly, it at least keeps me in touch, does have some good training articles, and maybe because I’m just not too bright.  I’d recommend bumming a used copy off somebody when they are done reading it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i’m thinking of subscribing but I already have swim mag as well as runners world.

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Question:

I need to replace my wetsuit and have seen lots of ads for Ironman wetsuits. Has anyone had any experience with them ? Richard Barrer   "Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, How did you enjoy the play ?"

Response:

A very nice wetsuit…I own a QR longjohn and an Ironman fullsuit…..both work great……. cheers Sam Km40….cheers!   (was ZippSam)

Response:

Get one. I did and is fast and works great. Luis Vargas — Anyone can be angry–that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the rigth time, for the right purpose, and in the right way–this is not easy. Aristotle

Response:

I need to replace my wetsuit and have seen lots of ads for Ironman wetsuits. Has anyone had any experience with them ? Richard Barrer   "Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, How did you enjoy the play ?"

        The first wetsuit I bought was an Ironman last summer.  I ordered it a month in advance of my first triathlon, and a week before had not received anything.  I contacted them, and they sent me a used suit from the previous year to use.  I got it a few days before the race, not enough time to really test it out.         Anyway, I used the suit for two races and felt terribly restricted by it.  I returned the suit under their warranty about three weeks after I had it.  Never got the actual suit I had payed for.  Then, about a month after returning it, I finally received my $350 + back in the mail.  Needless to say, I was very unhappy with it.         I bought a sleeveless QR suit this year, and it is a totally different story.  Received the suit 2-3 days after I ordered it from Steve’s, and have had no restriction problems and nothing but good races this year in it.  Granted, I am a much better swimmer this year than last, but my QR moves me up another notch.  Recommend it without any hesitation. Good luck   Win Balcavage

Response:

Question:

The file takes way to long to download.  With a 14.4 it still takes 30 minutes and you have to get the other software.  Has anyone downloaded this file?  Is it worth it? Jay

Response:

|Actually, if you think about it, his marketing strategy is not half |bad.  Every tri magazine has written articles about RST, so sponsors |are dying to get in.  This guy creates a magazine where his only Actually, his strategy of spamming will get him burnt.  I maintain a list of hostile internet advertisers.  Everyone that spams me gets a note to his postmaster and a spot on the list.  If he mentions sponsors by name, they go onto the list, too.  I typically boycott such products for one year minimum — forever if I think they should have known better or they made absolutely no attempt to be polite (eg. 2KB in a mailing). I’m not the only one that maintains a spammer blacklist — my ISP does also, as do several friends.  I don’t distribute the list, but I’ve been thinking about it.  If cold-sell e-mail becomes more of a problem, it will definitely motivate me enough to establish a public blacklist. BTW, if you complain to a postmaster, keep it short and be sure to include complete mail headers from the original spam.  Most postmasters really appreciate it if you trim a 2MB spam down to just the header plus a few lines; ie. don’t annoy the guy that can give you the most help.  ;-) Also, be very careful about mail-bombing (sending big e-mails to someone). It’s very easy to change the addresses in the headers so that your reply will go to some unsuspecting innocent instead of to the nasty spammer. – Tim Iverson

Response:

I hope the rest of you guys aren’t in love with this guy… I can’t believe he emailed his entire magazine to me?! Did anyone else get SPAMMED? I decided to waste connect time and mailed it back just so he knows how it feels… If this commercial SPAM annoys you too, please join with me to let this person know that it is not cool to pick names off a newsgroup for auto-mailing lists… especially to send HUGE unsolicited files.

I thought it was a good idea till i found out it would be e mailed , instead of available for download off his webpage. It tied up my machine for a while ,and the bad part was his font selection was hard to read and in some cases acrobat failed to translate , leaving me with a mostly unreadable magazine. TriRef

Response:

I thought it was a good idea till i found out it would be e mailed , instead of available for download off his webpage. It tied up my machine for a while ,and the bad part was his font selection was hard to read and in some cases acrobat failed to translate , leaving me with a mostly unreadable magazine.

What type of PC and what version of Acrobat did you use?  I had no problems at all with the file. David

Response:

well, i didn’t send him my name, he just pulled it off of RSt and decided to send me a copy.  i didn’t bother reading the file since it was unwelcome.  i’m curious as to how many other people were sent this unsolicited file john

Response:

Whoever he is, looks like from his web page his main sponsor is Profile.  My question is, if they have a web page, why can’t they just post the magazine there?  Adobe Acrobat is still a pretty obscure (and large) reader. Transition Times html: http://www.e-values.com/jsttriit.htm Actually, if you think about it, his marketing strategy is not half bad.  Every tri magazine has written articles about RST, so sponsors are dying to get in.  This guy creates a magazine where his only overhead is an AOL account, gets some articles, throws in some links to a few advertising sites (he’s also soliciting more advertising through the web site), and mails off a 2 Meg document.  Clever.   Unfortunately his mailbox is about to filled… I’m not defending him, just pointing out it was _almost_ a good idea. Joe Jankovsky

Response:

I agree that the idea is good.  I enjoyed recieving and reading the magazine.  I didn’t take into account the long download times for those of you on AOL using a slower modem.  I downloaded mine here at work and it took only about 30 seconds.   And, of course, no cost to me. Perhaps the delievery method could be refined somehow. Eric

Response:

I hope the rest of you guys aren’t in love with this guy… I can’t believe he emailed his entire magazine to me?! Did anyone else get SPAMMED? I decided to waste connect time and mailed it back just so he knows how it feels… If this commercial SPAM annoys you too, please join with me to let this person know that it is not cool to pick names off a newsgroup for auto-mailing lists… especially to send HUGE unsolicited files. Dan Emerging Technology Services    - innovative mechanical product development    - software application development/management

Response:

I did send my name to get the online magazine Transition Times. I am interested in reading it. But I have to admit that I was shocked when I told my computer to download my mail, and it had to wade through not one, but two 16 minute downloads of the same file. I guess they thought one was not enough. Then, when I went to read it, I learned I have to download two files from their web site (I don’t have Acrobat or PKunzip, which is required.) So all told I already have $3-4 in usage time from my insane continued usage of AOL, and will probably have another $3 or so to get the other files. That’s $6-$7 for a "free magazine." Hmmmm. Will reserve comment until I see it. Brian Sullivan

Response:

writes: If this commercial SPAM annoys you too, please join with me to let this person know that it is not cool to pick names off a newsgroup for auto-mailing lists… especially to send HUGE unsolicited files. Dan

I was wondering where the guy got his mailing list and can guess that he may have snatched it from the RST Directory (I notice that Dan is included in the RST Directory).  I know we discussed AVOIDING commercial use of use it and perhaps we could put a note at the beginning of the directory on its intended use and what it SHOULD NOT be used for.  In any case it deserves protection. Today the RST Directory intro reads: By registering here you can provide your personal information to the other members of RST. This includes your name, e-mail, location, years of experience, and ANY other comments you wish to provide. The database is searchable, so if you’re heading to a strange city for a race just look for a Team RST member in that area. Need training partners? A quick search should locate someone. Find a triathlon pen-pal from another continent. The possibilities are endless. It doesn’t explicitly discourage commercial use, but the tone is definitely non-commercial.  And as I remember discussion on r.s.t., people specifically were fearful of potential abuse by commercial interests. Tucker Newberry

Response:

Question:

I have been doing tris and dus for about a year now but recently have been having problems on the bike leg. After about 20km my back starts to ach something chronic which doesnt help my riding style. I do stretches for my back before the race and when the pain gets too bad on the bike aswell. I ride in the aero position for as much of the time as is practically possible but cant seem to pin point why im getting these pains. The pain is in the lower back just above the hips. Any comments much appreciated… Rob.

Response:

I have been doing tris and dus for about a year now but recently have been having problems on the bike leg. After about 20km my back starts to ach something chronic which doesnt help my riding style. I do stretches for my back before the race and when the pain gets too bad on the bike aswell. I ride in the aero position for as much of the time as is practically possible but cant seem to pin point why im getting these pains. The pain is in the lower back just above the hips. Any comments much appreciated… Rob.

I also find that riding in the aero position for long periods causes some pain in my lower back, but I have found some things that help: First, make sure that your saddle height and fore/aft position are correct.  Next, make sure that your handlebar stem and/or aerobars are the right length, so that your reach is neither too short nor too long. If the bike fit is not the problem, then try adding a quick stretch periodically during the race.  I get out of that position, stand on the pedals, and completely straighten out my back for just a few seconds.  I do this as soon as I notice any pain in my back.  If I wait until the pain gets really awful, then this quick stretch seems less effective. Anyway, I think that doing this once per 5 to 10 km helps, and I doubt that 4 seconds of coasting after 5 km of pedaling costs anything signif- icant in terms of speed.  Eliminating the pain surely speeds me up. Another thing which helps is exercises which strengthen the lower back. I use the Concept II rowing machine.  (I used to row in college, and among real rowers, this machine is the favorite, but no, I do not own stock in the company, just a rowing machine.)  You may find such machines in gyms, etc.  They work your back, abdomen, legs (but not calves), biceps (but not triceps), and lat’s.  The cadence is rather low (30/min) compared to cycling, and the resistance tends to be higher.  It gives a combination strength and endurance workout.  I feel it is a good complement to triathlon, and I am not the only one who think so.  A Canadian triathlete (whose name I forget) won her age group at THE international championship on the CII ergometers last year (called the CRASH-B sprints, and held in Boston, if any of you are psyched to add yet another sport to your competitive repetoire). I hope this helps,

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| I have been doing tris and dus for about a year now but recently have been | having problems on the bike leg. After about 20km my back starts to ach | something chronic which doesnt help my riding style. I do stretches for my back | before the race and when the pain gets too bad on the bike aswell. I ride in | the aero position for as much of the time as is practically possible but cant | seem to pin point why im getting these pains. The pain is in the lower back | just above the hips. Any comments much appreciated… | | Rob.  Every year, while ramping up the cycling, I find my lower back gets quite  stiff and sore. I feel that cycling in the aero postion can aggravate it.  My theory is that cycling in the aero position requires better form and  stronger legs than cycling sitting up, to do it properly. While cycling  on the aero bars, you can’t use your arms to counteract the downward  push on the pedals as you can while holding on to regular drops. It means  that "spinning" on the pedals becomes even more important, or else you  take the brunt of the push in your lower back.  Also, like Bill said, exercising your lower back and abdominals helps. | complement to triathlon, and I am not the only one who think so.  A | Canadian triathlete (whose name I forget) won her age group at THE | international championship on the CII ergometers last year (called the  I believe that was Joanne Ritchie, former Canadian and World Champion.  Chris — Ontario Telepresence Project, 2670 Queensview Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, CANADA

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