Question:

chance I tapered too much?

i’m not an expert but don’t tapering was the reason for you probs. on the contrary, i think tapering will allow you body to recover and get more resistant to injury. what i do while tapering is increase stretching, which works great after an easy workout. when i devote less time for ‘active’ training i can concentrate more on the usually little neglected things. p!

Response:

I just did my third half Ironman race this season.  Unfortunately I couldn’t finish the run due to severe pains in my ankles.  The pain started the minute I got on my bike and continued (bearably) until mile 5 of the run.  By then it hurt to walk, and I bowed out.  The previous half Ironman brought similar, but not as bad results.  I finished that race, but I had uncharacteristic ankle pain as soon as I was done (didn’t notice any during the race).  Ironically, these were my two "priority" races, and I tapered significantly the two weeks prior to the races (down to 1/2 or 1/3 of my "normal" weekly training time).  On the other hand, the first half Ironman this season was "just another race" and I didn’t taper at all (even the week of the race).  That race led to a PR of over 15 minutes faster than my previous best time.  In between the two "painful" races, I was able to bike 3 hours and run over 2 hours (not consecutively) with no abnormal pain. Any chance I tapered too much?

Response:

Rich, Sounds more like an injury, than a training issue. John Martinez – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon I just did my third half Ironman race this season.  Unfortunately I couldn’t finish the run due to severe pains in my ankles.  The pain started the minute I got on my bike and continued (bearably) until mile 5 of the run.  By then it hurt to walk, and I bowed out.  The previous half Ironman brought similar, but not as bad results.  I finished that race, but I had uncharacteristic ankle pain as soon as I was done (didn’t notice any during the race).  Ironically, these were my two "priority" races, and I tapered significantly the two weeks prior to the races (down to 1/2 or 1/3 of my "normal" weekly training time).  On the other hand, the first half Ironman this season was "just another race" and I didn’t taper at all (even the week of the race).  That race led to a PR of over 15 minutes faster than my previous best time.  In between the two "painful" races, I was able to bike 3 hours and run over 2 hours (not consecutively) with no abnormal pain. Any chance I tapered too much?

Response:

Question:

In orienteering, I learned to lean forward from the waist and keep my head tilted forward. For balanace keep your arms out wide of the body and let the hill take you. It really is a very fast way of descending. Graham

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OK, here’s my two cents. I can pick up speed downhill by making sure to lift my heels close to my butt on each stride. Maybe this doesn’t intuitively make sense, but it gets me flying. Jeff Roberts – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Ran a hilly 1/2 Marathon race over the weekend. 1:42. Found that while I was passing on the up hill othrs  would catch up or go by me on the downhills. Any thoughts on technique so this doesn’t happen. My heart rate was fine on the uphill & dropped on the downhill-to be expected. Thanks, Barb

Response:

allowing the hips to tilt forward and balancing from your arms is how Robert DeCastella recommends running fast downhill in his book. Lloyd

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In orienteering, I learned to lean forward from the waist and keep my head tilted forward. For balanace keep your arms out wide of the body and let the hill take you. It really is a very fast way of descending. Graham

Response:

Ran a hilly 1/2 Marathon race over the weekend. 1:42. Found that while I was passing on the up hill othrs  would catch up or go by me on the downhills. Any thoughts on technique so this doesn’t happen. My heart rate was fine on the uphill & dropped on the downhill-to be expected. Thanks, Barb

My guess is that you have relatively strong thighs from cycling, but that you lack a bit of flexibility there, especially when your thighs are pumped after going up-hill. As a triathlete, you may do most of your running in a fatigued state which is not conducive to "opening out" the stride. You might try to focus on flexibility and striding in your run training, and a bit of speed work might help. I hesitate to recommend fast running down hills in training. After any run with a descent, my knees swell up and I’m in agony for a few minutes – it can’t be good for them! — Atlas Online                Tel: +44 20 8202 2433 154 Brent Street,           FAX: +44 20 8202 2287 London, NW4 2DR, ENGLAND.   WWW: http://www.zands.com

Response:

Ran a hilly 1/2 Marathon race over the weekend. 1:42. Found that while I was passing on the up hill othrs  would catch up or go by me on the downhills. Any thoughts on technique so this doesn’t happen. My heart rate was fine on the uphill & dropped on the downhill-to be expected.

In my pre-bad knee, pre-bad all kinds of stuff days, I was one of the ones everyone passed uphill.  When the passer said something like *lookin’ good* to me, I assured him he hadn’t seen the last of me, and he hadn’t.  My downhill speed was based on my willingness to kill myself by falling flat on my face, which I never quite did.  I leaned forward and just let go.  What I lacked in strength for uphills I more than made up for in daring.  However, I do have much stronger quads than hamstrings, which also accounts for my pathetic uphill bicycling. Ruth Kazez

Response:

Ran a hilly 1/2 Marathon race over the weekend. 1:42. Found that while I was passing on the up hill othrs  would catch up or go by me on the downhills. Any thoughts on technique so this doesn’t happen. My heart rate was fine on the uphill & dropped on the downhill-to be expected. Thanks, Barb

Response:

Ran a hilly 1/2 Marathon race over the weekend. 1:42. Found that while I was passing on the up hill othrs  would catch up or go by me on the downhills. Any thoughts on technique so this doesn’t happen. My heart rate was fine on the uphill & dropped on the downhill-to be expected.

Let gravity help you – suppress the impulse to brake.  Embrace the speed, just keep your legs moving to keep up with your body.  It’s scary, how fast you’ll go down a steep hill, but if you don’t panic, you can keep it together.

Response:

Barb, Move your feet faster on the down hill.   Sounds funny but it takes practice.   Work up slowly as this is a good place to develop injuries. Start with gradual hills and work up to the steeper ones over several weeks/months.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ran a hilly 1/2 Marathon race over the weekend. 1:42. Found that while I was passing on the up hill othrs  would catch up or go by me on the downhills. Any thoughts on technique so this doesn’t happen. My heart rate was fine on the uphill & dropped on the downhill-to be expected. Thanks, Barb

Response:

Question:

writes: Specifically, what is the actual rim diameter of a 650 rim?

650 tubular rims are typically 582 to 584mm outside diameter. However, there is quite a bit of variation since tubular tires are stretchable. 650 clincher rims are also typically 582 to 584mm outside diameter. 650c clincher rims have a bead seat diameter of 571mm, and this is usually molded into the tire sidewall somewhere. The bead seat diameter is measured where the tire bead seats in the rim, on the sides of the tire bed inside the rim. The bead seat diameter is less than the outside diameter of the rim, since the rim sidewall extends radially outward beyond the bead seat by about 5 to 6mm typically. So 650c clincher and 650 tubular wheels are often swappable in the same bike, because they often have the same rim outside diameter, and consequently, the same brake track diameter. However, around the mid 80’s there were quite a few Mavic 650 tubular rims that were larger by about 6mm on the radius. Damon Rinard Damon Rinard’s Bicycle Tech Site: http://www.damonrinard.com/  —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free (anonymous) Usenet News via the Web  —–   http://newsone.net/ — Free reading and anonymous posting to 60,000+ groups    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: Specifically, what is the actual rim diameter of a 650 rim? 650 tubular rims are typically 582 to 584mm outside diameter. However, there is quite a bit of variation since tubular tires are stretchable. 650 clincher rims are also typically 582 to 584mm outside diameter. 650c clincher rims have a bead seat diameter of 571mm, and this is usually molded into the tire sidewall somewhere. The bead seat diameter is measured where the tire bead seats in the rim, on the sides of the tire bed inside the rim. The bead seat diameter is less than the outside diameter of the rim, since the rim sidewall extends radially outward beyond the bead seat by about 5 to 6mm typically. So 650c clincher and 650 tubular wheels are often swappable in the same bike, because they often have the same rim outside diameter, and consequently, the same brake track diameter.

Interesting. So if the new wheels on my son’s 24" caliente are 23" in diameter, and 650C wheels are 582 to 584 mm (which converts to 22.9134" to 22.9921", then that is probably what I have on there. The question has been asked before in here about replacement wheels for kids’ road bikes, and perhaps this is at least a partial solution. I need to find someone around here with a set of of 650c clinchers to try on there for size. I posted some pics at http://www.tfn.net/~jsf901/caliente/ in case anyone else is interested in a similar project for their kid.

Response:

You probably already know this, but just to clarify: it is the *rim* outside diameter that must be the same (or thereabouts) for the brakes to reach. (Or bead seat diameter if the wheels under consideration are clinchers). The *wheel* diameter, measured including the tire (from tread to tread), is useful for determining frame clearance. You might be interested in reading Sheldon Brown’s article on tire sizing at: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html Damon Rinard Damon Rinard’s Bicycle Tech Site: http://www.damonrinard.com/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: Specifically, what is the actual rim diameter of a 650 rim? 650 tubular rims are typically 582 to 584mm outside diameter. However, there is quite a bit of variation since tubular tires are stretchable. 650 clincher rims are also typically 582 to 584mm outside diameter. 650c clincher rims have a bead seat diameter of 571mm, and this is usually molded into the tire sidewall somewhere. The bead seat diameter is measured where the tire bead seats in the rim, on the sides of the tire bed inside the rim. The bead seat diameter is less than the outside diameter of the rim, since the rim sidewall extends radially outward beyond the bead seat by about 5 to 6mm typically. So 650c clincher and 650 tubular wheels are often swappable in the same bike, because they often have the same rim outside diameter, and consequently, the same brake track diameter. Interesting. So if the new wheels on my son’s 24" caliente are 23" in diameter, and 650C wheels are 582 to 584 mm (which converts to 22.9134" to 22.9921", then that is probably what I have on there. The question has been asked before in here about replacement wheels for kids’ road bikes, and perhaps this is at least a partial solution. I need to find someone around here with a set of of 650c clinchers to try on there for size. I posted some pics at http://www.tfn.net/~jsf901/caliente/ in case anyone else is interested in a similar project for their kid.

 —–  Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free (anonymous) Usenet News via the Web  —–   http://newsone.net/ — Free reading and anonymous posting to 60,000+ groups    NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam.  If this or other posts

Response:

Hey guys, I stirred and then I bolted… Will put my 0.02c worth in tommorow. LW

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey all, about to but a new bike (Cannondale ms 600) and am wondering wether to go the 650cc or 700 wheels? Which will be better/ I am looking at doing longer events and this will be my training and race bike. thanks people, Bryce purden

Response:

Specifically, what is the actual rim diameter of a 650 rim?

Bead seat diameter of 650C is 571mm = 23.48" See www.harriscyclery.com for charts of all tire markings and their bead diameter. Eric Salathe

Response:

Hey all, about to but a new bike (Cannondale ms 600) and am wondering wether to go the 650cc or 700 wheels? Which will be better/ I am looking at doing longer events and this will be my training and race bike. thanks people, Bryce purden

Response:

Bryce – If you’re under 5′11" I recommend 650c, over 5′11" 700c. Both wheel sizes have merit, but it’s too complcated to discuss here. Aerodynamically, I think it’s nearly a wash with spoked wheels, but with crosswinds and deep rims the 650c size is much easier for smaller riders to handle. The smaller size also has less mass to accelerate, which is beneficial to smaller riders… Steve http://www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

Less mass to accelerate also means less mass to continue transfer of energy into forward motion. Why is it to complicated, this is a triathlon forum isn’t it, if you have something technical to say about the differences between 650c and 700c why not type away for a few minutes and let everyone else it one your "complicated" knowledge of the differences. Lloyd

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bryce – If you’re under 5′11" I recommend 650c, over 5′11" 700c. Both wheel sizes have merit, but it’s too complcated to discuss here. Aerodynamically, I think it’s nearly a wash with spoked wheels, but with crosswinds and deep rims the 650c size is much easier for smaller riders to handle. The smaller size also has less mass to accelerate, which is beneficial to smaller riders… Steve http://www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

Less mass to accelerate also means less mass to continue transfer of energy into forward motion.

Of course, it’s been calculated that one pound (much more than the difference between otherwise identical bikes with different size wheels) will cost you all of one second in a flat 40km time trial. The weight difference is really miniscule too, since the frame has to be taller to put the rider in the same position. Why is it to complicated, this is a triathlon forum isn’t it, if you have something technical to say about the differences between 650c and 700c why not type away for a few minutes and let everyone else it one your "complicated" knowledge of the differences.

That could be the start of a really, really long rendition of this cyclic favorite debate!  In the end, I’d say that every time this subject came up the ending was the same – if you really need to drop the height of the front end, OR you’re pretty short, 650’s have a slight advantage.  Beyond that, it’s pretty much a matter of whichever you think looks better.  ;-) Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bryce – If you’re under 5′11" I recommend 650c, over 5′11" 700c. Both wheel sizes have merit, but it’s too complcated to discuss here. Aerodynamically, I think it’s nearly a wash with spoked wheels, but with crosswinds and deep rims the 650c size is much easier for smaller riders to handle. The smaller size also has less mass to accelerate, which is beneficial to smaller riders… Steve http://www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

OK, here’s a slight change of subject. I’ve been helping my 9YO build up a bike for his first tri in Marianna, FL on Jul 4th, and we ran into a little confusion over tire sizes. His bike is a 24" Schwinn Caliente that I upgraded with 105 components. I bought a set of used 24" tubular rims off of ebay, but when I ordered 24" Vittoria tires for it from Sportaid.com, they were much too small. We replaced them with 26" Vittorias that fit fine. The wheels measure 23" in diameter and fit the juvenile road bike frame just fine using medium-reach brakes. Does anyone know what size wheels/tires these really are? They have no metric or ISO size markings on them. One of the things that I’m wondering about is how close are these to 650c? Specifically, what is the actual rim diameter of a 650 rim? I’ve seen enough difference between designated sizes and actual sizes that nothing would surprise me.  I’d like to know because I have 2 other kids riding 24" road bikes (a younger 9YO and a 6YO) with steel wheels, and it is very difficult finding decent clincher wheels and tires for the oddball 24 X 1 3/8 wheels that come on juvenile road bikes. Gene Floyd Support Kids riding for Kids http://www.tfn.net/~gfloyd7/cmn/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Less mass to accelerate also means less mass to continue transfer of energy into forward motion. Of course, it’s been calculated that one pound (much more than the difference between otherwise identical bikes with different size wheels) will cost you all of one second in a flat 40km time trial. The weight difference is really miniscule too, since the frame has to be taller to put the rider in the same position. Why is it to complicated, this is a triathlon forum isn’t it, if you have something technical to say about the differences between 650c and 700c why not type away for a few minutes and let everyone else it one your "complicated" knowledge of the differences. That could be the start of a really, really long rendition of this cyclic favorite debate!  In the end, I’d say that every time this subject came up the ending was the same – if you really need to drop the height of the front end, OR you’re pretty short, 650’s have a slight advantage.  Beyond that, it’s pretty much a matter of whichever you think looks better.  ;-) Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame Bryce – If you’re under 5′11" I recommend 650c, over 5′11" 700c. Both wheel sizes have merit, but it’s too complcated to discuss here. Aerodynamically, I think it’s nearly a wash with spoked wheels, but with crosswinds and deep rims the 650c size is much easier for smaller riders to handle. The smaller size also has less mass to accelerate, which is beneficial to smaller riders… Steve http://www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

It’s true the 650c wheels solve the front end too high dilemna…Many of the cycling pro’s 650c front, 700c rear wheel TT bikes used this configuration over the years, partially because of height issues, partially because of aerodynamics…if you make the assumption the 650c wheels are faster then why not a 650c rear as well? At the same time you solve the 2 different size spares conflict. Also, look at all the 650c Terry "women’s" bikes for the same reason…the genesis of our current 650 tri bikes? A "chicken or the egg" sort of question… I’d say riders under about 5′6" with flexible backs that can accomodate the optimal aero postion (and who want to go with cow horn style bars) will need the 650c with its lower head tube to get that flat back… Steve http://www.Tri-eCoach.com

Response:

I put the 650c cutoff height much shorter than 5′11".   Actually, I say go with 700c unless you’re particularly short and you need the smaller wheels to achieve a steep seat tube and/or for front wheel toe clearance.

based on my calc and fitting "rules" for riding with aero bars, a person 5′10", on average, is going to have to have about a 9cm head tube on a 700c bike if he or she wants to have his or her bars low enough.  (this assumes a 5- or 6-degree rise/fall stem, which i think is a pretty good idea if you want the maximum ability to adjust handlebar height.) if you put a smaller person on a 700c bike he or she now must use a flat stem, or even one with a more severe downward angle, because you can’t easily make a bike with a head tube shorter than 9cm, and especially so if you want to use aero tubes. yes, you can make a 55cm, or 53cm, or 51cm, bike for a triathlete with 700c wheels.  but you have increasing problems to overcome.  there is nothing magic about 650c wheels.  but there’s nothing magic about 700c wheels either.  the choice of wheel ought to be determined by fit and handling.  based simply on that i think — all things considered — 5′10" goes with 650c and 5′11" goes with 700c. slowman

Response:

Yikes! A contentious issue!…It’s absolutely true that a wheel with less mass carries less momentum… Did you ever see the size of Francesco Moser’s rear wheel on his track bike when he set the World Hour Record (15?) years ago — huge! The theory was that his larger, relatively heavy wheel would carry more momentum. He’s a big guy, so getting it up to speed (once at the start) was no problem. Be careful not put spinning weight (wheels), and static weight (frame etc.) in the same category though. The two have completely different effects, especially on the feel of a bike while accelerating (or decelerating). I’ve raced multisport on both wheel sizes with similar deep dish wheels, (I’m just under 5′9") and I can say I’ve found no speed difference in steady state time trial tests, but there is a difference in feel. The 650c wheeled bikes have a quicker feel and might be ever so slightly better for courses with lots of speed changes (corners, short steep hills, etc.). The downside of the smaller wheels is the more noticeable effect of rough road surfaces. The larger wheels span irregularities in road surfaces better. The larger wheels also have a longer tire patch in contact with the road, so they contribute more to the directional stability, along with greater mass involved with centrifical forces. Therefore, 650c wheeled bikes have a more skittish feel assuming the bike has the same frame geometry. With all other factors equal (tires, pressure), the smaller wheels have more rolling resistance, although the difference is miniscule…I am not a proponent of either size specifically, but I can say that the smaller riders I coach do favor the 650c wheeled bikes after they’ve spent some time on them and have a very hard time going back to 700c. As for me, I did at least 1000 USCF bike races on 700c wheeled bikes, so going to 650 was a very hard sell…I would never do a crit on a 650c bike (for lack of cornering stability), but I "feel" faster in TTs on my 650c bike. Get out your calculators if you like…I’m going to sleep Steve http://www.Tri-eCoach.com  

Response:

If you’re under 5′11" I recommend 650c, over 5′11" 700c.

I put the 650c cutoff height much shorter than 5′11".  Actually, I say go with 700c unless you’re particularly short and you need the smaller wheels to achieve a steep seat tube and/or for front wheel toe clearance. Aerodynamically, I think it’s nearly a wash with spoked wheels, but with crosswinds and deep rims the 650c size is much easier for smaller riders to handle.

I can’t see that this can make a whole lot of difference but I guess it’s possible.  And there must be something wrong with my math.  According to my calculations the area of a 650c disc wheel is 4% less than a 700c disc wheel and 60mm (deep) rims are roughly equivilent.  It’s time for bed so I’m not going to go through it again so someone else will have to show me the errors of my ways The smaller size also has less mass to accelerate, which is beneficial to smaller riders…

Any difference in mass is immeasurable since the frame needs to be a bit bigger to achieve the same rider position with 650c wheels.  Regardless, for all intents and purposes acceleration isn’t a concern in a tri/TT.  The only time you accelerate is leaving T1 and even then most people aren’t sprinting up to speed — at least I hope you’re not. Cheers, Doug "not unless you have lots of money invested in a particular wheel size" Fuller

Response:

Question:

Okay, let me say right up front that I haven’t read much about this race, don’t know the ‘players’ involved, and have never participated in a draft-legal triathlon (or any triathlon, for that matter, other than relays – my individual multisport experience is limited to non-drafting duathlons). Even so, after reading the race reports of Wes Hobson and Victor Plata on the Cervelo website, I have to say, what were these guys thinking? Both of them apparently exited the water in good position, and made it out onto the cycling course only 5-10 seconds behind the lead group. Rather than bridge that gap – RIGHT NOW! – as a racing cyclist would, they both apparently decided to try to work with the other riders around them to gradually reel the leaders in, something that never happened. I could understand their tactical approach if the race were sufficiently long (say, ~6 hours, like a Tour de France stage or one of the classics), the course not conducive to the success of a small breakaway (e.g., flat, open, and windy), and/or the riders up front were notoriously weak cyclists. However, this was a short, fast race where the major challenge was apparently the heat, not the wind, and where everybody was racing for all the marbles. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting what Mr. Plata and Hobson wrote, but it seems to me that they made a major tactical error in not recognizing the danger and bridging up the nascent lead group while it was still within striking distance. Like I said, I wasn’t there, don’t know the athletes and their respective abilities, and do not mean in any way to denigrate their performances…I’m just wondering if perhaps there’s something different about the thinking, abilities, and/or experience of these or other triathletes such that they responded differently than you would expect. Feel free to flame away…. — Andrew Coggan Before you buy.

Response:

after reading the race reports of Wes Hobson and Victor Plata on the Cervelo website, I have to say, what were these guys thinking? Both of them apparently exited the water in good position, and made it out onto the cycling course only 5-10 seconds behind the lead group. Rather than bridge that gap – RIGHT NOW! – as a racing cyclist would, they both apparently decided to try to work with the other riders around them to gradually reel the leaders in, something that never happened.

I didn’t see the race but have read several reports.  Hobson admits his mistake and tried to bridge a little later.  Plata didn’t mention his strategy.  As you know a well-organized group of 6 can get away from a pack and a solo attempt will surely fail once the break is established. I agree that right out of the gate is the only chance, before the pace line gets rolling. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting what Mr. Plata and Hobson wrote, but it seems to me that they made a major tactical error in not recognizing the danger and bridging up the nascent lead group while it was still within striking distance.

Yep, it should have been pedal to the metal.  I’m sure nobody realizes it more than they.  Once they missed the bus, it was over. — Cheers, Doug "they must be bummed, especially Plata with his 4th fastest run" Fuller Before you buy.

Response:

Right Now, would have been it. In cycling the strategy is don’t cover a breakaway on a LONG course, with unknowns, weak riders, or when you have a team member covering it. In an ITU race, it would seem that none of these would apply. Also, the course had many turns and a large pack cannot handle the turned fast, a small group can. Live and learn. Tim www.tri-team.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, let me say right up front that I haven’t read much about this race, don’t know the ‘players’ involved, and have never participated in a draft-legal triathlon (or any triathlon, for that matter, other than relays – my individual multisport experience is limited to non-drafting duathlons). Even so, after reading the race reports of Wes Hobson and Victor Plata on the Cervelo website, I have to say, what were these guys thinking? Both of them apparently exited the water in good position, and made it out onto the cycling course only 5-10 seconds behind the lead group. Rather than bridge that gap – RIGHT NOW! – as a racing cyclist would, they both apparently decided to try to work with the other riders around them to gradually reel the leaders in, something that never happened. I could understand their tactical approach if the race were sufficiently long (say, ~6 hours, like a Tour de France stage or one of the classics), the course not conducive to the success of a small breakaway (e.g., flat, open, and windy), and/or the riders up front were notoriously weak cyclists. However, this was a short, fast race where the major challenge was apparently the heat, not the wind, and where everybody was racing for all the marbles. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting what Mr. Plata and Hobson wrote, but it seems to me that they made a major tactical error in not recognizing the danger and bridging up the nascent lead group while it was still within striking distance. Like I said, I wasn’t there, don’t know the athletes and their respective abilities, and do not mean in any way to denigrate their performances…I’m just wondering if perhaps there’s something different about the thinking, abilities, and/or experience of these or other triathletes such that they responded differently than you would expect. Feel free to flame away…. — Andrew Coggan Before you buy.

Response:

I watched this race, and almost all of the men streamed out of the water within one minute of the leader (Doug Friman).  The top 6 managed to get out of the transition with a slight gap and immediately organized themselves.  This is something I’ve been seeing happening quite a bit this year in the men’s races on the World Cup circuit.  I’m guessing most of those left behind could not close the gap from going hard on the swim to stay in the lead pack, or sprinting the transition too hard and not having any sprint left in their legs for those first crucial moments on the bike. Todd

Response:

Question:

as to this current situation, especially since this seems to be a QR wetsuit, i hope the poster doesn’t sit on this problem until wildflower,

Definitely not, Dan, that’s why I posted this cry for help.  It is a QR suit and I’m quite pleased with it as a product.  But I’m having difficulty getting the technique on my own. I think the main reason this problem came up is because I didn’t get enough practice before the event ( L A Tri Series) and didn’t have time to do a good warm up at the race.  Inexperience seems to be the main factor at this point.   But my main reason for doing this race was to tune up for WF. This weekend I intend to get in some open water swimming and either work out the bugs or start working on a contingency plan.  Worst case is I’ll have to rent a sleeveless for WF. Larry

Response:

Dan: About time you returned. I was forced to pick up your slack. Now you owe me two "mai-tai’s"! 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 – Is it normal for a full wetsuit to have a noticable effect on stroke difficulty? i’ve been away visiting bike factories in the orient for the past week and have just returned to find the post, and the replies.  at the risk of sounding preachy, i might remind the original poster, and others as well, that there is a solution to problems like this that is often overlooked, which is to go to the source of the issue, the manufacturer who made the product.  often the customer calls us directly in such case as the retailer can’t provide a service solution, and we send out some other sizes and styles in order to match the customer to the right suit.  in the case of our product just not working, we have a two week money back guarantee, so that an end user won’t have to sell his/her new wetsuit as a used one if he/she doesn’t like it. i think that’s the downside of the ‘net, sometimes one is so used to getting working out their problems here that they forget the old fashioned way, which is to demand service from the provider of the product, from whence the service should rightly come. as to this current situation, especially since this seems to be a QR wetsuit, i hope the poster doesn’t sit on this problem until wildflower, there are still a couple of weeks until the race, plenty of time to have us, or the retailer, fix the problem by suggesting the right technique to putting on and/or swimming in a fullsuit, vs sizing, vs full vs john, providing other sizes or styles to provide a better match, and finally, in the last resort, sending it back for a full refund and getting an ironman/orca/aquaman, or whatever works better. i do agree with keith that our hydros can be somewhat more forgiving, since the rubber is more flexible (although in a normal situation, where it is an easy fit between customer and our patterns, there will be no real difference).  but this is really just the case in the torso, since the rubber used in the arms, shoulders, and armpits, in the ultrafull is the same as that in a hydro.  but as to keith’s point, this is yamamoto’s #39 SCS rubber that is used throughout in the hydro suits, rubber which i think is a must if you are going to spend over $300 in a suit.  i’d demand that this is the rubber you’re buying if a top o’ the line suit.  i’m sure keith agrees. qrman

Response:

Is it normal for a full wetsuit to have a noticable effect on stroke difficulty? I’m pretty sure that I’m in the correct size wetsuit but it still seems difficult to move my arms for any length of time.   Yesterday, I swam about 100 yards and had to rest.  After that, I could go 50 – 75 yards until my arms fatigued.  My arms are still sore and the whole swim was only 500 yards.  Does this sound like I just need to get out and practice in the suit or is it more likely that I still need to go up another size?  At 6′, 185 lb., the charts call for a ML – L.  Or maybe I should just forget the full suit and get one that’s sleveless. At this point, there’s no way I can swim 1.2 miles in this wetsuit.  Are wetsuits available for rental at Wildflower just in case I don’t have this worked out by then? Larry

Response:

Is it normal for a full wetsuit to have a noticable effect on stroke difficulty?

No, this is not normal. I’m pretty sure that I’m in the correct size wetsuit but it still seems difficult to move my arms for any length of time.   Yesterday, I swam about 100 yards and had to rest.  After that, I could go 50 – 75 yards until my arms fatigued.  My arms are still sore and the whole swim was only 500 yards.  Does this sound like I just need to get out and practice in the suit or is it more likely that I still need to go up another size?  At 6′, 185 lb., the charts call for a ML – L.  Or maybe I should just forget the full suit and get one that’s sleveless.

It sounds like the size is correct. Judging by the size chart, I take it you purchased a "QR". Did you buy the Standard or Hydrophobic? This could be part of the problem. In my opinion, the standard rubber suit is a bit too restrictive for use on a fullsuit. Putting this suit on properly is as important as purchasing the correct size. Try the following procedure before giving up on your new fullsuit. 1. Make certain you pull the wetsuit as high into the crouch as possible prior to bringing the suit up past the waist. (This will allow you ample room in the torso) 2. The arms of the suit should be pulled up high and above the shoulder. (It is not uncommon to have a small crease of rubber above the shoulder area) Make certain the rubber under the arm pit is flush against the skin. You can test this by raising one arm at a time, using the opposite hand to poke underneath the arm socket. There should be no space between your arm pit and the suit material. Try rotating your arms out of the water. You should immediately feel the difference after making this minor adjustment. Hopefully, this will solve your dilema. At this point, there’s no way I can swim 1.2 miles in this wetsuit.  Are wetsuits available for rental at Wildflower just in case I don’t have this worked out by then?

I doubt anyone will have rental at the race. Feel free to call if you would like a list of retailers who offer rentals from their shop. (You can do this by UPS) Good luck- Keith www.ironmanwetsuits.com

Response:

Thanks for the advice, Keith.  I’m really inexperienced in this area and not doing real good at figuring it out for myself. I’ll pay more attention to adjusting the arms next time.  I guess what I need to do is spend some time at the beach over the next couple of weeks to master the fine points. Thanks again, I appreciate your help. Larry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip Good luck- Keith www.ironmanwetsuits.com

Response:

Is it normal for a full wetsuit to have a noticable effect on stroke difficulty?

i’ve been away visiting bike factories in the orient for the past week and have just returned to find the post, and the replies.  at the risk of sounding preachy, i might remind the original poster, and others as well, that there is a solution to problems like this that is often overlooked, which is to go to the source of the issue, the manufacturer who made the product.  often the customer calls us directly in such case as the retailer can’t provide a service solution, and we send out some other sizes and styles in order to match the customer to the right suit.  in the case of our product just not working, we have a two week money back guarantee, so that an end user won’t have to sell his/her new wetsuit as a used one if he/she doesn’t like it. i think that’s the downside of the ‘net, sometimes one is so used to getting working out their problems here that they forget the old fashioned way, which is to demand service from the provider of the product, from whence the service should rightly come. as to this current situation, especially since this seems to be a QR wetsuit, i hope the poster doesn’t sit on this problem until wildflower, there are still a couple of weeks until the race, plenty of time to have us, or the retailer, fix the problem by suggesting the right technique to putting on and/or swimming in a fullsuit, vs sizing, vs full vs john, providing other sizes or styles to provide a better match, and finally, in the last resort, sending it back for a full refund and getting an ironman/orca/aquaman, or whatever works better. i do agree with keith that our hydros can be somewhat more forgiving, since the rubber is more flexible (although in a normal situation, where it is an easy fit between customer and our patterns, there will be no real difference).  but this is really just the case in the torso, since the rubber used in the arms, shoulders, and armpits, in the ultrafull is the same as that in a hydro.  but as to keith’s point, this is yamamoto’s #39 SCS rubber that is used throughout in the hydro suits, rubber which i think is a must if you are going to spend over $300 in a suit.  i’d demand that this is the rubber you’re buying if a top o’ the line suit.  i’m sure keith agrees. qrman

Response:

One thing I forgot is that it is essential that you can find a suit that fits your body type. A suit that can’t do that will be useless and will even have a negative effect. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i have been putting off buying a wetsuit but am beginning to think i should get one.  I hate the cold water, and i would rather swim in a nice cozy suit.  I am sure this has been discussed many times but here it goes again, I am wanting to spend about 200 – 300 bucks, what should brand should i look for? Thanks Again Ron C

Response:

We have sold both QR and Ironman and have had great success with the Ironman suits. Sizing has been very accurate and we have had positive feedback from customers on their Ironman suits. We also have started selling the Orca suits but that is still a new line to us so I can’t relay a personal history with that brand although it has been positive so far. If I can be of help in choosing a suit and the proper size, please give me a call. thanks, Diane Tarver http://Tri-Specialties.com 1-337-625-4214 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i have been putting off buying a wetsuit but am beginning to think i should get one.  I hate the cold water, and i would rather swim in a nice cozy suit.  I am sure this has been discussed many times but here it goes again, I am wanting to spend about 200 – 300 bucks, what should brand should i look for? Thanks Again Ron C

Response:

I had QR for 10 years, switched to Ironman full siut. I set PR’s for every course, and it’s fast getting off too. Bill

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i have been putting off buying a wetsuit but am beginning to think i should get one.  I hate the cold water, and i would rather swim in a nice cozy suit.  I am sure this has been discussed many times but here it goes again, I am wanting to spend about 200 – 300 bucks, what should brand should i look for? Thanks Again Ron C

Response:

Thanks for the advice, i went out today and tried on a few QR’s but ended up with an Ironman suit.  It fits a whole better in the chest area.  I did not expect the amount of difficulty in putting the thing on.  it took me a good hour to try on three different suits.  I was tired and swetty afterward, i hope with some practice and Pam spray I can get the thing on in a hurry.  I hope to swim with it tomorrow and see how different everything feels. Thanks Again Ron C

Response:

I had great results with the QR. hydro, long john. Since there aren’t arms it makes it easy to get out  of and you still have full range of motion. Chuck Garabedian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i have been putting off buying a wetsuit but am beginning to think i should get one.  I hate the cold water, and i would rather swim in a nice cozy suit.  I am sure this has been discussed many times but here it goes again, I am wanting to spend about 200 – 300 bucks, what should brand should i look for? Thanks Again Ron C

Response:

i have been putting off buying a wetsuit but am beginning to think i should get one.  I hate the cold water, and i would rather swim in a nice cozy suit.  I am sure this has been discussed many times but here it goes again, I am wanting to spend about 200 – 300 bucks, what should brand should i look for? Thanks Again Ron C

Response:

Question:

Hey, anybody know anything about this race?  Since Great North is no longer on my schedule, I’m considering showing up for this one this weekend, but I’ve seen precious little info about it in all the usual publications.  The only place I’ve seen it advertised was in The California Schedule.  It’s supposed to be a sprint distance in Aptos this Sunday, August 11.  Is it happening?  Anyone going, or have more info? Thanks– Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft!" http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey, anybody know anything about this race?  Since Great North is no longer on my schedule, I’m considering showing up for this one this weekend, but I’ve seen precious little info about it in all the usual publications.  The only place I’ve seen it advertised was in The California Schedule.  It’s supposed to be a sprint distance in Aptos this Sunday, August 11.  Is it happening?  Anyone going, or have more info? Thanks– Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft!" http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

* * * August 11 1996 – Sunday      Aptos: Sandman Triathlon (.5mS-15mB-4.5mR),      9am $40-indi.;($75-team) w/t-s, $50 ($90) w/t-s race day, limit 400; S/F Seacliff State Beach;      S-ocean, B-loop, R-on beach, out/back. Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Assoc., 665 14th Ave. Santa      Cruz 95062; 408/476-4992 from The CA Schedule: http://www.runningnetwork.com/Cal/ the run is on the sand. wes                         W. Weston Stander                                Silicon Graphics, Inc.                 (415) 933-3884      

Response:

I did Sandman last year (my first in fact).  It’s a mass start (400 max) for a half mile (ocean) swim.  The bike is 15 miles, 1 or 2 good hills. The run is 4 miles or so on the beach.  It’s a pretty laid back race…I had a good time.   Rich

Response:

Hi Tricia – I think the people who run the Sandman have tried to temper the publicity for the sake of preserving its "local flavor."  It’s a nice, laid-back, local race, well worth doing.  I’ve done it enough times to lose count, and will be back this Sunday.  If I see somebody matching your web pictures, I’ll introduce myself. Ron Williams San Jose

Response:

Question:

RELEASE IV ANOTHER OPEN LETTER TO MARK SISSON FROM USA TRIATHLON … Please, anyone who thinks USA Triathlon did wrong for the sport is this country by retiring Mark let us know.  So far, all the responses support USA Triathlon’s action.  USA Triathlon wants your expression of support because otherwise Mark Sisson and Les McDonald will tell their followers that they, Les and Mark, are right.  We want to be able to squelch that view when and if it gets voiced. So do let us know what you think.  

I fully support USA Triathlon’s actions. Thanks a lot.

Thank you for supporting the sport of Triathlon and the overwhelming majority of its athletes.  It is too bad that the ITU would not do so on their own.                                 — John Walker — John Walker        Jackson & Tull Chartered Engineers, Seabrook, Maryland WWW URL:   http://xenon.stanford.edu/~walker  

Response:

I appreciate USAT taking the time and effort to inform RST about these issues. I guess I would like to know who the board members of USAT are? Just to fill the picture of who runs the show. Jim Mewkill<

The Board of Directors of USA Triathlon:

Response:

I appreciate USAT taking the time and effort to inform RST about these issues. I guess I would like to know who the board members of USAT are? Just to fill the picture of who runs the show. Maybe Mark Sisson would be kind enough to post the same information about ITU, before any big changes occur obviously. Jim Mewkill

Response:

RELEASE IV ANOTHER OPEN LETTER TO MARK SISSON FROM USA TRIATHLON (This is the fourth in a series of USA Triathlon replies to Mark Sisson’s "This is a long one" posting.)

    *  SNIP   * Please, anyone who thinks USA Triathlon did wrong for the sport is this country by retiring Mark let us know.  So far, all the responses support USA Triathlon’s action.  USA Triathlon wants your expression of support because otherwise Mark Sisson and Les McDonald will tell their followers that they, Les and Mark, are right.  We want to be able to squelch that view when and if it gets voiced. So do let us know what you think.  Thanks a lot. THE NEXT RELEASE V WILL BE SENT FOR POSTING ON MAY 31, 1996. –  USA TRIATHLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This information (ALL the parts that have been posted thus far, as well as what is yet to come) is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and VALUABLE.  Is there any way to share it with triathletes outside of RST?  Would any of the tri-mags dare to touch it?   Or perhaps it can be published in Triathlon Times? I cannot begin to describe how valuable it would be to get this infomration out to the larger triathlon community.  RST is indeed a significant forum, but we are only a small percentage of the triathlon community at large. How can we make sure that others have the opportunity to read this? Tri-Baby                                      _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / "REAL Triathletes don’t draft!" http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~brooksie        

Response:

RELEASE IV ANOTHER OPEN LETTER TO MARK SISSON FROM USA TRIATHLON MARK SISSON DOESN’T UNDERSTAND HOW TRIATHLON SHOULD BE MANAGED (This is the fourth in a series of USA Triathlon replies to Mark Sisson’s "This is a long one" posting.) This posting takes issue with Mark’s statements in his lengthy posting         a)  about drafting, and         b)  presents the circumstances surrounding Mark Sisson’s request that               the USA Triathlon Board of Directors Meeting in San Diego last               February renominate him for ITU Treasurer. This posting also calls into question how Mark Sisson and the man he works for, Les McDonald, approach the way this sport should be governed. Drafting The drafting issue has been THE big topic for more than a year now.  This posting is not written to either support or oppose the newly adopted ITU drafting-legal rule. (But you should know that USA Triathlon’s Board of Directors favors drafting-illegal.)  Rather it is written to underscore how Mark Sisson views the sport’s governance process.  And just so everyone’s on the same page in regard to this important issue, let’s take a moment to review how we got to where we are atdrafting-illegal was written into the ITU Competition Rules.  A few years ago, the ITU began to put out releases announcing the need for triathlon’s "modernization" which is an ITU code word that means "drafting-legal."  The reasons given for the need for modernization were usually two-fold: (i) the IOC requested modernization and (ii) modernization made for better TV.  These two reasons were sometimes coupled with a threat from Les McDonald, in which he would say that if the sport doesn’t modernize then it would be thrown out of the Olympics either as early as the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and if by chance triathlon managed to survive Sydney, then certainly by the the time the 2004 Olympics rolled around. At the 1995 ITU Cancun Congress, a rule was adopted by which drafting-legal replaced drafting- illegal for certain ITU events, particularly the ITU World Cup and the ITU World Championship race.  Even with an open vote (McDonald wouldn’t let a secret vote take place in violation of Roberts Rules of Order) there was opposition to the proposed drafting-legal rule.  In the months before the rule change, a great uproar could be heard throughout the sport opposing the change. Sampling polls conducted by USA Triathlon indicated a better than 90% opposition to the drafting- legal concept among the sport’s athletes. USA Triathlon has begun to do some research into whether the IOC ever requested "modernization" and whether drafting-legal makes for better television.  So far we have learned that the IOC doesn’t even know there is a drafting issue in the sport, much less which is better, drafting-legal or drafting-illegal.  We have even talked to certain commercial and television agents and we were told that they couldn’t care less about drafting-legal, drafting-illegal. USA Triathlon believes that if it were really necessary to take the drafting-legal route, then the people of this sport very much needed to be involved in the debate and in the education process. In that way the sport would remain unified and harmonious.  On the contrary, USA Triathlon believes the drafting-illegal route to be what the sport needs.  For this reason, USA Triathlon believes that a great wrong to the sport and its people has been committed by the ITU.  In short, if Steve Locke were running the ITU, then the polls would have been listened to, and there would be no rush to do something which is so strongly opposed.  USA Triathlon suggests that the reason for the rush is connected to Les McDonald’s desire to adopt the drafting-legal rule more than five years before Sydney since the IOC Charter seems to prohibit rule changes after that. Now what does Mark Sisson say in "This is a long one" posting?  Mark asks "why all this RST age-group angst about a small number of events that only involve elites…to think that the ITU should hold an age-group referendum, as Dave Yates suggested, is absurdity at its highest level." The poll which USA Triathlon wants is a poll of all athletes, age-group and elite.  USA Triathlon believes that such a poll would show that draft-legal is opposed by both age-group and elite athletes.  Steve Locke is committed to that poll when he becomes the ITU president.  As far as Dave Yates is concerned, he challenged the ITU to take a poll.  When he issued the challenge, the ITU had banned athletes from competing in Mr. Yate’s Hawaiian Ironman because it was a world championship.  Mr. Yates said that if the ITU would agree to the poll and drafting-legal was approved by those questioned, he, Dave, would voluntarily change the name of his Hawaii world championship race so that it would no longer be called a "world-championship" and the fight between Ironman and the ITU would be over and done with.  The upshot of all these back and forth arguments was that the ITU refused to accept the challenge.  Eventually, and for other reasons, the ITU some time later removed the ban against athletes competing in Yates’ "Ironman Triathlon World Championship."  But the ITU still sticks to its guns about drafting-legal. USA Triathlon believes the ITU’s refusal to listen to what the sport really thinks about drafting coupled with its refusal to care what the sport thinks on the issue is plain wrong.  USA Triathlon believes that the ITU’s advancing what seems to be false reasons for the need for a drafting-legal rule is unconscionable.  The way the drafting issue has been handled is sufficient reason to replace Les McDonald as the ITU President.  USA Triathlon has already retired Mark Sisson. What Really Happened At The USA Triathlon San Diego Board Meeting Mark Sisson came to the USA Triathlon San Diego Board meeting in February 1996 to obtain a renomination from USA Triathlon so that he could be a candidate for the ITU Treasurer.  If he got the renomination Mark said (i) he was willing to get USA Triathlon a list of all the ITU member federation’s names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and president’s names, (ii) he was willing to see what could be done about the ITU rule making athletes who competed in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship ineligible and he said (iii) he would seek to change the method by which elite teams were to be chosen for the ITU Triathlon World Championship. At the time, the USA Triathlon Board pointed out that it had already been promised the ITU membership list with no strings attached.  USA Triathlon further felt that as far as Ironman was concerned, it was just plain wrong to ban athletes who competed in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship or any other self-declared world championship.  To make the point clearer, USA Triathlon thinks that the ITU has a superior right to use the words "world-championship" but in resolving problems growing out of a race’s use of those words.  The ITU should deal directly with the race and leave the athletes out of the quarrel. USA Triathlon is informed by those who would be in a position to know that the change in the Ironman rule came about without the help of Mark Sisson.  (Sorry, but we can’t be more specific than that because we gave our word to protect our sources.)  As far as the ITU membership list, it was finally sent by Mark Sisson along with conditions as to its use which were not in keeping with the ITU resolution directing that USA Triathlon receive the list in the first place.  So Mark actually narrowed the right of USA Triathlon and did us no favor by so doing. When Mark says that the USA Triathlon Board "thinks small" he’s wrong. When Mark wanted a renomination from USA Triathlon in exchange for helping USA Triathlon get what it was entitled to, USA Triathlon said no deal.  In our view that wasn’t "small thinking," no matter what Mark says. When Mark told the USA Triathlon Board that it should give him the renomination because otherwise USA Triathlon would end up with someone worse than he, Mark Sisson, we thought "big" and said thanks but no thanks.  The USA Triathlon Board ended up getting that which it knew it had a right to get from the ITU.  Ironman got what it was entitled to get from the ITU.  And Mark Sisson was courteously denied the renomination for the ITU Treasurer he had come to get. Please, anyone who thinks USA Triathlon did wrong for the sport is this country by retiring Mark let us know.  So far, all the responses support USA Triathlon’s action.  USA Triathlon wants your expression of support because otherwise Mark Sisson and Les McDonald will tell their followers that they, Les and Mark, are right.  We want to be able to squelch that view when and if it gets voiced. So do let us know what you think.  Thanks a lot. THE NEXT RELEASE V WILL BE SENT FOR POSTING ON MAY 31, 1996. –  USA TRIATHLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Response:

Question:

What a relief!  Others a finally begining to understand the ITU problem. For specific information: 1.  ITU did not get triathlon into the olympics, and any claim by Les and Company that they did is a documentable lie.  The reason triathlon is on the program  in Sydney is the Aussies put it on the program without asking ’cause they love the sport, and the IOC just passively went along with it.  There is absolutely NO guarantee that it will ever be on the program again, and my sources at IOC … which are very good … say that the current BIGGEST obstacle to it ever being on the program again is Les McDonald!  Any intimation by Les that he had anything positive to do with triathlon being on the 2000 program is pure fantasy on his part.

The Aussies do love the sport and I thought that each host country was allowed to select a few demonstration sports to showcase.  I thought this was how baseball was introduced in LA in 1984? Please correct me if I am in error on this matter. I am glad to see triathlon get this shot so that "civilians" will stop equated triathlon with only the Ironman.   Now if only we could get rid of some sports that are less than Olympian.   Who has ballroom dancing medal round tickets I can buy????

Response:

4.  Mark Sisson is NOT going to be the appointment to ITU for the US anymore.  USATriathlon will be happy to accept nominations for a suitable replacement.  The litmus test for my vote will be 1) NO DRAFTING PERIOD, and 2) a relentless pursuit of getting rid of Les so that true democracy can be installed.

I nominate Jeffrey Justice. A second, anyone? Katherine Williams

Response:

JJ is right.  If I thought the USAT Board would approve the resolution to split off I’d introduce it, again.  As for now, I’m waiting to see what evolves over the summer.   On that note, let me put in a strong endorsement for my fellow board members. As a group they do believe strongly in representing the membership, and the fact that they currently want to try to work within the system to cure the disease represented by Les and Mark through amputation, innoculation, or massive doses of working against these people and their insulting totalitarian dictatorship, speaks highly of their resolve, optimism and willingness to work on YOUR behalf.  JJ and I are more cynical than they are as a group, BUT DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE of selling the USAT Board or Executive Director short.  They are very smart, very well informed, very dedicated, and currently working in the interests of 16,000 age groupers they represent.  What we can do is to continue to supprort their efforts by posting our opinions here for ITU to read.  The one thing that will defeat a totalitarian dictatorship is PUBLIC EXPOSURE.  Keep up the questioning, the criticism, and the opinions.  Please don’tsell the USAT Board short.  There are very dedicated, talented and hard working people there, and they are not ignoring ITU.  Stay with us! Criticize the problem…LES MCDONALD and MARK SISSON …  ITU can be cured with radical treatment. Cooter

Response:

I nominate Jeffrey Justice. A second, anyone? Katherine Williams Still mad a JJ? i knew you two didn’t get along, but isn’t this a little cruel to wush the ITU on JJ

Speaking from my side, I think the matter of "not getting along" has faded quite nicely over the last year.  Can’t say I always agree with him, but he has my respect now. Katherine

Response:

The ITU isn’t a governing body, it’s a disease.

Far be it from JJ to beat around the bush.  My computer screen let out a growl when his post appeared.  I’m glad I’m on his side! -Rolf —    Rolf "Ironman" Arands, Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering)   Dept. of Chem. and Biochem. Eng’g, Rutgers University  –These are my highly opinionated views, not Rutgers’–

Response:

I nominate Jeffrey Justice. A second, anyone? Katherine Williams

Still mad a JJ? i knew you two didn’t get along, but isn’t this a little cruel to wush the ITU on JJ TriRef p.s. I’ll gladly second.

Response:

4.  Mark Sisson is NOT going to be the appointment to ITU for the US anymore.  USATriathlon will be happy to accept nominations for a suitable replacement.  The litmus test for my vote will be 1) NO DRAFTING PERIOD, and 2) a relentless pursuit of getting rid of Les so that true democracy can be installed. I nominate Jeffrey Justice. A second, anyone? Katherine Williams

No thanks Katherine. No interest at all. The ITU isn’t a governing body, it’s a disease.  Can anyone think of a virus that has caused more illness in this sport? I say things were better in the pre-ITU glory days. I’m for the dismantling of the entire structure, or USA TRI splitting away, even if it meant no Olympics, ever, and official hearings to consider a one-year banishment from the sport of all ITU E-board members and its American reps. A disease can’t be improved, it can only be eliminated. Any more questions? — JJ Jeffrey Justice Oceanside, CA

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4.  Mark Sisson is NOT going to be the appointment to ITU for the US anymore.  USATriathlon will be happy to accept nominations for a suitable replacement.  The litmus test for my vote will be 1) NO DRAFTING PERIOD, and 2) a relentless pursuit of getting rid of Les so that true democracy can be installed. I nominate Jeffrey Justice. A second, anyone?

I would second, but I have another nomination,  a man who will be the ANTI-LES, a man who WILL fight for the wishes of the athletes he represents, a man who will force Less and his henchmen out of existence, a man who will represent the true interest of the sport– I nominate TriCooter! (What do ya’ say Paul?)                                     _                                   –    o      ’             –  __o       –    </_  `     ‘         –    <         – __/    /o_         – (()) (())        -  / Tri-On The only legal draft should come from hops and barley. WEB (Robert Webster) Waukegan, IL

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What a relief!  Others a finally begining to understand the ITU problem.

Finally someone in the know making sense!  Thanks as always Paul.  If you ever need another soapbox, let me know and my web page will be made available to you.  I only wish that the ITU would answer some of the charges continually leveled against them here and elsewhere.  We all know that people from the ITU are lurking, yet they don’t have the balls to step up to the plate.  Isn’t it disturbing to everyone that when Les finally does speak, he rambles on incomprehensibly at times? Marty Marty Miller Proprietor of The Triathlete’s Web http://w3.one.net/~triweb

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What a relief!  Others a finally begining to understand the ITU problem. For specific information: 1.  ITU did not get triathlon into the olympics, and any claim by Les and Company that they did is a documentable lie.  The reason triathlon is on the program  in Sydney is the Aussies put it on the program without asking ’cause they love the sport, and the IOC just passively went along with it.  There is absolutely NO guarantee that it will ever be on the program again, and my sources at IOC … which are very good … say that the current BIGGEST obstacle to it ever being on the program again is Les McDonald!  Any intimation by Les that he had anything positive to do with triathlon being on the 2000 program is pure fantasy on his part. 2.  The IOC NEVER told Les McDonald to clean up the sport, rein in the word "world", or any other such nonsense.  The US members of IOC were asked directly about that, and they LAUGHED OUT LOUD!  They have heard this lie so many times from IGB’s that it one of IOC’s biggest jokes! Some individual member of IOC may have said something to Les, who knows … but who cares … it was not official IOC action, and all his bullshit about the word world is exactly that …. BULLSHIT. 3.  The reason Les continues in place is because he runs a totalitarian dictatorship and calls it a democracy.  The man is afraid of real democracy and truth, because it would expose him as the phony he is.   The entire drafting plan is the work of Mark Sisson and Les.  Nobody else wants it.  Les’ "appointments" (voted on by nobody) support him because they are all afraid of his bullying and the underlying threat to replace them the way he did the Euro uprising several years ago.  If a real elected body was put together worldwide, Les would be history in two seconds.  This is just a matter of time, now, because those of us who know what a self-serving phony he is are going to continue to expose him right here on the internet until he is history. 4.  Mark Sisson is NOT going to be the appointment to ITU for the US anymore.  USATriathlon will be happy to accept nominations for a suitable replacement.  The litmus test for my vote will be 1) NO DRAFTING PERIOD, and 2) a relentless pursuit of getting rid of Les so that true democracy can be installed. Paul C. Burton USATriathlon Board of Directors

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says… Les is a little bit kooky if you ask me. Thank god that the Aussies came up with a series to match the ITU. If you haven’t heard, check out triathlete online. It has all the goods. Respectfully Yours, Josh "I hate the ITU" Allen

A "little" kooky???  I had trouble following most of his rambling answers, and the substance (if there was any) clearly indicated that, among other things, he has a seriously overinflated ego that he is constantly trying to fuel.   What was the comment about the French government???  I showed the article to a friend at work who knows nothing about triathlons, and he got a good laugh out of it.  Unfortunately, for us Les is no laughing matter. Marty Miller Proprietor of The Triathlete’s Web http://w3.one.net/~triweb

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From the depths of college returns Josh Allen, the basher of all. I’ve been absent for a while, but I’ve been lurking….until now. I feel that I should offer a little criticism for Bill…YOU"RE TOO NICE. "Advanced stages of syphilis?!!" Cool. I would have gone for terminal stupidity. Les is a little bit kooky if you ask me. Thank god that the Aussies came up with a series to match the ITU. If you haven’t heard, check out triathlete online. It has all the goods. Respectfully Yours, Josh "I hate the ITU" Allen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Like many fellow triathletes, I have been following the antics of the ITU over the past couple of years with disbelief.  I had always heard about Les McDonald but tended to think most of what was reported  was probably exagerated…. Well…after reading the April issue of Inside Triathlon I am amazed. The ITU is not about triathlon; it’s not about the Olympics; it’s not about the athletes; it’s ALL about Les McDonald!  Good grief!   I have never read such maniacal babbling in all my life –  the guy didn’t have a cogent or lucid thought in the entire interview.  Can you say ‘advanced stages of syphilis’?  How about ‘megalomania’?  Jeez, if this is the guy leading triathlon into the 21st century it’s a pretty sad commentary on the state of the sport.  And, what does it say about the intestinal fortitude of the professional cadre that they let a tin-horn Napoleon "have his way" with them? So for me at least, half the mystery is settled:  Les MacDonald _is_ a certified lunatic – read the interview, it’s surreal!  The unanswered part is how he has gotten away with it for so long!  Here-here to the pro athletes who are taking a stand against this nut; let’s hope enough of the rest have the stones to bring him to his knees.

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Like many fellow triathletes, I have been following the antics of the ITU over the past couple of years with disbelief.  I had always heard about Les McDonald but tended to think most of what was reported  was probably exagerated…. Well…after reading the April issue of Inside Triathlon I am amazed. The ITU is not about triathlon; it’s not about the Olympics; it’s not about the athletes; it’s ALL about Les McDonald!  Good grief!   I have never read such maniacal babbling in all my life –  the guy didn’t have a cogent or lucid thought in the entire interview.  Can you say ‘advanced stages of syphilis’?  How about ‘megalomania’?  Jeez, if this is the guy leading triathlon into the 21st century it’s a pretty sad commentary on the state of the sport.  And, what does it say about the intestinal fortitude of the professional cadre that they let a tin-horn Napoleon "have his way" with them? So for me at least, half the mystery is settled:  Les MacDonald _is_ a certified lunatic – read the interview, it’s surreal!  The unanswered part is how he has gotten away with it for so long!  Here-here to the pro athletes who are taking a stand against this nut; let’s hope enough of the rest have the stones to bring him to his knees. Bill Hughlett Standing by (with flame suit on), waiting to pee on the ITU’s grave .

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Question:

does anybody know wes sites for triathlete mag. or other sites having trouble going into web. thanks in advance if you know please answer

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http://www.triathletemag.com/tri/ And I suggest going to www.yahoo.com and typing triathlete in the search box.  this is a surefire way to find multiple sites. Chuck james

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Try the below address, and it will get to just about wherever you want to go (related to triathlons, that is) does anybody know wes sites for triathlete mag. or other sites having trouble going into web. thanks in advance if you know please answer

– Marty Miller Proprietor of The Triathlete’s Web http://w3.one.net/~triweb

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Question:

I thought I’d like to try lifting some weights to try to help my swim. Can someone suggest  which exercises I  might get the most benefit from?

   You may first want to try paddles–they create enough drag to severely exercise the shoulders/lats…  Be careful, of course.  There is a new paddle out (forget name?) that are shaped almost like a mini-surfboard that in addition to creating extra drag help teach the swimmer to correctly plane the hand on the top of the water right before going in.    As far as weights go, I figure the shoulders, upper chest and lats have the most to do with swimming (comment please). I figured I’d get the most from upper body exercises.  Frankly I don’t think my legs can do much more than they’re already doing.

   A triathlon swim should be mostly arms since the legs need to be saved for the swim/run portion anyway.

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: I thought I’d like to try lifting some weights to try to help my : swim. Can someone suggest  which exercises I  might get the most : benefit from?  I’ve got access to just about  any type of equip- : ment: free weights, benches, Nautilus and like machines, cables. …… swimming is surgical tubing, AKA "bands."  You have to sort of play

Great suggestion. Last night in the gym I found two ways to mimic this. There is a machine that looks like a "pec deck" but actually allows you to do chest flyes while sitting upright. By standing facing the machine bending and pulling the handle toward me I could simulate swimming. Also by putting handles on overhead cables, standing back and pulling the handle toward me. emphasized much.  One thing that we did a lot of is wrist curls:  get a LIGHT (i.e., about 20 lbs) barbell, sit on a bench, rest your elbows on your knees and hold the barbell in your hands, facing up.  Curl your wrists upwards, SLOWLY.  Fast movements at this exercise can lead to some pretty

Interesting. I’ve been doing wrist curls for my rowing but thought I’d cut them out to make more time for swimming exercises. Now I’ll keep doing them. Arnold (yah, that Arnold) says to let the bar roll as far out on the fingertips as you can.

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I thought I’d like to try lifting some weights to try to help my swim. Can someone suggest  which exercises I  might get the most benefit from?   You may first want to try paddles–they create enough drag to severely exercise the shoulders/lats…  Be careful, of course.  There is a new paddle out (forget name?) that are shaped almost like a mini-surfboard that in addition to creating extra drag help teach the swimmer to correctly plane the hand on the top of the water right before going in.

Not to be TOO dense about this but these are paddles you attach to your hands while swimming? And the idea is (I guess) it’s harder to pull them thru the water thus exercising the pulling muscles? Are they available thru sporting goods stores?

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I thought I’d like to try lifting some weights to try to help my swim. Can someone suggest  which exercises I  might get the most benefit from?  I’ve got access to just about  any type of equip- ment: free weights, benches, Nautilus and like machines, cables. I figured I’d get the most from upper body exercises.  Frankly I don’t think my legs can do much more than they’re already doing. Thanks for any help.

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: I thought I’d like to try lifting some weights to try to help my : swim. Can someone suggest  which exercises I  might get the most : benefit from?  I’ve got access to just about  any type of equip- : ment: free weights, benches, Nautilus and like machines, cables. Personally, I hate weights.  I will not deny, however, that they can be beneficial.  I swam varsity all four years in HS, as well as 6 months on a private team, and the best dry-land exercise I can recommend for swimming is surgical tubing, AKA "bands."  You have to sort of play around with them to figure out what strength of tubing is best for you, but basically, you get a piece about 8 feet long, tie small handles at the ends, and use them like a pseudo-soloflex.  I’ve found that I can work just about any muscle group I want with them.  I have mine looped around my towel rack in my dorm room, and I work my lats, pecs, delts and triceps with them.  The main workout is lats and triceps. Basically, you bend over at the hips and pull back on them as if you were swimming.  I usually do them butterfly-style, just for comfort, but it works one arm at a time, too.  It simulates the swim stroke very well, and believe me, if you get a good tube and pull it back far enough, pulling for 5 minutes will make your arms ready to fall off. If you MUST use weights, "dips" (pushing yourself up and down on a u-shaped bar that looks like a cheap pair of bike handlebars) are popular, as they work your pecs and triceps.  Shoulder shrugs with dumbbells work your trapezius and vertical fly (dumbbell in each hand, lift out and up from your sides) works your deltoids real well.  The private swim club I swam for also did standard stuff (bicep curls, benchpress, etc.) but that wasn’t emphasized much.  One thing that we did a lot of is wrist curls:  get a LIGHT (i.e., about 20 lbs) barbell, sit on a bench, rest your elbows on your knees and hold the barbell in your hands, facing up.  Curl your wrists upwards, SLOWLY.  Fast movements at this exercise can lead to some pretty severe arthritis.  After about 100 reps, try to write your name.  Good luck. STRETCH ALL THE MUSCLES YOU WORK!!! Tight muscles don’t swim well. Anyway, my MAIN suggestions are the bands and wrist curls. Just my $.02 worth.                         — David

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