IM70.3 Cozumel: Pre-Race Report (Part 1)

It was everything I imagined it would be (the best of times) and it was FUBAR – CLUSTER FU*K I hoped it wouldn’t be (the worst of times).

 

Friday morning, bright and early – cause the FireMarshall was transporting us to the airport and well, ya know traffic/international travel/TSA required we leave at O-Dark-30 – we hauled my gigantic bike box, gear and luggage to the airport for our journey to Cozumel.  I thought it was going to be smooth sailing. BWAAAHAAAHAAAHAA!! We checked the luggage & bike box without so much as one glitch. Boarded the plane, soared to 30,000 ft, got the Wi-Fi going and waited on the beverage cart to slide down the center isle.

 

Bloody Mary’s and “ONLY DIET COKE” (yeah, right) for breakfast! Happy Happy Joy Joy. We landed in Cancun, gathered our stuff, chartered our van (we had 6 passengers, 4 bike boxes and luggage) for our journey to Playa del Carmen to catch the ferry over to Cozumel.

 

And then all those well laid travel plans went to hell in a hand basket. We missed the 3pm ferry (although the damn thing was sitting there till 4pm) by 5 min – per the ticket handler. They would only let us buy tickets for the 5pm ferry. Okay. We did and went to Senor Frogs for food, libations & shenanigans.

 

Thirty minutes before the ferry was to depart, we got in the line to board…and watched as the ferry just pull out – WITHOUT ABOUT A GAZILLION PEOPLE – most of us with bike boxes. In other words, they were having a race on an island and you don’t have enough ferries? SA WHAT. Thank GOD we had Francie with us who spoke Spanish and was able to find out that – OH WELL, that was the last ferry (with that particular company for the day) and we would have to trade in our current tickets for tickets on another companies ferry and beat it back in the line to board. 30 min later we had new tickets but those of us with bike boxes had to get out of the line and gather on the dock as they would let us board first. That was only decided AFTER they realized that they were about to have a riot on their hands if all the race participants didn’t get to the island TONIGHT!

 

When boarding began…CHAOS ensued. They checked our luggage but each of us had to lift our own bike box onto the ferry – up the plank, up the stairs – PURE MADNESS. By time we all got settled on the ship we all looked like we had been traveling for days in a torrential downpour from the sweating, huffing & puffing that was going on. The 6pm ferry didn’t leave until 7ish and didn’t arrive at Cozumel until 8ish. Then we had to wait in line with a gazillion other people for a taxi van to get us to the resort. We arrived at the resort around 9:30pm. A little over 12 hours of traveling.

 

JESUS be some air conditioning.

We didn’t really get to see it till the next morning, but this was the view from our room. Erin made me put my bike back together so I wouldn’t have to worry about it that night, we ordered some room service drinks, showered and I made plan with my fellow TriDiva’s to get up for the practice swim, mandatory race meeting & packet pickup/expo.

 

Saturday morning – another O-DARK-30 wake up as we all traipse down to the swim start for a morning frolic in the water. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

While we were waiting on the dock to jump in and get our swim on, the TriDiva’s were talking and trying to figure out what was going on. All of a sudden this man turns on us and says “OMG! You speak English!”. We met “Philly Joe” who was staying at our resort as well and we were fast friends from that moment on. Joe was always surrounded by his Tri-Harem of women and he was an absolute blast to be around the entire time. FUN-TAY!!! We all decided to swim about 600-700 m of the course. That was the most spectacular open water swim – EVER!! You could actually see all the way to the bottom. Visibility had to be over 100m. I was so busy looking a Dory, Nemo and his turtle buddies that I didn’t realize how far I was swimming. You almost didn’t even have to look up to sigh as you could see the sandbag anchors holding down the buoys. MAGNIFICIENT. Only draw back was the salt water taste in your mouth, made you feel constantly thirsty, but they had these “pouches” of water waiting for you when we got out.

                   

After the swim and a jaunt back to the hotel to change, we were off to the WASTE MY TIME CAUSE YOU DON’T THINK WE CAN READ MANDATORY ATHLETE MEETING.  All the woman did was read out of the athletes guide, contradicting herself again and again. When we started to ask her questions she kept having  to ask the race director and translate back  & forth. Talk about CONFUSING. Yep, that meeting right there wasted an hour of my life and cleared everything up about as clear as mud. HUMPH.

 

We walked from the meeting about a half mile to the expo where we picked up our packets, got our number tatoo (next time – just let them do the marker) our goodies and headed back to the hotel…

 

WHICH TOOK PRACTICALLY ALL DAY! And then we had to rack our bikes…

                     

Back to the hotel to get our bikes and blue run bag (you had to pack all of your run gear in advance and bring with you to T1 for them to transport to T2) and catch bus (which you brought your bike onto) down to T1.

         

It was very intimidating and awesome all at the same time and as I racked my bike and perused all of the bikes around me – I NEED A NEW REAL ROAD BIKE! STAT. My bike, in comparison, looked like I had bought it from toys-r-us (close though), but, hell, I’ve raced with it for 2 years – nothing I can do right this minute so, lets get to racking.

That van made my day. After a long day of pre-race preparation, Erin, the QueenMum, PhillyJoe & his wife went for a little shopping in downtown Cozumel and then headed back to the hotel for dinner in the “fancy” restaurant at the resort. Hind sight being 20 20, I wish I had picked at the buffet instead. My soup tasted off so I only had two spoons and left it. The filet was alive still when they brought it to me and I think they were confused as to what mashed potatoes were so I left that and got some lasagna which tasted like hamburger helper lasagna. Hmmmm… I really wish I had just went to the buffet and watched the chef make me some plain pasta at the pasta bar and been done with it. I felt fine and slept fine but just felt off.

 

But that’s a tale I’ll have to tell you about in Part2 of IM70.3 Cozumel – Race Report: The Good, The Bad & the UGLY…

 

Stay tuned.

IM70.3 Cozumel: Bike Packing–RET TA GO!

SOOoooo…The Bike Box exchange was made from another member of MidMaryland Tri and it was time to pack up the bike for Cozumel.

 

I GOOOO.GLED my box, downloaded the basic instruction and tonight I got busy putting my bike in the box – tucking Dominique Diva Dawes and nice & neat into her flight suit for our trip to Cozumel.

 

Mmmmm….Hmmm…It took me almost 2 hours to get Double D all snug as a bug. WHY you ask? ‘Cause I want her to arrive in the same mint condition (more or less) that I put her into the box.

 

Here we go…

 

I quickly got the wheels off of the Diva and then I used the Velcro ties to secure the chain (chain stays?).

 

Once the wheels were off, chain stay’s secured, I place the Diva in the box. There is a skewer inside the box to clip the front of the bike to and the frame rests on a Styrofoam block. I was ecstatic that I didn’t have to take off the pedals or the seat. Two less things I had to worry about.  There are “hooks” on the bottom of the box to secure your bike to and make sure it doesn’t move. I secured the pedals to the frame with more Velcro strips and then stared down the handlebars to figure that out. After looking at it for a while and finding the right hex key to fit, I was able to lift off the handle bars with minimal fuss & muss. I turned them on the side, secured them to the frame and WHA LA! I was ready to put the wheels, bike pump and some bubble wrap in for final measure.

 

Wheels in. Pump in. Some other bubble wrapped gear in the bottom. I put a layer of bubble wrap around around the tires and over the bike, top on, secure and I’m RET TA GO!!!

 

COZUMEL HERE I COME…best not forget that passport. Hmmm…let me go pull that sucker out NOW.

IM70.3 Cozumel Training: The Head Game

The date approaches. 6 Days, 9 hours, 19, 18, 17…minutes to race day. The Athlete Guide was FINALLY published and the angst, anxiety and gnashing of teeth set in full force.

 

2 Transition Areas, 3 bags, a “green” transition area – meaning if you don’t put your stuff back into a bag then it will be thrown out, mandatory meetings, 3 penalty cards & you are DQ’d, failure to report to 1st aid station & get your pic taken after issuance of a penalty – DQ’d. Drop 1 piece of trash, bottle in wrong location – penalty. Closer than 4 bike lengths – penalty. Don’t pass fast enough – penalty. The pdf file athlete guide is 27 pages. I got so sick of scrolling up down & all around that I finally sent the friggin thing to the printer so I could more easily read it.

 

I was a total wreak after trying to get through the guide a few times. That damn guide had stole my joy, my peace of mind. THEN, I went to see my Chiropractic doc cause I was having some lower back pain with it radiating down my right leg (sciatica flaring up again) and some mild hip joint pain after running and was told that, of course, I was back out of alignment. I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS. I need to get my chi back …and then I thought about a song that has been stuck in my head recently: Titanium.

 

That guide SHOT ME DOWN – got all up in my head and started doing the happy dance all over my goals & visions of fun in the sun – BUT I GOT UP – fugg that. I got this. I going to get in at least 5 sessions of Bikram Yoga and straighten myself out while getting my Namaste on. I spent the weekend doing a little planning, laid my stuff out and decided that all of that – that guide – was the white noise of doubt & fear; which is not of God. I can do this. I will do this.

 

Fear, doubt, anxiety…DISMISSED. BYE BYE. How?

 

I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium

 

6 days, 8 hours, 45 min…so, in the words from the song “The Fighter” – WHAT YA GONNA DO?…I’m gonna go down there and…

 

Give em hell, turn their heads
Gonna live life 'til [I’m] dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll say to me…

There goes the fighter…Here comes the fighter
That's what they'll say to me

IM70.3 Cozumel Training–A Flat Tire Attitude Adjustment

Sunday morning looked glorious for a 60 mile ride. I even checked in from the BWI Overlook – “This is the day the Lord is made…a glorious day for a 60 mile ride.”

 

And it was. I was cruising along…having a (what I considered) great ride and then at EXACTLY the 40 mile mark…my back tire went flat.

 

GTFOOHWTBS! Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn. Sigh. Ok. Here we go. Let’s see if any of those (well, that one) workshop and U.tu.be University video’s pay off.

           

Now, while I was fussing and grumbling…there were signs that life was still grand – that I was going to be okay – that all was still right with the world. I got my flat right next to a gas station, across the street from a drug store chain & from the B&A Trail (where there were NUMEROUS cyclists passing by and offering assistance). Yet, I was still huffing & puffing, whining and talking about the “epic failure” of my ride.

 

I walked my bike into the gas station lot, Shifted into the low gears, released the brake, flipped my bike over (hey, Diva Dawes is easier to work with when you can use both hands), and proceed to remove the tire. I got the tire off pretty easily and then I just stared at the tire for a while – now what?

 

Oh! I have a repair kit! Let’s pull it out. I used the “tool” to get the tire off and as I was going around I found this giant construction staple jammed into the tire. Yeah, that will give you a flat straight away. I got the tire off the rim, and pulled the tube out. Seriously, I took about 2 min thinking I could find the hole and patch it. HELL WIT DAT! Just put a new tube in. That was even uneventful. I got the new tube in, put the tire back on the rim and got my cartridge & nozzle out to inflate the tire – got 20 more to go ya know.

 

HUMPH. Not so fast, my novice tire changing padawan. The nozzle got stuck on the stem and simply would NOT come off. I keep pulling and twisting, pulling & twisting and it WOULD NOT COME OFF…OR INFLATE THE TIRE. Here came those words again…

 

EPIC MF’N FAILURE!!!

                 

After about 20 min fiddling with this thing and trying to get it off, I gave up and called The FireMarshall – come get me please. He started making his way to me. While I sat there to wait for him, I decided I would keep trying to remove the nozzle thingy and after about 15 min of that, I dropped the tire on the ground and the frigging thing just popped off. I just stared at it like FORE-EVER!!! You have GOT to be kidding me.

 

I put the nozzle & cartridge back together and testing it on the flat tube – it worked. SON OF A BEEEOTCH. I try it again on the new tire/tube and WHAM BAM THANK YOU MA’AM the tire inflates. I call The FireMarshall to tell him that he doesn’t have to come and he was like, OH HELL NO!, I’m almost there and you would have another 20 to do and we ARE going to that BBQ we got invited to. Just get in the car when I get there. HUMPH.

 

EPIC HUMAN ERROR FAILURE.

 

I spent the next 15 or so trying to get the tire back on and it is not as simple as it looks. That whole chain thing – REALLY!!?? – SIGH. I finally get it on, put my kit back on the bike and then to add insult to injury, the motivation tag that MsPattey gave me was all hanging askew…Mocking me.

 

I did not need to be mocked at that moment. I took it as a sign (in addition to the flat) as a premonition of what my race might be like and I started getting all negative nelly. Snivel, whine, snivel, bitch, snivel, complain.

The FireMarshall rolls up into the gas station and takes charge. I’m sniveling and started talking about my anxiety about the race based on this “epic failure”. He gave me the classic FireMarshall hard stare over the top of his glasses and simply (and FIRMLY) stated, “Watch your words.” Being snarky, I said “what do you mean by that?” His reply was “Is this your 1st flat? Did you get it changed? BY YOURSELF!? Did you still get in 40 hard miles? YOU are NOT a failure. Your equipment FAILED you and you dealt with it. Watch your words. Cara is watching & listening. Now get in the car.”

 

Well, DAMN! Attitude Check! He was right and I left that funky attitude right there at the BP gas station.

 

I CAN do this. I WILL do this.

 

I AM A TRIATHLETE!

Strive2Tri Splash & Dash

Today, Princess Cara participated in her first race – the Strive2Tri Inaugural Youth Splash & Dash…and she did an AWESOME JOB! All the kids were just fabulous.

 

KEEEEEEUUUUUTTTTEEE AND FABULOUS!!!

 

It was so wonderful to see all of the young people, even the little bits (6 & under – who did the fun run), getting their fitness on…especially in the water. It was a sight to behold.

 

This…watching Cara enjoy herself at fitness/triathlon…keeps me motivated to keep going.

 

I’m so proud of Princess Cara and all the athletes that competed today. They are all champions!

 

Enjoy the video from today.

DA HELL YOU SAY - Explain it to me–Help me Understand

Today I read a FB status update that rendered me, of all people, speechless. After staring at it for a while and typing out a hot response, I decided to erase it and not engage in a discussion about the post with a bunch of people that, by the way people were liking it, thought the same way.

 

I just didn’t see the point in getting into a heated FB argument discussion that wasn’t going to change anything.

 

I decided to post it here, to perhaps a broader minded audience, and see if you can explain to me - WITHOUT NAME CALLING, RHETORIC & BULLSHIT ONE LINERS - why my visceral reaction to it is off base. Once again, cite your facts (not sound bites) & show your work.

 

Here it goes:

“While our party [GOP} might not be for gay marriage, we must have a place for all people that want small government and a fiscal conservatism. If you are gay but want to remain an achievement driven economy, consider voting for Romney. If you are pro choice but concerned about the deficit, Romney is the man for you. We can't let a difference in one policy issue out of 10 or more to drive citizens to the entitlement party."

My gut reaction was…GTFOOHWTBS! So, regardless of the fact that “your party” believes gays should have no rights AT ALL, that they are amoral, unchristian and a plague upon society that will destroy the very fabric of our nation with their “behavior”, gays should vote for the GOP candidate because its ONLY one issue out of 10 or more. It’s just one little issue that even if the gay community supports Romney, they will get the clock turned back on every advancement, consideration, law that would make them equal under the law to every other citizen. Don’t worry, the gay community will certainly be better off in that bullshit “achievement driven economy” that will all of a sudden be created under Romney as if in the past 4 years everyone just laid down sideways in the government trough and said fugg it, I’m going to hold out for the freebies.

 

I have to be off base, right?

 

And hey, you pro choicers that believe a woman should have the RIGHT to decide what is best for her and her body, that rape is NOT a form of contraception, that a woman should have any rights at all to self-determination & liberty, but want something done about the deficit – NEVER FEAR – it’s only ONE ISSUE out of 10 or more. Don’t worry, while we are working on the deficit (that the GOP doesn’t even think they can balance till, what, 2014 OR even have a plan) we will continue to redefine rape, strip women of their rights and put men in charge of legislating v.ag.ina’s & ut.eru.ses (which it looks like they don’t even know how they work) and devise a plan to get you in a burka. Extreme? When I hear what some of the GOP elected officials are saying – yeah, that shit right there is EXTREME.

 

But I’m off base, right? I misunderstand, right? That’s not what you meant at all, huh?

 

Mmmmm, okay.

 

What my FB friend said came across to me as the same as saying – Hey, ignore the fact that that we don’t support Civil Rights legislation or think that minorities should have the same rights, under the CONSTITUTION, that we hold so dear, it’s just ONE ISSUE among 10 or more. Don’t let that worry your pretty little head. Support us while we stomp all over anyone or anything that gets in the way of us finding ways to put all of our money in overseas tax havens. Who gives a damn about the rest of “you people”, you underachieving, entitlement hungry, lazy minions.

 

Did I read too much into that update? I don’t think so, but there has to be SOMEBODY who can explain it to me.  I’m starting to think that I won’t even be able to save my watch from wading in the bullshit dished out over the next few months. Not at all.

First Day of 3rd Grade

Today is Princess Cara's 1st Day of 3rd Grade! She insisted on riding the bus to school now, since she is a "big girl" now.

I wonder where she got that sparkly, coordinated fashion sense from? I just can't imagine...hmmmm.

Happy 1st Day of School, Princess Cara!!!!!

1st Day of 3rd Grade Hair

It took me a few Y.ou.Tu.be University videos and almost 5 hours but I manage to do "Senegalese Twists" in Princess Cara's hair.

My fingers hurt. I have a callus forming on my right thumb, but it is done and The Princess is very happy.

Now, I think a HUGE cocktail(s) is in order as I peruse my IM70.3 training schedule for next week. Intense! So, how to get a swim in AND see Cara off on the bus?

Swim early & swim fast.

Stay tuned for 1st Day of 3rd Grade pics.

Cutting The Apron Strings

The Prince, Heir to the Empire, Protector of the Realm left today to go back to college…for his SENIOR YEAR!

 

And he took the car back this year – cause we promised – all the way to Indiana. 10(TEN) hours to Indiana Tech – car loaded, all by himself.

 

…TEN HOURS on the highways & byways.

 

 

My baby done gone and growed up on me. We had BIG BREAKFAST with the family this morning, watched The Prince load the car (The FireMarshall prevented all of us women from getting involved –“Let that man take care of his business.” {{{O_O}}}), said our goodbyes and watched his drive away. SIGH.

 

And I didn’t burst into a heap of tears as he pulled off. Not even a lip tremble.

 

I think he’s gonna be okay.I guess I can put away the apron and hover craft…Mmmm…maybe I’ll just park it in the garage so if I need it…

 

Letting go is never easy.

Maryland Women’s Sprint Duathlon

 

On August 5th, I participated the the Maryland Women’s Sprint Duathlon with my friend, Yolanda – Director, Strive2Tri and while we didn’t break any records, we had an absolute blast.

 

I drove the course the day before and was surprised at how “technical” it was with fast down hills going into hairpin curves or s-curves, rolling hills with some fast breakaways. Nevertheless, it was very scenic and looked like a fun course.

 

The sprint was a 2 mile run – 13mile bike –2 mile run. I was did fab on the way out with a crushingly fast pace of 11:27 (HA! That’s BOOKIN’ IT for me) and piddled around in transition (as I always seem to do) to hop on the bike.

 

While I wasn’t busting out any serious speed on the course, I got to say “On your left” or “passing” numerous times which brought me great joy! GREAT JOY! Every single time I was able to pass someone, it gave me just a little more pep to my pedal. However, the last 3 miles was the LONGEST gradual climb on the planet. LAWD! I thought I would never make it back into transition…where I piddled again for close to 4 mins before taking it out for the final 2 miles.

 

The last 2 mile loop was done in reverse. Downhill – mostly – on the 1st 2miles, UPHILL practically the entire way the 2nd 2miles. I thought I was gonna die. As I came around the corner to climb UPHILL the last half mile to the finish, I wanted to walk so damn bad, but I didn’t. I COULDN’T. I didn’t want anybody to see me walking the finish AND my coach was watching and I just didn’t want to hear his mouth ‘bout me not pushing that last bit like I knew I could.

 

I dug deep and ran up that hill, bringing it home.

 

This was a fun race. I had a great time. One of the biggest take-aways for me was about transitions…

 

STOP FUGGING AROUND AND GET MOVING!

 

If I cut 2 min off each piddle around (4 min total) I would have jumped up the rankings in my age group – by six positions. It shouldn’t be transitions that drag me down. Not at all. I have to have my game face on not only on the course, but in transition. It is not really a rest break. (So, I’m not supposed to eat lunch in there?) Gotcha!

 

SIIIIIRRRRRR, There are 39 and a Butt Days until IM70.3 Cozumel. 39 Days SIR!

Swimming & Biking & Running, OH MY!

Open Water Swim–This One’s a Fighter

Until the referee rings the bell
Until both your eyes start to swell
Until the crowd goes home
What we gonna do ya'll?

Give em hell, turn their heads
Gonna live life 'til we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me
There goes the fighter, there goes the fighter
Here comes the fighter
That's what they'll say to me, say to me, say to me,
This one's a fighter ~
"The Fighter"
(feat. Ryan Tedder​)

 

I love this song…and the ladies I swam with today, well, here comes the fighters. I went out to act as “swim angel” to my friend, Misty, who is doing her first Iron Girl Tri Relay – she is doing the swim – and she was not feeling it at all. Two other ladies that are doing Iron Girl showed up and both were a bit skittish.

 

Understandable. Open Water Swimming can/will render the strongest of us into basket cases. Its can be daunting. However, what I’ve found is that it is one of the biggest mind games on the planet and the very minute you let negative or self defeating thoughts creep in  - the race/the swim is OVER. Your done.

 

My goal today was to give the ladies a few “coping” skills. Things they could do when they got scared, tired, or just plain freaked out. Going out, I decided to just see what they could do, what they were doing and keep everyone calm enough to get the 500yrds to the beach. And we had the “jellyfish” challenge to contend with.

 

So, one of the ladies had a jelly brush up against her and it was all like “OMG!!! What is that! Why does it sting. WHY DOES IT STING!.”  I swam over to her, had her flip over on her back and said “It’s over. It’s the past. YOU ARE OKAY! Calm down. Give me 10 slow deep breaths and then I want you to drill – let’s do a glide drill.” AND SHE DID.

 

Everybody got to the beach! And they were amazed that they could. I wasn’t. Watching them, I knew they had it in them, they just need to stay calm. GET OUT OF THE WATER BY ANY STROKE NECESSARY!! And they did.

 

Here swims the fighter! What ya gonna do, What ya gonna do? GIVE EM HELL!

 

At the beach, we discussed our stroke and we agreed to freestyle the entire way back by DRILLING our way back. DRILL BABY DRILL. Fingertip drill all the way. Repeat after me…Elbow up, drag fingers, hand in chute, GLIDE. AGAIN. Elbow, drag, chute, glide. AGAIN. Say it in your head over and over. You won’t have time to think about jelly’s or tired or I can’t or how far. DRILL BABY DRILL

 

And everyone got back to the dock 2-4 min faster than on the way out. THERE WENT SOME FIGHTERS.

 

They are gonna rock Iron Girl. ROCK IT! GIVE ‘EM HELL, Ladies!

IM70.3 Cozumel: What a Difference an Adjustment Makes

I  put TripleD in the the bike hospital on Saturday and decided to get a complete tune up as well. I also asked about a seat adjustment. I told the mechanic that I was feeling off – not comfortable – in the aero position and perhaps I needed to raise the seat. He put me on the bike and told me that the angle was off. I told him I felt like I was sliding forward all the time and he said that he thought if he leveled the seat, that I wouldn’t need to raise it at all. Okay. Diva Dawes would be ready by Tuesday.

 

I got the call and went to pick The Diva up. While waiting for them to bring her out, I perused the bike pron. LAWD! Will someone please sponsor me – like 2K level sponsorship – so I can have that Cannondale TT. Anybody?

 

N.E.Way…I get The Diva and she is all sparkly, shiny and lookin’ good as a beginner road bike can look. I get her home and take her out for a spin…up on the training schedule is a very short brick (45min total – I decide on 30 min on bike, 15min run).

 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A SEAT ADJUSTMENT CAN MAKE!

 

I felt like I was on fire. No more sliding forward on my seat, no more fidgeting and adjusting myself back on seat. I was able to stay aero without feeling like I was going to fall off the seat. I felt AWESOME!

I have NEVER been this fast on straight aways. NEVER. While I still have work on the hills, I felt ON FIRE!

 

Was it the seat fix? Was I just having a great afternoon? I don’t know for sure. The seat felt SOOOOoooo much better leveled out. I felt like I was able to put more power in my stroke & pull when I was not constantly sliding forward.

 

We shall see. Moral of the story…get a tune up. Get fitted. Get another couple of eyes on your bike and on you. The little things…the devil is in the details.

 

Just think…I do this for grins, giggles and BLING!