OneTriGuy

Posts Tagged‘Technology’

IRONMAN Shift Data Analysis

Shifts on Map

After waiting most of the summer to update my Di2 system’s firmware, I finally stopped by Endure It to have Erik update my system. With this update and the D-Fly module I am now able to record shift data within my Garmin fit files. There are many training benefits from having this information alongside my heart rate, power, cadence, and speed data. Unfortunately, Garmin has not decided how they want to deal with this data, so you’re stuck figuring out to do with it on your own. Enter Di2Stats.com Thankfully a professor at Samford University has built a website (Di2Stats.com) that helps us visualize Di2 shift data in several helpful ways. Without Brian’s help, I don’t think there’s a consumer facing way to do anything with this valuable data. While this site is still in “project” mode, according to Brian, it is complete enough to help me see several errors I made during my first IRONMAN. What follows…

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I’m officially bionic

I may not be the Six Million Dollar Man, but I am now artificially enhanced with the addition of a plate and five screws in my clavicle. After walking up “triathlon early” to make my 5:45 am appointment I had my clavicle transformed from a “worse than expected” (according to the doc) break angle to nice and straight once again. The entire process went pretty smoothly. It helped that I was the first surgery of the day. After stripping down and changing into the bare-assed hospital gown, I was given a nerve blocker to stop all nerve messages from my arm/shoulder making it to my brain. The nerve block process was pretty interesting. An anesthesiologist used an ultrasound machine to find a vessel upon which the nerve sat. I was able to watch the ultrasound screen as the device was guided under my skin through my shoulder/neck area. Once the…

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The 2014 Batavia Triathlon

It’s nice to finally know what to expect at a triathlon. You know transition, the course is familiar (giving you a good way to judge the gas pedal), you recognize faces, if not names … it’s no longer the first day at a new school. This year’s tri was a chilly one, but I had a new secret weapon – a wetsuit! Instead of being too cold to warm up in the water (my body takes a long time to open up and reach full potential), I was able to wade on in and get a few laps down before lining up for the staggered start. Plus, I just look good (or not, according to my wife). It’s a Orca Equip Full Sleeve Triathlon Wetsuit, in case you were wondering. It’s a nice mix of thicker (5mm) neoprene for buoyancy and thin stuff in the arms (2mm) for flexibility. Even though the swim…

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The cheap man’s “run id”

While I am sure some people find value in spending $30 or more for a fancy Road Id bracelet, I A) dont’t want to wear yet another thing on my body and B) don’t want to spend $30. I’d rather buy some unnecessary tri gadget with that money. :) One day when getting food for my two pups I noticed the little “rivetable” dog tag at PetSmart. To me it looked less like a dog tag and more like a cheap man’s Run ID. So I bought it, for less than ⅓rd the price of a Road ID and put my ICE (In Case of Emergency) info on it. Then I laced it into the bottom section of my Saucony Ride training shoes. (Yes, I photoshopped out some of the info, I don’t need my crazed groupies stalking me). I’d call this piece of low tech a big win.  

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New bike day

Following the Race to Wrigley success, I decided to take on the world of triathlon. After a few rides on my old hybrid bike, I realized it was time to get a proper bike that was made for speed. Thinking that I didn’t want to limit myself to tris only, (and frankly afraid of the aero position) I picked up a Giant TCR. It’s a nice carbon frame with a respectable 105 groupset. My thought was that I would grow into the frame and upgrade components as necessary. Here she is the day I brought her home from Spokes (my LBS), before clipless pedals, a saddle bag, a Wahoo bluetooth speed and cadence sensor, clip on aerobars (and eventually a full aero cockpit) and carbon wheels … were added.

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In the beginning … I was fat

I think it makes the most sense to start this blog at the beginning: Years back life was much different for me. I was not the crazed triathlete I am today. Back then, one of my favorite sayings was, “I only run when chased.” Had there been the 0.0 bumper stickers available, I would have proudly sported one on my car. I just didn’t get fitness for fitness’ sake and was happy to engage in physical activity only when necessary. Runners made no sense to me and I often ridiculed their obsession. I actually had a pretty good diet, eating mostly homemade meals of healthy ingredients. As it goes, you can always have too much of a good thing, and my overeating and sedentary lifestyle started to catch up on me. About ten years after college I found myself about 70-80 pounds over weight. The weight had been bugging me for some time, but not…

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