24 Mile Bike ~ @X@

As I try to catch my breath, pull my swim cap & goggles off and make my way up the grassy path marked off by orange cones. I have a smile on my face from seeing my friends and I trying to focus on what I need to do to make a fast tansition from swim to bike. Ordering the things I need to put on for the bike portion in my mind, I jog across the parking lot to where my bike is stationed.

I wipe off my feet, pull my socks on, right arm block band (The block band is an invention I came up w/ to carry my clif shot blocks, so when I ride I don't have to take my hands off the handle bars) sunglasses, helmet. I trot over to the entrance slip on my bike shoes and head out of the park. Now, heading out of the park is a little tricky there are sets of speed bumps and small strips of those round small disks that they use if you drift to far off the shoulder. Theres not way around the speed bumps so you have to hit them straight on and stand up on your seat to clear them. the smaller bump beads you can go around.

I make a right turn out on to Twin Cities Rd. or highway 104 and I can see the rider ahead of me tucked down on his aero bars. I dare not look back to see if anyones following me : p The bike course is primarily flat and straight w/ a few hills, but no major steep climbs. You are pretty much riding on the highway w/out a shoulder or bike lane so its a little nerve racking to be riding with traffic and the asphalt is not as smooth as on a bike trail. For fueling I take a shot block every 5 miles and water throughout. I'm glad I put on an extra layer of sun block, boy it was hot at least in the high 90's.

My coach says you should be down on your aero bars as much as possible to reduce wind resistance and I can get up to 22-24 mph on a down slope. Cruising at a good 19-20 mph, I hit the turn around spot at the 12th mile. On my way back I can see my fellow TBFers cranking down on the pedals and I shout out a encouraging word as we pass by. At mile 14, I feel my back start hurting and I can feel the effects on the rest of my body as my pace de-celerate to 15-16 mph. I'm pray that I make it. I get off my seat and start pumping up a slow grade hill to keep up my momentum. I can feel the heat now beating down and I'm trying to remember to drink as often as I can. About 20 riders pass me on the course and I wonder how these guys can keep up the pace, Thats something I really need to work on.

As I turn back into the park, I tell myself only a couple more miles, Lets Go! With the last bit of strength and my legs burning, I suck it up and crank down on the pedals through the park over the speed bumps and into the transition area. Thanks to getting there early, I don't have to go far to park my bike, change shoes, and take off my helmet ...

-> Fire Trail ...