First let's do some math. The Ironman race breaks down like this:
2.4 mile swim
112 mile bike
26.2 mile run
Percentage-wise, the bike accounts for 80% of the mileage, and at least half of the time in an Ironman event (well for me, anyway…I run slow). Cost-wise, unless you have a backyard pool to maintain, the bike is the most expensive discipline, with bikes starting at $1000 and ranging up to $10k for a really super fast rocket sled that the judges will still allow onto the course without getting DQ'd. Not only is the bike itself pricey, but it's care, feeding and maintenance add to the tab. For example, did you know that you need to replace your bike helmet every couple of years, because the foam fatigues over time and won't protect you in a crash? Yeah.
All of this being said, none of it has anything to do with my disdain for the bike. Of the three legs in triathlon, the bike leg is my least favorite. Here are just a few reasons why.
The position -- unlike cycling events, Triathlon is a "time trial" event. In cycling races, the pelaton is a cluster of riders drafting off of each other and jockeying for position in order to conserve energy for a sprint to the finish. Triathlon doesn't allow for this due to the previous leg of the swim. Drafting is illegal in most triathlons. Because of this, the athlete must become "thin to the wind" and crouch into the Aero position, sort of like this:
Look like it hurts? Yep. Anyone who has ever ridden a high-performance bike will not soon forget the feeling. In addition, the aerobars force you over the front wheel, the constant pedaling wreaks havoc on the hips, and the bent over position is literally a pain in the back.
The technology -- Yes, I know the bicycle has been around for a long time, and there isn't much to it. but ask me to change a bike tire and I break into a cold sweat. In fact, that is usually the subject of my pre-race nightmares…getting a flat. And that is the easiest thing to fix! Cleaning the chain? Why? Seat height? Gear ratios? I don't know…It's enough I ride the silly thing!
Falling off -- This has happened. Although I told the story in an earlier post, it still has me nervous. Like the serious triathlete, I have clip-in shoes. Which means I have to unclip before stopping. I'm not the most coordinated person in the world, so let's just say…that doesn't always happen in the order in which one would avoid injury to body and ego.
The Ditch-slap -- (related to the above statement) You know that moment when you lose your concentration for a moment and you trip over something in the sidewalk, or run into a door…no? Okay, that's just me, then. Anyway, when you are traveling on a two-wheeled vehicle at 30 miles per hour and that happens…you may find a pothole or that weird crack in the road that catches the tire just right. Speaking from experience, that doesn't end well. And I'm not the most focused person in the world.
The Off-Season -- Between October and March, when the weather is unpredictable at best, snow and cold force the bike onto the hamster wheel. It's not that it's boring…it's a great way to catch up on Netflix…It's just hot. Even in the winter, it's hot. No breeze blowing by your face, no change of scenery. It's a brilliant day when I can finally get outside. Soon, now.
The Mileage -- 112 miles on the bike. Do I really need to say more? Actually, yes I do. Because it's not just the 112 miles on the bike during the race, it's hours and hours and hours and hours of saddle time in training. 6 weeks into my training season, I've spent 75% of my hours on the bike.
It's a Dirty Job -- With my fair skin, I have to wear sunscreen. The sunscreen at 18 miles an hour is like flypaper. Not only do I get bugs in my teeth, but all over my arms and legs, too…and then there is the dirt. I could be riding on a perfectly calm day on a relatively clean road, and any traffic that goes by kicks up dirt and dust. After a 4 hour bike ride, the sunscreen, dirt and bugs accumulate to a thick layer of shmutz that a quick shower doesn't remove. If I don't scrub down past the epidermis, I'm still dirty.
Cyclists -- There are those bike lovers out there that say to me, "hey, why don't we ride out Death's Wish Canyon and we'll ride 70 miles straight uphill with 10,000 feet of elevation gain! Doesn't that sound like fun?!?!" At first, I'm dumbstruck, because I'm not sure if they are serious. When I find out they are, I have 10 thoughts running through my head, most of them unfit to print. Finally, when I am urged to speak, I only mutter a weak…"Yeah. Ok. Um…No."
Road Rage -- This issue alone is worthy of a whole separate post. Unfortunately, many drivers not only do not "share the road," but there are reports of acts of road rage against cyclists. None of these have happened to me, and luckily, I live close enough to Boulder…a very bike friendly city. I've heard of bottles and nails being thrown at bikers from car windows, and even a cyclist getting run down by an angry driver. Unfortunately for the cycling community, though, there are a few riders out there who don't share the road either. I actually have a greater rant against those folks, because they ruin it for the rest of us. By the way, wear a helmet. Use a bike light at night, and obey the traffic laws just as you would in a car. Oh, and don't ride your bike on the city sidewalk.
Location -- There's no decent place to ride in my neighborhood, so I generally need to mount the bike on top of the car and drive 45 minutes.
Bike shorts -- They are like a sausage casings with a diaper inside.
Bike shoes -- make my toes fall asleep, and make me walk funny.
Bike helmets -- no hope of decent hair for the rest of the day…
Alright, that may be more than a few reasons. Yes, the bike is my weakest leg of the three, and it's also the one in which I have most improved in the last 12 months. There was really no other place to go but up, though, so there's that. I'm faster, I'm more comfortable, I climb hills better than I ever have.
Here are the positive aspects of the bike leg.
Wind -- When coming out of the water then getting on a bike, there is a chill that you want to keep with you for the rest of the day. Think about it. You are out of the water, stripping off the wetsuit and hopping on a bike soaking wet so you can ride in little more than a bathing suit at 20 miles per hour. I welcome this feeling, because when I'm on the sunbathed run course hours later, I try to tap into that feeling.
Fitness -- Riding my bike has made me a faster runner. Because I try to maintain quick legs on the bike, I can bring that to my run.
Cross-Training -- Especially when I'm training for a running race like my previous marathon, I'll mix it up by spending some time on the bike. Much less pounding on my joints, even though my rear hurts when I'm done.
Being outside -- There is no more amazing (and sometimes terrifying) feeling than zooming down a hill on your own power.
Okay, so I have a hard time coming up with nice things to say about the bike. I don't HATE the bike. If that were the case, I wouldn't be a triathlete. I just have a lot of angst about the bike. I just hope I don't get a flat on race day…or fall.
