Celebration Thread

[Meg McKilty]

Alright: after over two weeks of turmoil without my bike and a prospective century in two weeks to go, I haven't practiced in three weeks. I finally got my bike in working order and I am on my last tube.
-I am "The Queen of Flats". Let's hope this one holds out.

I got my new contact and I see so much better.

The heat is going down this week to about 87 F on Thursday (hopefully).

I am taking Happy out for his first ride today in a long time. Tell of your small-time celebrations as of late.

[teigyr]

hehehe, congrats and get some more tubes stat!!!

I did my first open water coaching swim today! I got the wetsuit on and off (er, off wasn't so graceful and involved me sitting my bottom down IN the water and the coach dragging me out to the water saying if I was going to take it off in the water I had to do it IN the water and not in the Very Shallow water) and went out to fairly deep water in the coaching session.

I went to pool swimming last night IN a bathing suit in front of PEOPLE! I was critiqued and coached and I was so nervous - I am not a swimmer. They were nice and patient and I wasn't as bad as I thought.

Celebrations indeed!!!

and next time I won't wait until 3 weeks before a tri to start swimming. I promise.

[segolene]

hehehe, congrats and get some more tubes stat!!!

I did my first open water coaching swim today! I got the wetsuit on and off (er, off wasn't so graceful and involved me sitting my bottom down IN the water and the coach dragging me out to the water saying if I was going to take it off in the water I had to do it IN the water and not in the Very Shallow water) and went out to fairly deep water in the coaching session.

I went to pool swimming last night IN a bathing suit in front of PEOPLE! I was critiqued and coached and I was so nervous - I am not a swimmer.
and next time I won't wait until 3 weeks before a tri to start swimming. I promise.



Congrats! I don't know you but I know how hard swimming can be !:D
And don't worry about your tri, take your time, keep the heart rate down!!! If you think about it, swimming is only a small portion of a tri, you will make up the time biking. I did my first half-iron breaststroking ...and I was far from being the last one out of the water ;)

[Bad JuJu]

The heat is going down this week to about 87 F on Thursday (hopefully).
Right--it sure is nice to see the 80s again, isn't it? *happy dance* But what's with the furry hats in your avatar? :eek:

I was kind of sick this weekend so slugged around most of the time, BUT, last weekend I jammed the saddle on my Bianchi forward and my back had the most comfy couple of rides I've had in ages. I'm still a little concerned about KOP position because my knees are whining a lot, but my back is contented. We'll see what happens.

Great thread you started, Meg!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yeah, great thread!

Celebrate?- well I worked really hard today to finish two very large complex drawing jobs early so that I can go on a nice 3 or 4 hour ride tomorrow morning by myself- really looking forward to it so I guess that's celebrating.
I'm inwardly celebrating that my average speed increased by one whole mph this past month....after 5 months of it staying exactly the same despite my cycling over 100 miles a week. :o My legs definitely do feel a bit stronger this month! :p Sure takes me a long time to build muscle!- prolly cause i'm 53 and never exercised/did sports until last year. Better late than never....:o

[dex]

I landed an ongoing freelance gig with an ad agency in town. And then, on my way home from the meeting, I made it all the way up a hill on my singlespeed that I used to have to struggle with on my hybrid (that had plenty of small gears to switch down to). I was standing most of the way and breathing so hard that I was practically panting...but I made it. w00t! :cool:

[Meg McKilty]

Right--it sure is nice to see the 80s again, isn't it? *happy dance* But what's with the furry hats in your avatar? :eek:

That was taken a bit ago, but a friend and I bought "Russian Bear Hats" (also known as "Fargo Hats") because I was planning on getting my Jeep and we wanted to ride around in winter with the top down!

Update: I have now gone through another three tubes. We're wondering if it's a spoke or if the rim tape is not on properly. I have to check today, and possibly take it to a master mechanic. I am now going crazy.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Update: I have now gone through another three tubes. We're wondering if it's a spoke or if the rim tape is not on properly. I have to check today, and possibly take it to a master mechanic. I am now going crazy.

Yes have your rim checked out, but....my DH had 3 blowout flats in one day and figured out that his technique was allowing an edge of tube to get pinched in the rim near the valve stem. He needed to change his technique, which he did, and doesn't have flats anymore. Might be worth having someone experienced watch what you are doing, step by step.

I thought those might be skunk hats.

[lph]

Oh, nice thread!

Today I'm celebrating that the bizarre blue funk I was in all weekend has finally lifted, and I don't have to spend any more time wondering if it was the flu, too little sleep or pregnancy. (I'm not ;) )

Four days now I haven't wanted to bike or exert myself at all, and felt all pathetic and weepy. This morning I woke up early and had the sweetest ride in to work on my road bike, all alone, on a new route, in brilliant sunshine and cold morning air. No hurry, just sat there looking around, pedalling no-handed (I can DO THAT NOW!!! :D ) and just speeding up when I felt like it.

Life's sweet sometimes :)

[Velobambina]

My eye is almost healed. Amazing how every time I'm injured, I'm reminded what the handicapped endure and overcome every day. Keeps me from feeling too sorry for myself since my disability is just temporary.

Another cause for celebration: I made it past two selection panels for a new assignment. If I'm lucky enough to get this position, I can ride my bike to work (17 miles, each way, MUT for all but a mile or so). I've been enduring a really awful/unprofessional work environment for the last year, and to make matters worse, my commute just tripled, each way, since we moved to a new building in August. I have one more panel--the toughest--to get through. Because the new job is a new discipline, it's a bit of a risk. I've been in my current field for most of my 20 year "career" at my employer. That said, this new field will open up more opportunities, especially post-retirement, and the manager for whom I'll work is someone who will mentor/develop/support me and recognize hard work. Quite the change from my current situation. I'm not counting my chickens, as my lack of a technical background will been seen as a real negative. My chances, I'd reckon, are probably 50-50. Regardless, I am celebrating the fact that I've made it this far in the process.

[Veronica]

I've got my fingers and toes crossed for you VB!

V.

[Jiffer]

My big celebration today is the fact that I rode an hour and a half without taking a break! :D This is huge for me. My goal was to only take one break, which would have already been cause for a mini celebration. But NO breaks calls for even more ballons and lots of confetti!!!

WOO HOO!!! :D

[Velobambina]

V -- Thanks for the good vibes! I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Meg McKilty]

Yes have your rim checked out, but....my DH had 3 blowout flats in one day and figured out that his technique was allowing an edge of tube to get pinched in the rim near the valve stem. He needed to change his technique, which he did, and doesn't have flats anymore. Might be worth having someone experienced watch what you are doing, step by step.

I thought those might be skunk hats.

There was a while where I had no blowouts, tubes going flat, or anything wrong with my tires/rims/tubes/spokes for a long time. However, it seems that it now wishes to kick me in the face.

What was wrong with his technique?

[mimitabby]

i am celebrating the fact that by this time tomorrow i will be on my way to the airport and leaving the country for 12 days!

[blueskies]

Great question, Meg!

On Valentine's Day, I signed myself and the DH up to ride in Cycle Oregon, a week long 400+ mile ride through Oregon. He rides several thousand miles every year. I last did any real riding 15 years ago. His preparation for CO has been remembering to ask for the week off from work. My preparation has eaten up the last 5 months of my life! (Finding a training plan, training, picking a bike, learning to use a HR monitor, learning to go clipless, training, training, training, solving the back problems, how to make the hours on the saddle tolerable, training, more training...)

And this week, I'm celebrating beginning my taper before the ride. All that's left on my workout calendar is one long training ride, one climbing ride, and a handful of sweet little recovery rides... and I feel so ready!

[Meg McKilty]

Ok, taking my baby to a master mechanic tomorrow. This rediculousness will come to a stop.
Blowing three tubes in an afternoon, who ever heard of such a thing...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ok, taking my baby to a master mechanic tomorrow. This rediculousness will come to a stop.
Blowing three tubes in an afternoon, who ever heard of such a thing...

Meg, bring the blown tubes with you- they will provide valuable clues for him to find where the problem lies....

And watch everything he does so you can do it yourself next time! :)