Flatlander, welcome! This is my fourth year of doing tris--I only run and swim so I can bike in the middle! How fortunate for you that you consider your cycling the weak link. To me, it's the most enjoyable, and I'll bet you'll come to love it, too. Have you been over to the triathlon board?

I didn't know if I'd get to ride at all today. I finished a 24 hour call shift this morning, one of the quietest shifts I've had in 12 years as a midwife. WAHOO! But--it was pouring rain, with lightning and thunder when I left the house this morning to make rounds at the hospital. I threw my running stuff in the car and figured at least I'd run on the treadmill at the Y.

By the time I left work, it had stopped raining, so I went for a run outside, which I much prefer. Got back from the run, and it still was not raining...so I took a chance and went out on the bike. Yeah!!! I rode 20 miles, mostly as fast as I could. Got down into my new aero bars a couple of times. Rode along the lakefront, north branch. Not too bad--people are mostly off the path, getting ready for the fireworks. There were other serious runners and bikers on the path, and fewer goof-ball rollerbladers than usual.

The new tri seat/seatpost/aero bars felt good. Still not sure how the seat will do with my girly bits, but my legs felt much stronger than usual after 20 miles.