Orphalin Annie

In my last post about the bike I wrote about my inability to clip in.  I have decided that for now we will put the SPDs back on and I will look into Eggbeaters.  Sadly, that is the least of my problems.  I had Bre take a photo of me on the trainer and it was quite eye-opening.  I look like the hunchback of Notre Dame!  I didn’t realize how awful I looked.  I showed the photo to a few people I work with who bike and they laughed.  I was a little humiliated to be honest.  After all, I am not just starting in triathlons, I have actually done quite a number of them, including some half-Ironman distance.  They didn’t know how I was biking at all.  I have never felt comfortable on the bike  - my shoulders hurt and tingle, my knees ache, my butt hurts - and this is after short distances.  I just figured that was normal and biked anyway.  When I saw the photo however, I understood why the bike didn’t seem to improve.  So after swearing off triathlons for about a day (what business did I have doing them looking like that) I decided to visit the local triathlon shop.  I left having signed up for a professional bike fit.  I could use a new bike but that is not something I want to spend money on right now. He promised he could work with the bike I have (I showed him the photo); they have different saddles and pedals I can try too.  I felt so confident that I would notice an improvement that I also signed up for a “Ladies Night” indoor ride the next night.  An hour and a half of trainer riding to a movie followed by wine and cheese?  It took little to convince me.  It also helped that the people at the shop were so very nice and seemed sincere in wanting to get to the point where I could ride with considerably less pain.  Just you wait, laughing people, I’ll show you!!