Flipper Fetish

Today I picked up my bike.

$375 for the privilege.

New Chain

New Derailer

Frame required heat treatment to bend back into shape.

I won’t eat for the next week, but my bike looks nice.

Swimming:

Last night I discovered how wonderful it is to swim with flippers for the first half of swimming squad, and how cruel it is to have them taken away from you for the second half. Revoking of the flippers is good for testing your mental strength only, it has nothing to do with your legs.  I can still hear the faint screams of my brain willing me to just stop, get out of the pool, and drive far far away.

I did learn that if you want to go a little harder, lead the squad.  People talk about drafting in riding, the same technique also applies to swimming. If you swim in someone’s draft zone, then you have it a little easier than the person out front.

Fun Fact: 

Portuguese scientists say that a swimmer who stays 2 feet behind another swimmers foot kicks experiences 44 percent less drag through the water. What's more, you can draft off another swimmer from as far back as 19 feet and still reduce your drag by 16 percent. 'You'll maintain an overall higher race pace, since you'll be sparing energy’, they say.

Go get wet! See you soon.