Things That Kept Me Motivated This Winter Part 1

So interspersed in my blog over the next couple of weeks will be a few of the fun/functional/motivational tools/toys that I treated myself to this winter. When there is a crap ton of snow in your front yard and the thermometer hasn't seen temps above zero in days, something's gotta keep you motivated, right? So, I bring you, exhibit A:

They're super cute (I know, that's not supposed to matter...), have a carbon sole, and are well vented at the top with holes in the bottom. Plus, they were about $60 off at my local bike shop. My current shoes that fit my tri bike are great. They are comfy, totally molded to my feet by now, and I like the ratchet system for quick adjustments in the middle of long rides. However, they're also clumsy and hard to get in during transitions, and even though a few seconds is not ultimately going to win me any podium finishes, transitions are definitely an area that I need to work on. I'm also hoping the big vents and the holes in the sole will also help them dry after rainy rides. My current ones take days to dry out, and I'm always more than a little worried that the musty funk they take on after getting so wet won't go away. Plus, I've had my Torch's since 2006, so having another pair will help absorb some of the abuse I put them through :)

So how did these shiny new shoes motivate me? Well, first of all, I knew I'd need to break them in and make sure that going sockless in them wasn't going to turn my feet into raw hamburger. Turns out that I really didn't need to worry too much about that one. I've put a few hundred miles on them without any issues (even though I've always been a sock girl on the bike). I took them on a 45 mile ride outside today, and they were great. Looks like they'll be featured in a few of my tris and dus this year!

The second way these puppies motivated me, and this one will come up with a few of my other new goodies, is that I feel the need to match my speed to what I'm wearing. I always find it comical when I pass somebody who's decked out in full kit, on a $5000 bike and averaging 14 mph. It's no secret that I'm not speedy on the bike, and I don't want to be the one dressed in all of the greatest stuff lollygagging through a race. If I'm going to be wearing things that make me look fast, then I need to work on being fast. Crazy backwards, I know.

At any rate, I felt fast out there today. As the temps have warmed up here, I've had my old road bike out on a number of rides, but it's squeaky and creaky and slow. Today I bit the bullet and decided that there would be no more trainer time until the fall. I wrestled with my trainer tire, and with a little help from Steve, managed to get the beastly thing off. I hate the trainer tire. Every year I vow that I'll either be able to get it on or off my myself, and every year I end up needing some help. After putting my trusty road tire back on, I headed out for a ride with some friends. I felt so good after 30 miles that I decided to do a few more when Mark, Haley, and Matt decided to head for home. Matt said it was because I didn't work hard enough on the hills we did, and part of that may be true, but I tacked on another 15 and made it home feeling refreshed and ready for some yard work with Steve. It's going to be a great year.