Rag Doll

Love that Aerosmith song.
Speaking of aero...


Needed to get refitted on my bike since I'm going all aerodynamic these days. Do you know expensive a fitting is? Well, it starts pricey and goes up from there. Ugh, cycling is so spendy!  Fortch, I have a guy.  I've found it is very important to develop good relationships in cycling.  Always have a guy.
Made a call to the shop from whence Helen came only to find that my favorite bike guy & fitter no longer works there. Sad panda. But my other guy is still there and he is certified to fit so I made an appointment for Friday. 

Grabbed my shoes and my tiara.  Nah, just kidding. 

But seriously, what girl doesn't have tiara just lying around  the house?

Met up with the dude and while he got my bike situated in the trainer I looked around.  Oh, did I mention that cycling is spendy?  And all the pretty, sparkly things make me want to spend even more.

Getting fitted on your bike is a lot like a visit to the chiropractor.  You get fitted, and then you come in for adjustments.  Fortch, my initial fitting is still working for me, so there weren't many big changes to my aero fit...just about an hour and half of tiny little tweaks.  My handlebars went down considerably, but my saddle pretty much stayed put.  (although he moved it a few times, always ended right back to the original position) Then lots of tiny, minute changes to the aero bars.  I felt like a rag doll folded over in half like that.  See, now the song makes sense on so many levels.  

Here is the before.  And yes, it was incredibly awkward asking the guy to take photos.  

But then he really didn't seem too surprised at all so, whew.

And the after.  I know, right, you can tell a huge difference too. 

 Trust me, I could feel it in my back and in my shoulders.  Excuse the fact that my shirt is about eight sizes too big for me making said shoulders look enormous.  

So I'm set for a bit.  He encouraged me to come back after a few weeks or so to make a few minor changes if needed.  And then he dropped it on me.  He's moving away. So now, my TWO best bike guys will be gone. Vamoose.  At a time when I need them most!  (me!  it's all about me!)

Fortunately, he then proceeded to tell me where I could find my #1 guy.  So now I can call him for a refitting. Whew.  

We talked about running, cycling and endurance sports while he worked.  He has a friend that rode RAM a few years back.  Then he told me about the Arrowhead 135.  He's done it on bike a few times and has crewed for a friend that won it (on bike) several years in a row.  Um, 135 miles in the SNOW.  We def don't get that kind of opportunity here!  Guess that's what you do way up there in Minnesota.  If you can't beat it, join it!

Today I got in 10 miles on foot.  I'm sorta tapering for next weekend.  It was a gorgeous morning for sure!  My duck friends waddled out to quack hello at me. This always makes me happy.  

And then I put in some time on the trainer watching Psych and playing my new obsession, Draw Something.  It's like Pictionary. My greatest masterpiece to date is Tupac.  Not lying.

Off to the pool.  And then off to devour pretty much everything in my fridge.  I had a big day of workouts!  

Do you have a "guy"?*

*I realize how sexist this is.  And while it is rare that I see another female even SHOPPING at the bike shop, much less working there, I really mean "guy" as in person.  No offense intended to all the lady bike experts!