Brrrrrrrrrrr
I stepped outside for this morning's run and was very happy. The temperature was in the 60s with a slight breeze. it wasn't perfect as the humidity was still in the 80ish percent area, from yesterday's two-inch rain but it was the best we've had to run in since the spring.
With the lower temps my minutes-per-mile times dropped down into the 7:xx range at the same heart rate. That felt good to get back to those times.
And the best news of all is that I scored some brifters (shifter and brake combination) on eBay the other night. It happened as all the other auctions I've won. I put in a bid and left it alone, not looking at it, not checking the email alerts, nothing. I then came back to find I'd won the auction without all the stress of refreshing the page and the anxiety that goes along with that routine or the stress from not winning the auction. I lost two auctions before it, earlier in the day, by ONE DOLLAR.
Anyway, the brifters are in the mail so I'll have the last piece to put the new roadie together and take it for a spin. Just in time for some long fall rides.
Labels: auction, brifters, eBay
Incredible Amount of $$$ for Brake/Shifters
I'm watching eBay auctions on a Friday night, sipping on a Miller Lite, and can't believe the price the 8/9 speed Shimano brake/shifters are going for. I would expect cratchless, near perfect pieces to fetch close to $100, but $90 for a pair that the owner said don't work and are missing some cosmetic plastic sounds like too much.
I've been debating whether to build another bike...this time a road bike from scratch. I've decided to modify Salsa Verde (tri bike) during a few months of the year into a road bike. So it'll be cheaper to buy a good set of bars and brake/shifters than a whole new bike.
Heading out tomorrow morning to the marathon season kickoff. I shouldn't be thinking about marathon training until I get my next two triathlons done with but I can't help it. I've really enjoyed my runs lately and my head is constantly debating whether to do another full marathon or stick with the half. Pride and enthusiasm have me doing it while logic says no way. I'm sure the battle will continue until I register. As of this evening, pride and enthusiasm are winning.
Labels: Austin Marathon, eBay, Runtex, shifters
Wheel Trade-Out
I'm making a change to
Salsa Verde. I never was very comfortable with the Spinergy back wheel (noise) and although I have the spokes and hardware to match the front's Shimano WH-540, it's time to make a change. I arrived on the eBay cycling page and noticed a wheel set with one minute to go. I clicked on it, read the description and clicked a bid of $125.00 as that was the amount I paid for the current two wheels on Salsa Verde.
I refreshed the page and Bing-Bang-Bong, cha-cha-ching, I won the auction. So now Salsa Verde will be outfitted with a slightly used pair of Rolf Vector 700C Clinchers for the same price I paid for the other two wheels.
Labels: cycling, eBay, Rolf vector, Salsa Verde, wheel
New Weight Loss Plan
Got a new weight loss plan for the new year. Instead of gastric bypass, it's throat bypass. You get what seems like strep throat, add a lot of swelling to the lympth gland and proceed to cut the one fig newton you get for the day into 16 pieces, because that's the only thing that'll go down your throat. And why one fig newton and not two? Because after the time it takes to eat and unbearably swallow 16 little pieces of fig newton, that's all you have time for or can bear to eat.
Five pounds in two days is pretty good comparred to gastric bypass and some of the other weight-loss methods or diets being promoted this time of year.
Long story short, two doctors told me I had a severe abcess in the throat and it needed to be drained immediately by a specialist or in the ER. The Ear, Nose & Throat specialist said there was no abcess, but proceeded anyway to punture the swollen thingy with a large needle, not once but twice, and then prescribe three drugs that would take care of whatever the thingy wasy. So, needless to say workouts for the week have come to a halt. Hey, if you notice my measurements getting all Mark McGwired in the chest and arms categories, it's because I'm on a cycle of steroids for the throat thingy.
Hey, all is not bad. Just received my new previously owned Shimano rear wheel from an eBay auction. The auction was won with a $15 bid. No lie, the shipping cost more than the wheel, which is true and arrived in great shape. This will be my backup wheel to the Spinergy. Speaking of the Spinergy wheel, I found out what was causing the noise that I thought was bending fiberglass. It turns out the wheel was shipped minus three bearings. I put three in that are almost exactly the same size but will have to go up the street to bearing dealer to get the precise size.
I ate lunch today at Pho Soup restaurant to get the body atoms back in sync. Mmmmmm! Yum O as Rachel Ray says.
Sprint finally came through with a free camera phone for me. I wanted one for the blog to record some of the runs, the rides, etc. It's a Sanyo Katana with bluetooth built in so it should come in handy to relay more images from workouts.
Labels: diet, eBay, Katana, Rachel Ray, Sanyo, Spinergy, weight loss, Yum O
