A couple of weeks ago, Terri and I sat down and made serious training plans for the Traithlon in August. While we had a framework, we were still missing one very key piece – a tandem bike. As Terri worked through trying to find a solution, she spoke with Art Black, who’s the owner of Oswego Cyclery. He generously offered to let us use the tandem they have to training and for the triathlon. That was HUGE and greatly appreciated!
After the Celebrate Differences race, we went over to the bike store to check out the tandem. Art did some initial changes so the pilot seat would work for Terri, and was going to put pedal blocks on to make it even more comfortable before Monday’s ride. After that initial stop, we went to the Naperville Running Company, where I purchased compression socks (and other gear) — more on that later.
On Monday, we got out on the tandem, and it was a bumpy start. The best parallel for how I felt is what Stephen King describes in It relating to Bill Denbrough and Silver. But we learned a good deal, including communication, mount/dismount and more. It also became crystal clear that I need a hydration pack for the bike part, as we will both get hurt if I try to reach down for a water bottle.
After returning the tandem to the bike shop, we did the other half of the brick training (run). Whether it was just the normal jello legs or the combined 4 days of running, I could barely run. We ended up just walking for about 30 – 40 min. When I got home, I put on the compression socks that I had bought the day before. While those are the most expensive socks I’ve ever bought, they are worth their weight in gold.
If you are in the Oswego area, please check out Oswego Cyclery They will take great care of you and your bike needs!
