After two years of owning, riding and modifying my old Fuji Roubaix 2.0, I finally decided to take the leap and get a better bike frame. Thanks to Tricia for making this possible!
Behold the Argon E80
It feels lighter and looks insanely better. I will slowly lower the stem as I ride it more and them eventually cut the excess on top. Slamming is the way to go! I rode a size 49 bike and Argon only had a 52 as its smallest size so I was a bit worried that this bike wouldn’t fit me well. My initial ride around the subdivision was good though. It felt lighter and it felt a lot easier to go up the climbs. I did an easy 90 minute spin on the trainer with the new bike and I think it fits me well. I will need to do a lot more tweaks though. Hoping for a long lasting relationship with this one!
After a long hiatus from the road, I finally brought out my bike again. It deserved some good road time after its long hours on the trainer. I made my way to Aguinaldo to do a tri sim and it did not disappoint.
The pool was clean and I had it all to myself. It was no wonder that I’d be the only one there though; Who swims at 2 in the afternoon anyway?
I swam 1000 meters. It felt surprisingly easy at first. A thought that did not cross my mind because I haven’t had any pool time for over 1 week already. The first 500 felt fast and easy. The next 500 felt slow and sluggish. I thought I was doing well even with the reduced pool time but the last 500 felt a bit more sluggish than the first. The lack of chlorine time was catching up to me.
I finished the 1000 meters in about 19 minutes. Not bad for some reduced pool time. I’d add a minute or two to that time though because I was kicking off the wall too much in the last 500.
Next up was a 30 kilometer bike ride around Aguinaldo. Everybody knows I suck at the bike and I only have myself to blame for my lack of ability to keep a decent speed. I suck at narrating my bike ride but in summary, I mashed as hard as I could. I managed to finish the 30 kilometers in 67 minutes. Not bad. Could have been faster if I was the only one on the road.
I started running at around 3:40 in the afternoon. The sun was raging more than ever. With the passion of a thousand burning supernovas, the sun was staring me down. It was hard to keep a decent pace. The mixture of heat and jello legs were really slowing me down. I cut me run short and accepted defeat. There will be other days to run. That was a good 2 kilometer run to end the tri simulation.
What can I take away from all of this? One thing is for sure. I need to keep on training. I would bet my bike that even if the heat wasn’t as bad as when I started running, I would have still bonked. I am not a fast cyclist. I reached a milestone by almost doing a sub 60 30 kilometers. It felt alright but as soon as I started running, my legs were out of energy. I need to bike time to compensate my severe lack of talent.
Tonight marks the last day of the sweat challenge. I may have skipped a day but I am proud to say that the habit is back. A good swim awaits me tonight followed by a short run. I need that mileage for Condura.
Dimsum and Siomai 30 Days of Sweat Challenge Update:
Day 1: 80 Minute Spin at 80 RPM
Day 2: 30 Minute Run in the Morning. 45 Minute Spin and 15 Minute run in the evening.
Day 3: 4 Sets: 13 Bicep/Tricep Curls, 13 Plato Lifts, 40 crunches
Day 4: 60 Minute Spin
Day 5: 30 Minute Run. 80 Minute Spin.
Day 6: 2.5 Hour Fun Ride. Up – Ateneo – Up. 30 Minute Run
Day 7: 90 Minute Spin. 30 Minute Run.
Day 8: 30 Minute Run.
Day 9: 60 Minute Morning Run.
Day 10: 10 Minute Insanity Workout.
Day 11: 4 Kilometer run.
Day 12: Weight training
Day 13: 50 Minute Spin.
Day 14: 30 Minute Interval run. Weight training.
Day 15: 90 Minute Spin.
Day 16: 2500 Meter Swim.
Day 17: 60 Minute Spin.
Day 18: 2500 Meter Swim.
Day 19: 50 Minute Spin.
Day 20: 30 Minute Run
Day 21: Skipped a day!!!! T_T
Day 22: 150 Minute Spin to make up for yesterday
Day 23: 30 Minute Run. 2000 Meter Swim
Day 24: 2.5 Hour Spin
Day 25: 2500 Meter Swim
Day 26: 3k Run
Day 27: 6k Run
Day 28: 30 Minute Spin
Day 29: 1 Hour Spin. 30 Minute Run.
I blew it at day 21. Made up for it the next day. I think I’ll bike again for two hours tonight. Maybe three if I find a good show to watch.
Dimsum and Siomai 30 Days of Sweat Challenge Update:
Day 1: 80 Minute Spin at 80 RPM
Day 2: 30 Minute Run in the Morning. 45 Minute Spin and 15 Minute run in the evening.
Day 3: 4 Sets: 13 Bicep/Tricep Curls, 13 Plato Lifts, 40 crunches
Day 4: 60 Minute Spin
Day 5: 30 Minute Run. 80 Minute Spin.
Day 6: 2.5 Hour Fun Ride. Up – Ateneo – Up. 30 Minute Run
Day 7: 90 Minute Spin. 30 Minute Run.
Day 8: 30 Minute Run.
Day 9: 60 Minute Morning Run.
Day 10: 10 Minute Insanity Workout.
Day 11: 4 Kilometer run.
Day 12: Weight training
Day 13: 50 Minute Spin.
Day 14: 30 Minute Interval run. Weight training.
Day 15: 90 Minute Spin.
Day 16: 2500 Meter Swim.
Day 17: 60 Minute Spin.
Day 18: 2500 Meter Swim.
Day 19: 50 Minute Spin.
Day 20: 30 Minute Run
Day 21: Skipped a day!!!! T_T
Day 22: 150 Minute Spin to make up for yesterday
Day 23: 30 Minute Run. 2000 Meter Swim
I just made a lot of weird updates on my bike. It looks so unconventional now but I think it will do the job.
I moved the arms pads a bit closer to me. It feels a lot more comfortable now. I think I can manage a lower more aggressive drop. If I can manage to mount the aerobars under my handle bars, I think I can achieve that. I must slam them some more. My stem can’t be further slammed because it has reached the slam limit.
I butchered my handle bars. I wanted my bike to look like a tri-bike. I think it looks the part. A switch to proper brake levers and bar end shifters is in the horizon for me if I can manage to enjoy this look.
Behind me is an improvised tool kit. The clear bottle holds my tools and an extra inner tube. I also have that canister thing that is used for flats. Haven’t had the chance to use it yet in a race and I am hoping that I never get to. This looks so unorthodox. I should get a seat mounted rear bottle holder instead of this.
Dimsum and Siomai 30 Days of Sweat Challenge Update:
Day 1: 80 Minute Spin at 80 RPM
Day 2: 30 Minute Run in the Morning. 45 Minute Spin and 15 Minute run in the evening.
Day 3: 4 Sets: 13 Bicep/Tricep Curls, 13 Plato Lifts, 40 crunches
Day 4: 60 Minute Spin
Day 5: 30 Minute Run. 80 Minute Spin.
Day 6: 2.5 Hour Fun Ride. Up – Ateneo – Up. 30 Minute Run
Day 7: 90 Minute Spin. 30 Minute Run.
Day 8: 30 Minute Run.
Day 9: 60 Minute Morning Run.
Day 10: 10 Minute Insanity Workout.
Day 11: 4 Kilometer run.
Day 12: Weight training
Day 13: 50 Minute Spin.
Day 14: 30 Minute Interval run. Weight training.
Day 15: 90 Minute Spin.
Day 16: 2500 Meter Swim.
Day 17: 60 Minute Spin.
Day 18: 2500 Meter Swim.
