I feel the need....

Seems movie quotes are going to be my theme this year.
So the political discourse of the moment is how to cut deficits while making investments in development at the same time. Everyone is wondering how we can accomplish both at once. Well, it's easy! Get yourself some new fast racing technology! You'll be making up time on the competition while banking on yourself all in one fell swoop.
OK, OK not the same thing, but I am trying to make a point here.
What seems like a million years ago, I used to be a rower. I started in 1989 (!) at age 14 and was involved, either as an athlete or coach, for the next 12 years. During this time, huge changes in rowing technology were occurring. Hatchet-shaped blades, carbon fiber oars and shells, new hull shapes, spandex unisuits, individually sized shoes on the footstretchers, and smaller oar handles, just to name a few of the big ones. The heavy, thick wooden oars with tulip shaped blades, which I am sure in the 50's were the cutting edge of rowing technology, seemed like dinosaurs. How ever did we use those? And how did we ever manage to make it down the course in baggy t-shirts, flapping in the wind and catching thumbs at the finish? Of course whenever something new came out, we all longed for the new stuff, not wanting to be at any disadvantage or be uncool. It's just human nature. But if it is also human nature to be competitive, it makes complete sense. It's one thing to simply be bested, it's another to lose due to an equipment disadvantage. There's a reason behind the development of new racing technology, of course: to achieve ever increasing speeds. As you can tell, I am not one of those people who adhere to the idea that it's not about the bike, and anyone can win on anything. You don't see the pro teams testing out this theory. Cancellara might be the best time trialist in the world, but he's not going to go the start house on anything less than the latest and greatest.
Of course, getting ahold of the new stuff is much, much easier said than done. Most of us here at Team Bikeway.com (and this is the whole point of the team!) are working people, with everyday responsibilties and obligations (and mortgages, and school loans, and kids...). Athletics are a hobby, and we are not contract pro athletes who every January get to go to the first team camp of the year to be showered with a huge bag full of kits, helmets, team clothing and sunglasses. Nor do we get a brand new top of the line carbon fiber race bike with the lightest components and aero wheels, and a TT bike to match, with an endless supply of parts and someone to load it all into the team truck at the end of the day. Of course, those athletes are given all that stuff because it is their JOB to win. The rest of us, we're just trying to have fun. But if you're like me, having fun means going fast. So even if an entire new P4 or that Specialized Shiv time trial bike is not in your future, you can make some effective investments to cut into deficits on race day:
(1) Get a bike fit. Correct positioning for aerodynamics, comfort and power application are key for bike speed.
(2) Swap your frame for an aero one.
(3) Get some aero wheels.
(4) Get an aero helmet. Some studies show this can be one of the most effective investments you can make in aerodynamics.
(5) Get an aero water bottle.
(6) Lighten up your bike with some new wheels, a lighter seat or a carbon seat post.
(7) Make sure your clothing fits well to help you cut through the wind.
And of course, your source for all these is Bikeway. Once you're all set up, the next task is having the effective training, rest, nutrition and skills to take advantage of your new stuff. More on this next time.
Hope to see you all on Wednesday.