Hit the Brakes or (Wo)Man Down!

Today was a swim-bike brick and we enlisted the help of a friend in the transition area which made a tremendous difference. It wasn't an actual "transition" in the sense of us running out of the pool; it was too cool for that. We opted to change clothes prior to hitting the bike. I should have known that the women's locker room just might be an indication of the day to come when the custodian at the gym refused to allow me to change in the bathroom stall because she didn't want the floor wet. It goes without saying that all of the swimmers utilize the sink and the bathroom pre- and post-swim and guess what, the floor does get wet. And speaking of wet...I never realized until today just how hard it is to put on cycling attire after a swim regardless of how big your towel is. It never seemed this hard before but it was a chore today. Needless to say, my mission was eventually accomplished in the locker room.

So, outside I go...a little aggravated by a transition time that would have been faster if I'd gone home first and changed but it was time to try out the new wheelsets and pedals on the open road. Off we went, cycling down through a neighborhood. I must admit I was a little nervous with the new gear...but we were off to a good start on the bike. Two miles into the ride...it happened. A BIG FOUR-WHEELED problem.

I am in the front and we approach a side road...a not-so-bike-friendly, willing-to-share-the-road lady in a big car stutters as if she is actually going to stop at the stop sign only to pull out into the oncoming traffic (in case you're wondering, that's me-the oncoming traffice dressed in bright yellow and black cycling jacket). Before I could register panic while trying not to slam on the brakes and hit her car, my brain realizes the situation and quickly fires a message to my vocal cords which was a very spirited, "ARE YOU CRAZY?!?" With her window rolled down slightly, she tilted her head up she responded, "I SURE AM!" We pedaled on until the next intersection where I pulled off into a police department parking lot to gather my thoughts and calm my nerves. Then, the reality really sank in that the outcome of the situation could have been dramatically different if either of us had responded a different way...what if I had slammed on my brakes and what if she hadn't responded to me with just words. It was a good twenty minutes before I was settled. It was another lesson in the importance of always being prepared for what drivers may present at any given time. For my brain and vocal cords, I was very grateful that in that moment, that was ALL that came out of my mouth!

In the end, it was an okay brick day. Aside from the fact it didn't go as smoothly as I'd liked, I loved the wheelsets and didn't crash with the new pedals. It is quite a difference going from two-sided "Training Wheel" pedals to Look/Keo pedals. I did pretty well though and hope that it gets easier to clip in as time passes. Tomorrow is an 8-mile run...no traffic on the riverwalk :)