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Discovering the point of maximum fatigue

I am seriously sleep-deprived after a week of early workouts. On Sunday Dave and I got up at 4:45am to drive up to Napa and volunteer at a sprint triathlon there. I lifeguarded during the swim from the comfort of a surfboard and Dave directed swimmers into T1 at the swim finish. Our volunteering duties were done by 8:45am so we hopped on our bikes for a gorgeous ride through the lush green hills.

Back at home, as I rolled my bike from the car into the garage, I noticed that the rear wheel was dragging. I lifted the bike and spun the wheel around; it went halfway around and then stopped. Wow, I thought, that wheel is really out of true. Upon closer inspection I discovered two big cracks in the rim where the spokes enter. It was as if those two spokes were tightened too much and the metal simply gave out.

Click to see more of the photo.

I didn't notice it while I was riding, but it would be a convenient explanation for how slowly I've been going up the hills lately.

I took the wheel down to my local bike shop, where they said it was probably normal wear and tear for a 20-spoke wheel with three years of use. I ended up buying a new set of wheels. No, Leishia, I did not get Ksyrium Elites. I got a cheaper, sturdier pair of Mavics.

And by the way, paddling around on a surfboard is harder than it looks. My ribs are tender and my back is very sore from lifting my head while lying on my belly for an hour. And I am very, very tired.

May 9, 2006 10:28 AM