Leif Baradoy» tips

Back in the saddle

Leif Baradoy — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:25:29 +0000

The last few months have been a rollercoaster for me. I’ll jump the shark (the snark?) on the boring goring details . . .

Summary: I hit a wall called financial reality, which significantly impacted my ability to race and focus on training. Given some of my choices, this wall was inevitable. I had an overly optimistic view of how much I could bring in through sponsorship and consulting work while training. That said, my triathlon goals are measured in years, not months, so I don’t feel that I’ve fallen off the wagon for racing as a pro. I’m eager to prove myself as a pro and I don’t feel I’ve come close to my potential yet.

I’m now gainfully employed in a fairly stable job, which has enough flexibility to allow me to train and race. I continue to work with Noa Deutsch of PT Performance Training, who I believe is one of the stand-out triathlon coaches in Canada (I believe time will prove out my claim here). I’m extremely thankful to my sponsors whose assistance has always been so helpful. Each of them have been very understanding of my situation and continue to encourage me to my long term goals.

Outside of my own stuff, I’ve continued to be involved in the local community, doing whatever I can to help other athletes and give them any advice I can about the fuller picture of racing at the pro/elite level, which requires not only athletic ability but also a fair amount of business and marketing savvy. To be clear, athletic ability and perseverance are critical; the other stuff is important but meaningless without athletic performance.

If nothing else, my errors can serve as a warning to others so that they aren’t forced into a corner. I really value the opportunities I’m getting to help and invest in other athletes. While I’ve a long way to go still, and much to learn, I really get a lot of joy from helping others accelerate down their path.

Best.

Mind Games: Finding the Joy

Leif Baradoy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:39:14 +0000

I took this past week off from training to mentally regroup, focus on other parts of life, and remind myself why I do sport in the first place. I love training and I love racing. I love pushing myself but I also love the solitude of a good trail run or the presence of mind one needs to have in fast moving group rides.

Laura (my partner) has started attending the Triple Shot morning rides, so on I went to the Friday morning ride with her. Woke up at 5:00, left the house on the bike at 5:30, group ride started at 6:00. I went out with the A group and it was just what I needed (I also have to learn better sprint tactics). After coffee, I spent more time on the bike heading home the long way and then doing some extra stuff. This ride helped remind me that I love cycling, I love pushing myself on the bike, and I love training.

Earlier today, I ran at Mt. Work with my dogs. While I had more knee issues after about 30min, getting lost on the single track mountain bike trails through lush, west coast forest was a real pleasure. Again, I started triathlon because I love to run, bike, and swim. I train because I love it. I race because I love it.

The reminder of my passion puts my shitty race in perspective.

Up next: Get some physio. Keep training as much as possible while looking for work (or startup funding). Love life.

A video about cycling safety

Leif Baradoy — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:11:29 +0000

I posted this video back in 2008.

You may have seen this video, or versions of it, elsewhere, if not, enjoy! I wanted to repost the video because it offers an important reminder about drivers’ awareness of cyclists.

Initially, I was glad that I got the number of passes correct! Watch the video closely and read on.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Because I cycle (and drive) so frequently, I am always keen to observe how motorists and cyclists interact. Earlier today I saw a classic (aka dangerous) maneuver by a vehicle. The driver sped past a cyclist, giving him a reasonable berth, and then made a hard right turn about 100m-150m away. The cyclist had to stop to let the car turn while the driver didn’t even realize they had cut the cyclist off. The driver focused on passing the cyclist safely, but didn’t bother to shoulder-check before turning. Failing to understand the cyclist’s speed, the driver mentally dismissed the cyclist after passing him safely. I imagine that the driver focused on making the turn, not making a turn with a cyclist coming up beside them. This video is so great because it reminds me how easy it is to miss something that is right infront of you. When I head out on the road, I frequently have this video in mind. As a cyclist, I’m not invisible, but I am unexpected, which is frighteningly similar to invisibility (but not invincibility). I’m a bear on a bike in a world of motorists thinking about passing, gas, and basketball.

Cycling Tips: Be Safe and Know Your Rights

Leif Baradoy — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:16:32 +0000

Probability sucks. The longer I ride my bike to train and commute, the more likely I am to experience some sort of collision or accident. Last year I had a minor run in with a tow truck on a rainy day.

Thankfully, both my bike (commuter) and I were okay. If you follow the road cycling or triathlon community, let alone the experience of work commuters, you know how lucky I am.

I love my sport and I love my life. I’d like to continue enjoying both for years to come. Here are some tips to staying safe on the road.

Maintain your bicycle in good working order. Simple. You should be doing this already because you care about your bike . . . and you need to be able to stop. A combination of personal care for your bike with tune-ups at your local bicycle store will keep you enjoying the streets and roads.
Be as visible as possible to others. I don’t always wear hot neon, but I make sure that my LED lights are charged (especially during these gray West Coast days) and that I’m not decked out in all black.
Cycle in traffic safely and predictably. If drivers can anticipate what you’re going to do most of them will do there best to accomodate you.
Identify dangers and stay mentally focused. This might be someone in the peloton that you need to stay well ahead (or behind) of. It might be a car that just passed you that is about to make a sudden right hand turn. Staying mentally focused on safety, not just the workout, is critical. Check out bicyclesafe.com for some good reminders and stats on all the different ways cars might come at you.
Safety over training. If my coach gives me something like intervals to ride, I want to ride them and I don’t want to interrupt my session by slowing down, stopping, etc. I suspect other athletes might be geared the same way. I often have to consciously go against the part of me that wants to train hard at all costs and always ask first if I am riding safe. Of course, with proper planning, there are many safe places to do hard sets, so don’t use safety as an excuse for laziness. Most critically, don’t use training as the excuse to risk your life or wellbeing.
Know and obey the rules of the road.
Signal. I point and signal when I am turning or changing lanes. No need to surprise drivers.
If you are conscious and able, don’t panic.
Always carry identification. I often carry my debit or credit card and some photo identifaction, but I also wear a Road ID. The Road ID is a simple wristband with basic medical and emergency contact information; a bracelet that can communicate on your behalf, in the event that you’re unable. When I first heard of this product, I thought it was safety overkill. A marketing gimmick. Then I realized that, if I ever actually needed to have one, it could well be the best $20 I ever spent. Road ID is a peace-of-mind product that you don’t ever want to need.
Protect yourself legally. If you are in an accident or collision, you need to know your rights and be prepared to gather the right information for insurance, court, and other bureaucracies. Download and print the Cyclist’s Collision Checklist. Read it and keep a copy of this in a ziplock bag in your saddlebag. Hopefully you will never need it. This brochure was created by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Clinic, so it is specific to British Columbia, but I believe their advice is relevant for most cyclists.
Respect the road, respect vehicles, respect your own fragility.
Don’t be an asshole, even when other people are. This can be really hard sometimes, especially when the adrenaline is pumping. There’s times I’ve cursed, spat, bird-flipped, etc. at drivers for intentionally or unintentionally endangering my person. These reactions fail to teach the driver anything and only increase the driver’s animosity towards cyclists. Plus, these sort of reactions often fail to teach me what I could have done differently to have avoided the situation in the first place. My priority is my own safety, not teaching or telling off drivers.

I might come up with more later, but that’s it for now. Enjoy the road!

Cycling Collision Checklist: Critical Resource

Leif Baradoy — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:14:31 +0000

I really want to emphasize the importance of knowing what to do if you are in a cycling accident. I’ve heard horror stories about failed insurance claims and persistent injuries. This checklist is really important because, if you follow it, you will increase your chances to receive proper compensation for the accident.

Download and print the Cyclist’s Collision Checklist. Read it and keep a copy of this in a ziplock bag in your saddlebag. Hopefully you will never need it. This brochure was created by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Clinic, so it is specific to British Columbia, but I believe their advice is relevant for most cyclists.

Photos from Gunner Shaw 2010

Leif Baradoy — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:34:33 +0000

I found a few photos of the Gunner Shaw 2010 race at trainharder.com (photos by Krista Pendergast). Here’s all you need to know about the fight to the finish line.
Look at my bright orange shirt! Loud and proud.