multi sports switchup!

A few weeks ago I finally had some time to get out on my mountain bike.  I really missed being out on the bike.  I have since been out about 5 times in the last 2 weeks.  Adding biking to my training regimen has also helped to break up the monotony of running all the time.  As much as I like to run, sometimes its nice to have another avenue to take to freshen up your workouts.  After some discussion with friends I have decided to start training for a potential sprint triathlon or two in the coming year.

I am curious to see how having the baby will affect my exercise routines.  I know that the first few months to years are going to be very time consuming and are going to strain my workouts.  I would never put a workout first when it comes to my son.  I am going to have to be creative to get my workouts in while the baby naps or when Christine and I are both home and I can sneak away for an hour.  Add to that the lack of sleep we will have from having a newborn in the house and this whole fit dad thing could go out the window in a few weeks! (unlikely...I've worked too hard to get here!!).

So after talking to some friends that cycle, riding some bikes, test riding some bikes on craigslist and lusting over the $10,000 carbon fiber featherweights the guys in the Tour De France were riding I went to my Local Bike Shop.  I went to Trek of Pittsburgh and tried out some Focus and Trek bikes but the prices for the bikes I wanted were just too high for my budget.  I went to ProCycles in the South Hills and the bikes there were too high for the budget as well.  On a whim I asked the guy who was helping me if they had any bikes they were offering deals on now.  He showed me a few bikes that were carbon fiber and out of my price range.  I asked if they had anything at any of their other stores that were aluminum and reasonably priced into my budget.  He told me they were dealing on a couple of older Cannondales.  I tried one out, and the frame fit me very well!!  So I had them ship one over and I am now the proud owner of a 2009 or 2010 (not sure) CAAD9.  It's light, its fast (has a compact sprocket), and it was in my budget!!  

I can't wait to get the clip in pedals set on the bike and learn how to use them so I can get out and use this thing on the road.  I will follow up with a review/writeup of my experience with the bike as well as my foray into road cycling.  For now the bike is relegated to use on the trainer in the game room just until I get comfortable with the pedals.  Of course I am sure there is going to be an amusing story to go along with my first road trip on the clip in pedals!  Wish me luck!