misc from the last few days

Swim and upper body lift and swim and upper body lift. That's all I've been up to these days.

I swam today with a heart rate monitor, which was useful, not because I can use it in the way that most triathletes apparently do, but because my heart rate often spikes when I exercise. It's not bad in the pool at the speed that I'm happily swimming, so that's good :)

Last night, I had a bike maintenance workshop, sponsored by the triathlon people. I took my bike over. There was only one other woman who showed up, so we each got private lessons on changing tires. I left my bike there, as the back brake was broken (as it turned out) and it needs a tune up (I bought it in spring 2000, I think, and it's never been tuned up), but not before learning how to disengage the brakes, take the wheels off, take the tires off, put them back on, fill them with a CO2 cartridge, put the wheels back on, and re-engage the brakes. It's messy, but it was fun. They gave both of us bags that are hung from the back of one's seat containing a patch kit, CO2 cartridges, an inflator for the cartridges, and tire lever. Nice :)

I met my mentor, who is a neat woman, and I got two leads on a used wetsuit. This activity was definitely worth the time invested.

Tonight, I bought some compression shorts (this hamstring is pissing me off), some wrap-around sunglasses, some anti-chafing stuff, and some bamboo socks. The only things left to buy (I think) are:

a new bike helmet (mine sustained a crash some time ago and must be replaced)
a wetsuit
skins or something similar for sun protection

Is there anything I'm forgetting?