Racing Archives * Senior Triathletes

Smart Sugar Strategies for Senior Triathletes: Fueling for Endurance After 50

Terry L. VanderWert on November 18, 2025

Introduction

I imagine that all of us have heard about the evils of added sugar. According to an article titled Metabolism and Health Impacts of Dietary Sugars published in the Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis, “Excessive intake of sugars, especially fructose and sucrose (a dimer of glucose and fructose monomers), are highly correlated with metabolic disease including obesity, diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease.”

Still, many sports drinks and gels contain significant amounts of added sugars. So, what do we do with this apparent contradiction?

As we continue to push limits in triathlon, duathlon, or aquathlon later in life, our nutritional needs evolve. For the 50+ athlete—man or woman—understanding how your body processes sugar is essential not only for performance but for long-term health.

Age, hormonal changes, and medical conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib) or fatty liver can alter how we handle sugar. This post breaks down what happens when you consume different sugars, how men and women differ in how our bodies handle them, and how to fuel smarter for your next multisport adventure.

What Sugars Are We Talking About?

The three main sugars we are concerned about in this post are glucose, fructose, and sucrose.

Glucose, sometimes referred to as dextrose, is the body’s primary circulating sugar. When you eat glucose it’s absorbed in the gut, raises blood glucose, triggers insulin release, and is taken up by muscle, fat, and other tissues (or stored as glycogen).

Fructose (the other half of table sugar-sucrose-and a big component of high-fructose corn syrup) is absorbed but handled largely by the intestine and liver, not by insulin-responsive muscle. The liver converts fructose into intermediates that can refill glycogen but can also be pushed into de novo lipogenesis (creating fat), raising triglycerides and uric acid in some situations. This is why excess fructose is linked to fatty liver, higher triglycerides and metabolic harm. Fructose-rich added sugars (soda, many processed foods) are more likely to produce unfavorable metabolic effects when consumed in excess compared with the modest fructose in whole fruit. Lest you fall prey to advertising, be aware that some types of agave nectar contain up to 90% fructose and 10% glucose.

Sucrose (table sugar) contains one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose. Your body breaks sucrose into the two component sugars and then processes each as above.

Chemically, these sugar molecules are the same whether they come from an apple or from soda. But in the real-world, they behave differently. Whole fruits contain fiber, water, vitamins, and polyphenols slow absorption, blunt blood-sugar spikes, and provide satiety — reducing total sugar exposure. By contrast, refined/added sugars (sodas, sweets) give a quick, large sugar load with few nutrients. Because of this, refined sugars promote higher post-meal glucose, insulin spikes, and more calories consumed. For most healthy people, eating sugar inside whole fruit is not associated with the same harms as drinking a sugar-sweetened beverage.

What Happens When You Ingest Sugar

When you eat carbohydrates—whether from a banana or a bottle of sports drink—your body breaks them into the simple sugars glucose and fructose.

Glucose raises blood sugar and provides quick energy to muscles.
Fructose, handled mainly by the liver, refills glycogen but can also turn to fat if overconsumed.

This is why the type, timing, and source of your sugar intake matter. But, so do other factors, which I address in the next sections.

Men vs. Women: Different Metabolic Responses

Research shows clear sex-based differences in glucose metabolism and cardiometabolic risk, especially around menopause when estrogen levels decline.

Body composition & hormones: Men typically carry more muscle mass and have a generally higher resting metabolic rate. Women often carry more subcutaneous fat and have different fat-distribution patterns and hormonal influences (especially pre- vs post-menopause). These differences affect how glucose is taken up and used and how insulin sensitivity is maintained. They even how carbs are stored and mobilized.
Insulin sensitivity: Women (especially pre-menopausal) often maintain somewhat better insulin sensitivity than men. After menopause, estrogen drop can lead to increased insulin resistance, more central fat accumulation, and a higher risk of metabolic issues.
Fueling strategy: Because of these differences, women may benefit from slightly more cautious carbohydrate dosing (especially added sugars). They may want to rely more on steady, lower-glycemic carbs rather than high sugar loads. Men may tolerate higher absolute carb loads (thanks to more muscle mass) but they too must respect age-related changes.
Endurance performance implications: For both sexes, during long sessions the gut’s ability to absorb carbohydrate becomes a limiter—so specialized blends (glucose + a bit of fructose) may help. But the ideal ratio/dose may differ slightly by sex (and gut tolerance), so personalized testing – before race day – is key.

How Aging Changes Sugar Metabolism

As we age, our bodies gradually become less efficient at handling the sugar we eat. This is true even if we maintain an active lifestyle. Much of this change comes down to shifts in muscle mass, hormones, and daily training patterns. One of the most important factors is the age-related decline in muscle tissue. Muscle acts as a major “sink” for glucose. With less muscle available, especially if strength training has taken a back seat, sugar lingers in the bloodstream longer than it once did.

At the same time, insulin—the hormone that helps move glucose into cells—tends to become less effective. This age-related drop in insulin sensitivity doesn’t necessarily mean someone will develop diabetes. However, it does mean that larger sugar spikes can occur from foods that previously caused little reaction. Hormonal changes amplify this effect in both men and women, especially during and after menopause.

Finally, as many of us naturally shift toward slightly lighter or less intense training loads after 50, we simply burn through fewer carbohydrates each day. That means more unused sugar circulating after meals unless we adapt our nutrition to match our activity level.

Putting this together, older athletes do well to focus on whole-food carbohydrates—fruits, vegetables, and grains—for everyday eating, and to reserve concentrated sugars for training or recovery when they are most likely to be used efficiently. Strength training becomes an essential part of nutritional health, not only athletic performance, because maintaining muscle helps maintain glucose control.

Fructose, AFib, and Liver Health

Fructose plays a unique role in our metabolism, and its relationship with heart and liver health becomes more important as we age. Unlike glucose, fructose is processed almost entirely in the liver. In modest amounts—such as the natural fructose found in whole fruit—this system works beautifully. Problems arise when the liver receives large doses from sweetened sports drinks, processed snacks, or high-fructose sweeteners common in packaged foods.

Over time, excessive fructose can overwhelm the liver’s ability to store or process it, contributing to fat buildup in the liver and increased insulin resistance. These changes don’t just affect metabolism; they spill over into cardiovascular health. Chronically elevated blood sugar and insulin levels create the kind of inflammation and oxidative stress associated with a greater risk of atrial fibrillation.

For athletes with AFib or those who have been told their liver enzymes are “a little high,” paying attention to sugar sources becomes especially important. Natural fructose from fruit is rarely the issue; it’s the repeated, high-dose fructose exposures from packaged foods and sweetened drinks that create trouble. Fortunately, endurance athletes can still use mixed-carbohydrate fueling during long training or racing. The key is to keep these sugary fuels tied to exercise, when your muscles are ready to use the extra sugar rather than pass it on to the liver.

If you have AFib, fatty liver, or metabolic concerns, it’s wise to keep added fructose low and discuss fueling plans with your doctor or a sports nutrition professional who understands endurance training.

Practical Fueling Summary for 50+ Multisport Athletes

Here’s a handy table summarizing best carb practices across daily contexts:

Context	Best Carb Approach	Fructose Role
Daily eating	Whole foods (vegetables, whole grains, fruit)	Natural fructose in fruit is fine; avoid added sugars
Training < 90 min	Water + electrolytes, such as a banana or other simple carb snack	Minimal added fructose
Long training / race	Glucose + small fructose mix (approx. 2:1 glucose: fructose ratio)	Helps carb absorption and energy delivery if your gut tolerates
Recovery	Glucose-based carbs + whole fruit	Natural fructose from fruit supports glycogen restoration naturally

Remember Your Goal

A major change that occurred during Joy’s and my triathlon adventure was the foods we ate. There were plenty that we gave up. In particular, limiting processed sugar in our diet became part of our triathlon lifestyle.

Natural over processed: Choose fruit and whole carbs instead of sweetened drinks.
Age smart: Adjust carb intake to your training volume and recovery rate.
Gender aware: Recognize hormonal and metabolic differences in fueling response.
Health aligned: Be extra cautious with added fructose if you have liver disease, AFib, or insulin resistance.
Train it: Always test fueling strategies before race day.

Your goal isn’t just speed—it’s sustainable endurance and long-term health.

Disclaimer

I’ve written this post based on my best understanding of the science and research I’ve reviewed, as well as my personal experience as a senior triathlete. However, I am not a medical professional. Nutrition, metabolism, heart rhythm conditions, and liver health can vary greatly from person to person.

If you have questions about how this information applies to your own health or fueling strategy—especially if you have atrial fibrillation, liver concerns, diabetes, or other medical conditions—please consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider. The information in this post is not intended as medical advice. I am not responsible for any inaccuracies or misunderstandings.

Questions

Is this post useful for your triathlon training and racing? What would make it more valuable? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.

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How Important Is Mental Toughness For Triathlon?

Terry L. VanderWert on November 20, 2024

brain pictured inside human head to illustrate the mental part of triathlon

I chuckle each time I hear the wisdom attributed to baseball’s Yogi Berra: “Baseball is 90 per cent mental. The other half is physical.” As a former baseball player, I can attest to the importance of a strong mental component to the game. I just don’t get his math.

Since taking up golf about three years ago, I have also learned of the mental component to the game. I like what golfer Bobby Jones said: “In golf, the most important distance is the five inches between the ears.” A similar quote of Jones is, “The object of golf is to beat someone. Make sure that someone is not yourself.” Both speak clearly of a mental component to the game.

Is there a mental component to endurance sports like triathlon, duathlon, and aquabike?

That’s the question I explore in this post.

Our Mind Contributes to Physical Endurance

Dr, Samuele Marcora appears to be the foremost expert on the relationship between the mind and endurance sports performance. He is widely cited in articles and posts on mental toughness in endurance sports.

In Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans, Dr. Marcora and his colleagues documented the effect of mental fatigue on physical performance. They claimed that their research provided “experimental evidence that mental fatigue limits exercise tolerance in humans.” They also concluded that these limits came through a higher perceived difficulty, rather than physical effects related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and muscular functions.

In his article titled “Quitter”, Matt Fitzgerald, author of RUN: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel, writes of another of Marcora’s tests, this involving ten members of a university rugby team. Team members were told to ride at 90 percent of their personal VO2 max power until exhaustion. On average, they rode about 12 minutes at 242 watts. Then, after supposedly being exhausted, they were immediately told to ride as fast as possible for five seconds. Their average power was now 731 watts.

The researchers’ conclusion was that the mind in addition to the body dictates an athlete’s performance.

Mental Toughness Can Be Trained For Triathlon

The good news is that we can increase the mental component of endurance sports through our training. Following are two approaches I found while preparing this post.

Training With An Attitude

TriDot Head of Coach Development and senior triathlete, Kurt Madden told me, “I find it really intriguing that we spend so much time on the physical aspect of training. But the mind can work with you or against you.”

In an effort to incorporate the mental component in triathlon training, Kurt has identifed four factors he uses to help triathletes achieve amazing results, no matter their age or gender. These factors come from a combination of Kurt’s experience as a 45+ year ultra distance endurance athlete and his study of sports psychology.

• The “grit” factor

In Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth develops the “hypothesis that what really drives success is not ‘genius’ but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.” Some people can look at any challenge, embrace it, and push through related pain. This “grit” can come from early life experiences, such as a difficult family situation, or from a “learn it as you go” approach.

• Intention to be successful

Kurt has observed that “those people that do better mentally in longer events have the intention to be successful.” Those with this attitude not only believe they will be successful, but take action to ensure that they succeed.

“Intention” builds on enthusiasm, or positive attitudes, and on grit. Kurt encourages athletes with an intention to be successful to spot their “short term wins”. These wins confirm the success of their actions, producing the biochemical (hormonal) changes in our bodies that almost guarantee success.

• Willingness to be uncomfortable

While speaking with me for the post titled How To Slow Age-Related Drop in Running Performance, Kurt cited the tendency for older athletes to avoid being uncomfortable. However, to increase mental toughness, it is necessary to embrace some discomfort.

“When we are uncomfortable, there is a good thing that happens: we grow.”

Kurt has learned that one way to train our mind to embrace discomfort is to force ourself to go a little beyond where we think we need to stop. Relax, embrace the current discomfort, and go a little further.

• Staying “in the moment”

In introducing this factor, Kurt referred to The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance, a book written by George Mumford whom Michael Jordan credits “with transforming his on-court leadership of the [Chicago] Bulls.”

“Staying in the moment” avoids fretting about what has happened and forecasting too far ahead as to what could happen. Winning athletes include in their arsenal an ability to brush off mistakes or other failures and focus on doing what they know they are capable of.

Training While Mentally Fatigued

In “Brain Endurance Training Improves Dynamic Calisthenic Exercise and Benefits Novel Exercise”, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, researchers Neil Dalloway et al, provide background on Brain Endurance Training (BET), at least partly based on Dr. Marcora’s research. The authors begin with the fundamental assumption that “perceived exertion is a limiting factor in endurance exercise.” By creating mental fatigue on top of the fatigue from physical training, the athlete adapts to performing under a higher level of fatigue and therefore a higher level of perceived exertion.

This allows the athlete to perform under stress, that is, conditions of mental fatigue. However, the real goal is for their endurance performance to be increased when the mental fatigue component is no longer present, such as on race day. According to the article’s authors, BET has been demonstrated to improve performance in cycling, running, and other activities requiring muscular endurance.

Cognitive Training Tools

Soma Technologies is a company which provides products following this approach. The company’s website says, “We Monitor Cognition, We Analyse Fatigue, We Optimize Performance.” The company also claims, “Soma has been proven to create psycho-physiological changes in the brain, enabling athletes to perform at higher levels with less perceived effort and make better decisions under fatigue.”

As I was preparing this post, I received an email from Soma, introducing their guide, “How to Design A Cognitive Training Plan.” This document is for coaches who want to incorporate mental toughness training into their athletes’ plan.

When reading through the guide, it surprised me to see the melding of mental (cognitive) and physical loading. For example, you may be aware of words such as periodization and progressive overload from triathlon training manuals. But did you know that there is a mental toughness equivalent to these? And, just as there are different components to comprehensive swim, bike, or run training programs, there are different components to cognitive endurance training.

Eating Your Way To Mental Toughness

Learning that mental toughness is connected to how we fuel our bodies shouldn’t have surprised me. Physical training, nutrition and hydration, and rest and recovery are deeply intertwined.

In a Fast Talk Labs podcast titled “The Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Mental Performance,” Dr. Kate Kresge explained the relationship between nutrition and mental performance in endurance athletes. She began by emphasizing the need for good blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain, which is crucial for mental performance and toughness.

Adequate blood flow supports the brain’s ability to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and adrenaline. These neurotransmitters are vital for the proper functioning of the brain’s frontal lobe, which governs key aspects of mental toughness, such as focus, decision-making, and resilience.

The adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, produce adrenaline, while dopamine is primarily synthesized within the brain. Notably, adrenaline can also be derived from dopamine. The production of these critical neurotransmitters requires three key nutrients: tyrosine (an amino acid), vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

Nutrient Sources:

Tyrosine: Meat, poultry, fish, almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, eggs, cheese
Vitamin B6: Beef liver, tuna, salmon, shrimp, potatoes, bananas
Vitamin C: Red, yellow, and green peppers, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, kiwi fruit, broccoli

Electrolytes also play an essential role in facilitating the transport of these nutrients into cells, highlighting the interconnected nature of nutrition and physiology. If you find yourself struggling with mental toughness during training, consider focusing on adequate protein intake and maintaining proper electrolyte balance. According to Dr. Kresge, noticeable improvements can occur within a week.

What I Have Learned About Increasing Mental Toughness for Triathlon

It’s clear that there is a mental component to endurance sports, like triathlon, duathlon, and aquabike.

Those of you who know me, also know that I am an average triathlete having focused on sprint triathlons. I have not engaged specifically in mental endurance training because I have only recently learned about it. However, I relate to what I have heard and read about mental fatigue and mental toughness.

Over the years of triathlon training and racing, I believe I have sometimes struggled with the effects of mental fatigue, but also developed greater mental toughness.

For me, the quickest way to increase mental toughness has been being consistent in my training. Consistency builds confidence. When writing this, I was thinking of the triathlon swim.

I recall several races in which I became light-headed early in the swim, either through altitude or poor pacing. However, through plenty of pool and open water swims in different conditions, I had become confident in my ability to maintain calm and respond to the current situation without panicking. That’s a small example of mental toughness.

From what Dr. Kresge said, I plan to double-down on paying attention to nutrition and hydration.

What Works For You?

This has been a high level introduction to the subject. Is there a part of this you wish to learn more about? Please share your questions or requests below and I will work to get answers.

Please also share what you have learned about increasing mental toughness. What advice do you have for those new to triathlon training?

Affiliate Disclosure

This post was originally published on August 28, 2024. After hearing the interview with Dr. Kate Kresge, I added information about the roles of nutrition and hydration and republished it on November 20, 2024.

Want To Travel The World? Think About The World Masters Games

Terry L. VanderWert on October 21, 2024

Senior triathlete in transition from the bike to run at 2024 Pan American Games

Want to combine travel across the globe with triathlon? If yes, then the World Masters Games or the regional Masters Games may be for you.

About IMGA

Since 1985, the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) has served as the representative body of Masters sport across the world. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee, IMGA is a non-profit organization whose goal is to support the Olympic movement and ‘sport for all’ philosophy.

According to the IMGA website, the organization’s mission is:

“The IMGA promotes lifelong competition, friendship and understanding between mature sports people, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or sport status. Its mission is to offer worldwide multi-sports events for mature athletes in attractive destinations, in a sustainable manner, in the spirit of ‘Sport for Life. Life without limits’.”

In fulfilling this mission, IMGA organizes and manages several international multi-sport events for Masters athletes. These include the World Masters Games and the Open Masters Series (previously called European, Asia-Pacific and Pan-American Masters Games). These games attract thousands of athletes to locations around the world.

I like the thought behind these games. Still, I was more than a little surprised to read their definition of masters athletes: age 30 and over. For some sports, the minimum age for a masters athlete is 25 years. But, this is not a deterrent to participate since competition occurs between age groups, as I will describe later in this post.

World Masters Games

The World Masters Games is the IMGA’s flagship event, normally held every four years. Dates for the next World Masters Games in Taiwan are May 17–30, 2025. Find information and registration for this event at https://imga.ch/event/world-masters-games-2025/.

Because of the COVID pandemic, they canceled the 2021 World Masters Games scheduled for Japan. The organizers have rescheduled these for 2027, two years after the Taiwan games. Then, another two years later, in 2029, the World Masters Games will take place in Perth, Australia.

Masters triathlete jogging from the swim exit to transition at the 2024 Pan-American Masters Games, part of the World Masters Games — Masters triathlete jogging from the swim exit to transition at the 2024 Pan-American Masters Games in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Picture courtesy of International Masters Games Association.

What Do The Games Look Like?

To get an idea of what these events look like, I went to the website for the 2024 Pan-American Games held earlier this year, on July 12-21, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. The ten-day regional event drew over 4,000 athletes from over 75 countries. Competitions included Sprint and Olympic distances of triathlon, aquabike, and duathlon events. A coed relay competition for the Sprint triathlon also took place.

While the triathlon and other multisport endurance races included small numbers of competitors—for example, 88 for the Sprint triathlon and 32 for the Olympic distance—seniors dominated the numbers. In both triathlon distance races, two-thirds of all competitors were age 50 years or older.

In What Sports Might Triathletes Be Interested?

Registration for the World Masters Games allows participation in several sports, with the line-up depending on the location of the event. Because of the global popularity of triathlon, all events I checked include both Olympic and Sprint distance triathlons. Like many other triathlons, competition occurs within gender and age groups in five-year increments. The 85+ age group is the highest for triathlon.

Triathletes may also be interested in swimming (called aquatics), biking (cycling), and running competitions. These sports are also part of most, if not all, of the Masters Games events. For the 5 km and 10 km running races, the oldest age group is the 100+ category.

A good feature of the IMGA events is that participants are not limited to a single competition. In the description of the 2025 World Masters Games, the IMGA website says, “You can pick one of the sports or even sign up in up to 3 sports and 7 disciplines.”

According to IMGA representative Kirsty van Peer’s explanation to me, sports are categories of competition, like swimming, triathlon, and running. A discipline is a specific event, such as Olympic triathlon, 800 meter freestyle swim, and 10 km race. So, for next year’s world competition, your registration would allow you to compete in up to seven races, which could include one or more multisport competitions, depending on the schedule.

Related page: Triathlon Information

How To Learn More And Stay Informed

Want to receive the latest news on IMGA events and inspiring stories about competitors? If so, join the IMGA “Sport for life” community and subscribe to their e-newsletter at https://imga.ch/subscribe-newsletter/.

You can also follow IMGA on social media at:

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IMGAmasters)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imgamastersgames/)
Twitter (https://x.com/imgamasters)

Do You Have Experience With The World Masters Games Or IMGA Regional Games?

Have you competed in IMGA games? If so, what was your experience?

What do you think about competing in Taipei in 2025?

A Triathlon Bike’s Tale

Terry L. VanderWert on May 12, 2024

Editor’s Note: Ever wonder what your triathlon bike thinks about travel? Dave Conover has. He has teamed up with his triathlon bike to share the good, bad, and the ugly parts of traveling for triathlon.

By Dave’s Quintana Roo PRFive

A Little About Me

I’m a matte red and black, four-plus year old 56 centimeter Quintana Roo (QR) PRfive with numerous triathlon training and racing on my frame and wheelset. I was purchased in Virginia by my rider and good friend, Dave Conover.

Dave takes good care of me. Aside from racing in some rain in Puerto Rico in 2022, I have never been out in stormy or wet weather. We have logged close to 10,000 miles together outside and on a basement trainer with oldies from the 60’s playing. This is my story.

After qualifying for the 2020 World Triathlon Championship at the 2019 Cleveland Olympic Distance USA Triathlon (USAT) Nationals, Dave got the go ahead from his wife of 50 years, Louise, to team up with a new bike. He ordered me through a local triathlon-focused shop after a session with a professional bike fitter.

After arriving at Dave’s house, we quickly became good partners. I also got to literally hang out on the wall with his well-aged and cared-for FUJI Airfoil Pro. We got in some late fall rides, then transitioned to the indoor trainer.

My First Time Traveling

We made plans – truthfully, Dave made most of them – to travel to Edmonton, Canada for Worlds in 2020. These plans included me being transported by Tri Bike Transport (TBT) from Virginia to Edmonton and back. We were ready to start our racing season in 2020, then COVID came along. Long story short, we spent a lot of time on the indoor trainer and on solitary rides outside on less traveled two-lane roads in 2020. We also did a virtual triathlon together.

The Edmonton trip was postponed until 2021, then canceled in 2021. Still, we started racing in 2021 and drove to all our races, where I got to ride inside the SUV. Thankfully, I didn’t need to wear a face mask, though had to keep my distance according to USAT Competitive Rules.

Anxious for a challenge, we used a credit from TBT for our pre-paid trip to Edmonton to travel to Puerto Rico for a 70.3 race. I’ll simply say it was a wonderful experience, although a little warm and muggy.

From drop off to pick up in Virginia and at the race site, TBT was wonderful. I had a great time traveling and hanging out with so many other bikes, including a number of QRs from my time at the QR factory. Oh, how great to sit supported from a rack with that wonderful late-March sun on my aerobars.

My First Time in Europe Was Great

Then, in 2022, we raced well in Milwaukee, where we qualified to go to Spain for World’s in September 2023. It excited me to think about another trip arranged by TBT, again traveling with other bikes from the U.S.

I was ready to go in August, and was picked up and shipped to Spain with no incident. During this trip, I got to visit with some old bike buddies and make some new friends.
All 186 of us were stored in a nice warehouse near the race site. We were treated very well.

I was reunited with Dave a few days before the race for a few rides. I also got to stay with him and his wife at their rented apartment. You should have seen the view of the river. Still, it reminded me why I am glad to do the biking. I cannot swim or run.

What fun going up, then down, and up and down again, a big long hill during the race. My new rear cassette made my easy gear just a little easier for the hill. I was also glad to not be going down the hill at over 50 miles per hour like some of the other bikes.

But, The Way Home Was Long

After the race, I was dropped off at the warehouse for my trip back home. I got to compare notes about the race with all the other bikes. Then, when they turned out the lights, we had a great party using some remaining race hydration and CO₂ cartridges.

I was packed up and made it back to the U.S. We were happy to be back in the states and almost home. However, we began a bonus tour of the U.S., one which we soon learned was no bonus. Some would say we were stolen.

Right after being offloaded from the trip across the Atlantic, we heard discussion, some heated, about shipping fees and unpaid invoices. Some bikes ridden by lawyers understood there were even threats about legal action.

From what these bikes heard, TBT had contracted with another company to transport us to and from the U.S. and Spain and had not paid this company. It was not just for the 186 of us who went to Spain, but other bikes that had gone on different trips organized by TBT.

Someone went to court to secure our release and got an order for the shipping company to do just that. Unfortunately, we were moved to another state and then another before settling in California.

California? From Spain to Virginia?

Days turned into weeks, then months. It was getting pretty bad. The fluids and goos dropped on us in Spain were getting smelly. Our tires where deflating. Rust was showing up in places. On top of this, we were getting restless from not being able to get out to ride.

We also did not get much sleep because of all the noise associated with the places we were shipped and stored. Some of the bikes snored, while a few released some bad air from their tires.
It also got really cold at times. We knew we had been moved to California when it warmed up. I wish I could have smelled the salt air; by now, the odor inside our containers was really stale and smelly.

After being in California for a while, one of the Cervellos heard the word “auction”. As we discussed what this could mean, we realized the shipping company was going to sell each of us in an attempt to recoup the money they were owed.

We were awestruck. How could TBT allow this to happen? Where would we end up and with whom? Would we ever race again? A few bikes feared the worst, being sold for parts and never riding again. This exerted a significant amount of mental stress on each of us.

A Glimmer of Hope

Then there was a ray of hope. Someone heard that if our owners would each pay $2,000, they could come to California and pick us up. A few bikes left because their owners paid what we considered a ransom. Of course, I hoped Dave would come rescue me.

At the same time, I realized this was not reasonable. He had already paid for my safe return to Virginia. Now, he was looking at the cost and time associated with a trip from Virginia to California on top of the $2,000.

Those of us not rescued by our owners waited as our tires deflated some more. Many of us lost our desire to ride again.

Finally Rescued

Then someone came along to save us and get us back home. Travelers Insurance Company, who had underwritten policies to cover damage and loss, agreed to pay the outstanding fees to the shipping company to secure our release. Even better, they had arranged with a company to pack and ship us to our homes.

We were all thrilled, so much so that we threw another party with what we could scrounge together.

I was packed in a box and found my way back to Dave’s house. This ride was a little rougher than the first one; a plastic box on my seat post, like that on all QR PR bikes, was knocked off and damaged in shipment. But, after this ordeal, a little broken plastic was not a big deal.

It thrilled me to be reunited with Dave. He cleaned me, and put fresh air in my tires. He even took me to the triathlon shop for a check and tune up. Then, we got to go out for rides again in Virginia.

I’m Looking Forward

Later, I thought about what could have happened. While the additional four or so months it took to get home were very trying, it all worked out in the end. I have some good and not so good memories of my ordeal.

I also learned that TBT is no longer in the business of shipping bikes. Maybe someone will put them in a box and ship them around a while to see how they like it.

I’m still in contact with a few of my hostage mates. We are looking forward to the 2024 racing season. Even better, I have some trips coming up this season, though none outside the U.S. I will very much enjoy being pampered by Dave, driven in the back of his Honda SUV while I lay on my side, being properly cleaned up after each ride, and getting to visit with many friends in transition.

Have You or Your Bike Had An Experience Like Dave’s Bike?

We’d love to hear your or your bike’s story in the Comments below.