Ben Collins

A week ago if you asked why I was coming to New York City I would have said, “for a race”. And I would have mentioned how I was in no way anxious to return to the city. Sitting on the Supershuttle in traffic (which is a story all its own) I started getting this familiar feeling in my stomach. Sort of a warm sensation – sort of like… “Oh my god!” I thought, “I was homesick for New York City?! How can that be? When you lived here there was no to escape from the city, it’s big and crowded and busy and, and, and full of interesting people, and good food, and fun things to do… BEN – STOP IT!!!” I fought it, but clearly my love of New York City had to come back out sometime. The four years I spent here were really memorable (and hard and tiring – an engineering degree and Division I swimming is no cake walk), but I never got to live in the City without a hundred responsibilities ensuring that I never had time to live it up. When I moved away I tried to find someplace way less busy with way more outdoor stuff to do: Hawaii. It’s really good to be back in New York City.

I’m staying on the upper east side at a home stay, which is a real treat. Actually, I’m staying in the apartment, but the rest of the family is gone. I’d say I’m alone, but you’re never alone in New York. After my three hour shuttle ride into Manhattan from the airport (They used to call it Super Slow Shuttle, and, while none of their customers complained, they also had very few customers.) I had dinner with my old swim coach, Jim Bolster, and went to bed. My mind was so full restless. This city just has so much energy! I’ve heard that strong thoughts can effect physical surroundings (the law of attraction) – if true, the stray thoughts alone in New York City can induce greatness for anyone that pays attention.

I awoke at 5:30 and ran across central park to Columbia University. Back at my old pool Ijoined a group of triathletes for a swim workout coached by the Columbia Men’s Swimming Assistant Coach, Erik Scheingoltz. Eric started at Columbia in 2001, which is the same year that I came to New York. This, however, is Eric’s last month with Columbia Swimming. He’s taken a job as a head coach across the river in New Jersey. (I forget the name of the school, but when I remember I’ll update this.) We’ll really miss him.

In the afternoon I went for a bike ride though the park. I was really excited to see the power data from my new Quarq Cinqo, but my Garmin Edge 705 must have been turned on in my bag because the battery only lasted five minutes into the ride. ARGHH!!

Today I’m flying from Rochester to New York City, where I’ll be visiting some friends and hopefully seeing a bit of my Alma Mater before racing the NYC Triathlon on Sunday.

My stay in Geneva has been great. My host family is wonderful! They made me salmon last night, which is my favorite meal in the world. John did the Musselman half iron distance on Sunday, and I got watch him go by mile 5 on the run where his company, Interstate Heating, was hosting an aid station. It was pouring down rain, yet the runners were still asking that the mister (it mists water out of a 7 foot tall piper) be left on. I can’t imagine it made them any more wet, but maybe the fresh water was colder than the rain, who knows. Surprisingly enough, people were even still taking wet sponges and requesting ice – I never would have guessed. John was quoted in the Finger Lakes Times yesterday because he was the only Genevan to do the race – finishing 301 out of 700 finishers (and many more starters). Anna, John’s wife, and the kids have ensured that I was more than comfortable while I was here and gave me a place to sleep about half of my waking hours in Geneva. It’s been a great homestay.

Last night I got a delivery of my new power meter. It’s a Quarq Cinqo mounted on an FSA Team Issue crankset. I went into Geneva Bicycle Center this morning hoping they would be able to swap the crank onto my bike. It’s probably a five minute job, but I had no bottom bracket wrench. They were stacked with work and turned me away at first. I was persistent, asking if I could just borrow the wrench and do it myself. "We don’t lend wrenches" They replied, echoing one of the most fundamental rules of bike shops: don’t let anyone have the chance to misplace your tools! Finally the mechanic reluctantly agreed to do it (hey I’m the jerk coming in at 10am saying I have to leave for the airport in a couple hours and I want work done now). He told me to come back in 30 minutes, so I headed for the door to grab some breakfast. As I walked out I heard him call after me, "It’ll be 35 or 40 bucks!"  Ouch. I should charge more for swim lessons. That’s probably the steepest per time labor expense I’ve encountered with my bike, and on my ride home I realized I probably could have bought the wrench I needed for about half that, which would have given me a way to switch the old cranks back on if something happens. I hate when good ideas come too late.

End result, however, is that I have a power meter on my bike, it’s paired with the Garmin Edge 705 and when I get to New York City I’m going to see how much power it takes to outpace the pizza delivery man.