Whether you're training for a triathlon or just ready to get back on the saddle, we're here to help you get motivated and prepped. From bike package deals and tips on bike safety, to free training and great events, Jack and Adam's Bicycles has you covered.

Coming up in the next few weeks are some excellent events including the popular Splash & Dash, the Skeese Greets Women's Tri and an event designed for "Couples." Speaking of couples, be sure to read a special article on the subject from one of America's top triathletes, Michael Lovato. We've got all that and more in this edition of the J&A newsletter.

At Jack and Adam's Bicycles, we're making it easier to gear up for triathlon season. For 2009 we're offering three great package deals to help you take the confusion out of all the equipment you need to tri. Not only that, but you'll save some bucks in the process. You can learn more about the package deals HERE.

Already have the basics? Then step up your training with these training package deals: the Trainer Wheel Pack and the TYR Swim Package.

Triathlon is an individual sport. Sure, one could do a relay as a team, but then one doesn't complete all 3 sports. So how do you create a team experience in an individual sport? Answer: Couples Triathlon.

It's a sprint distance triathlon that is completed individually, but scored in a unique fashion.

Here's how it works:

• 2 people sign up as a team. They don't need to be a "couple". In fact, most teams are friends or family members.
• The team is put into one of the event divisions. The divisions are: Friends - Male, Friends - Female, Friends - Mixed, Partners (e.g. Married), Relatives
• Each person completes the event as an individual, but the awards are determined based on the division and the combined age of the team.

As the Couple's Triathlon approaches, we asked Pro Triathlete, Michael Lovato to share some of his experiences of being married to another professional triathlete. Here is what this top American Ironman Triathlete had to say:

As a professional triathlete, and seventeen-year veteran of the sport, many questions come my way. The subject matter of those questions varies, as does the frequency of their arrival. My website delivers me weekly queries about how many hours I train per day; about what I eat before, during, and after my bike rides; and about my FTP (what the heck is FTP anyway?).

By means of a press conference, pro panel, or Q&A seminar, on a monthly basis, I will tend to questions about my choice of wheels, my race day strategy, and my current level of fitness.

And every year, as a collection of insecure but fit athletes congregate on the shores of Dig Me Beach in Kona, I answer questions about when I arrived in Hawaii, where I am staying for the week, and how I think I'll do in the Ironman.

My love for the sport is still a healthy one; therefore, I enjoy answering most every question that comes my way. But the topic that gives me ample room to gab, and the greatest joy to discuss is the one that lets me talk about my best friend who is also a professional triathlete.

So what is it like to be married to another pro triathlete? The common answers hold true: that we each understand the hard work it takes to succeed in a grueling race; that she understands my need to ride the bike all day, rather than going shopping; that I understand her need to get up early and get the training day started; that often we both end up too tired to join our friends for drinks, laughs or a movie (and we are OK with it). Those answers are the tried and true, but as always in life, the fun answer lies in the experiences we share.

Before each ride, perform a safety check of your bicycle. This only needs to take a minute or two, but will help prevent avoidable accidents and keep you spinning happy.

• Check the tires for proper inflation (marked on the side of the tire). Check the tire treads for excessive wear or other damage, such as embedded glass or other objects.
• Check the brakes. Spin the wheels to check for rubbing and then apply the brakes to ensure they stop the bike smoothly and evenly. Check the brake pads for excessive wear.
• Check the cables and housing to make sure there is no fraying or splitting.
• Check the wheel quick release levers to ensure they are secure.
• Check for any loose parts or other mechanical problems.
• Do a slow-speed ride and inspect bicycle, brakes, and shifting before you leave your driveway.