Ironman 70.3 EagleMan Triathlon : Official Thread (Page 2)

If you are going after a Clearwater slot you need to be around after the race.  Be ready for a long day.  

PennState - 2010-09-21 9:43 PM

gadzooks - 2010-09-21 8:20 PM

If you are going after a Clearwater slot you need to be around after the race.  Be ready for a long day.  

yup, which is hard when it's 104 degrees real feel temps

Thankfully the year I went it was overcast and 80 degress.  Then the sun came out when they offered me the Kona slot.  

Hey WINTER...... FU!  

Hope everyones prep is going well.  

One week later and a huge difference in the weather.  Despite the rain it was actually 55 degrees for my run and just wet roads.  Not a drop of rain.  Yesterday was perfect conditions but a little colder.  Only a few more days and the days start getting longer again.

Doing this race for the first time and I don't really have as tight a cassette as I may like for the flats.  Saw a good deal on a 12-23, but had also considered an 11-21.  I'm a fairly strong cyclist (expect to be over 20 mph average) on compact cranks.  I like to spin in the mid 90's cadence wise.  The 11-21 is tighter, but will I ever need the 11 (or will I ever need the 23)?  Otherwise, the first 2 tooth jump for either is 19-21, so they each run 12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19, where I'd expect to spend 99% of my time.

TIA!

Agree with the above post regarding the course being very flat.  A few things to consider while riding this course.  I rode this course in 2008 in about 2:17:xx.  It was also about 110 degrees on race day.  Lower back got locked up with about 20 miles to go.  I spin at a fairly high cadence on race day.  I've never had much problem on this course with wind.  Only on the back side of the course you get a pretty nasty spot.  But for me, being about 190-200 lbs I have no issues with the wind.  I can power through most times.  With that being said, I always ride the closest gearing possible. 

The two years I've done this race;  1st time was a 9 speed 11-21 and the last time was a 10 speed 11-23.  I don't really care so much about the 11.  I hardly ever ride in it.  What I cared most about was the gears at the upper end of the cogs.  The one gear jumps when shifting make a hugh difference on this course. 

The first year I rode with 54/42 on my front rings.  The next time I was 53/39.  99% of the time the 53/39 for me is the way to go.  That 1% that I really was glad to have the 42 inner paid off was at eagleman 2007.  I hit that headwind section the 42 allowed me to keep my speed in the 22-24 MPH range with a very comfortable cadence.  I watched a lot of people drop to the 39 and just not be able to ride as FAST.  They were spinning way to high and just not moving nearly as fast as I was, sure they were burning less energy but they were not going as fast.  The 42 seems to really work well for ME in the heavy wind days.  Same gears in the rear and I really spin out. 

I'm really not sure what I am going to use this year.  I can for sure say that I will be on the 11-23.  As for the front rings, well see how my fitness develops. 

The trick to this bike course is gear variation from time to time.  If you plan on riding in 20s for avg speed, the run can be a real pain.  Literally. 

My recommendation would be to have at least two cassettes.  Try the one you really want to go with.  If it is to much gearing then switch.  I live in a very flat area of South Jersey.  So for me the 11-23 is perfect.  But if I had t ride hills of any sort my preference would be the 12-27.  Thats more than enough for me.

Wow time to get back at it.  22 weeks to go.  Gotta get some motivation back and start praying for warmer weather!