Which tri?!

The one by 3Disciplines is the one that closed. Lake In The Hills (LITH) had a change in race directors and ownership last year which gave things a little scare, but did go on and seems to still be happening this year too.. Wauconda Triathlon does have both distances. I haven't done Lake Zurich. Reports of it have seemed, well, ok I guess. The other two I have done a couple times and like them. They will have very regular small rolling hills on them, so it won't be quite so flat like down in Chicago.

Races may or may not allow you to switch distances. Some might, but think more say no. At least what I'm familiar with. You would have to sign up all over again in the new choice and lose the cost of the first choice. Some might do that, but you really want to check and make sure you can beforehand. If you don't find something saying that clearly, then it would be safer to assume you can't. Contacting the race should help clear this up too.

Have you ridden much outside of the city? It's still flat in general, but downtown gets really pancake flat. Mostly, there aren't any real notable climbs. Just that you'll be going up and down fairly brief, but rather frequent. I've been quick & strong enough around to just big ring everything, but most people do need to switch rings up front (for one example, I guess). If you aren't used to this or don't know it's coming then it can be a little bit of a surprise. A friend of mine who is also a solid rider noted that when he rode out this way as compared to downtown or the lakefront trail. I'm not that far from any of these courses out this way.

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by brigby1

Originally posted by trishmk23 I think I was leaning toward Lake Zurich because I think I remember it saying it was relatively flat. And also the time I'll have in between races for recovery and training.

Have you ridden much outside of the city? It's still flat in general, but downtown gets really pancake flat. Mostly, there aren't any real notable climbs. Just that you'll be going up and down fairly brief, but rather frequent. I've been quick & strong enough around to just big ring everything, but most people do need to switch rings up front (for one example, I guess). If you aren't used to this or don't know it's coming then it can be a little bit of a surprise. A friend of mine who is also a solid rider noted that when he rode out this way as compared to downtown or the lakefront trail. I'm not that far from any of these courses out this way.

I am not experienced biker, so this may sound funny for you, but I never thought Lake Shore Drive was so "hilly" until I had to ride.... It was like up and down all the time..... But then I'm pretty sure that's still considered flat comparing to the races you're talking about

Lake Shore Drive with the overpasses might actually starting getting into what I thought with the other courses. Good enough to get some idea though I've never ridden it to say just how much, only driven. Thinking these other courses may be a little more still. None of this is really meant to demean or make fun of anyone, just to bring some awareness in as some people just don't have the experience yet to have seen how different things can feel. My friend sure saw it only coming out here. All of us would see it more still going over to Galena tri or getting into southern Wisconsin. Well, on courses not based out of Pleasant Prairie. That's supposed to be a good race too. Just a bit expensive, imo.