Muskoka 70.3 - My take on the bike ride

Last weekend, I took the Friday off and headed up to Huntsville to do a training ride on the Muskoka course.  I know people have posted their views on this course in the past, but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents as well.

First off - if you are going up there, be forewarned that there is currently construction going on at Deerhurst.  You cannot enter the resort through the normal road, but have to take a detour all the way around to get in.  That said, you then can't get to the bike course if you are actually in the resort.  So take the normal entrance, and there is a small parking lot right before the "Road Closed" sign (I think for a golf course).  This is where I parked and then the start of the ride is right there (my total distance was about 1.5km short because I wasn't in the resort).  Also, North Portage is dug up and just gravel for about 2-3km.  I kept thinking I must have been on the wrong road, but it does eventually end at the lake where you then turn left.

As for the ride - I don't ride a lot of consistent hills in any of my current routes, and the legs were certainly feeling it by the end of day.  The first 15km, is a constant up and down and you have no real opportunity to get aero.  Once you get to Hwy 35, then you can get comfortable and crank a bigger gear.  This continues all the way to the end of 117.  That said, even though you can get going, there is no flat road - you are either going up or down.  Also, even though I said you can crank a big gear, it might be wise not to push too hard.  I didn't, but still felt fatigued near the end (I also haven't ridden the distance that much either).

After 117 things get interesting again.  You get met by another three hills that hit you pretty hard before you get to South Portage - once you turn here, be prepared for some unforgiving road.  The road itself is not in the best condition for the first part + you get hill after hill after hill.  I really couldn't believe that the hills don't end, but S. Portage finally ends when you turn back onto N. Portage.  Again, a little warning.  The 2nd last hill on N. Portage has a grade of about 14-16%, I was in my last gear cursing trying to get up it.

All said and done, the course is beautiful, but very challenging (at least for me).  As for the run, I did the first 3km, and while not as up and down as the bike course it was certainly not flat.  It will be interesting to see what the rest of it looks like on race day.