Guelph Lake I

I am not sure if they have fixed up the roads, but I totally agree with you. The sprint course road conditions are terrible. The Olympic turns into some nice pave for a good stretch, but I still hate the first and last 10k on the bike. 

I am in for the olympic.  The mass swim start will be good practice for my goal race later in the summer.  Should be fun!

I did the try a tri in 2009 as my first tri and then the sprint in 2010.  I don't remember the roads being too terrible but maybe i was still getting over the panic from the swim. Ha!

I'm in for Sunday's Olympic Duathlon.

Hopefully I don't blow up like I did in Woodstock.

In for the Sprint.  It's an A race for me as a bunch of friends are coming out to do a tri for the first time.

At Guelph I last year, doing the try-a-tri, I didn't think the roads were that bad.  Doing Guelph II, I changed my mind a bit.  Not great, but I've ridden on a lot worse.  And this is coming from a guy riding a Roubaix.  I can't imaging having to be in aero on rough roads.

I have comparable road and triathlon bikes..... would it be better to ride the road bike in this race with rough roads?  Any thoughts on that.....

Either one, but don't go with your racing wheels.

I'm in for the olympic on Sunday but it isn't a goal race.  Just using it for the mass swim start practice for IMWI later this year.  I won't really be tapering at all for the race.

Count me in for the Olympic tri as well. My goal is to set a baseline for my main race, the Muskoka 5150.

For those commenting on the road conditions, also note this on the main web site:

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION - for anyone doing the Olympic at Guelph 1 - be aware that Sd Rd 20 (the one that links Jones Baseline and Cnty Rd 29) is in rough shape. The intersection at Jones and 20 has a bad set of pot holes in the west bound lanes - pick your ride lane well. Suggestion is for you to drive or ride that part of the course to see it before you race.

I've signed up for the Sprint on Saturday, which will only be the 2nd Sprint of my Tri career.

I note the comments about the condition of the roads, but can anyone tell me if its a hilly bike and/or run course?

The Trisportscanada.com website says its "rolling hills" on the bike course, but I've read a few race reports that suggest the hills are a bit bigger than "rolling".

Either way, I'm looking forward to the race!

Scott

it's my second sprint as well! But I did he tr-a-tri last year and my friend rode the course last night.  It is a hilly course in that there aren't a lot of long flat spots, but none of the climbs are catagorized or anything, but be prepared to climb and recover on the downhills.  And apparently the roads are still in TERRIBLE condition for the bike, so BE careful and watch speed coming off the hills......

It's all a matter of perspective in regards to the hills. Depending on your fitness some people could roll over them seated while others may feel the need to stand. Either way I don't think you need to be concerned about them. If you have ridden any moderately hilly routes in your training you will be fine for this course.

My elevation from the try-a-tri:

So at 5km, you continue on for the sprint, and then come back to this for the final 5km.

I would tend to agree, that unless you are riding some pancake flat section of Ontario, you likely have ridden enough hills to do this course.

There is a bike elevation profile on the course map for the Olympic distance. Read off the first 10K and then the last 10K. There will be a slight difference around 10-11K as the sprint does not turn on to SR 20.

Thanks everyone.  I did the Woodstock Sprint a few weeks ago which was also described as rolling hills.

The elevation changes shown on the first and last 10 kms of the Olympic course map seem comparable to the Woodstock course.

Now you've cursed it.

Does anyone have an idea of the water temperature for Guelph Lake?

It looks like it will be a warm stretch until Saturday - is low 70s realistic for race day?

The mosh pit style start was the only reason I was signed up for this race (practicing the mass swim start.  I wish I knew this a month ago.  I would have done woodstock instead (which is about 2 km from my house.)