Bike Setup for Ironman France

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2009-05-23 6:20 PM

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Subject: Bike Setup for Ironman France
Hey. Sorry for posting this here, I wanted to put it in the other Iron Distance Forum but I couldn't find a thread for IM France. I'll be doing this race in about five weeks. Throughout my training I've known that the race is hilly, but still planned to use my tri bike (Cervelo Dual), however, I'm now having doubts. I just watched all the YouTube videos on the race I could find and it seems like everyone is using a road bike setup with aero clip-ons. The few that didn't have that set up were using straight up road bikes. Does anyone know why this is? Are the hills that much worse than I thought, or are there just dangerous turns?

I have a road bike (Cervelo Soloist Team). Would it be better for me to buy some clip-on aerobars and ride this?

Any thoughts from anyone who has done the race or has knowledge of it would be greatly appreciated!

2009-05-26 8:33 AM
in reply to: #2170049

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Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
My $0.02 isn't worth all that much, but here you go:

I did some fairly extensive research on Ironman France last year although I am not doing the event. My wife keeps wanting me to signup for Ironman France since she has been to Nice. She not a cyclist but has been driven on the parts of the course and she says it's steeper and twistier than anything she has seen me do.

The ride is the in the Southern Alps. Many climbs and technical descents, so I've heard it said it's the one of the most difficult and technical Ironman bike courses. One third climbing and one third descending, says http://admin.ironman.com/events/ironman/france/henry-budgett-previe...

With all that, I'd definitely bring my road bike.


2009-05-26 4:31 PM
in reply to: #2170049

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Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
And my $0.02 is probably worth less than Bruce's but here it goes anyhow.

My coach and her husband, did IM France last year. They are all super strong cyclists with 12-15 IM finishes between them (Brazil, WI, Placid, FL) and all were on road bikes. Hearing their description of the course with its climbs and super scary descents, I really couldn't imagine being on a TT bike for this race. I believe even the pros ride road bikes.
2009-05-26 6:45 PM
in reply to: #2170049

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Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
Thanks so much for the tips guys! I think I'll bring my roadie w/ clip-on aerobars. Just wanted some other perspectives, so that definitely helped.
2009-06-17 8:09 PM
in reply to: #2170049

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Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
Has anyone sourced CO2 carts once over there as they don't allow them on airplanes. I'd rather not reply on a frame pump.

2009-06-20 8:33 AM
in reply to: #2170049

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Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
I'm competing this year and I have chosen a road setup because for the majority of the course you are either climbing or decending.   I think you would loose quite a lot of time on the descents on a tri bike due to not having the same amount of control you do when in the drops on a road bike.

2009-06-24 4:34 AM
in reply to: #2170049

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Nice South of France
Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
hey there,
Nice to see so many of you coming into the locality. I am only a newbie, and I ride around here. There is nothing but hills hills and more hills, http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/29735
This is the course, I got it off bikely and a friend who cycles a lot more than I.
If you find yourself completely stuck before the race for something, and might need a translator or something send me a message!
Good luck for next weekend
2009-06-29 2:22 PM
in reply to: #2170049

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Subject: RE: Bike Setup for Ironman France
How did go you guys?
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