Bone Island Triathlon 2014

resisting the urge to make a juvenile comment about taking someone to Bone Island.....

Dunno anything about that but I'm probably going to sign up for 2015 just because I've looked at it every year and I'm going to get there, damnit!



Good luck!

Did the inaugural full last year, What an an awesome race. It was my 8th full, 5 IM Brand a rev 3 and Redman along with Bone Island.Certainly not the crowds or frills of IM brand but a very well put together race.

Being from Michigan and in heart of the winter it was great to get out and head south. They put on a great race. Swim was rough, windy day so big waves but it was very shallow in many spots, people standing up way out in the ocean. Bike was a nice course riding up the Keys. A few bridges that take away that completely flat course that many have claimed. But with the wind in what in our faces the whole way out and sort of with us on the way back.

The run was great. Running along the ocean on a hot sunny afternoon while it was snowing back home. The run was a few out and backs and then headed to downtown Key West where you got to run down Duval street amongst the drunks. That part was way cool. But I think the best part of the weekend was the awards cruise the day after. It was on one of those catermerans that did a sunset cruise/awards presentation. Hard to beat that.

http://wecyclekw.com/

I don't think these guys have tri specific bike rentals, but you might give them a call and see if they have any suggestions for you. They are on Stock Island, just before KW and the only shop I know of in the area who might have an idea for you.

Good luck on the race, I was going to sign up this year but a bad bike crash ended my plans for a long race this season. Maybe next year, I think it will be a blast finishing the race with a run down Duval street.

Hi Eric,
i live and train here in KW year round. :-)

Bike rental - Eaton Bikes in Key West (305) 297-0057
and WeCycle in 5160 Us Highway 1, Key West · (305) 294-7433

Swim course open water, probably low 70s temp call the Nat Weather Service in KW (305) 295-1316 and they can be more specific and it's Free!
Bike course is on the Overseas Hwy US1, Flat except for some bridges,it is in the marked bike lane on the hwy shoulder w traffic, and well supported. Also, there is a bike path on most of the north/east bound side of the hwy.
Run course is on the island, flat & fast ending downtown, again - well supported

It is a beautiful time of the year here in KW and winter everywhere else but here.
This is an awesome event in a great setting - Don't miss it.
Happy & Healthy Holidays!
Taz KWfla

Edited by Taz KWfla 2013-12-17 4:32 PM

^^^^^^what she said (Hi Taz--Marsha here). Anyway, Eaton Bikes is the most likely to be able to hook you up with the TRI bike, but the guys at WeCycle are very accommodating and if you need some last minute bike adjustments, I'd go to them. I did the 1/2 IM distance last year and would agree that it was super windy, a rough swim and difficult sighting of the buoys because of the wave size, but water was warm. I personally didn't like the bike ride on the shoulder up and back, but I am also not a strong cyclist. The run was good and will be better this year because goes up Duval for a longer distance and you don't have to run by the finish line BEFORE you finish (bad design last year.) Not doing it this year though as I am going to a Ironman branded HIM, but I will be volunteering. See you there!!!!

I did the HIM last year and won my AG. Course I was living in Miami at the time and was used to the heat. The sea was NOT flat, but we were allowed to use wet suits. The bike was FLAT and a headwind going out, so the ride back to town was FAST. WORST part of the bike ride is the POLICE. They pick and choose when to STOP THE BIKE RACE to let car traffic through.
I would do this race again this year if I was still in Florida.
My advice for this race:
1. Stay at the race host motel
2. Learn to swim well in Florida type water
3. Learn to ride the entire distance in the air bars comfortably
4. Do NOT STOP on the bike for a policeman.
5. Train to do all this in the heat with proper hydration and calories
6. Have a good, safe time.
Hope this helps

Arguably the dumbest piece of advice I have ever read on BT... and that's saying a lot.

Edited by GMAN 19030 2013-12-23 7:35 AM

I would tend to agree that it is not smart to go when the police say not to. I was in the same race and was frustrated as hell that they held me up for 10 min. (yes that is right 10 min), but I wasn't about to not only jeopardize my entire race by being permanently held up or being hit by a car (which by the way happened just a few weeks ago down here in the TRIKW). So, as frustrating as it is, that is a consequence of riding where you have uneducated (as to races) law enforcement and no dedicated lanes for the race. Buyer Beware

I did the full and was never stopped.  I wouldn't ignore the police if they did tell me to stop.  I would be irritated but ignoring them is terrible advice. 

2013 was the first year they had the race and I knew there would be logistic issues.  Hopefully they learned from those issues and things will be smoother for the 2014 race.

Edited by csharp1171 2013-12-23 10:28 AM

Thanks everyone for the insights!
I'm having Raceday Transport ship my bike, reasonable costs and get to hammer on my personal ride.

Anyone interested in doing some pre-race swimming prior to the event? We are staying at the DoubleTree (by the race start) and will start tackling the waves on Wednesday, Thursday and/or Friday.

FYI- am doing the half aqua-bike due to a recent running injury, but couldn't pass a trip to Key West.

Another Q-
Re: the winds, what size rims are you using / recommend?

Good luck all & see you soon!

Eric

I did the HIM last year (2013, won my AG) and used a Hed 3 front and Zipp Super-9 Carbon Clincher rear, rolling 700cc Conti Gator Hardshells.
IMO, one of THE most important aspects of that bike ride (related to the wind) is to train to be comfortable and STAY in the air bars the ENTIRE distance.
Hope this helps.

Edited by spearit 2014-01-08 7:34 AM

For what it's worth, I just read that they are going to put a timing mat at the turnaround so that the delay will be shown as a split. That won't help you in the end if you are delayed longer than someone you are competing against in your AG or overall, so I am not sure why they are doing it, but thought I would share. Last year I was, as I mentioned, held up for 10 minutes. The frustrating thing is that I missed 3rd place in my AG by 9 minutes. Don't know how long the person who was in front of me was held up at the turn, if at all, but if I had been able to see her on the run, I can guarantee I wouldn't have come in 4th. Anyway, good luck and here's hoping it isn't as windy as last year.

This is what it says: "...The second aid station will be located at the crossing point on Middle Torch Key along with a timing matt station. When cyclists get to this point they will dismount and the amount of time they spend here will be recorded. The Sheriff's Deputies will allow cyclists to cross based on the traffic and any other special conditions. This timing split will be recorded..."

topolina---sorry about your last years race and wishing you a good safe race this year.
I loved doing the KWTRI and Bone Island races in Key West in 2013 and would be there again this year if I still lived in the States.
Good luck to all.

Edited by spearit 2014-01-08 7:10 PM

Did anybody do the Bone Island 2014 Triathlon in Key West?
If so, how was the race and how did everyone do?

There are a couple of race reports you might want to check out. I didn't do it this year (volunteered though), but the conditions were a LOT better than they were last year.

In addition to reading race reports here, there is a thread about BIT 2014 on slowtwitch you might be interested in reading.

I did the half distance this year and this will be my overall opinion for each leg:

1. Swim: Wetsuit legal (63F water temp). The distance was measured incorrectly (we swam between 1.4 and 1.5 miles according to most people's Garmins), that's why many people's time was longer than expected. The water was flat.

2. Bike: This was the worst part of the race.
a. We biked in the shoulder of US1. As you can imagine, there was a ton of the debris and many people got flat tires.
b. The road surface was very rough and there was a significant amount of potholes. I am lucky my frame didn't break.
c. The most dangerous part was passing other cyclists, the shoulder wasn't wide enough, so we had to use the highway lanes to do so. I was almost hit twice by cars (lot of traffic).

3. Run: Nice, flat, and fast.

4. Overall: Very well organized (lots of volunteers and aid stations). On the other hand, post-race activities were below average (only coke and pizza), I was expecting some recovery drinks, especially since we were racing a long distance race (HIM & IM).

The swim and run were great, but the bike was too dangerous. It was a great early season race that I would do again if they change the bike course and/or add some safety measures (dedicating one highway lane for the race will be enough), otherwise, I don't think I want to risk my bike and body again.