Longhorn HIM - hilly

two words

Cripty Crap !! 

I couldn't tell.  They're building a highway which seems to block access to 973.  HWY is closed to traffic except for construction vehicles.  I went around a few barricades on Bloor just to get to that point.  If you skipped the loop around Decker lake and essentially reversed course for a bit (i.e. go left from the park over to 973 instead of right to 3177), you have a better shot at riding the bulk of the route.  I didn't drive it in this manner, but I suspect that 973 is still open all the way.  The highway appears to cut between Decker lake and 973 - I didn't see a real good way to get onto 973 at the Bloor dead end.

I'm curious to know how it rides on a bike and not a car.  BTW There is very little road with shoulder.  Most of it is 2-lane country/county so be careful.

My thoughts exactly! 

Here's a new map with cue sheet from the current directions on the Longhorn web site.

I don't know the area so I didn't know where to click to get the hills so I tried to put a reasonable number of points in. The climbing I got was 1496 feet which I'd say qualifies as "marginally bumpy".

I love the description! 

No.  You'll pass out before you die. 

Can I have your bike? 

***Big belly laugh***

that way you won't really feel the impact when you hit the ground.. Since someone has dibs on your bike, I'll take your food and water for you.. and being a church going person that I am....I'll pray that someone calls 911 and that there are some good doc's on call that day....

Man, this thread really burst my bubble.  When the course was first posted, I swear I mapped it at only 1,100ish ft of climbing.  Granted the route has changed, and 400 extra ft doesn't sound like a lot, but it's more than I was expecting.  I guess I got my hopes up too soon   Sign me up for some more hill training!! 

Yeah, bummer that I do hill running workouts those days or I'd be all over it.  To run or ride hills, that is the question

JBrashear - 2007-08-20 8:19 AM

KSH - 2007-08-19 10:23 PM

Gaarryy - 2007-08-17 9:10 PM

davidb - 2007-08-17 2:33 PM

LukeTX04 - 2007-08-17 12:21 PM I'm going to die!

No. You'll pass out before you die.

***Big belly laugh***

that way you won't really feel the impact when you hit the ground.. Since someone has dibs on your bike, I'll take your food and water for you.. and being a church going person that I am....I'll pray that someone calls 911 and that there are some good doc's on call that day....

 

Hey don't laugh too hard guys. At my first bike rally of the year, on the first big hill, some poor guy passed out and fell over on this bike. Although, I think he may have had a heart attack... but still! I've seen it happen!

Yea, and he died a couple days later from what I understand.

 He did die; on the way to the hospital.  He wasn't in very good shape (physically) from what I could tell when riding past the scene.  Hard to explain to my kids, who were riding with me, what was going on with all the cops and emts working on him.  Ironically, the ride was to raise funds for them.

I just got back from the bike course and here are my observations.  Keep in mind I am 6-4 and 235lbs:

Mile 0-4 (Tran to 3177) are rolling and very similar to the rolling hills you will see on the whole course.  Don't hammer this section, just get settled, hydrate and start taking in nutrition.  Small chain ring and fast cadence.

Mile 4-5 (3177 to 290) are slightly up an incline and steady, until the light at 290 and 130.

Mile 5.5-8 (290) At the top of the rise approaching 130 it's Hammer time, switch into big chain ring and fly down the road.

Mile 7.5-8 (290 through Manor) slightly uphill. 

Mile 8-10 (20 past Manor) Settle back into hammer time.

Mile 10.5 (turn off 290 onto Old Kimbro)  Be careful here, you are coming down a big hill after several miles of high speed.  The turn is at the bottom of a hill and puts you at the bottom of your next hill.  It's a rough road that is under construction and is tougher than it looks going up.

Mile 12-14 (Old Kimbro/Littig/Parsons)  This is the first part of the nice rolling country hills.  Pick-up the pace after climbing the first hill on Old Kimbo and settle into "race pace"  Good spot to catch-up on nutrition if 290 was too fast or the hills were too hard.  There is one hill at the end of Parsons right before you turn left on Lockwood.  Drink and eat before you go up it.

Mile 15-18 (Lockwood) Get comfortable and hammer it again.  Small uphill around a corner but not too bad.

Mile 18--21 (Bitting School Rd/ Litting) Rolling hills here with a very nice and long downhill from mile 19-21.  Let it go!

Mile 21-24.5 (Litting to Upper Elgin) This to me is the worst part of the course.  The road is crap (chip seal and bumpy with lots of cracks).  Be very careful not to launch your bottles and nutrition here, there is still a long way to go.  It's flat but hard to maintain momentum with the road conditions.

Mile 24.5-25.5 (Right on Upper Elgin)  This is uphill after a turn again.  Be ready because you don't see the uphill until you are turning. There is an "S" curve after coming down the backside of that first hill that is blind and dangerous.  There is a hole in the road after the second turn that will end your race if you hit this section at high speed.

Mile 25.5-28 (Still on Upper Elgin)  This is a pretty road will some easy rolling hills after the curves.  Beware the sharp corner at Youngs Prairie at mile 28.  Gravel in the road and very sharp.

Mile 28- 30 (Youngs Prairie) Nice rolling section.  Good point to check nutrition (half way) and check heart rate cause you are going to need it in 5 miles.

Mile 30-36 (1704)  This section starts up a long but not too steep incline.  There can be lots of traffic on this section so beware of bubba.  After the long climb to the top, let it loose and hammer for 2 miles.  There is a big, long uphill after crossing the bridge that is the hardest part of the bike course.  It's a long uphill that rolls up with no recovery. If you took in nutrition 10 miles ago, you will be fine.  Don't hammer up this section or you will pay later.  Get into a comfortable gear and spin up to the top of 1704.  Recover at the top until you reach the right hand turn on 969. 

Mile 36-40 (969 to Blake Manor)  Enjoy the downhill that you just climbed to the top off on 1704.   HWY 969 is all downhill so don't slow down.

Mile 40-42 (Blake Manor) This starts uphill and then rolls through pretty country side.

Mile 42-47 (Blake Manor to Taylor) This section is mostly flat.  Be careful with some tight turns around mile 43 and potential traffic at mile 45 with soccer or football games at the Sports Complex.

Mile 47-51 (Taylor to Decker Lake Rd) This part starts with a false flat then goes into some easy rolling hills.  Go hard here and you will be rewarded.

Mike 51-52 (Decker Lake to Nez Pearse) Chip seal road, slightly uphill and bumpy.  There are some sharp turns and pot holes that will sneak up on you if you lose your concentration and start thinking about being done.

Mile 52-54 (Gilbert to (973)  The road improves dramatically as you get close to the new tollway.  After the bridge, go hard till the first of the last two hills.  This hill is the 3rd hardest on the course.  You have done #1 at mile 35 and you still have #2 to go.

Mile 54-56 (973 to transition) After getting up the 3rd hardest hill, you have a short recovery and fast downhill that puts you at the bottom of the 2nd hardest hill on the course.  Pick a good gear for you at this point and spin up it as quickly as possible.  Make a right at the top onto Decker Lake Rd and start to spin out your legs for the run.  You stil have a small uphill into the park so do not get out of your shoes too soon.

Transition  If you made it this far, change into running shoes and go run 13.1 miles.  See you at the finish line!

Hopefully, the course will be well marked.  There are several road signs that are either hidden or missing.   There are also several downhill, high speed areas that have road issues around blind corners.  I highly suggest driving the course or riding it before you race.