Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas : Official Thread (Page 10)

Yes

What are the advantages? 

Why roll a compact on a relatively flat course if you have the option?

I was at "Tri Night" at Luke's Locker in town last night and some folks were discussing the option. While relatively flat, through the forest there is a significant number of small hills that would require a lot of shifting on a normal crank set.

I'm rolling a normal, and I would say I am an average cyclist at best.

I'm pretty average as well, ridden all the areas of the course at one point or another, and I really don't see a need to get out of the large ring.  It's not like we're talking Lake Placid here or anything.  The course is much closer to Florida than hilly.

It's on my list of wants before race day.  We'll see if the money shows up to make it happen.  Most of the folks I know have the Tyr Torque or Blue Seventy PZ3TX.  Both get excellent reviews from my friends.

I don't recall hearing anyone who ran a disc last year complain about the wind if that is your concern.

I normally ride a compact ...

I raced both years and dont remember ever switching out the big ring and never got close to spinning out. its a 52/38 if that makes any difference. Dont really have a choice short of buy a new crankset. it was on the bike when I bought it and I havent had any issues with spinning out on it.  As others have said, Im certainly not the fastest guy out there but I hold my own

I used a TYR Torque Pro last year. Definitely feel like it helped. If anything it keeps everything all nice and tight so you streamline better. Also, ran a disc cover both years with no issues. if you got it, use it.

I just hope I have a better run than I had the first 2 years. Third times a charm!

Whats everyone running hydration wise? I have a torpedo bottle up front but cant decide if I should go with an xlab single bottle wing or just keep the one on the seat post

Running a torpedo up front and a Xlab mini wing off the back. 

This is why I won't use the same thing for hydration and all my nutrition.  It just gets stale.  I'd prefer to deal with Perform, bars, and gels to get my nutrition in. 

Run a disc. You will thank yourself on the way back to the Woodlands. It will be a slight struggle on the front 30/40 miles or so but it's quite open through 50-90 mile section.

I'm a big proponent of "nothing new on race day"...so am I crazy to think about renting wheels for the race (since I would have just that weekend to have them in my possession)?  My only other option is the wheels that I train on (which are the wheels that came with the P2 and what I assumed I'd be racing on).  Eventually, I expect I'll splurge and get some race wheels, but that's not in the cards between now and race day.

Any thoughts on doing this?

As for hydration... I have a torpedo up front and a bottle on the frame.  This has so far has worked well for me because I don't have to think about how much I've actually consumed.   I'm a heavy sweater and know that I'm doing what I need to if I switch out a bottle at about every aid station. 

I plan on mostly living off the course.  I've been training with items on the course and seem to be in minority about actually liking Perform.  I'll also have a few cut up HS Waffles in my bento.

The IM-TX course is ideal for whatever race wheels you have. If you have a disc or wheel cover, use it. Hills really are not an issue on this course....its all about the aerodynamics. Also, remember that winds are typically much stronger on this course in March and April than they are in late May and the winds usually build later in the day. Last year, one of the local groups did a supported course ride in April on what had to have been one of the windiest days of the year. Conditions were absolutely brutal, but race day was pretty calm and MUCH easier than what they experienced.

I ride most of the course almost every weekend, and use a compact crank. Apparently I'm the exception, because I tend to use both my small and large chain ring, depending on how I feel and what the winds are like. With that being said, I don't think there's a natural advantage on this course for a standard or compact. Either will work just fine and very few riders will run out of gears, either on the top end of bottom end, with either type of crank.

Lot's of people go the rented race wheel route. My concerns with this would be your level of comfort handling the bike on a windy day, if it turns out to be windy, and your comfort level with tire changes, if you get something that need valve extenders. Keep in mind that race wheels are going to save you a few minutes.