IM Kansas 70.3 (Page 10)

ballyard7 - 2008-05-05 8:26 AM



Really? Only 2800ft? Maybe i'm just used to hills, but that doesn't seem all that bad. And if the hills come one after another then they are either short and steep or long and not that steep. I didn't IMCali earlier this year and i think it was around 3000ft and there were only two bad hills and they rest were rollers.

RunningJayhawk - 2008-05-05 8:31 AM

Right on. When I hear 2800 I think that's totally attainable. I was thinking it was going to be 5000+.

How often did you find yourself out of the saddle? Or was it more or less, drop to granny gear and spin your buns all the way up?

And out of curiosity...what's the terrain on the run? I've heard trails and I've heard paved. Mix of both perhaps?



Nevertheless, it's quite evident that I'm going to have to travel around to ride some hills in the next six weeks.

RunningJayhawk - 2008-05-05 8:31 AM Right on. When I hear 2800 I think that's totally attainable. I was thinking it was going to be 5000+. How often did you find yourself out of the saddle? Or was it more or less, drop to granny gear and spin your buns all the way up? And out of curiosity...what's the terrain on the run? I've heard trails and I've heard paved. Mix of both perhaps? Nevertheless, it's quite evident that I'm going to have to travel around to ride some hills in the next six weeks.

lisac957 - 2008-05-05 8:56 AM

Hmmm so maybe those of us from Wichita are just a bunch of Nancy's??!
I know there are no hills around where I live, but those were HILLS.

Even people that had done other full IMs were like "whoa this is hilly. we had no idea."

I guess everyone has their own perspective.

Bripod - 2008-05-05 9:58 AM

Maybe I just shut down mentally and blocked it out but I only remember coming out of the saddle 2, maybe 3 times. I wasn't exactly flying up the hills but the only one that I had to stand up during was that huge one on the first leg, when you go over the lake. Compared to the last time I rode the course I averaged about 2mph faster going up it too!

RunningJayhawk - 2008-05-05 10:05 AM



Are you talking about when you're coming back into the intersection on the first leg? you go over the lake, up the hill and then take a right, correct?

I videotaped the drive up that hill when we drove the course...it's definitely a tough one.

climbin5414 - 2008-05-05 3:57 PM

I didn't need to come out of the saddle but I found on a couple if I did I could pick up some speed that I may not otherwise have had and then sit down and hold that speed.

VeganMan - 2008-05-05 4:11 PM



I was just getting out of the saddle maybe 100yrds before the crest, mostly to stretch and relieve my butt. Probably could have gone the whole course w/out getting out, but my butt would not have made it.

moneyman - 2008-05-07 11:09 AM

Thanks to all those who have given their thoughts on the bike course.

Even after all of the descriptions, I am still trying to figure out what it compares to that I have ridden.  Has anyone who has ridden the course spent any time riding in the Denver area that can give me something to compare the course to.  I am guessing from the descriptions of the course that it might be similar to the hills on Qunicy out past the Aurora res, the hills on the C470 trail between Morrison and the Chatfield res or those down towards Castle Rock.

Also, what are everyone's plans on gearing and wheel choices?  I just got a disk cover for my back wheel, and although it adds a little weight, I am guessing it will still make sense to use it unless it is terribly windy.  I am running a 12-27 cassette currently, but considering swapping out the 12 cog for an 11 to take advantage to the downhills.

 

 

moneyman - 2008-05-07 11:09 AM

Thanks to all those who have given their thoughts on the bike course.

Even after all of the descriptions, I am still trying to figure out what it compares to that I have ridden.  Has anyone who has ridden the course spent any time riding in the Denver area that can give me something to compare the course to.  I am guessing from the descriptions of the course that it might be similar to the hills on Qunicy out past the Aurora res, the hills on the C470 trail between Morrison and the Chatfield res or those down towards Castle Rock.

Also, what are everyone's plans on gearing and wheel choices?  I just got a disk cover for my back wheel, and although it adds a little weight, I am guessing it will still make sense to use it unless it is terribly windy.  I am running a 12-27 cassette currently, but considering swapping out the 12 cog for an 11 to take advantage to the downhills.

 

 

moneyman - 2008-05-07 11:09 AM

Thanks to all those who have given their thoughts on the bike course.

Even after all of the descriptions, I am still trying to figure out what it compares to that I have ridden.  Has anyone who has ridden the course spent any time riding in the Denver area that can give me something to compare the course to.  I am guessing from the descriptions of the course that it might be similar to the hills on Qunicy out past the Aurora res, the hills on the C470 trail between Morrison and the Chatfield res or those down towards Castle Rock.

Also, what are everyone's plans on gearing and wheel choices?  I just got a disk cover for my back wheel, and although it adds a little weight, I am guessing it will still make sense to use it unless it is terribly windy.  I am running a 12-27 cassette currently, but considering swapping out the 12 cog for an 11 to take advantage to the downhills.

montyzooma - 2008-05-07 12:32 PM

I will ride with a 11-21 cassette and spoked wheels.

Can't think of anything in Colorado that is simular, just ups and downs, that will make getting into a rythm difficult. I personally don't think the hills are that bad or I would be swapping out my 11-21 for my 12-27. 

rreischl - 2008-05-07 3:27 PM

Brian,

Do we have any hills in the Omaha / Lincoln area even close to what you saw in KS?

Renee

montyzooma - 2008-05-07 11:32 AM

I will ride with a 11-21 cassette and spoked wheels.

Can't think of anything in Colorado that is simular, just ups and downs, that will make getting into a rythm difficult. I personally don't think the hills are that bad or I would be swapping out my 11-21 for my 12-27. 

climbin5414 - 2008-05-07 2:25 PM I'm not sure how hard you like to hit the hills but the downhills mostly just made for a nice breather in between the uphills, I'll use the middle of the downhills to keep my HR down and then get the legs moving again at the bottom. As for hills to pracitice in colorado, go ride back and forth over Chatfield dam. That is about as bad as any you'll see on the course. A couple on the course may be a little steeper but not as long if they are. My neighborhood growing up (west of broadway between Arapahoe and mineral) is all hills pretty similar too.

Bripod - 2008-05-07 3:39 PM Yeah definitely. I know Tony said something about a very hilly area down in Bellevue and VeganMan found some good hills out in West O. Here in Lincoln as long as you head East you'll find plenty of hills. In fact, just Monday I found yet another road that I want to jump on and go. If you've done the Papillion duathlon or triathlon I'd say just ride that bike course for as long as you can, clockwise and counter-clockwise. There's a link in my logs for the Papio tri site where they have a map of the course. If you're up for driving a little bit I think west of Wahoo all the way to David City on HWY 92 would be awesome. It's all brand new asphalt with a huge shoulder and constant hills. I just did an elevation on that route and from the intersection of Road 19/HWY 92 out to HWY 15/HWY 92 and back is over 45 miles and 2900+ feet of climbing. It would probably be as close to race simulation as possible, especially if you could head out there on a windy day

montyzooma - 2008-05-08 11:32 PM

Did someone say the bike route might have hills?

Mmmmm, the water temp is still 57*F, I am more worried about swimming in 65*F water than the HILLS on the bike route.

Pray for just enough heat to warm the water to non-numbing face and feet temps, while still allowing a wet suite!

climbin5414 - 2008-05-09 7:58 AM



x2

That is cold water right now, I was shocked at how fast I just wanted out. I think 65 would be a lot better. Going to try swimming in it again on May 31st. We'll see how it goes.