IronMan Cozumel : Official Thread (Page 12)

How hot does it get in Cozumel? I took a look at the average temps for Nov 28th and it was 82 for the high. 82 does not seem bad to me. Did it get real hot last year?

FWIW,
I am planning to wear mine. If there is any advantage at all it should show up over the amount of time I will be spending on the course. My aero-helmet also matches my bike for better photo-ops

I'll be wearing my aero helmet too. I just got one this year and love it. I haven't noticed any over heating issues and I've been racing in 95+ temps with HIGH humidity. But, I haven't gone this distance in it yet. We'll see.......

Keep in mind it's 82 and about 1000% humidity.

I don't have an aero helmet, but I do have an extra wheel that I am thinking of selling so I can buy one.
Then again, I don't have a matching kit, so I am not sure if I will get the cool factor going.
 

Except I have looked at some historical data and I see quotes like this:  "From November to May, temperatures are slightly lower at about 25 degree Celsius. The weather is breezy with low humidity" so wonder.

Move to Texas, we call those conditions 'May'.

I'm staying at the Wyndham and I know of two other couples staying there as well. 

Long training day on Friday, ~4000m OWS in lake, 120 mile ride, 5 mile run, then 20 mile run on Saturday.  Thankfully there are only two more long weekends left.

WOW, that is a long training day. 

Seriously.  I'm feeling under-trained now.

Hey guys,

Just got back from the Triexperience training camp in Cozumel. It was great and helped me change my perspective a bit. The Southeasters stretch (about 20kms) definitively was windy. The first day I was pretty frustrated trying to keep my speed up (meaning above 20 kms/hr). The second day I just decided to change my approach and I didn't put the speed screen on my garmin. I just had heart rate, distance and time. It was easier for me (and actually went a bit faster) when I did not look at how fast/slow I was going. It will depend on the conditions on race day, but I am preparing mentally to take almost 1 hour on each of the passes on that stretch. So my bike has gone from 6.5 hours to 7 or 7.25... but who knows maybe we get lucky and it is not windy that day.

On the weather, I would not look at historical data as a very trusty guide. Remember that in November the weather here is front driven. Meaning those cold fronts that push down from Texas and Florida, will make it down here a couple of days later. They also determine the wind. Normally those fronts are low pressure and suck all the moisture from the Caribbean, causing very humid and warm days with southeasterly winds. After the front pushes through, its normally a lot cooler and dryer and wind from the North. Also the difference between the day before or after the cold front can be over 10 degrees Celsius... so basically, no idea what we will have until maybe a day or two before!! Plan for a warm windy day and maybe we get lucky and its nice, cool, dry and a very mild breeze...

I would also bring something for cooler weather just in case. It could drop down to the lower 50's with a strong front.

Good luck to everyone in their training.

Edited by gerrydiego 2010-10-25 2:13 PM

"gerrydiego"...how windy? I have been training in windy conditions in Florida BUT...I say wind is a 4letter word!!!

Do we have crosswinds the whole way????? Hmmmm I pray for low wind...bring on the heat but NOOOOOOOOOOOO wind....lol...

Thanks for the report. I am planning on suffering through some wind, but figured we would get some clear spots as well.
I just did the trisports halfmax a few weeks ago and the avg. wind was about 20 mph. Great downwind but sucky upwind, and about equal time for both.
From what I have read, when there is wind on Cozumel, because of the shape of the course, we will be getting mostly head and tail but a good section of crosswind as well? 
So, what mileage or percentage would be head, cross, tail, etc for each loop?

Thanks! 

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/mexico/cozumel/427125548117955664

If the wind is from the SE, you're going to get a lot less tailwind/headwind than if it's from the N.

Thanks, that is a great link.

The wind normally comes from the North East, so its that unprotected section by the water on the right (about 20 km) that gets the head-on wind. I would say that it was close to 20-20 mph. The downwind leg does have some tree protection, so you don't have quite the full benefit of that side. Again, it will depend on what mother nature decides for race day. Wind could be coming from the North, which would make it a tough swim, but probably not as bad on the bike on the shore side. Its all manageable. just Be patient if there is some head-wind.

It sounds livable. We get a fair bit of wind here in South Florida as well, so most of my longer rides are half into the wind. Should serve me well!

Thanks for the great report! So what are your thoughts on using aerowheels if it is windy? Will they be an advantage? I'm thinking they would help going into the wind but would hurt in crosswinds.

I saw a bunch of people last year with 808s on the rear and 404s on the front. I have heard that the front tire is the one that will throw you off on crosswinds. I will be racing with my normal wheels, so not an issue for me.