Ironman Coeur d'Alene : Official Thread (Page 14)

My monthly totals are this: 

I am hoping to add another 3400 yards before the end of today but will see if that happens or not. My bike speed might actually be faster on the road but resistance for my trainer has me going way faster than I should be on one setting so I use the next harder setting. I want to make sure I am doing the actual miles in more time rather than less time so I am not under trained on the bike.

The plan I have been following is http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/ironman-workouts/ . It is pretty structured plan that seems to be working.  What are others using for their plans?

Looks like you are on to a great plan and well on your way to a great race.

My friend and I have been following the book "Ironman-Start to finish". It's a good book and we are using it for the second time. We both used it for CDA last year and felt prepared.

Hey folks,

What do you think would be the best wheel set for the bike course? Anyone ever rented the wheels?

To piggyback on the above post...what cassette would be good to use for the course?

I'm not renting wheels. I just don't or can't justify the cost to rent wheels for the race. I have my training wheels (original on my felt b16) and I have a set of bontrager xxx lite wheels that came with my bike. Not necessarily aero wheels but they are lighter and they do roll pretty darn good I think.

But as far as a cassette goes I am considering a 12-27. I've heard others here use a 12-28 and were really fine with that.

I'm going to switch from standard to compact for my crank though. I bought the bike with a standard on it and I never use any of the bigger gears.

For a training plan I am following this although I am doing more swimming than the plan calls for as that is my weakest area.

For whatever it's worth, I am pretty much clueless when it comes to the whole gearing thing, I know my P1 came with a 12-25 and I have no issues climbing the hills on the course.

Thanks for the feedback. It does help. It will be good to get up to CDA this Spring to test it out.

To the locals: Is there training group up there I can tag along with? Typically how early in the season can you get outdoors on the bike?

A number of us did rides last year so I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities, I plan on posting on here when I plan on doing rides and runs on the course.  Just my thoughts here, "typically" is not a word that I feel can be used around here, we could be pedaling outdoors in February and it can be snowing in June (not common).  The weather was all over the place last year, high 2 weeks prior to CDA last year was 48 but we saw 64 the 2nd week in March! 

I'll be looking for your posts. I made the six-hour drive to St. George a handful of times prior to race day and was able to hook up with some BTers, and it was so helpful on race day. So thanks for the offer. 

When you say 'weather was all over the place', is that just temps or is it snow/rain? I can deal with just cold rides...... just not cold wet rides.

Yep, what smithe said.  The weather here can be just plain stupid in the springtime.  We could have 60 by the end of February and snow in June.  2008 we got an inch or two 10 days before the race.  One thing you can count on, is you can count on the weather in the springtime.  Some springs are really rainy, others not nearly so much.  We just take what we get.  Having said that, usually by April you can be riding outside, especially if you don't mind wearing layers.  If you're planning a trip up before the race, I'd suggest May as there are usually some really nice days by then.  Don't let this mess you up thinking about race day though.  There was only one year that it rained and was cold on race day.  You have a better chance of racing in too hot than too cold and rainy. 

Yep, the weather around here can go from one extreme to another all the way through early June - but almost without fail, about the end of June, summer shows up.  Spokane has the world's biggest three-on-three basketball tournament the same week, and I can remember doing that in wilting 90 degree heat just a few weeks after snow showers.

I'm hoping to start riding the course by early April, but like smithe68 said, you need to be flexible that time of year, because if the weather sucks... wait ten minutes.

If this song isn't played at the beginning of the race I'll be pissed 

"You're living in your own Private Idaho" 

We should contact the RD and asked for this! Who's with me?

Yes the weather here can get to be crazy at times. Last year at the race, it was a nice morning before the race started and then the wind picked blowing directly towards the beach. It got colder at that point too. But then as the day went on things cleared up some. 

I also plan on going over to CDA when the weather gets nicer so I can get out on the bike course to ride the hills. Fortunately I got some pretty good climbs that will mimic the course that are out my back door too so I'll be hitting those a lot. 

Seeing you are from Texas I suppose 85+ makes sense, for me, I hope it's not 85+, that would be miserable for me on race day.  Any other time I would love temps like that but for race day I would love to see it sunny and under 70 so I don't overheat during the race.

I'm totally with you... "like a wild potato"

Typical Texan! (Disclaimer: I lived in College Station for 7 years, so I know about the heat).

I'll take 55 F come race day. I like it cold.

That's perfect racing weather.  Beats the Nashville Rock N' Roll Marathon last year with a high of 88 and 85% humidity.  Hottest run leading up to it was 55 I think.  It didn't work out well in my favor.

Thanks all (I think), for the weather feedback. It really helps. One question then....... Someone's previous post said 'if the weather is bad, wait ten minutes'...... So planning a trip up in April/May, using weather.com or accuweather wouldn't necesarily apply?

That's a tough question, depends on how far out you are looking?  Those long extended forecasts usually get numerous adjustments as the days go by.  Personally, I wouldn't trust any site out past a few days for weather around here.  One of my coworkers used to be a weather guy in the Air Force, he says this is one of the toughest areas to predict the weather.

So if anyone here locally is looking for a new bike, http://www.thisbikelife.com/ is offering a pretty good deal on their Felt tri bikes. It is a smaller shop but they seem to be very customer orientated. 

Thought I would through this out there because I stopped by to find out about getting fit to my bike. So if you know of anyone that needs a tri bike they do have some there.  

Hello all! This is my first Ironman and I just found this thread. The information that has already been provided is invaluable to us first timers. 

I'm hoping to finish within shouting distance of 11 hours and my training has been spot on as of yet. I've seen others post that they are using the trifuel training program and I am using it as well. For those of you looking for wheels, last summer I "borrowed" a pair of Reynolds Strikes from my LBS for a HIM. Reynolds has a "ride to decide" program where you can use them for a week to see if you like them. I know it's not ideal to only get a couple tune up rides on different wheels before the big day, but if your trainers are tanks this is an inexpensive way to ride pretty nice carbon wheels.

On the subject of wheels, I'm riding tubulars in Ironman CDA. I'll be carrying a slime filled leak stopper and a couple CO2 cartridges. Should I take a pre-glued spare tire as well? Is that overkill? 

On a totally different subject, how much HR creep should I factor in from my training? (Assuming I have a smart race) For example, if I'm running an 8:00 mile @ 75% HR in training, is that going to translate to an 8:45 mile @ 75% after swim and bike? Is the creep factor significantly different than a HIM? 

Thanks in advance for your advice. I'm so excited for this race! I've run it 100 times in my mind already.