Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread (Page 17)

Ha! I was kidding sort of - 50 I can do though.  I might try a dip at 45 just to see if I can take it.  I have a tri buddy who we are in competition to be the first (and the last) across the lake from boat launch and back every year (not far, like 4/10 mile).  He won first last year (April 29th - 48 degrees) and I won last (Nov 1 - not sure, but it was cold) - so this year it is game on.  

HEY while I am thinking of it, I want to do a scout of the Timberman course in July, I am looking at sometime the weekend of July 16, about a month before the race.  I will ride the bike course and probably run one loop of the run course, and maybe OW swim too.  Just throwing it out there in case anyone is interested.  

Cheers,

Mandy

NJ Peeps - I'm riding Saturday morning if anyone's interested.
PM me so we don't hijack the thread.


Mandy - Riding the course would be great. Although, I'm already heading up to Lake Placid for IM weekend and some training on that course. If anything, I'd have to do it in June.

Darn!! What happened to the weather forecast???? As of yesterday, i didn't see any rain until about 10 days from now. Now, they're saying rain off and on Fri, Sat & Sunday! Bleagh.

TRULY MIKE...if you need inspiration for swimming look to Mandy.

I've done an event in 55-56 degree water (500 meters) and that was plenty cold.  I wait for our lake to be at least 60 degrees before I go from chasing the black line to the open water.

Did another 10 mile TT yesterday.  I think I was so self conscious about matching my last effort that I talked myself out of it.  I did come close with an average of 23.6 mph, but I missed the mark by about 30 seconds.  It was a different course, but still.

Peace,
~Sam

I'm sure you will anyway, but post here when the weekend gets closer.  My family has a place one town over from Gilford so I'm gonna make that my second home this summer; if people are looking for someone to train with just throw it on here and hopefully I can make it that weekend.  I'm doing some long weekends and might even do a vacation week up there as well. 

It'd be real cool if we could get a BT training weekend (or even better: a long weekend) at some point; ideally something at least 2 weeks out but within the last month or 6 weeks so we're all in (presumably!) tip-top shape.  That July 16th weekend would be good but alot of people may be racing or spectating Placid.  Maybe the weekend of the 23rd or 30th? 

How about this: we're a few months out...everyone post their preference (if they can actually make it for one of them) and we'll set something up:

July 16th
July 23rd
July 30th

(maybe rank in order of preference, or just list the one or two you'd be able to make)

Brownie -

I like your idea - I have some flexibility around dates myself.  That won't last long (with summer craziness) but right now looking at my schedule, I can do any of them.

Cheers,

Mandy

Oh yeah and Brownie-

Come on Sox!

Mandy

Good luck to all those racing Boston - I think Brownie, and I know Maggie (Sam, wish her luck for me!)

Just thought I would show you guys how my pool looked today - it is open, but looking cold (No, I haven't gone in!):

Looks cold...man, and I thought we had it bad here in Boston!

No marathon for me unfortunately, hurt my right knee a few weeks ago and it just hasn't gotten any better.  Oh well...hopefully I can get back to running in time to do REV3 in June.

I'll be on the sidelines though, cheering the runners on with a cold beer in hand

-Ray

Edited by Brownie28 2010-04-18 3:12 PM

Should I be thinking about purchasing clip on aerobars for my road bike? I'm not sure if I would be too scared to be in them while coming down a hill. I'm a bit of a whimp when it comes to speed. I do know that I would have to get them now in order to feel comfortable by August.

I just got aerobars put on in Feb, and used them on the trainer.  It is definitely different once you get out off the trainer and really start moving, but I love them now.  I got Profile Design ~$60 because I wasn't sure I would like it.  I think it has helped me get faster (on the flats and downhill) and be more comfortable.  I am still a little freaked about being in the bars on this 2 mile 9% grade I use for hill repeats - right now I do half the downhill on and half off, because you really pick up some speed.   

Mandy

I think clip-ons is a good idea. From what I understand, lots of opportunity to use them on this course. And on the hills (up and down), the clip-ons can be ignored entirely - not even the shifting is on them - so you can ride just as you normally would.

BTW, I do have a pair that I had purchased at High Gear a couple years ago. i don't use them anymore and was going to try to sell them. If you want to try them out, lmk... I can bring them to the next ride us NJ peeps are gonna have, which is....uh....anyone interested in Sunday morning?

I hit 51mph coming back last year.  I definitely wasn't in aero!!!!

But, yes, get them.  If nothing else, it's nice to have the option of another position during the bike and there are good stretches where you'll be using them.

Edit:  FWIW, I have clip-ons and a roady.  After I start getting into the high 30s and close to 40, depending on the stretch of road...turns or bumpy or whatever...  I'm generally no longer on them.   For climbing...eh...in the beginning until I drop into the 16mph range and then I'm out.

Edited by acumenjay 2010-04-20 3:46 PM

Yes, get them. The middle 36 miles of the course is mostly flat and you will benefit greatly from being aero. You don't have to ride on the aerobars from start to finish on the course. In fact I highly recommend NOT being on the aerobars when going down a steep downhill. Riding on your drops will be much more beneficial in terms of handling and control.

Speaking of the bike course, just how hilly are we talking with the hilly sections? Stuff that you'll find people walking? From what i understand, it's hilly early on heading out, then hilly again towards the end. Which way is worse?

nothing steep enough to make you walk, just steep enough to get you into an easy easy climbing gear. Its steeper on the way out, but shorter at the hill around mile 10. Rolling hills leading up that hill.

Then its flat-ish for the next 36 miles. The last 10 miles again are rolling with I'd say longer climbs, but nothing as steep as that one on the way out. I'd work on some hill climbing.

Agree.  Only two real steep uphills.  The one on the way out is worse, but have not seen anybody have to walk it the last two times I was there.  The steep on the way back was new last year as they had changed the course slightly.  Still nothing that should require a dismount.  I also agree that some hill work this summer will serve you well on this course come August. 

They pretty much answered it, but do a search on the forums for "timberman bike course" and there is a great review and breakdown from a couple years ago.  It has changed a little since then but not by much. 

That big hill on mile 11 or so had a few people walking up it last year when I did it.  But unless you are a really weak biker (bottom 10% or so) then I wouldn't worry about it.  Gearing might be something to think about.  I was running a 53/39 with an 11/23 so I didn't have much of a climbing setup, but it was totally fine and not as bad as some people had made it out to be before I did the race.

Here's a good tip.  Go to mapmyride, search for the bike course.  Then check the box that says show elevation and you'll get a snapshot of the grade profile of the course.  Then, choose a course by you and do the same thing to see how it compares to it....helps to find something comparable. 

kind of a rambling post sorry, but it isn't all that bad

This is the course from last year (includes brown hill road on the way back):

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/-gilford/350125119931071931

Um...understatement of the year?

Thanks all of you for the thoughts on the course, and also for doing the dirty work and searching out the exact MapMyRide course. Doesn't sound too bad.







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its really not. Just don't forget about headwinds on the middle 36 miles. There are some pretty open stretches out there that can kill your momentum with some wind. Although when its coming from behind you, I recall doing about 26 mph with little effort going past the speedway. THAT was nice!

Folks - could anyone on this particular forum who's done Timberman before recommend some ideas on accomodation?

I'm giving serious thought to camping close to the race destination. Anyone know of decent campsites in the area?

All feedback much appreciated.

Thx,
Simon

there is a campsite right @ Gunstock where the expo, prerace meetings, packet pickup, extra parking and shuttle buses are located.

Thx Jon! Just booked my campsite.

Ok, so I finally got the results of Sunday's duathon.  I did the Steelcase, Grand Duathlon
(5k/30k/5k).
It went fairly well, all things considered.  I'm a little disappointed in my mental strength and performance on the bike, but both my runs were respectable. 
My first run was a bit too fast.  My bike performance left a lot to be desired.  I had a hard time getting my "cycling legs" under me.  My second run was fine, but not as fast as I would have liked.
I was hoping for both my 5ks to be under19 min. and my bike average to be in the mid-to-upper 22mph range. 
The weather was not-so-good.  It started out fine with temps around 52 and occasional light mist.  However, about 4 miles into the bike the wind and the rain had it's say.  By the time I got back to transition everything was soaked.  I would have put my running shoes in a plastic bag had I thought it was going to downpour.
Oh, I was also shooting for a top 10 finish...I managed 13th.
I THINK this link will take you to my race report.  

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=205369

Peace,
~Sam