Ironman 70.3 California Oceanside : Official Thread 2016 (Page 2)

Man, sorry to hear it Roland!    Mine's gonna be a long training day too as training hasn't gone quite as planned.  Oh well, hope you can still make it

Roland - how's the toe?

Also re-posting this I thin i posted before somewhere, a youtube of the back half of the bike course through Camp P that you can't ride.   Gives a good idea of what to expect.  And the worst part for me is always the 5 mile false flat section between the left at the bottom after the first climb and the start of the next climb.  Always a mind F!

Oceanside Bike

Steve, that's a good plan.   With the right gearing I'm hoping it's not too hard to stay within power on the first hill (haven't done oceanside with a PM yet), but I know with a compact and the right cassette the climb is a non issue.  I have always had a hard time categorizing climbs 2 and 3 as climbs.  They're pretty insignificant, but if the wind is in our faces, as it can be, it's more about where they come and if you burned too many matches up to then.    But except for the last couple miles, the climbing is all done by mile 42 ish, and yes, it's a fast section from the 3d climb to the right turn on Vandegrift.   Lots of people are toast by then, and no longer even in aero, but you can make up a lot of time if you've ridden smartly to that point.

The three key areas for me are the concrete runway on the frontside, also a false flat and often with headwind,  the section between climb 1 and 2 mentioned, and the run back to town into the usual headwind on Vandegrift.  Note there is also a little bit of a climb back up to the commissary and then over the bridge in the last 4 miles.

I saw that other video as well but didn't have a half hour  

To add....   The front side is also easier than the back and there are places to hammer, but it's not flat either.  There's probably a good 3-4 times you'll be getting out of aero to spin a bit.

Originally posted by dworth Anyone ride Newport Coast Dr hill from PCH up to San Joaquin Hills rd? Any comparison on the HIM hills? That's my limit of hill training, so want to be in the right mindset

Sorry, not familiar with them

Rode the frontside Sunday (and then some hills into San Clemente, Damn they have some STEEP hills there!!!), then ran past the pier and back

Road is in pretty good shape.  First part of Vandegrift and then a bit on Stuart Mesa has new slurry but it's not real smooth.  Shouldn't be knocking bottle out but it'll rattle you a bit.   

One reminder or heads up for people that haven't done it, that right hand turn onto the bike path after exiting the Pulgas gate (about 15 miles in?) is way sharper than 90 degrees, so be ready for it.  as I recall that's the first aid station too so it's kind of a cluster anyway.   Also lots of dirt in and after the tunnel

Also reminded of how many people say the first 25 is "pancake flat" but there's a lot of places to get in trouble if you push too hard.  It's a net elev. gain and usually into a headwind.   

And the ramp to the pier is steeper than ever on the run!