Columbia Triathlon (Page 2)

Cool article... 

Nope.  Last year he swam an 18:14 (and was still only 6th out of the water for the men's relay teams).  I should be able to average around 22, even out of cycling shape as I am.  But the top runner is capable of low 32's on a good day, so even with time in the bag our runner is probably going to get smoked!

But I'm not there to win, I'm there to have a good time and see my undertrained legs can do!

I would just try it in the pool and go from there. 

The fast swimmers have to do that no matter what since it is really just annoying to the fast swimmers to have to go through the waves and it is not so much a safety risk, so it really doesn't make much of a difference from that perspective.  But someone like me who is usually FOP on the bike (especially when I'm doing the relay and ONLY have to ride) it can be downright dangerous and the possibility for accidents is high.  I'll be hitting close to 40 mph on some of the downhills and be in full aero tuck.  Some of the people I'll be passing will be lucky to be doing 20.  There is a lot less margin for error for a really fast cyclist trying to weave through the inexperienced and slower riders.

again, its all perspective.  And I do think having heard that someone died last year at St. anthony's from an errant kick to the head that it is also important to consider.  Remember, some girls can easily go those speeds. I'm not one, but there are plenty that can.  I just don't think its fair to say, all boys are faster than girls.  Sorry. we'll agree to disagree. 

As I mentioned before, the fast swimmers are going to have to go through the slower people in the waves ahead regardless of when they start, just like the people who are fast on the bike are going to have to weave through slower riders that finished ahead of them in the water.

And as Fred mentioned, it is not a sexist thing at all!  The swim is the great equalizer as it has nothing to do with strength and sex and all to do with technique!  I'd say probably 3/4 of the women racing in the event would beat me out of the water if we were all swimming together.  Luckily, I'm not swimming in this one and have an 18 - 20 minute swimmer doing it for me!

But, on a good day I will put up bike numbers in the top 5% of the overall field (probably not this one since I've got less than 300 miles for the whole year in my legs).  That means the faster riders in the late waves are in a more precarious situation.  If this was a flat course it would be a little better, but it is not and it is both rolling and technical course which puts the cycling abilities and safety into a lot higher focus.

Everyone needs to be safe and have a good race, and just pay attention no matter when you start.  Vigo runs a great race and has been doing this for close to 20 years in some capacity, so I trust in his abilities.

Doing the Princeton ride again tonight and getting the bike inspected while I'm there so I just have to put on the race wheels and rack it on Saturday.

Getting closer!!

Zero since you start and end at the same point on the bike.

Seriously, the whole thing is rolling, there is no real break.  Just hammer the downhills and the flatter rolling section once you hit the circle at Ten Oaks, then be smooth and consistent on the uphills.

I don't even bother "wrapping" the bike up.  If it gets wet, so what.  The only thing I might do is pull the computer off so it doesn't get any moisture in it.

Got my bike "inspected" last night before the Princeton ride, that's all done for now.  Just need to clean it up, lube the creaky BB and get my race wheels on now!

they do have them at the race site.  As I figured out once, it is approximately 1/4 the distance and climbing feet of IMLP.