Ironman USA Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 23)

A note on the road bike -- one of the guys who works at the tri-shop and is on my tri team raced LP in 2009 and 2010.  In 2009 he used a tri bike and in 2010 he used a cervelo road bike with aero-bars, and YUP he biked faster and ran faster.  Go figure. 

Tomorrow I wrap up Week 3 of my Be IronFit plan.  I am really digging the plan and I like how you have set days each week for when you work out.  I'm very happy with my Run and Swim right now and the trainer is starting to come along  

If you guys and gals notice, the days are getting longer, 7 more weeks till March!!  The beauty of grinding it out for just 7 more weeks inside, is that when we get the opportunity to train outdoors, training will feel like a breeze.

Good question ^^^

Holy cow am I late to this group.  I saw the forum for "Iron Distance Race Groups" and didn't think to look in it for specific IM races, but I am SOOOO glad I found this. Thank you to everybody for posting here as the info has been extremely helpful so far!

1. Is this your first IM?
- Yes.  In fact it will only be my 2nd TRI race ever (first was the NJ State Sprint race last July).  I'm kind of mental in that I do much better overall when I set lofty goals for anything.  It really gets me in the right frame of mind to plan better, execute, and succeed.  Or maybe I'm just crazy, period.  Either way I'm okay with that...

2. Have you done LP before?
- Nope, but looking forward to it!

3. What are your goals for the 2010 race?
- Thinking that both KQ and becoming filthy rich will depend on a lottery, my goal is to finish under 13h.

4.How/Why did you select the Lake Placid Race?
- Only Mdot race within a reasonable driving distance and got a recommendation that it will make a great family destination spot as well (heading down several days early with the family).

5. Do you have any specific questions that you wish addressed about LP (the race, training etc)
- Yes, several:

a. I have a 2010 Cervelo P2 I got on a great clearance deal... Fitted well (though I've lost another 15 lbs since the fitting, so I may remove a riser or two...)  Gearing is stock at a 50/34 front and 12-25 rear.  With all the talk on gearing here and the link to ST, I'm already running a compact crank in the front.  Would I be best changing as well to an 11-28 cassette to give me the extra gear in case I need it?  I'll most likely be around 6:30 for the bike (less if I can get some long hill training in this spring).  Looks like the differences are:

11-28: 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28 T.
12-25: 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25 T.

I'm not on the 11-12 much (if at all) so it looks like I'll be giving up 16 in exchange for that 28.  I'm 6' 186lbs (down from 218) and my goal is under 180lbs by July (I've still got some mid section to lose).  I guess I can always ride some hills to see how my cadence/HR do, but I'm a huge fan of training with what you will use so I don't want to wait too long if I change cassettes.

b. Anybody use MyAthleteGPS or a similar device/service?  This is a LONG day not just for us, but for our families, and mine has been incredibly supportive.  Thinking that the attention span of a 5 and 8 year old will be about what mine generally is, I though this would be a great way of letting them keep track of me so they are not hanging around all day wondering where the heck I am

c. Wheel rentals.  Any advice or opinions as to which services are the most reliable?  I came across www.racedaywheels.com.  Ideally I'd like to buy wheels since this has become a great addiction, but that is my purchase for next year (bike and other gear did enough damage in 2010).  $190 to rent for the day.  I "may" have a good enough quarter to get a set used and their prices look reasonable as well.  Any advice on a combo set for Zipps (404, 808, 1080, disc, what would you recommend as a great overall set?)  Any disadvantage to buying them used if they are checked out?

d. Ok, this one is more of a request than a question.  It appears that a great number of BT folk will be at this race and I'd love the opportunity to actually meet you (nice to put faces to posts).  So, it is possible that you all wear the exact same shirt/helmet/swimsuit as your avatar and stay in the same pose so I can recognize you?

Thank you again for everybody who contributes here!  Just a great forum and great group of people!

- Brett

Oh, I know.  And yes Cuse - you are 1000% percent right: a triathlon tt bike is always going to be faster than a road bike.  "Aero trumps weight, even on the hilliest of course".  This has been told to me by many a triathlete, including a Pro.  However my point is, perhaps at the amateur ranks, on any given day or hilly course, perhaps there isn't a huge difference.  But yes, unless it's a mountain stage in the Alps, the faster bike is a triathlon bike.

And for the record, I've never owned or ridden a road bike.  How do you like them apples   Well once, I rode a road bike for like 2 minutes.