Ironman Coeur d'Alene : Official Thread (Page 24)

Not sure about road conditions but NOAA has this for the forecast.

Friday Chance Rain/Snow Hi 43 °F

Friday Night Chance Rain/Snow Lo 33 °F

Saturday Slight Chc Rain/Snow Hi 49 °F

Saturday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 35 °F

Sunday Partly Sunny Hi 57 °F

Bike :479

Run: 90

Swim 33,850

Everything's going pretty good for me, all my training times are faster than last years race times.  looking forward to the race. 

Shoulder is in good shape. very little on it.

I'm not a particularly strong cyclist (or runner or swimmer ) and I just tried out my new Cannondale Slice with a compact 50/34 crankset paired with an 11-28 cassette.   I thought I was going to miss the mid-gears, but on a significantly windy, long, flat section and on the hills I can say it wasn't an issue.  Having that lower gearing for the steeper stuff DEFINITELY helped!  I plan to stick with this setup unless something seriously changes on my long rides.

March:

Bike 513

Run 64

Swim 26,637

Best month I've had for consistency and recovery (sleeping mostly at night-being a cargo pilot has it's challenges) in a LONG time!

My march totals:

Swim:  25,650 yards

Bike: 300.29 miles

Run: 102.16 miles

Hope you had a good ride.  I wasn't able to get out that early but did get out with another group and rode the course.  Not as bad as I had envisioned it; the shoulders were pretty wide for the most part and, at least on a Saturday, the traffic wasn't too bad and drivers were courteous.  The climbs weren't too bad, just long, except the last long one up the south side of Mica Grade is going to be pretty rough at about mile 105 or so. 

Scott, how long are the bigger climbs again?  I'm just trying to compare the course to Lake Plaicd.  Also, if you were comparing the course to the previous IM CDA course, which one is tougher?  Thanks.

I was on a blue Cervelo P2.  Started out with a pretty big group but that broke up fairly quickly.  Definitely saw more riders than I had anticipated on the course. 

Doc, the long climb on Mica Grade is probably somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3 miles and there are a couple other sustained climbs that aren't as long.  Overall, I'd say the new course might be a little less strenuous than the old course but that last climb up the back side of Mica Grade at mile 105 is not going to be very fun!

sounds like I better shed that 10-15 pounds I have been hanging onto.  no use for that going uphill.  Thanks for the intel. 

Thanks for all the good info on the bike course, my plan not being able to ride the course is all day pace on the first loop...Then we will see.

Rode 92 miles Sat, followed by a 2 hour Sunday run...kinda tough weekend, but glad I have it banked.

Agreed.  Great info.  really appreciate it.

I agree with the others thanks so much for all of the bike info. Cant wait until memorial day weekend so that I can ride it.

I had my first Tri of the season on Saturday race report here if you are interested!!  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... did a 6 mile run that evening after the race and got in my longest ride of the year on Sunday an 85 mile ride out into the Columbia Gorge. Was a good ride and the sun was out but by far the windiest conditions that I have ever ridden in.

Smith;

Don't forget those hills ALWAYS look worse in a car than they actually are))

Read your race report. Sounds like you are setting yourself for a great IM. Nice job on the ride as well.

Smithe drove the course a bit ago and I believe that he said there several signs showing 6% grade. Did some quick math based on what Kristen said for the length of the longer hill....1.7 miles estimated 450 ft of  gain and came up with just over a 5% grade. 500ft of gain puts you somewhere between 5.5 to 6.

I have ridden the St george course but not the CDA so I can't compare. Guessing the wall is steeper than anything on CDA but I could be wrong.

ETA: Just did a little research and according to one report, the wall at st george is "1-1.5 miles long at 8-10%, even saw 14-15% kickers a couple times." Thing about SG is that you go up and then you go down, twice.