SBR Utopia ~~~~ Permanently OPEN!! (Page 24)

All this great bike work and it's not certain you'll top the strava leaderboard for the week since Shane split it up on you!

It was cool watching the TdF ride through England esp since I visited just last year.

Hey, do any of you guys have any tips for racing in the heat (specifically running.)

It's looking like there is a good chance it will be close to 90 for our race. I know they are going to have water (which is kind of unheard of for a 10000 on the track...) and cold sponges. I'll just be racing in flats (maybe no socks?) and bun huggers or something similar pus my singlet. So, I dunno if there is much I can do in terms of wardrobe. 

Are there things I should do in preparation? I plan to hydrate well in the days leading up of course...but maybe there is something I am missing?

I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can.

I think just making sure you are properly hydrated leading up to it is all you need for a race of that length.  Splash some water or use a sponge during it if you want to cool yourself off but I don't think trying to actually drink will do much unless you just want to rinse your mouth out of it gets dry.

I'm not great in the heat, but at this point that's about all I can see doing too. Some running in hotter temperatures might help a little, but with the race only a few days away I'd lean much more towards being well rested for it.

Impressive bike workouts Fred!  It should set you up nicely for the weekend.

Same here - I melt in the heat.  Not that it has an impact on hydration, but if you can sip some water every once in a while, I find it has a positive impact mentally.

Wait, what???  Did you just give a spoiler!!!  So much TDF to watch and so little time, I swear I have fast forwarded through most of the stages so far and just play every once in a while to see what they are saying, or if it looks like an interesting section.  No kids next week so I was hoping I'd get the TV to myself, but work and life have conspired to give me even less time!

No spoilers here, but I caught a bit of it before work today.  If you are going to watch any (non mountain) stage this year, stage 5 is the one to watch.  I don't know the particulars (actually I think I saw a post re who won the stage on a skim of facebook), but rain on cobbles makes for a very interesting and messy race.

Don't underestimate the benefit of water on your head.  Especially at that distance... you can hydrate mostly before/after the race.  But keep using those sponges.  You'll be running fast and the airflow over the water will carry a lot of heat away.

Yeah I hear ya. I have been running in the heat of the day the last couple weeks as much as possible. (it's been pretty warm here, luckily.) 

I did my tune-up yesterday and nearly melted. 

It seems the general consensus is that we all struggle in heat, even those who are somewhat acclimated. I guess that means our times, collectively, will be rather slow on Friday. Maybe, just maybe if I get my head right, I can just hang on and finish and hope some of the speed demons that are going for the prize purse go out too fast and can't stay in the race. 

Thanks for reminding me to stay off FB today.  This is the one stage I have been looking forward to because you kind of have to watch the whole thing.  Unlike mountain stages where the GC contenders tend to sit back and wait for the last climb...cobbles has you on pins and needles the whole race.  Also great because the break has a much better chance than your typical stages.

Fred, what are your goals for the race?  Similarly, what are you hoping for (different question!)?

How about you James?

Matt

I love it!  A race in which you've said you might be DFL (and are ok with that) and now you're thinking about how to work it!!!  A racer, through and through.

If there's a number pinned on you…  

Tear it up!

Matt

I always thought that Haleakala was the longest paved climb in the world.  But I think the road up to Mauna Loa on the Big Island was paved further, and now it seems it goes up to 12k feet.  Just got word that there is a bunch of Big Island guys trying to do an organized/supported ride that is an unofficial race.  Likely around 30-50 people participating with two options...40 miles and 6k feet, or 60 miles and 12k feet.

Waiting for more details, but so long as there are bottle handouts or at least areas where we can refill (read...I don't need to bring my own sag vehicle), I will likely make it a fly in and out same day trip.  Wouldn't start till 8am, so I figure it's possible.  It would be epic...and given that the race up Mauna Kea fizzled out a few years ago, I'm not going to miss this opportunity if I can help it.  It would be on August 9th...just over 4 weeks from now.

http://www.strava.com/routes/581292

Awesome!  The Google Street view at the top is interesting.  Are you riding on this??  Hope this link works for Street View.

https://www.google.ca/maps/search/Unnamed+Rd/@19.542264,-155.565162,3a,75y,56.53h,76.14t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sOs-HYGGn15V_X7M-lWZr5g!2e0

Anyone have any ideas of what would cause a brake squeal noise?  I put my FLO wheel on for my ride tonight to make sure everything was working ok and whenever I apply heavy braking on the front, it gives off a loud squealing noise that is somewhat concerning.  It doesn't seem to affect the stopping power but it doesn't sound good.

Any suggestions of what it might be?

and what's the course like?  Hills, flat?

most likely culprit is the brake yaw angle or "toe-in" is not adjusted properly. The front edge of the pad should touch the rim slightly before the rear.

With the new mid compact you might want to stick with the easy route 

LOL.  36/32 would probably be plenty of gear...as long as I don't cramp up.  So it's very likely I swap it back to 50/34.  I really only need 52/36 for this weekend anyway.  Road race that has a downwind sprint finish.