Ironman Lake Tahoe : Official Thread (Page 3)

Hey there, I did not race it last year, but have used it for training camps leading into IM Canada as well as my wife for IM Moo for the last 3 years. 

all be it they took out Marteston Camp, the "watered down" section into the ski resort is still pretty hefty, and will not be a gimme by any means.  You will still get a good burn coming up from the airport to make a right hand turn into the resort for about 1.5 miles, and then the climbs into the parking lot area will still be a good burn.  Of course, after a screaming descent, you will still get 2 more miles of 4-10% grade to the top of Brockway. 

Much like last year, I think the key will be to not blow up too hard in the neighborhood coming out of Truckee, as well as going to hard into the resort.  With not being able to ride in Marteston, I think a lot of people underestimated how tough that would be.  I think this year, people may still underestimate the resort section. 

Even living here in Colorado at 6000 feet, the altitude takes a lot out of the muscles without realizing it.  Any chance you get to train high, take it.  We typically head up above 8000-10000 to get altitude training.  Unlike races in the past, at 6000, I will be dead even with where I live, but will not have the advantage of racing down at a lower altitude for this one. 

I'll be back in Tahoe the week of the 13th after 70.3 Vineman for training camp as well as again the week of August 17th for training camp.  I will put up more beta after I ride/train some sections in 2 weeks.  Will try to have some updated video and TCX data for the Computrainer. 

Happy training.

Yeah and as you can see, the gps there shows more elevation than what they're advertising, even on the new course.

It was the same thing in 2013... I think they were saying 6000 feet of elevation but most people were recording 8000 on their garmins.  I wouldn't count on the revised course feeling much easier.

Rode on the course today.

The section in Northstar is not too bad.  It is not easy, but is "easier" than Martis Camp.

I rode it on 53/39 with 12-27.  Will likley use 11-28 for race day

Just like last year, I think the big thing is to not underestimate this section, and to not go too hard while in there.

From the yellow sign just past the airfield to the turn on Northstar Drive is 1.2 miles at 4% grade.

The first turn onto Northstar to the roundabout averages at 6% with a max of 8%. 

The turn onto Big Springs is also at about 8%.   The climb itself to the right hand turn onto Currant is not too long, but the 6-8% grind will take the energy out of the legs if you do not spin it out.  The left onto Currant is actually the back entrance to the parking lot.  Again, about 8% to the top, and then a screaming descent through the rest of the lot with a few turns back to the village.  The ride in the village is kinda funny, and we will have our own Paris Roubaix on some cobbles.  We come out and then scream downhill again back to the roundabout.  The rt hand turn onto Ridgeline Drive has a real short climb to the Uturn at Highlands, and then a screaming descent back out to the highway to begin the climb up Brockway.

The Brockway climb measure at 3 miles from the turn.  I used the rock piles on the rt side to gauge where I am from the summit.  There are 6.  Of course the last 2 have some short sections of 10%.  Another good bench mark from where you are is the passing lane.  When you see the sign for the start of the passing lane, you have about .6 to the summit.

I'll be back out there the week of the 17th for a week long training camp and capping it off with the Olympic Tahoe Tri on the 24th before heading back to Denver.

TLancer's find on maymyride was dead on with exception of the Y Bypass in Tahoe City.  This little bypass adds a really short 11% grade to get above the baseball field, and then a pretty good downhill back to 89.

I recently got a new GOPRO just after Vineman.  I plan on taping the new section and posting on youtube when I get back.

Hope everyone's training is going well.  Keeping my fingers crossed that Boulder can keep their recent title of "hardest tri"(27% DNF-HOT!) and we can get that great weather that was there the Wednesday before the race last year.

 I did the original Canda in 2012.  From what I remember, the descents in Tahoe are similair, straight, not a lot of turns.  Nothing sketchy like the old CDA course

Nothing really technical on any of the downhills.  A large portion of the ride from Dollar Bill Hill, to Squaw, and then to Truckee is mostly a descent with the exception of a few small rollers.  Straight, no turns. 

There is a fast left hand turn coming out of the neighborhood in Truckee, but nothing technical.  The descent down 267 after the roundabout is also straight.  Tends to get a bit windy on the bridge, but other than that, dead straight into a good climb before the airport.

I felt like  the downhill section of the  parking lot section on Currant coming down to the village has a few tight switchbacks, but given the amount of volume that it may have, I doubt there will be a way to open it up through there.

The descent down Brockway is a 3 mile straight screamer at 4-7%  Riding by myself, hit 51mph.  There are a few gradual bends in the road as you reach King's Beach again, but nothing sharp.  The reality on race day is, that it will be unlikely you will totally open it up on Brockway as there will be lots of brake grabbing across the roadway from people that are a bit leery of going super fast.  Even if you were comfortable of doing 40+, you may not be able to just from congestion, unless you are way in the front or way in the back.

ATHLETE GUIDE IS UP

Just finished up a solid week of training in Tahoe in and around the course.

Water temp was great at about 65.  Water levels are super low.  About 5 feet lower than normal.  A good 500-800 yard walk through the shallows to where we can actually swim.  Will be interesting to see how WTC handles this part of the logistics.  

Bike course is good to go.

Run course is also good to go.  

Question for those that did it last year---how many of you were able to, or tried to do the big hill heading back towards Squaw?  It occurs to me that it was a monster on it's own let alone after having done the back, and doing that climb up twice---whew--that's a toughy.

BIB #''s are posted!