Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 35)

wow!  thats crazy.  how long were you able to ride with the tire booted?  i wonder if one could get away with that for lets say 1/2 of the race.

are there bike techs available at aid stations or at SN for such a situation?  I cant imagine they would give you a new tire, but what options would you have if that were to happen during race day.... anything besides doing what you did?

i use the same tires.... swear by them...but maybe i shouldnt!

Bike techs ride around on motor scooters. They have spare wheels attached to the back. They can fix many issues and a new tire or swap out to new wheel (switch them back after you get back to T2) isn't something they can't handle. They replace chains and cables that have broken.

If you are stuck on the side of the road ask other athletes to pass along you need help to next volunteer or aid station.

Yep - I look at that same tread every time i ride too.  Looks like the tire of IMFL.

Completed Augusta 70.3 yesterday.  Overall had a good race.  Was using it to make sure I am set for Florida.

I'll post my report as soon as I finish.  Nice course, super support.  No complaints.  A few things to work on for IMFL but that's why I did this top make sure everything was working.

enjoy,

Duane

I'm BACK!!!!! (I think)

Two to three weeks ago started having ITBand issues in my left knee due to increased volume.  Took about 10 days off running, and it flared up on the first attempt, so I opted for the needle.  Man that Cortizone is some good stuff

Got the shot and let it work for a couple days and have had 3 pain free runs and a good bike this morning.  Not going to try to kill the run volume, but just swim and bike per plan and throw in some 7 ish mile runs in till game time. 

Hopefully 20 miles of run volume will be enough to get me through the race.  Main thing is to toe the line healthy.

Good luck to all on health issues!

I did ChesepeakeMan IM Aquavelo Saturday.

I had some obstacles, getting a cold, sore shoulder last few weeks, stung twice by jellyfish on swim, worst IM swim by a lot, flatted 2 minutes into bike, had a bear of a time getting tire off as I use disc cover on my Zipps, literally rode from back to finish strong.

I was very pleased with my bike as my ride time was 6:12 with 56 splits at 3:08 & 3:04 which was over 20 minutes faster than last year on same course on only 9 watts more as my position is better. Last 56 was fastest ever in a race at end of this race.

Felt mentally strong and was able to avoid dark spots that can occur on long race with some obstacles.

I won Athena which is an added bonus on a good day.

Tomorrow I'm going to my Orthopedic Surgeon that will do my surgery post IM to see what's up with my shoulder. I couldn't swim without significant pain today so stopped the workout.

There are people out there to help, but there at nearly 3000 athletes.  And aid stations are VERY far apart so you can't call them.   I think I spotted the tech support car maybe once or twice in 112 miles.  The last thing you want to have to do is spend a few hours on the side of the road waiting for tech support.  Something like that could make you miss the bike cut off.

If this had happened in the race I would have booted the tire then told the next aid station to ask the bike techs to try to find me (using my number and a description of my clothes/bike I guess).  The boot luckily held and I got all the way back to my truck.  But I was pretty worried for awhile.

A few years back a BTer named JeepFleeb rode a large part of an IM course with only one crank on his bike because the other one fell off and it took bike support awhile to find him.

So, take it for what it's worth but your best plan is to be as self-sufficient as possible.  Take your bike to the shop for a tune up a few weeks prior to IM to make sure nothing major is about to break.  If you intend to put new tubes/tires on the bike prior to the race do it several weeks prior so you can make sure there aren't any defects in either.  Carry at least two spare tubes, two CO2 cartriges, and a few boots.  Be as prepared as you can be.  If all of that fails, then there is always tech support.  But depending entirely on tech support is a really bad strategy.

Nice job for the win dispite all the hurdles you had. Proven winner!

It's a piece of tough but bendable plastic about the size of a credit card.  If you slash a hole in your tire (obviously a hole smaller than the boot) it will allow you to limp the bike back home.  With a hole in your TIRE no amount of spare tubes will help you without a boot.  You apparently can use a dollar bill in a pinch.

Or you can spend a few bucks on Park Tools Emergency Tire Boots.

KathyG - 2011-09-23 7:27 AM

DanielG - 2011-09-23 8:25 AM

Fratto - 2011-09-22 3:08 PM I am not racing but I will be at the finish line as  catcher from 9pm till the end. Should be a good time!

I'll probably see you somewhere between 11 and 11:30

I'll be happy to get there before midnight.

The year I did finish line last shift at IMFL, I was so cold. I'd suggest bringing an extra layer you can put on if needed. They usually have a place you can store backpack at the finish line.

Thanks for volunteering!

thanks for the heads up! I gernally dont think of long sleeves until its way to late...

Awesome job Kathy.  That was so nice of you to give everyone a head start.    What are you doing for recovery this week.  Taking it easy? 

My coach has an easy week for me until Sat then we ramp up again with a 6 hr ride and 3 hr run the next day.   Just seems weird to have a day off then a few slow days with only 6 weeks to go.  

Duane

So the bike where did people find it most challanging. I know its a constant pedaling. I live ina very flat area and if there are some rollers then I need to practice on those. Any advice.

The only real concern about IMFL is how  hard to go on the bike and saving it for the run.

IMHO...

Once you get north of the bridge on 79 N it's a false flat uphill.  I find this section a bit challenging and the danger is that you'll worry about your average pace and try to push too hard on it.  Don't worry.  When you come back down this way later you will make up a LOT of time.

Otherwise, the "tough parts" of this course will depend on the wind.  If there's wind it will be harder.  If there's no wind...well, it's your lucky day!  All of 20 Westbound was EVIL last year because there was a 20kt quartering headwind.  Absolutely evil.

The "easy parts" are 77 South and 79 South until you get to the bridge overpass.  Those are both false flats heading downhill.  You can make up some good time there with very little effort.

There are some VERY VERY shallow rollers when you first turn onto 20 Westbound from Blue Springs.  But really, they don't even count as hills to 99% of the country.  And most of Hwy 20 is either "slightly up or slightly down".  It isn't a pancake like Front Beach.

I just bought one this year but an empty gel container or dollar bill will work in a pinch or even cutting old tire into rectangle.

Smart to have a back up plan when riding alone and have to depend on yourself to get out of a pinch.

I find the course easy to execute as it is flat. I ride with power and don't even know what speed I'm riding. Many go to hard for first hour or two and fade. Last ~20-25 miles is fast with tailwind and slight downhill and super flat and perfect road. I was about 2 mph faster on that section. I saw many of defeated folks in the last 25 miles...riding sitting up, doing lots of coasting, you could just see it in their body and the way they were sitting on their bike. I found it the most fun part of the course.

I think in general this stretch was the toughest for the folks I was riding near....rolling hills, headwind, & second half of the race.

• Right on Blue Springs Road
• Left on Hwy 20 West
• Continue straight through Hwy 77 on Hwy 20

The out and back by special needs is annoying as the road has cracks every 3' so it is thump thump thump over each of those cracks. It is challenging to ride in aero in that part. Many folks ride all over the road trying to find a smoother line. Some like the white line as it is smoother.

Most fun sections...

• Left on Hwy 79 South
• Right on Steelfield Road to turnaround
• Turnaround and go to Hwy 79 South
• Right on Hwy 79 South

Most redneck section with not much in way of shoulder and some unfriendly locals who pass dangerously, and the cracked road section I mentioned above

• Left on 388 East to turnaround
• Turnaround and go to Blue Springs Road
• Right on Blue Springs Road

Me too! - I did the same thing and probably watched the same video

Thanks Kathy

Definitely make sure you keep an eye on the winds.  While 2 of the 3 times I've ridden this course the wind was out of the NW, one time it was out of the South...and that will just STINK big time for IMFL because then you are pointing into the headwind near the very end of the course....on 79 south which SHOULD be a very fun part because it's a bit downhill...but if it's into the wind you lose the fun quick!

Pray for wind out of the north!

Quick question, maybe silly since this is my first IM. So whatever you left or add to your special needs bag you get it back right?

At this race you CAN get it back.  But you have to go retrieve the bags and typically they will be in a huge jumbled pile so you'll have to search for it.  And they are only available for a brief time...the morning after the race maybe?  For a few hours?

The typical advice is to not put anything in special needs that you couldn't live without if you can't get it back.