Ironman 70.3 California : Official Thread (Page 5)

I've got a compact 50/34 on my tri bike with an 11-23 cassette. That was my set up for Vineman and it worked pretty well. I just got a roadbike with a standard 53/39 DuraAce crank so I'm thinking of swapping the crankset between the two bikes as I'm doing most of my training rides, and lots of hills, on the road bike. Would likely switch to an 11-25 on the tri bike with the standard crank. 

28 allows me to spin easily uphill.  At 195 I need all the help I can get.

I don't do a lot of changing cranks/cassettes for different races.  Most of my longer races are pretty hilly, and I would rather have a gear I don't need than need a gear I don't have 

Wave 22...meh, I will pass a gazillion people on the bike and run.  Oh well...I guess it'll be a challenge to count how many people I will pass on the bike.  The swim...not so much...I will probably have jellyfish passing me.

I'm using a compact front and 11/26 cassette.  It has served me well.

mndymond - 2013-02-26 6:44 PM I'm wave 15. Oh ya fluorescent orange!

I'll see you as you swim by...

31 days!

rrrunner - 2013-02-27 8:47 AM

mndymond - 2013-02-26 6:44 PM I'm wave 15. Oh ya fluorescent orange!

I'll see you as you swim by...

31 days!

.....  to lose 6# to get to race weight.... no more thin mints  (well, OK, I do have one more sleeve, not like I am gonna throw them out or anything)

So, is anyone setting their goal times/dream times yet???

I just ordered my Barracuda Hothead and some PowerBar Perform so I can test them out before the race.

As for goal times... um, before the cutoff? This is my first ocean swim, so I'm nervous about swimming in the surf. I think I'm ready for the hills on the bike, I've been climbing everything I can find here.  Looking forward to the low elevation coastal run

There is no surf.  If there is a swell, you may have some up and down motion and chop at the harbor entrance, but that's about 1/3 of the swim only.  I'd be more nervous of the big bull sea lions hanging around the bait tank (JUST KIDDING!!!!!, but you will see them race morning out with the early waves, as they are curious, nothing to worry about).

The run is not "hilly" by any stretch, but don't be lulled into thinking it's flat, there are rollers on Pacific that will get your attention.  And the pier ramps.....

I've looked at (obsessed over) the elevation charts. I don't see anything on the run that is higher/more steep than my normal runs, but thanks for the info.

The bib list is up. I'm 1784.

I'm calling it now.  60, nice and overcast in the morning so sighting is good, clearing during the bike with onshore flow not starting until say [checks start time] 10:45 or so, and then 65 and sunny with a nice onshore breeze.

I like this forecast!

Anyone get in the ocean yet?  I am thinking maybe the 10 or 17th I will switch from pool swim Sundays to the ocean.   looks like current temps are 57-ish, about what oceanside should be

ETA - looks like the bayshore 70.4 is next Sunday, I recall last season the my first ocean swim was down there on the day of that race

ETA 2 - had a great hilly 15 mile run this morning, and a good Oceanside sim ride yesterday, 30 miles of flat followed by a bunch of hills......

Have you seen many people using neoprene socks in prior years? I've read mixed reviews about them.

That's what I've heard. Probably go without (I'd have to order them anyway). I think my coldest swim was last October in Colorado and I was half way in to the bike (Oly) before I could feel my feet! I've also read about people putting hand warmers in their shoes while they swim. Not sure that'd work with Oceanside since transition closes almost an hour before I start my swim.

Yes, the air on a moving bike will be cold and feet might be a bit numb.  Especially with tri shoes that seem to have a lot of holes.  :^  Prior years they walked around trying to get people out of transition for it to close (I sort of just hung out and tried to be innocuous).  Last year, no one was saying anything so more people were in T1, so that might work, if they fit in your shoes

I'm interested.  How long of a bike ride will that be?