Ford Ironman Wisconsin : Official Thread (Page 9)

Are you sure that isn't a false flat? I will have to look back at the Garmin data but if I recall it was around 2% so while it looked flat, it was annoying, especially if there is wind. And those rumble strips are the worst! I was daydreaming and drifted onto them more than once!

You might be right.  I just remember the first time I road the course thinking: this should be a nice relatively flat stretch and we have to ride over this crap pavement!

Depending on the size of your group and how well it behaves, I suggest you ride solo. Large, poorly mannered groups make for bigger targets of abuse and are harder to police, IMO.

This user's post has been ignored.

This user's post has been ignored.

Fred - Good question, that was something that worried my about IMWI also, especially after my experience on the IMKY course. 

On the second loop at IMKY I had to ride through LOTS of people that were still on their first loop, and they were mixed in with a fair amount of motor vehicle traffic.  That was really annoying - vehicles you couldn't pass because they couldn't pass packs of first-loop riders in front of them.  I ended up breaking a few of the race rules (passing bikes+cars+RVs on the right, crossing double yellow lines) to get through the congestion. Not a good situation at all. 

In contrast, at IMWI I only had to ride through a couple handfuls of first-loop riders while finishing my second loop.  And I encountered zero motor vehicle traffic at IMWI.  So, the first-loop riders didn't slow me at all.  Just another aspect of the IMWI race that made for a good experience.

There is a Q&A in this month's Bicycling (page 20) that talks about the difference between long, steady climbs and shorter, steeper climbs and how to increase acceleration ability. Might be an interesting read linked to this discussion.

How would you compare IMKY bike to IMWI bike?  I did IMKY last year and thought the bike course was awesome, not too hard or technical, not crowded, I really liked it.  I was not too worried about IMWI until I started reading the last several posts.  Is IMWI a lot more difficult?  I have visions of sharp right turns after every hill.  How do the two courses compare?

If you liked IMKY, you'll love IMWI.  Difficulty level (ie, quad impact) is very similar between the two.  There are a couple places on the IMWI course where you need to keep your descending speed in check due to curves in the road, and the pavement is a little rough in some spots.  Preview the course before the race and you'll be set.

Thanks wiky - that's very encouraging to hear.  I'm looking forward to IMWI again!!!

I came across this on our local Minnesota thread and thought I would pass it along. A fellow BT'er went last year and said it was a great experience and the registration is free. Everybody chips in for dinners and you pay your own hotel/travel costs. Here is the link http://www.wisconsinbrickadventure.com to the website. Maybe something to consider for your training calander next summer.

Thanks Mike, great idea. I just signed up.

This user's post has been ignored.

Here are my thoughts - 2010 was my first and only IM. I was about 175 lbs at race start and 6'2". I rode my P2 geared 53/39 and 12-25. I don't think I'm the strongest cyclist, but was able to sneak in just under 6 hours for the ride. With no IM experience, I had planned to go about 6:30. I absolutely loved the bike course - the scenery/terrain and support were awesome, but I think that's why I pushed myself a little too hard - riding on a mental high without accurately monitoring my effort and later paying for it on the run (see my race report). Having read previous posts, I kept chanting "Don't eat the paste" and held back for the first 30-40 miles. As expected, (and with a relatively fast swim), I was passed by lots of folks in those first miles. However, I did my share of passing over the last 40 miles

I never really felt held up by other riders and the traffic was minimal. Road conditions were reasonably good. Aid stations were well stocked and plenty of Port-o-potties - (stopped three times - gotta learn how to pee on the bike!)

The day before the race, I was walking along the lakefront with my kids and watching some of the swimmers come in - one of the guys notices my bracelet and asks if this would be my first race. I told him I was most nervous about the bike course, and so he advises me of the 3 big hills - don't get out of the saddle or let the crowds get you too excited. Good recommendation as there were so many cheering us on at those points. He also said to push hard on the downhill right after leaving Mt Horeb. He was right! As most of those near me were slowing down on the descent, I was able to carry the rollers all the way to the final climb and sharp right turn (sorry, I can't remember the street names at this point). Probably didn't save a whole lot of time, but I'd bet the energy saved was helpful later on. As far as the other descents, most of you could carry them without too much difficulty, but be sure to drive/ride the course as a few of them are quite steep with sharp turns. I came upon one poor SOB who didn't make one turn and grabbed a ride with the ambulance.

Looking back, I was able to stay aero for the entire race with only a few exceptions, primarily the Mt. Horeb climb and the other three big hills. There is a lot of shifting, but it's manageable. If I do the race again, I'm not sure that I would change any of my gear (other than wearing an aero helmet). Stomach aches on the run were either due to overeating on the ride, riding faster that I should have, or both.

Good luck to all of you! I'll be cheering for you in 2011 - John

This user's post has been ignored.

Trainer: Yes, out of necessity, certainly no joy in riding it.
Dreadmill: NEVER! (OK, sometimes).

I live in northern Michigan, and we currently have at least 2 feet of snow (about 17 inches from one storm last week), but that is continually growing.  It has also been consistently 10-20 degrees with wind chills dropping that even lower. 

That said I am happy to say that I bought a bike trainer this fall and will be using that for my bike training this winter. As far as running goes I will probably try to bundle up and tough it out most days just because I enjoy running outside far more than on a treadmill even when it's cold. I've considered buying a pair of running snowshoe to add a little versatility to my winter running and to be able to increase the amount of terrain I can cover, but probably will not do so. I attend a college in Southern Michigan (Albion) where there is very little snow so I would only be able to use the snowshoes for about a month while I'm home for Christmas.

Anyway good luck with your training. I'm currently increasing my volume as well, and am enjoying it. Really looking forward to the next  8.5 months.

I spent several winters running outside in Northern WI and Upper MI and loved it.  Something about a solid workout in cold temps that is invigorating.  But I pulled a calf muscle on my last cold weather run, and I'm thinking I'll mostly stick with the treadmill this winter except for the warmer weather days.

Any of you northerners skate skiing?  That used to be my favorite form of winter training.  Really miss it. 

This user's post has been ignored.

This user's post has been ignored.

Thanks for the heads-up.  I've been looking for a group and wasn't sure how they work.  I'll be on the look-out to sign up as a "mentee".

Fred is a great mentor if your looking for one, I was in his group this year and really benefitted from his experience.