Ironman Louisville : Official Thread (Page 99)

I have been told in the past that a race number belt with reflective material on the front and back will suffice, but I haven't been out after dark in a race yet so I don't know how strict they are in practice. You could try buying some reflective tape and sticking a strip on front and back, they sell it at most sports stores and I have seen it at the local Performance Bike store if there is one near you (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&pageSize=16&beginIndex=0&sortBy=Dollar+Rank%2F%2F1&searchType=resultSet&cn1=&gast=reflective+tape&searchTerm=reflective+tape#ReviewHeader)

BEFORE EVERYONE LEAVES...ONE WORD OF CAUTION ON THE BIKE COURSE!

I've been meaning to bring this up but I kept forgetting. On the segment where we go out and back, there is a screaming downhill that leads to a bridge, followed by an uphill, which eventually takes you to the turn-around, there is something you should consider. You are going to want to fly down that hill, because you can, and it's fun. HOWEVER, be careful of other competitors, and here's the kicker, GOING BOTH DIRECTIONS! You need to avoid those reluctant to let it go and are putting on the brakes, but you also need to watch the others going up the hill going the other way. If you are both close to the center line you probably won't hit, but you could.

On that note, avoid being too close to the center line going up the big hill because some crazy person might be too close to the center line, or accidentally cross it, and a collision at those speeds would be really ugly.

This is the section I'm talking about...I hope that all made sense.

• Turn right onto KY-1694
• Out to turnaround (KY-329) and back

Ok, the swim information I received, but couldn't post earlier is basically this...

Shortly after the 1st buoy is roughly 1 mile.

Under the second bridge is roughly 2 miles.

If you don't want to count buoys and such, these are nice references.

Ok, the swim information I received, but couldn't post earlier is basically this...

Shortly after the 1st buoy is roughly 1 mile.

Under the second bridge is roughly 2 miles.

If you don't want to count buoys and such, these are nice references.

I run 120 in my tires. I'll top them off at bike check in and then leave them alone on race morning. I have this bad feeling that if I top them off on race morning I might break the valve stem and end up having to change a tube then. I figure the miniscule bit of air that leaks out over night won't make a difference.

Peter B

And be careful of the bumps when you cross the bridge.  I suspect you will have to dodge a few water bottles in addition to other riders on this section.

Alan

There are a number of people in Tri Talk who swear up and down and with their first born children that air temperature rising cannot in any way, shape or form, cause a tube to pop. They claim something had to have been wrong with the tube or its environment before the temp rose and the fact that the temp rose is completely irrelevant.

Not that it matters for Sunday, we will do what we are comfortable with. I am not smart enough to agree or disagree, but it's interesting to me as I have had a tube "pop" when I left my bike in my car on a pretty hot Kansas summer day. I've also heard first hand tubes popping right next to me in transition on race morning. What causes this, if not the temperature then (assuming we are not over inflating and doing everything else as practiced)?

Sorry, antsy at work as it's my last day here before I leave

Question for Louisville veterans - can you please describe what the official practice swim is like?  I know it is going to be a zoo, but any other details you can share would be appreciated.  Would you recommend heading there right when it opens, or do you think there will be less traffic towards the end? 

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

Last year I got there when it opened and walked right in. But once I got out there was a huge line of people waiting to get in.

So I suggest getting there first thing.

I'll have to pass on the practice swim.  It's no different than swimming in hazy lake water and I figure I'll swallow enough of it Sunday anyway. 

FYI I plan to join up with you folks at the Starbucks gathering.  Look forward to meeting ya'll.

My experience with the practice swim was that it was really nutty, I couldn't really get into much of a rhythm, because I had to pay close attention to people, but it gave me a sense for the water. It wasn't as much as a workout as it was getting acquainted with the water. I think I was in for 10-15 minutes tops. I expect to do something similar this year. 

Think of warming up for a triathlon before the swim start at your local triathlon with people going in both directions, but no real order to it. That was similar to my experience. 

I like the spirit of this.  Who is up for a game of Marco Polo or some cannon balls off the wall?

Hey all,

Heading out tomorrow morning (6am cst) for the 12-13hr drive from Minneapolis to the Days Inn in Jeffersonville, IN.

I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone!

Travel safe,

Noah