BT Forum

There is a 3/4 mile long straight away between the Capitol and Caesar Chavez which you will go either up or down twice per loop.  There is about a 3 mile stretch down and back on Caesar Chavez which you will hit 4 times.  I am guessing that most of the rest will be out of aero.  If you think the gains being in aero over the relatively short stretches and feel confortable handling the tri bike on the two hairpin turns and the 90 degree turns on and off of Congress (6 per loop).  Also, the course also gets fairly crowded, especially if you are in one of the later oly waves which overlaps with the sprint.

There will be plenty of people on tri bikes, plenty of people on road bikes, and a good contingent on hybrids/mtn bikes.

All I have is a road bike, so there is no decision for me.  Two years ago I did the sprint on a 20 year old hybrid.

I have a good rule of thumb system for how to decide if you should use a tri bike or a road bike:

1. do the rules allow you to use a tri bike?

use a tri bike

caveat - its crowded out there, if you are a bad bike handler and even worse on your tri bike, you might want the road bike.  plus the road bike will keep you going slower, and thus safer =)

Lady Bird Lake is a constant level lake which is not impacted much by the drought.  Lady Bird Lake flows from Lake Austin another constant level lake which is generally pretty cool.  I think they flush LBL a couple days prior to the race and that generally gets the water cool enough for a wetsuit.  The last two years it has been wetsuit legal, but they wait to make the call during the few days leading up to the race. 

thanks...my only concern is that two years ago (last drought), they didn't flush LBL right before the Avia Tri (on Labor Day) because of the drought...so the water was a little 'soupy'...hopefully we get some rain soon...this is brutal.

The water temp is still pretty chilly (I've waded in it this past weekend).  This early on, there isn't much chance for it not to be wetsuit legal.

Rain, please!

I signed up today.  My 3rd CapTex tri.  

Brian

From the Cap City Tri website:

"Measured the water temp late on Wednesday, 5/26, and it is up to 71 degrees.  Expect it to drop as the LCRA 'flushes' the lake leading up to the race."

Looks like I will be wearing that wet suit after all...Good luck on Monday everyone!

I haven't done this race before but I can't see a down side to ever using a disc unless you are riding in big, big, big heavy winds.

Go for it!

This is my first triathlon (sprint).  I do not have a wetsuit, have never swam in one before, and I'm not sure if I need to rent one given the expected water temp.  I'm not really concerned about time but don't want to be miserable and freeze the entire swim.  What do y'all think--definitely need a wetsuit or can do without?

Welcome to triathlon!

No, you don't need to have a wet suit. On whether you should rent one is totally up to you, it's about comfort in the water. The wet suit with help with confidence, warmth and reduce drag but it's not a must. The first rule of triathlon is "don't do anything new on race day" so if you have been swimming without a wet suit don't start on Monday. Now, the water will be chilly but the distance is short. You'll be in and out before you know it. Then you'll be in transition and hammering on your bike. Plus not having to get out of a wet suit will free up some time in transition.

That probably wasn't much help...

Good luck on Monday!!!

On Your Left!

I did the CapTex the last two years without a wetsuit (although it was wetsuit legal).  Don't worry about it.