Drop Bike Off Day Before Or Bring Bike Day Of

Leave the bike the night before.

In all honesty that's a common mandate for the longer races I've done. They do the bar end plug check overnight and make sure everyone's checked in before the race day.

I'm doing Steelhead as well and plan on dropping it on Saturday.  Figure that way I don't have to worry about loading it up Sunday morning and possibly running short on time and forgetting something.  Race morning I'll most likely just hike down with the gf and whoever else, it's only a mile.

with latex tubes I may need to top off my tires in the morning (or over inflate them a little the night before).  Is there enough room in T-area for my bag or do they have storage areas for that?  The local tri's I've done, there was plenty of room to stash my bag near by T area. 

I completely agree with the consensus; you will be relieved to not be messing with getting your bike there on the morning of the race. Put a plastic bag over your seat when you leave it to keep it out of the elements. Take your pump the morning of and then give it to your wife, or parent, after you air up your tires. They can take it back to the car. Not sure if you'll have room for a bag - at the full IM you don't. I took a bag the morning of to fill my bottles and put nutrition on the bike, plus a towel to dry it off. Afterwards, I gave that to my wife, too.

They have pump stations there, but you will be in a long, long line - it's less stressful to have your own air.

Good luck!