Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?

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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike? Rss Feed  
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2017-01-28 1:06 PM

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Subject: Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?

Hi, I haven't been on here for a quite a while, but have been lurking the last week and see that the community is still strong.

I am signed up for Boulder 70.3 in August and wonder if anyone has done it before can recommend if should use a Tri bike or Road? I am a flat lander, low altitude and wondering if there is any advantage to either? I only have a Tri, so if the better option is Road, I want to start looking at options now for rentals in Boulder.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks, Rich

2017-01-28 2:05 PM
in reply to: richtherunner

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Subject: RE: Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?

Your tri bike will be perfect for riding in Boulder.  There is zero need to try to buy or rent a road bike.  Even if you owned one, it's the wrong tool for the job.

I raced IM Boulder there in 2015 and my daughter is a student at CU Boulder.  I've spent a lot of time there.  It's a great place to ride.

The course description says "The one-loop, 56-mile bike course will be a fast and flowing course in North Boulder County. With 1823 feet of gain it promises to test your legs on the north end of the course. Some of the nation’s fastest average times have come out of Boulder due to the speed at which our athletes can maintain on this course".

1823 feet?  No need for a road bike.  You'd need a road bike for a lot more technical turns, steep winding descents, etc.  IM Nice, say.  Not Boulder 70.3

2017-01-28 3:49 PM
in reply to: richtherunner

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Subject: RE: Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?

There is not an Ironman branded race in North America that a tri bike doesn't trump a road bike.  There's probably only two or three in the world that would even be debatable.

2017-01-30 1:41 PM
in reply to: richtherunner

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Subject: RE: Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?

I have raced the Boulder 70.3 several times and train on those roads often. Your tri bike will be perfect. None of the bike course is at all "technical." The hills are rolling and open, with lots of long, straight stretches. 

The only race in Boulder for which I might suggest using a road bike if you had one is the Boulder Peak (olympic distance, which is making a return this year) for the climb up Old Stage, but even that climb is a very short part of a course which otherwise lends itself to tri bikes.

2017-01-31 9:00 PM
in reply to: richtherunner

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Subject: RE: Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?
Yep. Tri bike is the best option.
2017-02-04 10:36 AM
in reply to: tedjohn

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Subject: RE: Boulder 703 in August - Tri bike or Road bike?

Thanks for the confirmation all. Appreciate the advice and looking forward to visiting Boulder in August.

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