AL, did I read somewhere that your max distance ride is 62 miles (im guessing you were concentrating on your running pre FLM?), you need to be doing a long ride of at least that distance almost every week now.
That video was v useful. Am I the only one who could hear the Benny Hill music in their heads when on the downhill sections?
I'm slightly less anxious as the riders at the top of the second hill (Heartbreak??) were all still in the saddle rather than out. I read somewhere that it is more efficient to stay seated rather than stand. I tend to do this but I think it's more laziness on my part.
I've averaged 15ish mph on long training rides this year, and did a tri yesterday. It was on a racing circuit so excellent surface, no traffic etc. My ave was 19mph yesterday so the race adrenalin/surface does give you a good lift in terms of mph.
Not sure if this will scare the hell at you or calm everyone down.
This is a video of a lap of the IMCH bike course taken during the 2007 race.
Heartbreak Hill looks awesome - the closest I'll ever get to the TdF.
fyi the course has changed to a two lap course. so those big named hills "heartbreak", "nut slapper", "bellend in a vice" etc will only feature twice. i believe the distance that was lost from lap three is made up by a unremarkable out n back section.
just watched this and was wondering sometimes if it was the tour of switzerland and not ironman switzerland. nice big packs. reckon i could arrive a bit fresher into T2 if i was a MOP.
Drafting is rife in the big races, there are just too many people out on the course at the same time. A lot of it is unavoidable especially in the early stages of the bike as people are bunched up. You just have to be concensious and at least look like you are trying to avoid doing it.
My biggest problem in Switz was forgetting which side of the road I was supposed to be on got warned for that twice!
Think about what kind of speed you are likely to get down to and what kind of cadence you are willing to hold. With your current set up with a cadence of 80 (which is reasonably fast up a hill) you will be going 9mph. Stick a 34 on there - which is what you'd probably go for with a compact - you'll get down to 7.9mph at that cadence.
It does look fast. How many people will murder the bike then blow up on the run. The usual suspects of Pebble and Doozer arent entered are they? Maybe I can replace one of them?
Not only is there loads of drafting going on, at least one group have a full scale chaingang going. Not very subtle, but quite effective!
Comments
That video was v useful. Am I the only one who could hear the Benny Hill music in their heads when on the downhill sections?
I'm slightly less anxious as the riders at the top of the second hill (Heartbreak??) were all still in the saddle rather than out. I read somewhere that it is more efficient to stay seated rather than stand. I tend to do this but I think it's more laziness on my part.
I've averaged 15ish mph on long training rides this year, and did a tri yesterday. It was on a racing circuit so excellent surface, no traffic etc. My ave was 19mph yesterday so the race adrenalin/surface does give you a good lift in terms of mph.
That's a brilliant speed for your race yesterday and I'm sure gave you bags of confidence - well done!
What happened to no drafting then?
Drafting is rife in the big races, there are just too many people out on the course at the same time. A lot of it is unavoidable especially in the early stages of the bike as people are bunched up. You just have to be concensious and at least look like you are trying to avoid doing it.
My biggest problem in Switz was forgetting which side of the road I was supposed to be on got warned for that twice!
Muppet
Tis alright when you're slow like me. The field soon thins out!
Think about what kind of speed you are likely to get down to and what kind of cadence you are willing to hold. With your current set up with a cadence of 80 (which is reasonably fast up a hill) you will be going 9mph. Stick a 34 on there - which is what you'd probably go for with a compact - you'll get down to 7.9mph at that cadence.
EDIT 'kin ell that's the wrong thread innit.
It does look fast. How many people will murder the bike then blow up on the run. The usual suspects of Pebble and Doozer arent entered are they? Maybe I can replace one of them?
Not only is there loads of drafting going on, at least one group have a full scale chaingang going. Not very subtle, but quite effective!
*cough*
Anyway ... the course looks mighty fine to me