Thanks Firestarter, Roth is a lake swim which should be easier. Any idea how much climbing there is for the bike. Raced at IMUK and people complained of the hills.... didn't think it was too bad.
total climb for IM France is about 1800m but I think that's almost entirely in the first half of the one lap bike course.
Cant see the total climb for Roth but the profile looks very unlumpy. Just one major climb it seems. I'm sure Ironwolf will be able to give you more info.
I did the bike this year at roth. nothing to worry about. It's a two lap course and there are three small climbs on each lap. They only go on for 200 yards or so. The only thing that is a little tough is that at the top of one of the "climbs" there is a very gradual rise that goes on for a couple of kilometers. On fresh legs you would barely notice it but at the top of the climb on the second lap I was glad when it was over. There is good support and excellent aid stations.
Having done it 4 times, I can report the swim is deffo in the Danube river canal - all ship traffic is stopped for the day of the race and for a couple of hours before that for training. You swim down the right of the canal under the next bridge, round a bouy and back up towards the start point, past there and under another bridge to the dam, round a 2nd bouy and a couple of hundred metres to the finish. Fast swimmers - get out in the middle to take advantage of the current. Slower guys, keep right but not too far towards the bank or you'll scrape yourself on the rocks at the edge.
FS - you'll be in the first start at 6:20am, with all the women, all the pros, and the older age group men. 2nd start goes at 6:55am to give the pros time to get well clear, all others start in 5 min intervals. Slower swimmers will find other waves overtaking them but it isn't a problem 'cos the canal is very wide - lots of clear water.
It's not so much that as 10 minutes longer than Nice, with a faster bike course, and more forgiving officials. Yes, I have made the right decision )
Whatever you should be able to do. Things can always go wrong and just being able to sneak in in time on a good day is not a great strategy, as I have learned.
I know about things going wrong my first attempt was also a DNF but at least you got out on the bike - I got a boat ride out of the swim and I was not expecting that
You have a goodbase now FS you just need to maintain it and build
Yes maddy, that's what I mean. I'm not worried. If I was doing Nice I might be. 15% extra means 9.10 bike rather than 8 hours, quite a substantial difference.
Barley wouldn't even come over to cov to ride with me and never managed to tell me when he was having swim coaching in the campus pool - mind you Matt pulled a face too
So Carl what TIME are you aiming for next year - sub 12 maybe
Comments
Not that I'm interested.
Cant see the total climb for Roth but the profile looks very unlumpy. Just one major climb it seems. I'm sure Ironwolf will be able to give you more info.
OK so I might not need to have acompact fitted for this one then
Just shrink by a couple of stone - I figure this is the best thing I can do for my hill climbing ability
Whatever you should be able to do. Things can always go wrong and just being able to sneak in in time on a good day is not a great strategy, as I have learned.
You have a goodbase now FS you just need to maintain it and build
And can I just say that I think the two of you are made for each other?
Are you sure
Barley wouldn't even come over to cov to ride with me and never managed to tell me when he was having swim coaching in the campus pool - mind you Matt pulled a face too
So Carl what TIME are you aiming for next year - sub 12 maybe