login
Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread (Page 6)
-
No new posts
|
 2009-05-13 3:20 PM in reply to: #2027342 |
New user  529  |  Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread1st time doing Columbia. I feel horribly undertrained living in flat, horizonless Va Beach. How congested is the swim? I've heard rumors. |
| 2009-05-13 5:33 PM in reply to: #2149021 |
Regular 173 | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread vabeachnut1 - 2009-05-13 4:20 PM 1st time doing Columbia. I feel horribly undertrained living in flat, horizonless Va Beach. How congested is the swim? I've heard rumors. I didn't think it was that bad. I seeded myself about halfway in the pack and never really got touched. Not nearly as bad as Chicago, there the start feels about 15 yards wide, with 200 or so people going off at a time. |
| 2009-05-13 6:09 PM in reply to: #2149021 |
Master 1420  Reston, VA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread vabeachnut1 - 2009-05-13 4:20 PM 1st time doing Columbia. I feel horribly undertrained living in flat, horizonless Va Beach. How congested is the swim? I've heard rumors. The swim was not that bad - broken up into many waves so not one huge start. The bike is rolling the entire time. I thought the run was the toughest part of the course last year - it is hilly. |
| 2009-05-13 11:31 PM in reply to: #2027342 |
Expert 803 MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Man, reading this thread makes me really regret not getting in on this race this year. First time in 5 years I'm not signed up for it and I really feel like I'm missing out. Something about a world class race 15 minutes from your house..... But sometimes life comes at you and you just have to give in. Enjoy the race and hope to see you all there next year!!! 1st timers - The bike course - sure it's hilly, but not that bad. I find the 2nd half of the ride much easier than the 1st, so just push through knowing it will get faster on the back half. No need for special gearing and use the aerobars. The run - sweat it out until mile 4 then GO. Last 2 miles of the run get a lot easier. And if you finish strong, you're ready for nearly any 1/2 iron they can throw at you, except maybe Savageman :-) |
| 2009-05-13 11:38 PM in reply to: #2149021 |
Expert 803 MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread If you're feeling nervous about the swim, line up on the right side of the pack, closer to the shoreline. Stay way wide right of the first buoy (you'll be very close to the shore at this point) and stay wide right until you get to the second buoy at the first corner/left turn. By then the crowd thins out and you'll have plenty of room. This strategy also cuts out some distance as the first buoy cuts in and the second cuts out. Look at a map and you'll see what I mean. This is a well-known tried and tested strategy for this race, esp. with the local master's swim groups. Everybody else will line up in the middle or on the inside left and bee line it to the first buoy - that's where the washing machine churn is. They actually swim slightly longer of a line, and they contend with all the crowding. Let them have it and stay wide right. The back half of the swim is long and straight. Sighting is easy and there's lots of room to spread out. |
| 2009-05-13 11:41 PM in reply to: #2143079 |
Expert 803 MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Lots of the climbs are gradual enough that you'll stay down in your aerobars. You'll regret it if you remove them. |
| 2009-05-14 7:54 AM in reply to: #2149775 |
Veteran 193 Havertown, PA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread appreciate the tips, econway. sounds like some really good advice. this Columbia vid may have been posted already...if any of you haven't seen it it will get you in the mood! http://www.oellaworks.com/pages/Columbia_Tri.html |
| 2009-05-14 7:58 AM in reply to: #2027342 |
| Regular 105 Maryland | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Thanks for the great swim advice. I may have done that exact strategy last year, because I by far had my personal best swim ever. I'll have to remember it this time as well. Weather not looking to favorable though, high probability of thundestorms Saturday evening, which will make the transition slippery and muddy Sunday morning. Then Sunday 50% chance of storms as well. Just hope it doesn't reach the area until the afternoon. |
| 2009-05-14 8:01 AM in reply to: #2150076 |
Pro 4054 yep, | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread dnp72178 - 2009-05-14 8:58 AM Thanks for the great swim advice. I may have done that exact strategy last year, because I by far had my personal best swim ever. I'll have to remember it this time as well. Weather not looking to favorable though, high probability of thundestorms Saturday evening, which will make the transition slippery and muddy Sunday morning. Then Sunday 50% chance of storms as well. Just hope it doesn't reach the area until the afternoon.
Ugh I just remembered how crappy the transition area gets when there is rain the days leading up to the race. Oh well |
| 2009-05-14 8:17 AM in reply to: #2150084 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Definitely not putting on my cycling shoes on in transition then .... they'd be gunked up by the time I got up the hill ..... |
| 2009-05-14 8:32 AM in reply to: #2150134 |
Master 1572 PA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Daremo - 2009-05-14 9:17 AM Definitely not putting on my cycling shoes on in transition then .... they'd be gunked up by the time I got up the hill ..... Good tip. For someone still new to tris (who definitely does not leave them clipped in on the bike!) I might not have thought of that. |
| 2009-05-14 8:38 AM in reply to: #2150134 |
| Champion 6539 South Jersey | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Daremo - 2009-05-14 9:17 AM Definitely not putting on my cycling shoes on in transition then .... they'd be gunked up by the time I got up the hill ..... There's a hill in the transition area? I don't know how to do the flying mount/dismount. So I run through transition in my shoes. Are you suggesting running with your shoes in hand out of transition then putting them on? I think that might annoy the people standing behind us. I ran through transition with my shoes on at LP and it seemed OK...but I guess we hadn't gotten a lot of rain by that point. |
| 2009-05-14 8:43 AM in reply to: #2027342 |
Elite 2844 Reston VA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Having done a really really messy tri a few years ago - it depends on what type of pedal system you use.. I use Look keos and was fine... The people with speedplays may be more concerned with mud gunking up the cleats. |
| 2009-05-14 8:43 AM in reply to: #2150184 |
Member 157 Red Lion, PA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread yeah, i was wondering about how muddy transition might get. I might have to get spend an hour in a parking lot saturday morning practicing barefoot mounting and getting my shoes on on the bike. I've practiced on the trainer, but it's not quite the same, you don't have to balance too much. |
| 2009-05-14 8:47 AM in reply to: #2027342 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread The whole transition area is sloped where the bikes are toward the water. Then right at the end of the transition area where you go out to mount, there is a short but steep hill you climb. It is fun to watch people trip and slip up the hill.  Then as soon as you are out onto the road you have a gradual climb to get out of the park and then the fun begins. You'll see as soon as you get to the park to rack your bike. |
| 2009-05-14 8:49 AM in reply to: #2150202 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread shelly123 - 2009-05-14 9:43 AM The people with speedplays may be more concerned with mud gunking up the cleats. That would be me ..... and is the reason I said that ......  |
| 2009-05-14 9:15 AM in reply to: #2150223 |
| Champion 6539 South Jersey | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Gotcha, thanks. I use KEOs and will hopefully be fine. Usually, if they get gunked up, clipping out is more of a problem than clipping in. I walked thru mud for a potty break a few weeks ago, and the next time I had to unclip, I seriously thought it wasn't going to happen. But, it's all a chance of rain...there's a chance we won't get any at all. That's what I am banking on! |
| 2009-05-14 9:19 AM in reply to: #2027342 |
Expert 808 Columbia, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread One solution to keep mud out of your cleats is to put duck tape over the cleats before the race, then after putting your bike shoes on in T1 and going up the muddy hill, quickly rip off the tape, clip in and get going. Another idea is to put on 2 pairs of socks in T1 and carry your bike shoes up the hill, then just strip off the top pair of socks, put on your shoes, clip in and go. You won't get the discarded socks back, of course, so make sure they're an old pair you don't want back. |
| 2009-05-14 9:23 AM in reply to: #2150339 |
Master 1572 PA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread MelissaE - 2009-05-14 10:19 AM One solution to keep mud out of your cleats is to put duck tape over the cleats before the race, then after putting your bike shoes on in T1 and going up the muddy hill, quickly rip off the tape, clip in and get going. Another idea is to put on 2 pairs of socks in T1 and carry your bike shoes up the hill, then just strip off the top pair of socks, put on your shoes, clip in and go. You won't get the discarded socks back, of course, so make sure they're an old pair you don't want back. Look at Melis throwing out the ideas!  |
| 2009-05-14 9:32 AM in reply to: #2150348 |
New user 25 Eldersburg, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread In the case of rain (I'm remaining optimistic - because it's in the forecast, it's not likely!) I'm not sure I like the double socks idea. You will have no traction going up that hill to the hard road. If it's muddy, you'll get nowhere. I'm going for duct tape over the cleats. I think that will still give reasonably good traction. In order to easily rip the duct tape off, Make the strip(s) a little long and fold over an inch or so so you have something you can actually grab and pull. They will try to prevent you from doing this right off the mat due to people coming behind you. Get away from the mat a bit when you do this. |
| 2009-05-14 9:51 AM in reply to: #2027342 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Socks??? What are these sock things you speak of?? Jeff, it was a little wet last year. The relayers are set up right next to the bike exit, so you can zip right up the hill and go. I wore my shoes last year and ran up the hill that way. |
| 2009-05-14 10:15 AM in reply to: #2150448 |
New user 25 Eldersburg, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread sock [sok] -noun, plural socks 1) a cloth garmet designed in the shape of a foot. Toes go in first. The older the wearer, the higher it is worn up the calf. Wearers of socks stuck in the early eighties will typically wear socks with two or three stripes near the top. Frequently worn inappropriately by older people at the beach with sandals. Ocasionally omitted by triathletes wearing well fitting cycling shoes... but these shoes must then never be stored indoors. Relayers near the exit hill - that would certainly be nice but I'm not too worried about it. For the others not in such a good position, duct tape may not hurt. It doesn't take much space in a transition bag just in case. Just don't forget to put the tab in - with wet hands, you don't want to be fumbling to find a spot to rip it off. Currently worried about my rental Zipp's not showing up although if the course is wet, I'll back off a bit anyway. Oh wait - I'm supposed to be remaining optimistic! I noticed last night that they seemed to have very recently filled in a lot of the potholes along the course. For some reason, they overfilled most of them and they are worse than they were before. They're not horrible though - not quite like the bump by Sharp Road. |
| 2009-05-14 10:22 AM in reply to: #2027342 |
New user 529 | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread Since I haven't mastered the trick of slipping into the shoes already clipped into the pedals, I routinely run to the bike mount in my bare feet with my shoes hanging on the ends of my aerobars. Once I get past the mount I move off to the side out of everyone's way, put on my shoes, clip in, and go. I can't stand walking or running in bike shoes. Depending on the mud, I might also bring a rinse bottle to the bike mount as well. Speaking of the rain and all, what do you use to cover your bike from the elements overnight on Saturday? |
| 2009-05-14 10:26 AM in reply to: #2150519 |
Member 157 Red Lion, PA | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread i'm going to get one of those thin plastic paint dropcloths from Lowes or Home Depot to put over my bike in case of rain the night before, which looks pretty certain to me. Edited by MikesGonnaTri 2009-05-14 10:26 AM |
| 2009-05-14 10:59 AM in reply to: #2150519 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Columbia Triathlon : Official Thread vabeachnut1 - 2009-05-14 11:22 AM Speaking of the rain and all, what do you use to cover your bike from the elements overnight on Saturday? Nothin' ... it's water and even with a tarp it will still get wet, especially if it is windy! I just pull my computer off, that's it. |
|
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK