September HIM - Quakerman or Diamondman

I have done the Quakerman and I very frequently ride the course as part of my training. The park is great for the swim, the bike is deceptively challenging(3 loops) but not too bad either way, but the run is a kicker. Nearly all of it is either up or down some real hills. When I did it in 07 it was in the 90's and humid. The run was brutal. 

Here is the elevation and map of the bike course. Good luck.  

http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?routeid=85948

Thanks. I grew up further down in Bucks County and haven't ridden up Nockamixon way in a long time (20 years), where I live now doesn't have quite the hills that Upper Bucks does. I may take a spin out there on a weekend before I make up my mind. I do like the idea of multiple loops becuae it will give the kiddos a chance to see and inspire me more than once on the bike and the run.

It is a good spectator race. Yoe start and end the swim close to each other, t-1 is is very close then you'll do 3 loops on the bike and then do 2 loops on the run both of which go right past transition.

I only did the quakerman mini and the bike has some good hills. did diamondman a couples years back it had a pond swim, rolling hills except for the 1 mile gentle climb on a bridge (great downhill though on the other side) that you hit twice. and the year i did it was a hot and flat run along the canal but that was a last minute change due to weather conditions earlier in the week

Have done both.  Prefer Quakerman.  Much nicer swim and much better organization in my experience.  Course is much tougher as Diamondman is flat with the exception of the bridge crossing and a couple of short hills on the run (though the path along the canal can be quite difficult on hot, cloudless days with zero shade).  Despite the hills, the run at Quakerman is generlly much nicer except the stretch along the main road that overlaps the bike course.

Thanks again guys. A couple follow-ups for Quakerman - does the Nockamixon water get too warm to be wetsuit-worthy by then? How about bike setup - anything special with respect to cassettes, race wheels, etc.? I was also thinking about doing the Steelman Olympic in August during my training to get a feel for racing in the area; have you guys done that one as well? Thanks, Steve

I have done both. I felt Steelman was run better. Steelman does a different course on the bike, it is a 2 or 3 loop course right on Mountain Top Rd. You do the transition and swim in the same place as Quakerman but when you go out onto Mountain Top Rd. you turn right, go a few miles do a u-turn and go back a few miles past where you came up from transition then you U-turn and do it all again. The climb out of T-1 is quite a treat right away! The run is a 2 loop out and back, much of which is in the shade on walking trail. I did Quakerman in 2007 and it was NOT wet suit legal. As to bike set up, It is rolling terrain which allows aero almost all of the time but there are some good hills to climb but nothing you need to put on a special cassette for (IMHO). Wheels can be tricky, there are some places where you'll be able to make some good speed but there will also be the possibility of cross winds or traffic gusts so it's a bit of a crap shoot and how comfortable you are with bike skills.

PS, I ride up here all the time, it is very hilly and traffic is reasonable so if you wanna check it out let me know,
Steve

??????  Yes it was.  The water temp was low-mid 70s, I think.  Although with the heat & humidity that day, it might have been better to swim without one.

Otherwise, I generally agree on the bike course.  It has some hills, but not terrible by any means.  Certainly a tri bike with full race wheels course.  As far as gears, it just depends on what you are comfortable with.  Generally better to have more bail-out gears in an HIM or IM in my view.