Ironman St. George : Official Thread (Page 10)

Unless a storm blows in it is looking like it is going to be a hot race day. 10 day forecasts are putting Thursday at 84 degrees. I am watching with interest...

Sure hope that water is warmer... upper 50s to 60 would be perfect.

OK, I have a big problem and need some major advice. Last week I was "twicking" my areo bars on my bike, I tightened them to much and cracked or compressed the carbon handlebars. I was told my several sources that I should not ride on those handle bars and to get new ones right away. I went to the local bike shop that most people recommend. They said they could fix it no problem but had to order the bars as they just sold the last ones they had in stock, I told them I would pay for them to be overnighted ( is that a word?). I called the next day to be sure they were ordered and was told that they did me a favor and just added them to an order they put in so I would not have to pay for shipping, it would take 2 days. I have not heard from them so I called them today as they said they would have it done in ten days ( which is today). I was told that they never got the part and are ordering it tomorrow but will overnight it.

So the question is what do I do if these idiots don't get my bike fixed in time? Do I rent one? Should I demand that they give me one to use. But really what kind of bike will I get? I am really freaking out. Any suggestions?

When you get to Ironman village area, many options of people to help with getting your bike fixed up from the IM repair place within the IM village or sometimes other bike shops come and set up shop near IM village area. Bring the bar and have someone there install it if you don't trust the bike shop. If part doesn't come in time, I bet you can find one in SG at the race site to buy and install.

Honestly you can get almost anything bought or fixed on your bike prior to an IM, at or near an IM race.

went out to sand hollow today. bought a pool thermometer at Target. if it's right the temp is exactly 60*. the air temps here are warming up but that just means more snow is melting and filling the resovior so i doubt the temp will change much.

it was a cold swim mostly because the wind was howling. i was going to ride back to town on the route but when i took my bike out and held it up by the seat and bars the wind almost took it horizontal  (at about a 60* angle). i have deep rims, but not that deep.

race day could be anything, but i hope it's not like today!

Thanks for all the advice on the rims and tires. I have a pair of Zipp 404 tires. A friend I ride with in the local riding club offered his HED (sp?) tires which are clinchers and I think I will take him up on it. I have enough to worry about going wrong with the bike and I don't want to throw in mechanical tire problems in the mix. I will all bring my training rims and tires and ride the training one up front and the carbon back if it looks like wind.

I'm getting very excited and more than a little nervous. I really appreciate everyone's advice on the forum. It has been extremely useful.

For the bike I may buy some arm warmers there in St. George and I plan to wear a short sleeve jersey over my Tri Bib. I've done this with other races and I just put my nutrition bars, spare tire / CO2 / tire breakers in the back pockets. Dry off, slide my arms through the jersy and start riding. Even a little wet the jersey has been easy to put on and I just zip up the front and the reverse as I transition into the run.

Does anyone know if there will be athlete tracking?  In some major marathons (with chip timing), an athletes progress can be tracked via email notifications.

Thanks, 

Todd

Yes, there will be athlete tracking through IronManLive.com. My family was able to get my splits off of there last year during the race -- helped them figure out I had exploded on the run and they had more time for lunch! :-)

bring on the heat, but hold the wind please.

http://www.accuweather.com/us/ut/saint-george/84770/forecast-details.asp?fday=10

Looking HOT now at 90 degrees for Saturday. Forecast is claiming the potential for a SW 10 MPH wind (SW is interesting).

I agree. I prefer heat over wind or cold. But I do not want wind on the bike AND hot on the run. 90 is starting to push it. So is 10 MPH wind.

If it is anything like last year, the wind did not really pick up until you are on the second loop. That is when the sun is really up warming the air. I have heard some say they got the wind on the first loop too. 

A SW wind could be interesting. Last year it was a NW wind. I wonder if SW would be better. I would certainly rather have a tail wind while headed up past Gunlock. Then have headwind for the short downhill to the end of the loop. But SW wind would be more like a little off center than a direct headwind. Maybe even some to the side depending on the turns in the road. However, for much of the steep sections we will be somewhat protected by Snow Canyon and surrounding mountain. The topography could slow the wind or whip it around into gusts.

Being 10 days out, this is borderline speculation forecasting, of course. It will be interesting to watch this change, or not...

Good luck to all you St. George athlete's tomorrow!  I did it last year and it sounds like the weather is simialar compared to last year.  Hopefully the water is a bit warmer than the 58 degrees we had in 2010.  By tomorrow night you will all be IRONMEN and will have really earned it!  My best advice - take it easy on those climbs on the bike!  I will go back someday to take on that monster again, but I need to forget how tough the course is.