Beach Bum Tri - Hilton Head Island SC

I think I'm doing this one. Try the gotrisports website. Alfred Olivetti is very involved in this race and may have additional info on his site.

what kind of bike are you planning to ride? i have considered this race but didnt want to put my road bike on the beach

I plan to ride my Trek Hybrid. Road bike probably wouldn't work too well. It's a great venue and Hilton Head is a pretty cool place to visit. I know there will be a %#$@load of people from HH, Beaufort, and Savannah in this race as well as from all over the country. The water can be pretty choppy at times and the viz is always nil.

I was going to talk to my LBS about what kind of bike to ride. I figure I'll use a beach cruiser, rented or borrowed. Probably won't be taking it too seriously, but looking forward to it.

Edit: a road bike won't work! Ack! Skinny tires on sand?? There are places to rent beach cruisers on HHI, if you decide to do the race. They're like $20 a day or something. Worth it to not get a good bike near all that salt water.

I assume the transition area is on the beach too? Any idea?

Edited by madeye 2005-07-12 1:51 PM

I'm doing the HH race in Sept. (although volunteering at the one in July) and I am riding a canondale mtn bike equipped with less-nubby tires. Good luck!

Madeye I'm doing the one in the fall. Got a race this Sat in Florence and in two weeks in Charleston. Sorry for the mix up.

Ahhh. I'm doing the one in the fall as well, which is NOT on the sand. It's the same format as their spring one, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Definitely riding a road bike in the fall.

For clarificaiton if anyone has gotten lost: this race org has a "Beach Bum" tri on July 30 that takes place entirely on the beach -- you swim in the ocean, bike on the sand and then you run on the sand. It's a laid-back, fun thing from what I've heard. For that you need a bike that can deal with the fine HHI beach sand.

They also do the "Suntrust Sprint Triathlon" on September 10 that is more traditional -- swim in the ocean, bike on the road, run on the road.

Hope that clears things up. They all happen on the same beach and they're all sponsored by Suntrust and GoTriSports so it can get confusing which one you're talking about.

Now. If anyone is doing the Beach Bum Tri on July 30, I'm the fat girl and I'll either be wearing a grey Zoot top with black tri shorts, or a black Tyr bathing suit with black jammers. Say hi.

Aqua - it's awesome that you're volunteering! What a cool thing to do!

Okay, it's news to me that it is a road race rather than a beach race...mild panic......will check back.

You are correct madeye-ocean swim, bike and run on the road. Now, I guess I need a road bike? Just had my mtn bike pimped out for the beach....

When I did the spring one there were mountain bikes in attendance on the road...so just evaluate the tire situation and you should be fine if you don't want to lay down the cash for a road bike.

What did you do to get your mtb ready for the beach? I am considering taking my mtb instead of borrowing a beach cruiser but...but..all that salt water near my baby?? I don't know about that.....

Madeye-I just had some hybrid-type tires put on it. I'll probably still use it for the race and start saving for a road bike. I'll cheer for you on the 30th!

Thanks, Aquagoddess! I will need all the cheering I can get!

I think that I will be doing the Beach Bum madeye!  I have waited to register to see how the one this weekend goes.  If it doesn't kill me then I'll be with you on HHI!

oliveview - sweet! Would love to see a handful of BT'ers there.

Good luck in your race this weekend and let us know how it goes!