KS IM bike course

I may be taking a couple people out there. It is thier first time and I doubt they want to do the entire thing and I am sure we won't be setting any spead records. I would guess we will do the 5150 course or maybe a little longer (to the first out and back section- that would give us about 30 total miles from transition).

I may be taking a couple people out there. It is thier first time and I doubt they want to do the entire thing and I am sure we won't be setting any spead records. I would guess we will do the 5150 course or maybe a little longer (to the first out and back section- that would give us about 30 total miles from transition).

Pete, when are you going? A partial route might be a good final tune-up a week prior to Galveston 70.3.

I'd also be interested, Pete.

I'll probably do my long ride Saturday, long run on Sunday. I need a good 50+ miles at a solid effort. I may change my mind though but weather says more sun on Saturday, cloudy on Sunday. I could change my mind if Pete has room for one more ....

hey Reece do you know where you are riding yet? I'm looking to get a good 50-60 miles in on Saturday too...but I will be going out early in the morning and I don't care to go to lawrence. Unfortuanately, Sunday afternoon won't work for my schedule.

I'll PM you with a route I have in mind.

I need to see who all wants to go. I am "mentoring" a few guys in my neighborhood. I would assume they will want to go noonish but I will find out and post it. All would be welocome. Just a warning though, I bet this group is not fast. I would guess in the 15-16 mph range for an average. I know some guys have been doing Spin classes, others have done a few rides outside. Just don't want anyone to show up expecting a hammerfest with me Sunday. I hope to do that Saturday sometime if the weather cooperates and I can get my long run in Friday afternoon. With KU out of the picture- my schedule has a lot more freedom

I'm really happy to say that might be too slow for me...

But I might still come and ride ahead and regroup with you. Post the details when you know!

And my long run Sunday is on the m/u path between tree lines, at least most of the way. Hmmmm, 33 mph tailwind potential, might be a good day to poach some Strava KOMs

That's no way to prepare for Galveston.

Let me know when/where you're riding Saturday. If the winds are going to be that strong on Sun, I might have to pass

well, my group has decided to ride from home (some are pressed for time). We will have to get another group ride sometime though. While I am not racing this year, I am always up for some punishment on that course.

I am going to plan on riding the bike course April 19. I was wondering if you guys have any helpful tips as this will be my first time riding it. I have driven part of it, but that's about it. What is the traffic like on a Saturday on most of those roads? Do the roads have much of a shoulder? Any other tips or info is welcomed! Thanks!

Dixie, I've posted this before in other threads:

Between racing and training I've biked the course about a dozen times. I've personally never felt unsafe or encountered any bad or rude drivers. Hopefully, others have had the same experience.

Traffic is fairly light. It wouldn't surprise me to see a higher volume of cars in certain areas. The shoulder width is decent when it's there and when it's not you'll find that your in a very rural area and it can be relatively quiet. Beginning around this time of the year, as the race approaches, you'll see a fair number of other people out there biking, which hopefully implies that the local folk have been accustomed to seeing triathletes out there biking and will give us a little room. You'll encounter most of the cars between dam hill and the "iron cross" and again it's not that bad. Once you make your left there at the iron cross intersection the traffic becomes much more sparse. There is a stretch of out and back road around miles 18-26(?, its heading towards Shawnee Heights road) where the road conditions aren't great.

Traffic is pretty light right now. Once boating season starts, traffic picks up with SUVs towing their boats. I have never had any issues though.

Thanks for all the info guys. If I remember right, there is a shower house at one of the campgrounds isn't there? My wife wants to go out for a while after I ride, and I think a shower would be much needed following a 3-hour bike ride!

Nah, just jump in the lake real quick like and should be good to go.

There is are some showers. The one I'm familiar with (not sure if there is more than one shower building) is just a little south of where the finish line would be set up - if you're familiar with the campground set up.

I am going to ask you guys for your opinion on one more thing. I live about 70 miles away from Lawrence and had originally planned on riding the course this Saturday afternoon, but it looks like the winds might be pretty high for that day, which I have ridden in the wind before (of course I have to ride in the wind, I live in Kansas!) and can deal with that. What I was wondering is do you guys think I would gain more from riding the course in the wind on Saturday or riding when it is supposed to be nicer (read lower wind speeds) on Friday, for a first time riding the course?

If you ride on a windy day you'll know more what to expect on race day, should it be windy. But I guess if you're fighting the wind while trying to evaluate the course, you might forgot some things, terrain, road conditions etc. that you would want to recall once back home. Wind can effect how long you're out ther on the bike which can play a role in your nutrition plan I guess. Tough call.

I've only done KS once (2012), and rode the course once before the race. I ended up going on a windy day, and suffered towards the end of the ride. After, I was glad I did it and thought at least on race day it would be better. Turns out, the wind was considerably worse on race day. But I did feel better prepared for the race since I knew what I was getting into. It made planning effort and nutrition a little easier...

My thought is go when you want. But I wouldn't change my plans based on winds, because in all likelihood, there's going to be at least some wind come race day. Plus, you'll be even better prepared if the conditions are perfect!