Oktoberfest Tri

Very cool!  I'll be there.  I'm an age grouper too, W45-49.  It's my 2nd tri.  I'll be in an Orca Predator wetsuit, white/orchid/grey tri suit, and I'm 5'7" with short brown hair.  Looking forward to seeing you.  rrrunner will also be there from NM.  She's about my height with shoulder-length brown hair.

Rode the bike route yesterday.  It was a little nerve-wracking with all the traffic whizzing by but it's pretty easy.  A few mild ups and false flats, a couple of mild descents, nothing too challenging.  It'll be a good one for you to start with.  Hope to run into you!

Originally posted by driftin' by I will be there too and it is my first tri also. I'm 6'2" and registered as a Clydesdale so you get the picture however, I'm not sure the penalty if I fall below 220 lbs before the race? I haven't figured out a wetsuit yet, but I have a bright yellow Lazer helmet which accents the yellow tires and grips on my otherwise black Felt bike. Obnoxious... I know, but I purchased the bike second hand and that was the color scheme so I decided to just go with it. I would make a lot of sense if I were a Steelers fan. I'm hoping to get out this weekend to ride the bike course and possibly do a S-B brick. Does anyone know if OW swimming is allowed outside an event? It will be cool to connect with fellow BT'ers there especially ones that are new to the sport. I'll keep my eyes out for you all as best I can but I'm sure I'll be fussing around with all my gear.

Here's the link for swim beach hours:  http://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-n-z/parks-open-space-trails/union-reservoir-park/fees-and-hours-at-union (scroll down a bit for hours).  I'm going to do a BR brick on the race course Sunday morning in case anybody wants to meet up then.

As for the wetsuit, you can rent at REI or even go without depending on your tolerance for cold.  The water temp was in the mid 70's on Sat.

I promise not to laugh.  We all start somewhere.  The only reason I have a somewhat nicer bike is that I got a super deal on it.  Until then, I was training on my 20 y.o. Schwinn Super Sport "road" bike.  I've seen people on mountain bikes, cruisers, you name it.  When you first start out, it's more about the engine than the bike anyway.

As for the wetsuit, I'll take all the help I can get.  The extra flotation is actually really nice.  I'm an okay swimmer, but it's helpful to know that if I stop kicking, I'm not going to sink!!

Originally posted by driftin' by

Originally posted by laffinrock

Originally posted by driftin' by I will be there too and it is my first tri also. I'm 6'2" and registered as a Clydesdale so you get the picture however, I'm not sure the penalty if I fall below 220 lbs before the race? I haven't figured out a wetsuit yet, but I have a bright yellow Lazer helmet which accents the yellow tires and grips on my otherwise black Felt bike. Obnoxious... I know, but I purchased the bike second hand and that was the color scheme so I decided to just go with it. I would make a lot of sense if I were a Steelers fan. I'm hoping to get out this weekend to ride the bike course and possibly do a S-B brick. Does anyone know if OW swimming is allowed outside an event? It will be cool to connect with fellow BT'ers there especially ones that are new to the sport. I'll keep my eyes out for you all as best I can but I'm sure I'll be fussing around with all my gear.

Here's the link for swim beach hours:  http://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-n-z/parks-open-space-trails/union-reservoir-park/fees-and-hours-at-union (scroll down a bit for hours).  I'm going to do a BR brick on the race course Sunday morning in case anybody wants to meet up then.

As for the wetsuit, you can rent at REI or even go without depending on your tolerance for cold.  The water temp was in the mid 70's on Sat.

Thanks for the link and info Mary. Immediately after posting yesterday, I found the same information. If I'm reading it right, it'll be $16 to enter the park and go for a swim? That's a bit rich considering that it costs me nothing to hop into Aurora Reservoir for an OW swim. I live near and can walk in and they don't charge anything to swim however, it is on the verge of being too cold which brings me to my wetsuit dilemma. I'm a long time diver and have wetsuits-a-plenty and figured I would just don a 3mm full suit I have laying around. While doing my first OW swim last weekend in this wetsuit, I very quickly became accustomed to what the differences might be between a diving wetsuit versus a Tri-specific wetsuit. The collar was suffocating, it restricted my arm movement and it didn't provide much buoyancy. Admittedly, it's about a 10- year old, budget wetsuit that I purchased on a whim before a trip to dive cenotes in Mexico so in terms of quality materials such as good wrist seals that don't chafe and supple neoprene, they don't exist with this wetsuit. This has left me scrambling just 2 weeks before the race to find a solution. I've inquired around about rentals and I hate spending $50 which amounts to 25% or more of the cost to purchase one. However, buying a new one now for what will the the last race I will need one for, for the next 8 or more months when I see myself loosing 20-30 more pounds doesn't make a lot of sense either. Ugh! I'll look into REI's rentals... their prices are very reasonable for members but I never thought they would rent tri-specific wetsuits. Thanks for the tip!

I don't know that REI has tri-specific rentals.  Just look for a sleeveless one and make sure that whatever you get is within USAT guidelines for thickness.  (I think it's 5mm but don't quote me on that.)  With the water temp being what it is, you don't need to worry about having good wrist seals.  I swam in Aurora Res with a sleeveless suit in August when it was in the low 70's and I was fine.  You may have the same issues with the neck - a lot of people do.  I've heard of people trimming their own suits into a u-line to eliminate that strangling feeling.  Also, do a quick search on the Tri Talk and Gear/Equipment forums.  There's a mail order company that lets you apply the cost of a rental toward the purchase of new wetsuit.  Sorry, I can't remember the name and don't have time to look it up right now. 

I don't know that there's an extra charge to use the swim beach.  Entrance to the reservoir is $8, but yeah, if you can walk into Aurora Res, go for it.  Saves you a drive too!

It's a great race, have fun!

Rode the course again today.  Hope they sweep it; there's a ton of dirt clods, both smashed and not.  Not fun.  In general, though, the course is pretty easy.  A few little rollers but nothing too hard.  The water temp is 64* though so if there was any question about whether or not to wear a wetsuit, DO!!  I doubt it'll warm up much between now and next Sun.

Josh, so cool that you got a wetsuit for such a great deal!!

Looking forward to meeting everybody.  Keeping my fingers crossed on the weather!!!!!

Yikes, that's chilly!  Where did you see that info?  Not planning to swim on Sat.  I'm looking forward to the lower air temperatures, though.  I much prefer 70's to the hotter weather we've been having this week!

I found that yesterday too.  Evidently at packet pickup, they were telling people that the temp was in the low 70's.  Don't know which is right but I guess it doesn't really matter.  I only have 1 wetsuit so I'm just going to have to deal with whatever comes.  I'll probably throw on a long-sleeve jersey for the run to help me warm up a little if it is in fact that cold.

Yeah, that swag bag was pretty sweet!  Lots of good stuff and not too much paper.  Josh, bummer about the crash, but glad that you decided to go for it anyway.

I'll be in wave 9 (blue cap), W45-49, bib #591.  Another BTer from NM is in the same wave.  She's way faster than me so I figure I'll wish her well at the beginning and she can cheer me in at the end.

I've been taking it easy on my training this week.  The heat really got to me during my run on Tues. and I ended up walking the last half so I wouldn't throw up.  Did a short swim (800 yds) and ride today and feel okay, although not super.  I'm just planning to focus on finishing and enjoying the gorgeous weather.  Looking forward to meeting you all.

Sorry I missed you.  Had a great race except for the fact that I missed the 2nd swim buoy, which resulted in a DQ.  Didn't feel much like socializing after confirming that with the RD.  Maybe next time.  Hope you all had fun.  So what's next?  Think you 1st timers will keep doing tri's next year or at indoor events over the winter?