Jon wrote:
I think it is a great idea to add a 1/2. I am leaning pretty heavily towards signing up next week for the half-IM now that they have that option. Always wanted to go to Lake Tahoe - now I have an excuse; plus there are pretty cheap flights, and I can use tri-bike transport so I don't have to deal with the pain of taking my bike on the plane with me. The 8:00 a.m. start for the 1/2 is also a big plus in my book. The article about how scenic a course this is, makes me really want to go.
Can anyone recommend the best hotel that is closest to everything? Or closest to swim start? Is it a pain to get to the swim start from the hotels?
Also do I need a rental car?
And lastly, though I am sure if I check there are 1000 posts about this - road bike or tri bike?
Really, I think it is a great idea to have half-IM options at some IMs. I've been doing this sport for 20 years and I love to travel for races. I have done 4 IM's and mostly hated each one, did terribly, felt bad about myself for it, and felt like I had brain fog for 2 months after each IM. It just feels unhealthy; at least for me. No real desire to do another IM (I hope I can stick to that, but it is hard to completely swear off IMs). I have done about 15 half-IM's and pretty much loved every one of them, felt good about myself, did well in some - not so well in others, but it is easy to get back on the horse after. I do love traveling for cool races, but it seems like most of the very cool races are IM distance now. I don't think I am alone in these thoughts based on the number of 'quitting IM', 'burned out from tri', etc. posts on slowtwitch. Heck, if they announced 70.3 Whistler, I would probably also sign up right away. 70.3 Cozumel in November would be pretty cool (though I guess that race generally sells out eventually anyway).
There is not hotel that is closest to everything. Swim start is Kings Beach. Finish is in squaw valley (17 miles, ~30-40 minutes away). You will need a car, because you have to dropoff your t1 and bike at one location (swim) and your t2 bag at another location (t2/finish). If you stay in squaw valley, you can take a shuttle over to the swim start in the morning (take an early shuttle, not the last one, so you actually have time to spare in transition in the morning). I stayed in Tahoe city and had a family member drive me to the swim start in the morning. There was a lot of traffic near the swim start, so again, getting there early is better than late. They were there to pick me up at the finish. If you are alone, I would recommend squaw village but have a car so you can drop your bike/t1 bag easily, then after the race, everything is in squaw valley that you need to pickup.
Tri bike, no question. Yes, there are some tough climbs, but most of the climbing is condensed into very steep, short (mileage wise) climbs, so the vast majority of the course is flat, or slightly downhill (the entire stretch from squaw to truckee is an average of about -1% grade, about 8-9 miles) so there is plenty of time to get into and stay aero and take advantage of the reduced wind resistance at altitude. The entire beginning of the course until you get to truckee (23 miles) is flat or slightly downhill except for one small hill in Dollar point (5 minutes) that you will probably sit up for, and a few small roller bumps that you won't need to get out of aero for. Brockway descent is incredibly fast, if you aren't afraid, you will easily spin out your gears, but its just one big slow right turn, so you can get in an aero tuck and just ride it out to kings beach without needing to touch the brakes or steer from the bullhorns.