I'd go with the road bike. Especially with the "wussy legs". That is a hell of a course! The downhills are really serious and the climbing will be better with the road position - probably.

Of course, I have to ask, unless one is Campy, why couldn't you just switch the cassettes?

I could swap the cassettes. Just thinking that generally the road bike might be better because it handles more easily, and climbs better too. Hmm....

Take the road bike and put on some bars if you want to but its only 18 miles. If you decide to go with 23/13 I want you to think of me on that first big pull up through the Presidio....or that really short hill after a hard right at about mile 15.....

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Born again Heathen
In Case of Keith Moon - Break This Glass
Ironman Certified Coach
USAT Certified Coach
Precision Nutrition Certified

Do you have race wheels? A road bike with 404s (or the like), a 12-27 and clip ons might be the way to go on this course. You will spend a good amount of time out of the aero bars on this course.

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Road bike definitely. The 12/27 sounds about right.

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I'll be what I am
A solitary man

Nope, no race wheels. :(

I am going to ride my road bike with 808s over my tri bike. The course is brutal but the race is sooooo much fun.

Definitely road. There's not a lot of area where you'd be in your aerobars anyway. Lots of climbing, descending, cornering and some potholes (although they've fixed it up some).

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Awww, Katy's not all THAT evil. Only slightly evil. In a good way. - JasoninHalifax

not to mention a lot of racers.

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_________________________________
I'll be what I am
A solitary man

Race wheels?

If anyone has race wheels they love, don't bring them cause they may get trashed by our crap roads.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Thanks for all the tips, everyone - I'm sticking with the roadie for this one. You guys are scaring me on the bike course. I finally got over my big swim fear. Are the hills really ~that~ bad???

The good news is- what goes up, must come down.

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Awww, Katy's not all THAT evil. Only slightly evil. In a good way. - JasoninHalifax

<<Are the hills really ~that~ bad??? <<

Depends where you are from! For a flatlander, yes.
It will be FUN!

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

A picture is worth a 1000 words....

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Born again Heathen
In Case of Keith Moon - Break This Glass
Ironman Certified Coach
USAT Certified Coach
Precision Nutrition Certified

That pic is only worth 2: Red X (if you count X as a word).

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Awww, Katy's not all THAT evil. Only slightly evil. In a good way. - JasoninHalifax

I hate it when that happens. Sometimes you can just paste it in and sometimes you have to go to tinypic. I have never figured out why.

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Born again Heathen
In Case of Keith Moon - Break This Glass
Ironman Certified Coach
USAT Certified Coach
Precision Nutrition Certified

CLM's already heard my begging, but do any of you guys know where I can pick up a last second slot? I'm going to be out there for work, and have always really really really wanted to do this bad boy...

Any ideas? I'd pay full price +

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runfatmanrun.blogspot.com

After seeing that hill breakdown, you can take mine. ;)

Just kiddin'. I heard a lot of people talking about getting in on a relay recently - not sure if you can still do that.

You can actually buy your way into the race (e.g., camps) but it is probably to late. E-mail the race director. Both times I did the race I found Tri-California to be the nicest people. I somehow didn't pick up the bag I used coming out of the water (just googles and stuff in it - I ran the 1/2 mile in my wetsuit) and they mailed it to me. Incredible. You will at least get a response.
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Born again Heathen
In Case of Keith Moon - Break This Glass
Ironman Certified Coach
USAT Certified Coach
Precision Nutrition Certified

I sent out an impassioned plea for a spot yesterday, but not so much as a response yet...

Do you know specifically who the race director is? Couldn't dig him/her up on the website.

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runfatmanrun.blogspot.com