Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

potential new whistler bike route
Quote | Reply
Would be an interesting course. A hard Ironman may just get harder (less flats). Bring it on!


http://www.whistlerquestion.com/sports/local-sports/ironman-submits-updated-bike-course-proposal-ahead-of-2018-event-1.23085978




Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Wow...

I am guessing 8k feet of climbing. That would put it up there with Lanzarote and nice as for sure one of the top 3 toughest.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [mauricemaher] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
mauricemaher wrote:
Wow...

I am guessing 8k feet of climbing. That would put it up there with Lanzarote and nice as for sure one of the top 3 toughest.

And one reason they changed, then cancelled IMLT. Folks said that much climbing was too much.

Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

Boom Nutrition code 19F4Y3 $5 off 24 pack box | Bionic Runner | PowerCranks | Velotron | Spruzzamist

Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
triracerboy wrote:
Would be an interesting course. A hard Ironman may just get harder (less flats). Bring it on!


http://www.whistlerquestion.com/sports/local-sports/ironman-submits-updated-bike-course-proposal-ahead-of-2018-event-1.23085978





There certainly won't be any complaints of drafting.
I did Norseman last year and honestly ran great off of 3300m climbing. This might work out well for me. ( positive thinking).
I also don't mind starting earlier. Will be cooler. Also get the big climb back to whistler done sooner before the wind starts to blow from the south down the hill. The whistler to Callaghan out andback is not as bad a finish as the present course.

Could be fun.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [mauricemaher] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
mauricemaher wrote:
Wow...

I am guessing 8k feet of climbing. That would put it up there with Lanzarote and nice as for sure one of the top 3 toughest.

Any idea of what "loop through Mt. Currie" means? There aren't many road options there. I didn't check the distance, but this seems early for special needs.

I wonder what the proposed 70.3 course looks like. Having both seems critical for more making more challenging IM courses viable.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [h2ofun] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
h2ofun wrote:
mauricemaher wrote:
Wow...

I am guessing 8k feet of climbing. That would put it up there with Lanzarote and nice as for sure one of the top 3 toughest.

And one reason they changed, then cancelled IMLT. Folks said that much climbing was too much.


That will happen here too I suppose. It will be a 70.3 only at some point.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [rhayden] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Anyone have a map view of proposed route? Ain't mentally painting the picture they're describing.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [ErickBar] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
ErickBar wrote:
Anyone have a map view of proposed route? Ain't mentally painting the picture they're describing.


Same highway as before, just starts south on Alta Lake Road before hitting highway and heading towards Pemeberton (north instead of south), then goes past Pemeberton on highway instead of through Pemeberton. Turns around on Hwy and returns to swim venue road, past swim venue (as used by buses on race day other direction) then onto Hwy to Callaghan climb as before. But after climb turns right/south on Hwy to Brandywine Falls before turning around and climbing back to Whistler T2. Climbfest!
Last edited by: SummitAK: Nov 12, 17 12:04
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [SummitAK] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
basically taking out 48-50km of flat and replacing it with 2Xtrips around west side road (alta lake road) or if people can remember the way the bus took you to T1.

And also replacing with a trip out and back from Calahan back to the village.

On Route Map I have 7700 feet of climbing.....with 6000 coming after mile 37, and 1000 in the last 15 miles or so from Branywine falls.

I love this and hope it works out, also don't mind the 5:30 start.

Maurice
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [SummitAK] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
SummitAK wrote:
ErickBar wrote:
Anyone have a map view of proposed route? Ain't mentally painting the picture they're describing.


Same highway as before, just starts south on Alta Lake Road before hitting highway and heading towards Pemeberton (north instead of south), then goes past Pemeberton on highway instead of through Pemeberton. Turns around on Hwy and returns to swim venue road, past swim venue (as used by buses on race day other direction) then onto Hwy to Callaghan climb as before. But after climb turns right/south on Hwy to Brandywine Falls before turning around and climbing back to Whistler T2. Climbfest!

If you head south on Alta Lake Road out of T2, you’re backtracking the route the buses take to drop competitors off at T1. After a bit of initial uphill you hit a descent which (from memory) hits 13% very briefly and is twisty. Not the nicest way to settle into the bike leg.

The stretch from Pemberton to the base of the Duffey Lake Road is flat as a pancake but not that long. Don’t know the area around Mr Currie well enough to say what the diversion into that will be like.

There is more uphill/downhill on Alta Lake Road than on the highway; it’s not an easy bit of road on which to find a rhythm. The big plus is that the part of the ride from Brandywine Falls back to Whistler not nearly as bad as Pemberton to Whistler. Testing still, but nowhere near as testing.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [Greg66] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Greg66 wrote:
There is more uphill/downhill on Alta Lake Road than on the highway; it’s not an easy bit of road on which to find a rhythm. The big plus is that the part of the ride from Brandywine Falls back to Whistler not nearly as bad as Pemberton to Whistler. Testing still, but nowhere near as testing.

The second time through here will probably be more bothersome than starting on this section. Carrying speed on Alta Lake Road will be challenging.

One plus about finishing the ride from south to north is that there will likely be a solid tailwind. The wind this past year kicked up out of the south early, during 70.3 swim, and blew steady most of the day. The climb back from Pemberton side is challenging enough without adding in a headwind.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I lived in Whistler for a few years and did that bike route a lot. It's not that hard of a route but probably hard for Ironman standards that favor flat courses. It's a good course, very enjoyable to ride.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [Greg66] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Greg66 wrote:
SummitAK wrote:
ErickBar wrote:
Anyone have a map view of proposed route? Ain't mentally painting the picture they're describing.


Same highway as before, just starts south on Alta Lake Road before hitting highway and heading towards Pemeberton (north instead of south), then goes past Pemeberton on highway instead of through Pemeberton. Turns around on Hwy and returns to swim venue road, past swim venue (as used by buses on race day other direction) then onto Hwy to Callaghan climb as before. But after climb turns right/south on Hwy to Brandywine Falls before turning around and climbing back to Whistler T2. Climbfest!

If you head south on Alta Lake Road out of T2, you’re backtracking the route the buses take to drop competitors off at T1. After a bit of initial uphill you hit a descent which (from memory) hits 13% very briefly and is twisty. Not the nicest way to settle into the bike leg.

The stretch from Pemberton to the base of the Duffey Lake Road is flat as a pancake but not that long. Don’t know the area around Mr Currie well enough to say what the diversion into that will be like.

There is more uphill/downhill on Alta Lake Road than on the highway; it’s not an easy bit of road on which to find a rhythm. The big plus is that the part of the ride from Brandywine Falls back to Whistler not nearly as bad as Pemberton to Whistler. Testing still, but nowhere near as testing.


I usually ride Alta lake Rd south to north. I think though rainbow park is at the bottom of a 1.5 to 2 km climb up to around stone bridge Rd iirc. Then it swoopsdown pretty steeply with a tight corner and over railroad tracks. Then back up to the highway. From alpine to rainbow park I think it is rolling with another 1.5 pretty steady climb in there as well. Road is ok but no shoulder. I can't imagine it will be closed to traffic all day.lots of people live on it.

Basically out of the water for a 2km climb then fast downhill.

Am I remembering this correctly?

I like the idea of thiscourse. I was not a fan of P meadows.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [rhayden] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Yep, that’s exactly how I remember it.

ETA; a 5.30 swim start is going to be gloomy. Not dark, but the light won’t be great, esp if there is cloud.
Last edited by: Greg66: Nov 12, 17 15:34
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
This may bring me back to Whistler. If nothing else because hard courses don't last long, and I wouldn't be surprised if this turns into a 70.3 only
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Has anyone ridden the course?

Would it be beneficial to ride a road bike, rather than TT (THAT much up)?

Could be the push needed to get me a light disc roadie that can bomb down hills at Mach 3...
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
8000 feet of climbing. Cool. Bring it.

Quote:
moving up the race’s start time to 5:30 a.m.

FUCK. THAT.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Would be much more inconvenient for spectators hanging around the village - really no contact until T2 / the run (whereas old course allowed people to see them on the highway at the village 2x). Also not a fan of a 5:30am start - that makes for a really early wake-up call...
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [Greg66] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Greg66 wrote:
Don’t know the area around Mr Currie well enough to say what the diversion into that will be like.

Just been playing around on bikely.com. If the turn north of Pemberton is alongside Lillooet Lake just before the Duffy Lake Road ramps up, then take the first right (Xit'Olacw Road), then Birkenhead River Road-> Owl Ridge Road-> Pemberton Portage Road back to the McD's in Pemberton and the Sea to Sky, plus the other parts of the route that have been announced gets to roughly 180km.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
The ride back from brandywine falls to whistler at the end of the ride is harder than you might think. Definitely not flat.
The Alta lake road part also contains a short somewhat technical decent over tracks (i usually ride this the other way)

The harder the ride the better for me. But a 5:30 start? yikes Would this change the finish cutoff time? Some people might need till midnight on the harder bike!
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Make it a proper course and send it all the way up Duffey Lake itself :)
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [USCoregonian] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
The Duf would be a "real climb" and would destroy many a rookie bike rider. The DNF rate would skyrocket.

I always wanted the ride to go to D'arcy. I love that ride. Locals would hate it however - they already take issue with riders on that road.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
There would be a lot of people who couldn't make it up the first 3Ks of the Duffey climb that average 10%.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [USCoregonian] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Alpe d'Huez is 13.8k at 8.1% average.

The Duffy Lake Road is 13.7k at 8.0% average.

I vaguely recall the top of the DLR having a section where you can get onto the big ring. That's not my experience of the Alpe though.

So yeah, that would pretty much kill the race stone dead...
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
The 5:30 am start is very early for that venue. The swim is a 15 minute bus ride from the village, and the sun does not come up until 7. Visibility for the rescuers in the water might be compromised. And, the fast swimmers would be starting the bike in the relative dark. Would IM put up lights, or would the riders be required to have lights on their bikes?

Oui, mais pas de femme toute de suite (yes, but I am not ready for a woman straight away) -Stephen Roche's reply when asked whether he was okay after collapsing at the finish in the La Plagne stage of the 1987 Tour
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [Vincible] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Sunrise is 5:36 on race day (twilight at 4:57). I recall when I did it couple years back during mass start the sun was just clearing the surrounding mountains at the end of the second loop. Pros will definitely be in the dark, AGers will have a dark first lap but it’s also now rolling start so not for all

Will be fully light by bike start
Last edited by: ChrisM: Nov 13, 17 9:01
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Obviously the directions arent super specific, but I made a route on strava.

> start at rainbow park
> Go left leaving park to 99
> go left on 99, down to pemberton, past pemberton to "base of duffy lake rd"
> "loop through mount currie" (doesnt say how far)
> Return back up hwy 99
> Take a right at alpine to go back to swim start, go past it and along alta lake rd again to highway
> Take right at highway, go to callaghan
> Up callaghan at end of race instead of start
> return to whistler


https://www.strava.com/routes/11169982


2750m climbing ~ 9000 ft
Last edited by: randomtriguy: Nov 13, 17 9:15
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [ChrisM] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
ChrisM wrote:
Sunrise is 5:36 on race day (twilight at 4:57). I recall when I did it couple years back during mass start the sun was just clearing the surrounding mountains at the end of the second loop. Pros will definitely be in the dark, AGers will have a dark first lap but it’s also now rolling start so not for all

Will be fully light by bike start

The fish will be on their bikes by 6:30, and as you pointed out, the sun does not clear the mountains until about 7:15. If there is any early morning cloud cover, which is not unusual for that locations, it will be very dark at 6:30.

It would be a more viable option if the start was located in the village and if there were not rugged mountain peaks looming to the east. IM CDA had a 6am start later in the year and it worked great, but they have a lower probability of clouds and no huge mountains blocking the sun. The sun had cleared the horizon by 6:20. The pros at Whistler did a 6:30 start. I think that is about as early as you would want swimmers in the water there.

Oui, mais pas de femme toute de suite (yes, but I am not ready for a woman straight away) -Stephen Roche's reply when asked whether he was okay after collapsing at the finish in the La Plagne stage of the 1987 Tour
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I live near the course and have done the full a few times, and I will take on whatever bike route they come up with.

But a 5:30 start- for something I do for fun- no way in hell. Won't be racing there again.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [randomtriguy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
2750m climbing - wow! epic. I'll do that in training.
Realistically this is just a proposed route. I doubt that either the 5:30 start or proposed route will be what is the final decision.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [randomtriguy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
randomtriguy wrote:
Obviously the directions arent super specific, but I made a route on strava.

> start at rainbow park
> Go left leaving park to 99
> go left on 99, down to pemberton, past pemberton to "base of duffy lake rd"
> "loop through mount currie" (doesnt say how far)
> Return back up hwy 99
> Take a right at alpine to go back to swim start, go past it and along alta lake rd again to highway
> Take right at highway, go to callaghan
> Up callaghan at end of race instead of start
> return to whistler


https://www.strava.com/routes/11169982


2750m climbing ~ 9000 ft

Close, though I don't think they would do an out and back to D'arcy. Basically do to local attitude you want to spend as little time in and around Pemberton Valley/area as possible.

Also missing the out and back to brandy wine falls. Having said that the description is unclear and route is obviously not final.

Interesting that they haven't consulted or discussed this with the MT Currie band, basically like the Olympics zero upside for them unless the get a small grant or something.

No matter what they do pretty much impossible to make that course easier.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [triracerboy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
You gotta love how these articles about IM Whistler now all parrot the "safety concerns prompted by cyclists travelling along Pemberton Meadows Road".

A well done nice bit of bullshit from some Pemberton residents on Facebook trying to make their complaints seem more reasonable.

Let's be honest: it's flat, straight, and probably the safest part of the entire (old) course.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [randomtriguy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Having never stepped one foot in the Whistler area, i'm stoked to race it regardless of the course. I'm not a fan of the earlier start though. Keep the time as the same and adjust the course. Why not make it a double loop somehow?

I'll be coming from extremely flat..flat..flat South Florida. So either way the course with be a challenge.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [spudone] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
spudone wrote:
You gotta love how these articles about IM Whistler now all parrot the "safety concerns prompted by cyclists travelling along Pemberton Meadows Road".

A well done nice bit of bullshit from some Pemberton residents on Facebook trying to make their complaints seem more reasonable.

Let's be honest: it's flat, straight, and probably the safest part of the entire (old) course.

Agreed,

Both in training and racing by far and away the safest part of the course.

There is no safety issue period, not sure why they just don't say look we don't want it, end of story.

Maurice
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [spudone] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
spudone wrote:
You gotta love how these articles about IM Whistler now all parrot the "safety concerns prompted by cyclists travelling along Pemberton Meadows Road".

A well done nice bit of bullshit from some Pemberton residents on Facebook trying to make their complaints seem more reasonable.

Let's be honest: it's flat, straight, and probably the safest part of the entire (old) course.

Agreed! It truly is the safest part of the course. In training it is virtually traffic free at times.

Also - every year i go down to Pemberton and do "the slow food ride" which is a great family day on that same road going from farm to farm eating local organic food etc. The road is closed to traffic and there are more bikes out there than on Ironman day. About half the people dont have helmets on and at least one of the stops serves beer. Its a great day but much less "safe" for a number of reasons..... But, of course, that event is not canceled.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I registered a while ago expecting a moderate difficulty bike course but if the changes get implemented as suggested I'd be totally down with it! I've done 5 ironman races so far (including St George in 2012) and would really like another one of those races that's extra challenging. While 5 IMs isn't all that much, I feel like I had that one 'perfect' race where everything comes together already, as well as that one race that kicks your ass and you cry for your mama because it's too tough but you do it anyway. Looks like I get another shot at a race to cry for my mama, lol!
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [randomtriguy] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
randomtriguy wrote:
Obviously the directions arent super specific, but I made a route on strava.


> start at rainbow park
> Go left leaving park to 99
> go left on 99, down to pemberton, past pemberton to "base of duffy lake rd"
> "loop through mount currie" (doesnt say how far)
> Return back up hwy 99
> Take a right at alpine to go back to swim start, go past it and along alta lake rd again to highway
> Take right at highway, go to callaghan
> Up callaghan at end of race instead of start
> return to whistler


https://www.strava.com/routes/11169982


2750m climbing ~ 9000 ft


This is what I got but obviously 10 km short somewhere...8500 feet!

https://www.strava.com/routes/11173048
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [mauricemaher] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I mentioned this on FB so might as well say it here, too: the course for 2018 is NOT final. We are still working with stakeholders and will release the course as soon as possible. If you read an "official" course that isn't released by me or IM, consider it speculation and nothing more.

Christine - RD
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [Dilbert] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Dilbert wrote:
8000 feet of climbing. Cool. Bring it.

Quote:
moving up the race’s start time to 5:30 a.m.


FUCK. THAT.

Seconded. No reason in the world to start that early, that's stupid.

------------------------------------------------------------
Any run that doesn't include pooping in someone's front yard is a win.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [CCF] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
CCF wrote:
Dilbert wrote:
8000 feet of climbing. Cool. Bring it.

Quote:
moving up the race’s start time to 5:30 a.m.


FUCK. THAT.

Seconded. No reason in the world to start that early, that's stupid.


I did Norseman last summer. Started around 5 am. I thought it would be awful. It was really ok. I have no trouble starting at 5:30 at all. Most days in the summer I start long bike rides around 5:30 or 6. The sun is not glaring over the lake at that time either.
Quote Reply
Re: potential new whistler bike route [rhayden] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Yeah, I get that. I am inherently a night person, which I know puts me in the minority here on ST (and among triathletes in general). I think getting up at 8:30am is 'early'.

My main complaint is regarding the night before the race. Talking about 3am breakfast and 2:30am wake up is a little ridiculous in my mind. I know that I'm not going to sleep the night before regardless, but lying awake in bed from 10pm-4am somehow seems better than 10pm-2:30am.

Anyway, hope the killer course comes to pass! I was there this year, but won't be next year, hopefully it exists until 2019!

------------------------------------------------------------
Any run that doesn't include pooping in someone's front yard is a win.
Quote Reply