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Nice, France Ironman - tri bars
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My prominent sports is cycling, though I competed in 2 triathlons last year and have entered Ironman in Nice France June time.

I'm looking at the parcours of the ride outside Nice, I've ridden around this region of France which is rather lumpy including one major climb, OK 2,300m of climbing over 185km is not a huge amount of climbing but some of those decent's are quick and technical, there seems to be little flat. In this case why the need for tri-bars?

I see an issue of the tri-bars getting in the way of climbing and down hill at speed especially.

I have an advantage of others in that my best ability in Ironman will be the bike, but I question the purpose of tri-bars or a tri bike on this particular course, I can't see this helping at all apart perhaps from the final 25-30km.

If anyone has done the bike course, please let me know if you agree with me or suggest why I should chose tri-bars, maybe I'm making the wrong assumption here.

I'd also question the pros using tri-bars, when you going downhill on technical decent's @60-80kmph you won't be using tri-bars! or even that matter deep section wheels for example 404 Zipps would be ok but 808's would be no benefit at all and will be dangerous especially if there is any rain.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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Nice is fast, the descent are not very technical. Even in technical descent tri bike are quite fast if you know how to handle them. My best downhill strava time are on my tri bike. I might lose half a sec in some turn but i'll more than make it in the fast sections.
Regarding nice again you want to be as aero as possible but with a reasonably light package. I feel for those having to climb col de l'ecre on a pig bike like the P5X. Did it with 808 because a friend gave them to me. Was good. I would have done well with 404 too i guess. I'll do it with my giant PSLR0 55mm this year. I think it does not matter much.
Be certain to have a fine climbing position. I have several on my tri bar that work well at different speed. Holding armrest, holding extension with straight arms or base bar simply.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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done nice 3 times tri bike and zipp 808.no problems
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [dsm] [ In reply to ]
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dsm wrote:
done nice 3 times tri bike and zipp 808.no problems

+1 tri bike and 808s (only done the race once) but had no issue.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [Ajaj191] [ In reply to ]
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That's good to know, the last time I rode around that kinda area was in 2006.

I don't have a tri-bike at the moment but my road bike frame is under 900g modern and aero, decked out in Super Record with Corima 47's and tri-bars will be fine.

Col de l'ecre looks straight forward.

Thanks.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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Used to train near Nice for a year, I always went with the 50mms rims and tri bike. I didn't have anything else available but I didn't feel like the tri bars were slowing me at all. And it helps quite a lot during the last section which is often full front wind.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [strangename] [ In reply to ]
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Yeah my friend mentioned to me the last 30km is into a headwind, that's where a tr-bike is ideal, with a good position this will help. In a cycle race you could get away with this headwind by working with a small group and taking turns at the front but not in a triathlon I guess. In regards to downhill, I'm quiet an experienced cyclist, I can easily sit on the top tube at high speeds and get in a good tuck position to save time. My concern is the the other 2, swimming and running. Training is going well, I can't wait, should be fun!
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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Look at times for the course. It's obviously not fast but it's not embrun either

I live just off the course

I've done the IM twice and ridden the climbs dozen of times

If you have bars you will use them

The last 60-90 mins on the flat is a slog. For that alone some sort of bars are worth it.

I would guess for the vast majority of the ride bars could be used.

I have not ridden the change between bar due Loup and gourdon, that, at a guess, is the steepest climb on the course after the initial climb at the very beginning

Col d lecre is just a drag up the hill. Not steep. Not difficult and has the best views going
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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Quote: In a cycle race you could get away with this headwind by working with a small group and taking turns at the front but not in a triathlon I guess.

Bad guess. In Nice, as in most WTC races, as soon as the course hits a non-technical and/or flat section, especially into a headwind, numerous small (and sometimes big) groups form. The members of those groups sure don't need their tri bars, even if a lot of them go fully aero (helmet, bike, vested tri suit, etc). Sad.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [tof] [ In reply to ]
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That is sad. Your just cheating yourself and think back years after the event and think "why did I do that" no personal accomplishment. Rules are rules.I'm not getting caught up that scenario unless traffic is so busy I have no choice.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [tof] [ In reply to ]
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I'll be riding a 53/39 with a 11-29 cassette. When things start hitting over 10% for even short periods you can really waste a lot of energy if you press ahead too much, you must pace yourself into a good rhythm on climbs otherwise you pay the consequences dearly. I've had this happen in the Pyrenees and I had to start the vicious climb of Marie Blanque after 100km which is a savage climb, I paid the price in 35C heat!
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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Any suggestions on renting a bike for this event?

Love Nice and would like to do the 1/2 Ironman but don't want to drag a bike back and forth from the states.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [kaaite] [ In reply to ]
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I can't speak for renting a tri bike, but there are a few road bike rental places in and near Nice.

I rented a bike (Trek Emonda) from Cycles Camellini in Beaulieu-sur-Mer (a quick train ride up the coast) a coupe of years ago. Would recommend. Magnificent area to ride around. The son at the shop speaks fluent English.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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Just got back from Nice, a stunning bike course and simply an amazing event. I had my road bike with tri bars and tri bars were needed, I found the course comfortable, some technical decent's through villages, suppose to be the hardest Ironman bike course in Europe, well from a cycling background this course was not hard but you do have another 2 sports to complete! I spoke to Cameron Wurf at the Monday night party awards ceremony and he made a new bike record 4hrs 32min he smashed it by 14 mins finished 3rd overall, I was 5:18, he had a road bike with tri bars like me, he said a full triathlon bike with triathlon cockpit will just make you slower on this course, he blitzed the course record, well he rode for Cannondale cycling team in the Ivan Basso days so I'm not surprised.

And you need to be light on a course like this I'm 72kgs 6 foot anything heavy just slows you down and on the run also, swimming I don't think it matters. Any weight over 80kgs will just slow you down big time on this bike course.
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Re: Nice, France Ironman - tri bars [mortirolo] [ In reply to ]
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The last stage of Paris-Nice a few years back was a TT from the coast up a very steep climb (La Turbie, maybe? Eze? It was something on the Haute Corniche). Most riders used road bikes, but Bradley Wiggins won the stage on a TT bike in the aerobars the whole time. Food for thought.


<The Dew Abides>
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