A few of us are heading to Louisville to ride the bike course on 7/28. For the locals or those who are familiar w/ the area, is there any potential to get a river swim in then? I’d be happy with anywhere near the actual swim course. More than anything we’d like to get a feel for the lack of visibility & current (I know it will be dammed on IM day).
Also, I know this has been posted many times before, but I imagine that as the day draws closer, there will be much more bike traffic on the course & drivers will either begin feeling more accomodating or more frustrated. Is there a best time to be off the main roads by?
Is it worth it to try to find another place on the river to swim? I really don’t know the river at all…are the conditions fairly similar up & down stream from Louisville?
We are coming in Fri night & don’t have a set plan yet for the Sat ride. I was thinking about leaving around 7:00 a.m… Chris, what time are you riding?
I just got back from Troy Jacobson’s triathlon camp in Louisville.
We did get to swim part of the course but with some kayak support. I don’t think it would be a good idea to just jump in and swim given the traffic around that area of the river, including barges and recreational boats.
Others who are better swimmers can probably given a better assessment of the swim course. We swam out 15 minutes and then turned around. The current going out was strong enough that most of us got back 3-4 minutes faster. But I understand that the locks will be shut down on race day to lower the current. Visibilty is low, but seemed no worse to me than the lake I swim in around here.The water was warm. We were advised to use a sleeveless wetsuit on race day if they are legal.
The bike course was congested in some places but doable. it was particularly congested around 42 because road repaving was going on backing up traffic. We did see and talk with quite a few riders from around the country doing the course. Hostility? A bit. But mostly folks were very accommodating and interested in the ironman.
As a flatlander from Iowa, I honestly didn’t find the course all that difficult. None of the climbs are that tough, just some up and down in spots. Jacobson, who rode the course, described it afterwards as a fast course for the top riders. It was hot, however, so bring salt tablets.
BMT,
We were coming in as you guys were headed out. How’d you avoid the road crews? They wouldn’t let us on 42 past Goshen Ln (going back in)…and I had to beg the cop to let us on Goshen.
any suggestions on where to do a long run down there?
Seneca Park has 5 mile, 10K and 8 mile marked courses that run through adjacent Cherokee Park. Very scenic. You can do multiple loops to get a long run in.
Does anyone know if the swim starts on land or in the water? I was in Louisville a few months ago and checked out the Great Lawn area downtown. It wasn’t obvious to me where we would enter the water. Thanks.
Did you hear me yell back at you? Was Glenn out there too? We came up Rose Island and Goshen going out, and they let us get on 42 from Goshen. Coming back, we just had to sit in traffic but they let us ride through with the traffic. Long wait, but we got through.
Yeah, I heard you holler back…that was Glenn and me. You looked like you were leading out quite a crew. Do you know how far up 42 they are re-paving? Hopefully to 393.
Iowaguy. Any idea on the gearing needed for someone in the 5:45 to 6:00 bike range. I had a 39/27 for IMC and CDA (old course) and was happy but wondering if I need the 39/27 for this course. I like the shifting better on a 12-25 cassette.
I got around the course just fine using a 12/25 cassette. Frankly, the only time I felt I needed the lowest gears was when we were climbing some hills on a detour around the road work on 42, which will not be part of the course. But I don’t want to put myself out here as a strong or highly experienced cyclist. So perhaps someone else could weigh in on cassette choice as well.
We were told that there will be a ramp built which will be to the left of the Great Lawn area, if I remember what we were told correctly. As I understand it, it will be an in-water start.
Personally I am going to run a 12/27 on the rear…not that I NEED the 27 but on the second loop going on 393 having that easier gear to spin might save some of the power that I lose when I exert too much on hills…
For reference I am aiming for anything sub-6 hours on the bike but am a better flatland rider than a climber so …YMMV!!