HI
only a few days left until race day. I was wondering if anyone who has done IM switzerland could tell me what bike gearing they would prefer for the race?
It’s my first ironman, so i’m a bit clueless on this matter.
Hope to hear from someone.
Thanks
Thomas
Gearing always depends on how strong you are and what kind of cadences you prefer to ride at. If the Heartbreak hill is still part of the course I would go with either a 25 or 27 in the back, depending on your bike strength and cadence preference. If you like to ride a higher cadence I’d go with a 27. I’m a fairly strong rider but always like the option of a granny gear during a race or long ride.
Do you ride 9 or 10speed? What cassettes do you have available? I’d skip the 11 on that course as you don’t get to take the momentum up the next roller, so pushing that kind of gear is kind of overkill. Post your options and provide more info about your bike abilities.
On another note, what’s the temp of the lake? The 70.3 swim course was shortened, water temp were 56F as somebody told me. Same lake. I’d wear a second cap underneath to conserve energy.
The water temperature is much warmer now.
I second the 25-27 recommendation by Mito Chondria. If I was doing it I would run a 27 cause I like to spin (BTW I live in Zurich so I’ve done the hills many times).
Thanks a lot for your answers
I was thinking a 12-27 on the back. I’m not the strongest on longer climbs since I don’t get much practice in bigger hills ( I live in Denmark ). I prefere riding at a fairly high cadence, since this seems to work best for my legs.
I have to go out and bye the new cassette since I only have the one on the bike, 9-speed 12-23, so any option is available 
To callidus: since you know the hills, you might be able to give me a short description of how you see them? As mentioned it’s my first IM so i’m worried about a lot of things :-), but mainly the climbs.
Thanks again to both of you
Thomas
Afraid that I can’t offer much in the way of helpful advice on gearing but just wanted to wish you best of luck! If you get time to post a race report I’d be very interested as am planning to do Swiss IM next year.
Sent you a PM.
Thanks again callidus
There were a lot of really good info, especially for a firsttimer.
I bought 9-speed 12-27 for the bike, then I should be be safe for the third time up heartbreak hill as well
Best regards
Thomas
To cartsman: I would be happy to write a race report, for what it’s worth, since it will be from a total rookies point of view. But that might just leave room for some not to do experiences to pass on
You’re welcome. Good luck & have fun.
I always used 11-23. But I used this also for Ironman Lanzarote.
The lake is now ~22C.
Felix
I always used 11-23. But I used this also for Ironman Lanzarote.
The lake is now ~22C.
Felix
If you can bike like Felix then a 23 is probably OK.
BTW I see you had a good race last weekend. I spent some time in and off the back of the group you were pushing on the bike but knew my lack of running (injury) would let me down so that was about as fast as I wanted to go considering the run was going to be tough for me. I think I came into T2 after you guys and then my legs blew about 2km in or so. It was my first time racing in Zug and I thought the event was really good, and all things considered, my race was OK.
If you can bike like Felix then a 23 is probably OK.
BTW I see you had a good race last weekend. I spent some time in and off the back of the group you were pushing on the bike but knew my lack of running (injury) would let me down so that was about as fast as I wanted to go considering the run was going to be tough for me. I think I came into T2 after you guys and then my legs blew about 2km in or so. It was my first time racing in Zug and I thought the event was really good, and all things considered, my race was OK.
I wondered what happened to you after the bike. Unfortunately we were only two who were doing the work in the bike group. The rest just sat in (sometimes much closer than 5m) and afterward run faster than us 
But I was really happy with the race. I was just 11s of my PB. Four weeks after Lanzarote and one week after Murten I didn’t expect this.
I hope I don’t have to pull a group in Zürich.
If there was a 11-25 I would use this gearing for Zürich. But I prefer the 11 (donhill to Egg) over the 25.
Felix
Last year I used 53-39 & 12-25 in Zurich and and this year I will do the same. I don’t feel I am strong enough to push a 53-11 often on this course, though Felix is right down to the egg it could be used. Last year I climbed the Beast on 21 or 23 and used the 25 only on the hardest part of heartbreak hill, but it’s so short that it’s not a big deal. I prefer to keep a tighter cassette for the rest of the course. Heartbreak hill is maybe two times 100m hard, the rest not so much. For a comparison I used 12-27 this year in Lanzarote. 27 because when it’s really windy you may need it. I wished I had a 11 in some parts of the course.
Felix, I think you can combine a 11-23 and a 12-25 to produce a 11-25. Keep the last 3 cogs which you can’t dismantle and use the other cogs from another cassette.
For a comparison I used 12-27 this year in Lanzarote. 27 because when it’s really windy you may need it. I wished I had a 11 in some parts of the course.
Felix, I think you can combine a 11-23 and a 12-25 to produce a 11-25. Keep the last 3 cogs which you can’t dismantle and use the other cogs from another cassette.
I knew that it was risky to have only a 23 cog. But with the wind this year I just wished once (short climb before Ye) I had a 25. But on the downhill from Mirador del Rio I really could use the 11 (and also on the long flat towards Teguise).
I know. But I didn’t want to change the cassette.
Good luck on Sunday,
Felix
Thomas, Fix: How were your races? I enjoyed watching the race (an dod the olympic on Saturday).
Felix