Hey all,
This year I’ll be doing my first 70.3 at Oceanside, and I’m focusing my attention on my limiters: running, and cycling up hills.
The running at Oceanside is pretty flat, so it’ll end up being a mental thing for me. Which leaves the other one, climbing.
My question is: How bad are the hills during the race? And I want specifics please, not “Oh, it’s tough, but not too hard”. How long are the big climbs, and at what average grade?
And for any San Diego locals, how do they compare to hills such as, say, the climb up Torrey Pines?
Thanks.
Here is the bike profile. Should be as specific as you wanted.
Torrey Pines is nothing, its just long. the hills for ralph’s are short and steep except for the last one. the one at mile 30, just stand up and grind your way over it, its a down hill as soon as you get over the top so you can recover after that its a couple miles of rollers then another climb, then head towards the last long climb, after the last climb the course gets super fast.
Lets put it this way the one brutal climb on course is known as “MthrFKR” on base! The hills are arse kickers, if your real worried just put a 12-27 sog on & you will be fine. It is a great course & event have fun with it!
Honestly I thought they were pretty bad back then. A year and a couple iron distances later I just don’t think they’re as brutal as I remember. I’m a weight disadvantaged hill climber and did fine with a 12-27 cassette on regular cranks. Wouldn’t have minded compact but made good use out of them on the downhills (except the one with the speed limit).
It’s funny, I was just looking through my email last year… here’s what I said to my friends that also did it after plotting my GPS trace in Google Earth:
Why does that first hill not look so big when viewed from space?
Oh, I figured it out… it’s all a matter of perspective.
Have you done Vineman? I have a couple of overlays comparing the slope between those courses if you’re interested.
Why does that first hill not look so big when viewed from space?
Oh, I figured it out… it’s all a matter of perspective.
That’s great thanks.
Lets put it this way the one brutal climb on course is known as “MthrFKR” on base!
That’s MOUNT MthrFKR, if you please!
To the OP, you will know it when you find it. Good luck. It is a fun race.
if you want a climb similar to the first steep hill at Oceanside, go check out Sleeping Indian Road in Fallbrook.
best way to get there is the San Luis Rey bike path to College, left on College, right on North River/Vandergrift, another Right on North River, Left on Sleeping Indian…the steep bit is about a mile up past the intersection of Sleeping Indian and Morro Hills Road.
I would say the mile 30 hill is equivalent to the inside of torrey pines from the bottom to the turn 2/3 of the way to the top parking area. Just do the rancho santa fe/del dios/elfin forest ride a few times and you will be good.
I used an 11/23 cassette 2 years ago and was fine, you’ll have to stand for the hill at mile 30 but all the rest I dont remember being any steeper than the outside of torrey.
This should help…
http://coachvance.blogspot.com/2008/03/oceanside-703-race-preview.html
Best of luck!
Jim
I would add to the bike section the no pass zone leaving the state park. It’s narrow, crowed with bikes and people going to the beach.
Excellent, thanks.
In my opinion, one of the toughest parts of the ride is not the 2 steeper hills, but the 10 miles between them. It looks steep on the profile, but is really just one long false flat. It can really mess with your mind when you are putting out effort and your speed is lower than you expect.
In my opinion, one of the toughest parts of the ride is not the 2 steeper hills, but the 10 miles between them. It looks steep on the profile, but is really just one long false flat. It can really mess with your mind when you are putting out effort and your speed is lower than you expect.
x2. Also the headwind once the course turns back west. That’s another mind#$#, and more of an obstacle than the hills - at least for me.