I am planning to do IMWI next September. IM Florida was my first IM just a few weeks ago. I was wondering if there are some experienced IMMOO competitors who could pass along their sage wisdom in terms of bike training for what I hear is a challenging/rolling bike course. The obvious thing I suppose is that I ought to do a lot of training with rolling hills. What else should I be considering?
There are a handful of fairly steep climbs also. Old Sauk Road, Timber Lane, and Midtown Rd. are relatively tough and all come within 5 miles of one another. Not bad on the first loop but on loop 2 I was hurting
if you’re riding 700c wheels and a 53/39 w/ 10spd, and you aren’t too “proud”, my best advice would be to invest in a 12-27 casette. (for 9spd, I’d get a 12-25)
I would go along with the 12x27 suggestion. It might sound like too easy a gear, but the second loop is when you might really need it.
Personally, I think the best advice about the IM-WI bike course would be to try and get out there and ride it before the race if it’s feasible as it is a course that rewards familiarity.
Train in heat, it has been hot every year but the first up there. Hot and windy. Practice your handling skills, some of the downhills were on “loose” gravel, and there are a couple places where you can easily get up to high 30’s MPH.
How about a 50/34 with 11-23 cassette for that course? In additon can anyone compare that course with GFT?
What helped me in training for Wisconsin this year was riding in areas that had a lot of continuous rolling terrain, but also had some bigger, steeper hills mixed in. I had a 12/25 on the back and was fine with it but a 27 could help as well.
I did the race in 2004 with a 50/34 and 12-23. I had plenty of gear, but I also used all of them. The second loop is very tough. I think the key is managing your effort on the bike so you still have the capacity to run a marathon. This is tougher at Wisconsin than at a flatter course like Florida. With so many hills, one right after another it is easy to push too big of a gear and blow your legs up. Despite that, the bike course is a blast to ride and the crowd support is unbelievable. I’m signed up for 06.
Mark
39/27=1.444
34/23=1.478 & 34/25=1.36 - looks like if you’re riding your compact cranks, a 34/23 would be very close to the 39/27 I recommended. I think that would be fine.
Screw compact cranks.
Get a 48/14 fixie and be a man!
Living on the GFT course and having done IMWI in 03, they are very similar in the amount of hills and heat that you will encounter. The big difference is the amount of spectators. IMWI is amazing for spectators-my greatest memory on that course is seeing a little girl outside of her farmhouse dancing as I went by the first time, and she was still out there dancing 2:30 later when I went by again. It is a huge event for the people on the course and they all seem to support the race.
My set up for Florida was 53/39 Chain Rings with an 11/23 rear cog. 650CC Tires on my Cannondale IM2000 Bike. Vineman is a pretty rolling course (although it was only a 1/2IM) and this set up worked great there.
Well, if you don’t do the big gear fixie, I’d recommend a compact crank. the 34/23 is going to be a good bailout gear. I didn’t need it last year, but sure as hell did the year before.
be a man
sure, like a “dead man walking” type man 
.
<< sure, like a “dead man walking” type man >>
You wish! By the second loop in that gear, I doubt there will be any walking when you get off the bike@!
LADAVIDSON,
One thing I have not seen posted here yet, is to really think about hydration on the course. This year I grabbed a water and gatorade at every stop, and then I grabbed an extra water at the last station, popped the top, and drank as much as I could before the bottle drop zone ended. I also started with 3 bottles of high calorie drinks (~800 calories/bottle). The extra time I spent making sure I drank was well worth it.
Really take some time to plan out your liquid and calorie needs…especially on this course.
I second the statement of previewing the course. The day I spent in Madison riding three loops of the course was invaluable. knowing the twists, turns, ups, and downs on race day was a huge confidence builder.
I rode a 54/42 crank set with an 11-23 cog set. While I was able to get up the hills fine, if I were to do it again I’d go with a 39 in front.
-C
your 34/23 with 650C tires is going to be an easier gear than the 39/27 on a 700C tire.
it all has to do with how far you go forward in your easiest gear in one full revolution of your crank. your 650C is 571mm in diameter w/ a corresponding circumference of 1793mm. one revolution in your 34/23 will move your rear wheel around 1.478 times. 1.478 x 1793 = 2650. therefore, each time you pedal around in the easiest gear you go 2650mm up the hill.
by comparison a 700C tire is 622mm in diameter. with a 39/27 the calculation is 1.444 x 1953 = 2820.
short answer - your 34/23 combo on a 650C wheel will give you plenty of gearing for the IMWI course.
here’s an article on tire sizes fyi:
wheel size?