For those of you competing in the Soma HIM

Triathlon Forum
1

They have posted the elevation for the bike course (3 loops). I am not very good at reading these. Those that are familiar with the course, is this really hilly or not.

http://www.redrockco.com/bikecourseelevationmap.htm

Matt

2

Last year’s course was pretty darn flat – the hills this year are relatively short - but get steep at times – the key factor is that it is 3 loops this year - so you see the same hills over and over…and over…and there are turns at the bottom of most - so you dont truly get to keep momentum flowing (at least in my slow opinion)…I’m a weak climber (hell, I’m a weak triathlete) - but these arent bad - just enough to make you work…

Just my random input

Ron

3

Matt where do you live? If you live in flat country it may seem hilly, if you live in a mountainous are then it will seem on the flatter side. I’m in San Diego and I don’t consider this course hilly, or all that difficult!

4

“ATE UP”

http://www.bkbikes.com/images/jay020803.JPG

“OH MAN”

http://www.bkbikes.com/anthony.jpg
.

5

The course is pretty flat, that part of arizona is flat as a board with a few mountainous type hills that jut out of the desert. The biggest pains in the butt will be all the turns, and the over passes from what it looks like on the course map.

6

I’m from Indiana, but can find hills to train on. I was just under the impression that this would be mostly a flat course. I was surprised when I saw the bike course map. I don’t really know what 1,000 ft of climbing feels like or what to compare it to. Are these climbs short out of the saddle burst or seated grinders. All in all it really doesn’t matter, but thought that I could get some more hill training in before the race.

7

I’m from chicago, so the only hills I can find are over passes and speed bumps.

Don’t be intimidated by that graph, I was having the same feelings you are now, last year at this time. The course is for all intents and purposes flat. Or was last year, but the couse has changed somewhat since last year.

If you’re really that concerned switch out your cassette to a 12 - 25 instead of an 11 - 23

But if you look at the graph you’re not climbing 1000 ft, its an elevation change from 1130ft (where tempe is I think) to 1230ft so you’re only climbing around 100 feet at a time.