I’ve searched high and low and found nothin’.
Any local Des Moine’ians have an idea if the AG bike course is friendly to tri bikes or road bikes? The web site has a course map but doesn’t go into detail about hills, turns, rural, urban, etc. Word on the street is that there are a ton of slow speed turns. That coupled with 2000 AG’ers would add up to a road bike. Although, I’d prefer to ride the tri IF I can get moving straight forward for any given distance.
I’m debating bringing both bikes, but it would help if someone would give me a clue what this course is like.
Anyone?
I second that. Also anyone know the water temp?
No doubt a tri-bike course. There is not a lot of turns IMO. Lots of racers, yes. Some good flat sections where we will be able to hunker down in the aerobars and hammer. In fact, I don’t think I will need to get off the aerobars except on some 90 degree turns.
Some moderate rolling hills which will be in the first quarter and last quarter of the ride
Water: I was told it will be wetsuit legal. My guess is in the lower 70’s
Yeah bring your road bike you’ll go a lot slower…
I don’t know where you heard there will be a lot of sharp turns. we will be going through the mall parking lot which will amount to a whopping mile maybe of the whole course. there i believe is one hill in teh first 3 or 4 miles and the same on the return but it is basically gradually up hill to the mall then back down hill. Its all urban/suburban.
I also don’t know why 2000 ag’er swould amount to a road bike but whatever floats your boat i guess.
Grant
The course is indeed flat and straight with only two minor rises. I expect the bike course to be crowded. I plan to ride my tri bike.
It’s been about 6 years since I’ve been there, but there don’t seem to be any sharp turns except at about the halfway point. Other than that it should be flat and fast.
Anybody have a recon on the road surface quality? Also, my biggest concern is the railroad crossing at the Des Moines/West Des Moines line. Is that smooth or bumpy? I would hate to hit a bumpy track at 40 mph coming down Grand Avenue.
Course maps here:
http://www.hy-veetriathlon.com/downloads/hyvee.coursemaps.pdf
Other than the meandering around the mall, there are only about four turns on the whole bike course. Definitely a tri bike course.
They have been doing a lot of road work on EP true pkwy, I was wondering about the point where the flood gates come down at grand and 63rd more then the RR tracks but I havent been over there to check it out yet plaining to tonight.
Yikes. I forgot about the flood gates. If you can, post a recon on that. I’m not getting into town until late next week. Of course, there’s not much I can do about it except know to slow down at the bottom of the hill.
I’m assuming that they have planned for that though. That Grand avenue hill is pretty steep, leading straight to those things.
No doubt a tri-bike course. There is not a lot of turns IMO. Lots of racers, yes. Some good flat sections where we will be able to hunker down in the aerobars and hammer. In fact, I don’t think I will need to get off the aerobars except on some 90 degree turns.
Some moderate rolling hills which will be in the first quarter and last quarter of the ride
Water: I was told it will be wetsuit legal. My guess is in the lower 70’s
Thanks Mac. Exactly the answer I was looking for.
To answer Grant’s (cyclonehocky21) questions…I heard the course was very technical w/lots of turns from a TV spot featuring Hunter Kemper. Granted, the pros are racing a different course, but I figure if we’re “in town” we’re still going to encounter similar problems. Mac cleared that up. As far as 2000 AG’ers on a technical course justifying a road bike…It was at the Philly Tri last year that I was almost taken out several times by people not knowing how to corner.
The pro course is completely different. THey are doing 6 loops around downtown. If that was our course with 2000 people yeah id throw in the towel right now but thats not the case.
I still don’t see how other people cornering bad would change what bike you ride but thats up to you. You can’t change how they ride no matter what so i would always be on teh faster bike which 99.9 percent of the time is the tri bike.
Grant
With Grant out on the course you probably will have to ride a road bike he is a little out of control…haha sorry Grant I’m bored at work
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In terms of getting in trouble because other people don’t know how to corner, just make sure to give a little space to someone who appears to be shady and unable to control their unit. I don’t mind losing a second in the corners by giving someone space if it will keep me from getting into a wreck and then just hammer those straights like there is no tomorrow! And in some ways the straights are worse because if Hy-vee is a double loop then you will have to deal with passing alot of slower riders which can be a nightmare. If it is a single loop then no worries because there will be much less traffic assuming you can put on a good swim tmie although depending on when your AG starts the swim you still might have some traffic issues.
Good luck!
Thanks Mac. Exactly the answer I was looking for.
To answer Grant’s (cyclonehocky21) questions…I heard the course was very technical w/lots of turns from a TV spot featuring Hunter Kemper. Granted, the pros are racing a different course, but I figure if we’re “in town” we’re still going to encounter similar problems. Mac cleared that up. As far as 2000 AG’ers on a technical course justifying a road bike…It was at the Philly Tri last year that I was almost taken out several times by people not knowing how to corner.
Its a single loop. I wont have any worries because i am starting dark and early at like 5:57… which is borderline rediculous but what can you do.
Grant
ya so pre-race meal 4:oo a.m. and at transition 4:30, this is crazy man. What are your guys plans as far as pre-race agenda?
just the normal, i’ll probably park at my coaches house bike down there at 4:30ish get setup up warm up and for me it will be about time to start.
Grant
no worries - sunrise is 5:41 a.m.
hahaha thanks i was worried it might still be dark or something :).
I just did about second half of the course on the out part of it. There is one set of railroad tracks probably a quarter a way or so on the course. Its between 22nd and 35th street when you start cutting back left. its definitly a lot of false flats and if the wind is coming from the west in the morning it will be a slow process getting out to the mall.
Grant
this morning when I ran at 5:30 am it had strong a NW west wind, and high 50’s -
that would be fun on race day! 
although it looks like summer temps next week…bring on the heat!