I’m doing IMC for the first time next month (second IM) and have a few questions for those that have done the race.
We’re (4 adults) flying into Vancouver and driving over. From what I can tell it’s about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to Penticton. Does that about right?
Is there any particular part of the course that I should plan to pre-ride on Thursday? I’ll have a 1.5 hour ride to do that day. The answer will probably dictate what kind of car we rent in Vancouver. Our bikes (2 of them) will be coming up via Tri Bike Transport but if the collective wisdom is to definitely go ride some of the far reaches of the course we’ll have to get a bigger car to get out there with the bikes. Keep in mind that we’re from Texas and have nothing like Richter or Yellow Lake around here. I have ridden the course many times though on the Computrainer for what it’s worth.
What about the run course? Any spots that we should get out and run?
For the swim where’s generally the best spot to start? I’ll swim right at an hour or less and don’t have issues with contact.
We’ll be in town through Tuesday afternoon. Anything we should definitely have on the must do list (wineries, burger joints, ice cream - not necessarily in that order).
Is there any place in town to rent a city bike? Our wives have mentioned that they might like to have a bike on race day to tool around town.
We’ve talked about surprising our wives by making them a spa appointment for a few hours while we are out on the bike. Is there any place like this near the transition area that someone recommends?
It’s been 8 yrs since we’ve made that drive, but I think that’s about right. It’s a great drive.
Ride the decent from Yellow Lake/golf course back down to 97. There are some decreasing radius turns that can be a little tricky. And, the top can be windy.
I would just ride the run course on Friday. I wouldn’t worry about running parts of it.
We’re (4 adults) flying into Vancouver and driving over. From what I can tell it’s about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to Penticton. Does that about right?
From the airport with some traffic I would expect 4.5 to 5 hours
Is there any particular part of the course that I should plan to pre-ride on Thursday? I’ll have a 1.5 hour ride to do that day. The answer will probably dictate what kind of car we rent in Vancouver. Our bikes (2 of them) will be coming up via Tri Bike Transport but if the collective wisdom is to definitely go ride some of the far reaches of the course we’ll have to get a bigger car to get out there with the bikes. Keep in mind that we’re from Texas and have nothing like Richter or Yellow Lake around here. I have ridden the course many times though on the Computrainer for what it’s worth.
Don’t ride the climbs. Some people like to ride out to OK Falls on the bike course and come back out of OK Falls on the run course. Lisa Bentley always road down the last decent every year. I like that approach drive up Richter and ride down the other side and do the last decent. Make sure you drive the out and back around Cawston, a highly overlooked part of the course.
What about the run course? Any spots that we should get out and run?
No, but see the hills in and out of OK Falls/ the turnaround.
For the swim where’s generally the best spot to start? I’ll swim right at an hour or less and don’t have issues with contact.
Watch where the pros start, and line up there, pretty sure it is just left of the buoy line.
We’ll be in town through Tuesday afternoon. Anything we should definitely have on the must do list (wineries, burger joints, ice cream - not necessarily in that order).
Tickleberries in OK Falls for ice cream 2 Scoop is three flavours. Lots of wineries, Lake Breeze, Burowing Owl…
One loop course for everything. Just remember driving the course can take 2.5 to 3 hours.
Nothing better for your fellow athletes than seeing you riding the hills on Thursday.
Good luck, have fun and save your energy for race day. See you at the start.
My advice. Drive the course, don’t ride it. Save your legs for race day. Same with the run, drive it. A set of 10 short bike intervals of 3’ each at LT+5bpm (or FTP +20 Watts) with 3’ recovery in between on the bike on flat terrain will keep the legs fresh, climbing Yellow lake WON’T. The highway on the West side of the lake that goes to Kelowna is a good place to do such intervals. An easy jog along Skaha lake to again just keep things fresh with about 3-5 pickups of 1-2’ long is all your body needs pre-race. Don’t be one of thos idiots who trains hard all week and then walks the marathon.
Tickleberry’s Ice Cream is a must.
Float the canal on tubes after the race.
We rented bikes one year at the very end of Lakeshore @ Riverside. They also rent pretty cool little scooters.
I did this race as my first IM last year and loved it. +1 on the recommendation not to pre-ride the course. I drove the entire course before hand, but I think seeing Richter was the most instructive part. Ride the run course, it’s a good way to stretch out the legs and see the course at the same time, but I don’t think running it is necessary. I did my pre-race runs on the path next to the canal, but mostly because it was convenient to the house we were renting.
No idea on the bike rental/spa appointment but there’s a Mediterranean place in town (Theos) that’s very delicious. And I believe someone mentioned Tickleberries already, but that’s a must do as well.
As noted, don’t sweat the uphills, they are “long” but not brutal. The idea of riding the downhill from Yellow Lake back into Penticton ( or at least to the base of the hill is a good idea. It is steep and the road surface is worth noting ( smooth but watch the tar patches, they can soften in the sun).
For the record, by aware that there are a series of rollers in between the Richter pass and the yellow lake pass that need thinking about ( I think they take more out of you than the two passes) Do a quick search on here of IMC race reports and you will get some views, or PM me and I will send you mine.
Drive the run course down to OK Falls just so you get a sense of the few hills…(treat everyone to homemade ice cream at Tickleberries as compensation).
My own expience on the swim depends on your strength in the water and relative comfort with an aquatic bar fight - I like wide to the left -got me clear(er) water and a good line… One suggestion pre- swim is drive part way up the highway toward summerland and sight back along the swim course…your “back” leg will be straight into the sun so you better get a sense of the topography to guide your path.
There is a shop at the west end of town near the Sicamous that rents bikes.
If the spa doesn;', several of the winereis just N of town offer nice lunches and wine tours mid-day.
If the wives want to catch a glipse of you on the bikes, suggest that they drive up the Apex road and across to where it joins the course. They will be able to see you go by at the base of yellow lake pass and then get back into the city before you do ( if you take the highway you are pretty much stuffed.
I’m doing IMC for the first time next month (second IM) and have a few questions for those that have done the race.
We’re (4 adults) flying into Vancouver and driving over. From what I can tell it’s about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to Penticton. Does that about right?
Is there any particular part of the course that I should plan to pre-ride on Thursday? I’ll have a 1.5 hour ride to do that day. The answer will probably dictate what kind of car we rent in Vancouver. Our bikes (2 of them) will be coming up via Tri Bike Transport but if the collective wisdom is to definitely go ride some of the far reaches of the course we’ll have to get a bigger car to get out there with the bikes. Keep in mind that we’re from Texas and have nothing like Richter or Yellow Lake around here. I have ridden the course many times though on the Computrainer for what it’s worth.
What about the run course? Any spots that we should get out and run?
For the swim where’s generally the best spot to start? I’ll swim right at an hour or less and don’t have issues with contact.
We’ll be in town through Tuesday afternoon. Anything we should definitely have on the must do list (wineries, burger joints, ice cream - not necessarily in that order).
Is there any place in town to rent a city bike? Our wives have mentioned that they might like to have a bike on race day to tool around town.
We’ve talked about surprising our wives by making them a spa appointment for a few hours while we are out on the bike. Is there any place like this near the transition area that someone recommends?
That’s it for now. I’m sure I’ll think of others.
Ride the last 10 miles back to town from mile 100 , try and ride it at the same time as you would on race day to get a feel for the wind. Also remember the raod signage is psoted in Km/s an hour. I almost crashed on one of the turns as I saw a sign post saying 40 thinking it was 40mphs
Thanks to everyone for all of the great information. We’ll be skipping pre-riding the climbs, will ride the run course and will try to ride the final decent if we can logistically figure out how to get there without bothering the wives. I guess we could drive to the top, one of us rides down while the other drives down, and then repeat for other.
Have your wives drive you up to the golf course. They can stop at the fruit stands on the way down, while you ride back. Keep in mind that you’ll have at least a full lane as well as the shoulder at the top of the descent. Just the shoulder on 97. When you get back to town, depending on where you are staying, I’d head over to Government Street and ride into town. Main Street will be crowded and there are no bike lanes or shoulders.
