IM Chatt new bike course

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi all

Anyone do this last year , three loops , sounds like it can be a bit sketchy

Has decent climbing but seems very fast indeed also

The old course albeit long looked real nice whereas this is just highway I believe

Thanks for any comments
Steve

2

Is it finally 112 miles?

3

Nope.

It’s 108.

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4

The rumor mill is spinning out whispers that the RD is trying to add an additional 4 somewhere in/around downtown to hit that number. But that being the only difference from last year’s.

I suspect we won’t know until about a month out from race day.

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5

I did IMChatt last year and have ridden both courses. I didnt mind the new course at all, but last year was rainy the whole time which can impact how one feels about it. Could be a totally different feel on a hot and sunny day. I didnt love the fast moving cars right next to us on a rainy day. Again, that might not feel as sketchy on a dry day. But the old course has cars on the road with you too, soooo.

New course was fast and climbing wasn’t bad at all. Previous course is prettier, I suppose. Nothing about the new course should hold you back from doing it. At end of the day I really liked it.

6

I did it as well, agree it was a very fast course, even though the garmin still recorded 4k feet of climbing or so. Everyone I know that was there had a much faster bike time than usual, even taking into account the slightly short course. Def keep an eye on the cars next to you, I believe at least one person got knocked over by a car.

7

Thanks all , anything super steep hill wise , have a bad back , can’t do flat so need a course that allows me to get out of aero from time to time without being super steep

Thanks !

8

The only steep portion was at the very start and I didnt think it was that bad. Maybe 7%? No idea why my Garmin said 5K of elevation. It certainly didnt feel that way.

The hills are long-ish but not steep. It was a little up hillish the last few miles on the highway as well once you were past the turn around point and heading to T2. But again, nothing super steep.

9

There was also a steep climb on the way to the finish after you are off the loop. But the entire time you are on the loop, there is really never any spot where you would need to be out of aero. The 'hill’s on the loop are long gentle rollers that you carry a lot of speed over. That said, there is no rule that states you can’t come out of aero just because you aren’t on a hill. Do what you need to do for your back. Edit - meant to reply to UKINNY

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