Which has the harder bike course? Anyone out there done both?
I see www.triathloncalculator.com has CDA at 58 ft/mile, IMLOU at 50, Kona at 44, Canada at 38, Wisconsin at 61, IMLP at 77, for some sort of frame of reference. Don’t sweat those numbers, I’m not here to start that debate again.
I would say that Japan is higher than Kona, but how much more I have no idea. It’s kind of like a IMLOU or IMoo course, lots of small rollers and hills.
Japan is a technical, hilly bike course with alot of short steep climbs and some sketchy highspeed downhill windy mountain road turns, along with a few flats and some sustained climbs. As it’s Asia, and also a small very hilly island, they don’t have the cut and fill and long straights like roads in North America. Most of the route just follows the lay of the land with the exception of a few grades and a few tunnels.
Having done neither, but having heard stories from both it sounds like Japan is harder hands down. You’ll know in a few months. Hopefully training in Korea is good. There is a 20% chance I will be in your neck of the woods at the end of April.
Dev
great Dev, just let me know! I’ll have my 60cm road bike ready for your use, lol. Training is going well. If you get here in April, i may have some big training days planned, so add in an extra day to your trip.
The one thing I will say about Japan is that the roads are smoother than glass, yes, smoother. Anyone not been to Japan will not believe this, but it’s more orderly than germany and cleaner than Singapore, and that’s even in the most out of the way places like Goto Island where the IM is. The roads have all been paved recently, and the climate is such that maintenance must be very easy, and of course they’re probably swept by the street cleaner weekly.
I will try to replicate the rolling terrain of CdA here, but as the hills are short and steep here like in Japan, and the CdA hills are graded north american style, it will be a little different. Either way, I hope to be ready come race day. I’ve been climbing all winter, so when I hit the 12 weeks to go point I’ll start shifting towards more race specific long rides w/ good rollers.
Hey…
I read training in Korea in your post… I dont know if you are training there or you will be training there. In any case, get in touch with seoulsynergy.com
Its a group of triathletes, mainly expats, who will show you where to swim ride and run. When I got there, the first thing I thought was “where the hell will I ride my bike!”. Then I hooked up with this club and they showed me lots of rides, made lots of friends and had a wonderful time.
If you are ever over there, contact them
Which has the harder bike course? Anyone out there done both?
I see www.triathloncalculator.com has CDA at 58 ft/mile, IMLOU at 50, Kona at 44, Canada at 38, Wisconsin at 61, IMLP at 77, for some sort of frame of reference. Don’t sweat those numbers, I’m not here to start that debate again.
I would say that Japan is higher than Kona, but how much more I have no idea. It’s kind of like a IMLOU or IMoo course, lots of small rollers and hills.
Japan is a technical, hilly bike course with alot of short steep climbs and some sketchy highspeed downhill windy mountain road turns, along with a few flats and some sustained climbs. As it’s Asia, and also a small very hilly island, they don’t have the cut and fill and long straights like roads in North America. Most of the route just follows the lay of the land with the exception of a few grades and a few tunnels.