Yousa…two of us rode the whole thing yesterday in the cold (55 degree), windy, drizzly, Wisconsin countryside. The good news is that we finished the whole thing on a less than optimal day. The bad news? It took us 6 and a half hours! The conditions were a part of that as we took the descents very easy and stopped twice briefly for nutrition etc. but the more you are on the course the more you respect it. Wisconsin might not be exotic enough for Tom D., but I think this bike course would be!
A couple of things that might be of interest given the other thread this AM on the topic:
I rode with a 12-25 cassette and while I made it through OK, I would seriously think about of using a 12-27 for the race. Now I am 48 years old and a pretty big guy (6’2" and about 185-90) so that may play a part in my thinking, but I am a pretty decent, experienced cyclist. All those steep climbs, and tricky corners and rises, keep coming at you. It is the wearing away that happens on the course that really gets to you. There is probably not more than a few miles of consecutive flat ground anywhere outside of the first few miles. The second time around the loop and the Whalen hill coming back really demand some strength (or suppleness…given that you still have to run!) and unless you are really conditioned and looking for a flat out fast time, I’d err on the side of caution and look at a 25 or 27 tooth cog.
I rode a 700c road bike with clip-ons and that would be my ride for the race. Ritchey lightweight clinchers. I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but after having ridden that course ALOT, I wouldn’t use a disc. Yesterday’s winds once again impressed that upon both of us. Personal choice though. STI is a huge help on this course with he constant shifting. Adam rode his 650 QR with bar ends and did fine…he is all of 24, shorter and lighter and the bike fits him well, though even he was wondering about using a road bike when we were finished. One thing is for sure…Monty’s right about going downhill. I outweigh him and he rolled down the hills a lot faster on those 650’s than I did!
It is quite the test. Good luck to everyone taking it!
The surface is pretty good throughout except for a 1/4 mile or so about three miles into the ride as you are getting out of town, and then a mile or so stretch that you will ride twice coming back into Verona. It is very craggy…lots of jolts. Some gravel on the corners here and there as well.
There has been roadwork done in a few spots that repaired some other problems …it’s in solid shape.
I did this race in 2003 on a Cannondale IM 2000 with 650c wheels, Profile Carbon-x’s with bar-end shifters etc…the next time I do it I’ll be on a road bike with clip-ons and STI.
I raced IM Moo last year with 650s and a 12-27 cassette. 27 was the “bail out” gear and I definately needed it for the (2) ass kickers on the second loop. I don’t understand why people have egos about the cassettes they run… Heck, I’m using an XT cassette for the Horribly Hilly next year!
I also rode my disc, which worked out well. But, certainly would have switched to a 404 if conditions warranted…
I rode the whole thing yesterday. It was a great day, low 70s with a little breeze. The main thing that I took from the ride is that it is impossible to get into any kind of rythem. Within the space of a couple of hundred yards, you can go from an aero bar descent to an aero bar climb to a standing climb to an aerobar descent again. Shifing is constant, so if you plan to use a tri bike, you should plan on being in the aero bars for most of the ride. Not being able to quickly get to the shifters will cost you.
I rode a Cervelo P3 with a 12-23 cassette. I’m an ok climber and I was in the 23 on a number of the short steep climbs. I’m not planning on using a 12-25, but for a lot of people, it is the way to go. I could use the 25 to spin a little more, but I like to stand up on the climbs occasionally to stretch out. I was on the aero bars for at least 50%-60% of the ride, so I plan on using the tri bike for the race.
I rode a Cervelo P3 with a 12-23 cassette. I’m an ok climber and I was in the 23 on a number of the short steep climbs. I’m not planning on using a 12-25, but for a lot of people, it is the way to go. I could use the 25 to spin a little more, but I like to stand up on the climbs occasionally to stretch out. I was on the aero bars for at least 50%-60% of the ride, so I plan on using the tri bike for the race.