Getting excited here @ 9 weeks out! Starting week 1 of 7 weeks of peak phase next week, then 2 weeks of taper. Really wish the lakes would warm up. Lake CDA still at 42 degrees, Medical lake at 49 degrees so hopefully swimming out there soon. HWY 95 is really clean so will be biking the full course starting this weekend barring any rain/snow. No real purpose for this thread other than hoping some of you on here will race CDA and hope your training is going well. Also hoping we don’t go from 80s to 100+ the day of the race this time! This is my first full IM so jumping out of my skin with excitement.
I’m in. just crushed a big training day and am absolutely toast right now. Going with a 5 week taper this year. Last year for IMLP I did my big training 3 weeks out and was overtrained and kinda flat race day. Hoping for a better result this year. Whats the elevation gain on the bike? I’ve seen estimates from 5600 all the way to 8000 feet of climbing.
I am getting tired of snow still flying in the sky in southern BC and was planning to head to CDA this weekend to maybe actually ride outside. Does anyone have tips on solo riding there this time of year?
The entire course has 7051 feet elevation gain with both loops. The first leg of the course is along the lake with a short 9% climb, then back to town and out again south over a few decent rollers for the long leg. I’d put the first roller at about 8% at its worst but the rest of the hills are pretty gentle. As far as tips on training I live here and use the North Idaho College area parking on weekends or pay parking by the park then head out. You have to go through traffic downtown CDA to get to the first leg on Lakeshore drive then when heading out south on HWY 95 you have to cross over the river and there is literally 6 inches of room to bike with traffic going over the bridge so careful there. Coming back not so bad. The turnaround way south is at Setters Rd. there are three white hay barns on the right as a marker. I drove the course weeks ago and it was very clean. There’s also a decent shoulder to bike both ways except on bridges and rumble strips which I appreciate. I put a screen shot of the turnaround, hope that helps.
Not sure where you are getting that elevation number. It’s 5200ft +/- 50ft at most. And as far as riding the course, I wouldn’t recommend anyone ride on the highway 95 portion until about two weeks out. I drive out there consistently and after it gets swept it only stays clean for 2-3 days. Major logging truck route as well as the main north south highway through the northern part of the state. Plus with the weather still in the 40’s drivers and especially semi trucks do not expect cyclists out there. There are loads of good riding routes in north Idaho, and I have spent my fair share of miles on highway 95 but after getting run over by a truck in 2019 my perspective has changed a lot. This is coming from someone who has ridden at least 50k miles in the north Idaho area as well as 50k in the San Diego county area and I’ve raced this race both the half and full 7x.
9 weeks? Damn. I better get training. See yall there. I’ll be returning to settle the score with that evil lake. A bloody washing machine back in 2012. Hoping to swim sub 90 this time.
Not sure where you are getting that elevation number. It’s 5200ft +/- 50ft at most. And as far as riding the course, I wouldn’t recommend anyone ride on the highway 95 portion until about two weeks out. I drive out there consistently and after it gets swept it only stays clean for 2-3 days. Major logging truck route as well as the main north south highway through the northern part of the state. Plus with the weather still in the 40’s drivers and especially semi trucks do not expect cyclists out there. There are loads of good riding routes in north Idaho, and I have spent my fair share of miles on highway 95 but after getting run over by a truck in 2019 my perspective has changed a lot. This is coming from someone who has ridden at least 50k miles in the north Idaho area as well as 50k in the San Diego county area and I’ve raced this race both the half and full 7x.
Derek thank you for sharing and I’m incredibly sorry to hear about your accident. If you please don’t mind me asking did a truck come over onto the shoulder and strike you? I have a rear light and Varia radar but am well aware there are a few areas where there is little room to get over if someone is on or over the rumble strips. Can you please share other good roads in North Idaho with some climbs ? I have ridden the Trail of CDAs but its pretty flat as you know. I’m over in Newman Lake for 21 years now but only in the sport 5 seasons. Also, I got that elevation from the IM course map online, thank you for updating on the correct elevation. Again, very sorry to hear about your accident and hope you fully recovered.
A truck with a horse trailer crossed into the bike lane and the horse trailer is actually what ended up going over me. It effectively ended my professional career. As far as roads that are safe, north of town is good. Through hayden, and up towards Bayview is some really good riding. I always like including Fernan saddle climb on long rides, French gulch, hayden lake loop, are all great areas.
Good luck in the race! I will be out watching and cheering for athletes I coach. I’ve done the current course a few times and it always comes out to around 2600ft elevation per loop.
Weather has been crap (for training) here in Central Oregon, so I have some deep concerns about that. I am really hoping that I can get out of Watopia and onto some real roads soon.
Bundle up and go do some Skyliner loops, that’s what my club has been doind nearly every weekend. Weather hasn’t been perfect, but sufficient. I was also able to get 110mi in on a Bend-Sisters-Redmond loop last weekend without any fuss.
I’m with you, I would love some warmer weather as I prep for Tulsa in 4 weeks, but this is what we have so go use it. Just be happy you aren’t on the other side of the mountains.
This is reassuring. Seeing that 7000+ figure gave me flashbacks of the immense suffering from the back half of the 2nd loop at IMLP. 46 feet per mile is so much more manageable than 60+
What club are you with? I rode skyliner last weekend in the wind and rain. The bike lane hasn’t been cleared yet, so I spent most of the ride on the line.
I am doing the Alfalfa-Prineville loop on Saturday. I am planning on doing Shevlin-Sisters-Tumalo-Redmond-SmithRock in the next couple of weeks.
" Just be happy you aren’t on the other side of the mountains"
I’m with the Laughing Dog group, and I ride with the Hutchs riders quite a but, those guys will rip your legs off if you let them.
Sounds like you have some good routes, just got to get out there. I always just try to think that you can’t control weather on race day, so may as well get out in everything.
And ya, I’m spending too much time on the wet side this spring. Lots of very soggy rides, not quite the same as I’ll be racing in a few weeks.
Forgive me for hijacking this thread a bit but is there any plans for if this will be back as a full or half in 2024? Or is this one of the ironman classic anything is possible deals right now
Forgive me for hijacking this thread a bit but is there any plans for if this will be back as a full or half in 2024? Or is this one of the ironman classic anything is possible deals right now
I was told it’s a 70.3 in 2024 when I deferred my entry this year.
