HI!
Any of you guys have a well qualified opinion about racing a 808’/disc combo at Ironman Cozumel in November. I’m 186cms and weigh in at 77kgs. I’m a strong biker, but to be honest I haven’t a clue on what wheels to use in Coz. I use the deep rim/disc combo for most races, as I race triathlons and not crits’ - point is that most tris are doable with a disc (in my opinion), but when it comes to this one - ???. I live in Europe, so coasting the course hasn’t been an option. Any tips will help.
The race website under the FAQ portion states that they do not recommend athletes using a disc as the crosswinds on the island and along the shore are quite strong.
I go to Cozumel about once a year for diving (and maybe next year for the IM). The crosswinds are a factor there, and they can sometimes be gusty. I would think a 404/808 front/rear combo would be OK though. I would not do a disc, and I’d think twice about an 808 in the front, though that might be OK.
Drove the island loop this spring and although I usually ride a disc, I wouldn’t choose it for this course if I was doing it. I don’t mind riding my disc in windy conditions (IMAZ 2005) either, FWIW. you are pretty exposed on the whole backside of the island.
Interesting. Was planning on using 808 front/rear. Might re-think 808 front or at least try and find a way to also bring a 404 to test out during the week. If anyone has any actual wind data, which i assume is fairly consistent, would be helpful. Gusty vs constant?
I am told that as of 6 weeks ago, it was not finished. I am trying to get more recent info… but that’s a little scary. I was there a year ago this month and they had 7 or so miles to go…
I rode the bike course this summer on a motor scooter, and it was VERY, VERY windy. On the back side of the island, there is nothing but open roads and ocean air (there is no electricity on this side of the island. Restaurants close at dark because there are no lights for the cooks). If I were riding this race, I would think a set of 606s, or 808s (for larger riders) would be appropriate. I was getting blown all over the road on my motor scooter (with my GF on the back).
I rode the course on a rented 10-speed with a wonky seat - the seat post clamp didn’t hold very well.
So I wasn’t head down in the aero bars - no aerobars!
It was pancake flat, no traffic lights, no stop signs, almost no roads joining it the whole way.
The East coast section, which is as you can see from my snaps, is only 50 feet from the water for 20k south of Mescalitos is totally exposed to the Easterly trades off the ocean.
Punta Morenas, 3k s. of Mescalitos
I found the road surface to be the best part about it.
Chen Rio, s. of punta Morenas
Playa Bonita, just n. of El Caracol & Bob Marley’s bar
Bob Marleys at El Caracol.
There was new asphalt on over 50% of the course. That was the 30k section from Chankanab on th ewest side to Bob Marleys pub at El Caracol, where the road meets the east coast and turns northwards. Most of the 30k section has some protection from the low trees along the roadside. (see pic below)
I had hoped that it would be a loop of the island, but they haven’t finished paving the cross island connector from the town of San Miguel to Mescalitos, the bar you can see in the picture above.
So it will be an out and back of the southern horseshoe shaped part of the road.
There was very little wind the day I rode it but on other days it was fierce.
I swam at every beach and had a beer at every bar. The loop was 65kms but it took me 5 hours.
I have to say that although I really enjoyed the ride, it would have been nicer on my Cervelo.
NB. To anybody who does this IM, all your gear, bikes included will go to the island on either the fast ferry or the slow ferry. YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY SUPERVISE THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF YOUR BIKE ETC. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT COULD GO INTO THE DRINK AND THEY WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR RETRIEVING IT!
I witnessed a lady’s box of art objects get tipped into the harbour on landing and no effort was made to get it out for her. The box was not taped shut and stuff fell out when the deckhand grabbed it in haste. Oops!
NB. To anybody who does this IM, all your gear, bikes included will go to the island on either the fast ferry or the slow ferry. YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY SUPERVISE THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF YOUR BIKE ETC. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT COULD GO INTO THE DRINK AND THEY WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR RETRIEVING IT! >>>>>>>>
It will depend on your flight arrangements. There are some options from the US directly into the Cozumel airport, which would mean you don’t take the ferry. If you can get a direct flight into Coz, do so as it takes a while to get through Cancun customs and then transfer to the ferry.
Thanks for informative replies! Brilliant photo’s also! I guess my Ridley Dean will be best equipped with either Bora’s or perhaps even a set of 808’s. I’ll have to think about that. The Dean fork is somewhat of a sail in itself, so it won’t really be that much of a difference I think. I often find the 808 to be fairly stable in strong cross winds - and more often than not the fork to be the culprit for poor handling in the same winds. But a rear disc is fast on most tracks, it’s just tiring to “fight” the wind over the course of an IM.
Fast - is good. I’ve done IM germany and Austria in around 4:50 - any opinions on how fast, fast is?
