Hi - I am doing Ironman France in Nice this summer and want to know what people recommend…
As you know, it’s quite a ‘up and down’ bike course…
From the video and the photos of the past events, it looks like a lot (the majority) opted for a road bike, with light wheels and a clip on tri bar set up rather than a tri bike…
What do you think? What was your experience if you have done this event?
Thanks,
Sharkman
This is a question I am pondering myself. I’ll give you some of my thinking on the subject.
Most of the pros will use road bike configuration with clipons. The course in 2005 definitely needed this, however the current version is a little more suited to bar end shifters. There is only one down hill part nearing the end which will require careful handling but there is also “the wall” at 20Km which is an extremely sharp uphill section which might pose problems with a base bar.I’m goingdown to train on the course in May so I’ll try it out both ways and report back
Hello,
the fact that there was a lot of road bikes on past editions of IM France has more to do with french road culture than the necessity to use it. Even on falt fast course, in France, the road bikes will be in majority.
For the bike leg of IM France I would advise to chose the bike you are used to ride with and in first choice a tri bike. With base bar or road bars depends on you ability to brake and handle with the aero levers. A good athlete (5h30 on this bike leg or less) who can verify the roads before to remember the cruves, will sure take advantage to use a tri bike with base bar and medium (50-60mm) aero wheels.
for some reason, i think i remember tom d talking about riding a road bike w/clip ons on that course, because of his concerns about descending.
i could have some of the details wrong (is the “IM France” course the Monaco one?)
Monaco is a 70.3 at the end of the summer and Nice is a 140.6 in June. For the first one, sure a road bike but for the second one, it depends on your level, ability and time goal.
How do you explain then that the majority of pros who raced IM France were on road bikes? At least this was the case in 05, which is the only year i managed to get tv footage unfortunately.
good to know.
i’d like to race on of them some year.
is IM France in Nice? Or am I just imagining that?
There is 2200m d+ on the IM France (Nice). For the pros, most of the ones who take part were French and sponsored with road bikes… and again the French Culture (I’m French and ride with a lot of pros) make that you will never see (except Rovera) a IM pro athlete train in the winter with a tri bike. For those who go to Hawaï, they start to use tri bike during summer and Nice is to soon in the season and it’s a fact the advantage of a tri bike is less important than on a flatter bike leg.
the 05 course and the current course are very different. In 05 there were 4 climbs 300meters, 600 meters, 300 meters and 300 meters. the descents following each one were all very steep with sharp corners.
In 06 and current the overall climb on the course in increased to about 2000 meters but the bulk of it is in one climb 21Km/900 meters. The descent folloing this is very gentle and very straight. There are one or two places on the course were some sharp turns require some attention, but nothing compared to the 2005 course.
There are 2 questions here. Tri bike geometry and clip ons/bar end shifters.
I would advise that you use the geometry that you usually use. According to slowman if you use tri geometry then you should be ableto climb in aero position (and apart from the 400 meter wall section) the rest of the climbs are about 5% average so this is entirely feasible.
Next question is clip ons or bar end shirters with base bar. For the 05 course there was much more need to have a solid braking and handling system on the bike with the very fast and very technical descents. For 06 onwards if you can give up a few Kmh on the last descent around carros, then go with tri aero geometry with bar end shifters.
I did Nice in '04, much of which is now the new Ironman France course. Dan told me it was the last year they were having Nice and I always wanted to do it. I remember the duels in the 1980’s between Nice and Ironman Hawaii as “the big race” and Allen’s incredible reign at Nice. I wanted to be able to say I did both of the Classics: Ironman Hawaii and Nice.
I used a road bike set up slightly steep at Nice with shorties. Worked great. Here’s the bike I used:
Tom, I believe that this was the year when the Belgian was killed on the bike course, right?
I saw several very bad crashes on descents but I was not aware there may have been a fatal accident. Is that true? 2004?
I wrote this about the experience:
http://bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000068.shtml
http://bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000088.shtml
Be careful, in 04 IM France was in Gerardmer not Nice and Tom is speaking about Nice 04 if I undestand well.
In 04 Nice wasn’t an IM distance and was organised by the French Triathlon Federation.
I live in Vence, on the IM France bike course and I can confirm that Nick is right (as usual) when he said : “For the bike leg of IM France I would advise to chose the bike you are used to ride with and in first choice a tri bike. With base bar or road bars depends on you ability to brake and handle with the aero levers. A good athlete (5h30 on this bike leg or less) who can verify the roads before to remember the cruves, will sure take advantage to use a tri bike with base bar and medium (50-60mm) aero wheels.”
Just follow his advice 
My wife and I both raced on this course last year. The majority of the bikes in transition are indeed road bikes but again, this was because the race was in France and not Germany (at Roth the following week, the opposite was true). My wife raced on her Orbea Ordu and had no problem with the climbing. She only has a tri bike, so this was a no brainer. I have both road and tri set up and opted for my Orbea Opal with clip-ons in an effort to descend with more ease. This is personal preference. I was seventh overall after the climbing portion but was passed by at least 10-15 people, many of whom were on tri bikes. In other words, Nice is a very hilly course, and it is best to choose a bike you are most comfortable ascending and descending with. I tend to climb better on my tri bike and the majority of the climbs in Nice can be completed in the aero position.
If I were you, I would be more concerned about the lack of ice and “cold” hydration products on the four lap, run course.
In France we are not used to drink cold or even more put ice in water. Even in hot weather.
My firt time in Hawaii I remenbered shouting “No ice no ice” !!! It make my stomach upset.
Today it was snowing on the bike course.
Also, don’t forget the very steep (but short, half mile) climb around the 20 km …
I did IM france last year, and took my road bike with clip ons. Unfortunately the airline lost my baggage (which never appeared), and lost my aeorbars (along with all clothing, pedals helmet etc). I managed to replace enough gear to get myself to the start line, but ended up riding without aerobars at all. It is a hilly course, apart from the first and last 20km. But the hills are not very steep at all (apart from the first one). I ended up riding about 5:20, and was happy with my road set-up rather than my tt bike. There are a couple of good descents, but not really that brutal - I found them quite flowing. I was very surprised at the number of fully decked out TT bikes with aero wheel sets that I rode past while on my brake hoods!!! I don’t think you need the full aero kit unless you are pretty fast on that course. a good road set-up will hold you in good stead - as will good bike handling skills, and knowing the course!
ps Mt Vence is a great climb - must be a great area to train in!!
Your statistical analysis of IM Kona qualifying is fascinating!
Thanks Tom. I’ve got data from 3 more races so I’ll be posting an update soon. Early signs are that it is getting harder in the 2007 season.
Neil
Definately road bike. although some people do use tri bikes the vast majority dont - there is a reason for this. I’d say that for about 80% of your time you will be either on the hoods on drops, I hardly used tribars, Also, i personally avoid carbon rimmed wheels, due to the braking, you will be descending VERY fast (50mph+ in parts - if you have the balls) with several tight bends, so you need brakes you can rely on. Also be very careful of stones on the road, although the road is swept you often get small rock falls, especially if there has been rain recently, not good when plummeting down a mountain! Also, wacth out for little testosterone charged italians! you will not keep up with on a bike so dont try!! catch them on the run.
IMF is a great race, can be extremely hot so get your feeding right on this one. good luck.