Ironman Maryland (try #2) Winds on Saturday

Triathlon Forum
1

I have not had the chance to ride the course in Maryland this year but I hear that it can be windy. I see that the forecast for Saturday is calling for 15 MPH winds. I am not a great swimmer so I am wondering if that level of winds will make the bike course significantly more challenging to keep some of the good swimmers in check so they can be caught by the stronger cyclists? Again not familiar with the course so I don’t know how much wind changes things.

thanks for any feed back from those who have ridden the course in wind.

2

And has anybody ridden the course with low 50 degree temperatures and a 15mph wind? I have the feeling it is going to be brisk!

3

I have ridden the IMMD course twice in training and I have done Eagleman x2 (same area, shares some roads, different directions). The winds are very unpredictable and change frequently. It is completely flat and wide open on 90% of the course. The honest answer is it’s impossible to predict exactly what the winds will be like other than to expect a lot of wind. Both times I rode the course the wind changed by the time I did the second loop.

4

I have ridden the IMMD course twice in training and I have done Eagleman x2 (same area, shares some roads, different directions). The winds are very unpredictable and change frequently. It is completely flat and wide open on 90% of the course. The honest answer is it’s impossible to predict exactly what the winds will be like other than to expect a lot of wind. Both times I rode the course the wind changed by the time I did the second loop.

So you’re saying headwind out and headwind back in!

5

And has anybody ridden the course with low 50 degree temperatures and a 15mph wind? I have the feeling it is going to be brisk!

Did this race in 1991 when it was the US Continental Long Distance Championship (even then, Ironman was protecting their name). It was low 50s race morning and never got much warmer than 60. I think some T1 times were around 30 minutes just to warm hands and feet. Wind was about the same. Not bad, but it makes a long day even longer. But enjoy the day. I’m impressed that WTC got this done.

6

I think it’s going to be a pretty cool start to the ride. Hopefully if wind does come it shows up after the swim and gives us calm water for the start (wind usually does pick up as day goes on). Given the ride is two big circles we should have some tailwind for parts no matter what shows up

7

What are folks planning on wearing for the ride? I feel it’s not cold enough for anything besides arm warmers but then again I don’t have much experience in cool weather riding

8

And has anybody ridden the course with low 50 degree temperatures and a 15mph wind? I have the feeling it is going to be brisk!

Yesterday I rode 3 hours in CT at 4:00am and it was 37 degrees. I put on a few layers and gloves/ toe covers and I was still comfortable. Did a swim in LI Sound in the afternoon and the water was 63 but very choppy. Sleevless wetsuit and I was super comfortable in the water. I am bringing all of my layers with me to Maryland. I am hoping to shed them to family members as the day goes on.

9

Bring arm/toe warmers, thin gloves. I usually don’t wear socks to ride in so may just put on a thin pair. Maybe a thin shirt under my jersey for a second layer. If I keep my core warm I am good to go

10

I guess I should switch my tri top for a dry cycling jersey at T1. I was planning on wearing it through the whole thing but probably too cold to keep on wet top. My first ironman and not too worried about aero seconds or minutes.

11

I guess a further question is do folks switch to new tri shorts after swim to have dry ones? I imagine 50 degree cycling in wet shorts is not fun.

12

I guess a further question is do folks switch to new tri shorts after swim to have dry ones? I imagine 50 degree cycling in wet shorts is not fun.

Good thing I have an iron sac!

13

I guess a further question is do folks switch to new tri shorts after swim to have dry ones? I imagine 50 degree cycling in wet shorts is not fun.

sorry, but think this needs to be said this to many of you:

htfu.

14

I guess a further question is do folks switch to new tri shorts after swim to have dry ones? I imagine 50 degree cycling in wet shorts is not fun.

sorry, but think this needs to be said this to many of you:

htfu.

point taken

15

I guess a further question is do folks switch to new tri shorts after swim to have dry ones? I imagine 50 degree cycling in wet shorts is not fun.

sorry, but think this needs to be said this to many of you:

htfu.

This.

I gotta admit the whining I see about possible “ZOMG 50 degree weather” at IMMD is kinda irritating. I was at Tahoe 2013 when we dealt with literally freezing conditions (I was chipping ice off my pedals and saddle while prepping my tires). Nobody was complaining. We all just came with a plan to stay as warm as possible.

50 degrees and a sunny day? You will dry pretty fast and get warmed simply by the heat your body generates while riding. 15mph winds really isn’t all that bad.

16

sounds like free Air Conditioning to me. Push on

17

I guess a further question is do folks switch to new tri shorts after swim to have dry ones? I imagine 50 degree cycling in wet shorts is not fun.

sorry, but think this needs to be said this to many of you:

htfu.

This.

I gotta admit the whining I see about possible “ZOMG 50 degree weather” at IMMD is kinda irritating. I was at Tahoe 2013 when we dealt with literally freezing conditions (I was chipping ice off my pedals and saddle while prepping my tires). Nobody was complaining. We all just came with a plan to stay as warm as possible.

50 degrees and a sunny day? You will dry pretty fast and get warmed simply by the heat your body generates while riding. 15mph winds really isn’t all that bad.

Oh man, what bad asses we have here! HTFU! Ice on pedals! When I was a kid, we walked both ways in the snow. Yeah, you guys are tough. Really, I mean it. No, really, I am impressed. Honest. Tough guys. Wow! Mean it. Wow.

I’ve done cold and I have done long. What to wear during a race can have major implications on your time. Shivering during the first half of a bike is not a good use of energy. Which might be why you see cyclists starting off layered up and then handing off clothes to the team car. It is important. Shutting down discussion of this because you two can brag about doing the Iditarod in Speedos does a disservice to the forum.

But yeah, tell me again how bad/hard/tough you are. I always believe stories like that. Really. Honest.

18

This isn’t intended to be a dick measuring contest. Rather, I am wondering why such things are even in question. Is this the first time you will be riding in cooler weather? It just seems odd that there is concern over typical cooler fall temperatures. I certainly understand if there was a prediction of truly adverse weather conditions, but what they are calling for is, I would hope, something every cyclist has experienced in the past.

19

I ask bc this is my first ironman. And I have not done a 112 mile bike after an OW swim in high 40’s temp. There are definitely new factors. I am not even sure how changing works in T1 … the athlete guide just talks about your bags not the actual logistics. Lastly, shedding layers seems like a way to go but not sure if you are allowed to at the aid stations (and likely wont get them back). I get these are noob questions but just trying to make it to the finish line in one piece.

20

I ask bc this is my first ironman. And I have not done a 112 mile bike after an OW swim in high 40’s temp. There are definitely new factors. I am not even sure how changing works in T1 … the athlete guide just talks about your bags not the actual logistics. Lastly, shedding layers seems like a way to go but not sure if you are allowed to at the aid stations (and likely wont get them back). I get these are noob questions but just trying to make it to the finish line in one piece.

For anyone not gunning for a KQ, I offer this advice when I was faced with a similar conundrum (Tahoe 2013).

Air temp was 33 at swim exit, water temp was 62 (ish). Cold morning.

I planned a full change in T1 and T2. I had a towel, bib-shorts, regular short sleeve cycling jersey, compression undershirt, arm warmers, under-helmet beanie and a cycling jacket in my T1 bag.

Got into the change tent, and despite the ridiculous crowd in there I found a little spot, stripped completely, towel-dried until I was sure I was as water-free as I could get myself, and put on all the kit I brought. My T1 was a long 14 minutes, but it looked like that was pretty much the median time for most people that day (lots of people did what I did).

About half way through the ride the temps climbed to the mid-70s and I shed the jacket. I stuffed it up the back of my jersey (I am sure that was really aero, lol). I finished the ride still wearing my arm warmers though.

In T2 I shed all of that except the compression shirt. Put on a regular running tee, running shorts. Changed socks (fresh socks in T2 is important, at least to me). It was warm by this point so I took off the arm warmers but I tied them to my bib-number belt. I knew I would want them later when it got dark. Sure enough when the sun dipped the nice 70 degree weather turned to low 40s quickly. Put on the arm warmers and I felt great.

Now - you guys are not going to have such extreme conditions, however the advice applies. Towel off in T1, get dry, put on regular cycling kit (or dry tri kit). It will take you an extra 5 minutes in T1 but you will be more comfortable. If 5 minutes matters to you, then you probably don’t need to read this anyway :slight_smile:

In T2, might as well full change again. Take the extra 5 minutes to be more comfortable.