I don’t disagree with you on that as it was crowded but I wasn’t talking about that. I was referring to you gasping at the thought that race organizers had a bike aid station at mile 4. I live in Houston and train in heat everyday and higher humidity than most people have ever felt. I drank 3 full bottles of water on the bike not because I was unprepared but because I just swam for almost 30 min in 88 deg water and was pushing the bike. hard. I rode it in just over 1:14 . I applaud them for this as they had enough aid since it was supposed to be a HIM. Not only that but I was trying to hydrate and stay cool preparing for a very very hot run. No flat parts and maybe .25 miles of shade. I was just pointing out that yes we all recognize your hardness only having the one bottle. I tend to race smarter having trained and raced in heat my whole life.
Thanks so much for the update. I’m relieved to hear that he’s most likely okay. He was in my age group, and by the process of elimination, I figured out who he was last night. I sent him a message last night, but I haven’t heard back, yet. I’ll update you on the extent of his injuries if he responds.
I’ve been trying to acclimate to taking on less fluids on the bike this summer, so I originally had planned taking just one bottle. I was SO glad that I added a second bottle in the morning.
I finished the first bottle in 30 minutes, and the second bottle before finishing the bike - also in 1:14. And yes - the run course was really hot and relatively devoid of shade.
After bitching about the shortened race on Friday night, I found myself quite happy with the change at the 5k turnaround, yesterday.
Out of curiosity what is your reasoning for less fluids on bike?
The bike wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and I was questioning their decision during the race but man…that run was seriously tough.
Doesn’t make you smart. Shit happens. All that tells me is that you think you don’t need it and you’re not very prepared.
I am surprised that there wasn’t more accidents.
The course was crowded but what made things worse were what seemed like half of the athletes that do not follow USAT rules (or just plain common sense) and ride to the right. These individuals hang out in the middle of the road or to the left and ride there, or attempt to pass riders which they have no business passing, or if they do complete a pass they don’t get back over to the right. On a crowded course like Muncie (or just about every WTC race I’ve been in) you get about half of the athletes riding this way causing huge packs of congestion and the potential for accidents. On my second loop I spent most of the time yelling “left” or “move the f— over”. I don’t get it. But I guess we need to cater to the lowest common denominator with these races so if they shorten a race because it is too hot, maybe now they’ll change the bike rules because it is too hard for MOP’s & BOP’s to learn how to ride.
Well said. A 30 mile, 2 loop out and back on a long flat road, with too many aid stations and poor handling= very crowded, dangerous and disappointing. That was no doubt the worst bike course I have ever raced. I understand they had to shorten the race, but it sure would have been nice if they had designed a better bike leg.
An aid station at mile 4 of a 30 mile bike ride?!?!?! WTF are the organizers thinking? I did an olympic tri today in 100 F temperatures with 1600 feet of climbing on the course. 1 bottle was more than enough, plus there was an aid station at the top of the big climb (20 miles in) just in case.
Yeah, ok! (rolls eyes)
May have been enough to get you through it, but only drinking some of your 1 bottle was just dumb. That is the nicest way I can say it.
I went through the whole bottle by the end of the ride. And, it was an oversized 24 oz bottle. Plus, since I had the 4th fastest bike split on the day, I would say my plan worked just fine. I’m new to triathlon (third one I’ve done) but come from a very deep road racing background. So yes, I am very confident that I know what I am doing when it comes to what I need for a 65 minute, 27 mile time trial with 1600 feet of climbing.
Doesn’t make you smart. Shit happens. All that tells me is that you think you don’t need it and you’re not very prepared.
I wasn’t planning on only using one bottle but the bike was so fast and I was drinking at a slower pace. Everything worked out in the end though.
My only problem is I started to get a little bit of a stomach cramp on the run because I had too much food on the bike. It sucks to plan out your nutrition for a 70.3 then find out the day before that its shortened and have to end up winging it. I’ve never done an Oly before.
I would always rather have too much water than not enough. Drinking water on the bike always makes me feel better on the run. If you start the run already dehydrated it’s not going to be fun.
Well said. A 30 mile, 2 loop out and back on a long flat road, with too many aid stations and poor handling= very crowded, dangerous and disappointing. That was no doubt the worst bike course I have ever raced. I understand they had to shorten the race, but it sure would have been nice if they had designed a better bike leg.
I loved the bike course. Very smooth, flat, and fast. I think it would have been crowded no matter what the course was. Having waves from slowest to fastest is going to make everyone bunched up no matter what. I think they should have bigger waves and have them 2 min apart so the fast people have time to pass the slow people in the swim and transition.
I would always rather have too much water than not enough. Drinking water on the bike always makes me feel better on the run. If you start the run already dehydrated it’s not going to be fun.
I agree but like I said, it wasn’t my plan and it worked out in the end anyway.
There’s probably no valid reason for me to take on less fluids, frankly. My wife and I have done a few 5 hour rides in training this summer, and right now, I can only carry three bottles.
I’m planning to add an X-lab for two more bottles, but thus far, stretching each 24 oz bottle for 90 minutes has been getting me through these rides without having to stop to replenish. My Infinit mix is 307 calories, and I take one Gu every 45 minutes, so that gets me about 300 calories per hour (200 drink, 100 Gu), which has been effective for training.
I realize, however, that with a max effort race in the heat, I need to hydrate more. Friday night I thought the bike would be 24.8 miles - or about an hour, so I had thought one bottle would be enough and that I’d shave some extra weight by not adding a second bottle. When I realized it was 30 miles, I didn’t hesitate to add the second bottle.
I’ve only been cycling and doing tri’s for two years, so I’m still learning. I learned Saturday that i should never compromise fluid intake - especially in a race. We will be doing 6 hour rides within a couple weeks, so the x-lab will be even more important as our season goes on.
This has nothing to do with the shortened bike course, however it has to do with dangerous riding and people causing accidents. I was a volunteer and I noticed 3 riders about 1 mile out of transition riding and texting in front of a large group of riders. There should be a large penalty or even a race ban for these actions. I should add that the riders were all going downhill at 30+ mph. Talk about something that could put other riders in danger…
I am surprised that there wasn’t more accidents.
The course was crowded but what made things worse were what seemed like half of the athletes that do not follow USAT rules (or just plain common sense) and ride to the right. These individuals hang out in the middle of the road or to the left and ride there, or attempt to pass riders which they have no business passing, or if they do complete a pass they don’t get back over to the right. On a crowded course like Muncie (or just about every WTC race I’ve been in) you get about half of the athletes riding this way causing huge packs of congestion and the potential for accidents. On my second loop I spent most of the time yelling “left” or “move the f— over”. I don’t get it. But I guess we need to cater to the lowest common denominator with these races so if they shorten a race because it is too hot, maybe now they’ll change the bike rules because it is too hard for MOP’s & BOP’s to learn how to ride.
Don’t want to hijack the thread but this is what I feel could start leading to the end of triathlon - too many crashes = too much liability = no more races. I get that WTC wants to cater to MOP’s and BOP’s because they pay the bills. However, the issues with poor bike handling skills + bad course design is an issue that needs to be addressed by sanctioning bodies and race directors.
This has nothing to do with the shortened bike course, however it has to do with dangerous riding and people causing accidents. I was a volunteer and I noticed 3 riders about 1 mile out of transition riding and texting in front of a large group of riders. There should be a large penalty or even a race ban for these actions. I should add that the riders were all going downhill at 30+ mph. Talk about something that could put other riders in danger…
Texting?
This has nothing to do with the shortened bike course, however it has to do with dangerous riding and people causing accidents. I was a volunteer and I noticed 3 riders about 1 mile out of transition riding and texting in front of a large group of riders. There should be a large penalty or even a race ban for these actions. I should add that the riders were all going downhill at 30+ mph. Talk about something that could put other riders in danger…
Texting?
Yes texting on their phone… I guess some riders didnt get the memo that texting and driving a car is now illegal in most US states let alone texting and riding a bike during an event as crowded as an ironman!! What are people thinking??
Their heads were tucked between their aerobars, phone in hand, thumbs moving like crazy. Man they must have had something important to say!!!
I am surprised that there wasn’t more accidents.
The course was crowded but what made things worse were what seemed like half of the athletes that do not follow USAT rules (or just plain common sense) and ride to the right. These individuals hang out in the middle of the road or to the left and ride there, or attempt to pass riders which they have no business passing, or if they do complete a pass they don’t get back over to the right. On a crowded course like Muncie (or just about every WTC race I’ve been in) you get about half of the athletes riding this way causing huge packs of congestion and the potential for accidents. On my second loop I spent most of the time yelling “left” or “move the f— over”. I don’t get it. But I guess we need to cater to the lowest common denominator with these races so if they shorten a race because it is too hot, maybe now they’ll change the bike rules because it is too hard for MOP’s & BOP’s to learn how to ride.
Don’t want to hijack the thread but this is what I feel could start leading to the end of triathlon - too many crashes = too much liability = no more races. I get that WTC wants to cater to MOP’s and BOP’s because they pay the bills. However, the issues with poor bike handling skills + bad course design is an issue that needs to be addressed by sanctioning bodies and race directors.
The problem is that whenever people bring this up they get shouted down.On this and the other Muncie thread there are many tales of just what a gong show it was out there (including people texting during a crowded bike ride and the fact that the weather wasn’t as bad as predicted) but once it is mentioned a lot of folks take it as a personal insult and trash the poor bastard who brought it up.People don’t want rational conversations about the problem and it is a big problem.They don’t want to talk about it and want fair access to all who want to participate regardless of the dangers.There is only one mega tri that I will do from now on and if they ever make that one a multi-loop course I’m off that one as well.
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I am surprised that there wasn’t more accidents.
The course was crowded but what made things worse were what seemed like half of the athletes that do not follow USAT rules (or just plain common sense) and ride to the right. These individuals hang out in the middle of the road or to the left and ride there, or attempt to pass riders which they have no business passing, or if they do complete a pass they don’t get back over to the right. On a crowded course like Muncie (or just about every WTC race I’ve been in) you get about half of the athletes riding this way causing huge packs of congestion and the potential for accidents. On my second loop I spent most of the time yelling “left” or “move the f— over”. I don’t get it. But I guess we need to cater to the lowest common denominator with these races so if they shorten a race because it is too hot, maybe now they’ll change the bike rules because it is too hard for MOP’s & BOP’s to learn how to ride.
I was also amazed at the amount of people seeming to ride their bike wherever on the road and mostly unpredictable swerving or right down the middle.
+1
Not only that but also the ambulance driving back and forth in the middle of an already tight and packed road. I guess drafting was also allowed as I didn’t see ay marshals throughout the course… has anyone heard of someone receiving a penalty for drafting?