Hey guys - have seen a bunch of questions/comments about the course for next weekend’s race so put together a brief recon. check it out at: http://www.sarahealexander.com/blog/2014/6/6/itu-chicago-course-preview
Feel free to shoot any questions my way. Hope you find it helpful!
Hey Sarah, do you know/think it’ll be safe to ride the course (just one loop) on Saturday? I know the pro women race is happening in the afternoon.
I’m fair sure some folks will be doing it whether safe or not, just hope it won’t ruin anyone’s day.
From a pre-race email received yesterday:
“You are not allowed to do any kind of training on the bike and swim courses. You cannot ride on Lower Wacker Drive or swim in the harbor”
I would not ride lower Wacker. Definitely not safe and I bet it will be policed (ie ticketed and DQ’d).
Thanks, I should have done my reading. Will do it tonight.
Guess I’ll have to find an alternate route to get a short ride in.
I would suggest swimming at Ohio Street Beach which is not too far from the course. Riding on the Lakefront Path might be troublesome because of crowding though.
I would suggest swimming at Ohio Street Beach which is not too far from the course. Riding on the Lakefront Path might be troublesome because of crowding though.
Lakefront path is good to bike on from sunrise to maybe 3pm. You should be able to be in aero most of the time, but don’t force it 100% or you will kill a divvy.
Also, prefer going South to going North. A lot busier on the North side of the path by me.
Also, if you see a divvy steer wide.
Maybe I’ll be the one riding the divvy (I have a thing for bikes with dynamo hubs). Awesome (awful?) choice of name btw.
(ie ticketed and DQ’d).
So, you think you could get DQ’d for riding the bike course the day before the race? Not saying it couldn’t happen, but that would surprise me. Obviously if you’re riding a bike on a road where bikes are not allowed to be ridden, you can get ticketed, but I would find it a stretch for the police to give your details to race organisers who then DQ you.
Maybe I’ll be the one riding the divvy (I have a thing for bikes with dynamo hubs). Awesome (awful?) choice of name btw.
Its awesome to spin at 180 rpms in 3rd gear to do 16 mph.
I’m very excited about racing on Sunday but I’m pretty sure there are two things about this year’s AG course that won’t be the same next year for AG worlds:
I’m just curious, but why do people feel the need to ride the bike course the day before the race? Just wondering. Based on the speed that I see 90% of people take turns at, what’s the difference? Just never seemed worth the risk.
I can understand for a destination race you might want to go for a short spin 2 days before, but the day before, a short run seems plenty.
Just seems like some sort of needless ritual.
Chicago… crap it’s barely safe to drive down there. Ride, heck no.
I’m just curious, but why do people feel the need to ride the bike course the day before the race? Just wondering. Based on the speed that I see 90% of people take turns at, what’s the difference? Just never seemed worth the risk.
I can understand for a destination race you might want to go for a short spin 2 days before, but the day before, a short run seems plenty.
Just seems like some sort of needless ritual.
Chicago… crap it’s barely safe to drive down there. Ride, heck no.
Personally, I find I perform better on a course that I’m familiar with. I can gauge my efforts better, and I can push harder when I know I’m near the end of the course.
It “shortens” the course psychologically and thus eases the suffering (or I can suffer a bit more knowing what’s ahead).
YMMV.
I’m just curious, but why do people feel the need to ride the bike course the day before the race? Just wondering. Based on the speed that I see 90% of people take turns at, what’s the difference? Just never seemed worth the risk.
I can understand for a destination race you might want to go for a short spin 2 days before, but the day before, a short run seems plenty.
Just seems like some sort of needless ritual.
Chicago… crap it’s barely safe to drive down there. Ride, heck no.
I like to visualize the route. So no surprise “Oh crap sharp left at bottom of the 2nd hill” moments. But I am fine doing this in a car, do not need to actually ride it.
Also driving in Chicago is fun 
I’m just curious, but why do people feel the need to ride the bike course the day before the race? Just wondering. Based on the speed that I see 90% of people take turns at, what’s the difference? Just never seemed worth the risk.
I can understand for a destination race you might want to go for a short spin 2 days before, but the day before, a short run seems plenty.
Just seems like some sort of needless ritual.
Chicago… crap it’s barely safe to drive down there. Ride, heck no.
Personally, I find I perform better on a course that I’m familiar with. I can gauge my efforts better, and I can push harder when I know I’m near the end of the course.
It “shortens” the course psychologically and thus eases the suffering (or I can suffer a bit more knowing what’s ahead).
YMMV.
I use a power meter to gauge my efforts. But I will agree that knowing some corners would be nice, but that would take some of excitement out of it.
Re: bike course, 100% agreed do not ride on lower wacker… or Columbus for that matter. lakefront trail is OK - probably your best bet for pre-race ride - but lots of runners so use caution in terms of time in aero bars and speed. If you want to drive the bike course to get your bearings (which I completely understand), it is definitely doable…although if I understand the course directly, you might not be able to U-turn exactly where you will on race day.
Ohio Street Beach is maybe .5mi from the race course and is great for swimming (for day/two before)! I know some people use that to warm up day of the race (for Chicago Tri), although it is admittedly a bit of a hike from transition (probably closer to 1.5 mi).
Hope this helps!
I would suggest swimming at Ohio Street Beach which is not too far from the course. Riding on the Lakefront Path might be troublesome because of crowding though.
Lakefront path is good to bike on from sunrise to maybe 3pm. You should be able to be in aero most of the time, but don’t force it 100% or you will kill a divvy.
Also, prefer going South to going North. A lot busier on the North side of the path by me.
Also, if you see a divvy steer wide.
I agree with the Divvy. I just got off of it and it wasn’t too bad except for a two gaggles of teenagers and the clueless tourists on divvy bikes. . . .Best time to ride on a weekday IMHO is from 10-2. In the early morning people getting in rides or runs before work and commuters and in the afternoon post-work workouts/commuters.
ya 10-2 is good, but the 8-10 am crowd is not too bad. Mostly decent commuters and decent runners that keep to the right.
Yes, there have been a couple of races I have done that at least say they will DQ you for riding somewhere that is illegal. I think it was at last year USAT AG Nats and also at Miami 70.3 where they made it very clear you would be DQ’d for biking certain portions of race beforehand. I know for certain a few people were DQ’d at IMNYC in 2012 for riding the plasades before the race. And at Vegas 70.3WC last year, I saw them cut off wrist bands (ie DQ) for 2 people for swimming when not supposed to be swim.
Regardless, biking on lower waker would be crazy and no fun.
was just watching the online course webinar:
https://usat.adobeconnect.com/_a833421755/p2oggqszsjp/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal
states there will be an opportunity for swim warm up before your wave. probably like AG nats where they put you in the water 10 min before wave if you want to warm-up.
also states can only check the clear plastic bag they provide you. can’t leave bags by bike or check backpacks at gear check