Several of my friends got flats out on the bike course yesterday, all due to screws or nails - not rocks. I also heard a lot of complaining about flats at the finish. Anybody else have issues? I wonder if the locals are sending a message, *ala *IMMoo…?
I saw plenty of people changing tires, but I was noting that the roads were in decent condition. There could be plenty of nails around from horses, tractor equipment, etc… We definitely weren’t biking in the business district.
I saw tons of people supporting the race, but I guess it would only take one person sabotaging the bike course to ruin the day for everyone.
There seemed to be a lot of flats. I wonder how many were latex vs. butyl tubes 
Hard not to notice the big No Ironman painted on the road 
The flats that I was made aware of were all clinchers. One of my friends suffered 2 flats on 2 seperate occassions on race day, both with screws. This, after having ridden the exact route several times without incident during training. Just seems weird…
Were the flats specific to one area of the course?
Excuse my ignorance. But are flats caused by screws and nails really going to be any different if you have a clincher or tubular? Seem both would flat. Thought really pinch flats was the only real difference.
if this can be localized to a certain area of the course, id like to go check it out today. i live near the course and can see if someone dumped something on the road for the cyclists to run over…
I definitely heard a rumor at the finish that someone had dumped tacks on the course.
According to the guys I talked with, their flat problems occurred on 42 between 153 and 393 - not exactly “zeroing-in” on an area…
Since that’s miles of road, probably not much help.
According to the guys I talked with, their flat problems occurred on 42 between 153 and 393 - not exactly “zeroing-in” on an area…
Since that’s miles of road, probably not much help.
yeah, no small area there. if there is a specific mile marker i can head out but im not gonna search 10 miles of roads for a patch of tacks
I rode tubulars and got a flat shortly before mile 85 (on 42 close to 393). I didn’t see anything in my tire, but it sounded like a tack, nail, or rock. I flatted right next to someone else who was changing a flat from a nail.
Hard not to notice the big No Ironman painted on the road
I missed that. Where was it?
I also thought there seemed to be a lot of flats
I rode tubulars and got a flat shortly before mile 85 (on 42 close to 393). I didn’t see anything in my tire, but it sounded like a tack, nail, or rock. I flatted right next to someone else who was changing a flat from a nail.
according to http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ky/louisville/636359587
mile 85 is outside of 53 on rt42. is this map off that much?
were you tracking your ride with a gps? if so, give me coordinates of the flat and ill head over. its a 5 to 10 minute drive for me at best…
I’m not 100% on the mile marker. I’m thinking it was just before or just after the out/back section. It covered the entire lane. Ironman with a circle around it and a line thru it in orange paint.
that’s sad.
I did notice a lot of people w flats myself yesterday! Fortunately I escaped with none rather than the 2 I got at Steelhead this year.
I’m not positive on the mile marker, but it was very close (within a mile or two) to the last aid station on 42 (I think the aid station was at 393).
I was talking about my flat.
The crossed out Ironman was HUGE. I don’t see how anyone could miss it either.
My buddy got a tack in his tire around mile 85, as well.
Ironman triathlon boosted business in La Grange
By Andrea Uhde • auhde@courier-journal.com • August 31, 2009
http://www.courier-journal.com/...le?AID=2009908310329
The third year of the Ford Ironman Louisville triathlon brought more people into La Grange than in previous years, said Barbara Manley Edds of Discover Downtown La Grange.
“The lots filled up much more quickly; we had more shuttle buses running,” Edds said.
She said the businesses were packed, and “restaurants did extremely well.”
The Aug. 30 triathlon took athletes through La Grange on Ky. 146 during the bicycle portion, which spanned 112 miles. Athletes also swam 2.4 miles and ran 26.2 miles.
Lt. Col. Billy Way with the Oldham County Police Department said some children were throwing sticks at bicyclists near Countryside subdivision on U.S. 42, and later some bicyclists ran over tacks that had been thrown in the road and had to deal with flat tires.
The police departments plan to have a “debriefing” of the day on Sept. 1, Way said.Reporter Andrea Uhde can be reached at (502) 582-4663.