Is there a aid station on the bike? Does not appear so but wanted to double check.
I have a very late start time. With about 2 hours to kill between when transition closes and my start time. Do I bother checking on my bike race morning or just trust it will as I left it the day before?
both have their downsides: 1. Paranoid triathlete: double checking my gear and turning my bike computer on and hanging out in the shade for 2 hours before my race starts or…sleeping in, eating/hydrating well and staying away from the mayhem.
Is there a aid station on the bike? Does not appear so but wanted to double check.
I have a very late start time. With about 2 hours to kill between when transition closes and my start time. Do I bother checking on my bike race morning or just trust it will as I left it the day before?
both have their downsides: 1. Paranoid triathlete: double checking my gear and turning my bike computer on and hanging out in the shade for 2 hours before my race starts or…sleeping in, eating/hydrating well and staying away from the mayhem.
No aid station on the bike.
Personally, I’d check the bike in the AM. At a minimum you’ll want to put cold water (or whatever) in your hydration system. It was very, very warm last year and I doubt you want to drink something that’s been sitting out for 12+ hours. You’ll also need to drop off your running shoes (I wouldn’t leave them overnight in case it rains).
If a garmin battery will last from 2hrs before one starts an Ironman untill a few hrs after you complete it, you have nothing at all to worry about. As usual, test it if you are that concerned.
2 or 3 bottles for an olympic?! 1 for me but I guess it depends on how much you need.
On the Garmin, like the last guy above hinted - I’d start it when leaving transition before the swim and let it auto-pause. That way it’ll be already turned on and ready to go as you leave transition - saving you a few seconds from messing with it.
What is the swim like? Is it in a lawn ornament pond as I have been told?
It’s not quite a “lawn ornament” pond but it’s not Lake Michigan. The 1500m swim just barely fits in the lake, based on where the start is positioned. Basically 750M out, hang a right for 50M and 700M back (distances are approximate). The start is in-water while holding onto a temporary dock. Last year the water was warm (83+ degrees at race time on Saturday). The water quality leaves a lot to be desired. There was a lot of algae and organic “stuff”. It was difficult to see one fingertips in the water.
I always check on my bike for sure the morning of a race where you have to check you bike in the day before. If nothing else, I have to air my tires up… you don’t want them sitting at full pressure in the sun and I use latex that seeps air. You will set up transition the morning of the race… since you only leave your bike the day before.
Last year I had a late wave and got there as soon as transition opened. Set up transition, went back to my hotel, ate breakfast and came back later close to my start.
The congestion into the park was a pain. I was really early and quickly ran into this. They delayed the close of transition by around 10-15 minutes so everybody could finish parking, making a late start even later. I wish I had ridden my bike into the park instead and let my husband sit in the traffic line while drinking his coffee.
