Does anybody know Fairmount Park in Philadelphia well enough to comment on the bike course for the Philly Tri coming up in a few weeks? Bike course map: http://www.phillytri.com/bikemap.html
Much of it is along the banks of the Schuylkill River, and flat, but I’m curious about the few excursions up the bank of the river: what sort of grade should I be prepared for, and how much vertical gain?
-Steve Stuart
don’t worry, the peloton will pull you up the hills
.
You’re worried about the bike, but not worried about the swim in the Schuykill? yuck.
Re bike: I dont recall there being any big climbs, it’s sort of ‘flatly rolling’
I’ll be racing in Philly. Not familiar w/ the area at all. What’s the beef about the water???
The Other TD
I’ll be racing in Philly. Not familiar w/ the area at all. What’s the beef about the water???
The Other TD
You mean the “Sure Kill” river? If you have to ask, you don’t want to know…
Like Ken said, you don’t want to know. Trust us on that.
Just do your race and don’t worry about it. 
because it’s the Schulkyll River!!! Actually, I’d be more worried about the parade of bikes (1000 entries - 12.5 mile loop - sounds like one big parking lot to me).
but don’t stress over the hills, just a couple of short ones, Strawberry Mansion might be a little steep, but not very long.
The bike course has a fairly difficult hill right out of T1, so keep that in mind.
Also, the course isn’t too hilly, but very technical…if that’s your cup of tea. A road bike with clip-ons may be the best option.
I’m doing it as a relay, and I drew the short straw…i’m doing the swim. I am thinking of freezing some ‘healthy’ sperm before I swim in the Skoo-kill…yeah, it’s that bad.
I rode the course this weekend. It leaves the (flat) river drives 4 times. Each time there is a short climb away from the river and descent back to it. None of them are particularly long. I’ll have to check my computer later to make sure, but I doubt the vertical gain each time is much more than a couple hundred feet. I thought Lemon Hill (the 3rd trip from the banks) was the steepest, but also the shortest. I think that the “toughest” will probably be the 1st just because you hit it pretty quickly after T1 (maybe a mile?). Of the descents (obviously also pretty short), I think the last one coming back towards the transition area will be tricky because of a couple quick tight turns and likely heavy traffic in that area to boot.
As for the water, I rowed on it back in high school. It’s supposed to be much cleaner than it was back then (or that is what I will keep telling myself right up until I finish the swim).
I also rowed on it, when I was in college, and will be racing there later this month…I heard a rumor once that the river was on fire…I’ve heard that rumor about a few rivers I used to row on but even if its just a rumor, I am not looking forward to the swim. At least it is now a point to point down river swim, should be fast depending on the current.
Swim in lane 1 That’s the lane with the good current.
Thanks, all, for the info. Keep it coming.
Actually, I’d be more worried about the parade of bikes (1000 entries - 12.5 mile loop - sounds like one big parking lot to me).
Actually, it was upped to 1250 bikes in that 12.5-mile loop. And it does worry me – I’m a better swimmer than biker, so I’m worried I’ll spend the whole race dropping back as I get passed.
-Steve Stuart
I’ll be racing in Philly. Not familiar w/ the area at all. What’s the beef about the water???
The Other TD
You mean the “Sure Kill” river? If you have to ask, you don’t want to know…
There’s an elevation map here:
http://www.phillytri.com/images/smallmap.jpg
None of these hills is really much to worry about, all very short and not all that steep compared to say the Wall in Manayunk. I’d stick to a tri bike as there are long flat and straight sections in addition to the 3 climbs descents. You’re going to be aero a lot more than climbing or descending.
Keith
For what it’s worth, a woman I swim at masters with is an EPA enforcement officer in the Philadelphia region. I spoke with her about it and she said the Schuylkill water’s safe and she wouldn’t hesitate to swim in it. The only problem, she said, is if there’s flooding a few days before the race. The river has a bad reputation, but I think that’s mostly based upon the condition it was in years ago.
For what it’s worth, a woman I swim at masters with is an EPA enforcement officer in the Philadelphia region. I spoke with her about it and she said the Schuylkill water’s safe and she wouldn’t hesitate to swim in it. The only problem, she said, is if there’s flooding a few days before the race. The river has a bad reputation, but I think that’s mostly based upon the condition it was in years ago.
And besides, you can probably just walk across it.
No one’s twisting anyone’s arm to pay $185 (or whatever it is) for the pleasure of swimming in or walking on it.
There’s an elevation map here:
http://www.phillytri.com/images/smallmap.jpg
Excellent, thanks. That says 192 ft, not m, right?
-Steve Stuart
None of these hills is really much to worry about, all very short and not all that steep compared to say the Wall in Manayunk.
Gee, now that’s reassuring.
-Steve Stuart
Yeah, the highest point is 195.2 feet
.