Any info on the bike course would be greatly appreciated from past participants:
Coastal riding? Winds? Choice of wheels? At this stage planning on sending her over with the Jet 40 / Jet Disc.
Elevation?
12 - 23? or stick the 25 on?
Asking for the Sheila…
Thanks in advance.
Hey Steve,
Rating the ride is tough as it is a bit subjective obviously. I can give you a pretty good breakdown though and you can judge for yourself.
The first 5 - 8k approx are what I would call rollers with only one 300m pinch about 2k out of town (incidentally also making up the run course). Once you leave teh residential area you have predominantly flat roads that will almost definitely be wind affected (generally head wind on the way home). Can be mild to ferocious depending on the day you get but almost always you will have some wind out there on that flat section. Out at the far end of the course again there are a couple of rollers, but not as bad as leaving town.
Warning: the course is slower coming back and hillier. You should have head wind as mentioned on the way home and although mostly flat if the wind is up then 22 - 25km/h is a good speed and would probably see north of 260 watts for that sort of return. Once you leave the main drag, you have one mother of a hill that is about 200m in length but very steep. Crowds gather at the top to cheer and jeer competitors as they come through. It really stings the legs but any competent rider smashes over the top of it and gets through. From there back into town is about 10k and has some good little climbs of 200 - 300m. For most chicks it would be small ring material just aiming to keep good tempo. If it is a windy day, it is especially tougher as you have battled the headwind for the last hour and then you have these hills as well. Last 2k is pretty sweet back into town and a chance to just spin teh legs out and get ready for the run.
Warning: they have changed teh run course this year and will need to be factored in. The run course is TOUGH and 2 laps of a hilly course (basically the first 5k of the bike). It has 2 very good hills in it that will really sting, and if you have cooked yourself on teh bike you will suffer big time.
Expect to run 3 - 5 minutes slower than you normally would at any other 70.3.
If you need anymore info, let me know. Good luck to her. 40 and a disc will be sweet - good choice if she is less than 70kg.
Cheers
A much better plan than camping in Rotoura! (I hate camping) 
Hey Steve,
Rating the ride is tough as it is a bit subjective obviously. I can give you a pretty good breakdown though and you can judge for yourself.
The first 5 - 8k approx are what I would call rollers with only one 300m pinch about 2k out of town (incidentally also making up the run course). Once you leave teh residential area you have predominantly flat roads that will almost definitely be wind affected (generally head wind on the way home). Can be mild to ferocious depending on the day you get but almost always you will have some wind out there on that flat section. Out at the far end of the course again there are a couple of rollers, but not as bad as leaving town.
Warning: the course is slower coming back and hillier. You should have head wind as mentioned on the way home and although mostly flat if the wind is up then 22 - 25km/h is a good speed and would probably see north of 260 watts for that sort of return. Once you leave the main drag, you have one mother of a hill that is about 200m in length but very steep. Crowds gather at the top to cheer and jeer competitors as they come through. It really stings the legs but any competent rider smashes over the top of it and gets through. From there back into town is about 10k and has some good little climbs of 200 - 300m. For most chicks it would be small ring material just aiming to keep good tempo. If it is a windy day, it is especially tougher as you have battled the headwind for the last hour and then you have these hills as well. Last 2k is pretty sweet back into town and a chance to just spin teh legs out and get ready for the run.
Warning: they have changed teh run course this year and will need to be factored in. The run course is TOUGH and 2 laps of a hilly course (basically the first 5k of the bike). It has 2 very good hills in it that will really sting, and if you have cooked yourself on teh bike you will suffer big time.
Expect to run 3 - 5 minutes slower than you normally would at any other 70.3.
If you need anymore info, let me know. Good luck to her. 40 and a disc will be sweet - good choice if she is less than 70kg.
Cheers
This is very accurate.
I’ll add - many riders at back of pack walk the hill heading back in to town instead of ride. One year some muppet fan painted the road and it rained, people were sliding out all over the place as it is steep and they couldn’t get traction. Some idiots just don’t think. But usually it’s a great place to watch as even the best riders are going really slow and you can have a quick chat to them as they head past.
He’s accurate with the wind - you can bank on it being windy. As for disc wheels, because of the wind, the really rough road surface in lots of places, and the hills, some who normally would, even top level athletes, don’t use a disc.
The wind is also an issue on the run course in some sections that are open and straight into it on some days.
Thanks guys - appreciate the advice.
(Alpha - I think you’ll need your waterproofs…)
SB.
(Alpha - I think you’ll need your waterproofs…)
I’m not going camping, i’m staying in a motel with a spa bath … but the weather does look like it will be quite cold for race day. What’s up with these middle of the north island races for me, are they aiming to freeze me to death?
I’d take the blow up mattress and fly sheet over that smell in town - any day of the week.
hmm I’ve never been there before so i guess I have that experince to come on Friday evening
.
About to enter for October this year, but trying to get my head around these hills on the bike course.
Anyone raced Phuket 70.3 and Port Macquarie? Are we talking similar hills?
I also hear the roads are in a pretty bad state - anyone verify this?
Ask Salmon Steve rather than me, his wife got 2nd there in 2011. I was in Rotoura getting bloodily cold and wet…
Funnily enough she re-entered this event just last week.
Currently out running and I didn’t go over in 2011 so will ask her to reply later this evening.
SB.
Thanks guys…
2 laps.
First 5 km follows the coast and is particularly hilly. Couple of 100-200m climbs but I’m not sure of elevation.
Straight for 10km (ish) but the road surface was heavy, dead turn and same heavy road on the way back in.
There’s a hill at about 5km from town that they lay a carpet as it’s that steep some get off and walk. You don’t have to ride on the carpet though thankfully.
Repeat x 2
It’s a tough course. Haven’t done Phuket, but I’d say the bike course isn’t as tough as some of the 70.3’s I’ve done (St.Croix, Wildflower etc) but the run course is VERY solid. No flat just up and down.
Swim is one big lap but hard to navigate. The sun was a pain and a distinct lack of buoys.
Actually - now I come to think of it I’m not sure why I’ve entered it again…it’s a tough day!!!
All the best,
Sam.
Thanks Sam, appreciate the details.
Having second thoughts now - I’m back of the pack guy who hates hills so this might not be my best choice.
So is a road bike a reasonable option rather than a TT/Tri bike for a first timer? Is it that hilly that the difference might be negated?
Two more questions and forgive me for being dumb…
I have raced Phuket 70.3 which saw hills with a maximum of 20% gradient, and my research into PM 70.3 seems to indicate 3% gradient.
Which one is steeper?
Also, is it likely to be a wetsuit swim?
The only reason I could see for using a road bike would be if you’re not that familiar with a TT bike maybe just starting out on one and you’re not strong enough to stay on the drops on the drags of which there are a few. If that were the case you’re going to be out of the drops quite a bit on the hills but I would still say a TT bike to be honest.
With regards to the steepness of the hills the one on the way back in with the carpet is around 12-14% I would say, the rest are rollers if you work them right you’re not out of the saddle that long, work the downhills and maintain the speed into the next climb.
It’s been 2 years my memory is a little foggy sorry!!
Sam.
It’s a tough course. Haven’t done Phuket, but I’d say the bike course isn’t as tough as some of the 70.3’s I’ve done (St.Croix, Wildflower etc) but the run course is VERY solid. No flat just up and down.
Swim is one big lap but hard to navigate. The sun was a pain and a distinct lack of buoys.
Actually - now I come to think of it I’m not sure why I’ve entered it again…it’s a tough day!!!
All the best,
Sam.
Been a while since you raced there? They have removed every hill from the run course. Once you get to the end of the break wall you now do a uturn and head back out along the river. 3 Laps now.
Bike stays the same.
Cheers to all and will cease being a wuss and sign up. Just have to train on some hills.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EueAVcC2MMg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEueAVcC2MMg
Found a clip, looks very manageable.