I Have a question about The bike set up Simon used to win LP '04, Maybe he can answer himself if he isn’t out doing a monster training session.
Regarding the soloist he rode, I’m wondering if the seat post head was in the forward (steeper) position or the rear position, I cant seem to find any pics that will show me.
thanks
None of these pictures show it definitively,
http://www.asiorders.com/...NTID=3591&BIB=31
however, this one which I pulled off the above list from ASI Orders seems to suggest “slack”
Edit: This is the "anti ST Setup"…drop bars, no bar end shifting, slack seat tube angle…conventional roadie saddle, no aero helmet, two frame mounted water bottles (no behind the seat launcher). Someone, please relegate this guy to poser zone. Doesn’t he know that you can’t do an 8:23 with such a set up…
Edit 2: A friend of mine who raced Kona in the Pro Women’s field said, “you want to see where the hot bikes are…don’t look in the pro rack, look in men’s 40-44 and 45-49”. Simon’s aluminium soloist with Cosmic wheels would not even make the third team all star list in the M40-44 rack…yet this setup went 8:23…amazing 
I’ll be doing IMLP next year as my first ironman. I’m curious as to how many people ride the course with road bikes instead of tri bikes?
Pretty well all the fast guys and Kona qualifier are on ST approved tri bikes :-). Lessing is likely one of the few exceptions. There really is a lot of aero position riding despite the hills. You do all you descending once per loop, then there are lots of gradual aerobar climbs. The picture of Lessing is likely taken at High Falls gorge, but do not that he is standing up but in the big ring.
I’ve debated using my road bike instead of the tri rig. There are definately climbing sections that a lighter bike would be nice, but there is a lot of flats/rollers and low grade climbs were you stay in the aero bars and can really go fast. Unless you are going to be doing most of your training somewhere without any hills to ride, I’d say stick with a tri bike. If climbing is going to be a problem, consider the road bike.
Not to be a know it all but I think that photo was taken at the upper cascade lake after the first downhill section there is small uphill section then downhill past the lower cascade lake.Tri bike is fine for IMLP no major climbs,Ive done it twice.
That is completely possible that it was at upper Casade or High Falls (2 locations with cliffs in the background with water). Being a pro at frequent ST posting (vs a pro in triathlon), I must now assume my duty of hammering a pro triathlete, in this case Mr. Lessing for not being in the aero position when he would have no doubt still been going at 33 mph popping over that hump…man he could have put the record out of sight and gone 8:13 if he stayed aero
Thanks Dev.
…man he could have put the record out of sight and gone 8:13 if he stayed aero
You would have improved your PR at IMLP this year even more if you stayed more aero when you were climbing Mama bear;).