Did you guys know there is a time trial up The Beast on Wednesday, April 30th at 5:00 PM?
Also, are there timing mats at the bottom and top of The Beast for a “K.O.M.” competition? It would be interesting to see how fast (slow) we got up the climb. I’m tentatively planning on using SRAM Red 11-26 cogset with SRAM Red 50/34 cranks. The gradient is said to average 15% with a steep section at 21%, about the same as the Kwaremont in the Tour of Flanders, but no cobbles.
that is some really sloppy climbing! I can’t believe how many of those riders (I assume they’re pros) looked bad going up that hill. The guy on the disc was pretty smooth though. And Kate Major looked like she knew what she was doing… 11-26 should give you plenty of gearing to spin up that hill without looking like you’re churning butter.
I always remark at how riders sometimes don’t find the shallow-est line up the climb. It is as though they actually seek out the steepest section of the road. Strange. That underlines the importance of riding the thing before race day.
We get there the day after the TT on Wednesday. That’s a shame- I would have liked to do the TT.
I remember the BEast the first year of St Croix Half IM… and the Rd anouncing the day before- “Guys! Your race starts after you get over the Beast!” Boy was he right. It is brutal. The descent is great afterwards and then there are more hills to come, it is the start of a tough ride. I went to the awards dinner and met Ryan Bolton the winner and sat with a guy form New York. He had laid his softride down at the bottom of the descent after the beast right at the left turn on the golf course. It broke his beam- but he carried on and rode the rest of the course without a fully functioning beam- I will remmer his name if I think about it, Dave something?
Great race, beautiful course, bitch of a bike!
Weeman
I always remark at how riders sometimes don’t find the shallow-est line up the climb. It is as though they actually seek out the steepest section of the road. Strange. That underlines the importance of riding the thing before race day.
You’re right. There are two switchbacks at this point on the Beast. The difference between the steep, inside line and the shallow, outside line is probably a good ten degrees. If you follow the outside lines on these switchbacks, it’s the flattest part of the whole climb.
It looks like the switchbacks are on the left side (at least on the video) which is where we should be riding correct? Just watching that video makes me want to skip the race… I am way too out of shape!
The inside of each switchback is about 20%, so you wanna swing around on the outside. The Beast is nothing. The 30 miles after the Beast are brutal, then the first 2 miles out of T2 are basically uphill.
The first outside line is on the left, the second outside line is on the right. Stay wide left as you approach the first switchback and stay there for that turnh. After you make that turn, go to the far right for the second switchback. The inside lines on both are probably closer to 25 or 27 degrees slope than 20.
Don’t sweat the Beast; it’s only one hill.
its probably about as long as that first big steep hill, but its about 3x steeper- there is a very serious risk that (depending on your gearing) teh bike will stop and you will fall over…this is not a risk at any of the CA hills.
its probably about as long as that first big steep hill, but its about 3x steeper- there is a very serious risk that (depending on your gearing) teh bike will stop and you will fall over…this is not a risk at any of the CA hills.
YIKES!
If you have a 34x27 even a BOP rider should have no issue getting up the Beast without falling over…if one shows up with 39x21 then “good luck staying upright”!
I’m a MOP rider in my mid-40’s and have no problem even with a 12-23, although I am changing to a 12-27 for the race to save my legs for after the beast, particularly the east end hills and the run. I’ve seen plenty of riders pull the “Benny Hill” falling over stunt, but I bet most of them ride too hard at the beginning of the climb. If you are worried about it, get in your easiest gear at the foot of the hill, and ride as slow as you can. It may seem slow, but you will pass plenty of walkers as you churn up the hill.
First steep hill in CA 70.3: 0.7 miles at 8% grade
steepest hill on ironman france: 4 miles at 6.5% grade
The beast: 0.7 miles at avg of 16% grade, parts at 22%.
So i guess technically its only twice as steep. I would characterize it as “the steepest thing you have ever in your life tried to ride up unless you live in san francisco or are a mountain biker”…there is a very real risk of falling off- thats what happened to all of htose people you can see in the youtube videos walking…according to the RD, last year about 25% of the field walked.
You can do a few things to handle the beast:
bring the lowest gears you can find. I rode a compact with a 27tooth rear last year, and it was great (ie less terrible than what everyone else had)
zigzag up the hill- this will piss off EVERYONE around you, but it makes a huge difference, and its kind of fun.
take the outsides of all the corners
make sure you can comfortably stand up on your tribike- on my tribike i cant really climb standing (knees hit elbow pads), so i m bringing my roadbike with extensions. Its impossible to spin up the beast in anything probably including a triple.
A few other notes about the st croix course:
o) the swim is really pretty. You can see fish and coral snorkel style for almost the entire swim. its awesome. its also got the only floating portajohn ive ever seen.
a) everyone is so obsessed with the beast that they forget the next 30 miles are also really hilly (not very steep, but nasty rollers)(also typically upwind)
b) the run is REALLY REALLY REALLY hilly. not very long hills, but most folks have to walk at least 1 (the one in the golf course) nasty steep short little buggers.
c) its hot and sticky and windless on the run. i barfed. all over a race volunteer. oops!
that being said, we went last year, i barfed, we are goign again, its great fun. people are REALLY REALLY nice.
