Is it seriously going to be a non wetsuit swim- water now is 77 according to website??? Also what gearing would you recommend- I was going to run an 11-23 on the rear (10sp)… no real probs on hills and from what I gather it ain’t a hilly course,
Weeman
77 degrees is still cooler than the pool at my gym… We went through this two years ago, water up to 78 degrees, but we ended up in wetsuits anyway. Just need some slightly cooler temps for the week leading up to the race.
WRT gearing, 11-23 is probably fine if you are really strong. It is not a hilly course by Northern California standards (we have Auburn to the north and Wildflower to the south), but there are a couple grinders. I plan on running an 11-23, but I also have compact cranks.
Only once in the past 6 years has it not been a wetsuit swim, though a few of the years have been pretty iffy and I wished I’d gone sans wetsuit.
clm
Water temp was 77 degree’s on Saturday, warmer in a couple places, but measured in a number of places closer to the beach at 3+ feet deep. I swam w/ no wetsuit on Saturday morning - no issues. We have had (up until today) temps in the low 90’s to 100+ degrees depending where you are. We were at 100 degree’s in Geyserville area of the course and mid 90’s closer to Windsor on Saturday afternoon. Days like that (we had a bunch) will help warm the water up. Today was much cooler with high marine layer until almost noon. It’s way too early to predict whether it will be wetsuit or not. If it’s a hot week next week w/ no marine layer it’s quite possible no wetsuits … if it’s a “normal” weather pattern (highs in the low/mid 80’s, cool nights w/ marine layer through part of the morning) then the water will stay cooler!
Gearing? If you have 10sp and 700c wheels i say the majority of folks racing here should ride the 12x25 if you have it … if you only have 11x23 then thats what it is. I guess it’s relative to what you train on, how strong you are, how much you want to “cross chain” gearing and maybe what kind of cadence you want to carry on a couple of the short hills. IMO there is nothing sustained that is “steep”. Chalk Hill will present probelms only for those who do not have the right gearing, fitness, or sense to pace themselves during the bike leg.
Cathy and John are correct regarding the last two years … if the race was 1 week earlier you would not have been wearing wetsuits. Race day the last 2 years have been 74 & 75 degree’s. It’s just a timing thing … there has only been 1 non-wetsuit legal swim in 15 years.
See you in a couple weeks!