First time going to Montreal and doing the Demi Esprit. The host hotel looks nice but I don’t know how convenient it is to the race site. Any information would be appreciated.
Side note: I’m a bit of a hotel snob and enjoy room service and super clean rooms, etc (so no motel 6!)
I haven’t done the race there yet, but since it is being held in the area of the Formula One track, this area is quite accessible from downtown. It will be a hoot since you’ll be biking on the Formula One circuit.
Montreal is one of my favorite cities, definately my favorite in North America. Enjoy.
The Raddisson on the south shore of Montreal (in Longueil) is about ten minutes from the race site, has excellent rooms, a nice dining room/bar, is right beside a Metro (subway) station that also houses convenience/shopping marts. Have been there twice and enjoyed every minute of my stay. And the race! Awesome!
i see the delta as the host hotel for the race. it is pretty close to the site, although if you look in chinatown, I’ve heard the holiday inn there is decently priced. (there’s a convention center next door so they have a lot of traffic)
http://www.velo.qc.ca/velo_quebec/Documents/rvm-montreal.pdf
if you look at the map, the race is near the bottom right, near the “112” sign. (the little island) anyway that’s the main bike path to get to the island (unless you take our infamous metro) the hotel is barely 10min bike ride away. (near that 720 sign but even closer to the race site)
I live here so I really can’t say where’s cheap but if you look online, I think old-montreal (vieux-port) is probably the closest to the site (close enough that you will be able to bike there; warm-up). Downtown & chinatown are close too but if you’re not used to riding in traffic, Montreal is not the place to learn (we drive like maniacs). And the metro (subway) is always cheap and efficient too.
http://www.stcum.qc.ca/English/a-somm.htm
(ps. old montreal is a great place to stay as well, you’ll have plenty of things to do)
The Delta is great but expensive (according to my standard)…169$ Can if you ask the triathlon special price. It’s 10 mins from the start so it’s pretty close by. The organisation is offering a navette from the Delta to the site at 4H45 am (they’ll get you, you’re stuff including the bike there). As for the Metro, forget it, you’ll be swimming before it starts. So if you don’t sleep at the Delta or if you don’t want to take the navette, drive to the site. At 5AM there wont be any traffic and there is a parking 25m from the start. If you have any friends or familly comming with you, what I suggest is getting there by car, keeping food, beer, etc in the trunk when they dont need it and if they wanna go downtown a bit while you bike, they can take the metro and leave the car there. They can also go gamble a bit at the casino right on the Island.
Anyway, that’s my strategy.
Don’t hesitate if you have any more question
1 month of big training left!
see you at the race!
Richard
Herschel: I was thinking about doing that race, but had a question. Do you know if the USAT will recognize that race in our rankings? The race is being held under ITU rules, with modified drafting. (riding side by side is allowed).
I’d love to do a race with 200 psi in my bike tires! 
That is supposedly the fastest known bike venue for triathlons. Next to a Velodrome in speed, eh?
-Robert
Do you know if the USAT will recognize that race in our rankings?
I don’t know. I just show up and race. A lot of people set PRs there so I’m anxious to go.
Thanks for the info rferron. We’ll probably stay at the Delta (we’re only in for one night) if it’s great and as close as you say to the race venue. We’ll have a car so we’ll drive in the a.m. to the race and maybe gamble a bit afterward if the race goes well!
Are you doing the Demi or the whole thing?
The IM distance. It’ll be my first and I’m really looking forward to it…been training specificaly for it since January so let’s bring it on!
What about you?
Richard
P.S.: by the way, a good way to prepare for the course is to play a Formula one game like Grand Prix 3.
I’m doing the half. No Full IMs for me this year due to new job, new city, new wife, old dog, etc. Good luck on your first IM - start easy and finish strong! Look for me in the green and white Degree Ironman outfit, orange and yellow Canndondale and say hi.
Hi everyone, I’m also planning on traveling up to Montreal to do the 1/2 IM distance race in Montreal. It’ll be my 1st 1/2 IM race so I’m looking forward to it. Anyways, can anyone tell me about the course itself. I know that the bike is on the formula one race course and the run is around the olympic basin, but how is it other wise. Such as, is there a lot of shade on the run? Are we running on cement or is there grass around the basin we can run on. Finally, how is the swim with sighting buoys. Any help and advice on my first 1/2 IM would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Here’s some info:
Swimming : the Buoy are usually all tied to a rope at the bottom. So basicaly you never have to look up, just follow the bottom line. The bassin is a like a big pool, so almost no waves and no current.
Bike : Not much shade, can be windy but since you go around it’s not too bad. Quite fast and almost flat (1 little uphill). Perfect pavement.
Run: No shade at all and next to the water so bring a hat! If I remember well(not sure here), on one side you dont have much choice to run on the cement and on the other you have some spot of grass on the side. But basicaly, I would prepare for hard surface since that’s what you’re suppose to run on during the race and since taking the available grass will make your’e journey a bit longer (outside of the track).
Advice : Dont underestimate the course, flat does’nt mean easy. Be ready for a hard day, if it gets easy that’s good, if not, you’re mentally prepared for it. Other than that, eat enough, drink enough and pee on the bike 
Good luck and see you at the race!
Richard
Hope that helps
Herschel: USAT will not be recognizing the race, per BJ Evans at USAT.
-Robert