This will be my first year at the wildflower Triathlon. Can somebody please talk to me about wheel selection and gearing for the course. I understand that the Oly course doesn’t have the climbs the Long course has but it still has those rollers.
50 front/ 50 rear?
50 front/ 90 rear?
90 front/ 90 rear?
I am currently running a 53/40 Qrings and 11-26 cassette
Thanks!
The standard ST response: 90 / disc. The climbs are going to suck as much with a 90 as with a 60 in the front, and the 90 in the back is no question. As for gearing, it sounds like you have an 11-26, so that’s what you’ll be running.
“The standard ST response: 90 / disc.”
That’s the standard ST response but that doesn’t mean that it’s always right. If it’s a windy day the OP might appreciate the 50 front option.
It doesn’t get very windy at the Wildflower.
The reason for the question was mainly because of the climbing done on the course. I don’t think wind is going to be an issue. I am more concerned with the hills and the weight savings to get me up those hills with fresher legs. But since i haven’t done the course before i am unfamiliar with what wheel combo is “best” or which combo is recommended to maintain that balance for the climbs while being aero for the few flats
It doesn’t get very windy at the Wildflower.
Most years.
Then again, there was that crazy-windy day with torrential downpours in 2004. Good times. A 50 would be welcome on a day like that.
My pros doing the long course will probably be using my 4Spoke wheels front and rear.
Wheel weight does not trump aero unless you are climbing a very steep grade, like 8 percent. So the aero benefit of running deeper wheels is going to always be faster than light unless you are doing the alpe d’huez tri and even then it might be close because the run in to that climb has about 25K of flat riding at high speed. If you have deep wheels, then go with the most aero.
Chad
It doesn’t get very windy at the Wildflower.
Most years.
Then again, there was that crazy-windy day with torrential downpours in 2004. Good times. A 50 would be welcome on a day like that.
2004 it was over 105F. 2003 was rainy and windy. I would have ran a disc if I had one that day. Plus if it is windy, then you want a disc, assuming you can stay on the bike.
2004 it was over 105F. 2003 was rainy and windy. I would have ran a disc if I had one that day. Plus if it is windy, then you want a disc, assuming you can stay on the bike.
Yes, you’re absolutely correct- it was 2003.
IMO- a disc in windy conditions is nowhere near as sketchy as a deep front wheel, but I weigh 155-160, so I don’t get tossed around as much as some lighter folks.
It was a little windy today around 12 noon… 
Run the deepest wheel you have in the back (most pros run a disc for the long course: Macca, Lieto, Anderson, etc.). The only sustained climb on the Oly is Lynch Hill (~1mi. at 5-7%…a 40-26 is fine) that comes right as you leave T1. The rest is rolling. Bring the 50 and 90 fronts and use the 90 if you can handle it on that day’s wind conditions.
I ran an H3 during the windy/rainy year (2003 or '04) no probs.
what are you PRACTICING on? go with what you know…any of those wheel choices are fast if you can stay low and aero. i know it’s ST law that you go deep at all times but i had one of my best WF races on a set of zipp 303’s.
The only sustained climb on the Oly is Lynch Hill (~1mi. at 5-7%…a 40-26 is fine) that comes right as you leave T1.
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What about Nasty Grade at mile 34?
the OP asked about the Olympic course, not the Long course…
and Nasty is at Mile 42 of the long course. 
You’re right. I forgot that the subject was the Olympic distance.
Putting on a 90 rear and bringing a 50 and 90 front on race day and making the decision on race morning based on the winds makes sense
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