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07-12-07, 12:05 AM
This is another newbie Tri/Du question :)
I have an informal tri coming up in a week and a half (A "tri for fun" series) and have some questions about how to ride the cycling leg. The course is 11 miles and is mostly flat but with a few rollers. I've heard that a lot of people will ride road TT's in 3rds, ramping up the first 1/3, going hard but steady the 2nd third and then ramping it up on the last third.
Should the same general idea apply to the bike leg of a Tri as well? I know that my tendency is to start out too hard. However, the first part of the course has me wondering. It starts with a small climb out of the transition area up to a road that is mostly flat. The first 2.5-3 miles of the course almost always has a big tailwind. I live pretty close to the course so I've verified this. You can get up to insane speeds on it, sometimes as much as 5-6 mph above what one might do on flat ground. Early in the morning through the wind is usually good for 1-2 mph greater than the usual speed. Part of me wonders if I should go harder at the beginning to take advantage of this "free speed" I'd get from the tailwind while I have it. Or would I be better off saving my watts for the return leg that has a headwind (it's along a different road) ?
Not sure if I should always stick to the idea of riding the bike part in thirds or if the terrain would indicate a change of some sort.
I have an informal tri coming up in a week and a half (A "tri for fun" series) and have some questions about how to ride the cycling leg. The course is 11 miles and is mostly flat but with a few rollers. I've heard that a lot of people will ride road TT's in 3rds, ramping up the first 1/3, going hard but steady the 2nd third and then ramping it up on the last third.
Should the same general idea apply to the bike leg of a Tri as well? I know that my tendency is to start out too hard. However, the first part of the course has me wondering. It starts with a small climb out of the transition area up to a road that is mostly flat. The first 2.5-3 miles of the course almost always has a big tailwind. I live pretty close to the course so I've verified this. You can get up to insane speeds on it, sometimes as much as 5-6 mph above what one might do on flat ground. Early in the morning through the wind is usually good for 1-2 mph greater than the usual speed. Part of me wonders if I should go harder at the beginning to take advantage of this "free speed" I'd get from the tailwind while I have it. Or would I be better off saving my watts for the return leg that has a headwind (it's along a different road) ?
Not sure if I should always stick to the idea of riding the bike part in thirds or if the terrain would indicate a change of some sort.