Figaro

Next summer, I plan to compete in the time trial at the OutGames in Montreal. The time trial takes place on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. What is the terrain of the course? What kind of winds should I expect on the Ile Notre Dame?

Merci. Thanks.

thewalrus

out games?

faaaaaabulous.

bitingduck

I don't live in Montreal, but I spend a bit of time there, and have biked and skated the circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

It's pretty much flat-- it's on an island in a slow moving river (the St. Laurent) with only slight grades here and there. For most purposes you can consider it flat. It does have some twists and turns, and some hairpins in it, but they shouldn't be hard to negotiate on a bike. The road surface is for the most part excellent.

I don't think it's ever been particularly windy when I was there, even when we were skating on the Estacade and it felt like a bit of wind, it wasn't much, and wouldn't have been significant at all if I were on a bike.

Figaro

These forums really are worthless. You ask a question and what you get is ridicule. If you don't have an answer, keep your junior-high-level "creativity" to yourself, you homophobic swine.

Figaro

It's just this kind of crap from The Walrus, that makes gay people suspicious of heterosexuals. Because we know that at any given moment we might be ridiculed or humiliated. We're sensitive to homophobia because it's always there. It would be nice if it could be left out of biking discussions.

james57

Circuit is 4.3-4.4 km, dominant wind usually from the W which does'nt really helps since that part is slightly protected by the trees, in your face on the long stretch back .. but if the wind E .. this is a completely different scenario .. For a detail mapping of the course do a Google on F1 tracks and Montreal .. expect a fast pace, a tight airpin and some turns, one speed bump and hammer till it burns...

bitingduck

You type with a quebecois accent...

I don't think I ever noticed a speedbump though, except for the low red and white pyramids at the corners. I think I would have noticed it on skates, because I suck at skating, but maybe we cut the speedbump off inadvertantly.

Anyway, it's a really nice course, and you'll probably like it. It's made to be somewhat technical for F1 cars, so it will be slightly technical on a road bike, but not excessively. I would love to ride a crit on it.

trackasaurus

wow! congratulations walrus, you know how to attach a file.
grow up loser.
please keep the homphobic drivel in the toilet.

on to cycling related stuff.

it's pretty much flat
there is one slightly uphill part for maybe 300m.
if you are serious about winning, i'd recommend riding here during your training to get a bit of recon in, as there are alot of wind barriers- it's a 4.3km loop and there are high concrete barriers on some sections (start/finish especially, and a 500m "descent"). i'm sure recon definitely would help to get your line down.

good luck.

Figaro

I'd love to ride there during my training, but I'm in California. I will have a chance to ride the course a few times in the days before the time trial. The info you all gave is very helpful to help me selecting the correct roads to train on around here. This is a very hilly area where I live. Also winds off the ocean are a major factor in spring and summer riding around here.

About 15 years ago, I spent the month of July near Ste. Agathe des Monts. Quite a few days were really hot. Where I am, it rarely goes above 26 deg C. So I have very little experience of riding really hard on a very hot day.

Thanks for all the information--it is really helpful.

DocRay

Circuit GV is perfectly flat, it can get windy there, depends on time of year.

Michel Gagnon

Not only is it mostly flat (the few grades are just enough to require some shifting), but pavement is gorgeous... which is why it is a favourite spot of many roadies and inline skaters. A group of road cyclists often ride it at 40-50 km/h on the flat (peloton, with the wind in their back).

Montréal is warmer than Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, but the island has a cooler breeze than the city. Still, at the end of July, expect temperatures in the 25 to 32 C range. In terms of rain, full days of rain are unlikely in the Summer. It will probably be sunny, but you may get a shower lasting anything from 10 to 120 minutes and maybe a thunderstorm.

Here is a link to the Circuit.

thewalrus

Interesting that people assumed I was being negative with my post of a photo... That wasn't my intention at all. I live in Vancouver's west end, probably the gayest neighborhood in north america outside of San Francisco. I went to last year's pride parade and enjoyed it very much, thanks.

jimx200

figaro, your g string seems a little too tight. you're the one who jumped all over walrus with your petty name calling....you don't like the forums, leave or just suck it up....whoops, bad choice of words. no one gives a rats ass if your gay, but what annoys most of us is the oh so sensative and politically correct gay.

ewitz

Bravo. Keep the PC out of biking.

You ask a question that opens yourself up to this type of response. Maybe you need to develop a little bit thicker skin.

james57

The course is flat .. the speedbump I was refering to is slimply a small incline after the S turns and does'nt even require a shift just out of saddle .. Selection of equipment is full aero and high pressure tire (above 140 psi), pavement is as good as it gets .. Depending on the distance the avg should be well above the 50km/h for pros..