Ironman Wales 2013

M..TRIumphant wrote (see)

Standard allow road wheels that came with the bike.  I;ve tried all carbon tubular wheels, and OK with swisstop pads, but prefer the allow braking surface, and whatever wheels I get will need to be training and racing wheels, can't afford to have both.

Yup - same for me.  And would prefer clinchers, as I already have 60 quids worth of race tyres sat waiting!

I ran 60mm clinchers for the race last year (and Long Course Weekend); the dirt-cheap Chinese ones via ebay. I had no problems with them. Only place I got bothered by crosswinds on either ride was the 500 metres along the beach at Angle on LCW when it was Force 5. Take your point about the braking performance, M..Tri.... lots of hard braking required on wet lanes and slippery leaves... but it was all fine. In summary - no need to sweat too much over your wheel choice .

cant stop andy (SoS) from buying things can we??

its gonna be ace this year mate.

i dont think you need new wheels...the ones you've got are great (similar to RS80s i run) and to make a big gain you'll have to spend about a grand....may as well pay Jase to coach you for half that!!!

You'll be reet without new wheels this year...i just KNOW it!!!

AndyB99 wrote (see)

cant stop andy (SoS) from buying things can we??

 

its gonna be ace this year mate.

 

i dont think you need new wheels...the ones you've got are great (similar to RS80s i run) and to make a big gain you'll have to spend about a grand....may as well pay Jase to coach you for half that!!!

You'll be reet without new wheels this year...i just KNOW it!!!!

Hey!  I haven't bought anything for the bike for ages and ages!

Provided Beatrice stays well this year, that Dragon's going DOWN!

The deed is done, the entry confirmed, and accommodation booked.  Long Course full distance swim and bike also entered, together with Wimbleball as a nice warm-up.

Off now to lie down in a dark room, and think about what I've done.

Oh yeay, bike fit Saturday for a nice shiny TT.

And next week sorting out travel and accommodation for Challenge Vitoria in July.

2013 is the year I break myself, financially, physically and mentally

If the course has the amount of climbing people keep mentioning, would a road bike be a better choice then a TT bike for this?

glad to have you on board M.tri...........will you be taff swimming this summer

A TT bike wouldn't be an issue, FF.

FF, I don't have a TT bike, but a road bike has been fine for me at both IMWs so far - and although it wasn't too windy last year, in 2011 quite a few people were struggling with their TT bikes (I know because I passed plenty !)

Cheers Jods, I have both but i'm more comfortable on hills and technical courses on my road bike.

Think i may give the long course weekend a punt on the road bike and make a choice after that.

It's not v technical, but there are certainly some decent hills - I'd go for the lightest choice, but LCW should help you decide.

FF

What do you descend best on?

some of the descents are a bit technical with bad bends at the bottom

Subject to getting a TT, I'll be trying it out at the LCW to see how it does, and then make a decision.

Noted about some of the descents being technical, the one into Narbeth before the climb into town was particularly unpleasant (if I remember correctly), bu quite a few of the ascents and descents were fairly striaght forward, so it's still a tough call.

Having volunteered in 2012, there were a lot more TT bikes on the course than in 2011, I think the feedback generally was that TT bikes were suitable, although 2011 did have stronger winds, but that really had a biger impact on wheel choice than bike choice.

I did the LCW 2012 on a road bike and IM Wales 2012 on a TT. Added 30 minutes to my time using the TT bike and within 10 miles wished I was back on the road bike.

I'm doing IMUK 2013 and tempted to do IM Wales again as well. If I do will definitely use road bike. To be fair though my TT bike experience was pretty limited, but with all the hills the road bike was just more comfortable to ride for me.

As always, it's what you're comfortable with and would recommend the LCW if only to get an idea of the course. A good weekend as well.

Good luck to those doing it, 2012 was an amazing event, support is fantastic especially at the end of the first bike loop and during the marathon sections in Tenby.

SA, i'm best on my road bike tbh, i have a TT but options toi use it are limited...wonder why i bought it some days.