Cycle course thoughts: TT bike will always help, so will an aero helmet and deep section wheels. If you want to ride under 3 hours, make the investment, otherwise use a road bike. (personal opinion) Clip ons are better than nothing. You don't get the same running benefits as with a TT bike. TT geometry uses slightly different muscle groups. The return leg is exposed to the wind for a few kms so you can get some strong cross gusts which may be challenging if not used to deep section wheels. This is normally when they start to give their best benefit so know how to handle gusts. Even in the terrible conditions of 2011, the Pros stuck with their disks. Pace yourself, the ride back is a lot faster, that doesn't mean it is easier. It is not all downhill on the way back. The hills after you leave the freeway and turn back towards the start will kick you if you haven't left something in the tank. Make sure you have the right cluster at the back. 25 minimum unless really strong, 27 if you are challenged by hills. (assuming a 53/39 chainring) The hills are not the worst you have ever seen, but they are long and just keep coming. The worst one is early on, going past Hemingways Shopping Centre. Use Google Earth to understand the course. Find a profile on MapMyRide. There are two water points before half way, dont go Tri-mad and load up three water bottles on your bike. That is 2.5kg of extra weight to drag up the hills. Take enough and refill. Learn to take a bottle from a Volunteer. They give out the BonAqua Pump bottles. They are well trained and know how to hand it to you. They use a flat hand with bottle standing on it. The nozzle is open so it will crush as you take it, which makes it easier. Don't ride in the yellow line as you are more likely to puncture. They sweep the slow lane for sharpies with their machine so keep to the left of the slow lane. Use slime in your tyres. Far better than sitting changing a puncture and watching everyone go by. Triathlon does not have the accelerate/decelerate of road cycling, so the slight extra weight in your wheels is an advantage (rotational mass) Understand what the non drafting requirements are so you don't get a penalty. If you do, say Hi to Garfield in the penalty tent. He will almost certainly be there. Don't block other riders by sitting out to the right, you will also get a penalty for that. If you sit up (not in aero position) on the uphills, you will unlikely get a penalty when the field slows and squashes up. Road surface is very good but highway is a coarse chip tarmac which does sap more energy that a really smooth road. I use a Polaris bike box. Lightest rigid case at 6.7kg. R3000 at Solomons Cycles Woodmead. R4000 at Northcliff Cycles. (Explain that one). Works fantastically well. Does not fit an integrated seat post. Will add if I think of something else.
