tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post1706421247171253430..comments2023-11-10T03:24:21.955-05:00Comments on Go, Smitty, Go!!!: Louisville Bike Course Preview...Confidence booster, or not?Matthew Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027593921011160323noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-24793600827318990032013-07-03T11:43:25.276-04:002013-07-03T11:43:25.276-04:00I wish I would have known you were out there Satur...I wish I would have known you were out there Saturday! I did the IM Louisville course as well that day. I rode it many times last year and I've been on it a few already this year. A lot of what people have said above is right on but I'll give you my take. Last year I was averaging 18-20 mph in my races, my 70.3's and when I went out onto the LOU course I had these grand notions of carrying that over. NO. I got my you-know-what handed to me the first day I did that course. If you don't respect the out and back along with that Old Ballard School Road and Sligo, it will tear you up, QUICKLY! You're right on the $$ about being able to spin up those hills. Get a better crank. I don't attempt any of those hills out of my saddle. I spin up each of them seated keeping my heart rate as low as possible. You're a good rider, now you have to be smarter than that course! Whatever time you lose on those hills will be minimal compared to the mental edge you'll lose coming back home and going into that marathon if you barrel up them. If you play you're cards right, you'll have a strong downhill ride back into town. If you have any questions you can email me, I know those roads in my sleep! :) Coy Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00144649093762262574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-75596181807182335462013-07-02T15:36:42.802-04:002013-07-02T15:36:42.802-04:00Do you train with a heart rate monitor? If not, I ...Do you train with a heart rate monitor? If not, I would recommend you get one. When I did IMLOU in 2011, my only goal on the bike was to keep my HR around 80% of threshold (which was 140 for me)...regardless of what my speed was. This allowed me to have plenty of legs left for the run and I wasn't constantly worrying about my speed.Luke Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771410173936866593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-86056624166716342852013-06-28T07:41:27.140-04:002013-06-28T07:41:27.140-04:00Awesome job!!! Holy crap you are FAST!!!! 8:52 for...Awesome job!!! Holy crap you are FAST!!!! 8:52 for 15 miles????? That is incredible!!! <br /><br />Now here is the thing about your bike - that bike speed "goal" could be part of the problem with your legs pooping out. You know you need to do this thing like you are going 140 miles for the FIRST TIME - so it is a little risky to have your eye on a specific MPH. I know lots of folks who have an awesome first IM loop only to suffer through the second loop and have a miserable run. Set yourself up to have a GREAT second loop and a good run. Or..at least a more comfortable one. <br /><br />My unsolicited advice is to take it easy(er) on the first loop. Let people pass you. You will pass many of them back on the second loop. And your body will thank you on the run. This is hard to do because you are excited and want to go go go!!<br /><br />See, if you go to hard on that first loop and worry that your MPH is whatever (you are going to make the cut-off with the bike speed you have), you are going to blow up on the second one and the run is going to be miserable.<br /><br /><br />It is hard to believe, but the marathon will come to you and you will be able to do it after the bike. I promise! Caratunk Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00042653100322091843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-26541313379043803542013-06-27T05:51:23.441-04:002013-06-27T05:51:23.441-04:00You are awesome! What a great ride and I know how ...You are awesome! What a great ride and I know how hard those are to do solo- mentally and physically tough for sure!<br />Your run was incredible!! Way to go- your training is paying off :)<br />I have to admit - I was super close to signing up for IMLOU on a whim the other day...but then I came to my senses ;) I think Rob would kill me! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-419273829533947302013-06-26T18:29:16.799-04:002013-06-26T18:29:16.799-04:00nice work on the run! i wouldn't be too worrie...nice work on the run! i wouldn't be too worried about the bike. sounds like you held your pace well, which is hard to do solo! race day will be easier with more company on the course :)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07313712053974931725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-41776110574952825582013-06-26T14:31:19.252-04:002013-06-26T14:31:19.252-04:00Great to hear about the IMLou course, thanks for d...Great to hear about the IMLou course, thanks for doing this and posting about it! Sounds like you have had some great workouts too! Caffrey is super-cute - will he be supporting at IMLou? Hope to see you guys there!Meghannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16221867705210696123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-29031653810915033442013-06-26T14:18:34.208-04:002013-06-26T14:18:34.208-04:00Of course I love that that little boy of yours is ...Of course I love that that little boy of yours is already eying out daughter! :)<br /><br />Great job with that run - dang... you are smoking fast these days!<br /><br />Glad you enjoyed the ride. it's a bummer that you had to ride it alone, but that's probably some good mental prep. It truly is beautiful and it doesn't surprise me that you felt like the last 30 were into the wind. Remember us telling you that it's not downhill... I forgot about the headwind! :) Way to get it done!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09771758178064698651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-80539203934871956502013-06-26T13:10:09.407-04:002013-06-26T13:10:09.407-04:00I think your little man has better aero position t...I think your little man has better aero position than me. Great pictures and write-up. Your run was smoking fast. You are going to do amazing at this race. Guaranteed.Cory Reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211348156621152998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-19418513988588915792013-06-26T09:23:06.750-04:002013-06-26T09:23:06.750-04:00Gotta agree with the above posts! Cute kid, great...Gotta agree with the above posts! Cute kid, great pace and great ride! I think you count that as a win! Sometimes when things do not go as planned, it tends to zap your "want too"! I know when I did IM Branson, and I had 5 flats on the rear wheel alone, it really hurt my want to finish because I knew once the MTN Bikers were passing me, I knew it was a long day! So count it as a win, enjoy the quietness of an empty house and get the house cleaned up for your family to return!Jfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07112629068602038293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-36290337662595199242013-06-26T08:55:04.345-04:002013-06-26T08:55:04.345-04:001st - Baby C is so cute and growing so fast!
2nd ...1st - Baby C is so cute and growing so fast!<br /><br />2nd - Awesome job on the run - totally impressive!<br /><br />3rd - Sorry you were lonely on the bike and your legs gave out. I would totally consider that a win though - it sounds like you rode the entire course and just dropped the second "pop" loop. You did a steller job!<br /><br />Happy Training :)Bethhttp://www.thepettysquest.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846213604215010011.post-73436985800848089192013-06-26T07:12:23.711-04:002013-06-26T07:12:23.711-04:00What rear cassette are you using? Before looking a...What rear cassette are you using? Before looking at a new crank you might want to consider an 11/28 (or even 11/30) for the rear if you've got something something different? Cassettes are way cheaper than a new crank and it might be enough to solve your problem with the climbing? I do have a compact on my tri bike (standard on my road) and switched to an 11/28 for Tremblant. Just a thought!tri like maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02096897900587123961noreply@blogger.com