Everything WIMBLEBALL the thread
peterparky
Posts: 59
in General Chat
Hi Guys and girls
Thought i'd start a Wimbleball thread as i know a few of us will be down that way around 17 June.
So any advice or questions about training, accommodation, bike gearing, THE HILLS! swim start,THE HILLS! Transition etc etc just post on here to keep as a useful guide.
I know a few on the forum have done it before and will help us out.
I have just booked a camping pitch right next to the lake 01398 371257 places fill out quick in the New Year. £36 for a family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids) for 3 nights. £5 per adult per night - bargain about 10 min walk to start line.
Hope everyones training well
Regards
Ian
Thought i'd start a Wimbleball thread as i know a few of us will be down that way around 17 June.
So any advice or questions about training, accommodation, bike gearing, THE HILLS! swim start,THE HILLS! Transition etc etc just post on here to keep as a useful guide.
I know a few on the forum have done it before and will help us out.
I have just booked a camping pitch right next to the lake 01398 371257 places fill out quick in the New Year. £36 for a family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids) for 3 nights. £5 per adult per night - bargain about 10 min walk to start line.
Hope everyones training well
Regards
Ian
0
Comments
So what about gearing? any ideas?
My theory at the minute is as low a ratio as possible to save energy...or maybe normal gearing but make the lowest lower
ah shucks..its mad that there next age up is faster but don't give me this never to be repeated nonsense you won a race the other week when you were ill and I accuse Madnurse of being part machine
you will certainly see me there probably overtaking me if I ever get in front in the first place
My colleague I train with just used the standard gearset last year with no problems, but I've a got a triple and I need every gear! The hills really are nasty, there's no flat (other than over the bridge) and the wind round there seems to come from every direction ....
If it helps any, I generally average 15-16 mph on a long ride over an undulating route, but Wimbleball had me down to around 13.5mph - and I was still overtaking people!
My gearing is 52/42 13/26 9speed cass. Don't mean much to me.
Generally i find this ok for undulating courses but if we are constantly climbing i'd like some options. preferably easier ones!!
Stick on a compact? how would that change things - i've heard they are good for climbing?
Don't worry plenty more daft questions to come!!
Cheers
Ian
You said i might struggle with a 42 up front - what do i need to do to change (sorry a complete bike muppet).
Ian
If you can, get down to Exmoor to ride the course, that'll tell you whether you need to change the ratios, or whether you need to train harder! Or you could find a 14% hill near you & try & ride up it with what you have.
Cheers
Rob
Thanks
but it probably alot easier to follow robs advice and just change the whole cassette.. (which is my plan)
the only real advantage of the custom option means you can have your normal gears plus one "climbing gear" but it is very speciallised (a former road racer mate of mine suggested it)
Now what was it ....
A big hill after the swim up to T1 ...
52 hills in 56 miles .... including 4 long 14%ers ....
A major hill on the run to be climbed 3 times ....
And an uphill finish!!!
Welcome to Wimbleball!!
I think Pat was just kidding about the hills!! Surely. Wheres that compact gone
Have a great Christmas everyone and keep the training going
Ian
yeah tell me about it peter compact is already on will see how the training goes but may well change the cassette as mentioned above...off to my parents-in-law for new year who live near by so might drive down and have a look..
I'll be interested to know what you think when you take a look at it!
as for s&m - If I could only pursaude the wife of its merits (was that out loud oooppss)
a question though, only started triathlon in 06, hadn't ridden a bike since i was a kid, so know nothing about bikes, (cheers for the info above guys) - changing gear sets - how big a difference does it make? a big yes definitely for something like wimbleball? Or dependent on the rider & just something i need to try out for myself?
off home to count teeth on my gear set.....
All depends on how strong a cyclist you are! I definitely need the triple ring, and even with that the only way I got up the bad hills was to mentally convince myself it was just downhill skiing! (yes, loon, I think its rubbed off from mad ...). The graph on the website really doesn't do it justice - somehow it is very unforgiving. Last year there were people walking up the hills within 3 miles of the start .... but there were others who lapped me on the bike so not everyone found it really hard!
Looking at the DVD of the race might help if you can get hold of a copy.
Loon - really disappointed you didn't get to take a look - you'll have to go again later in the year - probably cheaper than s&m!!
Plan 2 reccies between now and then so lots of parent's in law action comming up for me [;)]
I thought it was about time that I actually started to get involved with this forum instead of merely reading everyone elses posts.
I'm pretty new to this whole triathlon thing, completing my first one last year (London Olympic distance). The problems is that now I'm hooked.
So now I have found myself entering the Wimbleball 70.3 and am pretty nervous about the whole idea. All the talk is of hills, hills and more hills. I was aware that the bike was bad but as pointed out in this months 220 the run is also hilly. Guess there is only one thing for it - get out there and pound some hills.
Like many of you I am unsure about the gearing for such a race and so as soon as we get a bit of decent weather I intend to go down and ride the course, it would be good to join up with some of you guys if you have similar intentions.
Happy training
Dave
The good thing about Wimbleball is the countryside is very pretty. And there's very little traffic on the roads. Apart from that, there's the hills, and a few hills too. And the occasional hill! Plus a hill or two.
Go and look. You'll either wonder what we're all going on about or you'll reel with shock!. Let us know what you think!
http://www.tourofwessex.com/
one of the stages goes through wimbleball, (haven't checked if the route actually overlaps with the ironman course).
Thankfully you can enter individual stages!!
Hope training is all going ok, just a quick one - how is the swim kicked off? age groups? those that look most like they may drown?
it's getting a little closer now - is that a good or bad thing i'm not sure.
have fun!
Ian
Swim start was by age groups(ish). Elite, then under forty men, over forty men and then all the women - I think! I was pleased, because I could start at the back and it reduced my risk of getting swum over!
Am just recovering from abdominal surgery so my training is non-existent at present - hope yours is going better!
Still having nightmares about those hills, tho ....
You can get it from the wimbleball website. Enjoy!
regarding gearing this is from the 70.30 site
am unable to ride the course myself, prior to the race, what gear ratios should I use?
A12
The Race Office recommends 12-27 on the rear and 39-53 standard on the front for intermediates. For novices a triple is recomended for the front and 12-25 on the rear. If you require any further advice please call Chris or Richard at Tri UK who will be happy to assist.
Not sure why it came out like that?
Even for intermediates they reccomend a 12-27! cassette.
Good luck
Ian
I heard they were going to try and make the swim uphill as well [;)] !!
Samutri - if you live and train in Scotland I don't think you'll have too much difficulty!
Thanks for any advice!