IM Arizona bike climb
146
Member
1161 days
VTIRON posted 2 years ago.
My wife and I did IM-AZ last year and are ready to return in 10 days. The bike course has been changed to eliminate the town loops at the west end of Town Lake. The only hills of any consequence were located in this area now eliminated. The Bee-line has a very gradual climb but I classified the portion from transition to last year's turn-around as flat. With the change, this year's course is even more flat. It's not the grade that is a factor rather the wind.
A word to the wise- there were lots of folks with flats from cactus thorns that blow on to the edges of the road. Without blocking, try to stay a little to the left of the fog lines.
The run has changed too. The three loops around the lake will be generally dead flat except for the bridge crossings.
Good luck and have fun.
A group of us Miami flatlanders are doing IM Arizona as a second IM (we did CDA last year) on April 9th. Any of you guys did IMAz last year?
Wondering about the bike climb. Based on what they show on the web-site, I just did the math. Each loop of the three loop bike course starts with a gradual climb of 500' over about 19 miles to the turn-around, then return downhill to start. That's a rate of climb (or of drop on each return) of about 26' per mile but over a long 19 miles.
I guess that feels like a strong headwind (then tailwind)?
Rod Lauredo