Ironman Wisconsin Bike Course Thread
132
Member
1233 days
watrbg2 posted 1 year ago.
I finally had the chance to ride the course this past Saturday and Sunday. I'm glad I was able to ride it before the actual IM. There are enough twist and turns and hills that it makes it one of those courses that it helps ride beforehand.
Here's an update of the road conditions:
PJT wrote:
1. There were signs on the loop warning of road closures on Timber Lane between Old Sauk Road, which is just at the top of the 2nd tough hill, and Mineral Point Road/Cty S. The road was open on Saturday, but it looked like it would be under construction soon.
The road is now closed to through traffic but we rode through anyways. The surface is dirt and rock. We talk to a local biker and they assured us it would have fresh pavement by the IM.2. That 1/10 of a mile stretch of Timber Lane just before Midtown Road is now paved, but there is a "lip" where the new paving starts that you have to watch for.
I didn't notice the lip, must have worn down.3. The hill on Midtown (the final tough hill of the loop) was freshly coated with gravel. I found my back wheel skidding quite a bit and the climb was even tougher & slower than normal. It can take a few weeks for the cars to smooth this stuff down, so be prepared.
There was some gravel in spots but you could see it and find a smooth path through.
'In a world that tries its hardest to separate us from what matters, the Ironman helps us to reconnect with the pulse of our lives." - Scott Tinley
903
Member
1069 days
PJT posted 1 year ago.
I was out again this weekend. Timber Lane is all clear and pretty darn smooth. There's still some gravel on Midtown, especially at the turn from Timber and on the farthest edge of the road, but the middle of the lane is fairly well packed down now.
5
Member
717 days
tribob posted 1 year ago.
Simply Stu's Podcast has a video of the entire bike route...filmed and sped up to about 100 MPH, but very clear. He makes comments and describes challenges along the way. Be sure to check it out as it is awesome and very beneficial for anyone doing the race. I intend to do it in 2008!
903
Member
1069 days
PJT posted 1 year ago.
I was out on the course on Saturday for about 110 miles. Fantastic weather, lots of riders. Anyway, here's the latest:
1. Whalen Road was closed in Verona just past the BP station. There was a well-marked, short detour to get back to the route. Hopefully it will be open again by race day, beacause the detour added 1 more short hill.
2. The official bike and run routes are now posted at http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com/course.php . It looks like some of the streets right around the expo center have been changed/simplified. It's all very short & flat either way, so again, no big deal. I didn't do a close comparison of the run route to see if there was anything new there.
I thought I'd start this thread to invite everyone to post his or her updates and observations about the lovely IMoo bike course.
I was out last Saturday with fellow Trifueler dn and others. We did one loop, plus most of the out-and-back to Madison. My companions then went back out onto the loop for a second helping and I did a 40 min. transition run. Anyway, here's what I saw:
1. There were signs on the loop warning of road closures on Timber Lane between Old Sauk Road, which is just at the top of the 2nd tough hill, and Mineral Point Road/Cty S. The road was open on Saturday, but it looked like it would be under construction soon.
2. That 1/10 of a mile stretch of Timber Lane just before Midtown Road is now paved, but there is a "lip" where the new paving starts that you have to watch for.
3. The hill on Midtown (the final tough hill of the loop) was freshly coated with gravel. I found my back wheel skidding quite a bit and the climb was even tougher & slower than normal. It can take a few weeks for the cars to smooth this stuff down, so be prepared.
In the roughly 70 miles of riding, I saw only 1 piece of litter that was definitely from a cyclist--an Accel Gel packet. Everything else was beer cans and soda bottles.