He was my friend, John, doing the race with Stockport Tri. We rode together 3 weeks ago and we all had a laugh, I’ve then been away for a couple of weeks and heard the shocking news yesterday evening. He was a really great guy, mad keen on cycling and triathlon but no lover of the run (probably why we clicked). He did the first IM Wales (with one of his sons who was the youngest competitor at the race), then again in 2014 when I did my first and was the reason why I signed up for it last year when he said he was doing it again for a final time with his other son. They ended up deferring last year and were going to do it this year. His sons have lost a fantastic dad. I will miss him dearly, a great friend.
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Sorry to hear this, it’s too early for platitudes but my thoughts are with you.
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Sorry to hear this @JD-Scarabtri, my condolences. Good friends always have a special place in our hearts 
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So so sad
Hope your ok?
RIP John.
Love to friends and family.
X
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Went to spectate at a local tri today
Tried to enter on weds but it was full
Three of my HMPS friends were racing and looking at finishing times it would have been a good battle … gutted I couldn’t get in !
1 second separating first and second overall !
West Lancs sprint tri
Well organised cheap and safe
Recommended !
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So sorry to hear about this @JD-Scarabtri, never great to hear about these thing but all more difficult when it is someone you know. Thoughts to you and John’s family
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Just had the details for my ‘race’ on Sunday through.
I’m number 13…
That’s a good enough excuse for me! 
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I’ve just spotted a cheeky little @TROSaracen on the start list of Roadford on Sunday for a bit of competition for @buzz on the v50 race.
I should have the v40 race win sewn up. Only Donald Brooks to beat. Oh and a guy called Tim Van Berkel. I’m hoping he hasn’t just come over from Australia for a little Devon break!
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Flip that number upside down, counteract the negative energy 
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Dunno, it could look like an error code 
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Given they are planning the prize giving at 12 for a race that starts at 7:30, they must be expecting some quick guys at the front.
Swim looks a bit odd, a final 400m loop that crosses the path of anyone still heading out on the 2nd 750m lap. How hilly is the bike, should I put my lower ratio cassette on?
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I’ve seen some race schedules that are depressing. Prize giving scheduled before I’ve finished the bike! 
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I’m sure you could get up any hill in the uk without a big cassette!
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Speaking of which, are you doing Helvellyn this wekend @jeffb ?
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I did take note of that. Wonder if it’s just a bit of a mistake in planning, or they’re just doing it for Donald?! Previous years and versions have had the odd hitter, but generally it’s a pretty light field.
I’m not going to bother with a lower ratio cassette on mine (like i did for Wales). There are 2 x short, sharp hills that will get you out the saddle. One within the first few kms of the lap, and one about 75% through the lap.
The first gets quite steep, but only briefly, before levelling out.
The second, from memory, is going up the other side of a bit of a dip on a big, wide main road. You can carry a lot of speed from the downhill, be careful of the chicane at the bottom of the dip but try to hold your speed. Then there’s a few hundred metres to climb. Nothing too severe by any stretch.
The rest of the hills are much more rolling. TT bike all day long course. Surfaces aren’t as bad as i had feared. A few crumbly back lanes, but plenty of decent (for the UK) A-road type surface.
Swim has changed slightly - there’s a link in one of the guides somewhere. For that weird 400m loop rather than heading in the same direction as the other loops, it now swings out to the right. Very weird - not sure why they don’t just put the normal loop turn buoys a bit further up the lake?!
Weather is looking pretty perfect. Very little wind. Lake will be stunning in the morning. Almost a pity to ruin it by having to swim there! 
ETA
Take a look here for my easy recce: Garmin Connect
Climbs are at 5km and 24.5km
intervals.icu chart (X axis is time)
You can see the 2 climbs in the first half - ignore the 2 x power spoikes towards the end. One was mucking abou and the other was catching back on after a wee.
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Yeah, saw the swim map, not sure if all the back markers will have cleared lap1 before the fish are finishing 1.9k.
I know they have other races using the 1500m and 750m courses, but how hard would it be to move the blue marker from the Saturday swim to make 2 laps of 950m?
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Erm, no 
decided against it to avoid injuring myself and there’s traffic lights on the bike apparently around Matterdale.
But…
I have entered a sprint+ at Berwick, 500/22k/6k
I can’t remember the last pool swim I did! And it’ll probably take longer to travel than do the race but it’s a little test workout with Athens about 7 weeks away.
Also, our club are leading the regional GP and every finisher counts.
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Yeah … it’s very weird isn’t it!
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Just went to put my race wheel on the bike. Swapped the cassette on to the disc, went to pump it up… Remembered that I left the wheel bag at the bike shop back in Sept before Wales. Which has the little crack pipe to pump it up.
Which I also forgot in Wales and cost me 20 quid for a new tube and the mechanic to change it whilst I swam! (old valve was too long to get even a borrowed adaptor on.
Have text my mate at the bike shop. He loves a last minute GB emergency! . At least I have 2 days to sort it this time.
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All the time your rival was out testing his bike cos he’s organised
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