IronMan UK Bolton 2022 - July 3rd

Maybe if there’s zero other cars on the M60 :joy:
You’ll be lucky :four_leaf_clover::crossed_fingers:t3:

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Yeah, figured as much

Huge shame, sheephouse is iconic. Yes better the old way, but even the new way still at least made the course interesting, and then combined with the road from the bottom back to Bolton was the best 30 minutes of the lap.

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Don’t know how regular Bolton racers feel about the new course but I found it quite fun.

It is quite hilly but most of the climbing comes in the form of lots of little short sharp climbs and quite a few are after quick descents where you can power down then carry a fair bit of speed into each climb. There are also several drags that will be energy sapping on race day.

There are I’d say, three proper climbs. The first one came at about 10km for me today, will be I guess, at around 40km on race day (Watling street?). This is immediately followed by a quick descent with a shitty surface into a hard right corner into a long drag uphill.

The second one came after 28 for me, I’ve already forgetten about any finer details but I remember thinking this is a proper hill and clocking my distance.

The worst of the hills though is here:

You turn left onto one of the quickest descents on the course, come to a presumably coned off dead turn then go straight back up the hill, there’s also loads of glass littered all over the surface.

After this though it’s bloody rapid, Bobby Smiths inn?! There’s a cross roads here where today I had to stop but this will be so quick on race day. Coming back into Bolton and Chorley New Road was quick today also. Feels like the majority of the climbing is more int he east of the course.

Lots of rough road and potholes but I’m aiming for two more laps to attempt to ingrain where these are.

@Poet Took the piss with my average cadence of 81 today :rofl: going to have to use that little ring and spin up the bigger hills on race day!

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I’ve booked a hotel on the M62 to come and watch this as my nephew and his wife are doing it, hopefully the weather will be better than last year.

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No!
I was shocked at the cadence and HR either being ON or OFF!!!
Basically, you’re either pedalling or freewheeling.

Course sounds massively different.
Last year there were ZERO hills to fly down to carry your speed up the other side.
It was all dead turns and utter nonsense.

Good work on the KoM :muscle:t3::clap:t3:

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900m ascent per lap? That’s savage!

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Ah I get ya.

Yes, there feels like very little flat. Saying that I was surprised with 900 odd metres ascent on the lap.

I’d like to think there’s a bit more speed to gain on race day as I was on box rims, road bike and flappy gilet etc but the conditions today were ideal I’d say. Did have a fair amount of traffic in places and all those lights in Bolton, although I was pushing in places today, put a lot of fellas on tt bikes to the sword though

ETA - that’s a soft KOM - only 200 or so have ridden it. I also stopped for a few pics and a wee too!

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And still got the KOM? Chapeau! :clap:

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An early start and another loop today.

Very cold setting off but the temp came up a few degrees over the course of the lap.

Rode around 15-20 watts lower than Saturday resulting in a loss of a couple of minutes but there was significantly less (none) traffic.

Nice spinning around knowing what’s coming up. Overall I’d say the course isn’t horrific and I find it quite fun. Last years course and the 2019 variant sound like they were much worse.

Going to try and get my ducks in order and get back over there tomorrow before driving back down saaf!

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Nice morning down here today, still a bit wet mind!

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It’s lovely today,

Might have to rethink tomorrow :roll_eyes:

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Another loop this afternoon and then call the recce done and get the beers in?

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Over 9000 again this year, supposedly
“ easier to keep your speed up though”

Several people are concerned about cut offs, if it rains or is bonkers hot there will be a bit of that for sure.

I’ll be spectating,I won’t bother going to get the bag etc good luck all racing.

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Easily hit the cut offs that lad will!

People doth worry too much.

The rain was fine last year.
I had carbon rims and felt nice and safe descending.
It’s the punctures they need to be worried about.

And as for it being hot.
It’s Bolton.
In the summer :joy:

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I don’t actually know him.

A few others like rookie an the 17 hour crew, but hope they get through it.

It’s a great race, our Adam the peacock powerhouse reminds me of Sean Burke, doka”s mate, he should do well if he stays vertical for the 112.

Tubs were a brave move, they really are lovely to ride ( with air in them) looking forward to the race

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I’m feeling confident on the course, there are obviously some poor surfaces but tbh, only sections of Watling street and Greens Arms Rd need proper care. Everything else is fine.

Still eyeing up the weather apps, heavy rain now looking like showers so I’ll see :crossed_fingers:t2:

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My nephew did the C2C yesterday training for this, 194k in 6:40 but I think he was a bit nackered afterwards.

Good time for the loop, Adam. I’ve got a travelodge booked and will be watching as much of it as I can. (not the swim though!)

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We’re you watching Jeff ?

No idea yet, my planning timescales are usually done in minutes and seconds, not weeks :joy:

I’d like to think I’ll take my bike somewhere and watch some of the bike section, then head into town for the run. His wife is also doing it and I suspect she might be still running at 8pm onwards so will hang around for that.

Suggestions welcome for the bike, I know bits of the old course, less so this route. But I can find my way around the town centre.

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