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 28/07/2010 09:28
 

This'll be my first tri (very excited and nervous!) and I was wondering if anyone had done the route before?

My main concern is the return section of the bike leg coming up the hill into Harewood. I've cycled it a couple of times, and on both occasions it was packed with traffic. I know this is a total newbie question, but how do you deal with traffic in a race? I've heard you'd be dq'd for mounting the pavement - would you also be DQ'd for nipping up the middle of the road to overtake the cars?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, along with any other comments on the course. Thanks in advance

Jon

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 28/07/2010 10:54
 

Jon

The road should be fairly quiet on a Sunday morning, so I would be surprised if there was any significant queueing on the hill. Normal rules of the road apply, so mounting the pavement is a non-starter. Don't try to save a few seconds at the expense of making yourself vulnerable, and never underestimate car drivers' capacity to fail to spot cyclists, especially in a queueing situation. Last year there were a number of penalties handed out for trangressions at the traffic lights in Harewood, but they also made time adjustments to compensate those who had to stop at the lights.

If you do find yourself faced with stationary traffic, think carefully about what could happen if you overtake the cars. They certainly won't be expecting a bike to come flying past on either the inside or the outside. Although 'undertaking' is illegal, I generally think it is safer than overtaking when on a bike. This is mainly because if you overtake and the traffic then gets moving again, you will find yourself in the middle of the road and struggling to return safely to the kerb. You could also get hit by an overtaking car which won't expect you to be in the middle of the road. If you 'undertake', then do it slowly; drivers are even less likely to see you and one could pull in to the kerb, turn left into a driveway, open a car door on you etc.

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 28/07/2010 18:57
 

I rode the course sunday mid morning 2 weeks ago and had no problem with traffic, and again yesterday late afternoon again no problem! I am the last person to tell anyone to relax but it will be fine.

That said the bike course in general is a bit of a brute theres not a flat bit on it.

A baptism of fire!

Good luck , you will enjoy finishing.

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 29/07/2010 08:28
 

Thanks for the replies - you've both put my mind at rest about the traffic level and how to deal with it if there is any!

It is hilly but, I'm trying to tell myself that half of the course is downhill!

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