458 replies to this topic

[Phoenix]

http://www.nepeantriathlon.com/

Was wondering if any previous competitors could comment on the water quality and temperature. many thanks.

[Fred]

Phoenix, the water in these lakes is beautiful and very clean.

There are some water plants growing, and many people go eeeeeew when they see them at first, but these help the ecology of the lake keep nice and clean and fresh. They recently "mowed" the underwater plants too, so they won't be as many. I swim in these lakes frequently, we were kayaking at lunchtime last week and the water is definately warm enough to swim in. Given that I was swimming in them in the middle of winter probably means that I am slightly biased though. I would be hard pressed to get into a chlorinated pool after having been "spoilt" by the water here!

[thomo]

Phoenix, on Sep 26 2009, 11:59 AM, said:

http://www.nepeantriathlon.com/

Was wondering if any previous competitors could comment on the water quality and temperature. many thanks.

I have found the water temperature not a problem for me to swim in shorts. I do have a fair bit of insulation though.

As for the water quality as a poor swimmer who sometimes drinks alot of the lake / pool / ocean water. I don't have a problem with the quality of the Regatta Centre's lake water, however I like the taste of Evian bottled water a whole lot better.

[Paul Every]

Water quality? Well, I wouldn't drink it, but as Fred said it is fine for a swimming.

Water temp for Nepean Tri? Despite not being hardened by growing up with dips in the Irish Sea, I still find the Nepean swim quite comfortable sans wettie.

Yes, there are a few plants growing in the water, but there are plenty growing on the land as well, and no one seems to bother about them.

One of the bonuses of the Nepean is that there is no easier triathlon to navigate through the swim. It is held on the Olympic rowing course and you can follow the underwater cables that secure the buoys which mark the rowing lanes. There are also large signs on the bank marking every 250 metres.

[Woodenlegs]

I've never been swimming in fresh water. I have heard that you are less buoyant than in salt water does mean more effort and a lot slower swim. Mind you my navigation skills or poor so that would more than compensate.

[Paul Every]

Woodenlegs, on Sep 26 2009, 06:26 PM, said:

I've never been swimming in fresh water.

You have never swum in a swimming pool?

[ratdog]

an awesome Tri and really nice swim. if you have the chance just go out there one day and have a dip. they get out of the water at the boat ramp on the north western end.

[Phoenix]

Thanks for the replies all. Sounds like I won't have to source a wet suit. looking forward to the day. My wife and son are looking to do the enticer events the day before - its a great format when everyone can participate..

[Woodenlegs]

Paul Every, on Sep 26 2009, 08:13 PM, said:

You have never swum in a swimming pool?

Ok I may be a little slow on the uptake! I guess I dont see heavily chlorinated water as FRESH. I was thinking rain water and no I've never swum in a dam or river, yes played in them!

[SpartaJen]

Phoenix, on Sep 27 2009, 07:37 AM, said:

Sounds like I won't have to source a wet suit.

Don't worry Phoenix - you won't be the only one doing the swim leg without a wettie

[StellaBella]

This event interests me as a potential for my first non tri pink triathlon!
I'd be looking to do the enticer as I find it highly unlikely that my water confidence will be high enough for 1km outside a pool, especially since I've been reliably informed I need to be able to tread water for a few minutes before they even start & I'm not actually sure I'd be capable of this!
Still, November 18 is a fair way away (when the entries close if you don't want to pay an extra $10) so I have a while to do some training

I note the enticer is for 14 year olds and over... does anyone know what age normally completes this event? Are there many older participants and amongst them is there a mix of male and female?

[SpartaJen]

StellaBella, on Sep 27 2009, 03:52 PM, said:

I note the enticer is for 14 year olds and over... does anyone know what age normally completes this event? Are there many older participants and amongst them is there a mix of male and female?

Lots of 'older' participants do this race (and yes a good mix between men & women) so don't let that stop you!

[StellaBella]

Jen_runs, on Sep 27 2009, 04:17 PM, said:

Lots of 'older' participants do this race (and yes a good mix between men & women) so don't let that stop you!

Thanks Jen

The main thing stopping me is a fear of deep water (hence contemplation of a deep water start makes me feel kinda ill and somewhat panicky!) & lack of swimming ability... I'd be rather mortified if I had to be rescued on a 250m swim!!!

[sfGnome]

StellaBella, on Sep 27 2009, 04:41 PM, said:

The main thing stopping me is a fear of deep water (hence contemplation of a deep water start makes me feel kinda ill and somewhat panicky!) & lack of swimming ability... I'd be rather mortified if I had to be rescued on a 250m swim!!!

Don't worry Stella. Last year I had one of the life-savers paddling along just behind me. A bit embarrassing, but at least I wasn't going to drown (and I had the joy of running down all those smarty-pants swimmers who haven't learned to run yet... [evil grin & maniacal laughter]).

[thomo]

StellaBella, on Sep 27 2009, 03:52 PM, said:

I note the enticer is for 14 year olds and over... does anyone know what age normally completes this event? Are there many older participants and amongst them is there a mix of male and female?

As one of the older people to do the Enticer I can vouch I wasn't the oldest.

The other thing is your current bike will not be out of place. I rode my front suspension mountain bike and was not along in this regard.

Don't forget to come out on Sunday and watch Mango smash sfGnome who both will be thrashed by Ratdog.

I will hopefully be finshing under the 3 hours and be close enough to KB and Mouse to keep them honest in the run, Tiger Angel will be probaly be somewhere in front of the three of us.

[sfGnome]

thomo, on Sep 27 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

Don't forget to come out on Sunday and watch Mango smash sfGnome who both will be thrashed by Ratdog.

Oh Great. So now I'm going to be smashed and thrashed! This isn't doing anything for my self-esteem you know...

thomo, on Sep 27 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

I will hopefully be finishing under the 3 hours and be close enough to KB and Mouse to keep them honest in the run, Tiger Angel will be probably be somewhere in front of the three of us.

Oh well, you got that one right methinks. She beat the lot of us home last year (though the girls did have a little head start!)

[paigebaby]

Stella, dont worry about having to tread water, you can just start from the edge where you can stand up. And you can also follow the bank so that at any time you want a break, just stand up.
Trishave in Feb was the first time i have swum in anything other than a pool and i found the water warm and i loved the fact that you could see the weed. It reminded me of the Gilly Weed in harry potter and i was so busy admiring how beautiful it was i didnt stress about how far the swim was.

[Phoenix]

thomo, on Sep 27 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

The other thing is your current bike will not be out of place. I rode my front suspension mountain bike and was not along in this regard.

That's good to hear, I'll be riding my Hybrid bike. Don't particularly want to spend $1000+ just yet.

[ratdog]

thomo, on Sep 27 2009, 08:29 PM, said:

As one of the older people to do the Enticer I can vouch I wasn't the oldest.

The other thing is your current bike will not be out of place. I rode my front suspension mountain bike and was not along in this regard.

Don't forget to come out on Sunday and watch Mango smash sfGnome who both will be thrashed by Ratdog.

I will hopefully be finshing under the 3 hours and be close enough to KB and Mouse to keep them honest in the run, Tiger Angel will be probaly be somewhere in front of the three of us.

I doubt very much ill be able to thrash them. im sure the race will be alot closer than you think. Mango is looking to be in pretty good form in the running department.

time for me to beat this year sub 2 hours.

Stella
just stick to the rhs of the lake where u can stand. this was my first ever tri and i really enjoyed it.

[B+]

thomo, on Sep 27 2009, 04:29 AM, said:

As one of the older people to do the Enticer I can vouch I wasn't the oldest.

The other thing is your current bike will not be out of place. I rode my front suspension mountain bike and was not along in this regard.

Don't forget to come out on Sunday and watch Mango smash sfGnome who both will be thrashed by Ratdog.

I will hopefully be finshing under the 3 hours and be close enough to KB and Mouse to keep them honest in the run, Tiger Angel will be probaly be somewhere in front of the three of us.

Ratdog would want to be going alright as Mango looked pretty sharp on Sunday and it was a very, very windy day out Penrith way.

And what the hell is "older" defined as?

Train safe

[StellaBella]

B+, on Sep 28 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

And what the hell is "older" defined as?

It's not defined... I was just referring to the enticer tri and the fact that it said over 14 years and I pictured my 28 yo self surrounded by a bunch of hipless, breastless, body fat less, abdominally superior teenagers!

[thomo]

Here are 2008 results for race 3 for the over 14yrs. I was in the 40 and over age group, which had over 50 competitors.
2008 enticer results

[sfGnome]

StellaBella, on Sep 28 2009, 12:52 PM, said:

...surrounded by a bunch of hipless, breastless, body fat less, abdominally superior teenagers!

Just remember that those body-fat-less teenagers sink faster than those of us with a little more ummm... err...

[StellaBella]

thomo, on Sep 28 2009, 01:01 PM, said:

Here are 2008 results for race 3 for the over 14yrs. I was in the 40 and over age group, which had over 50 competitors.
2008 enticer results

Whoa... looking at some of these results I can see myself coming stone motherless LAST...I must check the ride and run distances again as almost everyone seems awfully quick! I know someone has to (take the wooden spoon) it's just that I always prefer it's not me! Oh well at least if I hang back in the swim I'll avoid the washing machine and the track for the ride and run will be clear

sfGnome, on Sep 28 2009, 01:18 PM, said:

Just remember that those body-fat-less teenagers sink faster than those of us with a little more ummm... err...

This is a very good point.... I'm definitely a...hmmm... floater really doesn't sound right!!!

[melodee]

StellaBella, on Sep 28 2009, 02:10 PM, said:

Whoa... looking at some of these results I can see myself coming stone motherless LAST...I must check the ride and run distances again as almost everyone seems awfully quick! I know someone has to (take the wooden spoon) it's just that I always prefer it's not me! Oh well at least if I hang back in the swim I'll avoid the washing machine and the track for the ride and run will be clear



This is a very good point.... I'm definitely a...hmmm... floater really doesn't sound right!!!

give it a go it was the first one i tried after tri pink last year (and i only did the mid distance at tri pink!). managed to get in the top 50% for the nepean enticer...and have seriously fallen in lust with tri i think it's a great natural step up from triathlon pink. still lots of different shapes, sizes and abilities.

there will be plenty of kayaks around as said earlier, they'll help you have a rest and stuff. you can see in the water and as pointed out stay nearer to the edge...although it gets shallow quick, so you do want to come away from the edge a bit. you can sight where you are the whole way.

if for no other reason...do it cause it's in the arvo and for once you won't have to get up at stupid o'clock!

another fun one to try if you are really keen at the moment is on this weekend out at penrith. there's the club champs in morning, but then a series of enticer and kids events....the enticer is the same as tri pink 300/9/3...but you can do it as an enduro as well (do the whole thing twice)

http://www.justtriit...-Tri-nsw-i.html

[StellaBella]

melodee, on Sep 28 2009, 03:27 PM, said:

another fun one to try if you are really keen at the moment is on this weekend out at penrith. there's the club champs in morning, but then a series of enticer and kids events....the enticer is the same as tri pink 300/9/3...but you can do it as an enduro as well (do the whole thing twice)

http://www.justtriit...-Tri-nsw-i.html

Sssshhhhh! I was looking at this one yesterday and thinking "Hmmmmm....." until I remembered the "what if I drown" thing!

[Mango]

B+, on Sep 28 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

Ratdog would want to be going alright as Mango looked pretty sharp on Sunday and it was a very, very windy day out Penrith way.

What the coach said

That wind was some character building stuff and whilst I was happy with my result B+ still managed to finish almost a postcode ahead of me.

Ok, let's get serious with this thing and have a Nepean Tri Beer Bet along the same lines as the 6Ft Beer Bet.
Any takers?

Edited by Mango, 28 September 2009 - 05:58 PM.

[paigebaby]

I would love to do the penrith enticer, but im not sure about all the travel. Will be down in Port Mac for their first ever women's only enticer the weekend before.

[Hamburglar]

Mango, on Sep 28 2009, 05:54 PM, said:

Ok, let's get serious with this thing and have a Nepean Tri Beer Bet along the same lines as the 6Ft Beer Bet.
Any takers?

I will more than likely be at Nepean for my 3rd year in a row - and especially with a beer bet. I'm in on the condition you give me 5 mins handicap. I vote B+ is the handicapper. Ratdog? Will? Gnome? Miners? TallGeoff? Paul Every? What about MissZ, she has been a little quiet of late?

[sfGnome]

Mango, on Sep 28 2009, 05:54 PM, said:

Ok, let's get serious with this thing and have a Nepean Tri Beer Bet along the same lines as the 6Ft Beer Bet.
Any takers?

I guess I could just give you a 6-pack now and save the waiting... (See. It's all Thomo's fault. Totally destroyed my confidence he has!)

[SpartaJen]

Mango may be looking 'sharp' at the moment but in the interests of transparency & fairness in the Mango / Ratdog / Gnome / Hamburglar beer bet, I must have put something on the table for those considering placing a bet - Mango returns from his honeymoon only 10 days before the race. How will 10 days of lazying on a beach, eating & drinking copious amounts affect his form? Or will he overcome this rather unconventional taper & smash you all? All will be revealed in time.

No pressure dear

[thomo]

Jen_runs, on Sep 28 2009, 10:44 PM, said:

How will 10 days of lazying on a beach, eating & drinking copious amounts affect his form?

Doesn't sound like a honeymoon, sounds more like an end of season footy trip.

Forgot about Will, though is he back from his honeymoon by then and what about his training?

Wonder if his Mrs will speak for him?

Also there is a dark horse in Night_ Time_Runner, I have it on good authority he is in serious training after getting the darkside nonsense out the way.

[nite_time_runner]

Mango, on Sep 28 2009, 02:54 AM, said:

Ok, let's get serious with this thing and have a Nepean Tri Beer Bet along the same lines as the 6Ft Beer Bet.
Any takers?

Not sure about serious training Thomo ( unless learning to swim counts! ) but yes, now the 3 monster has been officially conquered, I'd be in!!

Especially if there was a calculation based on cost of bike (each hundred costs you 30 seconds! ) and time penalties if you have done an ironman event before!! Ohh, and you get a time discount if you were rescued from the water in your last triathlon. Thats the only way this guy has a chance!!!

Edited by nite_time_runner, 29 September 2009 - 07:40 AM.

[Will]

thomo, on Sep 28 2009, 07:07 AM, said:

Forgot about Will, though is he back from his honeymoon by then and what about his training?
Wonder if his Mrs will speak for him?

Will is here. Back into training for 2 weeks now. Busso is one week after Nepean. I guess this could be a good last hit out!

[blkbox]

Jen_runs, on Sep 28 2009, 10:44 PM, said:

Mango may be looking 'sharp' at the moment but in the interests of transparency & fairness in the Mango / Ratdog / Gnome / Hamburglar beer bet, I must have put something on the table for those considering placing a bet - Mango returns from his honeymoon only 10 days before the race. How will 10 days of lazying on a beach, eating & drinking copious amounts affect his form? Or will he overcome this rather unconventional taper & smash you all? All will be revealed in time.

No pressure dear

I see there is no mention of increased physical activity planned for the honeymoon then

Edited by blkbox, 29 September 2009 - 09:11 AM.

[Mouse]

blkbox, on Sep 28 2009, 06:10 PM, said:

I see there is no mention of increased physical activity planned for the honeymoon then

Ahahaha - this made me laugh, I am sure Mango will be getting some endurance training in. Having recently been on a honeymoon myself, I am allowed to make inappropriate comments

Thomo - I'm not doing Nepean this year! Doesn't fit into the schedule unfortunately. Sorry mate, you will have to chase me next year

[thomo]

Mouse, on Sep 29 2009, 09:37 AM, said:

Thomo - I'm not doing Nepean this year! Doesn't fit into the schedule unfortunately. Sorry mate, you will have to chase me next year

You doing the Callala Beach Triathlon, but that is the week after. You not getting soft in your married life?

[Mouse]

Soft??!! Pffft.

So will we be seeing you in Canberra in December then? Or Maybe up at Port Mac in March??

Edited by Mouse, 29 September 2009 - 10:00 AM.

[MissZ]

Hamburglar, on Sep 28 2009, 10:11 PM, said:

What about MissZ, she has been a little quiet of late?

Now that you mention it, I have been eyeing off Nepean on the calendar. It is short enough that I know I could manage it but long enough that I will have to do some training. And an intra-CR challenge would make it even more fun.

[thomo]

Mouse, on Sep 29 2009, 09:53 AM, said:

Soft??!! Pffft.

So will we be seeing you in Canberra in December then? Or Maybe up at Port Mac in March??

2009 Canberra City Half Ironman Triathlon - 13 December 2009, that is two weeks after Nepean!! Sounds like soft to me.

Canberra or Port, long way for me to go, to be a spectator.

We are currently one all in Half Ironman and zero all in full Ironman. So you will get one up on both counts very soon.

[sfGnome]

nite_time_runner, on Sep 29 2009, 07:37 AM, said:

Especially if there was a calculation based on cost of bike (each hundred costs you 30 seconds! ) and time penalties if you have done an ironman event before!! Ohh, and you get a time discount if you were rescued from the water in your last triathlon. Thats the only way this guy has a chance!!!

Now that starts to even things up a bit! My bike is a hand-me-down (thus zero dollars) and though I didn't require their services, the paddlers did follow me through the swim like good natured vultures trailing a wounded animal...

[Aunty K]

Hi from Vegas again ,

Please add me to the list of starters for Nepean.

I'm thinking that my coach will have this event in for me on the way to Busso.

Cheers!

[B+]

Hamburglar, on Sep 28 2009, 06:11 AM, said:

I will more than likely be at Nepean for my 3rd year in a row - and especially with a beer bet. I'm in on the condition you give me 5 mins handicap. I vote B+ is the handicapper. Ratdog? Will? Gnome? Miners? TallGeoff? Paul Every? What about MissZ, she has been a little quiet of late?

I am happy to attempt a handicap system.
What people will need to do is PM me with their full name and time from last year. If you haven't done this race before then send me your time from a sprint distance race or something similar.
I suggest the girls get my worked out handicap + whatever the start is from the nepean organisers. Last year it was 12min 38 sec
The boys will just get my worked out handicap.

Somebody will need to get me up to speed on any other handicapping rules that need to be employed and these will need to be agreed to. For example the 30seconds per $ spent won't work as there is no way to prove this. Eg Somebody has an $8000 time trial bike that was a gift for a birthday, is this a no handicap bike or is it a 40 minute penalty?

I expect to work it as
expect fastest finisher is scratch 00:00:00
expected 2nd fastest is + 00:xx:00
and so forth

Other than ranking people the rest of you can battle out the prizes rules etc.

Train safe

PS- special rules apply to locals

[nite_time_runner]

Agree that a bike value is hard to work out - just an idea. Maybe a minumum value of $1000 per bike ( regardless of new, old, free etc ), and then 30 seconds for every $500 rounded up? ( my bike was $1400, so it would roll up to a 30 second penalty. ).

I have also PM'd previous tri history

[ratdog]

nite_time_runner, on Sep 30 2009, 12:46 PM, said:

Agree that a bike value is hard to work out - just an idea. Maybe a minumum value of $1000 per bike ( regardless of new, old, free etc ), and then 30 seconds for every $500 rounded up? ( my bike was $1400, so it would roll up to a 30 second penalty. ).

I have also PM'd previous tri history

Im not sure that the most exxie bike means your going to be any faster. Last year i was on NTR's penny farthing and passed a heap of people including a cervelo. Currenly i am working this date but ill do everything possible to get a shift swap.

COUNT ME IN.

last years time 2:06:07
bike cost $2100

Edited by ratdog, 30 September 2009 - 02:18 PM.

[brewer]

Bike cost $1200. Giant OCR1 2007 model.
There is no last years time, in fact I have no form at all. This will be my debut Triathlon.

Handicapper, PM with any questions you may have.

Of course, I am guaranteed a PB.

[nite_time_runner]

ratdog, on Sep 29 2009, 11:17 PM, said:

Im not sure that the most exxie bike means your going to be any faster.

Your just saying that cause you dont want to have the 1 min 30 sec penalty with Mango riding so well lately....

[thomo]

Not that I have to worry about winning even with a Think Big handicap.

But my bike was a lot of money at the time when I bought a couple of decades ago. We have to take into account depreciation both the bike and me.

So my bike would have a minus value along with myself.

[Phoenix]

I am targeting a sub-2.30 (2.28) hr finish for my 1st triathlon (I think the math is correct):

Swim: 25mins
Bike: 75mins (on my Hybrid)
Run: 48mins

[Paul Every]

StellaBella, on Sep 27 2009, 03:52 PM, said:

This event interests me as a potential for my first non tri pink triathlon!
I'd be looking to do the enticer as I find it highly unlikely that my water confidence will be high enough for 1km outside a pool, ...

Stella, you should do the 1/30/10.

If you can swim 1 km in the pool, you can do the Nepean swim. As mentioned, 1km in open water doesn't come any easier than the Nepean Tri, and you are going to take forever to become more comfortable and confident in open water if you continue to opt for beginner tris with 300 metre swims.

You are a marathon runner so a flat 30km on the bike followed by a 10km run is easily within your capability.

Time to step up and have a go. You will surprise yourself.