Reece from Kent recently completed the Norseman 2012. He used Strada 88mm deep section race wheels for the bike leg of this most ardous of Ironman competions. “So what’s so tough about Norseman?” you might be asking. Anything where you jump off a car ferry into a fjord at 5 am to start the race is hardcore in my opinion! Well done Reece, you can read his email under a photo of the start after a general introduction to the world’s toughest race!
Here’s the intro from the website:
Norseman is the world’s toughest long-distance distance triathlon. It is also the most northern, taking place at the same latitude as Anchorage in Alaska. The race is a travel through some of the most beautiful parts of Norway. It is not a normal circuit-race as it starts in a fjord and finishes at mountain Gaustatoppen at 1,850 meters above sea level. Total ascent is 5,000 meters. The water temperature is normally about 15.5 degrees C, and the air temperature normally ranges from 6 to 28 degrees C through the race day. The first about 160 participants are expected to be allowed to finish at the top of the mountain. The others are allowed to finish at the mountain plateau.
The race is limited to only 240 competitors. The competitors need to bring their own support. Normally about 45% of the participants are non-Norwegians and about 15% are female. The prize to the winner is the same as to the last to finish at the top of the mountain; a fabulous black t-shirt. Norseman is the race any hard core triathlete should do once in a lifetime.
Thank you to Jonathan and Darren at Strada for supplying such great wheels in time for me to use on the Norseman 10th anniversary Extreme Ironman distance Triathlon in Norway on 5th August 2012. The super-light wheels were, stiff and responsive on the climbs, fast on the flatter sections and solid on the descents. The extreme changes in the weather on the day were no problem and the bike handled beautifully through all parts if the bike section, from high temperatures at sea level to rain and hail in 5 degrees on some of the peaks, even in the wind they were as solid as a rock. The Norseman bike course is as tough as hell but the Strada wheels are tougher.
Once again, big thanks from me and my support team.
Reece Wood
Here’s a photo of Reece looking remarkably perky and proudly wearing his finishers t-shirt.
