Anyone in NJ raced Bassman Tri in May?

John Bayone

Was thinking of doing just the Swim 1.2m. & Bike 57.2m. option they have for Bassman on May 4th.  Has anyone done this early season event?  From only a couple reviews I could find online people metioned the cold water temperature.  Was it really cold?

I am just looking to add this and the aquabike option at Challenge USA in June to my schedule this year that will not punch a big hole into plans for IMLP in July.

Any insight anyone has with this event would be great. 

Thanks.

Robert Sabo

The water is wetsuit legal but not that frigid. The air in the morning usually is chilly. If the water levels are low some areas will have some weeds and algea. Its a pretty well done race. The run course is the confusing maze through campsites and is often low on volunteers for keeping you on course. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them.

[Deleted User]

We've done it in the fall, but not in the Spring. Robert is right - crazy run course! It was fun though and I like the bike course. FYI - Turby and I will also be doing the Aquabike in A.C. in preparation for IMMT! And we will be in Lake Placid cheering you on:-)

John Bayone

Thanks guys, I am most likely going to just do the aquabike at Bassman and it looks like they get a good turn out with a lot of different distances all on the same day. As long as I can wear my long sleeve wetsuit and not be freezing I can put up with it, and try to dry off a little in T1. I will watch out for the weather that week, and plan to have something to keep warm on the bike....Shoreman in September I remember all of us freezing on the bike at least for the first 20 or 30 miles.

Looking at the ride course should be pretty flat, even though the elevation profile on their site makes it look like some sharp hills right? And with 3 loops of the bike course like that you should totally see other people along the way going in all different directions? http://www.citytri.com/bassman/course/half-distance/

In a couple of months if winter ever ends I will want to ride portions of those courses (except for the parts on the highways of course) I will post a note to see if anyone is interested in a group ride.

Thank you for the help

John Withrow

John, I've never done Bassman, but I do Devilman that same weekend each yr and hope to go back this yr. The swim is much shorter and the bike is only 40 miles (2 flat out and back loops). Then it's a 9 mile run. I like it because it's a smallish local feeling race that has good distances to level set myself for the upcoming yr.

I'll be doing the bike leg of Challenge AC as a relay so I'll see you there.

Robert Sabo

Having done Both devilman 2x when it was a complete half and Bassman 2x the water is MUCH nicer at Bassman. Caps were needed.

John Bayone

John,
Thanks, I will take a look at their site. I like that the site for that Bassman event is within an hour of my house and hopefully i want to get down there and ride before hand....assuming of course it ever stops snowing.

Robert.
Is the water down that way like the water at Shoreman? The water at Shoreman was salty and dark, is that from it being a tidal waterway with the saltiness coming in off the bay? I remember it took a while to get that water taste out of my mouth/nose.

Robert Sabo

I haven't swam at Port Republic in a wwhile but it's probably a little less salty.

John Bayone

Thanks, for the help.