IMTX Recap with Miranda Tomenson and Nerd Notes on Bike Tech

Michael and Andrew welcome professional triathlete and coach Miranda Tomenson to the podcast. Miranda shares her experience prepping for and racing the IM NA Championship in the Woodlands TX, Texas, a notoriously challenging race for athletes just shaking off winter. Following that chat, Michael and Andrew discuss their observations from the race expo and course, focusing on bike technology trends and an interesting calculation related to performance in the heat. Miranda's heat prep in training, including the construction of a makeshift heat chamber using a portable greenhouse around her indoor trainer. On race day, she encountered gastrointestinal issues during the run, which impacted her calorie absorption and ability to maintain pace. Miranda utilized the "Cool Bottle" during the bike segment, reporting that it helped provide cooling through contact points and the wet sleeve, in addition to its large fluid capacity. Michael and Andrew observed trends in bike technology at the event, including the prevalence of integrated and custom front-end cockpits on high-end bikes and the design of the new Ventum Tempus bike. Discussion on helmet design trends notes wider frontal profiles intended to integrate with the rider's shoulders and improve aerodynamics. Andrew presents a calculation showing that the difference in air density between 20°C and 30°C can equate to a power difference of approximately 8 watts at 40 km/h, potentially saving around three and a half minutes over an Ironman bike course. The episode concludes with a brief interview segment featuring professional triathlete Lauren Brandon, a veteran of Ironman Texas.