Hydration set-up on new bike

Bob Irwin

I'm setting up my new bike, and wanted to start thinking about hydration for races.  My new bike is a Kestrel Airfoil Pro - 1 bottle holder.  My old bike is a Kestrel 500sci - same situation.  Historically, I've not done well with the handlebar mounted aero bottles (I get too much air).  Last year for HIM and IM I used concentrated Infinit in a bottle on the downtube, and water in 2 bottles behind the seat - switching the water at aid stations.  It worked well for hydration, but I've never been able to drink from a bottle while on the aerobars.  So I sat up every 15 minutes or so to drink, and the bottle behind the seat probably isn't very aero.  One thought I had was using a Speedfil for water, and a standard bottle with infinit mounted horizonatally on the aero bars.  Does that sound like a reasonable way to go?  I don't think I'd leave the bike that way all the time - probably use bottles behind the seat for every day after I got used to the Speedfil.

mancona

Hey Bob, I would recoment the speedfil/single bottle on the bars setup, but put the infint in the speedfil, and just swap the front bottle at every aid station. 

Last year I raced with a speedfil with my entire race worth of nutrition on the down tube and a aero bottle on the bars with water.  This was the perfect setup for me...no stop at special needs, very easy to refill the front bottle, and very aero (straws were tucked along aero bars and under bmy forearms).

This year I'm keeping the speedfil but likely switching to the horizontal bottle on the aerobars as my aero bottle will no longer work.

I also only used this setup for racing... my training setup ins horizontal bottle on the bars, normal bottle on the downtube, and spare bottle in the jersey pocket.  FWIW, I avoid behind the seat holders at all costs...i've actually used a camel back instead.

chuckg

Bob, My wife got me an X-Lab Torpedo for christmas. I have only used it on the trainer and I have to say, I like it. Although, I still have two bottle behind my seat and one on the down tube. I am going to have to play with training and race setup, but so far I really like the torpedo. Anyway me .02.

Ironman281

I got the speed fil for xmas and look forward to using it.  It's very aero and will hold 48 oz. so like Matt posted, very clean set up and put a water bottle on the front and good to go.  I'm anxious to give it a go.

mgraffeo

Gotta ask, what's the rationale behind the assumption that the behind-the-seat cages are so un-aerodynamic?  Seems like a spot that would be pretty hidden by the wind...

Mike

jrprice

Bob,

I found this earlier forum discussion to be very helpful in figuring out what I will be doing this year with my hydration.  

http://endurancenation.us.dnnmax.co...fault.aspx

Rob 

mancona

Posted By Mike Graffeo on 04 Feb 2010 07:20 PM

Gotta ask, what's the rationale behind the assumption that the behind-the-seat cages are so un-aerodynamic?  Seems like a spot that would be pretty hidden by the wind...

Mike

 

 

Without a wind tunnel it is really hard to actually know.  It is true in certain setups it may not be un-aerodynamic, but in many it is.

I believe trailing edges are a very import factor for "most" aerodynamics, and I have yet to see a set of behind the seat cages that have a clean trailing edge.

All that said I just don't like them.  I've launched bottles and hit my foot on the cages and I personally just don't like the way they look.

Obviously they work for many people including the ironman world champions.

David Flint

Chatted to a Pro yesterday at my Retul fitting - he used the Speedfill in Florida IM for the first time (he was given one 2 weeks before the event) - he loved it as it enabled him to take a bottle & squeeze the contents into the speedfill in enough time to ditch the empty bottle at that aid station - sounded as though he was happy to drink whatever available at aid stations. Prior to IMFL he had used a Profile aerobar bottle but hated the fact it was so messy with lots of spillage.
I will definitely buy one but perhaps won't use it for my A-race 70.3 which is very hilly, may try and keep the bike as light as poss' and use just 2x 750ml bottles.

David Flint

Chatted to a Pro yesterday at my Retul fitting - he used the Speedfill in Florida IM for the first time (he was given one 2 weeks before the event) - he loved it as it enabled him to take a bottle & squeeze the contents into the speedfill in enough time to ditch the empty bottle at that aid station - sounded as though he was happy to drink whatever available at aid stations. Prior to IMFL he had used a Profile aerobar bottle but hated the fact it was so messy with lots of spillage.
I will definitely buy one but perhaps won't use it for my A-race 70.3 which is very hilly, may try and keep the bike as light as poss' and use just 2x 750ml bottles.

Wiseman

Mike,
A good friend of mine's Cd numbers got better after his behind the seat system was added...just depends on your position and setup.

Paul Hough

My new Giant Trinity Advanced SL-1 doesn't even have bottle positions on the down tube or seat tube...I guess their aero testing showed these impacted drag too much. So this year, I'll be trying the XLAB Torpedo on the front and XLAB Carbon wing on the back. I had the Profile aerobar bottle the past three years and a hydrotail on the rear...and yes, there is a lot of spillage on the refill. I'm just going to be tossing a bottle or two and go down the road with those.

Docmartin

I use my Speedfil for water and use two concentrated Infinit bottles behind my seat. Yeah, I have the occasional scrape/bruise inside my right knee where I whack the cages putting my leg over when I get on, but just b/c I'm an idiot doesn't mean its not a reasonable set-up.