Peter's Race Setup 2.0
Peter's Race Setup 2.0
After a year of racing I am ready to make some gear improvements after some lessons learned and I am looking for some feedback. Last year I invested in the tri-bike (P3) and power meter. This year I will budget in some smaller upgrades.
Helmet:
I have been using a Giro Attack w/ Shield. I am ready to go with a real aero helmet. I am thinking the P-09 LG Aero Helmet.
Tri-Suit:
I raced with tri-top / tri-shorts last year and I now have a permanent sunburn tramp stamp. I want to go with a fast suit like the LG course. I have read that these suits actually give a pretty good aero advantage. Too bad can't get an EN version.
Saddle:
I have the Adamo Prologue and I just don't think it is right for me. I think the seat is too wide and I end up with saddle sores.
Fit 2.0:
When I was first fit on my Tri Bike I had just gotten it and had never ridden aero before. I am sure there are some improvements I could make and I should have a better feel for what works and what doesn't. I want to go back to Jim Manton and have him tweak my fit. He can also help me find the right seat.
Other improvements:
Behind the seat bottle cage. I want to have room for a single bottle right under my seat so I no longer have a cage in the frame. This should be more aero.
New torpedo:
I have the x-lab torpedo 100 and perform leaks EVERYWHERE with it. The perform interferes with my front brake. I am tired of squeeky brakes and a sticky bike. Any ideas on a better torpedo bottle? The Nathan one?
Garmin 500:
This past year I raced with the 910xt and used the quick release kit to move the watch from Wrist -> Bike -> Wrist. This just slows me down and it always made me nervous. I now have the 920xt and want to keep it on my wrist for the whole race. I will get a Garmin 500 to leave on my bike. Probably will never even sync it, just use it to look at power while riding.
Any other low hanging fruit I might be missing? Any feedback on the specifics of what I should invest in?
After a year of racing I am ready to make some gear improvements after some lessons learned and I am looking for some feedback. Last year I invested in the tri-bike (P3) and power meter. This year I will budget in some smaller upgrades.
Helmet:
I have been using a Giro Attack w/ Shield. I am ready to go with a real aero helmet. I am thinking the P-09 LG Aero Helmet.
Tri-Suit:
I raced with tri-top / tri-shorts last year and I now have a permanent sunburn tramp stamp. I want to go with a fast suit like the LG course. I have read that these suits actually give a pretty good aero advantage. Too bad can't get an EN version.
Saddle:
I have the Adamo Prologue and I just don't think it is right for me. I think the seat is too wide and I end up with saddle sores.
Fit 2.0:
When I was first fit on my Tri Bike I had just gotten it and had never ridden aero before. I am sure there are some improvements I could make and I should have a better feel for what works and what doesn't. I want to go back to Jim Manton and have him tweak my fit. He can also help me find the right seat.
Other improvements:
Behind the seat bottle cage. I want to have room for a single bottle right under my seat so I no longer have a cage in the frame. This should be more aero.
New torpedo:
I have the x-lab torpedo 100 and perform leaks EVERYWHERE with it. The perform interferes with my front brake. I am tired of squeeky brakes and a sticky bike. Any ideas on a better torpedo bottle? The Nathan one?
Garmin 500:
This past year I raced with the 910xt and used the quick release kit to move the watch from Wrist -> Bike -> Wrist. This just slows me down and it always made me nervous. I now have the 920xt and want to keep it on my wrist for the whole race. I will get a Garmin 500 to leave on my bike. Probably will never even sync it, just use it to look at power while riding.
Any other low hanging fruit I might be missing? Any feedback on the specifics of what I should invest in?
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Comments
Hey Peter, I'm only going to comment on the water bottle issue. I use the Speedfil A2 waterbottle, which in itself is a great design, easy to use BTA waterbottle. However, similar to your complaint, it leaks fluid. I usually have my Gatorade or Perform in the BTA bottle, and because it is a 2 piece system ( water bottle and lid) it leaks fluid where they connect. Unless putting ductape around it, I am not sure how to fix it. The good thing about the bottle is that it does not splash fluid out of the black lid on top. Only other con with this bottle is the cleaning. Even after removing all the parts after every ride, the inside of the lid has small grooves in which cleaning is impossible. The straws ( 3 piece system) must be taken apart every time for cleaning and the white 90 degree connections are tough to clean.
I am always on the lookout for a better bottle or BTA system, so I will keep a close eye on the discussion that will develop on this.
Nice list. Make sure get Mama Approval
Add a K-Edge Chain Catcher. You will be shifting a LOT at IMWI.
Saddle: Speaking as someone else with the need for a narrow saddle - the Prologue is 135 mm wide, and the Adamo Attack is 110 mm, narrower than most other saddles. It's what I switched to last year, and it solved my saddle sore issues (as long as I remember to butter up) When you do research saddles, check the specs for the width - you'll find most are not as narrow as the Attack.
-test your stuff (helmet, skinsuit) at the track with Jim's /EROs aerotesting option. The things you listed are , generally speaking, fast for most people. Might as well make sure they are the fastest choice for you, and I think testing is the only way.
(Short plug - if you want to come along to observe, I'll be testing at the velodrome with Jim next Thursday. Planning to compare skinsuit and helpmet options after we have tweaked out the position).
Personally I use a double-cage setup behind the saddle and do not have any cages on the aerobars or on the frame. For a half iron race I put my flat kit in a bottle in one of the cages so I have no flat kit taped anywhere on my bike.
I also use the Garmin Edge 500 and it is great. I do not wear a watch on the bike, nor do a wear my road ID when racing.
I like the double cage idea, flat kit is another thing I had been struggling with, and the double bottle holder will be useful on training rides.
Might want to look at this, that is a crazy deal
It seems like a lot of the cleaning up your bike and what your wearing has been covered, but I'd like to add that working on your transitions is fairly low hanging fruit and something that most of us can improve upon....I know that I can! There are a few of members around here who are masters at this and if you have time to shave here (not sure whether or not you do?), I suggest that you review those threads too and it'll pay off.
Sadly, not legal for WTC races. Iirc, it falls outside of the "8.5x11" rule.
@BTA - I also used the A2 for my IM but it started leaking after only 7 months so I switched to the Profile Design System http://www.profile-design.com/profile-design/products/hydration---nutrition/all-hydration/aero-hc-system.html. Be aware that you may have troubles mounting this system if your extensions are very narrow to each another like my 3T Brezza II.
@Aero in general - like Matt said your Bikefit 2.0 has priority as affects your total drag by over 80% but also look for any other "free speed". Take a look at the #aeroiseverything channel from Specialized on youtube.
@Helmet - I'd check my "new" fit first and then check which helmet fits my new "bikefit" best. Depending on your overall position and especially your head position different helmets may or may not be better than the LG.
@Trisuit - going with a suit is great. I've one from LG (actually pewag branded) and I love it. If you could get a new one I would look out for one that covers the shoulders and armpits as this is proven to give you even more free speed on the bike!
@Tires+Tubes - There is NO other choice than going with Latex!! The Conti 4000S is awesome and I race with it too. If you want to go "full risk" you may want to try the Grand Prix TT which has even less rolling resistance .
- I got the Garmin 500. I really like it, 6 data fields will be helpful. Showing Grade% will help a lot in Wisconsin I think.
- Next week I go back to Jim Manton to update my fit and try out some new saddles. He thinks a Cobb 55 Jof might be what I need.
- Question: Which latex tubes do you guys use?
Btw, why do you care about % grade? Between 3s avg power and lap avg power, cadence and maybe hr, you got all you need!
^^^^THAT^^^^
Grade is is completely irrelevant. Completely. As is SPEED. I would also argue that Lap Power is not totally required either. It can cause you to overcook "trying to catch up".
Wisconsin requires only a few of things:
We are WAY off topic now but I would say as long as you autolap to re-set the "box", lap power can be very, very useful when racing. In a half-iron I autolap every 5 miles and in an Olympic-distance every 4 miles. That means in a half-iron I get a new lap every 12-13 minutes, which is shorter than most intervals we do in training.
I believe gear selection will depend a lot on the course, but also on the athlete. At 135 lb and 4.2 watts/kg I was able to do a training ride of the IMWI course at a 1.03 VI with a compact crank and a 12-25. I might choose to race with an 11-25 or 11-27 when it comes time to decide those details, but the likelihood I'd go with a 32 is pretty much zero. Likewise on a flat course like Steelhead or Racine I will use a 12-23 whereas other may go with an 11-25 or even 27. The point is, it will depend on the athlete. Also I would suggest that managing your downhill is just as important (and, as we know in EN, often overlooked) as managing the uphill. Hence think about an 11-tooth cog for WI where you may well spin out before you want to using a 12.
- 3s power is the "big number" in the middle
- then 4 smaller boxes: HR, cadence: lap avg power and lap time