Repair kit placement for racing

Brad Marcus

Hi Team - I'm sure this is addressed somewhere in an archived forum, but I always have problems with the search feature. New bike this season, new hydration setup. I plan to run a btb bottle and a single bottle behind the saddle. I'm looking for ideas for where I can stash a repair kit for race day. Would like to have: 1-2 tubes, 2 co2's, 1 tire lever, 1 air chuk, and maybe a small multi-tool. I'm obviously looking for the most aero setup possible for this stuff.

All ideas welcome and bonus for pics of your setup! Thank you !!

Dave Tallo

Best practice is anything that doesn't require a new x-labby contraption that adds extra weight, and whatever keeps the whole kit out of the wind. For me, this is stuffing and strapping the whole inventory beneath the seat, in the space between the rails and the shell. It'll take some time and manouvering (and you'll need small lightweight tubes), but trust me ... it can be done cleanly. And invisibly.

Spend the 100$ you save on not buying a 'storage solution' on a nice finisher meal instead!

Steve Ross

Brad I to on race day am a minimalist I do as Dave does and insert/tape underneath my seat(adamo). I have seen other set ups where people use a cut down water bottle to store said items in there second bottle cage mounted on their seat. Here is an old article I refer back to once in awhile for guidance. http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Carr..._3445.html. Hope this helps

robin sarner

Starting using xlab aero pouch 300. Nice compromise.

John Withrow

I shove one tube and a lever up under my seat. For important races, I will also tape a tube and a CO2 in the triangle area just above my bottom bracket (below the water bottle). No aero penalty for either of these. Might take me an extra minute to un-tape the one off my frame, but if it comes to that, I've already lost a bunch of time...

Brad Marcus

Thanks team. I've always shoved 1 tube under the saddle. I suppose I'll see what else I can get under there too. Will also consider JW's recommendation on the triangle above the BB. I already use the aero pouch for food so that's not an option. I'll see what I can come up with and report back. Goal this year is to tighten up free speed options: bike setup, clothing, etc.

Thanks again!

John Withrow

Few updates from what I said above with pictures...  Here's a pic of my bike before the bike leg of the Challenge AC.  It was as clean as I've ever gotten it.  I removed all of the bottle cages except for the between the arms one.  You can see where I taped the tube and CO2s in the bottom of my triangle (and just behind my seat)..

 

This one is how I raced IMCoz in 2014.  For this one I took off my down tube bottle cage, but kept one behind my seat.  I kept the CO2s mounted on my behind the seat bottle cage.  One tube was up under the seat, but the 2nd was taped tightly and neatly on top of my frame just behind my bento box.  I usually keep a couple of bars and salt sticks in my bento, but I keep one tire lever down in there as well.  I either keep the CO2 chuck crammed in the back of the bento or taped up behind the seat.