Best place for repair kit on race day?

Dawn Cass

Wonder if there are best practices out there.  I am trying to get as aero as possible with the bits on my bike for this weekend.

 

I have BTA drink bottle and one cage behind the saddle.  Ideally like to have 2 spare tubes...one can fit under the saddle and one in bento box.

 

Planning to put the repair kit bits in my top tube bento box.  Historically I have had spare gels and salt tabs here...this year plan to have a few on my back as spare.  I will just have to remember to load them up in T1 as I normally have them already on the bike.

Best set up?  Alternative thoughts?

 

JeremyBehler

Two tubes seems like overkill. I'd take one and put another in BSN. That way you can tape the tube, CO2, etc under the seat and still keep your bento available for nutrition. I'd also consider going with a dual behind the seat bottle setup. If you don't need to use the second bottle you can get an XLAB storage pad that fits securely in the other cage.

Scott Giljum

I agree with JB Dawn and would suggest rolling with one tube. I also go with two bottle holders behind the seat and use one for a storage unit. I figure the little bit of aero I give up for that set up is minimal compared to the confidence I get out of knowing I am covered.

Mark Maurer

Dawn, I take two tubes because I have Flo 60 on the front that takes a long valve stem and a 35 on the back with a disc and it takes a short stem. I know l could take one with a valve extender, but it's another moving piece. That said, I have two bottle holders behind the seat and use one for a pod where I keep one tube and my tools. The CO2 cartridges screw into the bottle holder in between the cages. The other tube is tucked in front of the cages under the seat. Picture later.

John Withrow

 

Dawn--  here's my bike setup as ridden at IM Vineman...  I have 2 CO2's screwed into the bottle cage holder behind my seat.  I actually removed ALL of the air frim my spares and put a couple pieces of electric tape around them.  This allowed me to cram two of them up under my seat (one with an extender and one with a short stem for my disc).  If you look very closely at my seat, you'll see the front part of the front tube sticking out in fron of my bike seat rails. In my bento, I had the small CO2 head unit and 2 tire levers.  This allowed me to have enough room for my salt and aminos and a bit of nutrition in my bento.  And no need for a downtube bottle with this setup which makes the whole setup more aero...

 

Robert Sabo

https://www.xlab-usa.com/aero-pouch-300.html
You could try this. It holds one bottle and the bag is wrapped around the bottle and is "supposedly" aero. I use it but more importantly it has the Dino Sarti seal of approval.

John Withrow

Here are 2 other "JW Approved" places to store things.  This pic was from before I did the bike leg of the Challenge AC race.  You'll notice that because I eliminated my rear cage for this race, I taped two CO2s into my bottom triangle with electric tape (this can be seen in my frame just above my big chainring.  I put a tube under my seat and also taped the CO2 nozzle under my seat as well, and a single tire lever went in my bento...

 

This one is from before Cozumel.  CO2s behind the seat on my bottle cage.  One tube under the seat.  The other tube was wrapped tightly, then taped with packing tape on my top tube just behind my bento.  Notice I took scissors to this race so I could cut my race number and stuck it directly onto my frame.  I hate it when a number has wrinkles in it or flaps in the wind behind a seatpost... 

Dawn Cass

All, this is fantastic stuff....really appreciate it!!

On two tubes, reason is similar to Mark...I have an 808 on front and disc on the back which require different length stems...could bring an extender but looking to minimise moving parts.

I tried fitting 2 tubes under the saddle last night and all fits in nicely.

I have (until this year) been using a double carrier in the back however shifted to the single this year with a bike upgrade. In fact the carrier is the same as Johns in the pics above. Am inclined to stick with this and see how I get on. If it doesn't work, may shift back to double as many of you suggest.

Thanks for suggestions on the gas cylinders...looking to carry 2 and will put on bento or bike.

Tire leavers....I have heard with Zipp/carbon wheels you don't really need them. Thoughts?? Not heavy but could get ride of bulk?

Mark Maurer

Hi Dawn, I don't have Zipp wheels, but I wouldn't rely on what someone else says about tire levers without trying it yourself. Someone with strong hands may be able to get tires on and off the wheels but you or I may not. I've also noticed that some tires are easier to change than others. So if you're thinking of ditching the levers, I would make sure you can change the tires on BOTH wheels before making that decision.

John Withrow

You can get really slender tire levers that you won'e notice in the bottom of your bento... I can rip a tire off any rim with my wrestler grip and I still carry the tire levers... better to have them and not need them. At a minimum, use packing tape and tape it on your top tube behind your bento (literally zero aero cost and they don't weigh anything).

Dawn Cass

Thanks again....makes sense!

Julian Cass

I carry two tubes purely as I have a rear disc and need different valve stem lengths. Not going to mess with them on race day. Agree with John W that you should carry a tire lever (one at least) even though you can get a tire off a Zipp wheel without one (at home with no time or race pressure...)