Installing Race Day Bike Things

Josh Church

Just wanted to check in and make sure im going about this correctly. Getting ready for IMChoo

Im getting a new chain put on my bike Thursday and ride it on my wk19 taper long ride Sat.  Then i will be putting in latex tubes after this ride and Ill do a quick spin during race week with everything done.

Sound good? 

tim cronk

Josh,  yep sounds good.  I usually put the new chain, tires, and tubes on for the last 3 taper rides which adds up to about 4hrs of riding before the race... Don't forget di2 and pm charging/batteries... And a good once over all things mechanical!

Attila Matyas

I usually put talcum powder in tires if using latex tubes as well to prevent any sticking. 

If the course is still the same from a couple of years ago then the railroad crossings at IMCHoo were pretty brutal so per Tim's recommendation double check all your bolts with torque key especially front-end aero bars.

I have one of these in my bag to take care of any quick road fixes that might come up:

https://www.amazon.com/Ritchey-5Nm-6-Bit-Torque-Key/dp/B00SU86GCK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505334752&sr=8-2&keywords=ritchey+torque+key

You don't want to be this guy out on course!

https://www.facebook.com/CyclingCrashes/videos/857944257714303/

Good luck IMChoo is a great venue and you will have an awesome race!

Josh Church

Thanks @tim cronk and @Attila Matyas
 Tim due you always Race on new tires? My conti gp's are in fine shape, I was just wondering?

tim cronk

Josh, not always but for an IM more often than not, since I don't swap tires/tubes around because I am lazy I will usually leave race day set up on for training and then feel the need for new going into the next race but it really is dependent on the condition.

scott dinhofer

@Josh Church - i tend to do what tim does, use a race as an excuse to change tires.... 
I was just checking out some stuff last night and saw a few nasty gashes in my <2 month old tires from LP and know I am replacing them before Louisville. new tires, ride a few rides before race, check for issues before race, go.. 

Shaughn Simmons

@Josh Church

One more thing I would like to add here that already may be understood.

If you are using Latex tubes, do not put a Latex spare tube in the bike bag under the seat.  If you happen to need to replace a tube during the race out on the course, those latex tubes can be impossible to change and air up with C02.  I have lost more latex tubes than I would like to reveal on training rides trying to air them up with C02.  Make sure all spare tubes are non-latex/normal tubes.  Hopefully you will not need it.

SS

Josh Church

@Shaughn Simmons yea I did know this, but thank you for not assuming. 
Thanks @Scott Dinhofer and @tim cronk I like that approach will probably do that next time.