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My IMWI flat kit, is this overboard?

tgarsontgarson
in General Training Discussions

Have been playing around with different flat kits for Ironman Wisconsin next weekend. This will be my first Iron distance and typically I just race with FastAir / Vittoria Pit stop or some other type of sealant / CO2 mix rather than carrying an entire spare tubular. However, come hell or high water I don't plan on letting some flat tire or mechanical keep me from finishing IMWI.



So without further adieu, here's what I've got going on now:

 


The contents are:

  • One pre-stretched, pre-guled, pre-ridden Tubular spare (Tufo). Already mounted with valve extender deep enough for either front or rear wheel. 
  • One safety razor (for cutting off old tubular, I have done this before and it worked great)
  • One package of GreaseMonkey (degreaser cloth). Definitely don't absolutely need, but adds no weight / takes no space.
  • One can of Hutchison FastAir. (Tire sealant + co2)
  • 1 Nanoflate 
  • 2 16 gram threaded CO2 cartridges 
  • 1 ParkTool I-Beam Mini (multi-tool, it's hidden in from view but accessible by velcro from the bottom)

 

So, is this crazy overboard? Am I forgetting anything? If nothing else, just figured I'd share what spare time and zip ties can get you. 

Comments

  • mattsullmattsull

    The way I see it is the Nanoflate and CO2 is extra. You need the tire and the sealant.  I say you should go for it if it gives you peace of mind. You just may need it, god forbid.  I don't think it will negatively impact your bike split.

    Would you be using the X-Lab bottle carrier anyway?

  • KitbooKitboo
    I'm running Tufo tubulars on my race wheels too. I think that if you have a small puncture, the sealant in your Tufos (remember to add sealant if you haven't in a while---it does dry out) will seal it. If you have a bigger puncture that doesn't seal up with the sealant you'll need to change the tubular. So, I think the FastAir is redundant unless you are running tubulars without sealant in them.
    I'm just carrying an extra tubular and C02...no can with air and sealant.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

     Maybe to ease your mind, think about what you could put in Special Needs bag instead of carry with you. I don't use tubulars, so I don't know what that might be.

  • tgarsontgarson
    While my spare is a Tufo, the tires that are mounted are Vittoria's. I have tire sealant that I could add, but have been keeping the tires on there as 'fast' as possible in terms of Crr, not sure if sealant affects that but always have the option to add it.

    The general idea was if I get a flat, to first hit it with the FastAir and attempt to to just seal and re-inflate it in one shot and get back on my way. The FastAir does not always work though if it is a big enough puncture. Hence I have the spare tubular. If I have to change the entire tire, then I'd rather re-fill it with fresh CO2 and the nano-flate rather than the FastAir since I wouldn't need the liquid latex, i.e. the replacement tire wouldn't have a puncture. Plus in the scenario where I try the FastAir, it fails, then I have to change the tire, I'd need the other inflator.

    Now, I definitely could lose one of the 2 CO2 cartridges and probably will, just stashing extra in SN. All and all, it looks like a ton of stuff, but I'm going to have the bottle carrier on there either way since I have a Felt which can only have one bottle cage on it, the tail ends up being a regrettably necessity, the extra crap is just filling the space that I already have on the X-lab tail.

    Also in general, it looks crazy in that pic since you are only seeing the saddle, in the context of the rest of the bike, and me on it for that matter, it's not quite as garish.
  • KitbooKitboo
    Yes, adding sealant to your tires does affect it's rotational weight. I still do it as I figure I'd either carry the sealant in a can or in tires---but you are right, the fastest set-up is no sealant in your tires.

    So I guess the question is: Is that extra C02 (its weight) going to slow you down enough to justify getting rid of it? I don't think they weigh that much and having it would be peace of mind for me.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    If you're counting on using CO2, ALWAYS have one more than you think you're going to need is my advice. How many times have you seen people (including me) do something screwy with the first CO2 cartridge and need a second to fill the spare? If you're going to carry any, carry two, unless space is a big issue.

    If you wanted to, I'm 99% sure you could take those CO2 cartridges and the nanoflate and get them under your saddle. I screw the nanoflate most of the way onto one of the CO2 cartridges and then just wrap it with a bit of electrical tape to keep it on even though it's loose. Now I have only two objects instead of 3 to secure under the saddle.
  • Chris GChris G

     sealant is tires is bad for CRR, like several minutes or watts bad.  How much an extra CO2 will cost you is anyones guess, could theoretically be more aero with it there.  On race day I carry tire levers, an inflator, a CO2 and a tube.  During IM's I put an extra tube and some CO2 in SN bag.  That is enough to deal with a flat.  If I double flat or my crank falls off or something similar I will have to wait for help.  I figure while it is possible to be stupid and waste a CO2 that would be a pretty easy thing to scrounge up out there.  Hey, it worked for Chrissy.

    You need to carry enough to keep you from going mental worrying about it, that is a personal thing you need to work out.

    As I have often written, when you start to worry about things you can't control, like the possibility of getting nine flats or getting hit by lightning or the like, IT MEANS YOU ARE READY!  

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