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SpeedFill and Infinit

 I recently got a speedfill hydration system and really like it.  It is convieniet, carries a lot of water and keeps me aero.  My nutrition plan was to have just water in the speedfill and do the powergel route.  I just listened to the infinit podcast and think maybe I should open up my options for other sorts of nutrition.  But the problem is water.  If I put the infinit in the speedfill I don't have another place for just plain water.  I guess I could install a rear cage for a water bottle.  Any ideas?  Is the idea of the speedfill over-rated?  

 

I did my RR for HIM KS yesterday and had 5 gels and felt great when I finished, but I wonder if it will be a different ball game at IMWI (2nd IM after a 10 yr break from IM).  

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Comments

  • Jon,

    Most people will grab water bottles on the course (great way to get cold water every 10mi) and either use a bottle mount between the aero bars, dump it into an aero bottle between the bars, or you could stash it in your jearsy pocket.
  • I will be racing this year with Infinit in my Speedfil and a cage between my aerobars for water.

  • x3 on what Jeff and Matt said. Infinit in the speedfill (enough for the whole day) on IM races, with water in the aero bottle.

    For HIM, I'll still use 2 regular bottles with Infinit and water in the aero bottle.
  • I like that: do you guys have a good source for a water bottle holder between that mounts between the aerobars: I have HED aerobars: See here for a pic: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/barwars/thumbs/thumbs2/hedadjust.jpg
  • I zip-tied a profile cage between my bars. Works great. There are products on the market now. I believe Profile and X-Lab both carry them.

  •  Glad I saw this.  The speedfill limitations were a problem for me at Horribly HIlly last year and for IMWI.  Glad to have these solutions laid out.  Thanks!!

  • x1 on Matt's solution. I zip-tied a Batcage between my aerobars and it's rock solid. Much cheaper than the commercial solutions and just as good IMHO.
  • @Jon, I don't have a speedfill BUT, I have read in the forums that one of the drawbacks for having all your nutrition in the speedfill is that it can be hard to see how much you've taken compared to a water bottle. You just need to be consistant with your drinking and of course practice during your training.
  • I plan to get a Speedfil soon, when I set up the tri bike for training after ToC. Glad to know it's working for people, seems like a very clean solution.

    I will likely grab a bottle of water at an aid station, quickly drink of it then bump the remainder on me.

  • What about speedfill with only water and then just eat gels? I think it will work for HIM, but am worried for IMWI
  • Jon,

    What's your plan for electolytes? Personally, I don't like to rely on gels because it's then very, very important that you dilute that gel with water to help your body process it. Become dehydrated, miss/drop a bottle and you're fooked, at least I am. Bottomline is that for HIM racing you only need about 150cal/hr = one bottle of sportsdrink, it has sodium in it, done. Simple.

  • @Rich I listened to your podcast with the Infinite guy and I am also thinking of trying to keep in simple and it seems simple to eat gels with salt and then drink out of the speedfil. But I see the point of the infinit: Do you think I should go back to 2 bottles? Water and infinit. Is the speedfill just a gimick?
  • What has worked for many, many people is to get in about 400-500cals on the bike, either via concentrated bottle of Infinit on the downtube + water from the course, or via whatever the course sportsdrink is. Personally, your plan of gels + salt (?) + water is too many moving parts.

    Think less is more, keep it simple, especially for HIM nutrition.

  • I'm new to Infinit and want to order and try it out QUICK (IMTX looming).  The main reason is I am digging the less moving parts thing.  I currently do IM Perform, every 15', and sub water, salt tab, and Stinger waffle on the hour.  I'l like to lose the waffle and only have to handle water at the aid stations.

    With little-no time to mess around with varying concoctions, what do you recommend?  Looks like they have a premixed formulation they call Ride!  Only thing "flakey" of the protein.  By flakey, I mean I don't usually do protein on the ride.  OOOOOO!  Correction, I have been eating a Stinger Honey waffle on the hour, so I can't see the protein being a problem.

    RR ride coming up in 1 week,  I'd love to get this on board early next week to try out.  What do you think?

    Amount Per Serving

    Calories: 274

    Calories from Fat: 0

    Total Fat: 0g - 0% of daily value

         Saturated Fat: 0g - 0%

    Sodium: 379mg - 15%

    Potassium: 110mg - 3%

    Total Carbohydrate: 65 - 21%

         Dietary Fiber: 0g - 0%

         Sugars: 20

    Protein: 3.03 - 5%

  • How important is it to have both water and energy. I have done many 1/2 IM with just Gatorade that I would get from the aid stations on the bike and run and water or gatorade on the run as desired. Moving up in distance to a full IM will I need to have both on the bike as well? I also just got a Speedfill and also have the Profile bottle between the bars.
  • Jon,

    Speedfill is coming out witha new bottle between the aerobars with a very cool filling mechanism. If you do both you keep water in the big speedfill and Infinit in the small one between the bars as it is easier to mix there.

    For Oceanside I got down 5 egels (750 cals) and refilled once the speedfill. It is 250 an hour for 3 hours for the HIM.

    For the full IM I am planning on 6 egels (900 cals), the new aerobar speedfill refilled one with powerbar drink (240 cals), 2 powerbars (transition and halfway), and refill the big speedfill as many times as I need while moving (it is cool that way). That would get me 300 cals and hour which is the most I can stomach at the slightly lower effort.

    The new bottle should be out in June.

    Thanks,

    Jon

  • David-

    Check out the wiki articles under nutrition. Essentially you need to take in enough liquid to stay hydrated as well as possible through your race and you need to take in enough energy (either through liquid or solid form) to fuel your race. They are two different ideas- for example, you will need about the same amount of energy fuel to do X miles for X amount of time at X speed (i.e. the calories you are burning), but your hydration will depend on a lot of other factors such as how much you are sweating, is it hot or cold out, are you taking in enough salt etc. For an IM you need to make sure to consider both, as you'll find when you read the IM nutrition advice the idea within the haus is less is more. Most people take in way too many calories (those will be the people you see puking at mile 8 of the run) but you definitely will need to take in a substantial amount of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Or the short answer, yes you need both water and an energy source (gatorade, infinit, bars, gels, whatever). Check out the wiki articles, they are much clearer than I am!
  • All: please review the Ironman nutrition webinar in the wiki, under the race execution section. Thanks!
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