The "Bottle/Computer/Tools/Race Wheels/Race Day Setup" Thread
Props to Matt for starting this thread. Let's capture all the tricks, setups, best practices and other valuable information we have floating around in the forums in our heads!
Please post your race day bike setup, including bottle mounting positions/option, computer mounts, where you keep your tools and other tricks. I know a thread like this could have save me a LOT of mistakes, time, and money back in the day!
As always, pictures would be very, very helpful. Thanks!
Rich
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It seems like we have this discussion over and over each year and a lot of good information gets burried in threads. Per Rich's suggestion I'm starting a separate thread for this since we just talked about it yesterday in the bike fit thread. Here is my setup that works for me. Please post yours as well.
Here is my setup, it hides bout the bottle and computer inbetween my arms therefore blocking them from the wind. This also litterally puts the computer inches from my nose so I have no choice but to look at it all day long. The computer is exactly far enough from the bottle that I can get the bottle in an out with out hitting it or splashing it and I still have enough room to grab the extension in a few different positions. I can also put my larger edge 800 on here but that gets within a few mm of the bottle. It works fine but they touch every once in while.
The Bottle Cage:
For about 3 bikes now and 3 years I have run the horizontal bottle on the aerobars. I've had 3 different aerobars (Hed Blackdog, Zipp Vuka Bull, 3T Brezza) and three different stem lengths (90,110, and 80 respectively). I've been able to get it to work with all of these simply with zipp ties and one time with a $9 profile design mount. The key for me has been to run a -17 stem (which is more aero and looks better anyway) and/or cut the steerer tube/use the right combination of spacers to get the bottle level and inline with the extensions so it rest right on top of them. Once you do that, it's easy.... just zip tie the cage to each extension then zipp tie it to the stem/steerer tub and you are down. I also started putting a small peice of bar tap inbetween the cage and other contact points so it does rub and cause any wear marks or make noise. Personally the $10 trek batcage has worked the best of me. Here is a picture of the setup on my latest bike:
The Computer:
At first I simply used the small profile design mount, hoewver it would ocassionaly slip or bounce around and that drove me crazy. Plus the computer wasn't centered ;-).
Here are my last three mounts with everything I need to mount it. From left to right: Carbon Steerer tube cut to fit Hed bars, Carbon aerobar extension cut to fit Zipp bars (and now 3t bars), long profile desing computer mount.
The profile mount was the easiest to use but I wanted it to touch both sides. When my aerobars were 9cm apart (c-c) this worked great. I would put it on per the instructions and then run electrical tape all the way aronud so it was attached to both extensions. I also put bar tap in between it and the extensions. The problem was when I move to having my aerobars 7cm apart, the long profile mount would not work and the short was too small.
That lead me to making my own. First version was PVC pipe. It was quick, easy and worked well but looked bad so I wraped it in electrical tape. However, being a triathlete it wasn't long until I wanted to make it our of carbon.
The first version was some excess steertube i cut off a bike (shown above to the far left). I simply cut it to fit and used a round file to make it fit perfect. It fit so well I just slide it inplace and it stayed on it's own. This took a while though and was a little bigger than I wanted.
Version 3 is the excess aerobar extension I cut off a set of vuka extensions. Again I cut it to fit, however I was crunched for time as I was doing this the week of a race trying to get a new bike setup, so I simply drilled two holes. To mount it I put bar tape between it and the extensions then run the zip ties through the holes and aronud the extensions. I was planning to go back and make one with the nice rounded edges that looks better, but the zipp tied version ended up working really well and litterally took about 10 minutes to make so I haven't bothered to make another.
Here are pictures of me mounting it to the 3T brezza bars I'm running this year. Before I put the zipp ties in I will trim the bar tape to an exact fit so there are no corners sticking up but this makes it easier to see.
I have an idea for a 4th generation version that will lower the computer so it is actually inbetween the bars but I ran into two problems... it makes it a pain to push the side buttons and because of the quarter turn mount it is a pair to get the computer on and off if it is lower. I'll keep working on it and post pictures when I figure it out.
I know quite a few others have posted there setups so please add your pictures here and hopefully Rich will make this a sticky so people can find it.
Comments
I edited the title and added a note to the first post. Thanks to Matt for starting this thread!
Per Rich's update, here is my additional information. I'll try to add some pictures soon.
Race Day Nutrition/Bottles:
I always run the bottle cage on the bars for water and I exchange the bottle at every aid station, however my downtube setup changes:
- Training: Standard Bottle Cage with Nutrition in it. Other bottles go in jersey pockets... never behind the saddle :-)
- 70.3 or shorter: Aero Bottle or standard bottle on the downtube with all my nutrition for the race in it.
- 140.6: SpeedFil on downtube with all calories for the day in it. Cover over the speedfil to keep it covered from the sun. I run the tube as close to the frame as possible and hidden where possible. I will not use the black sleeve thing and instead tuck the tube inside my aerobars and leave the end inbetween my elbow and the horiztonal bottle cage. To drink I lift the tube, take 3 sips and then tuck it back in. Chase with water.
- Hot races, I add a salt stick to my right aerobar extension.
Race Day Tools Notes:
Fuelbult Aero Bento Box has everything in it. If I didn't already have it I would purchase a Dark Speed Works one instead.
Containing:
- One tube with valve extender already on
- Spare zipp style valve extender
- Two CO2 and microinflate
- One tire lever
- One multitool
- Quick Chain Link (KMC)
- Tube Patches/tire boot
Race Wheel Notes:
- Wheel cover or disc 100% of the time it is allowed. I tape the inside of the drive side to the spoke with packing tape then use electrical tape to hold the cover on.
- I run either vittoria open corsa cxII 320tpi or Zipp tangente tires. Typically 20/21 in front and 23 in rear for long course but may try a 21 in back for 70.3.
- Challenge Latex Tubes with removeable valve core so a standard valve extender (i.e. tufo or vittoria) can be used instead of the zipp style extenders.
- Tire labels always face the drive side and are aligned with the valve stem (makes it easy to find valve in a rush or locate a hole/object when checking a tire)
- Alwasy inflate tires myself on race morning. Follow the guidance of the tire manufacture on PSI with the following adjustments 4 psi lower due to wider firecrest clincher (per Zipp's recomendation), 2-4 psi lower for rain and/or rough roads. Same pressure front and rear.
- Don't forget carbon specific brake pads if you have a carbon brake surface on your race wheels.
Other
- Spend the time to put your race number on so it doesn't flap in the wind or hit you.
- Sometimes I will also take a can of fix a flat with and hide it somewhere on the bike.
- Bike computer is calibrated/zeroed in transition on race morning and then left on ready to go. I also re-calibrate once per hour during the ride for IM.
- If it is cold and I'm going to wear arm warmers or gloves they go on the bike on the aero bars. I put them on while riding and take them off while riding...never in transition.
- When allowed, shoes always go on the pedals. If I can't, then I make a decision based on distance from bags to bike to t1 exit on if I am running in the shoes or carrying them and putting them on buy the bike or by t1 exit/mount line.
@Jean - that looks really good. I tried the garmin there but it didn't work for me as my arm did hit it, my guess it that it depends on the extension shape on if people can do that or not...great and simple solution if it works. Did you just zip tie the cage to the stem or is there a mount that you bought and recomend?
Matt,
I bought a Speedfil, have it right here on the dining room table. Then I saw this chart above on ST, which is why I'm trying to go with:
Thoughts?
@ Matt: Not a great photo - sorry! It's attached with the "Andrews Stem Bottle Mount". It has remained locked tight since installation three months ago. Also, technically mine is mounted uspide down which made my bottle lay flat, rather than angled up. Best $9.00 I've spent in this sport to date!
http://www.universalcycles.com/shop...p?id=34540
@Rich - Here are a few random thoughts/reactions that I'm typing while have participating in a conference call so sorry if it isn't concise.
To be clear, I don't think this company did anything wrong or misleading at all, I just believe they are choosing to show the data they collect that makes their product look the best and they likely tested using scenarios their product would accel at (just like Zipp, Hed, Cervelo, Trek, etc).
Like you say about bike fit we all have to evaluate our goals and then make decisions based on our what is important to each of us. For me for an IM, being able to run off the bike is number one (meaning pacing and nutrition are critical on the bike) and having a fast bike split is number two (i.e. getting as aero as possible).
I agree with you and in your case If you can race well off of ironman perform then I don't think the speedfil is the best solution for you solution, I just know I can't take 8+ hours of perform, the stuff just sucks way to much :-)
Thanks Jenn, looks like a simple, cost effective and very good solution. I like it.
I have heard good things about the HED lollipop as well but I believe it is more like $50 and basically the same idea as the one you bought.
I just ordered the pricey Torhans Aero 20oz bottle (front mount) for my QR CD0.1 and I use the X-Lab torpedo mount on my Giant. Interesting, the wind tunnel testing by Torhans indicates that the Torhans 20oz or 30oz bottles are the most aero front hydration system on the market, followed very closely by the X-Lab Torpedo mount and then a rapid increase in drag with other front systems. The Torhans has a tray to put your computer behind the bottle to keep it out of the wind. I'm going to try it, but it won't be right in front of me...but I don't use power or HR either so that not's a big issue for me.
Torhans is working on a new frame mount system and has tested other systems. They've reported that 2 standard bottles in the frame have much lower drag at most yaw angles than most aero bottles, and in particular the speedfill due to it's size. That's contra to what I've read before but they've put it out there.
Despite all this, it's important to remember that body positioning is the most important factor. I've read that the difference between all the top bike frames out there is maybe 10 grams of drag while simply turning your head while racing increases drag over 100 grams.
For racing (only tested at HIM, so far), I've switched to Aerolite up front for water (refilled on the course - I like having it in my face to sip on almost constantly, and with water the inevitable splashing doesn't bother me), and concentrated nutrition on the frame (I can do one bottle for HIM, was planning on second bottle at special needs for IMLP, with a fallback of switching to on-course on the frame if I lose the bottle or lose my special needs bag). The nutrition bottle on the frame is marked, so it's easy to 'true up' on an hourly basis if I'm drinking too slow.
I wanted to go with plain water in a torpedo mount up front, but my aerobars are relatively short and it's too tight a fit to get the computer and the torpedo mount up front (whereas the aerolite does fit).
Bingo! Thats the realization I came to last year as well. We don't race in a windtunnel in a pefect position 100% of the time. We have to turn, exchange bottles, reach for bottles, etc all of which create drag.
The reality is that almost all aero frames, aero wheels, aero helmets, etc are so good that the differences get lost in the noise of race day. By all means we should try to get as aero as possible but at some point we are just spliting hairs.
Put Chris Leito on a TTX, Orbea, Cepo, Cannondale, etc and I bet he is still first off the bike in Kona ... and he will still be passed by Alexander, the Ralerts and Macca on the run even if they are all wearing 12oz shoes and he has 6oz race flats.
That said, I still enjoy getting my setup as aero as possible but I accept it will not be perfect. This year i'm on a Ridley Dean RS. It fits like a glove and has an actual 78 degree seat post which means I can easily go over 82 degrees and still have my ass on the seat. A standand seat post, vertical dropouts and enough clearance for the widest rims available make it a piece of cake to build, maintain and travel with,. However it's got a peice of crap TRP front brake behind the fork with a cable that sticks out into the wind no matter what I do.... that's life as there are trade offs to everything.
It's a combination of factors like you mentioned:
I hated re-filling an aero bottle as well...that's yet another reason I went to the horizontal bottle. Drink/dump the rest of the water in your bottle while approach aid stations, throw bottle before aid station, grab new bottle and stick in cage. It is so quick that in kona I could actually grab a second bottle from another person, take a gulp of it, dump the rest on myself and throw it out before leaving the aid station and this was without braking. Of course the Kona aid stations are very nice and a little longer than most.
I have from time to time put a single bottle behind the saddle almost horizontally like Lieto does. This worked well when I was doing 5 hour training rides and had 5 bottles with me as it was hot out. I have never raced like this though.
Thanks Matt! I actually found the combination that didn't launch bottles off of my P2. I haven't had huge problems hitting my leg on the flying mount/dismount. I probably do it pretty slowly and have my cages mounted pretty low, so it's not a problem. Also, since I have longer arms, getting bottles in and out while in aero hasn't been hard for me. I guess I could go to the torpedo mount between the bars, but then I might have to toss my water bottles. Since I either paid for them or got them as souvenirs at races, I am a little too attached to them.
@Bob: here's the thread where the chart came from. You should be able to see the chart in my post above.
@Matt: duh, I didn't think to...think...that the chart was made by the guys who are making a competing drinking system.
In '08 I race with concentrated Infinit in a Arundel on the downtube (P3C), PD aerobottle between the bars, Ergomo on the stem. I got another Arundel at BSN...tossing my $15 bottle, but such is IM...This drinking system worked well for me, but the PD messing up the aerodynamics of the P3C headtube has me thinking about a between the bars and above the head tube solution. I also want to go with nutrition all from the course.
Bottomline, I need to verify that ~200cal/hr of Perform + maybe 3-4 gels works for me (~1300cals for a ~5hr bike split) at IM pace. The Perform is working for me so far. I should also tweak my Infinit formula and give that an equal spin. Decide on the nutrition strategery then decide on the bottle system that facilitates it.
The rub is that I really, really, really like where the Joule is right now and the placement (spacing, angle, etc) of my aerobars. I really don't want to compromise this.
Thanks for all of the tip! Valuable thread!
~600 cal in 2.0 -2.5x concentrated InfiniT (or whatever) bottle, drinking water from the other bottle. Good for ~2.5 hours, i.e., half way or a little less.
Each bottle of Perfom is ~150 cal. Aid stations are ~10 miles apart on WTC courses = 30 min at 20 mph. = ~1 bottle per aid station, depending on how fast you're going. (If they are 20 oz bottles, it's 125 calories...practically perfect for 30 min, but maybe a little short if you're slower than 20 mph)
If you go with the pre-mixed bottle first, you don't have to drink 24 ounces per 30 min, which is a little heavy drinking in the cool early morning. This heavy drinking volume worries me a little for strict on-course nutrition. On the other hand, when it gets warm, that's not an issue any more.
Same here. I actually think your setup with that is pretty clever.
Not to go backwards from Rich, but I've pondering the question of how to carry my nutrition for IM on my P4. Current setup is all tools and a tube go in the Cervelo water bottle that I cut open and sealed back together with electrical tape, spare tube under the seat, Garmin Edge 500 on stem, Aero drink and Xlab rear carrier with 2 cages. The only other option I can see is to exchange the Aero drink for a torpedo mount. Any other options I'm missing? As Matt pointed out earlier I'm really paying the price for aero by having fewer options of what I can carry?
I haven't decided on a nutrition plan yet. My stomach usually does OK with whatever goes in it. Over the next month I'll decide if I will feed off the course or carry nutrition and refill at BSN, well aware of the risk of launched bottles and lost bags at BSN.
Had the Joule now for one week and love it. Trying to find the right place for it is another issue though. Lots of great information and ideas here to consider. Tried the X-lab mount on the stem tonight for the first time...bought it because i couldnt fit the Joule in front of my Aero Drink on one of the bars. Dont like the mount as i still have to move my entire head down to read the Joule. No question in my mind that the Joule has to be up in front. My goal is to only have to move my eyes, not my head. Think i'll consider something like Matt made that will fit in between both bars and allow me to mount the Joule right in the middle.
I've been playing around with set up for awhile. I really like the Speedfil despite Rich's chart below. My frame is small and I have a hard time fitting everything I need on the bike. Most recent issue was where to put the Garmin so it wasn't on my wrist and the power #s were staring me in the face. Here are a few pics of the set up. May cut the Speedfil straw a bit still, have to try it out on my ride tomorrow.
Sorry all the pics are sideways...
I realize this question will reveal my uber newb status at the HIM level, but here goes: I am carrying an aero bottle between the bars, have two cages on the bike, but I am wearing a tri suit that only has small hip pockets (ie no bottles can go there). I have discovered through my RR that I need 1.5+ bottles per hour, and the race will be a hot and humid one (Muncie 70.3). All races I have done up until now have not had bottles available on the course (Olympic and Sprint) and on my long rides I tend to carry as much as I can with me to avoid stops.
My intial thought was to carry a throw away bottle w water, and have my aero bottle full of the sport drink that they are using at the race. I would then be free to grab a bottle from each aid station (guessing 35-40 min apart) and I don't have to worry about throwing away one of my favorite bottles.
My second idea was to run the same initial set up, but to grab a bottle of water and a bottle of sport drink at every other station.
Thoughts on the two options? Any input on how far apart the aid stations generally are in a HIM? Recommendations for a newb on when and where to ditch the empties?
@Sam: suggest you check with the course map to see where the aid stations will be, exactly, but generally aid stations in an HIM are 10-12 miles apart. You are only allowed to discard bottles within sight of an aid station. They will usually have a hockey goal or similar set up at the front end for you to toss your bottles into, and another designated area after the exit of the aid station. Toss bottles and trash in the 10 miles between aid stations is a huge, huge, huge no-no. It's not just against the rules but also a shitty thing to do to the community, considering the consequences of 2000 athletes leaving trash on the course.
Dunno...not sure if the torpedo bottle is for me. I really, really like having lots of places to put my hands at the front of the aerobars and the bottle is just in the way. I also had to move my Joule back which affected it's visibility. I have it ziptied to the top of the faceplate of the stem. I think next iteration will be to move the bottle as far back as I can get it (might get that King stem cap system then move the Joule to between the front of the aerobars, but away from my hands, where I can see it more easily.
This year at LP I am ditching the Speedfil and will use a single downtube cage for water if needed. I like it for my long rides though. Fewer stops along the way.
Great ideas everybody. I'm going against the grain and running an aero bottle. I require a large volume of fluid, at least 70 oz per hour, and without the convenience of the straw in my face I simply won't drink enough. I train with it, race with it, and even ride the trainer with it. I love the convenience that much. I use the Bontrager aero bottle which has a slit in the soft rubber top that is very easy to fill while riding. It holds at least a quart, but if you only fill it to 24 oz it won't spill out when you go over bumps. I might be losing a few seconds in aero, but I will lose a lot more by becoming dehydrated.
I have not yet tried the concentrated bottle on the downtube. How thick can you mix it? Having a 1000 calorie bottle for a 5 hour ride would be convenient and I could just grab water from the aid stations and pour them into the aero bottle.
I used to mount my Garmin on the left aero bar just inside of the rubber grip but it got in the way of my left hand and access to the right side buttons was limited. I fabbed a prototype out of PVC similar to Matt's that I am going to try out tomorrow.