Grabbing water at aid stations: I'm lame

meadows6

 OK, so I'm fairly new to cycling and the majority of my workouts over the past year have been on the trainer due to family scheduling (as in I've been on the road 6 or 7 times besides the three races I've done). I just got a nice tri-bike and am feeling not so confident on the road with it. Like as in I am even scared to grab water from the downtube.  So I have been stressing about the aid stations during my half ironman.  I just got one of those profile design water bottles that is GI-normous.  I feel like a bit of a tool with it strapped to my nice bike, but I think if I don't have something that holds 40oz or whatever that I can suck through a straw there is no way I will get enough fluid. 

So I guess I am wondering, is it totally unheard of to completely stop at an aid station to refill a bottle and/or eat a gu?  I don't want to cause an accident.  I was thinking of taping a couple gu's to the top tube. I think I can handle ripping that off and eating it, but even trying to reach for it in my back pocket is a no-go.  This is all very embarrassing to me, especially when I consider the fact that I used to be able to ride my bike with no hands and make turns.  This is what happens when you become a mom!

I did 50 miles this weekend with my water tank strapped to the front of my bike and another bottle on the downtube. And it seemed like just shy of enough liquids. I can sometimes grab the one on the downtube, but it's got to be really clear around me and smooth road otherwise I start to freak. Sooooo does anyone else stop at the aid stations?  Any tips?

GMAN 19030

Do not stop in the middle of an aid station. It will certainly cause an accident. It's designed to be a dynamic and fluid (no pun intended) situation. What you can do is stop at the end of the aid station (probably around the port-a-potties) and either walk over and get some water or have one of the volunteers run over to you.

That stated... get out there and practice your bike handling skills. You gotta do it not only for your own safety but for that of the other riders. It seems like you're not very confident in your handling skills. Odds are most of that is in between your ears and not a true reflection of your actual skill. Practice makes perfect.

trbrink

I got my new Tri-bike the day before the IMLP camp. Like you, I suddenly discovered that going for water was now an "event". Even grabbing the bottle from the downtube cage and returning it without driving off the road or dropping the bottle was a challenge(I did both during the camp). The bottles behind my seat.....forget about it if I was moving. As with most things in life, a little practice can really help. Find a quiet strip of road, with few to no cars, and practice grabbbing your bottles amd eating a bannana or gel. You can even pratice the "hand-off" with the volunteer if there are mailboxes along the side of the road.....just put one your bottles on top of it, then ride by and grab it. Good luck with your new bike and if you are going to stop, stop at the end of the station like Bob advised.

Coach Patrick

@Tina, thanks for the advice. I think it also helps to stop pedaling at this time if you are really freaked out, and you can also engage your core muscles (like squeeze them) as a stabilizing force. If you are on your trainer during the week, practice grabbing your bottles without looking at them...it's not the bottle or your hand that's the problem, it's that you move your head (and change direction) to find a bottle. Good luck!!!!

meadows6

Thanks everyone for the advice. Tina, it's nice to hear I'm not the only one who has had to go through an adjustment period. I have been out five times in the past two weeks and am doing everything I can to get on the road as much as possible. Fitness-wise I feel great, I just need more confidence on my bike handling skills. I will be sure to make myself practice reachIng for the bottles as well as the mailbox trick - if I can find one. And I def agree that it's mainly a mental issue, the bike wants to keep going straight right.

Thanks again!

Gordon Cherwoniak

Melissa,

Some good advise given already.  As mentioned just get out there an practice.  I have one or two other suggestions if possible. 

1) First you mention the tri bike is new and as you have found with the way your weight is distributed and the bars are set up it's quite responsive to any movement.  Can you get out in a parking lot and practice some of these bike handling skills on a mountain bike first to gain some confidence? 

Things you can do:

Just follow a line in the parking lot or road if safe.  Pay attention you your body weight and where it's shifting.  Use variable speeds as you may have to slow down or go through an aid station.  Use one had to ride the line with the other just above the bar, progress to the arm hanging beside you.  Try with both hands but definitely get comfortable with the aid station hand off.  Beyond that just look down at your bottle, does you head cause any shifting of weight.  What happens to your weight when you grab for the bottle?  First get comfortable riding with one hand then proceed.

Perhaps this is a dominant hand issue and you need to practice maneuvering your bike with the left hand as the aid stations will be on the right.  Given your discription of not being able to get the bottle on the down tube I assume its overall handling but this will help as well.

Second once you feel more at ease go back to the tri bike but swap out the pedals to regular platform ones so you are not clipped in.  repeat practice and then add in the clip on pedals.  

Beyond that look at your set up.  Can you move the water bottle holder to make it easier to grab.  Would a larger bottle help this, or perhaps a differet style.

Oh yes as stated don't stop in the middle of an aid station.

Good luck

Gordon 

meadows6

Gordon,

Thanks for all of the tips. I don't have access to a mountain bike, but I am going to head to a basically one mile paved track (it's just around a collection of soccer fields) and practice the things you mentioned. I think breaking it down to riding with one hand, holding a line, etc are the exact things I need to work on. Plus I think the turns of the track will help my cornering too. Cornering is ok up on my tri bike, but in aero i start to get nervous again.

I think I just need to take more time on it and not worry about crushing my ride, but slow it down and practice these skills. I don't get outside much so my initial urge is to get as many miles in as fast as I can.

Scott Alexander

Just to reiterate...DO NOT STOP mid-aid station. Get off the road if you must stop. So many people going thru the aid stations at various speeds and with various skill, just spells disaster.

meadows6

Yeah got you guys loud and clear. By stop at aid station I meant at the end and off the road out of people's way. Thanks again for tips on improving my skills. At any rate, I can do gu's taped to top tube ok so unless its crazy hot I should be ok with the water on my bike.