Hydration Execution - HIM

Doug Johnson

Looking for some recommendations on how to set up my water bottle on my bike for a HIM.  I currently use a Torhans between the aero bars for nutrition.  I have two options for water on my downtube and am not sure which would be better. 

 

The first option is my speedfil mounted on the downtube which holds 40 oz.  The biggest benefit is that I probably wouldn't have to stop at any of the aid stations during the bike unless it's really hot.  The obvious downside is the weight of carrying 40 oz. especially because the first 10-12 miles of the course I'm racing has a big climb and all the weight will be there at that point.  The other downside is that it isn't as aero as option 2. 

 

The 2nd option is a Bontrager speed bottle that I've modified by adding a straw (similar to the speedfil) and cut a hole into so that it can be filled on the fly.  The benefits are less weight and very aero.  The downside is that I'll have to stop at two aid stations.

 

So my questions is...does the benefit of carrying less weight and being more aero outweigh the fact that I will have to slow down 2 different times on the bike or is it more advantageous to carry the heavy load and not slow down at all?  Thanks for your help!

MattAaronson

Generally I lose minimal speed at aid stations. I point at the person I want to get water from, grab the bottle and keep going. I would make the decision based on your logistics and what is easiest for you to drink from, and what you have done in training so know how to do like it is second nature.

Of the options you list, it sounds like where you will lose time is actually re-filling something. Personally I have a totally different setup which accomodates using the bottles on the course. I have two seat-mounted cages and start a race with one of my own bottles filled with sports drink plus a disposable bottle filed with water. Then at aid stations I toss the disposable and take an aid station bottle for my cage. Given your setup you can't do that...the closest would be putting the nutrition in the bonty aerobottle and torpedo-mounting a cage for aid-station water bottles.

I think you should stick with whatever you do in training, but just keep in mind that you don't want to have to waste a lot of time re-filling something, and also the first 10 miles of the bike has virtually all the elevation gain, so going out with an empty cage and filling up at the first aid station might save you some watts getting up the hills.

Al Truscott

Think of "slowing @ aid stations" as similar to walking 20 steps every mile on the run - a chance to chake things up both mentally and physically, paying actual speed dividends in the long run. Don't try to go self-supported at a $250 race - you paid for those fluids, take them and don't weigh yourself down. 

And read this thread which captures a lot of EN wisdom about race day bike set-up - 6 pages long, but worth cruising thru.

matthewbward

Like the other guys, I wouldn't worry too much about the speed slowdown to grab bottles. Review the map before the race so you'll know where the hand-ups are going to be before you get there. Personally, I race a half very minimally (Torhans 20 for water, gel flask, down tube bottle for sports drink to sip on maybe). My gut is always be as light as possible but that's dependent on heat, water consumption, how you get your cals, etc, but I wouldn't say it's based on wanting to avoid hand-ups.

Doug Johnson

I don't like drinking out of a water bottle on the tri-bike cuz I get wobbly and have to become un-aero to do it. Both of my options allow for drinking out of a straw which is really simple. I drink water every 5 minutes plus when thirsty. The straw allows me to do that without any impact on my position which (I believe) is pretty solid and actually very comfortable. Based on your comments I think what I can do is go with the speed bottle and grab a water at the aid station, stuff it in my jersey, and then fill the bottle when I have to get out of the position on a climb or something. Thanks for your help.