TriBike Transport Logistics (Pre- and Post-drop off)

gkruse

I'll be dropping my bike off on Aug 2 to send it out to IMNYC. I've never used this service and lost use of my bike prior to a race so I have two quick questions for anyone that's done this before.

Pre-dropoff: What's a good strategy for the timing of a final tune-up? Am I better off scheduling a tune-up a week prior so that I can ride the fully tuned-up bike that final weekend to ensure everything's tight and nothing needs further adjusting or am I okay just dropping it off a day or two early and having the drop-off LBS (which I trust) do it and send it on it's way?

Post-dropoff: I don't have a secondary bike and my plan has two rides, a 2.5hr ride and a 1.5hr ride, during the week my bike will be on its journey. Do I just front-load these as best I can and enjoy those days off or do I sit on a stationary bike at the Y for 2.5 hours or until someone chases me off the bike for massively exceeding the time limit?

Thanks for any advise.

Tom Glynn

TBT is awesome. I've used it at least a half dozen times.



Your bike is gone a long time, but it's worth it because it eliminates so many hassles.



To your questions. I usually have my bike looked at 2 or more weeks before pick up so I can ride it around for a couple of rides. The weekend before dropping it off, I attach the rear wheel cover, put on the race tires and tubes, and ride around in full race gear to make sure it all works. After dropping it off, I use my road bike. I'd try and ride on a stationary bike or something like that once or twice, but remember, you're tapering . After getting the bike at the venue, I ride it around once before the race.



For race day, pump the tires up first thing in the morning like everyone else. When the day is over, the best part is just walking the bike back to them and saying goodbye for a while. My tri bike is still hanging on the garage wall after May's IM TX



Highly recommended!

Paul Hough

George ... I just got back from Muncie and my race bike is with them. It depends on where you are going and where you live on how long it will be back. I used them for IMAZ and IMCDA ... far from here ... so the bike was gone awhile. But when I used TBT for San Juan ... close ... It was only a few days. I have 2 race bikes and a road bike so I don't mind the bike being gone, but I would go the stationary bike route rather than skip or front load workouts. Like Tom says, you should ride the bike when you pick it up. I installed my disk covers when I got the bike the day before the race and took it out for a 10 mile checkout ride.

astokes30

I used them in March for Oceanside, CA. I live in Minnesota. Not close...so the ol bike was gone for a LONG time total trip, but well worth it! I agree with Tom on the tune up part. I got one 2 weeks prior, had it on the trainer to test it out before dropping it off at LBS. I did my last 3 hour and 1.5 hour "rides" on the spin bikes at my local gym. Crazyness for sure, but it was still winter here and my (only) bike was gone so my options were way limited. If possible, get in the back of some spin classes and just listen to the music and ride along w/o doing the class workout. It helps at least some of the time go by quickly! Good Luck!!!

P.S. Remember to actually drop off your bike at TBT right after the race and not load it up in the rental car and drive off like I did ! Oops! I was so used to my routine I forgot I was in Cali with a rental car!

MattAaronson

If you don't usually use a stationary bike I would be really careful about doing a 2+ hour workout a week abfore your race on a bike with fit characteristics you're not used to. The last thing you want to do is get some strange knee pain or whatever...

GMAN 19030

I just used TBT for Syracuse 70.3. It's a long way from TX to NY so I had to drop off the bike the Friday nine days before the race and it took another nine days to make it back after the race so it can take awhile. Worth it though. It's nice to just hand your bike to them at the end of the race and you don't have to mess with it. Do remember to bring your other wheel with you on race day if you used a disc for the race. They won't take bikes with the disc still on the back. I forgot to bring the rear spoked wheel with me on race morning. Thankfully, the guy wasn't leaving until the next morning so I was able to meet up with him and swap the wheel out.

I do my own wrenching on my bike so I can't say what the best thing to do as far as a tune-up is concerned. Why not throw the TBT partner bike shop some business if you trust them. I think that would be the thing to do.

Pick your bike up as early as you can and ride it and make sure everything works.

I have a Cycleops Indoor Cycle which I ride all the time so being without my bike for an extended period of time was no big deal.

I will use TBT again for IMAZ this year.

Paul Scholz

 I used them for IM CdA 2.5 weeks ago and still don't have my bike back

I had a grat experience with them, sent my wheels with them in a wheel bag so I didn't have to forget things and go get them.

Nothing beats being able to drop the bike off from transition and then not having to worry about it.

How is your SAU bank? I would think this is great rationale for getting another bike  

(I have two tri bikes, a road bike, and a mountain bike). Last year right after getting the new one and 10 days before my first half my new kestrel frame developed a crack. They ended up replacing it for free, but I had to race on my back-up. (so the spouse understood my point about needing to keep both tri bikes, just in case ... ...)

just saying ... ...

Nate Parady

Can I add a question to the related topic...

How did folks handle the Gear Bag, what did you put in it or more importantly what didn't you put in it. Site recommends using a duffle bag. Did you use it?

Did you remove your rear water bottle cages.

Paul Scholz

 @ Nate this was my first time using TBT and I didn't ship a gear bag with them. Mainly because I wanted to be able to swim and run before I would have been able to pick up the bag during race week.

I was not planning on racing with the rear water bottle cages and only had them on for training, so yes I took them off. I used water and perform off the course and so didn't want to have the extra cages.

They do recommend removing them as some of those are flimsy and will break in transport.

Paul Hough

@ Nate - I've never sent a gear bag with them, but sometimes I've sent my race wheels in addition to those on the bike. You only have to remove CARBON rear cages. So I've removed my carbon cages and brought them with me if that was my deal, but I've left my Profile Design cages on the rear for other times. I've never had an issue with TBT. For any race I fly to, all gear is in my carry-on back pack...race shoes, bike shoes, helmet, tri-suit, etc. If they lose my luggage, I'll still be ready to go.

@ Paul - I work hard to stay well situated on SAUs since I race frequently and train a lot. Muncie was not a destination race so I juiced up the experience by staying at a nice B&B. The inn keeper was outstanding and even had breakfast ready at 4am on race day since everyone at her place was there for the triathlon.

Scott Alexander

I've used TBT for years, and loved it. I was actually sponsored by them for '09 and '10 as well, which made it extra cool.

Any way, I used to send a gear bag as well, for an extra $25 (if I recall). I used my transition backpack, with my nutrition, bottles, bike tools, and maybe a few other "nice to haves" in it. You drop it off with the bike, and pick it up with the bike also.

At the end of the race, I'd take my bike directly to the TBT tent/area, then come back later with the gear bag (after I went 'home' and put all the same stuff back in it) to drop it off.

Extra wheels, in a wheel bag, used to be free. I'd ship with training wheels, then put on my race wheels once I arrived. Just in case something happened, I'd have a back-up set of wheels.

Paul Hough

@ Scott - I only shipped my race wheels in a wheel bag (still free in 2012) when I sent my HED Jet Disk since they cannot pack a bike with a solid wheel. For Muncie, I sent my race wheels on the bike with power tap and packed my disc covers in my suitcase (along w a chain whip, wrench, and cassette lug). I had to remove the disc covers before I turned the bike back over to them...not a big deal.

Paul Hough

Update - I dropped my bike off with TBT at Muncie Saturday and it's home today. They are damn good.

Nate Parady

very cool..thanks guys.

gkruse

Thanks for all the feedback. This was great. I'm all set with bike and gear back drop off for IMNYC. Thanks again. Very helpful.