Signed up for SR 70.3. Done this race 2 other times, and it’s always be a scorcher. Last time, 2013, I bonked HARD on the run from bad fueling on the bike. Probably lost 10 minutes standing at a station in the middle of the run, trying to get cookies and water in my hole.
Looking at the new course, I see bike aid about every 12-16 miles. Starting full, that gives me 3 chances to top-off fluids. Rather be nearly empty for the climb on Chalk hill, but that’s not critical.
I’m going to be right around 3:00 for the bike (+/-10), and I’m #200, so I need around 900 calories, and at LEAST 4 big bottles of water/fluid. I have 2 frame cages, and plan to get a new BTA. My thought was to only use a single frame bottle and use some Hammer Perpetuem as primary nutrition, since I’m well adapted to that. I might be able to tolerate up to a 400-500 calorie mix in that bottle if I mix it 2x. That means I’m still short 400-500. I’m hesitant to add anything but water into the BTA. I’ve always liked access to plain water, especially on hot days, if my stomach clamps down. Going through the transition, only having to grab a single water seems nice, but if I should also grab a Gatorade, do I slip that into my jersey? On a second frame cage? Slam a bunch and toss it real quick?
A few gels and a Larabar in the bento could finish me off. Unless a behind-the-seat cage is really that much faster than a frame bottle, I’m not going that route, since my guess is that I lose far more by sitting up and reaching behind, than I do having the bottle in the frame. If I’m wrong there, let me know. I’m not at the pointy end of the pack, but I also want to do my best.
Looking at the new course, I see bike aid about every 12-16 miles. Starting full, that gives me 3 chances to top-off fluids. Rather be nearly empty for the climb on Chalk hill, but that’s not critical.
I’m going to be right around 3:00 for the bike (+/-10), and I’m #200, so I need around 900 calories, and at LEAST 4 big bottles of water/fluid. I have 2 frame cages, and plan to get a new BTA. My thought was to only use a single frame bottle and use some Hammer Perpetuem as primary nutrition, since I’m well adapted to that. I might be able to tolerate up to a 400-500 calorie mix in that bottle if I mix it 2x. That means I’m still short 400-500. I’m hesitant to add anything but water into the BTA. I’ve always liked access to plain water, especially on hot days, if my stomach clamps down. Going through the transition, only having to grab a single water seems nice, but if I should also grab a Gatorade, do I slip that into my jersey? On a second frame cage? Slam a bunch and toss it real quick?
A few gels and a Larabar in the bento could finish me off. Unless a behind-the-seat cage is really that much faster than a frame bottle, I’m not going that route, since my guess is that I lose far more by sitting up and reaching behind, than I do having the bottle in the frame. If I’m wrong there, let me know. I’m not at the pointy end of the pack, but I also want to do my best.