So I had some time in my hand last night and stripped down the unnecessary stuff. I still think bento is a good addition but due to frame design (Trinity) it does not fit secure enough, and for the bottle cages, they were nothing but a competition eliminator in a very james Bond way.
What is the bare minumum you had (food and drink) on you or on the bike for IM and Half IM distance.
Now that I rode the steelhead course with one bottle in a non race situation, I am thinking about only one bottle on the frame and maybe an aero bottle on the bars.
Interesting. I’ve gone through a similar process. In the last year, I’ve had probably every high-tech geegaw on my bike that you can imagine - rear bottle launchers, mini CO2 inflators, etc., etc., etc. I recently paired down and and back to where I was as a newbie - frame-mounted bottles and mini pump, small tool/tube pouch under the saddle, and (gasp!) a Bento Box. Dev Paul’s recent Lucero pic with a single bottle also has me considering dropping one of my frame-mounted cages for an upcoming HIM. I’ll just stuff that bad boy with gels, Hammer bars and Endurolytes and speed my way through T1.
a gel flask (not individual packets), and tic tac container with salt tabs makes things easy, you can take that on bike and/or run. why does a person need a bento box?
for a 1/2, why do you need more than 1 bottle if the fluids are about every 10 miles on the bike course?
Interesting thread. I decided while training for Moo '04 that I didn’t like the aerobottle or the Bento Box, and so I used neither. I had 2 frame ount bottles AND two bottle launchers. It was overkill. However, my “new” bike has only one frame mount bottle holder, and I’m thinking of re-introducing the aerobottle instead of using behind the seat launchers for my next IM.
Question: Which is likely to cause less drag? The aerobottle or the launchers?
If there were enough aid stations on the bike (such as at a WTC race with aid stations every 10 miles), I would ride with just an aerodrink bottle on the front and my spare kit under the seat. Gels, if I was using them, would go in my jersey pocket.
Two bottles on the frame for a 1/2IM, and the smallest under seat sack that I can fit a tubular, etc.
All the above plus 10 GU packs taped to the top of the frame for a Full IM.
I got rid of the Profie Desing bottle thing, I take of the Polar mount.
Next step is to figure out a way to fold the tubular tire neatly and tape it to the back of the post and figure a good way to take tire levers and co2 with.
I don’t use a bento box myself, but I assume that those that do may not have pockets in their shorts or jersey. It is about the only reason I can come up with.
At Steelhead, I use 2 bottles. I had one with a Gatorade and Carbopro mix for calories, and one with just Gatorade for hydration. I carried the 2 bottles on my saddlewing. I was going to remove the frame cage I have for the race but left it on, just in case. As it turns out, I used it for a water bottle that I would periodically pour over my head or rinse my mouth out. But again, that is just the way I did it. I’m sure there are others who would rather just change out one bottle at every aid station.
The only reason I am thinking of going back to the dreaded Bento box is to save a few seconds in T1. Having stuff pre-loaded in the box saves me from gathering up gels, etc after the swim and putting them in my jersey. One less thing to think about.
What can I say? I’m a geek. I wear nose plugs on the swim too…
A little off topic but does anyone know of something that will work as an actual top/cover for the aerodrink? I hate the yellow thing and don’t see how an actual top of some sort would make much of a difference in terms of filling it.
you use packets of gel, not a flask? picking up 1 flask is easy to do and store. additionally there is no garbage or tearing of tiny packets. it’s cleaner, i used to get gel all over me, but not since i started using a flask.
everybody has their style, guess that’s what it comes down to!
Did the same thing after experimenting with it for a few races…seems like it’s more a pain in the ass than anything else. And as everyone has mentioned, with aid stations every 10 miles or so, why carry more than needed?
a gel flask (not individual packets), and tic tac container with salt tabs makes things easy, you can take that on bike and/or run. why does a person need a bento box?
I must have counted at least 5 gel flasks on the bike course at IMFL last year & remember thinking how screwed these people must be.
I go with the packs taped to the top tube & stem. One handed access, easy open, no chance of flask fallout.
Concentrated fuel bottle (I use InfinIT) in frame cage, aero bottle w/ water up front, refill from course. For IM get 2nd fuel bottle at Special Needs. Simple.
If I want gels, I use a flask, much more convenient.
No need to be loaded down like a Sherpa, they cater the whole thing.