I know this might sound obviuos, but I am looking for ideas.
I have my nutrition plan down for my first HIM. (At least I know what I am going to TRY to eat)!
I am racing in a Zoot tri one piece, and I just realized that unless I buy a Bento box or wear my cycling jersey I wont be able to carry my stuff.
(6 Gels and 2 Power Bars)
What do you guys do?
My tri tops have pockets. However i usually don’t use them for food, I use them for a spare tube and my inflator. Cliff bar in the side pocket of my Desoto power shorts and gels get crammed into the mouth of my Aero bottle. I use a NXT (?) not the profile one and it has plenty of room in the top without blocking being able to dump refills in. Water in the aero bottle and sport drink on the down tube for a half or Oly, just the aero bottle and a gel or two with electrolytes for sprints
I actually have pockets on my tri-suit (Sugoi) but they are pretty small so they don’t drag on the swim. Solid food in the pockets and gels taped to the top tube of the bike. Put the tape right across the edge of the tab and it peels off no problem so you don’t have to fumble around opening it while you are going hard.
A bento box never hurt anybody. My wife has limited pockets on her kit and likes to use a flask for gel, so the bento box makes life a little easier. I would guess that if you really quizzed most folks around here that like to poke fun at Bento Box users, they are most likely making fun of the people with the larger sized box stuffed with 4 Clif Bars for a 12 mile bike leg of a sprint race, and don’t have as much problem with somebody carrying a couple of bars and a few gels for a Half IM.
Another vote for taping the gels to the top tube. That’s what I do and it seems to work pretty well for me.
For a 1/2 IM I take only gel and liquid nutrition as bars don’t sit too well…
For the bike, I electrical tape my nutrition (Gels) to the top tube. You can also stash one gel under the leg gripped on each though as well.
For the run I carry two gels (one per hand) and use the two pockets on my Zoot Ultra racesuit for two others and/or a matchstick container full of sodium pills.
Bob
for those of you that tape your gels to your top tube, what do you do with the empty wrapper?
Bento! Bento! Bento!
Seriously, why wouldn’t you?
What do you guys do?
Sorry for stating the obvious - Get a racing top with pockets!
http://i13.tinypic.com/53eqr75.jpg
Sorry if the pic is huge. That is my pre-IM set up. For a half I’ll use about 5 GUs. Make sure that you tape them straight and tight. IF not they will fall onto one side and cut the hell out of your legs.
Good Luck,
Paul
for those of you that tape your gels to your top tube, what do you do with the empty wrapper?
Either put in my pocket or tuck in the bottom of the leg on my shorts. Pull out and toss at next aid station or in transition.
Three words… Desoto Power Shorts.
I only carry gels for the run and some endurolytes so either I take a gel flask that clips to the shorts with gel packets in the pockets (for insurance in case shit happens on the bike or run) since 2 or 3 gel packs are not a problem to take.
Peace
I’m another fan of the Desoto power shorts. Four pockets hold a lot and the pockets are easy to get to. For a HIM, I sometimes supplement the short pockets with a Bento Box (gasp!). It’s amazing the extremes people go to in order to avoid using these because they’re considered uncool. Uncool or not, it saves time in T1.
I do the electrical tape to the top tube thing for gels too. However, I use colored tape. I especially like to use colors that do NOT match my bike just to be different.
Now, if only Emilio will make the low cut version with pockets (at least 2 Emilio) hint hint, that would be the schiznet…
peace
Now, if only Emilio will make the low cut version with pockets (at least 2 Emilio) hint hint, that would be the schiznet…
peace
Yes. I love those shorts and was just thinking the same thing yesterday.
Will use a bento for IMoo (a little dorky, but it carries so much stuff and is incredibly accessible).
For HIM, I taped multiple gu to the frame and also just stuck sections of powerbar on the top tube. If you press down firm enough (and the conditions are right), very stable and easy to pull off and chew!
Always use two bottles on frame and trade in/out at aid stations when needed.
Don’t they have aid stations in the race that you’re doing?
I take a bit of stuff as a “buffer” in case I miss getting food in an aid station but I don’t worry about having enough for the whole race unless it’s small enough that I’m worried about what they might not have.
Even then, I can cram 6 gels into the pocket on my DeSoto tri suit and the Zoot pocket actually looks bigger. Power Bars go in better if you cut them in half first.
I actually tape my gels to my stem.
Open up the top of the gel about 1/3 of the way (so its easy to tear off), and tape the top part around the stem. Repeat for more gels. I stuff the wrapper in my aero drink bottle after I am done w/ it. Doesn’t get in the way of your legs on the top tube. I have also been known to stick power bars to the top tube during my long rides so I dont have to deal with the wrapper while riding.
I saw a bunch of gu/gel flasks on the bike course at vineman, so by taping the gels wherever on the bike, you dont put “all your eggs in one basket” in case it falls off
I use the Bento in both 1/2 and full IM, it works great
.
Good lord. 6 gels and 2 powerbars for a 1/2 IM???
Is that for the entire race?
Train with what they will provide on the course. Carry 2 gels with you in case you drop one or dont get one at an aid station. Gel every 40mins. Water when thirsty. One thing of Gatoraid every 40-80 mins depending on heat. Maybe some salt if needed.