How much is too much?

Triathlon Forum
21

My last half Buffalo Springs I carriedd aero bottle with water and bottle of water on down tube. Depending on the aide stations for gatorade. Took gu flask and that was all. With 8 significant climbs didn’t want any extra weight. ON the run took gatorade and water at aide stations and total of 3 cliff shots provided at stations. I sweat heavily and with this I pissed twice on the bike and 3 times on the run. As a result won my AG and am headed for Kona. For convience and to lighten your load depend on the course for your needs when possible. Always check what they will have and practice with it or at least try it to see how your stomach and taste budes will handle things. Good luck in your race

22

Don’t use your “good” water bottles for racing. Use Gatorade bottles or something similar that you can chuck. If you have enough cages(I have 4 plus my aerobottle) you can load up 2 keepers with your special mix, and two with water that you exchange at aid stations.

I’m willing to bet a lot of people will say that my method is way too complicated, and you should just carry two throwaway bottles that you exchange whenever you need to.

23

I agree with others:

  • It seems like an aweful loy of extra weight to lug around and most of it high up on the bike, which really comprimises bike handling.

  • It seems like a very complicated mixture of products. All your body really needs is carbohydrate and water - period! My feeling has always been to keep the sources as simple as possible. Why? Racing hard puts a huge amount of stress on the GI tract to begin with. Dont confuse it and complicate it even more.

  • Calorie counting often forgets/neglects that working at 70 - 80% V02 max effort you have roughly two hours of carbohydrate stored in your body( or should have if you have loaded up fully)

  • Check with the race and see how many aid stations there are on the bike. Many that I have done have an aid station every 10 - 15 miles ie you will be coming up to an aid station at least 2 times every hour on the bike. No need to tote around a portable picnic.

  • My standard 1/2 IM fueling was one big bottle of water in a frame mount cage and 2 - 3 Powerbars( or equivilant) stuffed in a jersey pocket. Then grab extra water or energy drink as needed along the way.