Last time I tried a small plastic box with a hinged lid…dropped it the first time I tried to use it. I also have a film container (you remember film right?), but it’s sort of a pain to get the lid on and off or pull out 3 or 4 at a time rather than dumping half of it in your mouth. Whatever it will be I store it in by bento box, and it has to be waterproof because I sweat like crazy. And I can’t ride with no hands. I’ll probably take 20 over the bike course…89 degrees forcast!
I envision something with a lid that you turn to line up a hole with a hole underneath, just big enough for 1-2 to get through at a time. Anything like that?
Have you seen these new gadgets? I saw them in the Nytro tent at Ralph’s a few weeks ago, they had JUST come out. Basically you twist the top and it shoves a tablet out into your hand. It slides into your bar ends or round aerobars too. Comes in two sizes.
I envision something with a lid that you turn to line up a hole with a hole underneath, just big enough for 1-2 to get through at a time. Anything like that?
Basically, you’re looking for something like a PEZ dispenser…I wonder if that would work. I’ve seen many people with pill dispensors taped to their cockpit - the ones with 7 compartments that hospitals use. Each compartment stores 3-4. I like the PEZ idea better, though.
They have those at the Inside Out tent also (here in Tempe). I’ll check them out, seems just gimmicky enough to be really cool. Hopefully it’s not picky about the tablet size. If no good, I guess I’ll have to go buy some M&M’s :). I’ll need it for my Gas-X anyway.
As far as Infinit, anything that has enough sodium for me would have to taste like the ocean. And the pills are there to help me get the water down. If the sodium is mixed in with my water, what do I do if I start feeling bloated…can’t get any more water and can’t get any more sodium either, and their goes my nutrition too. Nothing against Infinit in particular, since G-Push went down I’ve just been straight water + Hammer Gel. I just like having the option of mixing my concentrations as I ride so I can react to different situations. And then you have the whole problem of how to deal with carrying it or mixing in while you ride…tried that before and I kept screwing up the concentration. Keep it simple.
I use “crack baggies.” These are 1.5" by 2" (or so) tiny Ziploc baggies you can get at a craft store (like $1.00 for 100 or something). You just don’t seal the top, it pretty much stays open, the tabs don’t fall out, and you can squeeze them into your mouth.
For Bento Box fans, a baggie fits nicely in there, also you can stuff in jersey.
For Ironman races, I have one in my Bento Box, one in my bike jersey (in case I drop the other ones), one in special needs, and some in my run shorts. So there is no possibility of me running out of salt! (Salt and the baggies are relatively cheap).
You can also put other things in the baggies–like NSAID’s (not something I personally recommend during a race, but may come in handy in training), treats (I like Swedish Fish for the run–just something you won’t find on the race course) or race guidance (I’ve been known to cut index cards to fit in one with things on there I may need to be reminded of during a race–and I put one in Bento Box and another in run shorts).
The baggies come in handy for other things, too, like storing nuts, screws, etc.
But I’d assume most people have at least one pocket on their top to stash them in.
Taping them on the aerobars might increase your drag
The possibilities are endless. My point was this is a CHEAP option that works for both the bike and the run and special needs and everything. Where exactly you put them is up to you. Beats carrying some sort of stick and all sorts of boxes. They don’t weigh very much
I’ve never tired it before, but could you put 2 sided tape on the flats of your aerobars and stick them to the tape? I wonder if it would stick.
I’ve tried that. It works…BUT, you need to put a layer of tape or something over the top, as the humidity will wreck them. I did that at Florida, and when riding, they blew away as powder. That backups for sure. I used styptic pencil containers.
I take plastic sandwich bags and I throw in the number of salt tabs per hour that a plan to take into seperate bags. I usually go with three pills per bags. I get them into a corner and twist the bag until it is all wound up at the top. I wrap tape around the twisted part - just above the pills - I tear or cut off the excess bag. I repeat this until I have as many hourly packets that I need. I then tape them one at a time to my aero bars. While I am riding I can pull off a bag - which pulls the tape off also and then I just empty it into my mouth. Requires a little prep time but it works great. The pills never get wet and you do not have to try and count the pills while riding.
I just got done doing this to my bike for IMAZ - now I have to go check my bike in.
They have those at the Inside Out tent also (here in Tempe). I’ll check them out, seems just gimmicky enough to be really cool. Hopefully it’s not picky about the tablet size. If no good, I guess I’ll have to go buy some M&M’s :). I’ll need it for my Gas-X anyway.
As far as Infinit, anything that has enough sodium for me would have to taste like the ocean. And the pills are there to help me get the water down. If the sodium is mixed in with my water, what do I do if I start feeling bloated…can’t get any more water and can’t get any more sodium either, and their goes my nutrition too. Nothing against Infinit in particular, since G-Push went down I’ve just been straight water + Hammer Gel. I just like having the option of mixing my concentrations as I ride so I can react to different situations. And then you have the whole problem of how to deal with carrying it or mixing in while you ride…tried that before and I kept screwing up the concentration. Keep it simple.
Great points! Although I train like I race and I’ve not had any issues in 30+ tris (hope I didn’t just jinx myself)
I use a plastic M&M container. The Mission Palms Hotel gift shop sells M&M’s in the plastic container. Just go there (fifth street in downtown tempe) - very near transition area, buy one, eat the M&M’s and check out it’s usefulness as a container for salt tabs.
I’m on the M&M Mini’s bandwagon. At 59 cents it’s the least expensive piece of tri gear you’ll ever buy, and it comes with chocolate.
Make sure you get the M&M Mini’s, though, and not the Reese’s or some other plastic container. The advantage to M&M Mini’s is the flip top lid, which means you can open and close it one-handed while you ride.
Don’t skimp on salt tabs. You would have to work REALLY hard to take too much, especially if you’re drinking as much H2O as you should be. Electrolytes are more important than calories in my humble opinion.
I talked to the guys at Hammer last year about a PEZ dispenser for their Endurolytes - the problem they mentioned was 1 - getting it large enough for endurolytes and 2 - the patents and such.
Looks like they found a way around it with this ‘Stick’ thing - I haven’t seen it in person to know how well it might work.
