I’m going to try and make this question as short as possible.
I’m trying to nail down an efficient/clean way to store my onboard nutrition for upcoming IM events, specifically for the bike. I’m facing a couple of dilemmas though and I’m hoping some experienced athletes here can offer some insight.
I currently have this set up on my Tri bike (2018 Cannondale Superslice):
*X-Lab Torpedo Versa 500 carbon front hydration
*X-Lab Super Wing Dual rear hydration mounts
*carbon cage mounted on downtube
*X-Lab Stealth Pocket 200xp mounted on top tube
So I can effectively carry 4 bottles for hydration/nutrition and storage for gels, etc. in the 200xp pocket (although does not fit many). I’ve been experimenting with a homemade fuel source that I found on this forum recommended/concocted by DrAlexHarrison (Use one large scoop regular gatorade, rest of carbs from sugar ~1.2 cups, 1/2 tsp each of table salt and sodium citrate) and it worked well on my last 4hr bike ride with some exceptions. I ended up filling the torpedo front hydration bottle with the homemade fuel and then filled the other 3 one liter bottles with water. Fuel-wise, it was great…no gut issues and plenty of energy. The issue was the fact that a lot of the fuel would spill from time to time and get all over the bike, and inevitably my hands, which lead to stickiness due to the sugar, etc. Issue#2 was that I found it extremely difficult to reach the rear hydration bottles without almost killing myself by veering left and right into traffic trying to grab them. I figured that dilemma out though by deciding to just use the downtube bottle cage as my main water source and switching that bottle out with the rear bottles as I ran out, limiting the amount of times I have to reach behind me. I realize I’m losing the aero gains by having a downtube bottle and losing aero position by having to adjust myself to reach back and grab rear bottles, but I can’t think of another option…hence why I decided to post this. I’ve thought about using squeeze pouches and filling them with the homemade fuel but most pouches are only 2-5oz so I would need like 20 of them to just to equal 1 liter of the solution which is about the fuel I need for half the IM bike portion. Obviously I would have another bottle of the fuel in my bike special needs bag for 2nd half.
So after all of that explanation, my questions are:
any recommendations on how to carry this homemade fuel on the bike without making a mess?
anyone else have issues reaching their rear hydration safely during a ride/race and what solution did you find?
Have you considered having your concentrate in the downtube bottle? If your spillage is coming from the front bottle, having that as just water will mitigate sticky fingers.
On my Trinity, for 70.3s, I have electrolytes in the front bottle (it does splash and is sticky, but I live with it), carb concentrate on the down tube (240g for 2:2X), and I have my spares bottle behind the seat. I have my spares in the cage behind my saddle. I don’t carry straight water. I grab a bottle at every aid station, grab a few gulps and throw the bottle. Sticky fingers is more an issue for me on the run as I grab cups of electrolyes, but coke tends to wash that off.
I only ever put water in the front bottle (between the handlebars), due to the splash issue. Then I have double or triple the concentration of fluid nutrition in the bottle in the frame. If I triple the concentration that bottle will last 3 hours and I can have a second bottle in special needs for the second half of the ride. Solid nutrition, for a change of texture, in my back pockets.
I only ever put water in the front bottle (between the handlebars), due to the splash issue. Then I have double or triple the concentration of fluid nutrition in the bottle in the frame. If I triple the concentration that bottle will last 3 hours and I can have a second bottle in special needs for the second half of the ride. Solid nutrition, for a change of texture, in my back pockets.
^^THIS!!
Why take multiple bottles with you when there is water every 10 miles or so?
Have you considered having your concentrate in the downtube bottle? If your spillage is coming from the front bottle, having that as just water will mitigate sticky fingers.
On my Trinity, for 70.3s, I have electrolytes in the front bottle (it does splash and is sticky, but I live with it), carb concentrate on the down tube (240g for 2:2X), and I have my spares bottle behind the seat. I have my spares in the cage behind my saddle. I don’t carry straight water. I grab a bottle at every aid station, grab a few gulps and throw the bottle. Sticky fingers is more an issue for me on the run as I grab cups of electrolyes, but coke tends to wash that off.
I appreciate the response! Some things to consider for sure.
What lid are you running on the BTA bottle? My older torpedo came with 2 lids: a solid lid and a “quick-fill” lid. The quick fill lid leaks with every single bump and I save that for race day. During training, it’s the solid lid and I’ll just refill at a stop. I did have to add a vent hole to the solid lid with a drill otherwise it was too hard to drink since it was creating a vacuum, but the hole is small enough to not leak. I think the newer torpedoes come with a newer vent, it leaks more than my setup.
I only ever put water in the front bottle (between the handlebars), due to the splash issue. Then I have double or triple the concentration of fluid nutrition in the bottle in the frame. If I triple the concentration that bottle will last 3 hours and I can have a second bottle in special needs for the second half of the ride. Solid nutrition, for a change of texture, in my back pockets…
This just gave me an idea that I think could be a solution. I can put concentrate in the bottle on the downtube to avoid splashing on the bars, etc. I’ll put water in the front aero hydration bottle and then use the rear bottles to refill the front hydration bottle only , that way I’m only having to reach back a couple times to grab the bottle and refill the front.
What lid are you running on the BTA bottle? My older torpedo came with 2 lids: a solid lid and a “quick-fill” lid. The quick fill lid leaks with every single bump and I save that for race day. During training, it’s the solid lid and I’ll just refill at a stop. I did have to add a vent hole to the solid lid with a drill otherwise it was too hard to drink since it was creating a vacuum, but the hole is small enough to not leak. I think the newer torpedoes come with a newer vent, it leaks more than my setup.
I believe I have the quick refill lid, it’s clear rubber? I think I’ll just use water in there and use the rear bottles to refill the front. Should help my situation. I can keep the concentrate bottle on the downtube…losing aero gains but avoiding a mess.
The clear lid is the solid one. The quick-fill lid is slotted foam. XLab may have ditched that one in newer BTA systems.
You could mitigate some of the aero losses with an aero bottle for the downtube. The elite crono seems to be the go-to for most folks. XLab makes one too.
The clear lid is the solid one. The quick-fill lid is slotted foam. XLab may have ditched that one in newer BTA systems.
You could mitigate some of the aero losses with an aero bottle for the downtube. The elite crono seems to be the go-to for most folks. XLab makes one too.
My only issue with the crono and similar aero bottles for the downtube are that are about 20oz, the concentrate I make is about 30oz or 1 liter so would need a bigger bottle.