Any tips for managing the inevitable latex tube psi drop overnight when doing the mandatory overnight bike racking for 70.3 (Indian wells this weekend)?
Indian wells is a point-to-point, so T1 and T2 are in very different places, so it’s not as easy as leaving a pump in T1; I’m not sure what the rules are as to what you can leave in T1, but I suspect it has to fit in the T1 bag, and I’m not sure if I’ll even have access to T1 on race morning.
I also have the problem of a disc wheel whose cutout doesn’t fit a lot of pumps which makes it harder - although if it’s getting to complicated, I may just run 88/88.
they will have pumps in transition on race morning. They are usually zip tied all along the fence in transition. Plus Playtri will have a tent set up in transition and will usually have the adapter for disc wheels.
they will have pumps in transition on race morning. They are usually zip tied all along the fence in transition. Plus Playtri will have a tent set up in transition and will usually have the adapter for disc wheels.
That’s great info, thanks. Hopefully it’s not too nuts to get to them before the swim
I’ve done this before in other IM 70.3 races. Put a bib sticker on the pump and put it in the T1 bag and close it tight. They will still transport it for you. Pump sticking out a little is not a big deal and volunteers understand the situation. These days, I use a small electric pump for the case like that and it’s tiny. You should get one too.
I’ve done this before in other IM 70.3 races. Put a bib sticker on the pump and put it in the T1 bag and close it tight. They will still transport it for you. Pump sticking out a little is not a big deal and volunteers understand the situation. These days, I use a small electric pump for the case like that and it’s tiny. You should get one too.
Good idea. I actually bought a small electric pump earlier this year and have rarely used it because the manual pump is faster, but I’m charging it right now and will test it out on my disc wheel tomorrow, and if it works, it’ll easily fit in the T1 bag.
I use this combo for all Ironman branded races.
I hate wasting time standing in line to pump up.
I hate mornings.
I dislike it when nervous racers want to talk close with bad coffee breath, and the tire pump line is prime for that.
Slightly off topic, but I implore everyone to put a handheld pressure gauge in your bag for race morning. Pump gauges are famously bad. The benefit of latex tubes is easily offset by inflating to the wrong psi.
Do all this training, spend all this money, travel all this way, and then say screw on race morning and hope that some random pump gets you close enough. It’s a free 5 watts. People spend $700 on derailleur cages that save 10% of that.
I like the sound of a built in, calibrated & presumably reliable pressure gauge, but do these Fumpa’s happen to have a bleed-off valve (manual) to reduce & tune tire pressure if over inflated?
I like the sound of a built in, calibrated & presumably reliable pressure gauge, but do these Fumpa’s happen to have a bleed-off valve (manual) to reduce & tune tire pressure if over inflated?
Slightly off topic, but I implore everyone to put a handheld pressure gauge in your bag for race morning. Pump gauges are famously bad. The benefit of latex tubes is easily offset by inflating to the wrong psi.
Do all this training, spend all this money, travel all this way, and then say screw on race morning and hope that some random pump gets you close enough. It’s a free 5 watts. People spend $700 on derailleur cages that save 10% of that.
I learned this hard way. I have 3 bike pumps and they are slightly off. Found the best one among them and I’ve been using only that one.
Any tips for managing the inevitable latex tube psi drop overnight when doing the mandatory overnight bike racking for 70.3 (Indian wells this weekend)?
Indian wells is a point-to-point, so T1 and T2 are in very different places, so it’s not as easy as leaving a pump in T1; I’m not sure what the rules are as to what you can leave in T1, but I suspect it has to fit in the T1 bag, and I’m not sure if I’ll even have access to T1 on race morning.
I also have the problem of a disc wheel whose cutout doesn’t fit a lot of pumps which makes it harder - although if it’s getting to complicated, I may just run 88/88.
I think the bigger issues is the drop in temps overnight and then how warm it gets early in the ride and how it effects tire pressure.
The Fumpa pump is only 3.5"x1.7"x2.9" so I just put it in my carry-on with my Di2 batteries. The nano Fumpa is 2.2"x1.0"x1.8" but is only good for 1-2 inflations per battery charge.
Fumpa pumps do come with this warning:
If you are running latex/polyurethane tubes with plastic valve stems (e.g. Tubolito, Schwalbe Aerothan, Pirelli Cinturato etc), then please purchase the Elbow Nozzle Kit with your Fumpa pump. The heat generated by Fumpa can melt the valve stems. Alternatively, please use metal presta valve extenders on your tubes.
Ok, I tried my Amazon-electric pump and with the Hiro chuck it works great on my disc. I’m driving to Indian wells as well, so no flight-carryon issue for me.
I have this one that’s $36 on Amazon by Cycplus. Not too big, will easily fit in a regular bag.
Which works fine with the Hiro chuck, a little loud, and about 2x slower than a hand pump, but works fine and has a digital psi gauge (of unknown accuracy). It does come with its own extension tubing, to which the Hiro attaches no problem (schrader-style) and no worries of melting. I inflated both my front and rear as a test today and the battery gauge estimated it used about 1/3rd of the battery.
I did just see that the same company has a smaller one like the Fumpa but I’ve never tried it, and I’d probably just buy the Fumpa at that price.