Someone better whip out the analytical-cycling.com thingie out and post that the guy has effectively tied a cement block to his bicycle.
I agree nutrition is more important and the placement of the stuff on the top tube is not that critical for aerodynamics. Water bottles are also not very aero nor are they light with water in them, but we all need to carry them. I just think it’s funny when people fret about 50g on some silly part like a brake lever, and then carry 1000g of water.
I do think a nice bike is a nice bike, but fretting over every detail like skewer lever placement or every gram is silly in the real world because of what we need to carry in a race.
Someone told me that of the factors to worry about o a bicycle were position, wheels, helmet, and then the frame.
I didn’t say aerodynamics wasn’t important - just that many people are worried about having the most aero FRAME in the world but then they tape and bolt crap all over the place. Seems pretty silly to me. Reply - Many people do do it wrong, this guy actually looks pretty right, just not fashionable to the ST masses.
Applying your logic a bit further (“This guy has his gels in a pretty unaffected place, pretty much shielded by bars, arms and headtube.”), one could make the argument that the frame’s aerodynamics isn’t that important as the frame is largely shielded by the front wheel, head tube and handlebars. I wonder how many people will believe that. Reply - Frame aerodynamics isn’t very important but it does save some time and this was a world championship race, so its hard to fault a competitor at the highest level for trying to maximise his performance. Styrrell
I’d suspect that the PC3, with all that crap attached, is still a bit more aero than many other bikes would be with all that crap attached. Similarly, a 20 pound bike with 5 pounds of crap attached is a 25 pound package. A 16 pound bike with 5 pounds of crap attached is a 21 pound package.
Having said all that, I’m more with you than against you in your thinking. I kinda got flamed here a few weeks ago for talking about using a Camelbak system (road specific) under a skin suit for a 1/2 IM relay. That Camelbak can hold the equivalent of 2 large bottles of water and it makes only a modest bulge on the back. I don’t think it presents any frontal surface to catch the wind whatsoever. With it, I can strip the bike frame and I can drink easily without reaching or breaking the aero position at all. It makes way more sense to me. Most people objected because of the “dork” factor. That’s a ship that’s already sailed for most all of us. Others objected because of “comfort issues.” Shoot, after 2 minutes, I don’t even realize it’s there.
<< I’d suspect that the PC3, with all that crap attached, is still a bit more aero than many other bikes would be with all that crap attached. Similarly, a 20 pound bike with 5 pounds of crap attached is a 25 pound package. A 16 pound bike with 5 pounds of crap attached is a 21 pound package. >>
Well when I saw the photo, all I thought of was why carry the gels for whatever weight or aero cost they have, when they GIVE you gels at all the aid stations. With that in mind, now the 16lb bike with 5lbs of crap, is 3 lbs heavier than my 18lb bike!
As far as the ‘dork factor’…damn…I think it’s hilarious that a bunch of skinny, shaved leg, bright colored spandex man bra wearing men can say ANYTHING ELSE has a dork factor…use the camelback…
I have the answer. The guy probably trains on GU. GU was not at Kona. This guy knew that GU worked for him. He wanted GU, not something that he wasn’t 100% sure would work. This is Kona. You shouldnt leave anything to chance. Especially your nutrition. Perhaps this guy hates the gel that was on the course. Perhaps he knows that gel doesn’t work well for him.
Chances are, this guy got going on the bike, and then pulled the gels from the top-tube and put them in his pocket. 3 pockets means 4 gels a pocket. Not a huge amount.
He probably wanted 12 gels thinking he might be out there for 6 hours. The weather was good and he was done in 5. But had he been out there for 6, he’d have a GU for each 30 minutes.
Overkill, I don’t think so. This guy was racing in Kona and wanted to make sure he had what he knew worked for him. IMO, it was a smart move so long as he took the few seconds to stick the gels in his pockets.
Comparing this pix with the bike of the race winner ( Faris ) made me think…
Is it all this food really necessary to carry ??? Faris made the IM without carrying anything in the bike or in the body … eating just what race organizers provided…
Not trying to start a political discussion here, but was there any reason a German with Iraqi heritage was riding a bike with and American flag on it? Was it just a “Cannondale-Made in the USA” thing or was there a reason behind it.
Like said before, maybe Faris is OK with that gatorade stuff instead of gu…personally I can’t stand it so I would of done the same. It’s g’ade or the highway when your doing an IM.
last time i checked CHO beat aerodynamics in the conversion for ATP
Is it just me or does slowtwitch get funny those days. If this person would have ridden 7.5hrs for the bike we would hear non-stop how slow people with money ride high end bikes. Now we have someone out performing 99% of all people on Slowtwitch and there we go again.
To all the people that constantly talk shit: How does it feel to be jelous?? Jelous for nice bikes, jelous for performance, etc. Tell us, how does it feel?
My top tube looks similar when racing, minus the pill box. With the top of each GU taped down, the packet opens when tearing it off the bike. Seems much easier than reaching into the back of a jersey and then ripping the top off with your teeth. I then stuff the empty into the leg off my shorts until the next aid station.
So when you see my bike feel free to make fun of it because I would be out there at least an hour longer.
