Just looking for some feedback from those that have or have used Speedfill systems? Is it better than having crap behind your seat, does it create any extra drag, I went to the website, but that is all marketing stuff. I have a Plasma, and use Carbon Fiber Cages, so am I saving or gaining anything from going to speedfill? Thanks
While I dont know much about the aeroness of different options, I did review a handful of options out there based on my use with them. In concept it should be pretty aero as it contours with the frame (look at the P4), but without testing, I have no clue.
Hydration Review
I gave it a shot and took it off my bike. It’ll depend heavily on what your nutrition plan is and what distance you race. Leading up to IMCdA I used it for my long training rides because it allowed me to carry a little more liquid. However, for the race, my plan was to have one bottle of concentrated nutrition on my downtube and an aero drink with water/gatorade that I could refill using on the course bottles.
The speedfil was overkill. Had I used it, I still would have needed a seperate bottle for my concentrated calories, and I would have starting to venture into camel territory. This year I’ll be focusing on 70.3, so I might rethink it to see how it fits into my nutrition plan.
I can’t help on its aero properties.
I am a big fan.
See my recommendation for the hose at the end.
I’ve used mine for the past 18 months or so. I used it for IMFL last year and the ease of showing the water bottle at hand ups into the speedfill and tossing it all within the legal limits of the hand up area is awesome.
I use NUUN so I throw 2 tablets into it as I approach water bottle hand up and shove it in and 3 seconds later toss the water bottle.
Then it is right there for you. I pull mine so it is aimed at my chin, I look down slightly and I’m drinking.
Also the guys at Speedfill know customer service.
I would highly recommend it.
IF YOU DO PURCHASE THE SPEEDFILL:
I recommend that you cut the hose a GOOD 3 inches longer than you even think you need it to be. Then after riding with it for 10-15 rides cut it back if you think you need to.
my .02
Cheers
I have been thinking about this as well, thanks for the input.
I used one last year for a half IM and a full. I was quite happy with it. Coming into an aid station, I would grab a bottle, pour its contents into the speedfil (very easy given where it rests) and then drop the bottle. It was exactly what I needed. Whatever system I had, I wanted to be sure it was something with a tube that sits right there in front of my face. That, I found makes me drink a lot more which I need. I don’t like drinking from bottles while aero.
Given that requirement, I particularly liked the fact that the Speedfil did not sit between my aerobars as I don’t like having the extra weight in that location. And I liked the fact that it didn’t sit behind my seat either. I actually once bought myself one of those NeverReach systems but I never used it as I realized it held more than I needed between aid stations, prevented me from putting anything else behind the seat, and I didn’t want to be reaching back to fill it up in a longer race
My only regret I had with the SpeedFile was in the full IM when I realized that that I really wanted to fill it with TWO bottles at each aid station, not one. So a couple of times I actually stopped and filled it from a second bottle. I had to stop in this case as I did not want to be throwing the empty bottle away outside of the aid station area and litter plus get a littering penalty. To fix this problem I have now put a bottle cage between the aero bars. The next time I do an IM, I can fill up one bottle, grab a second and keep going. Then I can fill up the speedfil with the second bottle at my leisure and leave the empty bottle in the cage until the next aid station
Thanks for all the input, I guess it does depend on the concetrated calories, I was going to try a bottle cage up front for that. Also, thanks for the hint on the tube length.
I’ve been using the Speedfil for about a year. Thoughts:
-I didn’t want something hanging down from my extensions that would disrupt the laminar airflow along the leading edge of the bike (i.e. the profile design aerodrink). I think this is an important area to keep ‘clean.’ Speedfil works in this regard.
-Its big, (I believe it holds close to 40 oz) which is great for long training rides in the Chicago summer when its 95 degrees out with 70% humidity.
-Its big. Very big. I can measure it if you want, but it’s easily 5mm wider than the downtube of my P2.
-I like having a straw in front of me. I didn’t think this was a big deal at first, but I drink a lot more when its there hitting me in the face. Probably makes my run better, but I’m a strong runner as it is, so thats hard to judge.
-The fill opening is off-centered, and actually sticks out farther from the bottle (probably another 5mm) on the drive side. Not the most aero design I can think of.
-You can mount it very close to the bottom bracket and make a quasi-P4 bottle holder if you want.
-They have an insulated cover for it.
-I don’t run it for Olys, as I can’t drink 40oz of liquid in the time I’m on the bike. It gets replaced with one bottle in a cage on the downtube.
-The aero data on their webpage seems a little suspect to me. They ran bare frame, frame with handlebar bottle plus frame bottle (didn’t state downtube or seattube), and then they ran frame with the Speedfil. Why didn’t they run a single bottle on the frame to compare? Not that I don’t trust it, but it just seems odd to me.
In the end, it holds a ton of liquid for longer my rides, so I’m happy with it.
I have been using a Speedfil for about a year now & today I just purchased one of those socks to put over the bottle to keep your drink cold.
I think the #1 thing I like about the system is I can drink while I am in the Aero position. Last year I found while on training ride for IMKS 70.3 with a bunch of friends that the ride quickly turned into a hammerfest. I found I was able to keep myself better hydrated(about every 15 minutes I drank) while a lot of my friends probably did not take their first drink 30-45 minutes into the ride. I knew I would be better off later in the ride by probably not being dehydrated and on race day I would run better off the bike.
Another comment a lot of people have made and I agree with, it’s hold a lot of liquid. It pretty much holds 2 water bottles (standard bike water bottle) worth of fluid.
I also ran 2 water bottles off the back of the bike. I was able to race my HIM & did not need any of the aid stations. I just reached back and filled the Speedfil.
Good product, I am have been happy with my purchase.
I’m very pleased with the product. I’ve had it for close to a year and used it in IMFL last year. Easy to fill on the go and drink while staying aero. My only complaint is that it is difficult to thoroughly clean.
The aeroness is bs. It’s really a great system. The only drawback is that you MUST clean it after use EVERY TIME. Otherwise it will grow some nasty mold. I use the straw holder from the never reach with my speedfil. Works well.
The Speedfil takes minor extra steps for setup before the race. But nothing beats not having to mess with bottles or any of that junk during the race. Speedfil is also really convenient for use during distance events or training when you need to refill on the fly.
Thanks for the info everyone. I think I will get one, if not to race in at least for my long Training Rides. I guess I could put it on and use my powermeter to see any variables in aeroness, but too many factors go into that. I’m just gonna pedal my ass off ;>)
I’ve been using one for last 2 seasons. I really like it and think it’s a great product. Yes, it’s a bit of a pain to clean and must be cleaned after each use. I have used it in 1/2 ironmans, olympic, sprints. and TT’s. In my last 3 sprint tri’s last season I only used about 1/2 a water bottle of liquid in the speedfil and never left the aero position at all and it was very helpful to to take a small sip a few times in a 20k ride. As mentioned in other feedbacks it works very wellk for longer races and is very easy to fill during ride. I really can’t say much about the aerodynamics of the speedfil and it seems a little wide for the downtube but I never liked any of the other handlebar mounted systems out there. Anthony
Another Pro Speedfil user here. Used it for both 70.3 and 140.6 distances. Zero complaints. Concentrated fuel (Infinit) in the Speefil. Rear mounts for water only.
At Bike Special Needs another concentrated Infinit bottle and water off the course when I run out of onboard.
Made the mistake of cutting the tube about 3" too short. So heed other advice here for sure with it.
cheers
S.
I actually don’t even use the neoprent/wire collar for the tube. Instead I attach some velcro to it and to my aerobars. When I’m not drinking it is just velcroed to the aero bars. Right there and easy to pick up when I want a sip. Not curled and in the wind as much otherwise.
Maybe I should have searched first before I posted 
Joe I was thinking the same thing about velcring to the aerobar today on my first testride with it.
Worked great for IM Switzerland last year. Mostly I did it because I couldn’t get the tube in the collar, no matter how much I followed their instructions. But I prefer it this way now.
I used Speefil for the first time last weekend at Lavaman. I would usually just put a regular bottle on the downtube for an Oly race, but I find if I don’t have to move to drink I’ll actually drink.
I set it up so the straw/tube stayed down out of the way, tucked under one aerobar, then just flipped it up when i wanted to drink. Pushed it back down when i was done. Never had to come out of aero position to drink.
It was a little harder to suck the drink up than the Aerodrink bottle, so I might mess around with the bite valve (or just get rid of it all together) before I use it at NOLA 70.3
For NOLA I plan on using it and a bottle of Perpetuem placed on/between the bars (not an Aero drink, but normal bottle). In past races I would use the aero bottle for water/gatorade and a bottle on the downtube for my perpetuem, I’m thinking this will allow me to stay aero when I eat and drink and have both right in front of me so I don’t forget to do either.