For my first ironman CdA, although i have a window that i would like to finish in the window of 10 and 11 hours. But overall i want to cross that finish line. The only part that worries me is a serious mechanical on the bike. How many spare tubulars do you bring, co2’s, do you bring a multi-tool?
My current set up is: 1 spare tubular, 2 tire levers, 1 inflator, and 2 co2’s. In my Tubulars i have the tufo tire stuff, to help prevent flats.
Should i be carrying another tubular? Should i carry 2 and have 1 or 2 more at special needs?
sounds just like what I carry. I figured if I flatted out twice, it’s time to pack it in.
I can’t speak for Tufo’s, but if I carried 2 Conty’s, my water bottle rack would be overloaded.
I don’t think there’s a “right” answer to this question, but you seem to have made a very reasonable decision, and I would suspect most people carry what you plan on carrying. Many people also carry Vittoria Pit Stop, and you’ve kind of taken a similar precaution with the tire goo (no they’re not the same product, but its the same general idea, i.e., substances that help seal up punctures). Can a double flat happen? Oh yeah, you betcha (with Stadler being a famous example). But is it likely? Not really. And you have a good idea with the special needs bag - if you flat in the first half, it sure would be nice to be able to pick up another spare at special needs.
If your only goal were to finish, then I would say carry as much tire repair equipment as you can, just to be safe. But if you’re shooting for sub-11:00, then you’re obviously looking to move along pretty quickly, so you don’t want to weigh yourself down too much. As long as you carefully inspect your tires/rims for before the race for any damage/foreign objects, and just make sure to pay attention to the road in front of you (i.e. look out for nails, sharp rocks, etc…), the odds of flatting are really quite small. Yes, it can happen, but try not to stress about it too much. You can never make yourself “flat-proof”, so just take reasonable precautions (which it looks like you’re doing), and you should be fine.
Carry as much as you need to put your mind at ease.
…and above all else don’t to bed every night between now & race day convinced that you completely jinxed yourself by posting this question. I kid, I kid…
My set up is just about the same inc having one additional spare in special needs although I didn’t use the puncture seal stuff, i think for IMCDA this year I will get a can of the Vittoria stuff, also if you are using deep race rims, it is good to already have a valve extendor teflon taped and screwed onto your spares so you don’t need to mess with trying to take the old one off your flatted tire or worse break it off by accident while you are ripping the tire off the rim because you forgot to unscrew it first (made that mistake personally once during a half)…
I usually carry a spare tubular behinf the seat and have a cheap one in my special needs back. If I flat before special needs I have the spare and I can pick the additional one up, if I don<t flat I just leave it there.
First off, if you have a mechanical during an IM that causes you to DNF, you are just really unlucky, have been in an accident or did not take the time to properly inspect your bike prior to lining up for the race. Yes, shit happens but here have been plenty of threads by Tom D and the like of bikes that had cracks that were run through inspection prior to an IM. Spend the time making sure everything is a okay before race day.
Now, assuming you do that, break the race down into pre- and post- special needs. Go light the first half of the race – a tubie and 1 CO2. If you have a problem in the first half you can re-load and re-assess in special needs. It’s a big mistake to load up and carry that for 112 miles. If you want to go fast, you need to take some risk.
Razor blade to cut the tire off quickly. the only time I’ve flatted in a race was during my first IM and I struggled to get the tubular off. Now I carry a razor blade to just cut it and pull it off. Not sure what you would need tire levers for with tubulars.
Sorry to go off topic, but I still don’t get this razor blade thing; if you glue up a tire and leave a spot the width of your hand opposite the valve unglued, it’s a piece of cake to tear off. Anyone who thinks they need to glue a tubular all the way around should either doing Monaco 70.3 or crit racing. Gluing a tubular all the way around for a triathlon is unnecessary when all you’re doing is riding in a straight line.
Razor blades are great for shaving, or cutting up your hand real bad in the middle of a race.
I didn’t glue my first tubulars (my bike shop did) and I couldn’t get them off…struggled for 15 minutes during the race. So now i carry a razor blade. I never remember to leave a space when gluing them either, but it’s not a problem since i carry a razor blade. To each his own.
I’ve always kept in mind what Michael McCormack said.
"What would you normally carry on a 180km training ride ? "
“Ironman is effectively a long training day”…except instead of being alone ( unless you do ALL of your training in a group , which I “personally” would discourage ) you are with fellow competitors who have the same overall goal as you AND you have a buffet every 10km’s on the bike and 2km’s on the run !
Granted a bit more thought should go into your planning for the day BUT being your first IM , pacing yourself , enjoying the day and FINISHING are the real goals.
Extra stuff left in Special Needs will be thrown away or possibly lost… Tubulars are expensive.
There are Tech. Assist Vehicles on course
Don’t underestimate the willingness of other competitors to help you (I gave a tube to a desperate athlete at IMSA a few years ago)… It’s good Karma.
Given your physical capabilities (sub-11), you have another 6 hours to deal with a mechanical so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
I’d carry (if I were being really careful–less if I were racing):
1 x CO2
1 x Pit Stop
1 x Tire
1 x Multi-tool
I wouldn’t put anything in the Bike Special Needs (other than some nutrition) as you won’t need it and it will just be a hassle to carry (if you don’t throw it out). If you have multiple problems on the first lap, you will likely get a tech assist. If you clear the first lap without problems, the stuff under your saddle will easily get you home.
Sorry to go off topic, but I still don’t get this razor blade thing; if you glue up a tire and leave a spot the width of your hand opposite the valve unglued, it’s a piece of cake to tear off. Anyone who thinks they need to glue a tubular all the way around should either doing Monaco 70.3 or crit racing. Gluing a tubular all the way around for a triathlon is unnecessary when all you’re doing is riding in a straight line.
Jay,
Clearly you have not been hanging out on the forum enough. I am sure the ST Tire & Rubber Police are going to descend on you like vultures on a dead raccoon.
On the contrary, a mini x-acto blade can be safely used to cut the tubular off quickly, even a well glued one that has been glued on according to the protocol of the ST Tire & Rubber Police. I always pack one along with MissP’s stuff on her bike for races!
To the OP - Usually, you’ll only need one spare Tubular. I raced for 15 years on Tubular tires and never had a flat in a race. It does happen, but double flats are extraordinarily rare. As another poster said - make sure that you get the best tires that you can - this is not an area to pinch pennies on.
For IMWI last year I carried on the bike:
1 spare tube and 1 CO2 with a microflate folded up within the tube. Thread the microflate on but not enough to puncture the tube. With the cartridge folded up within the spare tube the microflate head will be tucked in and cannot spin loose/off.
Bought a mini-bungee cord at the home depot for less than a dollar and strapped the folded up tube and CO2 under my saddle to the saddle rails. Whole ‘assembly’ is really tiny and is tucked nicely out of the airstream. If you wanted you could also tuck a small tire lever in the folds.
Unfortunately I had to use it after flatting.
In my bike special needs I had a spare tube and a spare CO2.
To the OP - Usually, you’ll only need one spare Tubular. I raced for 15 years on Tubular tires and never had a flat in a race. It does happen, but double flats are extraordinarily rare. As another poster said - make sure that you get the best tires that you can - this is not an area to pinch pennies on.
Steve:
I currently am running Tufo S3 Lites that will have 200 miles on them come race day. thoughts…
At IMFL I only took a can of PitStop but I did not flat so I was fine. In a training ride I had a flat and used the PitStop which came flying out the sidewall that was blown. A second attempt at using PitStop the top of the cannister came off and was unusable. I now carry a single tubular with a single co2 and inflator along with a crack pipe for the disc. It is all taped together with electrical tape. The tape has tabs for easy opening. I keep a second tubular, co2 in special needs bag. If I don’t flat before the special needs then I don’t stop for it. Like another poster said - don’t expect to get your special needs back. I do keep a blade taped under the seat (in case).
