What do you carry on the bike in an IM?

Triathlon Forum
1

Been debating on what to take on my bike for IMCDA. Spare tube, small patch kit and CO2 a must. What about a second cartridge? Hex wrench? Put it all in a saddle bag or stick in jersey pocket? Obviously I’d like to go light as possible without sacrificing the ability to continue the race should something happen.

2

Handgun?

3

At CDA I will be carrying a tube, small patch kit, 3 12g unthreaded CO2 cartridges, hex key set, and 2 tire levers in my small seatpack. I will carry another tube, CO2 inflator, and possibly a small hand pump in my rear jersey pocket. I will also carry two bottles on my frame-mounted bottle cages. Good luck!!
-Matt

4

2 16g threaded CO cart, 2 lightweight tubes, quickstick that I shorten, small inflator, and a 5mm allen wrench all in a small pack. 2 24 oz bottles with Gatorade plus a scoop of CarboPro in each. 1 PowerPar. Tape 3 GU’s to the top tube. I also carry an extra 5 lbs that I wish I could leave at home.

5

Okay, you’ve convinced me to take at least two CO2 cartridges and an allen wrench. I plan on three bottles but will only have two at the most filled at a time. I figured I would put my
accelerade powder in two and just fill them with water at the stations.

I used to haul a bunch of power gels but opted for the GU flask and holder which I really like. No worries about littering and no sticky mess.

Thanks for the info.

6

As little as possible.

7

I don’t want to rely on fellow cyclists or race support if I can avoid it (boy scout syndrome - be prepared), so I take two tubes, or two tubulars if called for, and three CO2 cartridges - one to give away if someone needs it and 2 for me. If I flat in the first 10 miles, I don’t want to have to worry about another one putting me out for the next 100. I always carry two tubes in training, too, so its no different for me really. I also have a small toolkit that fits in my saddle bag. For ironmans I take a fanny pack on the bike with tums, excedrin, and immodium, along with a few bandaids and some hard candy. I have a spair pair of contact lenses in my special needs bags just in case I lose one.

For my first IM I was riding a bike that had chain drop issues so I carried 6 inches of chain, pins, and a chain tool. I didn’t need it but I rode by one guy who said his chain broke, so I gave him my stuff and we fixed his chain together. I didn’t need it, but he sure did!

Fanny packs are great - DeSoto makes a superb one, you can stuff a lot in there and it doesn’t get in the way.

8

I’m doing Couer d’Alene and I’ll be carrying two 28 oz. bottles, each w/ 800 cal of Gatorade + CarboPro, 2 Fig Newton Bars, a pill bottle full of Endurolytes, 1 threaded CO2 cartidge, 1 cartridge adapter, 1 spare Tufo prepped to put on.

9

That’s exactly right. As little as possible but still being prepared. It’s a fine line and I guess it depends on one’s risk threshold. I’m a MOPer so I’ll go a little conservatively and pack probably more than I’ll need.

A few years back at Gulf Coast a buddy of mine popped the stem off his tube 15 minutes before the swim start. I gave him my spare tube (he didn’t have one) but I was a nervous wreck the entire bike because I no longer had a spare. Fortunately I didn’t flat.

10

Here is the list, from Tom:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/flatkit.shtml

Add some calories both solid and liquid to meet your nutrional requirements.

11

Thanks. Those six items are identical (except for the bag) to what I normally carry.

12

Also remember that you have a special needs bag. Take enough to get you through 56 miles and you can always reload at the special needs if you have to. Pretty much bring along the stuff you would on a long ride by yourself (except cellphone, keys, ID). Do bring 2 tubes or two tubular tires and 3 cartriges…these are pretty lightweight items. I am thinking about checking out how the tufo sealant works for tubular tires. I think the way it works is you can put it in the tire and it should seal a small hole should one arise. This might be a good way to get away from taking 2 tubular tires- bring one and leave one in the special needs.

13

“As little as possible.”

That’s right. An IM bike leg is the BEST supported centurey ride that you will ever go on. Yet, you will see people carting around enough food, gear and water for a one week bike tour. Amazing!

What would I take:

  • One spare tubular

  • One CO2 cartridge

  • Start with two full water bottles on the frame, but would ride most of the time with only one on the bike. There is an aid station every 10 miles or for me about every 20 minutes. No need to carry more than this.

  • 5 Powerbars in jersey - pocket eating one an hour

That’s it!

Fleck

14

I had a really difficult time with this last year, so I ended up putting panniers on my Yaqui Carbo. It may sound strange, but I found it very reassuring to know that I had everything I felt I might need during the race, including a fold-up bike stand, metric allen wrench, torque wrench, Silca track pump, five tubes, two tires, two tubular tires (in case someone else needed them), grease, duct tape, spare bearings (various sizes), an extra chain, extra derailleurs, three different cassettes, 58T chainring, compact cranks, 1 can accelerade, 3 gallons of water, soup mix, a small pot, a small stove, three soup spoons, 1 box of PowerBars, 1 box of cliff bars, spare shorts, spare jersey, tights with windstopper, tights without windstopper, long gloves, spare sunglasses, spare lenses, halogen flashlight, handlebar light, helmet light, small Honda generator, 8 cup coffee maker, 2lbs Peets coffee, 6 coffee cups, some sugar packets, splenda packets, Equal packets and some sweet and low.

I know, I went a bit overboard - you could probably get away with 1 lb of coffee…

15

For IM or any race, in a pouch under my seat I carry, the following:

1 tube and multiple patches. 2 tire levers, 2 CO2 cartridges. a CO2 inflater that has a pbackup minipump, in case I have to limp home at 50-60psi. 1 multitool with a chain tool on it. $10 bill. about a foot long piece of duct tape rolled around a pencil nub, just in case.

For training I also carry my cellphone, map, house key and just enough toilet paper in a zip lock bag in my back pocket.

16

JohnA -

Thanks, I needed that - hadn’t laughed all day
.

17

Does anyone go w/o a bag or any tools for a sprint or maybe oly distance race?

18

“Does anyone go w/o a bag or any tools for a sprint or maybe oly distance race?”

All the time. </touch wood>

19

sprint race, yes.

if i flat, the race is over anyway.

have never raced an oly

1/2IM+ though, i race with 2 bottles (one aerodrink, one seattube). 1 tube, patches, 2x16g CO2’s, 5/6 Double sided allen key, and co2 mini inflater nozzle. and 2xtire levers

then nutrition i carry in my pockets. for IM, in the bento box (powerbars).