I just switched from a rear (xlab) hydration setup that enabled me to carry all my flat accessories to a downtube and torpedo setup. So wondering where to store my flat acessories during a race. In training can just carry in my shirt pockets, but I don’t want to take the time to stuff them in my tri suit pocket during a race…seconds are seconds.
I’ve seen suggestions of under seat (I have an Adamo so doing that would leave them exposed to airflow) or in the back, open space of an aero helmet, separate hydration bottle, bento box. Just looking for other creative suggestions.
I hate all the clutter that many modern triathletes have all over their bikes. Some of this is necessary - but a whole lot of it is extraneous over-kill. For the necessary stuff - for longer races, it is best to carry the stuff you need to change a flat tire be it a clincher or a tubular. This is where I must confess, I think the aero storage box tucked in behind the seat tube on the Trek Speed Concept is brilliant! Get’s that stuff neatly and what appear to be aerodynamically out of the way!
I put all of it in a bento box behind the stem. The MIT aero folks posted a while back that a bento there can actually improve the front end of the bike aero wise. Not sure how true that is as I do not have a wind tunnel or care enough to go to one. That said, I have never had anyone ever make that sort of claim about anything behind the seat.
I use an adamo as well, and I tape my flat kit between the rails of the saddle. There isn’t much airflow going between the top of the seatpost and the bottom of the saddle- if there was, the saddle by itself could cause drag. Its the same way that a torpedo mount should be relatively drag-neutral. You’re putting something in a gap that doesn’t see much wind in the first place.
I agree with Fleck, so much “stuff” on a lot of tri bikes. I went from a P2 to a Giant and lost many of my storage options. No downtube bottle option on the Giant, biggest downfall in their design, let me be the judge of whether it affects my aerodynamics!!! With their front end design no option for bento box either.
In my current setup my seat is pushed far ahead to no room behind seat to tuck anything (as I did on the P2).
The lack of downtube bottle means I need to always race with rear hydration system in place. I can use one side for nutrition and the other for spare, but I also really, really, really like the rear box that Trek designed. One of the best paint/decal jobs as well. Too bad my LBS is a Giant/Specialized dealer! Oh well, I love my Giant, even with its minor design flaw.
While I run “naked” for oly’s and sprints, for 1/2’s I do use the bento box storage strategy. Makes a nice “monolithic” block for the front end: staring with the water bottle and finishing with the bento.
On the subject of front bottles, is there any reason people seem to be moving away from the large front bottle like profile design aquacell / bontrager aero bottle etc?
do these cause a much bigger drag than the torpedo style mounted bottles?
I think I have come up with a fast and simple system that I have taken to using for all my road riding.
I use a waterproof sac which can be purchased at any camping store, which is essentially a 1qt nylon bag with a drawstring.
In that bag goes my essentials for the race (flat kit, multi-tool, sometimes a chamois creme, small sunblock, pills…) On a training ride it makes
a nice dry spot for cash and a cell phone also. I can roll this up into a nice tight bundle about the size of 1/2 banana. Should I need it,
it is far faster than pulling apart a tightly taped bundle wedged under the saddle - and you can also access it on the bike. (At IMWI i
pulled it out and restocked my electrolyte tabs without a stop for instance)
On race day it goes in T1 (or my T1 bag) and I set it in my helmet so it can’t be forgotten. Then I stuff it in my jersey pocket for the ride,
and take it out in T2. It makes itself known in 1 step if you forget it heading out for the run. Simple, cheap, flexible and effective.
But that fancy trunk on the Speed Concept is way cool…
.
I have problems reaching back in aero and grabbing the rear bottles. I would always have to situp and reach back. Got tired of doing that after 2 years. W/ the torpedo and downtube, they’re right in my reach while in aero.
On the subject of front bottles, is there any reason people seem to be moving away from the large front bottle like profile design aquacell / bontrager aero bottle etc?
do these cause a much bigger drag than the torpedo style mounted bottles?
There’s a thread on here that talks about just that…but I think after about 100 posts there was still no real evidence that torpedo vs. front aero bottle is more aero. I was actually surprised with how many of the pro’s in 70.3 WC in Las Vegas were riding w/ the front bottle setup. Thought I was seeing a trend of the torpedo take over, but the front bottle seemed to be more prevalant in Vegas.
I tape a tube and small tire lever up under the saddle rails, then tape a co2+fastair+patch underneath the tail of my helmet (Wingspan)
The small downside is having to remove the helmet to get to the co2, but it’s about as space saving as you can get without shoving it down your jersey pocket.
.but I think after about 100 posts there was still no real evidence that torpedo vs. front aero bottle is more aero.
Agreed that in terms of absolute aerodynamics it’s open for debate.
Where the front mounting of a standard water bottle on the aero bars wins out in my view is with regards to utility, strategy and ease of use. If you are picking up on-course water or sport beverage on the fly, then this set-up in my view is “better”. You don’t have to fiddle around then trying to subsequently pour what-ever liquid into another bottle on your bike. When my wife used this set-up years ago, her bike was always coated with spilled gatorade! A sticky mess that I always had to clean up after the race!!
I tape a tube and small tire lever up under the saddle rails, then tape a co2+fastair+patch underneath the tail of my helmet (Wingspan)
The small downside is having to remove the helmet to get to the co2, but it’s about as space saving as you can get without shoving it down your jersey pocket.
why is this bad? that’s exactly what i did a week or so ago in my full distance race. through a pitstop and a co2 in my pocket and it took all of 1-2seconds tops (that might be a high estimate as i don’t remember even doing it.) i don’t think the aero loss was much.
On the subject of front bottles, is there any reason people seem to be moving away from the large front bottle like profile design aquacell / bontrager aero bottle etc?
do these cause a much bigger drag than the torpedo style mounted bottles?
I moved away from them not because of drag but because I don’t like having all that weight on the aerobars. I particularly find this helpful in transition. It’s easier to steer my bike out of it without needing to grab on to the aerobars to keep the wheel straight.
I’ve seen suggestions of under seat (I have an Adamo so doing that would leave them exposed to airflow) or in the back, open space of an aero helmet, separate hydration bottle, bento box. Just looking for other creative suggestions.
Well, we make this aero top tube pack here in the USA, the Speedpack 480:
From testing and from feedback that we’ve gotten, it works pretty well carrying most anything. And, depending on your bike and set up, it might even improve your aerodynamics. More info in the signature below.
