What’s your flat kit look like? Especially if you ride tubies.
Trying to figure out how to do this somewhat-aero.
Depends on the race. For me, it’s like this:
Sprint: No flat kit
Olympic: 1 tube, 2 levers, 1 co2, smallest filler I can find all held together with black tape and taped to the bottom of the seat. No saddle bag.
Half: Same as Olympic.
IM: Never done one so don’t care. Would probably carry an extra C02 and tube.
I think my flat kit would be considered sparse compared to most triathletes. My Olympic kit would be the typical Sprint kit, with equipment increasing as distances went up, until the bike was unrecognizable due to the amounts of tubes, extra tires, LP tanks filled with c02, and as a last resort, a Bike Friday folded up and set inside the front triangle of a brand new Speed Concept.
The Genuine Innovations Glueless Patch Kit (small) sucks.
I tucked everything in back in my x-lab wing with no bottle cages for a half. Wish I put a bottle cage and bottle with some fluid in retrospect. I will look for a pic and email it to you if ii have one. My personal opinion is if it is oly or shorter might as well forget about the racing part and take your time fixing the tire. Probably go smoother and faster that way any how.
I will use electrical tape to tape a spare tube under the back of my seat. Then, I’ll tape the CO2 nozzle to the tube and the CO2 cartridge and tire levers are taped to the top of my top tube. All this, because electrical tape is a lot cheaper than an xlab or equivalent. Alternatively, if you have a bento box that isn’t filled to the brim with nutrition, you can throw your CO2 nozzle, levers, and cartridge in the bottom of the bento box; tube still goes under the seat.
However, when you do this, make sure that the tube is taped on REALLY well (especially for bumpy courses). About 3 miles into the Chicago Tri bike course on Sunday, I felt my spare tube banging on my leg during my pedal stroke and saw that it was about to fall off… most of the tape had let loose over a few bumps. I ended up grabbing it and trying to figure out what to do with it. Luckily, I had a rubber band around it, so I used that to secure it to my aero bar… I’m sure I lost 30 seconds during the race due to the aerodynamic loss from that tube hanging out in front.
Don’t ride tubulars but this is my plan for my first HIM. Will probably use the same for Arizona plus spares in special needs bag. I have this crammed into a PD bento box behind the stem. If I didn’t need the calories so much, I’d stuff into a bottle on the downtube.
here’s my tubie solution…doesn’t work with every saddle. that’s a small bento attached sideways (stem straps wrapping the tubie, tube straps acting as main compartment closure) with my 2x Co2, crack pipe, and multitool.
Tire lever, tube, CO2.
However, when you do this, make sure that the tube is taped on REALLY well (especially for bumpy courses). About 3 miles into the Chicago Tri bike course on Sunday, I felt my spare tube banging on my leg during my pedal stroke and saw that it was about to fall off… most of the tape had let loose over a few bumps. I ended up grabbing it and trying to figure out what to do with it. Luckily, I had a rubber band around it, so I used that to secure it to my aero bar… I’m sure I lost 30 seconds during the race due to the aerodynamic loss from that tube hanging out in front.
This is why I just use a saddlebag. I don’t have to worry about losing anything.
Taped co2 cartridge, levers, and tire together in a “banana” shape and then used a velcro strap to fasten it under my seat.
Tire lever, tube, CO2.
x2. This is exactly my setup as well. Everything is under the Adamo seat. But, good luck doing this with a tubular. You might have to hang it out the back and tape it to the seat.
No help for a tubie, but here’s mine:
Bag holds the inflator, levers, spare tube, and a minimal toolkit (4 & 5mm allens and a small screwdriver wrapped in a tiny finger rag). I’d ditch it for a sprint or straight TT, and for IM I had an extra tube and CO2 in my SN bag in case I had to burn one already. The zip-tie loops work like really stiff rubber bands: just enough flex to slide over for removing & re-installing the cartridges, but firm enough to hold in place, no cutting & re-zipping needed.
I can’t take a picture of nothing!!!
I carry nothing, no spare, no air, no tools. But I do have cell phone in my pocket on training rides, racing I carry nothing.
I would do that if I race with gators…
Carl,
Just curious as to why you don’t use a speed box?
primarily because my frameset was originally meant to go to one of our teams and didn’t have the toptube mount provisions. plus, I prefer flasks to individual packets for gel purposes. finally, in the case of this race, I was riding tubies and this is my standard tubie repair raceday setup…where the bento straps provide a convenient method for keeping the free end of the spare wrapped up.
Awesome bike man.
I don’t have a picture of mine, but this is how I’ve attached a spare and inflator for my wife on her bike for longer distance races. She has a razor blade taped to her basebar and carries a can of Pit Stop for trying first.
I like the setup, and have the same saddle, how do you get the lever and co2 to stay put?
Tire lever, tube, CO2.
Sorry Carl, meant draft box. I am just trying to figure out whether or not to carry a spares tubular tire or not for my upcoming IM because it doesn’t fit in the draft box.