How do I get my Infinit on the IM bike leg without losing time?
Obviously I can have bottles at special needs but will that mean that I have to stop and wait for the volunteers to find them?
I’m not real keen on stopping, waiting or taking my chance with the on-course gear…
What do the guns do?
Cheers
have 2400 calories in one bottle on the bike. Sip and take in just straight water at the aid stations. Every aid station, while entering, drop empty water bottle and put new in cage.
have 2400 calories in one bottle on the bike. Sip and take in just straight water at the aid stations. Every aid station, while entering, drop empty water bottle and put new in cage.
I have done this successfully at 4 ironmans too. Just make sure you practice it in training and know how much to sip of each so you don’t get too concentrated of a mixture in your belly and shut down digestion. What I have done is taken a standard water bottle and while on a trainer ride in the garage at IM race pace I take two full sips of water and spit them into a cup next to my bike. I then measure the quantity to be sure I know exactly how many ounces I get in a typical sip. Do this a few times and you should have a pretty good idea of how much a “sip” is for you and adjust concentrate/water sip ratio accordingly.
The races I have a spotter that will identify you and radio your number before you reach special needs. The bag will be ready to go. I put a couple of bottles of Perform in mine, but always have a backup plan of using on whatever is on course.
I wouldn’t super saturate a bottle. In theory this works. In practice a lot of people screw up the carbs to Water ratio and completely ruin there day with GI problems. I would keep it simple and use what is on course to supplement the nutrition you start with and have in Special needs. Don’t leave it up to chance though find out what is on course, research the nutritional information, compare that with the info of the product you use, make a plan and practice with it.
Best of Luck!
Just make sure you practice it in training and know how much to sip of each so you don’t get too concentrated of a mixture in your belly and shut down digestion. What I have done is taken a standard water bottle and while on a trainer ride in the garage at IM race pace I take two full sips of water and spit them into a cup next to my bike. I then measure the quantity to be sure I know exactly how many ounces I get in a typical sip. Do this a few times and you should have a pretty good idea of how much a “sip” is for you and adjust concentrate/water sip ratio accordingly.
Smart and gross and smart.
As someone who is a little OCD I kinda like what you’ve done here.
I’d just go with this approach…
(Sorry, I’ve been waiting for any excuse to post this one, spotted in transition at IM Melb:-))
I only ever race IM with 2 bottles. One aero bottle on the frame filled with concentrated energy gel (maltodextrine for me, Infinit for you), with second bottle between the arms for fluids (water or sports drink depending how I feel).
I personally race with an Aero 30 in front and have that with my Infinit (half gatorade half Infinit) then I have a concentrated mix with Infinit in my rear single bottle behind my seat. The other bottle at special needs, IM special needs are fine, never personally had an issue.
While racing I just drink my front Aero bottle first then take the bottle behind my saddle empty it into my front Aero bottle, toss the bottle. I put all my nutrition in my bottle (Infinit+Powerbar gels mixed in). I use to have nutrition in my bento box, just like to race clean now without anything in my bento besides flat kit.
IM nutrition should be simple, practiced, easy to get at, secure, and IMO not alot of solids. It’s hard for me to “eat”/digest when I am really pushing it.
I’d just go with this approach…
(Sorry, I’ve been waiting for any excuse to post this one, spotted in transition at IM Melb:-))
At least get the full picture…
The races I have a spotter that will identify you and radio your number before you reach special needs. The bag will be ready to go. I put a couple of bottles of Perform in mine, but always have a backup plan of using on whatever is on course.
I wouldn’t super saturate a bottle. In theory this works. In practice a lot of people screw up the carbs to Water ratio and completely ruin there day with GI problems. I would keep it simple and use what is on course to supplement the nutrition you start with and have in Special needs. Don’t leave it up to chance though find out what is on course, research the nutritional information, compare that with the info of the product you use, make a plan and practice with it.
Best of Luck!
This. I’ve tried a 650 calorie bottle of my own carb mix and I’m not sure I’d want anything stronger. Too easy to take too large of a gulp and ruin your day. I plan to just use Perform hand-ups, 2 gels and a 2 Honey Stinger Waffles (packs flat in a rear pocket, easy to eat, gets you some solid food to satisfy general sense of hunger). That gets me to about 320 calories per hour @ 72.5kg race weight. No special needs… but I’ll have a spare 400 calorie 2/3 full bottle there and a extra waffle in case I drop either of those… and of course another spare tube and CO2’s.
But… hey this will be my first, so what do I know. I know it worked great on a 5 hour, very windy, brutal ride, ridden slightly harder than my target IM pace. I do know that if it works… stick with it.
I only ever race IM with 2 bottles. One aero bottle on the frame filled with concentrated energy gel (maltodextrine for me, Infinit for you), with second bottle between the arms for fluids (water or sports drink depending how I feel).
This has worked for me at 3 IMs, though I have never done a really hot one. This year, I likely will, so I might do the same thing plus one regular bottle hanging off the saddle. Maybe.