HIM/IM water strategy/aid stations - bike leg

[woowoo]

For those of you that have done HIM/IM's....can you tell me what you did during your bike legs to refill your water/grab stuff from aid stations?  One of the 1,523 things I'm stressing about it proper hydration on my bike as I'm on a road bike, not a tri bike so I don't have a fancy bladder built into my bike. 

I had just assumed I would take a quick 30-60 seconds to stop, grab water and refill my bottles, grab a bonk breaker (if needed, I've been training with Tailwind and it rocks) then continue on my way.  But my coach acted like I had two heads for suggesting that I would come to a stop.

So what did you do?  Speed through transitions?  Grab bottles on your way through like a pro and continue on your way?  Or stop and refill?  Any strategies?  Tips?  (Other than "stop stressing out about stupid sh*t?)

[chw57]

I had 5 bottles on my bike for IMTX and was grateful for every single one.
2 Perpetuem
2 Fizz
1 (between the aero bars) water.

I only stopped at special needs and when I had to use the bathroom... Otherwise I just grabbed a bottle and poured it into the one between my aero bars (without having to stop). That thing was a total lifesaver! 

Edit because I suck at reading: You can definitely throw your bottles and grab new ones for normal cages without stopping, and if you have nutrition in a bento box or taped to your frame, it's super easy to eat it without stopping

[Susie]

I agree that stopping to pick up nutrition is an unusual suggestion for an HIM. Where would you pick it up from? You're better off figuring out a way to carry everything.  I have not stopped for anything in either of the 2 HIMs I've done; my friends only stopped to use the portopotty.

I can carry up to 4 bottles on my road bike: down tube bottle cage, seat tube bottle cage, and two more in one of these behind the saddle:

The Aquarack thing is only ok - I really only use it on long rides (when I can pull bottles out at a stop sign).  Mine holds the bottles so snugly that it requires a little twisting and pulling to get them out and I'm just not 100% comfortable doing that reaching behind me while riding.  YMMV on that.  In any event, it also has CO2 mounts, so I don't have to fit my CO2 cartridges in my saddle bag.  That is nice.

For HIMs, I do 2 bottles of Infinit, and put them in the down tube and seat tube bottle cages.  I also carry a gel flask, which sits in a holder on my handlebar stem.  The 2 bottles + gel is enough nutrition for the bike leg.  It is not necessarily enough water, so in my last race I drank the 1st Infinit bottle, then tossed the empty at an aid station and took a water, used water + gel for the middle third (hour), and drank the 2nd Infinit bottle for the final third (hour).  No stopping, and no needing to reach behind me.  Unfortunately it requires the aid station to be reasonably opportunely located.  Otherwise you'd have to tweak that.  I don't like relying on aid stations for too much, but water is pretty basic.

If you use solid food instead of gel, a bento box is a good way to carry it on the bike.  

[kams]

Not stupid to stress about. I always worry about these kinds of logistics.

I would not plan to stop. For a HIM, I carry my 3 bottles of nutrition, which I plan to take each hour. Grab hand ups of water whenever you want/need - it's no big deal, but good to practice before you're on the course.

For IM, I just carried my nutrition super super concentrated, and mixed a bit of it with a hand up of water in my aero bottle. Only off the bike to go potty and change flats .

[shorewife]

I haven't actually DONE a HIM yet but am training for one now. I also have a road bike with aero bars and my set-up is similar to Susie's. I plan to take in all of my nutrition in liquid form and not stop unless I have to use the bathroom or change a flat (hope not!).

[trigal]

I have a tri bike, but only room for two bottles, one on my frame and one between my aero bars. I start with one filled with water and the other with Gatorade. As I come to an aid station, I throw out the empty bottles and grab new ones. I don't stop, but I do slow down. If you think you'll have trouble grabbing a bottle on the go, then stop. Just do it before you get to the volunteers and pull over to the side. Aid stations are busy places.

You can always get someone to practice handing you a bottle while riding. There is a bit of an art to doing it smoothly.

I use old or crappy bottles to start, so I don't mind losing them (we call them "chuckers").

If I know I'm going to be doing a lot of climbing before the first aid station (like at IMLP), I only have the Gatorade bottle. I don't consume while climbing and it's less weight to carry up those damn hills.

For my HIM on Sunday, I am going to buy a bottle of water and a bottle of Gatorade since we had to fly here and I didn't have any chuckers left to pack!

Unless you have a special formula, there is no reason to carry so much, especially water! They have it for you on the course and you paid for it. I am fine with sports drinks and I get the rest of my nutrition from Luna bars and gu, which I carry in a bento box on my top tube.

For a full IM, I do the exact same setup as for a half, but I pick up more nutrition in my special needs bag.

[woowoo]

Thanks everyone.  To prove how clueless I am, at my group bike session this morning, I was made aware that they give you REAL bottles at the aid stations.  I have been envisioning someone handling out plastic bottles of dasani or smart water or similar.     This is why I thought I would have to stop an REFILL the bottles that I have on my bike (I have a rear hydration too so I have room for four bottles) as I didn't think a bottle of dasani would stay in my cage.  

Dumb dumb.  

[trigal]

Jul 10, 2014 11:15:37 GMT -5 woowoo said:

Thanks everyone.  To prove how clueless I am, at my group bike session this morning, I was made aware that they give you REAL bottles at the aid stations.  I have been envisioning someone handling out plastic bottles of dasani or smart water or similar.     This is why I thought I would have to stop an REFILL the bottles that I have on my bike (I have a rear hydration too so I have room for four bottles) as I didn't think a bottle of dasani would stay in my cage.  

Dumb dumb.  

Well, they may very well be plastic bottles of Dasani. They'll just have the twist/sports top. It likely won't be the type of bottles you buy at the LBS. They will fit in the bottle cages on your bike.

A piece of advice... Practice taking out and putting bottles in the rear cages. I can't tell you how many times I've had to maneuver around someone who dropped their bottle back there!

[woowoo]

Jul 10, 2014 11:38:35 GMT -5 trigal said:

Jul 10, 2014 11:15:37 GMT -5 woowoo said:

A piece of advice... Practice taking out and putting bottles in the rear cages. I can't tell you how many times I've had to maneuver around someone who dropped their bottle back there!

I have definitely practiced a TON  with this!  Good advice.

[kams]

Jul 10, 2014 11:15:37 GMT -5 woowoo said:

Thanks everyone.  To prove how clueless I am, at my group bike session this morning, I was made aware that they give you REAL bottles at the aid stations.  I have been envisioning someone handling out plastic bottles of dasani or smart water or similar.     This is why I thought I would have to stop an REFILL the bottles that I have on my bike (I have a rear hydration too so I have room for four bottles) as I didn't think a bottle of dasani would stay in my cage.  

Dumb dumb.  

I've never done a race where they give you a real bottle. It's always been a flip top flimsy plastic one in my experience. So, again, not dumb!

[bina]

Wait, you guys can drink water out of a bottle while still riding? How do you not fall down? I must be an abnormal klutz.

[trigal]

Jul 10, 2014 14:17:43 GMT -5 bina said:

Wait, you guys can drink water out of a bottle while still riding? How do you not fall down? I must be an abnormal klutz.

Strong core for balance.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2014 14:17:43 GMT -5 bina said:

Wait, you guys can drink water out of a bottle while still riding? How do you not fall down? I must be an abnormal klutz.

It takes practice. You need to be able to reach down/behind/wherever to both grab your bottle and put it back while continuing to face forward. If you try to look down at what you are doing, you'll falter.

[bina]

Jul 10, 2014 15:00:27 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

Jul 10, 2014 14:17:43 GMT -5 bina said:

Wait, you guys can drink water out of a bottle while still riding? How do you not fall down? I must be an abnormal klutz.

It takes practice. You need to be able to reach down/behind/wherever to both grab your bottle and put it back while continuing to face forward. If you try to look down at what you are doing, you'll falter.

That makes sense. I'll have to practice for a while.