Olmpic distance in 6 days- Bike? Nutrition? Decisions!

[KSH]

So, my first Olympic distance is in 5 days... Yea, I know you gals are probably sick to death of hearing about it. I'm just so dang excited.

Well, as silly as this sounds, I am just now thinking about the nutrition for my Oly. I guess I didn't really THINK about it, because I figured I would do what felt right. Plan for disaster? Maybe so.

So... I came up with a plan:

~ A big meal the night before consisting of carbs.

~ A breakfast consisting of 500-600 calories 2-3 hours before the race.

~ 1 gel before going in the water.

~ 2 bags of shot blocks on the bike. I probably won't eat them all, but since I can't carry more than 1 water bottle (20 oz) on my tri bike this will cover the roughly 200-300 calories I need on the bike. I am tempted to carry my Camelbak on the bike so I can get in enough liquids.

~ 1 gel in my water bottle holder, that will be taken on the run. I may or may not eat the gel. I want it there with me just in case.

Here is my delima... which bike to take!

The upside to the roadie is that I can carry 2, 20 oz water bottles on it. The downside... well, I won't get to ride in aero position or be cool on my tri bike. Also, I have to check in the bike the day before the race. This bike is my baby... and if ANYTHING happened to it, I would DIE. And honestly, I couldn't even replace it... seeing how I couldn't even afford to buy it myself (boyfriend gave it to me as a gift).

The upside to the tri bike is that I will be in aero position and a tab bit faster. I also don't mind checking the bike in the day before. It's a nice bike, but it wasn't that expensive thanks to a killer deal on the internet. Sure, I'd be upset if something happened, but I wouldn't die.

The downside to the tri bike is that I can only carry 1, 20 oz water bottle on it. Due to the computer setup, I can't put a water bottle between the aero bars. Due to the slanted down tube (?) with a pointed edge (hard to explain) I can't put 2 water bottle holders down below. Now, I could buy one of those water bottle holders that hang off the seat in the back, but I would be using it for the first time in the race. I suspect I would take in few liquids due to being unsure of reaching back. The workaround to the water issue, is to wear my Camelbak. But I won't want to be a dork and not aero dynamic.

Ugh. Decisions. Decisions.

Feel free to pass along any advice to me ladies!

[spokewench]

I'd ride the tri bike, and carry my cameback - 50 ouncer with small aero bag.
Faster is faster, who cares if others think you are a dork!

[Eden]

Go with the TT bike- it was made for this kind of race
as far as water goes
I have heard that wearing a camel back under your jersey can actually be more aero than not having one (in fact people with a natural hump in their back ala Lance Armstrong, get this advantage without one). I've even heard that the UCI has considered banning them in TT's because of this (no worries, tri's have completely different governance and rules!)

[HappyAnika]

It's Tuesday, do you have time to buy a seat mounted bottle holder and try it out before the race? Sometimes it takes just once or twice of learning a new motion to get comfortable with it. I think since you have the luxury of having a tri bike, you should use it for the tri.

[KSH]

It's Tuesday, do you have time to buy a seat mounted bottle holder and try it out before the race? Sometimes it takes just once or twice of learning a new motion to get comfortable with it. I think since you have the luxury of having a tri bike, you should use it for the tri.

Well, I am riding on Friday.

Maybe I can get the water bottle holder put on before the ride to try it out?

Sounds like a pretty good plan.

[Starfish]

KSH, I don't have any advice for you, but we are definitely NOT sick of hearing about your OLY! We are rooting for you!

[Wahine]

KSH - go buy a rear mount cage. Put one water bottle in your normal cage and one behind. Drink the one in the normal position (on the seat tube), then switch it out for the one on the back. Should be easy to do if you get a rear mount with 2 holders, put the empty bottle in the empty holder and then take full one out and put it in the seat tube cage. Practice this on Friday. You'll be good. Rear mounts are not hard to manage. You'll be happy to have it later anyway for your long distance races in the future.

[KSH]

KSH - go buy a rear mount cage. Put one water bottle in your normal cage and one behind. Drink the one in the normal position (on the seat tube), then switch it out for the one on the back. Should be easy to do if you get a rear mount with 2 holders, put the empty bottle in the empty holder and then take full one out and put it in the seat tube cage. Practice this on Friday. You'll be good. Rear mounts are not hard to manage. You'll be happy to have it later anyway for your long distance races in the future.

Ok... DUH! That sounds like a good plan.

I will make sure that I make myself reach down and drink! I tend to not want to. And in a race, I get this weird kind of tunnel vision and focus, and sometimes all rational thought (i.e. "it's time to drink", "it's time to eat") gets tossed out.

[KSH]

Well, they are calling for rain on Friday. So, if I get the rear mounted water bottle holder, I won't be able to test it out.

I also realized that I will probably have to give up my tool kit bag under the seat for the rear mounted water bottle holder. I refuse to do that. I have 650 CC wheels. If I don't carry tubes, it's unlikely that anyone else will have one for me.

I could get the water bottle holder tool kit holder... and put that on my bike. Although, I will probably have to place it where I want to put the water bottle that I grab on a regular basis.

So, I think I'm back to the Camelbak. It will be annoying, but water will be easy to get and I will be more likely to drink.

[anakiwa]

Ditto on using the tri bike.

Do you know if there's an aid station in the middle of the bike? If so- just start with a bottle you can throw away- dump it when you get to the aid station and pick up a new bottle. (Or if they're only giving out twist top bottles use it to refill your bike bottle.)

Another thought would be rearranging the computer set-up so you could add an aero bottle (it might take some fiddling but there are all kinds of mounts).

Good luck!

[velogirl]

KSH, what is the course like? Is it flat? Rolling? Hilly? Do your road and TT bikes have the same gearing? What does each bike weigh? There is not as much aero advantage on a hilly course and if you are compromising gearing and/or weight then it might make sense to race your road bike.

Besides terrain, my other consideration would be how much time you've spent training on either bike. Assuming your TT bike has a traditional TT set-up (and your road bike doesn't), it's important to train on that set-up or you'll lose power.

If fluid intake is a concern, ditch the bike computer and get a bar-mount bottle. or mount your computer on the bar or the top tube.

Good luck with your race!!!

[KSH]

Thank you anakiwa and velogirl!

I'm pretty sure there isn't an aid station on the bike route. It's only 27 miles.

The computer setup... is just odd. It's a HUGE computer and I'm not really sure where else to put it on the bike.

The course, has some hills but nothing too hard. The tri bike weighs about 2 more pounds than the roadie. They have the same gearing. I use to think the tri bike was a rock on hills, but later found out it was the engine running the bike up the hills (ha!).

I've decided to not do anything new. I'm use to riding my tri bike with my Camelbak so I'm going to stick with that. I'll look dorky, but I should have addressed this issue weeks ago, not a week before the race.

Thanks for all the input and advice. I really appreciate it ladies!

[HeatherErin]

Best of luck with the race!

[flash]

I'm so excited about your first oly ! It sounds like you are well prepared & everything is all set....with 2 great bike choices, how can you go wrong???

By now, you probably have your decisions nailed down, so just relax and enjoy! I hope you picked your tri bike because you will be blistering fast on it......if you are still figuring out how to deal with the limited hyrdation options, here are 2 suggestions. FOR NOW, have an extra bottle (water or sports drink as you prefer) in transition. Take a couple of good swigs before setting out on your bike. And a couple more before heading out on the run. Yes, it will take 10 or 15 extra seconds, but you'll have the water in you & that's a good thing. FOR LATER, I strongly recommend the type of drink system that fits between your aerobars (there are various manufacturers, just make sure the one you buy is compatible with the type/brand of aero bars you have). With the drinking straw almost poking you in the nose (the key word there is almost) it's impossible NOT to drink often. For longer races, you can refill the between-bar carrier using your water bottle (frame mount or behind the seat mount) to make sure you take in enough fluids.

[KSH]

I'm so excited about your first oly ! It sounds like you are well prepared & everything is all set....with 2 great bike choices, how can you go wrong???

By now, you probably have your decisions nailed down, so just relax and enjoy! I hope you picked your tri bike because you will be blistering fast on it......if you are still figuring out how to deal with the limited hyrdation options, here are 2 suggestions. FOR NOW, have an extra bottle (water or sports drink as you prefer) in transition. Take a couple of good swigs before setting out on your bike. And a couple more before heading out on the run. Yes, it will take 10 or 15 extra seconds, but you'll have the water in you & that's a good thing. FOR LATER, I strongly recommend the type of drink system that fits between your aerobars (there are various manufacturers, just make sure the one you buy is compatible with the type/brand of aero bars you have). With the drinking straw almost poking you in the nose (the key word there is almost) it's impossible NOT to drink often. For longer races, you can refill the between-bar carrier using your water bottle (frame mount or behind the seat mount) to make sure you take in enough fluids.

Thanks Flash!

Well, I need to get my tri bike setup better for hydration, in the near future. This means moving my computer around. I will get it done though.

I talked to my friend today, and she has done this tri 2 times. From the sounds of it... I am going to be better off on my road bike for this one. There are hills, lots of tight turns and it's a very crowded course. In situations like that, I am more comfortable on my road bike.

So... the whole hydration issue is solved. I can put two 20oz bottles on my road bike.

I have a sprint coming up June 10th, and that course will be perfect for the tri bike.