Ironman Special Needs Bags

Neither Ralph's half or the Vineman half have special needs bags. Are you already signed up for IMFL?

I am indeed signed up for IMFL.

Congrats, I hear it's a fun race!

My buddy who did IMWI last year said that the IM race is "all about bags"

I just started to laugh.

He said, you got a bag for special needs on the bike, a bag for special needs on the run, a bag for the finish line, a bag for this, a bag for that....we was so freggin confused...

It was funny to hear him talk about it.

Just to add to what has already been said, there seems to be 2 trains of thought in using special needs bags.  The first is to only use them in emergency situations.  I carry 2 tubes, 2 C02s, and an Ultraflate with me on the bike.  I also duplicate that in the special needs bike bag.  Last time I carried 2400 total calories in 2 bike bottles, and had one more bottle in my bag in case I lost one. 

Alternately, you can also intentionally stop and get additional nutrition out of your bag and only carry what you need for the first half of the bike or run. 

At IMFL the bags are not gaurenteed to be retruned, although they seem to make every effort to do so.  I was able to get mine back the last two years and I'm guessing most others did too.   Last year they left them near the finish line on the side of a public street in front of the hotel.  My bags were there but anybody could have taken them before I picked them up. 

Hey Drinkin Buddy:

Some good advise on the bags. I feel that having some x-tra tubes/co2 is a better alternative than carrying more food/fluid. Can you tell me what Ultraflate is? Also, do you carry a spare tire??

Thanks

I am very excited about IMFL!

I wouldn't just carry extra bike parts I would also carry extra food as well, just in case. I prerode the course of AZ this weekend and there is a stretch of road where the road is bumpy and uneven and one person shot both bottles off the back of his bike. I picked them up chased him down and gave them to him. He didn't even know his bottles were gone.

I was also told to pack whatever will get you to the finish line, especially on the run. I know people who have packed pictures of friends and family, candybars and even a can of Dr. Pepper. On the first loop of the run my friend was thinking "I can't wait to get to my Dr. Pepper" and when he got it he was so happy he claims that's what carried him to the finish.

When selecting what to put in your special needs bag versus what to keep with you and depend on the course for, it's best to keep in mind that the bag is for emergency use. With 2000 racers in IM events now, the occasional error happens where someone is given the wrong bag. If your bag is passed on to someone else who fails to return it, you might be in a world of hurt if you were depending on something in it.

Especially on the bike, it's good to consider objects that might be dropped during the race such as meds, electrolytes, gel flasks, or as Madcow pointed out water bottles if your depending on a special drink not available on the course.

I pack the following (at IM Canada they do NOT return your bags after the race, so I'm a bit frugal with mine):

Bike- an extra gel flask, extra container of electrolyte tabs, a couple of CO2 cannisters, an old tubular, some kind of "treat" (candy bar one year, breakfast cookie one year).

Run- extra gel packs, extra container of electrolyte tabs, an old long-sleeve shirt.

In two races the only thing I've retrieved has been the breakfast cookie the first year.

scott

I meant to say that on the bike I carry two bottles, that is all I need for the race along with water and Endurolytes. I place another bottle in my special needs bag in case I lose a bottle (or both). I haven't stopped at the bike special needs. I don't carry an extra tire nor have I put one in my bag, although there is plety of room for one. I may do that for 2005 in case of a bad flat, although the first 56 miles is pretty smooth.

To be honest last year I used my training Specialized Armadillos during the race, my main goal was to finish. I took some racing tires with me to Florida but decided to play it safe. I've used that brand for training for 2 years with no flats except for the time I creamed a set of railroad tracks.

If you skip the special needs stop on the bike you'll save some time, pass a handful of others all at once (if it matters) and keep your momentum going (IMO most important) .

Ultraflate is a dispenser for your C02 cartridge. I used to use one of those metal screw on valves but had one blow out it's guts. The Ultraflate has worked flawlessly.


Edited by Drinking Buddy 2005-01-26 3:59 PM