General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Aid stations on the bike... Rss Feed  
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2005-01-29 9:03 PM

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Expert
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Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Subject: Aid stations on the bike...
Alright, here's a question for all you experienced triathletes. When on the bike and coming into an aid station, how are the handoffs done? For example, do they give out full bottles of drink (water or energy drink) or just cups, do you have to stop? Not having been in any endurance cycling races, I was wondering how this was accomplished at most triathlons, olympic and up.

Thanx for the info.

Adios
Dave


2005-01-29 9:08 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Elite
3498
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Chicago
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...

All the triathlon's I've raced in have all been water bottle hand offs on the bike with either gatorade (or whomever they're using) or water.  I always have 2 cages on my bike with 1 bottle I don't mind tossing so when the aid station comes I toss my own water bottle and replace it with theirs.

Except on the 1/2 IM where I had an aero drink bottle upfront.  In that case, whenever I got a water bottle from the aid station I kept both of my water bottles on my frame and just dumped the contents of the aid station water bottle into my aero drink bottle between my aero bars.

From Sprint on up to 1/2 IM I've had bike aid stations at every race.

They also hand out gels and bananas and pretzles, etc on the bike course if the race length/sponsorship $$$ allows for this.

2005-01-29 9:51 PM
in reply to: #110171

Champion
8903
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Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Usually they try to do it on a steep uphill section of the course, so you are going slow enough to grab the bottle. Some events will give you a regular water bottle like you get at the store, not a cycling bottle and they don't often fit in your cages. A couple of times I've been in races where they hand up a regular bike water bottle, but they ask that you drop off an empty one before they will hand you a full replacement. With this in mind, you might consider carrying an old bottle or two, something you don't mind losing. I take non-descript bottles and don't use the ones that I get in my races with the race logo on it. I only did this after last summer when I was carrying a bottle from the Timberman 1/2 IM in my cage, and it bounced out when I hit a large bump. I never did recover it!

2005-01-29 11:02 PM
in reply to: #110176

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Elite
3235
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San Diego
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Steve,
You have had water stations in a sprint race? Where were they located, every 100 feet
2005-01-29 11:35 PM
in reply to: #110211

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Elite
3498
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Chicago
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...

madcow - 2005-01-29 10:02 PM Steve, You have had water stations in a sprint race? Where were they located, every 100 feet

LOL!  You're too funny.  The sprint races typically had only 1 bike aid station (at the mid point).

2005-01-30 12:27 AM
in reply to: #110171

Elite
2458
20001001001001002525
Livingston, MT
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Two races, one sprint, one Oly, never seen a bike station


2005-01-30 12:08 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Master
1661
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Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Chucky, remember those guys giving out gatorade bottles at about mile 15 of the LA tri?  That was the aid station. They gave out the Gatorade bottles with the squeeze top.  I had an old water bottle to throw away but the Gatorade bottles aren't keepers so you do wind up loosing one.  Race enough and you won't mind tossing some.  I remember being young and stupid and actually going to the bike store to buy bottles.  Ugh.
2005-01-30 6:53 PM
in reply to: #110302

Elite
2458
20001001001001002525
Livingston, MT
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
PGoldberger - 2005-01-30 9:08 AM

Chucky, remember those guys giving out gatorade bottles at about mile 15 of the LA tri?  That was the aid station. They gave out the Gatorade bottles with the squeeze top.  I had an old water bottle to throw away but the Gatorade bottles aren't keepers so you do wind up loosing one.  Race enough and you won't mind tossing some.  I remember being young and stupid and actually going to the bike store to buy bottles.  Ugh.


Dude, I totally missed out on that aid station. I didn't see it. I must have been in "the zone". bahahahahaha

2005-01-30 9:43 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Champion
4902
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Ottawa, Ontario
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...

So far I've only done sprint triathlons and there were no aid stations during the cycling leg.  I had a bottle of water on my bike; that's all I needed for such a short cycle leg (20 Kms).

2005-01-30 10:06 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Master
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Sonoma County, CA
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
I have SO been doing the wrong triathlons!!!!

I don't GET bike aid stations on my events....done sprints and oly's....

but, alas, this year is wildflower oly and vineman 1/2 ironman so I'm crossing my fingers I'll have the chance....

Gads, does this mean I have to add *another* component to my training??? How to do the water bottle handoff???

2005-01-30 10:11 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Master
1661
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Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Vineman they pass you gallon jugs of wine.  Soooo much more interesting.


2005-01-31 7:42 AM
in reply to: #110171

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Expert
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Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Thanx for all the replies.

Dave
2005-01-31 12:11 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Regular
96
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Quick word of advice, I have a 70 / 30 chance of actually "catching" the bottle when I am going through the aid station. Because of this I try to grab a bottle from the first person at the station, that way if I drop it I can try to get another near the end of the station. Keep in mind if you are tossing an empty botttle, it has to be close to the aid station to avoid a penalty.
2005-01-31 12:19 PM
in reply to: #110171

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molto veloce mama
9311
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Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
at my first sprint there was a water station...only no bottles, just those tiny cups. i had a bottle on the bike and was feeling fine, but i thought 'why not?'. on my first attempt, i managed to hit the cup, sending water everywhere. embarrassed, but determined, i tried again and managed to grab the cup. most of the water spilled out, but darnit, i'd managed to grab it! anyway, from now i'll be sticking to the bottles on my bike
2005-01-31 1:32 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Master
1661
10005001002525
Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
If you are going to get a bottle make sure the person at the aid station knows your intent. Point to him, make eye contact make sure you are on the same wavelenght. You'll already be coasting, then take your hand of the bars and hold it out giving the aid station person a target to give you the bottle. It should hit your hand hard and then you grab it. Plan on tossing the empty bottle at the beginning of the aid station so you have an empty cage ready to go. Voila, you just made a successful hand off.
2005-01-31 3:03 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Master
4101
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Denver
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
Whats the best way to work the corkscrew while riding for the jugs of wine in the Vineman?


2005-01-31 3:57 PM
in reply to: #110171

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Master
1661
10005001002525
Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: Aid stations on the bike...
The good jugs are screw top. Unscrew top and emptry into your aerobar bottle and away you go.
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