How many bottles to carry on bike during IM

Every ten miles, the first at mile 10 (at least for Silverman).  Plan on pitching a couple.  Cheap ones can be had at Target or WalMart.

x2

PS. haven't done an IM but that's my plan next year

Frick, that makes sense.  I wanted to bring infinit, so I would need a couple cages and the aero bottle.  But one and one make sense and drink what they give me.

Do you bring any other form of nutrition?

x 1.5 

My race setup:
- AeroDrink = Gatorade
- 1 Cage = water

I don't see the need to carry around any more weight than that.

I used Infinit and just carry two bottles in my frame cages.  First bottle I make normal strength and the second one double strength.  Drink the first one and then pitch it at an aid station, rack a water bottle.  Start on the second Infinit and chase with the water.

I also had the same set up at special needs; 1 normal strength bottle and one double.

You could make the second bottle really concentrated and not worry about special needs, just keep getting water to chase it or if you used your aerodrink you can fill that with water at the aid stations and squirt the concentrate in it so the aero is the right strength.

For IM Wisconsin I used Infinit.  So I took 2 bottles in the rear cages and a full Aero Drink.  I had 3 bottles waiting in special needs as a fill up.  I had the frame cage open in case I grabbed a water (which I didn't).

If you're using the course, start out with the AD full and one in the rear just in case. 

Me too. . plus bento box with gels in it and salt tablets.  that is it for me though. 

 aerodrink (water) + 1 bottle (perpetuem).

and another bottle (perpetuem powder) in the special needs bag. I'll add cold/fresh water to that bottle when I get it so it's not sitting around and getting warm.

-ak-

I vote to carry as little stuff as you can manage.  Water is freaking heavy!

I only have one frame bottle and I am going to use a Neverreach for water.  I won't even start with the Neverreach full.

The only problem with my setup is that I will HAVE to get my special needs bag to get the rest of my nutrition....which is a little scary if you ask me.

I trained with what was on the course and knew the first aid station was about 7 miles from transition after a nice long hill. I had about 1/2 aero bottle full Gatorade and a 1/2 bottle of water and then picked up more gatorade next aid station.

Why carry extra weight when you can get some soon...just make it so you don't run out.

Here's mine.

Aerobottle---Infinit

Behind the seat bottles---Double strength Infinit. Squirt half bottle in Aero at a time, and half bottle of water from the course.  This way, bike is always getting lighter. YEA!

ALSO:  Since I'm using HAMMER GEL on the run, I'm strapping on a flask of HAMMER GEL to use 

IF.....I run out of INFINIT and switch to JUST WATER.

OR....Loose rear Infinit bottles and still need nutrition.  THEN my tummy will already be ready for it's run nutrition.

Don't wanna use INFINIT on run, cause I don't wanna carry heavy fluid container(s), or stop for SPECIAL NEEDS.  Just gonna carry HAMMER flasks on run...much lighter.

my 2 cents

One.  That's it.  Fully course supported other than gel flask.

You guys are making it way too complicated ..................