Sprint - Gloves and GUs

Some people use tape, others use a Bento box, others put them in a pocket. If you're going to use gels, whatever works for you is fine.

I've never used gloves in a tri.

I haven't worn gloves in a couple years now.

If you use Poweraid, HEED, or similar, you don't need GUs on the bike at all. I've seen it but not frequently. Mostly it's people using liquid nutrition and not gels.

If you do decide to use a gel, tape just the top part to your bike up by the head tube, then when you pull it off it will already be open!  I use electrical tape.

That's a common trick for folks who use gels: tape the top part that gets ripped off to the top tube of the bike. Then you can just grab the bottom and pull the top off w/ one hand. On longer raced you might see several taped in a row, just tape them on 1 at a time and your ready to go. You really shouldn't need one for a sprint distance though.

 As for gloves, you really don't need those for a sprint either. I've used them during a sprint, but found that they were more trouble than they were worth. I ended up running w/ my gloves once because I forgot to take them off before/during T2, and didn't want to go back to drop them off.

Dave

I'm following along Daniel's path (no cycling shorts - just tri shorts, first).  I don't wear gloves for any of my rides, any more.

I LOVE the electrical tape method. I tried it for a century earlier this year, because the gels wouldn't fit comfortably in my smallish bento with my phone and other stuff, and I'll never go back to using the bento for nutrition.

I like that the tape rips the top off the gel so I don't have to use my teeth, and I love that I don't need to have the bento on my top tube during a race.

I only wear gloves on training rides.

This reminds me of something I saw at my race on Sunday....some dude took Cliff Shot Bloks out of the package and just stuck them, one at a time, to his top tube....LOL....

The guy next to me was watching too and asked the guy if they fall off...he said, yeah, but usually 3-4 stay and I eat those. It was comedy.

Back to the question. I use Gu's and I tape one to the top tube for an Olympic.

For a sprint, or a 30K ride, I would not take one. But that's me. I've seen people with as much as 4 on their bikes for a sprint...so obviously, YMMV.

ETA: And for the gloves....if you are on a Tri Bike or a bike with aero bars, gloves are completely pointless...if you are on a road bike, I would do whatever you are comfortable with and have done in training.....FWIW, I never ride with gloves on either bike. I hate them.

Edited by Fastyellow 2010-07-20 12:07 PM

Thanks to all. 

I was thinking that I could skip the gloves. 

For my longer training rides I usually have a bottle of Cytomax and a bottle of water.  Does that sound good for the Sprint race, or should I double up on the Cytomax?

Thanks again.

jpf

I still tape 1 Gu to the aero bars by the top tab, but first, I make a small cut on the tab so that it is really easy to open one-handed.

As far as gloves, nope, only used them for my first 2 races when the air temp was <40 degrees.  Bar tape with cork is spongy enough for <1 hour of biking, at least for me.  But then again, I spend most time on the aero bars so not a lot of time resting on my hands.

The only time I use gloves is for HIM distance.  Sprints, no way.  Not worth it for a 43 minute bike ride.

Gus. same thing.  I'll have one before the gun goes off at a sprint and I'm good to go with just a water bottle on my bike.  I keep Shotblocks in my bento for the longer distance stuff.  (And Gu in my fuel belt for the run.) 

How long are the other portions of your race?

For my longer training rides I usually have a bottle of Cytomax and a bottle of water.  Does that sound good for the Sprint race, or should I double up on the Cytomax?

I drink about 4oz. of water for a sprint.

YMMV

The swim is 500 yards in the ocean and the run is a 5k on a runway.

Just be careful not to fall, my friend. Gloves are as much about protecting my hands in the event of a fall as they are for comfort while riding. If you haven't already experienced it, let me assure you, picking gravel out of chewed up palms is not fun.

Dave

For me, that would be one bottle of HEED, at most. If I forgot to drink any of it, that would be okay too.

Yeah, for me, I would bring a small bottle of 1/2 Gat and water and I would probably only take a few sips.

Then I would take a few shots of water on the run....

Just make sure that you have a good breakfast and maybe something to eat like a banana about 15-30 minutes before and you will be fine. I'm guessing that is about a 1:40-1:50 finishing time for you? You should be fine with pretty minimal nutrition for that amount of time.

I was about to post something like this, but you beat me to it.  It might be worth risking no gloves for a race, but any other time, wear 'em.  I unfortunately know what Dave is talking about.

Dan

Edited by danimal123 2010-07-20 12:33 PM

Good guess.  That's exactly what I have bracketed for my time.

Several weeks ago I decided gloves actually caused me more trouble then they were worth when training.  I somehow figured out my hands went numb as much or LESS without the gloves.

However, at my Oly this weekend, I stuck them on my aerobars and ended up wearing them.  Why?  So I could wipe away sweat!  Bare hands don't do much, especially when theres nothing to wipe them on afterwards.

I am kicking myself for not tossing a bandana in my jersey pocket for the run for the same reason.  Sweaty eyes did not help things any.

So gloves if it is cool or really hot.

Note:  I am on a hybrid MTB and do not have anything remotely absorbent on my handlebars.

-eric 

At that distance I'd do 1 24oz water bottle with 2 scoops of HEED. About 200 calories and I wouldn't feel badly if I didn't finish it.

Sprint distance: < 18 miles on the bike, just cytomax.  18 or more I take a gel about 10-15 minutes before the end of the bike, that way its in my system and ready for the 5K.  This only if its an important race for me (well.. I guess all of them really are important). 

International distance:  one gel on the bike, one on my race belt for mile 4 on the run.

Gloves:  never in a race, any distance.


My motto :  "Race to Place!!"  Go Go Go!!!!

x3

Gloves also protect from traction loss due to sweat AND they prolong the life of your bartape (gloves are washable, tape is not...not really, anyway).

I didn't wear them for my sprint races, but I always wear them for training rides or longer distances.

I also don't use nutrition during a sprint, just water.  If it's super hot, I'll probably have some type electrolyte solution, but it rarely gets super hot here so I haven't had to worry about it yet.

I always have a gu taped to my top tube if I think I may need it.

I never wear bike gloves in a race.

gu or hammer gel taped on tube? yes!

wear gloves in a sprint? never