Hydration System on Tri Bike

I see you posted this in the Gear section also - this is what I posted there...

Congratulations on your new Felt.  I am in the same boat.  My thoughts so far are to use a frame mount aero bottle for races and swap it for a conventional bottle holder for training.  For Sprint and Oly races I dont think I will need any more than 1 bottle on the bike.  Once I start doing longer rides outside again (Its winter here and I am on the trainer now), I may add a rear holder, but just use it for training rides.

While I havent tried one yet, I am not sure I want a bottle mounted on the aero bars.  Not sure I want the straw in my face and not sure if I have enough room with my computer (705) also mounted on the aero bars.  I have also heard some say the straw impacts aero dynamics.

Here is the history of my bike drink solution:

Bike mounted Bottles and Cages - Thought I needed a more areo system with a straw...

Profile Design Aerodrink System - splashes everywhere and then it eventually launched off of my bike durring a race. Good riddens!

Rear mounted Bottles and Cages - Hard to reach bottles while riding and going through aid stations. Impossible to reach bottles in areo. Also, my bottles ejected all the time even with the $50 gorilla cages.
 
Speed Fill Hydration System - Speed Fill is not a bad solution but have decided I do not like sucking out of a tube when hammering.  Also, I do not need that much water on board my bike when aid stations are usually roughly 30 miles apart.

King Cage Top cap cage mount and bike mounted cage - I had to drill the hole in the King Cage a little to get my Top Cap from my Argon 18 E-114 to fit though it but it was easy.  There are now several between aero bar solutions available although I like the King Cage solution because the weight of the bottle goes down your stem and is not on your aero bars. I have realized that I do not need more that 2 bottles on my bike at any one time. I can drink while in aero and and I can easy reach the bottles. The aid stations in long races are roughly 30 miles apart and I can replace my bottle with their sports bottles (1 Gateraid/Poweraid and 1 Water).  I only need one bottle for an Oly and I take the cage off of the bike. I have realized that the easist soluton is the best and anything else just complicates things. YMMV

Things like this are going to depend on what you are comfortable with and the logistics of your training rides and races. (Length, aid stations/water stops.)

I used a Camelbak for most training rides and races 2,3 and 4 (of four.)

My new B16 only has one cage boss and I don't like it.  I plan to put a side entry cage there later, but I bought an AeroHammock for the cockpit and it works great. Versatile too, it can hold many sizes of bottle as well as snacks, electronics, tools, whatever.



-eric

I have used a speedfil for my last 2 olympic races and it worked really well.  i can stay aero and sip any time i want and i keep the straw running parallel to my aero bars when i am not drinking.

Personally I am waiting for the new Torhans system to be available.  It will be out well before next year's season starts.

Take another look at my picture, there's a little gray colored piece of round plastic attached to the left extension and my current computer is mounted on it. They come in black too and in different sizes.  I plan to move on to a 310xt in the future and the same piece will hold the mount for the Garmin no problem.

-eric

5hr sports drink aero bottle on the down tube.  Water in a torpedo.  Replace water on course.  That's my plan.