Advise from one beginner to another
 

I'm sure others either don't have this issue or know how to combat it. but i read somewhere to put Vaseline on the nose of the saddle. it really didn't click to why to do that until this past Sunday. i did remember the tape the gels to the top tube bit but completely neglected the Vaseline part. i realized why it would be used when i stood out of the saddle for the first time and the nose of my saddle was like Velcro on my tri suit. it was actually quite a nuisance for the climbs. i don't have a dedicated tri bike, so this was on my normal road bike.

It was my first sprint tri on Sunday and cannot wait for my next one. hopefully ill get my fat butt through the run portion faster next time :D

Never heard of that happening (the velcro bit) and I really don't want to put vaseline on my saddle.

Congrats on your first tri! YOU ARE A TRIATHLETE!!!

I am a Clyde, and was wondering why you had gels taped to your top tube on a sprint tri? The only thing I would probably want would be a decent amount of water on the bike, so I wouldn't have to worry about it on the run.

I also only have a road bike, but I don't understand the vaseline use. I have done only one swim/bike brick, and I didn't have any problems with it. What problem did you have? From standing to climb a hill and sitting back down, or any adjustment on the seat?

I always do a gel at the beginning of the bike even in a sprint tri. I realize it's a short race, but I like the little boost I get from it once the adrenaline of starting the bike leg wears off. I think it helps my run too.

Plus, just the act of doing the gel makes me really focus on keeping a nice smooth pedal stroke & getting my breathing under control.

Even a sprint tri is over an hour for most people, so it is still an endurance event. Personally, I have not done a sprint, only a half, and some Olys, but I think a gel is maybe a bit much, but you have to find out what works for you. Even on the Oly's, I don't eat much if any, but I do have gatorade/powerade in my water bottles. I think that is enough calories for me, but again, everyone is different.

I understand the over an hour thing, but on my 40 mile bike rides, I only have water or possibly a gatorade type of drink.

It's a race. I don't need to eat during a 40 mile training ride, but I'm going a lot harder during a race.

I'm trying to figure out what the downside of eating a gel during a sprint tri would be...

to clarify, when i stand out of the saddle to climb sprint etc. the seat nose taps my butt. normally its not an issue because it slides away fine when i am in my normal cycling gear. it was 53 degrees out and maybe my tri suit stayed wet longer. when i got out of the saddle to climb the hills, instead of the saddle of the nose tapping my butt and sliding away it felt like it wanted to grab my suit and it was quite annoying. the tip i read said only put the vaseline on the tip of the nose. not on top or anywhere else. other than that no issues getting out or getting back into the saddle.


as for the gels. i normally dont eat much in the way of gels. my best event is the bike followed by the swim and finally the run. i ate the gels before the run on the bike so i wouldnt eat it during the run. i only wanted a bit of a boost. i am on the large side of being a clyde (5'9" 265 lbs) so ANY boost even if its just mental is good. Again i think i was the largest guy there. taping the gel to the top tube let me rip the top off without using my teeth. made the process much faster so i could return my concentration back to the bike much faster.

+1

i don't eat anything up to a 65 mile ride. just some watered down gatorade.

I'm over 300# and still getting stronger/faster, but even with lots of training, going as hard as I can in the pool nearly has me bonked. I'm exerting pretty hard, and I'm nervous I won't have the energy to ride hard. I haven't done enough two-a-days clearly, but I'm working on that and bricks before the next race (aside from doubling my swim distance). I take a 5 hour energy in T1, and hit the road. On the bike, I had some G2 during the first sprint tri along with 3 gels (overkill). Last race, 2 gels and the G2 again during the ride.