Set Up Your Bike Like The Pros
- By Aaron Hersh
- Published Jul 22, 2011
- Updated Jul 22, 2011 at 3:30 PM UTC
Chrissie Wellington and eight more of the world’s fastest triathletes share their race-day bike set-up secrets.
We asked top pro triathletes how they ensure their bike is fast and reliable on race day. Olympians, a Kona champ, 70.3 world champ, Ironman winners and other great professional triathletes shared the habits, secrets and quirks they rely upon to get their bike through a race as fast as possible without any mechanical breakdowns.
Chrissie Wellington
Photo: Steve Godwin
“To keep your stomach from acting up on race day, avoid over-hydrating or overeating before the race the days before the race. I cut down on fiber and rich foods about three days out to reduce the likelihood of GI distress. Instead of eating adventurous foods, I stick to plain items including pasta, bread and rice. Avoid eating anything new in race week, including the enticing free food samples available at the pre-race expo. Once on the bike, wait until you have settled into a rhythm before taking in nutrition or hydration.”
Chrissie is the most dominant Ironman athlete on the planet. She owns three world championships, the iron-distance world record of 8:18 and has never lost at the distance. Chrissiewellington.org
FILED UNDER: Features TAGS: bike setup / bike tips
Aaron Hersh
Aaron Hersh is the Senior Tech Editor of Triathlete magazine. To submit a question, write Aaron at Ahersh@competitorgroup.com.