You know the title of this thread isn’t
“Aero on an Oligarch’s Budget”
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Didn’t someone recommend this…
The most irritating thing about triathlon, for me, has always been having a flappy number. I did one event that was just permanent marker on your arm and leg, and it was bliss.
Mostly it’s irritation rather than lost watts, I know, but have found a solution without sewing velcro into my tri-suit or spending £30 on a Nopinz race belt. Now race tested. It’s half a thick poly-pocket, closed end up. Sits flat front or back. I just need to cut the elastics down for another 0.0001 W gain.
As the belt was a present and the poly-pocket was going in the bin at work, I think it qualifies as ‘free’. Mind you, the number to go in it won’t be.
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(finally back on topic 
)
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So is it just the weight of it that’s keeping it from flapping?
Love this 
I’ve gotta say, as extortionate as the NoPinz one is… I got one as a gift and love it.
Now I’ve not had much joy with getting velcro on kit to probably pin it down, but it does a great job of staying pretty flat anyway. But the other things I didnt think I’d appreciate quite so much;
- the lack of a buckle which I always found digged in
- the lack of noise. No crinkly, flappy number, or the toggles bouncing off you all the time
- stretchy belt. So much more comfortable, esp on the run.
Remember being at an early season race way back and the guy racking next to me had forgotten his race belt. So he took a pair of scissors to his boxer shorts and re-appropriated the elastic waistband. No buckle, nice and stretchy.
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I reckon mainly it’s the increase in stiffness over just the number but it is just fixed on the belt, it’s not stuck onto my arse in any way.
Buckle on this hasn’t ever bothered me. Belt is stretchy right round. But if I hadn’t already had it I reckon I’d have gone for sewing some thick elastic into a waist loop. Nopinz one looks good - I’m just being tight.
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Guess who’s in last minute ‘oh crap, it’s been flippin ages since i raced and super ages since i did a tri’ mode?!
Laces. Is it worth the faff for a few secs? @Adam i think you were looking at buying some Greepers or something similar for your Alphas (?). Any thoughts?
Until last year I would always have raced with elastic lock laces, but when I tried these with Next Vaporfly 4% at Dawlish last year something didn’t feel right about it. Like they were working against the bounce of shoe somehow??
For the Portland tri a few weeks ago I put the normal laces back in & tied them up in T2. Results show 25 seconds slower than the fastest T2 (57 s v 32s) but I feel like I had a much better run.
Don’t know if anyone else has found this?
Just my 2p & other people may find it different
I’m in the can’t be bothered with the faff camp. I’m not gonna be troubling the fast bods or any podiums so the extra 30 seconds is gonna make little difference to me. Same as i’ll be putting socks on and not risking destroying my feet!
I’ll deffo be in socks. Pre rolled, ready to go, they take mere seconds to put on. Think i’ll probs do the same on the laces the more i think about it.
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I would have run in normal laces for a 70.3 on the basis it makes the shoe a bit more stable. Until the day I did a cold/wet race and discovered I couldn’t move my fingers to tie my shoes. Had to get a volunteer to tie my shoes for me.
These days all my shoes have elastic laces. Haven’t noticed any issues.
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My 4% just fit with laces tied up anyhow.
No need for elastic.
Lock laces in Alphas are shite.
They rub the top of your foot.
You need the ones @leahnp got, as they’re flat.
Tenex? Or something.
Next% deffo need tying properly.
I think the flyknit stretches enough to allow you to rip them on, but doesn’t give enough to allow them to become loose?
If you get my meaning?
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This
Regardless of any triathlon, with all my runners I find where will be comfortable and double knot the laces and only ever tie them again if it comes undone. In a triathlon they’re all sorted and I slip them on.
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Yep. Got the one the ones @leahnp recommend.
Xtenex
Fitted them to Next% and after a bit of adjustment they’re comfy for me.
Same as others have said with 4% I can slip them on laces tied up!
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Aero AF (no I don’t care about the dirt under the saddle!)
Is there any point in having 2 x CO2 if I only have one spare inner tube?
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Yes, one could fail or not be enough to get decent pressure in (especially if you lose a bit) so an extra is always a good idea if you have space.
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I always check race inner tubes inflate & then lightly talc them before deflating & rolling up.
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