My hydration plan is to start with 2x550ml bottles with carb, and 2.5l of electrolyte on lap 1, swap bottles like for like at my drop bag, but bump the bladder up to my 3l that will start as a slushy for lap 2. That worked out really well for me a couple of weeks ago when the back half of my 4 hour ride was a sustained 110° F. Doing a pull on a still very cold hydro pack was rejuvenating. (insulated tubing for the win.)
I’m doing the 100 and it will be my first MTB race. I’m primarily an endurance runner (just did Broken Arrow Triple Crown up there last month) but for a bike race I’m not familiar with aid stations and timing.
My plan was to keep three 620ml bottles on me, two for fuel and electrolytes (Gatorade + Spring + PH 1500) and one with plain water, and refill them at all aid stations. I also have a USWE 2l but have not ever worn it riding (just came in, but having that plus bottles I’m refilling at 5 aid stations per lap seemed overkill. I am a heavy sweater, but assume I’m going to be near an aid station at least once an hour, so having 1.8l of water available per hour seemed doable.
I’m assuming that some of the other posters for the Tahoe 100 skip aid stations and that’s why they are carrying bottles and a bladder, or am I missing something? Any insights I’m not thinking of are appreciated.
I’m sure you know this from running, but best practice is nothing new on race day. As far as aid stations, the fast riders won’t stop and will most likely get bottle handups or a hydration pack swap from their crew. Riders simply trying to complete the ride may stop at every aid station. There are quite a few aid stations at this race and I think planning to stop at each one is overkill.
Great job out there! I think I finished right in front of you and we were seeing each other back and forth the last couple hours (I had a blue/green sun hoodie and white POC helmet).
I was not sure I’d make the time cut for lap two, as there was a bit of confusion on the cutoff time for me. Athlete brief via email said 8:15, but pre-race brief they said course closed at 3:00, making it 8 hours.
It was a hard day out on the trail for me, but I made it. I ended up using three 21oz bottles with fuel and electrolytes, and a 2l bladder with 1l of water in it. I then filled the bladder with about 1.5l of cold water at trans, and then just filled all 2l of it on that second lap at aid stations as I needed it. I’m used to running and being very thirsty when it’s hot, but on 6+ hour ultras I can easily drink to much plain water that sits in my gut and it sucks. On the bike, I had no issues with that
I only did the 50k and I had a rough day as well. Did basically everything for nutrition and pacing that I did at the Truckee Tahoe Gravel race two weeks ago. That race went great for me, but today I didn’t make it 25k before the wheels came off. Cramping so bad I could basically only put out 100ish watts on the last two climbs.
Made for a very slow death march up the final climb.
I only did the 50K…goal time was 3:00 and I came in at 3:00.28…was a few minutes faster than last year. Was 4th in the 50-59 AG. My team mate won the AG with a 2:38. Every time I race this event I wonder why the hell am I doing this? Nobody has ever said the Tahoe Trail course is fun or awesome…its just a dusty grind.
Yep even using the Saturday morning app I had some twinges that called for salt stick.
After the first climb of lap 2 I didn’t want electrolytes or carb drink, but I slugged it down knowing that I could get water at the aid station. That helped a lot. Garmin head unit said max Temp was 113
Yep you are a better descender than I am and I think you finally gapped me for good on the 2nd to last descent (after that last aid station we both stopped at) I think that’s the last place I had anything to eat too.
Had a pretty good day out there, executed my pacing and nutrition well. Happy with the bike setup and experienced no issues. 1 roctane at the start and then skratch high carb in a pack for the race. Goals were silver corral, top 5 age cat and a leadville coin. Finished just outside of silver, outside of top 10, and no coin! Just have to get faster. For some reason the 40-49 age group was huge (100 racers out of 369 total in the 100k) and pretty competitive. I would have gotten well within top 10 in the younger age group or 2nd in the next older. I actually enjoyed the course and thought it was a good design that fit the size and intent of the race.
Leadville Race Series qualifying events are a great way to earn a spot in the race, offering between 30-50 slots at each event. Each Leadville Race Series qualifier provides slots to the LT100 MTB, based on the total number of registered riders at each qualifier event. Half of the qualifying spots will be allocated based on the top age-group performances and half will be drawn in a lottery among riders who have finished the qualifier race within the allocated cutoff time. The number of slots is up to the discretion of the Leadville Race Series Team and varies by event size.
I had a pretty good race, despite cramping at mile 53. Slogged down some electrolytes in my pocket (2 Nuun tabs), took a swig of water, and my cramp went away. It was scary when it hit, I was wondering if I could even finish the race because my leg wasn’t working. After cramps I was power limited to about 220W, whereas I was holding about 270 pretty well on other climbs. Finished just under 5:12, next year I want to finish under 5:00. 26th in age group, which I was hoping to do better but the guy that beat me was a way better rider, I could just tell by the way he was so relaxed in front of me… so no regrets, I have a lot to learn.
Every time I race this race I realize I need to lose about 15 lbs. This is a climbers race which is what makes it so fun.
My bike handling also sucked really bad. I was holding people up on the single track. Luckily there wasn’t much. That’s what I get for pretty much not riding MTB all year until 3 weeks ago…
