Preparing Your Bike for Ultraman

Preparing Your Bike for Ultraman World Championships

By David P. Cobb
Ultraman World Championships Co-Race Director

This technical support reader for the Ultraman athletes (and their crews as well), is intended to provide helpful, useful information when preparing for this event. Maybe these tips will help you prevent common mechanical problems and could save you some necessary time so you can get back on your bike and finish within the day’s 12-hour time limit. My sincere wish is for all athletes to finish this stellar event knowing their bike and support equipment was in top shape, and that their equipment was never a limiting factor in achieving their goal.

Have your bike inspected before the race

First and foremost, have your bike thoroughly checked by a competent bike mechanic, preferably at your hometown bike shop, prior to leaving for Hawaii.

This serves two purposes: first, it will identify any major issues that need repair prior to departure, giving you the time to repair any problems found; and second, it gives you that peace of mind in knowing that your bike is ready to go and in top mechanical shape. Always make your mechanic aware of any little thing about which you may have a question; some major problems start out as minor ones that were never addressed in time..

Shifting and Braking

Two of the most overlooked things that can go wrong with a bike are the shifting and braking. Get all shift and brake rotors and cables checked, and replace any that are rusted, frayed, or that do not perform at tip top level. That may also require replacing the cable housing as well, as rusted housing causes cable binding and unwanted friction. Brake and shift housing are specific, so don’t mix them up. Be sure to check the brake rotors, as well, and replace them if there is any doubt about mechanical reliability, or if they are near the “safety zone.” If in doubt, replace the rotors. Make sure you know how to remove the “thru-axle” so you can quickly remove a wheel and change a flat, if needed.

Also, check that the anchor bolts for the front and rear derailleurs are secure and properly oriented, especially with modern 11/12-speed shift systems. Another very important item to check is the alignment of your rear derailleur hanger, as a bent hanger will have a noticeably negative effect on shifting and chain-line throughout the rear cogs and front chain rings. This is even more important in the 11/12-speed systems as the tolerances are so small. This check is best done by a qualified mechanic using a specific tool made for this purpose. This is also a check that may best be performed after your bike arrives in Hawaii, since derailleur hangers are often bent as a result of packing and shipping.

With electrical shifting systems, it is a good idea to arrive in Hawaii with your bike battery at 100%, and to have a spare, charged battery (or two) in your UMWC support kit for the duration of the event.

I recommend starting the race on fresh, new tires, or at least tires that don’t have many miles on them. There are several types of tires that are stronger and more flat-resistant than standard racing tires. The miniscule extra weight of these tires outweighs the advantage of using the thin, racing-type tires and getting repeated flats. Inspect carefully any used tires inside and out for cuts and/or embedded pieces of wire or thorn heads. These sometimes hidden and difficult to find items are the main cause of flats in Hawaii, in my experience. And have at least two pair of spare tires (all pre-glued if you’re using tubulars) with one set already mounted on your spare wheels.

Tires and Wheels

When it comes to clincher tires, my advice is to bring only long-valve spare tubes and avoid using valve extensions at all. Most of the better-quality aero race wheels require more than the standard-length tube valve, so lengths of 48mm or longer (up to 60mm) are encouraged. HED Deep aero and the newer ZIPP and Easton wheels require 80mm to 100mm extensions! If you’re using these types of wheels, make double sure you bring correct spare valve extenders of the required length. Make sure beforehand that all tubes you bring have the correct valve length for the wheels you’ll be using. Bringing just long-valve tubes, however, ensures that you won’t have to deal with valves that are too short for any wheel you use. I would also recommend “powdering” your spares as well. This is easily accomplished by putting all your spare tubes in a freezer bag with a small amount of talcum powder. (And no, don’t put the freezer bags in the freezer!) Then, when and if you need to use them, they are much easier to install and are far less prone to pinching during installation. Putting a small bit of air in the tube just prior to installation, which one can do with one’s mouth, also helps installation and lessens pinch flats. Any good bike mechanic should be able to demonstrate this to you so both you and your crew can breeze through the occasional flat tire.

Derailleur and Drivetrains

With the 11/12-speed drive systems (Campagnolo, Shimano & SRAM), I encourage you to bring a pre-sized spare chain in your bike repair kit. The bike shops in Kona will have spare chains available but obtaining a spare chain on the second day’s long ride around the Hamakua coast, if needed, likely won’t happen in any timely manner. Having a spare chain ready to install, and already at the correct link size, will make emergency repairs, by either your crew or the technical race support staff, much less of a hassle and most assuredly faster. Also, bring a few brand-specific chain pins as well, just in case; or, bring the necessary “master links” specific to each brand’s chain. Make sure the pins are the correct ones for your drive system. Campagnolo and Shimano chain pins are not interchangeable. Nor can a 9-speed chain be used with a 10/11/12-speed drive system, as they are too wide. If you’re using the universal master-link type chains, have a few spare snap-links ready to go, just in case.

Bike chains (and other parts) do not need to be swimming in lubricant in order to work properly. In fact, just the opposite is true. One need only impart a good sheen on the chain in order to provide the necessary lubrication. Anything more will attract more dirt and grime than it repels, and greasy chains are like sandpaper on a bike’s chain rings and cogs. I recommend thoroughly cleaning and degreasing the chain, either by removing and cleaning (which is most thorough) or by cleaning with Simple Green, or non-toxic degreaser cleaner. Once the chain has dried, re-lubricate by putting your lube of choice on a small patch of rag, loosely clamp the rag around the chain, and spin the chain through the lube area by reverse-spinning the crankset. I assure you that this is all the lubrication a chain requires during dry weather riding and, depending on the miles of training one puts in, needs repeating only once or twice a week at most. If riding in wet weather, this should be repeated after every ride, but only after the chain has been cleaned and dried again prior to relubrication. The general rule of thumb is that, if the chain looks wet, it has too much lubrication on it, and the excess should be removed. I personally don’t like or recommend the “wax” based lubricants for Hawaii races because they tend to collect volcanic dust and grime faster than the other premium lubricants. I also don’t recommend using WD-40 as your primary lube because it is very light and volatile and evaporates quickly. It is good for cleaning a chain, however. If you get caught in the rain on Day 1 or Day 2, WD-40 will not last very long at all if you’re using this as your primary chain lubricant..

Because of the wide variety of bikes now, I encourage you to bring a spare seat clamp and/or seat pin specific to your seat post diameter and bike set-up, or a spare seat clamp collar, depending on your brand of bike and its components. These small items are usually one of the items damaged in a crash but are easily replaced if you have one already available. Most of the modern, top-end aero bikes have specific seat tube clamps and other proprietary parts unique to that brand; finding those parts in emergency will likely be impossible. So, bring those types of items in your repair kit and you’ll always have the necessary parts on hand!

To mitigate expenses involved with these items, ask your local bike shop if you can use “on consignment” any of these items you may not already have. That is, have them put on your account in case you have to use them, but if not used, return them in the original packaging and remove from your account. It’s just an idea, and it won’t hurt to ask if you have a good relationship with your local shop. Fellow athletes are also a source to check for these parts. In any event, a bit of pre-planning on these things will go a long way to making your Ultraman World Championships stress-free and successful!

Chain Repair and Maintenance

I recommend bringing several bike-specific spare brake and derailleur cables, just to be on the safe side, even though the Ultraman tech support crew carries them as well. These can be purchased from your local bike shop, or when you get to Kona. Use only stainless-steel cables, unless you’re already using any of the very high-end cable systems with Teflon or other special enhancements, but that choice is up to you.

Other backup items …

Spare bike shoes with cleats already mounted and adjusted. Bring a spare cleat set, just in case.
Spare saddle and seat post.
Replacement front and rear derailleurs
Replacement spokes for any premium race wheels (both drive and non-drive sides)
Replacement battery for bike computers and heart rate monitor (if needed
Replacement hub skewers, front and rear
Replacement chain rings
Spare chargers for your phones, rechargeable headlights and tail-lights
Spare bottle(s) of tire sealant for tubeless tires.

Should you or your race crew have specific questions prior to arrival in Hawaii, feel free to contact me via email at DPCpresto@gmail.com and I will do my best to respond quickly. If I don’t have a good answer, I will find someone who does have an answer. Above all, remember that there is no absolute correct way to accomplish some repairs, or to glue a tire and such. Many mechanics have little tricks and secrets they have learned over the years that make repairs faster, easier, or more secure. You would do well to consider as part of your preparations for UltraMan spending some time with a good mechanic, learning how to take care of things about which you’re unsure. I know my usual fee for this teaching is good beer, and I bet your mechanic would appreciate much the same! Aloha and have a great UltraMan event!

Bike Shops in Kona and around the island: