by J.P. Partland
(Over 20 years racing experience, over 15 years writing experience, author of three books on cycling, most recently Tour Fever, been helping others ever since I was asked)
With the start of road racing season, it's time to visit the most chaotic part of long races. The feed zone. Even when they're placed on climbs, they can be confusing. When a feed is on a flat or slight descent, they can be hairy.
First, let's start with a good post I found on the calcycling.org website a few years back.
"Depending on the length of your race, you may or may not have a feed zone. Here you can reload on water and fuel. [Quick tip: you can close the top of your feed bottle onto the top tab of a gel. That way, it will get both "food" and water at the same time. Not to mention as soon as you tear away the gel, it "automatically" opens. Threaded bottle tops work the best.] When you cruise into the feed zone (usually up a slight incline to keep the pace sane). Toss your bottles in the general vicinity of your feeder. Don't do the TdF "Fox1! Fox 1!" launch at your feeder's head. Grab your bottle, put it into the cage and continue. Whatever you do, do not attack in the feed zone. There is no written rule to not do it, but it just makes you out to be a real dick weed. You can make people bleed elsewhere in the course. Don't eat the food right away if there is a climb or some chump attacks, try to nibble on something later on a descent or flat section.
As a feeder, you're going to see some mass insanity going on in the feed zone. Do not get into the street to see where your feed is. Stay put near the side of the road and wait ‘till you have to get out there. If not, you're just getting in the way. What's worse, don't just stick the bottle out there, that really gets in the way. You could get it taken by another rider or even batted down..."Hey the bottle was out there, could have been for anybody..." or "The f-ckin' thing was in the goddamn way!!!" The way you hand off a bottle is you firmly grab the bottle over the mouth in an overhand fashion. This maximizes the target area for the rider. Have your body facing the rider so you have your arm extended toward the rider so that as they pass, you can swing your arm with the rider (lead the rider). This allows the bottle to match speeds with the rider and makes the feed a lot easier to grab. Release the bottle as soon as you feel it start to pull out of your hand. The worst thing you can do is run toward the riders down the middle of the street, KungFuGrip the bottle by the bottom section and stiff-arm it into your feed. You'll definitely get beat for that. I'll hunt you down like a dog and beat you myself."
Further thoughts:
- Have an agreement of where the feeder will be before the race starts. I like to think of the feed zone in three sections; beginning, middle, and end.
- Have the feeder wear something you can easily pick out of a crowd. Wearing a team jersey is popular, though anything loud will do.
- Toss the empty bottle so it will land just past the feeder's feet. They might need to re-use bottles (pros don't reuse, but we're not pro yet).
- f the feeder is handing up to more than one person, give them a musette bag to wear over their shoulder so they have extra bottles handy.
- If the feeder is handing up to more than one person, don't get picky about what you get in the bottles. Take what's offered and don't complain.
- If you're not going to take a bottle, let the feeder know as you're passing so they're not anxiously waiting for you after the field passes.
- If the feeder is helping multiple riders, make sure you are not immediately in front or behind another rider who is getting help from the same feeder; it is the job of the person immediately behind to realize this problem. Being immediately behind is a good way to get nothing, and you'll have only yourself to blame. If you see your teammate immediately in front of you, let a rider or two get in between.
- The rider directs the feeder where they want the bottle held. Generally, this means holding your hand almost straight out in front of you at a height you want the feeder to hold the bottle. In slow feed zones you don't need to be very careful, but in fast feed zones (Harriman is fast) I think it's best to have your hand in a position so that if you don't grab it perfectly, the bottle is likely to hit your chest, which gives you a second chance to clutch it.
- Do not take on food at the feed zone. Carry all the food you need in your pockets; the race isn't so long that you'll be weighed down.
- Do not swerve in the feed zone. People will be paying attention to so many different things, that safe riding is essential. That swerve could take someone down, including yourself.
- Unless the next feed is 40 miles away and the day is brutally hot, do not use musette bags. I've seen too many feed zone crashes thanks to musettes.
- Skip the gel packet in bottle advice from Cal cycling. Too complex. Carry all the gels you need. And carry the spent wrappers in your pockets (littering is a violation of USAC rules)
- If you're going to use more than one serving of gel, use a flask. Easier to work, less mess, and you can carry up to six servings.
- Sometimes, you need to wave with bottle in hand and yell when approaching.
- Put your initials or your name on your bottles so they can more easily be identified after the race
- Thank the feeder profusely, even if they screwed up.
- Thank the promoters, even if they screwed up. There aren't enough long road races.
For the feeder, the big thing after making sure you're standing in the right place, having bottles in hand, and then meeting the oncoming riders extended hand is letting go quickly and getting ready with a second bottle - most people aren't feeding just one person in a peloton. Have the extra bottles, if you need them at the ready on one of your hips (musette bag, or cycling jersey worn backwards), in a position where you can grab it quickly. Don't let the riders get picky. It's best if they all have the same thing to drink, though I'm sure people won't object if they accidentally get a caffeinated drink the last lap.
For the purposes of feed zones, there are three kinds of drinks. Water, Sugar, and Coke (better be fizz-free, or the hand up should be in the container it came in). If you've got one thing in hand and one of your racers is foolish enough to ask for another, don't give the other. You won't have time to switch unless you're really good. Jackass racers will give inexperienced feeders instructions like: First lap water, 2nd lap Cyto, third lap Gator, fourth Coke. This is bad for everyone unless the feeder is a pro soigneur, and for the most part, these guys won't bother with the details - they give what they think is right. Keep it simple.
People can feed participants in multiple races; there is usually no moment when two or more fields will pass the feed zone together. If you're in the feed zone, you'll probably be asked to help others. It's up to the individual if they can handle it or not. Some people want to nap, run, or read interrupted in between laps. Some don't want that much chaos in their lives. Generally, the lower categories are crazier than the upper. It's generally because in the lower cats, both the feeders and racers are less experienced.
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