Launching my straws!

Are you putting it in the little straw hole and not the big refill/sponge hole?

I've launched the straw too.  Who would have thought Home Depot can double as a tri shop?  I went and replaced both types of tubing.  Initially my thought was the same as yours, just get tubing and do 1 straw and not worry about the bottom and top issue.  However, I realized very quickly why there are 2 peices of straw as I was drinking out of the 1 straw set-up I hit a bump and nearly impaled myself on the straw!  At least with the 2-half set-up the straw part that is in your mouth is softer a.k.a. less likely to impale yourself.  I tried using the softer straw by itself, but it was too flimsy.

My solution was to put the softer tubing all the way down on the first straw until it hits the base of the bottle, this way the straws overlap a lot more.  Does that make sense?

I was sort of thinking the same thing.  I can't think about how it's possible for the straw to fall out unless you're biking upside down. 

If it is falling out of the small hole, You could insert the straw, then reach in side and wrap a rubber band around it a couple times to keep it from coming out...  There are a couple other ideas I have if that doesn't solve it.

Awesome, thanks Abbie!  I'm so glad I'm not the only one-- I just KNEW some BT-er had to have the answer.  

And yes, for everyone else, I am launching the straws out of the small holes, not the main one.  

Try having it happen at mile 10 of your Ironman!  I experienced it during IMKY.  I pulled the harder straw out as far as I could but needed to make sure I was filling my aerobottle at every aid station, because I couldn't reach the bottom of the bottle with the straw.

I need to make a trip out to HD to get some tubing that will work, and I really like the idea of the rubber band on the straw.

Before the bumpy bridge:  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=80670

After the bumpy bridge:  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=80672
 

The new profile design aerobottles have lids on them that are great improvement. The lid has two pieces and it is easy to loose the little inside piece which has cut in a sort of star shape so you can fill on the go. I have the two chamber version and lost the whole lid prior to IM. I called and they don't have replacement parts available yet but will. They sent me free a replacement from their samples.

I then lost the inside circle part and tried making a replacement with sponge which didn't work. I ended up at a craft store buying 8x11 peice of thin foam and was able to cut a peice to match and then stick it on the pokey part to get it to attach. I do think this is the flaw in the product but 1000x better than the orginal ones without a lid.