[Boyerdavea]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">I am three weeks away and I figure it is about time. Everyone says I need to practice my transitions. So I am going to take this Saturday and practice several times. My plan is to get wet as though I was coming out of the water transition to the bike for 1.5 miles and then to the run for .5 miles. My plan is to do it at least 5 times or until I start to feel a little more comfortable. Does this sound reasonable?</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Now for the newbie coming out in me, how much room will I have between me and the next person to set up my gear? How should I do it? Is there something I should put on the bike and not on the ground? I really have no clue so you help would be greatly appreciated.</span></span>

 

[3chilipeppers]

I don't think you need to practice it 5 times. Once or twice is probably plenty. I practiced the getting wet and getting on the bike transition just once before my first tri, and I was totally fine. I did more bike/run bricks, though, to know that feeling of Jell-o legs.<br><br>
You won't have much room. You might even be set up under your bike, depending on how many people/racks they have. I use a folded up beach towel as my staging area (you need it to dry your feet a bit too). If you have bike shoes, put them closest to you with your socks, sunglasses, and anything else you need on the bike. Then, put your running shoes behind them with your hat, race belt, and whatever else you need for the run. I put my helmet on my aerobars, but you can put it on top of your cycling shoes too. Make sure you have your water bottles on your bike (I drink Gatorade on the bike). Also, have an extra water bottle to use to rinse your feet (sometimes you don't need this, but you never know what you have to run through from the swim)<br><br>
I would also recommend reading this. I got lots of great tips from this article:<br><a href="http://www.trinewbies.com/Article2.asp?ArticleID=38" target="_blank">http://www.trinewbies.com/Article2.asp?ArticleID=38</a><br><br>
Once you do it once or twice, you'll be ready. You just want to practice to make sure you have everything and to work out any glitches. The #1 thing is to know where your bike is when coming in from the swim and the bike, so look at where the entrances and exits are so you don't get turned around. If you can get at the end of a rack, that's even better. I will look at the swim entrance and note if my bike is on the right or left and how many racks over, etc... Then, I'll do the same from the bike entrance (they are often different places, but it depends)<br><br>
Good Luck!

 

[em73]

you will also want to make sure that your bike is in the correct gear. nothing worse than leaving it in a big gear accidentally. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
If you use a super obnoxious bright beach towel, that may help you find your rack if you get disoriented (more of a problem at bigger races). Make sure you put your helmet down such that you put it on correctly (as in, not backwards). Also make sure when you get back to your rack after the bike that you take your helmet off. Every race I've done (all three of them) there's been somebody who tries to leave transition for the run with a helmet on. The volunteers are usually lovely about pointing it out, but it's time and embarassment and throws you off your game a little.<br><br>
wait, if you run in an aero helmet will that make you faster?

 

[RunningForT3]

Good question! Would it also help with the swim?<br><br>
I've seen people in transition with small water bowls to wash their feet. All tris I done had grassy transition areas, so you get grass and mud on your feet. I usually use two small water bottles to wash my feet.<br><br>
I heard it's much better to take the wetsuit off as soon as you get out of the water, not wait until you get to transition (when you're very wet, it slips off very easily).

 

[Boyerdavea]

Thanks for the advice. One more question, as I read through past results I notice some people have recieved penalties! I don't have an official rule book yet, what shouldn't I do to avoid penalties?

 

[Yo Mikey]

<br>
Always best to go to the source!<br><br><a href="http://www.usatriathlon.org/Events/Rules.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.usatriathlon.org/Events/Rules.aspx</a>

 

[3chilipeppers]

Penalties can occur if you get on or off your bike at the wrong place. It is VERY obvious. Just listen to the 10 volunteers yelling at you to go to the line before mounting and dismount before the line, etc... Drafting is another way to get a penalty. Just stay 3 (it might be 2, but better be safe) bike lengths behind someone, and if someone is trying to pass you, drop back. If you pass, you must do it quickly (within 15 secs., I think). Wear your helmet on the bike (pretty easy one). Make sure you have your race number on when you're supposed to (some require it on the bike, some don't). I can't think of any others that might concern you.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

As you are coming out of the water, with water still inside the wetsuit, unzip it down to your waist. It's the water still inside the wetsuit that makes it easier to take it off. You can then finish taking it off at your rack or if your lucky flop down and let the wetsuit stripper do it for you!<br><br>
If you are wearing a wetsuit you DEFINITELY want to practice getting it off more than anything else.

 

[donskiman]

If all you're doing is practicing transitions you don't need to ride or run more than a block. You will likely only have about the width of your body for setting up your area. Lay everything out in the order it will be used. I put my helmet on my aerobars with my sunglasses inside. When I run in from the swim, the first thing I do is put on my sunglasses, then my helmet. While I'm doing this I'm wiping my feet on the towel I place on the ground. I don't use socks and I mount the bike with my shoes already clipped in. However, if you're using socks and/or putting your shoes on, practice doing it as quickly as you can while you're standing. Then it's just a matter of running to the mount like and getting on your bike. Coming back on the bike I take my feet out of my shoes about 100 yards before the dismount line. For me it's easiest to just remove my heels from the shoes, while keeping the rest of my feet in the shoe. Other people take their feet out completely and place them on thop of their shoes. If you're not doing it that way, then simply click out at the dismount line and run in your shoes to your area. After you have racked your bike, take off your helmet. If you ran in your bike shoes, remove them and pull on your running shoes. If you are using a race belt with your number attached, place it in either your helmetif it's required on the bike or in your running shoes if it's only needed for the run. I also wear a cap when running so I place it in my running shoes as well. If you haven't done so, consider using Yankz laces as this allows you to just pull the shoes on and go without the need to tie laces. You can be running through transition with your number belt and fasten it while you're running.<br><br>
The first time you practice, just walk through all the steps. After you know what you're doing, practice it at full speed.<br><br>
If you're using a wetsuit, definitely practice removing it. In my first wetsuit race I wasted a couple minutes struggling to get my wetsuit off. Now I use Pam on all the sticky spots. If you use Pam, remember to wash it off when you get home.<br><br>
What really helped me was a transition clinic our tri club did. Our club has several pros and after watching how fast they did things I was able to greatly improve my speed and techniques. The clinic had people run in from a "swim" area, get ready to bike, bike around a parking lot, get ready to run, then out to the parking lot. One of the pros was able to do the entire thing in less than a minute! He was completely done before some people even had their bike shoes on.<br><br>
Many newbies waste an inordinate amount of time in transition. Don't be one of them!

 

[COcarrie]

This is the area I'm hoping to improve upon this year more than any swim, bike or run times! <img alt="blush.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/blush.gif"><br><br>
Great tips, Don and everyone... thanks!

 

[teacherjen]

One more very important piece of transition advice....and this is for race morning. After you've gotten your bike racked and your stuff set up, actually walk over to where you'll come out of the water, find where the entrace to the transition area is FROM the swim. From there, find the best route to your bike, and find some visuals to help you remember how to quickly find your bike. Next, find the "bike out" exit, the "bike in" entrance, and find how to get to your rack from there (when you come in from the bike leg, the racks will be varying degrees of empty/full, so you need a different clue than "the cool pink bike is next to mine." Finally, find out where the "run out" exit is, so you know which direction to head after you re-rack your bike.

 

[Boyerdavea]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I will hopefully learn something tomorrow to improve my transition time.

 

[jkaiser20]

Hey Thor, he is talking to you! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
After you practice, run through the steps mentally few times. Then run through the steps in you mind for T1 during your last set in the pool. Then run through the steps for T2 in the last few minutes of every bike.<br><br>
Then do the same thing during your race, then execute.<br><br>
Let us know how it went.<br><br>
-Jim

 

[neil donnelly]

Yeah but Dont forgot to add in the extra steps that Thor takes in Transition<br><br>
1 Take off wetsuit<br>
2 Dry body<br>
3 Put on bike kit<br>
4 Have a pizza<br>
5 Have a beer<br>
6 Have a chat to all the other people in Transition<br>
7 Have another beer<br>
8 Run out of T1<br>
9 Give H a kiss (Or anyone else he can find)<br>
10 Now that everyone else in the race has already left and is ahead Ride like the wind and hunt their Arses down and take the lead before T2<br><br>
In T2 Repeat steps as above (Changing Wetsuit for bike and run gear ) And again when everyone else is running chase them all down and come home victorious <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>
Neil

 

[Boyerdavea]

Ok I finished with my transition training today. I did it four times. This is what I did.<br><br>
I set up a container of water to put my feet in to get them wet. I put my bike in a rack with one bike on either side. I laid a towel just to the left of my bike. Placed running shoe to the rear with hat on top upside down so I could just grab it a flip it on. Cycling shoes in front since I can't get my feet in them while they are clipped in. Helmet on Aerobars with glasses on inside and number belt spread accros the handle bars. Small hand towel on top bar and shirt on seat partially rolled with arms holes exposed.<br><br>
T1: Went well for the most part. The only thing I didn't do was wet my body, so I know the shirt will be harder to put on than it was today. Once I accidentally stepped on cycling shoes as I was putting on first sock which sent shoe and other sock flying. Other than that I felt pretty comfortable in T1.<br><br>
T2: As I was coming into the transition area, I used my driveway/road as dismount and mount line. I found it difficult to get out of the shoes. The first two times I just took my heel out of the shoe and then removed foot as I approach line. A little more difficult than I thought, both times I had at least one shoe come unclipped. The thrid and fourth time I took my foot out of the shoe before approaching the line. Worked much better for me. After I racked the bike, I took off helmet, put on hat, and shoes and then grabbed my forerunner 305 which I have mounted on my aerobars. It worked all right. Didn't put on the 305 until I was out of the transition area.<br><br>
Overall I think it worked out all right. Now I think I need to do it again next weekend. I still haven't decided what to wear yet. I have two options:<br><br>
1) Wear my Tri suit. Much quicker in the transition as I don't have to put on a shirt. However, I am not very comfortable in it and haven't swam in it yet, so I don't know how well that will go. It also is uncomfortable while riding in the aero position and not comfortable at all while running.<br><br>
2) Wear tri shorts and cycling shirt. Little slower in transition due to putting on shirt while wet. However, it is much more comfortable while riding and running. Of course I haven't run yet in the cycling shirt, so I don't know how that would go, but the shorts are great.<br><br>
I think I will go with option 2. I would much rather be comfortable and lose a few second in T1. Than uncomfortable and gain a few seconds.<br><br>
Your thoughts?

 

[jkaiser20]

Putting on a shirt while wet is a tough one. Especially when your arms and shoulders are pumped from swimming. This you need to practice.<br><br>
What good is your tri suit if you can't bike or run in it?

 

[Boyerdavea]

Absolutely none! If I would have known it would not be comfortable and rub me in all of the wrong places, I would not have bought it. I may try were something under it so I don't get chaffing on "the package" if that is what I decide to wear.

 

[neil donnelly]

Boyerdavea<br><br>
Roll your t-shirt up from the bottom when wearing it - roll it up as far as it will go and then take it off - when you are wet from the swim put it back on when rolled up (Less material to drag over a wet body ) and then roll it down<br><br>
I have done this a couple of times and it does make it easier<br><br>
Neil

 

[Chris the Wheeler]

Can I throw a wrinkle into this?<br><br>
What about a rainy day. Laying out all that gear just makes for a nightmare when trying to put it on.<br><br>
What does everyone do in the rain?

 

[Stu373]

I use a 5 gallon bucket in transition. It's handy to carry your stuff in ,if you don't have a transition bag, and it doubles as a seat. I get my shoes off and on much quicker if I can sit down.