race day logistics (i.e. how to not look like a newb) (Page 2)

Love the curious george towel next to you. 

I like to call that "this towel is too big".  That was just redonkulus.

Left Brain - 2012-02-09 4:53 PM You'll notice socks in both pictures.....a sure sign of noobiness.

x2.  (not pink)

Left Brain - 2012-02-09 3:53 PM You'll notice socks in both pictures.....a sure sign of noobiness.

Not my pic.  I don't use socks unless the run is over 10 miles.

1. BikerGrrls' transition set up is the right size.  Don't spread out a beach towel.  I wouldn't fault you for the bucket, but really...a backpack is fine. Keep it simple. Don't bring crap you don't need.

2.  Get there EARLY.  The race instructions should tell you when transition opens and closes.  They generally will get everyone OUT of transition area before the waves go off, so there aren't people milling about while the first wave of swimmers comes racing through.  Do NOT be the jerk who shows up 10 minutes before transition closes and thinks they are going to move other people's stuff out of the way to make a transition space.  Please do NOT move anyone else's stuff.

3.  Agree for sure on checking the ins/outs of the transitions. Figure out where you will come in from the swim, where you exit/enter from the bike, where you exit for the run.

4. Thank a volunteer.

5. Have fun!

Avoid using trays or buckets full of water to rise your feet off in T1. A towel does a great job getting the sand or dirt off.

Find a nearby landmark (tree, sign, building) and use it to help guide you running into transition. This will keep you from missing your transition spot and looking like a newbie. During my first year of triathlon I counted racks from what I thought was going to be the swim finish. I ran into transition thinking someone had run off with my bike. If I had used a landmark I wouldn't have had this problem.

Sure, I guess that could work. But I do what other crafty veterans do--simply attach a mylar balloon to the rack to mark the location of your bike. Works great for both t1 and t2.

I see that the center bike is racked by its handlebars and the two adjacent bikes are racked by their seat. Are you supposed to alternate? Or does each person rack by the way they want to pull out their bike to get going?

Good question....

Generally, the bikes alternate...one on one side of the rack, the next on the other side.  Doesn't really matter if you rack by your handlebars or your seat...what counts is where the wheel is on the ground (if you rack by the bars, your rear wheel will be on the ground, if you rack by the seat, your front wheel will be on the ground).   Your stuff (the little towel--and that orange one *could* be folded in a couple of inches on either side) will go on the side of the rack that is the same as the wheel that is on the ground.

Another thing....if you rack by the seat, and the bike racks are crowded (some races will cram in 8 or more bikes per rack)...when you return, try to rack it by the seat again....because if you rack it by the bars, you might be taking space that you didn't have before the bike leg.

Socks, mismatching water bottles, and a target bag?

Total Noob! 

How much water does one need for an Oly??  

Complete noob!!!

I'll take my bucket any day!

Total noob here...Totally have been rocking the bucket

I had no idea I was be laughed at behind my back...Some guy told me he did it and it made sense to me so I started doing it too. Even have stickers from past races on it. Damn...total dork.

Oh, well...I kind of dig the bucket. Thanks for ruining a good thing, guys! Lol!!

What???

You're going to give up the bucket because  the likes of DanielG, Shane, and Lisa say it makes you look like a dork?  Dude.....have you read THEIR posts???  C'mon......just look at their profile pics!!!  EVERYONE laughs at them when they show up. 

Stand your ground dammit!!!  Bikergrrrl thinks your a dork and she rides a bike with drop handlebars, wears socks, and needs two water bottles to finish 24 miles of bike riding.  pgaMike is backpedaling so fast he's trying to make you think he just found his sock wearing picture floating in space.

2453V has caved before his first race.....he'll ALWAYS be a noob.  KiterChick sits on the ground....well.....of course she does.

axteraa....don't think I forgot you, but let's face it, you're from Canada, your opinion has limited value.

Musicodm......did you see HER pic??  Who needs a bucket more than her???  If I saw her I'd be like, "here, use my bucket".

Look......embrace the bucket my brother!!!!!!!

My orange Home Depot bucket sits where Bikergrrl's backpack sits in her picture. Everything else in my transition area is the same as hers. Except I face my shoes the opposite way since I'm sitting on my bucket when I put them on. My wetsuit, if I'm wearing one, goes into the bucket during T1.

I hang the bucket off one side of the handlebars when I'm taking the bike into and out of the transition area. Pump up my tires at the van unless I have to rack my bike the night before. Then I take the pump back to the van the morning of the race after the tires are full.

All my stuff (bike helmet, bike shoes, bike gloves, running shoes, race belt, nourishment, hydration, flashlight - since it's always dark when I'm setting up) fits into one bucket. My bucket is smaller than a backpack, my dive bag or my gymbag.

At my age, I kind of like being looked at as a newby. Oh yeah, I am a newby.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until wikileaks, no one even knew what my transition area looks like.

Seriously though, the bucket is the

of triathlon.

Wait... that's a good point... I suppose you do need to put your wet wetsuit somewhere don't you...  Its amazing how many obvious things I haven't thought about.  Thats wetsuit thing though is making me think the bucket may be an even better idea than I originally thought.  (and no I'm not changing my mind because Left Brain told me to!)  As a carrying method and a seat it seemed like a good idea, though not all that necessary, but you do have to put a wet wetsuit somewhere, and a bucket being that it was designed to hold water will keep the wetsuit all nicely contained wont it.  I like the sticker idea too.  Can't be a Noob with a bucket covered in race stickers now can you! 

Who knew that buckets could be as controversial as flip turns, showers, and crossfit!

Now Ill just need to find a nice big Mylar balloon!