race day logistics (i.e. how to not look like a newb) (Page 4)

^^^ NO!

You ever checked to see how much you can actually get in a bucket?  It's a heck of alot less than you can get in one of the suitcases you all like to haul around.  My bucket takes up alot less room than a transition bag.  From the car to T1:

Helmet and sunglasses on my head

Bike shoes clipped on my pedals

Running shoes on my feet

Water bottles on bike

Race belt, goggles, towel, wetsuit in bucket hanging from bike cockpit......done, let's race!

And yep, I like to sit before the race, and I sit on my bucket.  Once the race starts, your bag takes up alot more room then my bucket.  Once again, bags are for girls.....men use buckets.

If you take it back to your vehicle, you'll eventually have to go retrieve it again to load up. Sometimes the parking area isn't exactly close to transition. 

As a rule, it's best not to wear anything under the bike shorts. The seams/material in the compression shorts could chafe, especially when wet. I'm guessing you don't have tri shorts yet. I understand your modesty concerns, thank you for thinking of that. For shorter distances you could probably get away with it before chafing sets in. But no way I'd want to try that for anything where you'd be on the bike for a while. Good luck.

Or where the lake is.  That's why they call it a warm up

Buy tri shorts or a tri suit and wear that.

BTW, public nudity has been an instant DQ at every triathlon I've done.

Did I say anything about speed?  Just trying to add some humor.  And it is called the dork disk....

Yes. wear them under the wetsuit.  The drag in the water on tri tops from the pockets isn't really that much either.  Most tri tops are very very form fitting and thus the pockets dont really catch water.

GoodStash - 2012-02-10 10:13 AM I don't care what ya'll think...I'm keeping the bucket, dammit!! After all the stickers I've put on it to make it look like I'm not a newb, I can't just put it in a dark closet now. I guess anyone who is laughing at me behind my back better make sure that I'm not passing them on the course...Because when I do, who looks like the newb then???.

What he SAID! My bro GoodStash showed me the way of the bucket at the JCC Firecracker last July. I've used it ever since.

i'm a no for the bucket. I can compress my tri bag down to pretty much flat and have it under my wheel hanging off of the ground (or close to it). I've had people put their bucket down for a "seat" right in front of my space when changing so they can conveniently reach over and get their stuff vs. placing it in front of their own space. I'm sorry, but in a race i'm not going to be polite and if you get hit by my bike/tire/pedal.. well not my issue.. also have had to knock them out of the way when re-racking my bike because they were carelessly replaced outside of their area and into mine.. sorry, again i'm in a hurry..

keep the stuff in your area to a min.. i fit everything i need on a towel that is no bigger than 12"x18".

good luck and you'll see what works for you and will then modify as time goes on.

I use an old backpack. I keep thinking one of these days I'll splurge and buy a tri-specific pack but so far it's just your average large el cheapo daypack. I can hang stuff like the helmet off of it hand it has 3 compartments plus a smaller one in the front for keys, USAT card, etc.

I like the pack because I can't imagine how else I'd get the bike and all my stuff from parking to transition. Sometimes it's fairly far, and walking the bike while carrying a bucket seems like a lot of trouble. So much easier to ride the bike, plus then there is no chance of forgetting your helmet or shoes. Also it's a good idea to check out the bike to make sure everything is good prior to the race.

I'm not a very experienced triathlete but what I've learned is keep it as simple as possible.

I've been in parking lots for a number of transitions, so asphalt. Also had some gravel. So that might explain it some.

Now having said that, if you need the bucket to sit, then you very likely paced the last section too hard. Also need to work on putting on shoes.

Yours might very well be smaller, but many are rather large. I've been able to put my full transition bag in some. Some have even extended this to the giant Rubbermaid containers for garage or attic storage. I hope we can agree that is way too large.

This is why I bring a laundry bag to carry stuff in.  Fold it a couple times and it becomes my towel to lay everything on.  No clutter at all.

BTW, I haven't seen it in this thread and it is worth mentioning.  If someone brings in a glass bottle to transition I'll personally snitch and get them DQed.  That and nudity are the only instant DQs that I'm aware of.  And, frankly, I'd rather see some old wrinkly naked person than skewer the bottom of my foot on broken glass.

Er, how big is this glass bottle they're trying to change in?

But yes, I agree with you.

Not only have I never participated in a tri with a grassy transition, but I've never SEEN a tri with a grassy transition...Of course, I live in AZ where our "lawn" is all rock.

HA!!!

FYI, this is the buckets.. i'm not knocking people out of the way... yet.. :D

That's good to know.....for a minute I thought you were one of those elusive triathlete ninjas who show up on the internet but can never be found at a race.

I think the point here is that you want to be a neighborly triathlete.  At most tris I've done, there is barely enough space for everyone to fit their bikes on the rack.  Now imagine if everyone brought a bucket (or a big bag) or racked their bike by the handlebars.  There simply would not be enough room for everyone.