General Discussion Triathlon Talk » First Triathlon - Transition Question Rss Feed  
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2016-04-04 5:50 PM


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Subject: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Hey all, so I am getting ready for my first triathlon which is a local sprint involving a pool swim. I am currently using a Garmin 910xt to track my training. I wanted to wear it during my swim mostly just for timing/pacing purposes and then was thinking of moving it to my bike in T1. I don't have a quick release and all I have is the rubber handle bar mount. Do you think it would be a waste of time to fiddle with trying to mount it on that vs just keeping it on my wrist. Clearly it wouldn't be as convenient for the bike portion to be able to see my HR and speed.


2016-04-04 5:55 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
If you're riding a TT bike, you can turn the watch face inward (inside of your wrist) and it's easier to see (when you're in aero position).

Just a thought.
2016-04-04 8:59 PM
in reply to: #5175357


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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Are you going to be looking at the watch while swimming for pacing? Seems a bit inefficient. I would just leave it on the bike.
2016-04-04 9:23 PM
in reply to: davejustdave


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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Just riding a regular road bike so no aero position.

I would like wear it during the swim because i wouldnt mind having some of the data at the end of the race, but i would probably wnt to take a quick peak at it after each of my 100s to be sure I am on my planned pace - again this is my first race and I on,y just started swimming for distance and time a few months ago (grew up swimming but just for fun) so I wont be just swimming the whole distance in one continuous effort.

Thanks for the help guys. Looking forward to making the jump into tris
2016-04-04 10:18 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Leave it on your wrist. You'll be able to look during the bike. Practice a few times to see if it works for you on the bike. I don't love using my 910 on the bike vs a computer but it's doable. Have fun in your first race
2016-04-05 8:55 AM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Personally I'd leave it on the bike as well. Pool swims all are typically less than 400 units, so at most you are going to get three opportunities to see the split.

If you are going to check your pace after each 100 (which may annoy the swimmer behind you because you keep stopping, but that is their issue I guess), what are you going to do with the information? If you are ahead of pace are you going to slow down, even if you are feeling great? Conversely, if you are lagging behind pace and hurting, are you going to try to speed up more? In both cases I would say no. If the feedback isn't giving you useful information in real-time, then it isn't a helpful feedback and has become a distraction instead.

The same thought goes for wanting the swim split once you are done. If it is faster than you expected, are you going to bike or run more passively? Of course not. If the split is slow, are you going to then go pound on your bike to make up the lost time? That's not a great idea either. Every race I've done has splits by event, so it's not like you will never know your swim split (although I will admit that some races combine T1 in there a little, which can throw the number off).

Information is great, but ESPECIALLY in your first race make sure that you aren't overly complicating things. Mount the watch on your bike mount before the race and enjoy your swim


2016-04-05 9:25 AM
in reply to: CycloneVM


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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Thanks for the feedback everyone, great points Cyclone. I think I will just try seeing if it is annoying to keep it on my wrist while biking (then I wouldn't need to remove it in T2) and if it is then I'll just leave it on the bike like you guys mentioned.
2016-04-05 2:33 PM
in reply to: CycloneVM

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Originally posted by CycloneVM

Personally I'd leave it on the bike as well. Pool swims all are typically less than 400 units, so at most you are going to get three opportunities to see the split.

If you are going to check your pace after each 100 (which may annoy the swimmer behind you because you keep stopping, but that is their issue I guess), what are you going to do with the information? If you are ahead of pace are you going to slow down, even if you are feeling great? Conversely, if you are lagging behind pace and hurting, are you going to try to speed up more? In both cases I would say no. If the feedback isn't giving you useful information in real-time, then it isn't a helpful feedback and has become a distraction instead.

The same thought goes for wanting the swim split once you are done. If it is faster than you expected, are you going to bike or run more passively? Of course not. If the split is slow, are you going to then go pound on your bike to make up the lost time? That's not a great idea either. Every race I've done has splits by event, so it's not like you will never know your swim split (although I will admit that some races combine T1 in there a little, which can throw the number off).

Information is great, but ESPECIALLY in your first race make sure that you aren't overly complicating things. Mount the watch on your bike mount before the race and enjoy your swim


I have to agree with you.
Don't complicate things. It's your first race, don't focus on things that are not really that important. Try to enjoy as much as you can. Because if you catch the bug, you will have more extreme sports ahead of you
Trust me, it is not that hard to look at the watch during bike ride.
2016-04-05 3:45 PM
in reply to: cdoug55

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
One other thought from my embarrassing goof. I'm sure you're on top of the Garmin, but if you're going to use it in multi-sport mode, make sure you know exactly how to operate it ! I thought I did, but didn't practice it enough.... With all the stuff going on the day of my first tri, all the nerves and conversation in line with my friends, before I knew it I was next in line to go. When I got the go ahead, I pressed the wrong button to start multi-sport. So I sloooowly walked into the water like an idiot trying to figure out how to get it going. I finally gave up and dove in, but that was one frustration and distraction I didn't need right at the beginning. Forget about the data on the first one, just be in the moment and look around at the spectacle of determination and will around you. The timing chip will give you all the data you want to agonize over after it's done!
2016-04-05 8:03 PM
in reply to: #5175385

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Glad I wore mine for my last open water. Helped me understand my slow time. Turns out the bouys drifted and the mile turned into 1.25 miles. I spun it sound my wrist for the bike. Didn't read it much. Paced myself off others for the most part. Used it the most on the run.
2016-04-06 5:18 PM
in reply to: ktsdad


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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Really appreciate it. I'll just strap it to my wrist and focus on the tasks at hand. Not gonna stress about something like that. I'll let you all know how I do lol.


2016-04-07 8:19 AM
in reply to: ktsdad

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Subject: RE: First Triathlon - Transition Question
I've worn my 910 on my wrist for all of my races for a couple of years and I have no other bike computer. It's no big deal to see. You should be fine. Besides, first race I wouldn't worry too much about the numbers.
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