Shoes or no shoes

Going without socks is pretty easy to do. Just go sockless for a few lighter workouts at first to get your feet used to it, then you can go sockless for longer workouts. Then race day you will save a good deal of time with not having to sit down and try to pull socks over your wet feet. I think it is an easy way to shave off perhaps one minute.

Having your shoes clipped in to your pedals is another thing though. Is it faster? If you don't practice enough beforehand - No! If you learn how to do it you will save some time. I can't do this yet. I aspire to, but have too much else to work on. At my last race I saw more people losing time by trying to do this and not knowing how than people who were good at it.