Back to Platforms?

If you've got pedals that you can put on and cages with no straps, I'd go that route with your running shoes. You're right, way too short to waste 30 seconds switching shoes at each transition.

John

If it were me, I would swich shoes.

I can't imagine that a shoe change would take 30 seconds.  With velcro MTB shoes and speed laces, probably 15-20 seconds TOPS for a shoe change at each transition.

I would imagine that the clipless pedals might very well make up the 30 seconds on the bike alone just by being more efficient.  If you don't make up for it on the bike, it could have saved you legs just enought to run 10 seconds faster per mile on the second run as well.

I'm just guessing, but I honestly think that at WORST, it's a wash, and at best you would still save time.  I know I climb a lot faster with clipless on a MTB than without and have more control.  With control, comes speed on trails, IMO.

It's the same reason I would wear a wetsuit for any race over 400 yards.  If I can save 10" per 100, that's 40 seconds.  No reason for a wetsuit removal to take more than that.

Edited by Aikidoman 2009-09-17 4:32 PM

last time I mtb'd on platforms, I felt like I was constantly falling off the bike!  It would definately slow me down, mentally if nothing else.  I would definately do a shoe swap.