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Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on?
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 2009-06-18 10:37 AM |
New user 5 Boston, MA |  Subject: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on?Hi all, this is my first post to the board, so much good info here..... I'm doing my first ever sprint triathlon in about 3 weeks... I have a question about transition one... So I have bike shoes with cleats on the bottom.... they're hard enough to walk around in, I don't even know if i can run in em while I navigate out of the transition area in them ( iknow that you can't ride your bike in the transition area)...... I know the alternative is have the shoes attached to my pedals to begin with and somehow strap them in at the beginning of my ride.... I've heard this is really difficult to do for beginners though.... any suggestions? Thanks everyone!! |
| 2009-06-18 10:47 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
Elite 4048  Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? jngnyc - 2009-06-18 8:37 AM Hi all, this is my first post to the board, so much good info here..... I'm doing my first ever sprint triathlon in about 3 weeks... I have a question about transition one... So I have bike shoes with cleats on the bottom.... they're hard enough to walk around in, I don't even know if i can run in em while I navigate out of the transition area in them ( iknow that you can't ride your bike in the transition area)...... I know the alternative is have the shoes attached to my pedals to begin with and somehow strap them in at the beginning of my ride.... I've heard this is really difficult to do for beginners though.... any suggestions? Thanks everyone!! Best option is to wear the shoes. It's not as hard to run in them as you think, it's kind of like running in sandals. Your other option is to carry your shoes out to the mount line, go off to the side, put on the shoes and mount. Nothing says you can't carry your shoes out to the line.  As long as you don't stop in the middle, it's all good.I would highly discourage the leaving of the shoes on the bike until you've practiced it. A lot. John |
| 2009-06-18 10:51 AM in reply to: #2226654 |
Cycling Guru 15134  Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? tkd.teacher - 2009-06-18 11:47 AM I would highly discourage the leaving of the shoes on the bike ........... I'd agree with John with just shortening the phrase he had. There is little to no need to leave them on the bike to begin with. You don't gain much of anything by doing it as the time you might make up getting out of transition fast is then lost with the time it takes to put the shoes on while riding and not being up to speed and aero. There is really little point and it can be very dangerous to you and others to do a flying mount and putting on shoes while riding. |
| 2009-06-18 10:58 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
Expert 721 Chenequa WI | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Those two gave you good advice. Wear the shoes out. I would only add two things: You would do well to practice your transitions, including running in order to get comfortable. But, this is your first Tri so don't run if its a problem for you. You'll see others doing a fast walk to the T1 exit. Edited by Gritty 2009-06-18 10:59 AM |
| 2009-06-18 11:05 AM in reply to: #2226671 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Daremo - 2009-06-18 10:51 AM tkd.teacher - 2009-06-18 11:47 AM I would highly discourage the leaving of the shoes on the bike ........... I'd agree with John with just shortening the phrase he had. There is little to no need to leave them on the bike to begin with. You don't gain much of anything by doing it as the time you might make up getting out of transition fast is then lost with the time it takes to put the shoes on while riding and not being up to speed and aero. There is really little point and it can be very dangerous to you and others to do a flying mount and putting on shoes while riding. I'm going to respectively disagree, based on my experience in sprint triathlons I have left many competitors, faster swimmers (and runners, in duathlons), behind in T1 as they put on their shoes while standing at the racks as opposed to the 20mph I'm traveling when I put on mine. Maybe not significant time relative to long-course performance, but it has put me ahead of several competitors in local races. Also has saved a lot of wear and tear on cleats from races where we have longish runs to the mount line through asphalt parking lots. I was prompted to start shoes-on-the-bike after I destroyed a brand-mnew pair of cleats in a race three years ago. I'm still using the replacement cleats. Of course, I've practiced enought that it's second nature. My shoes never leave my tri bike. |
| 2009-06-18 11:11 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
| Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Leave your shoes on your bike when you train and learn to get into them while on the bike and out of them while on the bike and you can leave them on for T1 and be out of them prior to T2. Saves you time, wear on the cleats and keeps you from falling on your butt trying to hurry with bike shoes on. The trick is to always put them on when your on the bike and you'll be well rehearsed for the tri. Don't try to learn during T1, you'll not do all that well if you do and will probably wreck and take other people with you. (edit) Ahh, I see The Bear has the same thinking. I even did this during the HIM just because that's the only way I really know how to get on the bike for T1 and am surprised how many people come to a dead stop, get on, then start peddling. Edited by DanielG 2009-06-18 11:16 AM |
| 2009-06-18 11:21 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
| Extreme Veteran 562 | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Since this is your first tri and you have not trained with flying mount, put your shoes on in T1. Once you have mastered the flying mount in practice, it is faster and a good idea, especially for sprints where time is critical. Since I have not mastered flying mount (I knew there was something I was going to this winter!) I try to rack as close to bike out as possible. Saves time running in bike shoes. I can do flying dismount, so I run shoeless into T2. |
| 2009-06-18 11:23 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
Expert 721 Chenequa WI | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? I've done it both ways and make sure to practice this as well. But... since this topic comes up often enough, I wonder if anyone can share studies that show "shoes on the bike" is indeed faster overall. Or, is this N=1? |
| 2009-06-18 11:29 AM in reply to: #2226719 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? the bear - 2009-06-18 11:05 AM Daremo - 2009-06-18 10:51 AM tkd.teacher - 2009-06-18 11:47 AM I would highly discourage the leaving of the shoes on the bike ........... I'd agree with John with just shortening the phrase he had. There is little to no need to leave them on the bike to begin with. You don't gain much of anything by doing it as the time you might make up getting out of transition fast is then lost with the time it takes to put the shoes on while riding and not being up to speed and aero. There is really little point and it can be very dangerous to you and others to do a flying mount and putting on shoes while riding. I'm going to respectively disagree, based on my experience in sprint triathlons I have left many competitors, faster swimmers (and runners, in duathlons), behind in T1 as they put on their shoes while standing at the racks as opposed to the 20mph I'm traveling when I put on mine. Maybe not significant time relative to long-course performance, but it has put me ahead of several competitors in local races. Also has saved a lot of wear and tear on cleats from races where we have longish runs to the mount line through asphalt parking lots. I was prompted to start shoes-on-the-bike after I destroyed a brand-mnew pair of cleats in a race three years ago. I'm still using the replacement cleats. Of course, I've practiced enought that it's second nature. My shoes never leave my tri bike. Honestly, I think they are equal. I've practiced both many times and do both based on how the transition is setup. If it's a grassy, big transition.. shoes on the bike. But if it's a smaller transition and on concrete, I'll go shoes on in t1. It takes me 3 seconds to put my shoes on in t1. |
| 2009-06-18 11:37 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
| Expert 936 Salisbury | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? I've watched a guy, who practices flying mounts all the time, slide off the seat and land on the.....sorry I have the next part blocked out of my memory. I can't help but think this ruined his bike split |
| 2009-06-18 11:40 AM in reply to: #2226619 |
| New user 5 Boston, MA | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? first off, just WOW on how many helpful and informative responses I've gotten in less than an hour, this forum and its members are AMAZING. Thank you to all. I think from what I've gathered from all of your posts is this: @tkd.teacher, carrying my shoes all the way to the mount line sounds like my best option. @the bear, the wear and tear is probably 30% of the reason I'd like to NOT run in my bike shoes (70% is the instability of running in the shoes)... so I agree with you there. @randym, I will definitely try to get there early and mount my bike as close to the mounting line as possible. @everyone else, thanks for all the warning about not trying to learn to do the flying mount while in the race.... i think just that much has saved me the embaressment of trying to do it during my race. Also.... this is my first sprint tri, I'm MUCH more concerned with getting through the entire race, sanely, strong and with confidence.... time probably won't be a concern until i start getting more competitive in a few years with this.... thanks SO much everyone!! wish me luck! |
| 2009-06-18 12:49 PM in reply to: #2226822 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? I have always just put my shoes on in transition and I am in the top 25% for transitions... However, there are other things to consider with that. A lot of my transition areas are long and have gravel/rocks/sand. I like to protect my feet more with wearing shoes AND not drag any pebbles into the shoes with me on accident. The races I have at Boulder Beach have a mile long climb out which is pretty steep. I would probably have to wait at least that long to finially get a spot to get into my shoes. Meanwhile, I would lose a lot of efficiency on the climb if I was not clipped in. If my shoes are allready in, I can hammer out of the saddle right out of the gate. I think you do what's comfortable to you, and what the course/conditions dictate. I might have been better off having the shoes ON the bike at Alcatraz. They had a clean grassy transition and a long flat section coming out of T1... |
| 2009-06-18 1:13 PM in reply to: #2226619 |
Member 182 Bay Area, CA | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? I run out in my bike shoes and also usually have good T1 times, cant remember ever having someone doing a flying mount pass me out of transition, but I do remember passing a lot of people TRYING to do flying mounts, basically if you don't have experience with it, either run in your bike shoes or carry them. As someone mentioned above, you'd be surprised at how easy it is to run in (most) bike shoes. |
| 2009-06-18 1:30 PM in reply to: #2226619 |
| 94 | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? I know this is unpopular here, and it may invovle you buying new equiptment just for this but I race in Mountain bike race shoes with SPD pedals. They are almost as fast to get into as Tri shoes, just as fast to get into as road shoes, and they are a million times easier to walk/run in. I know that elite athletes may see a benefit from the look style cleats but I know plenty of people who ride SPD pedals on their road bikes. . Typically road/tri shoes soles are slightly stiffer and lighter than mountain bike shoes. The stiffness issue is imperceptable to most. And if you arnt doing flying mounts and dismounts the time gained in walking/runing in the shoes far outweighs the microscopic advantage of powertransfer that you get from road/tri shoes. |
| 2009-06-18 2:16 PM in reply to: #2226671 |
Regular 88 | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Daremo - 2009-06-18 10:51 AM tkd.teacher - 2009-06-18 11:47 AM I would highly discourage the leaving of the shoes on the bike ........... I'd agree with John with just shortening the phrase he had. There is little to no need to leave them on the bike to begin with. You don't gain much of anything by doing it as the time you might make up getting out of transition fast is then lost with the time it takes to put the shoes on while riding and not being up to speed and aero. There is really little point and it can be very dangerous to you and others to do a flying mount and putting on shoes while riding. Rick has a point (and, if he puts them on in transition I'd probs do the same). I practiced a lot of putting my shoes on while riding and it's really not that hard. That is, until you're done with the swim and your heart rate's through the roof--MUCH harder to relax and do it then, and you may lose time for dropping a shoe, swerving, or something like that. No expert here, but that's what I notice my first two tri's. the next few I'm putting them on in transition and running out. |
| 2009-06-18 6:59 PM in reply to: #2226654 |
Master 1890 Cypress, CA | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? tkd.teacher - 2009-06-18 8:47 AM Your other option is to carry your shoes out to the mount line, go off to the side, put on the shoes and mount. Nothing says you can't carry your shoes out to the line. As long as you don't stop in the middle, it's all good.I've seen people do this, and it's always looked like an extraordinarily bad idea. If you think it's awkward to put your shoes on while you're riding, imagine trying to do it while standing up (or sitting down), holding your bike, with a bunch of other people mounting their bikes. Run through transition in your bike shoes or learn to do a flying mount, but for pity's sake don't carry your shoes to the mount line and try to put them on there... |
| 2009-06-18 7:04 PM in reply to: #2227863 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Never seen the real need to leave them on the bike, I can put them on pretty quickly, and just clip in and get right up to speed without having to fiddle with them. Only problem I have is if transition is muddy the speedplay apparatus on the shoes can get mucked up rather quickly which makes it tough to clip in. |
| 2009-06-18 7:12 PM in reply to: #2226619 |
Champion 9600 Fountain Hills, AZ | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? Almost always I leave them on the bike and put them on while getting up to speed. Especially if it's a long run to the mount line, you can pass so many people running in bare feet as they clip along in shoe's. However, I had a recent race where my bike was racked like 20 feet from the mount line, so I put them on first at that race. It does require practice but it is worth the time savings if you are looking for maximum time savings. Leaving them clipped in and getting out of them prior to T2 is a MUST for fast T@'s. |
| 2009-06-18 7:54 PM in reply to: #2226619 |
Champion 7595 Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? I do the flying mount (yes I practiced it a lot first). I have no data about relative speed of flying mount versus run in shoes, but I have observed that many people who do the 'flying mount' attempt to put their feet into the shoes far too early (IMO). Basically, as soon as they are moving, they start strapping in, with the inevitable weaving, slowing down, etc. These are not people who can't put their feet into the shows on the go (I've seen them too, and it's even uglier), but for some reason they do it almost immediately after getting on the bike. Not that I'm any great shakes, but I have figured out to wait until I'm up to speed. Besides, it's kinda fun to ride barefoot for a while. (Even more fun at the end of the bike, though.) |
| 2009-06-18 7:56 PM in reply to: #2227880 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Transition 1; running out of area with bike shoes on? bryancd - 2009-06-18 8:12 PM Almost always I leave them on the bike and put them on while getting up to speed. Especially if it's a long run to the mount line, you can pass so many people running in bare feet as they clip along in shoe's. However, I had a recent race where my bike was racked like 20 feet from the mount line, so I put them on first at that race. It does require practice but it is worth the time savings if you are looking for maximum time savings. Leaving them clipped in and getting out of them prior to T2 is a MUST for fast T@'s. I do use the flying dismount, that is fairly easy to do and doesn't seem to require scrubbing too much speed to do it. |
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