Transition tips

Transition faster.

Sorry...couldn't resist.

*  Get speed laces for running shoes

*  Roll your socks up (like a condom) - they will go on very easy

*  Practice taking bike shoes out of pedals or clips before dismount

*  Practice your transitions

*  Watch Tris on TV and see what the pros do

*  Have bike in low gear for start of bike ride

*  Make sure you have a helmet that is easy to snap on/off

*  Don't wear cycling gloves

*  Use body glide to help get the wesuit off quickly

*  Do brick workouts and include T1 and T2 transition practice

*  Make sure your equipment is organized (run gear together, etc.)

*  Make sure your shoe laces are slack or velco is undone (easy to forget)

*  Eliminate use of wetsuit and socks if possible

*   Get a race belt for your race number

*   Bike and run in the same outfit

*  Relax!  Have Fun!

Yeah, I was really pleased with my transitions on Sunday so I can offer a little advice.  Everything said above is excellent advice.  I'd add this:

Mentally walk through your transitions.  A lot.  Especially on race morning.  get there early so you can do this.  Also, get there early so you can walk the transition area and know where you are going.  On Sunday we figured out that what we thought was a great spot in transition for our bikes was the worst, we found the transition director and got authorization to move our bikes.  We tied for 1st and 2nd in AG for T1 and got 2nd and 5th in AG for T2.  At most tris it is not that big of a difference because they balance out the exits to make it fair for everyone but at this one it was huge.

Taper week is full of time for the triathlete.  You will got nuts doing nothing, so practice transitions.  Physically walking through the motions in invaluable.  I decided to go with socks for the run and sat down to put them and my shoes on and was still 1:05 in T2 (2nd).  I think that's because I practiced it. 

Practice the cyclocross dismount but also race experience is needed to put it into use.  watch out for bunches at the dismount line and know how to avoid/get through them.

Speed laces are a must!

Running mount with shoes on bike can be a little deceptive.  To some extent you are merely shifting time from transition to the bike leg but it is still faster overall and worth doing.  See my log from about a week ago for a lesson on what NOT to do when practicing the running mount.

Good luck, and your times aren't that bad to start with.  IMHO T1 is all about recovering your wits after the swim and T2 is merely speed.