Ironman Race Rule Change?

I heard something about this.  I don't know if it applies to all IM branded races.  I would assume any rule in plain writing will be enforced.  Unless you are trying to podium, the extra seconds it may cost you shouldn't be that big a deal...especially in an IM.

Of course...it's not always about time...people who flying mount just look cooler.

That's what they did at IMAZ.  Only the pros were allowed to do that.

Same for IMFL...  and that was a loooong run in bike shoes.  My wife commented on the number  tri-peeps that busted their butts running in the 'not designed for running' shoes.

Same for IM Canada

IIRC that was in the rules at last year's IM Canada too. Only the pros could leave their shoes on the bike.

If you really don't want to run in them  you could carry them in your hand, step OUT OF THE WAY near the mount line or exit and put them on really quick.

This has always been the case at the Ironman level, not positive about 70.3 branded events. (Age Groupers only).

You should confirm at the athlete meeting, WTC is notorius for cutting and pasting the athletes guide from other events.

At IMFL there is no OUT OF THE WAY.  The mount line is the start of a very long narrow chute.  And before that it's a funnel bikers from every which way.

If I remember right most of the run was btwn the changing tent and your bike.  I believe I did carry my shoes to were my bike was racked and put my shoes on there.

Edited by StarGazer 2010-03-25 3:55 PM

After watching some people coming out of T1 and trying to mount their bikes on the fly with their shoes on the bike at the IMKY a couple of years ago I can see why race directors would ban this. Some people had no business trying this. They were a hazard to themselves and other competitors as well.

The exit chute was fairly narrow and at a slight incline for several hundred yards. The pros and the fast AGrs did it without any problems. They jumped on their bikes and rode away with their feet on top of their shoes. They all waited until they had turned onto a flat city street and were travling at a good pace before slipping into their shoes.

Then it got real ugly. Several people who had there shoes on their bikes tried to mount and slip into their shoes immediately while going up hill . They were all over the place, some hitting into the barriers or nearly runnning into other participants. There were a few accidents and many near misses.

At a large events like this one it is no wonder a rule is being made to ban this. The safety issue is too real to ignore.

I could also see it being a problem in moving bikes through the transition area quickly by the volunteers. When you come out they are already yelling your number and the volunteers are pulling your bike from the rack. It probably helps keeping the bikes from getting tangled without shoes being stuck to the pedals.

Cal 70.3 had the same rule last year. The run outof transition is on outdoor carpet and it isn't really that bad. As said earlier you could carry the shoes to the mount line then put them on. IIRC there is enough room for people to do that.

Those were the rules for both IMAZ and IMLP. It appears to be pretty consistent at North American IMs.

You can still do a cyclocross style mount while wearing the shoes (as in cyclocross), but that doesn't solve the problem of having to run in your bike shoes. But the shoes on flying mount is worth learning well, although in an IM event, it's more about crowd appeal than saving time.

At IMWI you must either wear or carry your shoes out to the bike racks.  You cannot leave them clipped in or on the ground around your bike.  Some put them on in the changing area and ran out(long run) and did a flying mount at the helix, some carried them out, grabbed their bike, walked the bike to the helix, got off to the side as much as possible and put them on, then mounted their bike.  Only the pros can have the shoes clipped to the pedals.

it's the same for FL 70.3 this year as well, I wonder if this applies to coming back in after the bike as well? I'll have to re-read the rule packet.

Not a rule at IMOZ which is on this weekend, although this race has been 'licenced' out by WTC to another organiser, might be different from next year when they take back the running of it.

Race booklet definitely says the shoes must be either attached to the bike or in the transition bag.