Pearls of Wisdom / Cautionary Tales (Page 2)

I did not set any standards for 'pearl of wisdom' or 'cautionary tale,' so interpret liberally.

You've seen 70.3 and IM transition setups. A few inches indeed makes a big difference in racking, as well as in the narrow lanes in between rack rows where you've got an awful lot of people moving pretty fast with their bicycles. The wider and heavier those bikes are, the more they create a space and possibly safety problem.

Not that I thought my assumptions through with immense care (aren't those the things that lead to pearls of wisdom and cautionary tales in the first place?), but I also think SAG wagons wouldn't be thrilled with having to load up MTBs, cruisers, and/or hybrids.

Aren'choo some kind of USAT official? Where did the rule come from?

I am done throwing my pearls before piglets!!!

There is no rule. Not in the USAT. Not pervasive throughout the WTC. Never seen it except the few race-specific examples you've shown. That's why I'm asking for the reason you cited it here. It sure looked like you had a reason in your OP, otherwise you wouldn't be advising others of the "rule."

Then why would the NAS guide call it a USAT Rule Amendment?

Perhaps not pervasive, but so far and growing, the search has turned up (should we assume all NAS races? if it's in the guide? and both the World Championships) in recent years if not also for this year:

70.3: Muskoka, Honu, Oceanside, UK, Philippines, St. Croix, Busselton, Miami, World Championships, China, Asia-Pacific Championships (Phuket), South Africa, VIneman

All 70.3/IM in Germany

IM: Canada, World Championships, Lake Placid, the old China and Korea, UK, South Africa, France, Austria

Definitely not an exhaustive list, but I think looking at just a few of those (NAS/WC in particular) I might be forgiven for thinking the rule applied to most of them.

And it seemed obvious to me the reason was space. (I would be a prime offender here, although a strange turn of events made it not so).

Rev3 has the exact same rule, written the exact same way. Or are all these races just being idiots and throwing arbitrary rules in there? I don't know where it comes from. I knew several key Ironman-brand races had it, assumed most/all did, and assumed what I thought was an obvious reason for it.

It's called a "USAT Rule Amendment" because it amends the USAT rules. RDs are allowed to seek permission to do that. WTC does it most commonly with their drafting zone (four bike lengths rather than three) and their no-bare-torso rule.

Still don't understand why you would consider the space consideration (if indeed there is one) a "pearl of wisdon" but I'll just chalk it up as goofiness similar to pop tart fetishes.

You jumped my edit again, mister pearl-wearing bear piglet!!!

Nah, more a cautionary tale, kinda like don't bring a bucket into transition (although I myself am not against buckets--making, I think, three of us on this site). I think the space argument is a reasonable one (that's my reason).

For what other reason, or if anyone knows (and you know everything and you're always right, except about Pop Tartswhatswrongwithyou) would so many Ironman-brand races, the Rev3 series, and whole bunch of triathlons adopt the same exact rule written verbatim?

Doah.  That one made me LOL!  sticky!

http://www.rev3tri.com/!/race-info/course-info/bike.htm

Right-hand side, scroll down. Right now the Quassy info is there (of course), but this is the main bike info page for all the Rev3 races.

Now now, don't be puttin' words in the melon-goddess mouth. For one thing, I did list the technicolor body fluids first, and for another, I didn't say any of the items were more important than others.

You and I seem to have a very different idea of what "a few inches" are and how important they might be. (cough cough) That said, you have seen pictures of my old ride, yes? A road bike, an old road bike, but outfitted with cruiser bars so I could reach the handlebars. I'm thinkin' it was a little more than a couple of inches ... on both sides.

Thinkin' ain't measuring. Like I said previously, my MTB is two inches longer and no wider than my road or my tri bike. Not sure how an extra two inches of length on the MTB would be a burden to anyone. Certainly road/tri bikes of a bigger size than my 54s would take up more room than my MTB. Got to be another reason.

Well, sure, the bigger road/tri bikes would be bigger--but I'd bring it back to on average, are non-road/tri bikes bigger? And bigger enough for that to be THE or A reason for the prohibition?

I'm still searching for THE or A reason (not just my reason) all these races embrace this rule, but coming up short. Seems like long on rule, short on reason.

Heh. Usually I'm short on both.

*poptarts are excellent recovers/energy foods

*the number poptarts consumed per day determines quality of life

*if you are going to sit while in transition to put on socks, shoes, whatever, do not do so in the middle of the aisle between the racks. no attempt will be made to avoid you. (found out that the hard way my first race)

*remember to take the helmet off before you leave transition

*the bear is always right. (and i think someone needs a poptart...)

I thought I was the only one that knew that trick.   I did it about 15 years ago in a race here in Japan - the aid station attendants laughed, but it took me another 15 minutes to figure out why.

If you're drafting on the swim, do your own sighting and don't assume the draftee knows what he's doing. 

I admit I was the draftee and until a kind young man in a kayak cut me off and set me straight I had that draftee pretty far off course.

Hmmmm, good tip.....just sayin'

*Always check your bike shoes before a race to make sure the ratchets and velcro are open.  (You don't want to have to sit down and grunt while trying to get the ratchet unstuck).

*x3 on don't wear your helmet out of T2. 

*When the race volunteers say sharp right, they mean it! (saw a guy bite it hard at Mooseman yesterday...he was ok and proceeded to finish!)

Tried to go minimalist with my bike hydration for an oly this weekend by taking my water cages off my bike, going only with my Aero-Drink.  Normally would be fine, except that it was a particularly hot day (high of 100), so I ended up paying for this on the run.  

Moral of the story:  on hot days carry a little more hydration than you need.  The pound and a half won't kill you.