Would you have scolded me?

I wouldn't have said anything. To me, it isn't a big deal. If I lost an extra 5 seconds in the transition area dealing with it I'd just do an extra 5 second effort out on the course or rationalize it was a condition of the event.

Ultimately, we all have to get along in a crowded sport.

My first tri ever I got yelled at by a guy right after I got out of my truck. Apparently, the left side tires of my truck were on the line defining the parking spot. He was ranting and raving about it being crowded and how rude it was to take the extra room. Had he asked I would have moved the truck but after the tirade I opted to leave it. After his tirade I almost got in the truck and left. Glad I didn't.

Every race has a person or two that needs to nit pick the unimportant stuff. I just ignore them now and hope to beat them on the course.

http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/28818/usatcr.pdf

I don't know what your rules violation would have been, maybe obstruction?

If there was a super-technical violation, one could argue that she technically broke the unsportsmanlike conduct.

Here are the Transition Rules for USAT.

Of course, there may be race specific rules also.

Article VII Transition Area Conduct
7.1 Entering and Exiting. A participant must reduce cycling speed to an acceptable and safe level when exiting and entering the transition area. Failure to do so shall result in a variable time penalty.
7.2 Placement of Equipment. All participants shall place equipment only in the properly designated and individually assigned bicycle corral and shall at all time keep their equipment confined to such properly designated areas. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.
7.3 Bicycle Placement. All participants must return their bicycles to an upright position in the properly designated bicycle corral after completion of the cycling course and before beginning the next segment of the event. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.
7.4 Obstruction and Interference. No participant shall impede the forward progress of another participant or interfere with another participant's equipment while in the transition area. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty, unless such obstruction or interference renders another participant unable to complete the event, in which case the penalty shall be disqualification.
7.5 Glass Containers. Any participant who brings any glass container into the transition area shall be disqualified.

I just don't understand why you would rack your bike differently when you came back than before you left? 

It sounds like a) You got lazy re-racking your bike b)it affected somebody else  c) They let you know.  and D) You are coming to the internet for support.

Next time, just rack your bike the same way you had it racked originally.  Take your own 5 seconds to prevent creating an inconsistent race environment.

Your response- "Life's a and so are you."

Some folks take this stuff too seriously.   Stuff like that is a part of racing.  If your wheel ruined the race for her she has bigger problems.

I think I have heard this rule before...not sure if it's USAT.  Meaning even when you are setting up your transition before the race...you are not supposed to put your transition things on the opposite side of the wheel that is touching the ground (or the wheel that is not touching the rack).

Would I have yelled at you...no.  Would I have mentioned something after the race...maybe.  I'm not sure if what you did was an actual rules violation...but if everyone did what you did...transition would not be a fun place.  Now you know that what you did could "possibly" upset someone else on the other side of the rack...so try not to do it again.  Don't dwell on it...we all do silly things that will upset others from time to time.

Now I'm sort of confused... so at my race this weekend, I was just following others. first one for me so I didn't know. At first I set up my stuff next to my bike... but then it got crowded and the anouncer said 8 bikes to a rack... so then, anlong with the others.... my stuff was under my bike on the side the wheel was up. So everyone was had the seat on the rack, front wheel down and all their stuff under the rear wheel.

So why does it say in the rules your stuff should be on the side the wheel is down?

I would not have scolded you.

Transitions are often a mess and folks do weird things...part of the race.I've found shoes, wetsuits and all sorts of stuff blocking my way. Bikes in wrong spot often occurs.

After the race, I may have mentioned something to you after asking how your race went but not like the chick did at your race.

Sounds like RD didn't explain it clearly about position of the bike. Some races, the USAT officials go around and correct bikes racked incorrectly and educate folks. Other races it is much more chaotic.

She sounds like a hyper competitive rhythms with witch. Let it go....most importantly did you have fun?

you mean most people rack the bike the same way everytime they go back to T2.  I learn something new everyday! 

I do not understand how the OP's wheel was cover the running gear.  Why would you put your running gear so far deep where someones wheel could block it?