Mission: Not to be "that guy" during my first Tri!

1. What do I do with my transition bag after setting up my gear?  Do I take it back to my car or leave it in the transition area

Don't take anything too large and there should be space for it.

2. How big of a towel should I use to set my stuff on?  Right now I have a 12"x24".  Is this too much or too little?

I use a towel about that size or fold a larger towel to cut down on the real estate.

3. I've seen different suggestions for cleaning your feet during T1, would you recommend using just a towel or using a water bottle to spray them off and then a towel?

I just drag my feet across the towel.  If I were running through sand or something going into T1, I might spray off with a water bottle.

4. While I've seen videos on how to strip my wetsuit off, I haven't seen where to put it during T1.  Do I lay it over the bike rack or leave it crumpled on the ground like a pair of dirty underwear?

I have only worn a wet suit one, but I would place it over my spot on the bike rack.

5.  Would you recommend taking an extra tube/change kit with me on the bike? Sprint course, 15 miles, flat road.

I wouldn't ride on a flat, so I carry an extra tube/change kit.  Depending on the race, I would make the decision to change or DNF.

6.  I've got a race belt, should I put my number on before the bike or before the run?  Rules state before the run.  Any advantages/disadvantages either way?

Grab it on the way out of T2 along with sunglasses and hat.  It can easily be put on while moving.

1. What do I do with my transition bag after setting up my gear?  Do I take it back to my car or leave it in the transition area

2. How big of a towel should I use to set my stuff on?  Right now I have a 12"x24".  Is this too much or too little?

3. I've seen different suggestions for cleaning your feet during T1, would you recommend using just a towel or using a water bottle to spray them off and then a towel?

4. While I've seen videos on how to strip my wetsuit off, I haven't seen where to put it during T1.  Do I lay it over the bike rack or leave it crumpled on the ground like a pair of dirty underwear?

5.  Would you recommend taking an extra tube/change kit with me on the bike? Sprint course, 15 miles, flat road.

6.  I've got a race belt, should I put my number on before the bike or before the run?  Rules state before the run.  Any advantages/disadvantages either way?

My first Tri is on May 20th and now that I'm less than two weeks away I'm starting to focus on "the little things".  For me that means transitions and transition area.  I have some questions that I haven't seen answered in previous threads.  Please forgive the elemenatry nature of these questions, I have no problem finishing DFL but I don't want to finish DFL and be "that guy" in transition.

1. What do I do with my transition bag after setting up my gear?  Do I take it back to my car or leave it in the transition area

2. How big of a towel should I use to set my stuff on?  Right now I have a 12"x24".  Is this too much or too little?

3. I've seen different suggestions for cleaning your feet during T1, would you recommend using just a towel or using a water bottle to spray them off and then a towel?

4. While I've seen videos on how to strip my wetsuit off, I haven't seen where to put it during T1.  Do I lay it over the bike rack or leave it crumpled on the ground like a pair of dirty underwear?

5.  Would you recommend taking an extra tube/change kit with me on the bike? Sprint course, 15 miles, flat road.

6.  I've got a race belt, should I put my number on before the bike or before the run?  Rules state before the run.  Any advantages/disadvantages either way?

As far as training goes, I think I'm ready.  I've had my poor me, self doubt week and have packed away the gremlins.  Practiced setting up my transition area over the weekend which drove the questions above.  I'll run through transitions this weekend and my final training day will be the 17th.  Nutrition is set and trained with and meals the day before are forecasted as well.  I'm really excited but really nervous at the same time.

Thanks to all the help, support, and advice on these boards.  Whether directed to me personally or another poster the wealth of knowledge and encouragement has been fantastic.  Thanks for the inspiration and thank you in advance for answering my questions.

Is this the thread where we tell the new guy to go get us a left handed screw driver?

Best of luck, you'll be fine!

My first Tri is on May 20th and now that I'm less than two weeks away I'm starting to focus on "the little things".  For me that means transitions and transition area.  I have some questions that I haven't seen answered in previous threads.  Please forgive the elemenatry nature of these questions, I have no problem finishing DFL but I don't want to finish DFL and be "that guy" in transition.

1. What do I do with my transition bag after setting up my gear?  Do I take it back to my car or leave it in the transition area,,.... car would be nice or if allowed off to the side away from transition or with someone coming to watch you. Don't crowd transition area odds are there will be someone to the left and someone to the right of you. If you don't wanna be 'that guy' don't set up camp.

2. How big of a towel should I use to set my stuff on?  Right now I have a 12"x24".  Is this too much or too little? I use a towel at the beach, pool, shower... never in transition

3. I've seen different suggestions for cleaning your feet during T1, would you recommend using just a towel or using a water bottle to spray them off and then a towel?spray em down if necessary and go. if you use socks put some powder in them to help get em on or if you go without socks put some powder in your bike shoes. FWIW, in a sprint there is not need for socks.

4. While I've seen videos on how to strip my wetsuit off, I haven't seen where to put it during T1.  Do I lay it over the bike rack or leave it crumpled on the ground like a pair of dirty underwear? where your bike was over the rack is fine. If you leave it crumpled you are 'that guy' making transition hell for everyone around you. I'd have no qualms doing whatever I had to do to get your things out of my little area...

5.  Would you recommend taking an extra tube/change kit with me on the bike? Sprint course, 15 miles, flat road. i always carry an extra tube

6.  I've got a race belt, should I put my number on before the bike or before the run?  Rules state before the run.  Any advantages/disadvantages either way?if the rules state this then why is there a question for this? but to answer your question, you run the risk of losing it while on the bike...

 for a sprint you need in transition:  bike, 1 gel, 1 water bottle on the bike, bike shoes, running shoes, helmet, sunglasses, wetsuit, race belt... feed off the course if needed. The more you have in transition the more time you will spend in it. Think about what you run and bike with while training and that is what a race is like... just more amped up. No need for buckets or blankets. Take time away from your opponents, don't give them extra time.

As far as training goes, I think I'm ready.  I've had my poor me, self doubt week and have packed away the gremlins.  Practiced setting up my transition area over the weekend which drove the questions above.  I'll run through transitions this weekend and my final training day will be the 17th.  Nutrition is set and trained with and meals the day before are forecasted as well.  I'm really excited but really nervous at the same time.

You'll do great just focus... again race day is training day with adrenaline x10000. Practice your mount/dismount and getting in your running shoes.

Get your feet wet... literally... and then see what works for you... drying them off (if necessary), getting in socks/bike shoes etc. We can give you all the advice in the world but in the end what's best is what works for you.

Thanks to all the help, support, and advice on these boards.  Whether directed to me personally or another poster the wealth of knowledge and encouragement has been fantastic.  Thanks for the inspiration and thank you in advance for answering my questions.

 In the end, like anything, the more you do something the better you will do it. As my sensai would tell us... practice DOESN'T make perfect.... PERFECT practice makes perfect.

My first Tri is on May 20th and now that I'm less than two weeks away I'm starting to focus on "the little things".  For me that means transitions and transition area.  I have some questions that I haven't seen answered in previous threads.  Please forgive the elemenatry nature of these questions, I have no problem finishing DFL but I don't want to finish DFL and be "that guy" in transition.

1. What do I do with my transition bag after setting up my gear?  Do I take it back to my car or leave it in the transition area

You can leave it in transition as long as it's out of the way. Usually people leave them along the fencing or at the end of the rack away from where you'd run in/out.

2. How big of a towel should I use to set my stuff on?  Right now I have a 12"x24".  Is this too much or too little?

That's about the right size. Depending on how many people and how tightly they pack people onto racks, it can get crowded. In the excitement it can be a little crazy and you can run past your bike rack or not see your bike if it's a pretty common one. I have a new P2 and they are everywhere, so I went to Walmart and bought a 12x24  day-glow green towel for $1.97. No way will I miss my spot now!

3. I've seen different suggestions for cleaning your feet during T1, would you recommend using just a towel or using a water bottle to spray them off and then a towel?

Haven't done either, they are usually good enough from the run into transition.

4. While I've seen videos on how to strip my wetsuit off, I haven't seen where to put it during T1.  Do I lay it over the bike rack or leave it crumpled on the ground like a pair of dirty underwear?

Ideally on the rack, but if the racks are really packed, next to your towel so nobody will trip over it.

5.  Would you recommend taking an extra tube/change kit with me on the bike? Sprint course, 15 miles, flat road.

I have a pack made up of tube, Co2, inflator, and tire levers. The whole thing is shrink wrapped and rubber banded under the seat. It's always there, just in case.

6.  I've got a race belt, should I put my number on before the bike or before the run?  Rules state before the run.  Any advantages/disadvantages either way?

Not really, just don't forget it on the run and make sure it's secured somewhere. Last weekend my race belt had blown halfway down the rack and I wasted time looking for it!

As far as training goes, I think I'm ready.  I've had my poor me, self doubt week and have packed away the gremlins.  Practiced setting up my transition area over the weekend which drove the questions above.  I'll run through transitions this weekend and my final training day will be the 17th.  Nutrition is set and trained with and meals the day before are forecasted as well.  I'm really excited but really nervous at the same time.

Thanks to all the help, support, and advice on these boards.  Whether directed to me personally or another poster the wealth of knowledge and encouragement has been fantastic.  Thanks for the inspiration and thank you in advance for answering my questions.

My first Tri is on May 20th and now that I'm less than two weeks away I'm starting to focus on "the little things".  For me that means transitions and transition area.  I have some questions that I haven't seen answered in previous threads.  Please forgive the elemenatry nature of these questions, I have no problem finishing DFL but I don't want to finish DFL and be "that guy" in transition.

1. What do I do with my transition bag after setting up my gear?  Do I take it back to my car or leave it in the transition area

This has been well answered here.at the fence or at the rack if there is room. I make it a point to arrive very early-like 30 to 1 hr before transition opens. Unless there are assigned spots as opposed to just an assigned rack I can usually snag and end spot near the aisle or lane-a little more room and easier to find

2. How big of a towel should I use to set my stuff on?  Right now I have a 12"x24".  Is this too much or too little?

I am a minimalist and the more tris I do the less I bring. The most crowded TA was at Branson 70.3, the KC tri was similar-no room for a towel anyway. I would skip it

3. I've seen different suggestions for cleaning your feet during T1, would you recommend using just a towel or using a water bottle to spray them off and then a towel?

If it is even needed-just squirt them off with some water from your bottle-you probably won't need much on the bike anyway

4. While I've seen videos on how to strip my wetsuit off, I haven't seen where to put it during T1.  Do I lay it over the bike rack or leave it crumpled on the ground like a pair of dirty underwear?

Well answered alrady-it will be obvious when you come out of the water

5.  Would you recommend taking an extra tube/change kit with me on the bike? Sprint course, 15 miles, flat road.

Yes

6.  I've got a race belt, should I put my number on before the bike or before the run?  Rules state before the run.  Any advantages/disadvantages either way?

I keep it in my shoe so it won't blow away-one shoe has the race belt the other has my hat. In the past I have used elastic laces, now my running shoes stay tied all the time but at just the right tightness to pull on and off without messing with the laces. Put the belt on asyou are running out of the transition area-as a rule never do anything standing still that can't be done moving forward.

As far as training goes, I think I'm ready.  I've had my poor me, self doubt week and have packed away the gremlins.  Practiced setting up my transition area over the weekend which drove the questions above.  I'll run through transitions this weekend and my final training day will be the 17th.  Nutrition is set and trained with and meals the day before are forecasted as well.  I'm really excited but really nervous at the same time.

Thanks to all the help, support, and advice on these boards.  Whether directed to me personally or another poster the wealth of knowledge and encouragement has been fantastic.  Thanks for the inspiration and thank you in advance for answering my questions.