Efficient transitioning from water to bike makes all the difference in a successful triathlon.
Transitions are a vital part of triathlons, yet many triathletes don't put much thought into them. A speedy, efficient and well-managed transition can save you minutes or even seconds, giving you an edge over slower racers. While they're still struggling to get out of their wetsuits or put their biking shoes on, you can be out ahead of the pack, starting the next portion of the race. It's all a matter of forethought, preparation and planning.
Instructions
1. Make plans before the race even begins. That means arrive early, scope out the course, put your bike on a rack and arrange your gear so it's easily accessible. Put your helmet on your handlebars, attach your bike shoes to the pedals, tape gel fuel to the handlebars and trace the path that you'll take from the water to the bike. This planning will shave seconds off your time.
2. Kick your feet with short, sharp strokes as you near the end of the swim, to let blood start flowing through your legs. When getting out of the water, run in quick, short steps up to your bike. You need to get your legs accustomed to being out of the water as quickly as possible.
3. Peel off your wetsuit as you run to your bike. Don't stop to take it off, since that will take time you don't have. Take off the top portion first, and then as you near your bike, take off the legs. You'll want to have your biking outfit and bib number on under your wetsuit so you don't need to change clothes. Put on and latch your helmet once you're at your bike.
4. Run, barefoot, with your bike toward the bike mounting area. Push your bike by holding the saddle, not the handlebars. For the quickest mount, move one hand at a time to the handlebars, and swing your leg over the saddle. While riding, slide your feet, one at a time, into the biking shoes attached to your pedals. Try to keep up your speed during this time as much as possible, and by the time you have your shoes on, you'll be well into the biking part of the race.
Tags: your bike, biking shoes, from water, from water bike, have your, into biking