Thanks, an update and more questions...

[Veronica]

Thanks for all the advice ladies!

I've now signed up for a Tri for Fun on 6/21, and an Olympic Distance Tri for Real on 7/13. The half IM is 8/2.

I've picked a tri suit. I'm going to go with a two piece. It seems more practical.

I guess I have to take my leather saddle off my bike. I'm going to try the saddle on my mountain bike and see how it feels on my road bike. I'm a little bummed. It amused me to think I'd be doing a tri on a lugged steel bike with a leather saddle.

What about the timing chip ankle thingie... is that a necessity? What do you do with the chip if you don't have the special holder?

Have you ever noticed that every sport has it's own special thingamabobs?

V.

[KnottedYet]

I did a tri on my Kona with my black Brooks B67, lovely springs and all!

(tri shorts dried so quickly, no problem)

I'll be doing this years tri on my lugged steel Waterford with a honey Brooks B67.

Chip: I use my RoadID ankle strap for the chip. Works great.

[Veronica]

I was wondering if you had done your tri on your Brooks. That's good to know, because I really didn't want to mess with anything after just having a bike fit done.

V.

[HillSlugger]

With some races they give you the timing chip with a velcro anklet, for others they use something like what they use in a hospital. I got cut/chafed from one of these in my first tri and bought my own velcro chip strap. For the $4-5 it's worth it.

[Wahine]

V - I have a leather saddle and have no problems with it. I would second getting a neoprene strap for your ankle chip. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have an extra one that I'd be happy to send you if your interested. PM me.

And WOW!! You're starting out with a big schedule, good on ya!! You don't fool around.

[Veronica]

Well, the two shorter tris are to sort of work out the bugs. Thanks for the offer of the chip holder thingie, Wahine. I think I'll be putting in a big order to TE soon and that's just one more thing I'll include.

Next question - socks? For my first run of 2.2 miles I wore cycling socks and that was fine. On the longer races do you change your socks between the bike and the run? I can't imagine not wearing socks.

I am so thrilled that I don't have to change the saddle.

V.