Very nervous about my first ever Tri - and I'm just the bike part

[Possegal]

I am the bike leg of a relay for the Nation's Tri this weekend. I'm working myself up into quite a nervous lather. Not sure why exactly. We have no aspirations of any great time or anything. I know I can bike 25 miles, though in all honesty when I do that, I usually take a little break at some point midway during the ride. But I'm no where near fast and I guess I have this fear I'll be the last bike on the road. Then I have this worry that I'll get penalized for drafting, not because I'm trying to draft, but because someone passes me and I don't realize it and I'm too close to them.

Someone please tell me I'm worrying more than I need to.

[jobob]

Ah, relax, it'll be great. (how's that?)

Best of luck and have a wonderful time, PG!



Goodness, this is shaping up to be an epic weekend for many on TE

[divingbiker]

Relax! Have fun! It's going to be a gorgeous setting, the weather looks like it will be decent, and the passing bikes seem to work themselves out. Once you get on your bike, it will be like any other group ride.

Remember, have fun. And let us know how it goes.

[alpinerabbit]

You are worrying more than I need to.

Now that this is out of the way.
So what if you are the last on the road (and you won't be because some other team is going to have a crappy swimmer and send their cyclist off much later than yours).

There was a tip a while ago - to estimate if you are out of your competitor's "draft box":
If you are going at close on 19mph - you need to be able to say "non-drafting rule" in your head before you pass the same spot as the competitor before you (actually it was a 5-syllable word but the tip came in german).
If you're going more like 15mph, you have to be able to say "triathlon".

the race marshals will give you a first warning. usually.

[jobob]

You are worrying more than I need to.

[HillSlugger]

Yes, you are worrying more than you need to.

7Rider and I just participated in a tri relay together (I swam, she biked) and I know we were both nervous, too, even though we knew we wouldn't really have a problem with our events. When you are part of a team it is natural to want to not let the other members down, even if you're not competing for a podium spot.

It's my understanding that the Nations bike course is pretty flat; between that and the adrenaline I'm sure you'll be good without a rest break. And, if you need a rest, take it! Just have fun!

[tribogota]

The judges can tell the difference between drafting and passing, DO NOT worry about that!

[Wahine]

You'll be great and chances are you won't have to worry about drafting vs passing at all. Drafting is not usually called unless it's blatant, as long as you pass withing 15 sec of entering the draft zone, you're fine. The only tricky part is dropping back out of the draft zone if someone passes you. Even if they slow down, it's the person behind's responsibility to avoid drafting.

Have fun!!

[Possegal]

Thank you all, for the kind words and the laughs. And MDHS - you hit the nail on the head, I would not be so worried if this was just me. I don't want to let my team down, even though we've all been very up front about just wanting to finish.

Can't wait to come back on Sunday and post about how it all went.