First Timer - What about Transition Bags?

[SLash]

Forgive me if this has been covered already...

I'm doing an Aquabike event, half IM distance. I haven't done a triathlon before so everything is new to me.. so be gentle.

Since I'm only swimming and biking I won't need a T-2 bag, right?

I have an idea of what should be in my T-1 bag, I've found plenty of suggestions online but if you have suggestions please pass them along. I need all the help I can get.

1. What do I do with the T-1 bag? Do I check it in when I check my bike in (the night before) or do I bring it with me the morning of? I guess in that bag will be items I need for the bike, and after the ride (?) so do I leave the T-1 bag there when I leave for the bike part? What about the wetsuit?

I know I set up a little transition area with a mat or towel to mark my spot, is this where I keep my T-1 bag?


2. People mention belts for the numbers to be pinned on, since I'm not running I won't need one, right? How will I get the number on my jersey tho?

3. I plan to have a bottle of Perputeum (sp?) but don't want to mix it before swim because once it gets warm it's history. Should I take the time to add a packet to one of my bottles before I leave T-1 or do it later on the course?

4. What about Special Needs bags, do I need one and what special stuff do I put in them? What do I do with it? Do I turn it in somewhere?

5. What else should I know that I don't?

Thanks to all you Tri-Vets for any help you can provide to this Newb, maybe I can do the same someday for someone else.

Susan

[Caddy]

I'll try to answer, but my races were slightly different.

1) Depends when you need that bag and if you can enter transition the next day after you've already checked in the bag. I've never had a transition area setup that took place the night before so I'm not sure about this one. If you can enter the transition area about 30 minutes to an hour before the race, you can dump everything then and grab it as you're completing final setup.

2) Pin to your jersey - just one pin will suffice as long as you have it when you cross the finish line (that's usually what the race people tell me, although you probably won't be easily identified for any pictures that they take). I usually just pin (securely) to my tri-suit for the swim too so I don't have to think about it.

3) If you have one of those thermal lunch bags, take a couple of ice packs and pre-mix the drink. It kept my drink icy during 98 degree weather. That way you don't have to think about it during transition either.

4) What do you mean special needs bag?

5) The less you need to think about during transition, the better and faster your race will be. You're already going to be nervous, so keeping it simple is your best bet. Lay everything out where you can easily see and reach it and just concentrate on racing.

Good luck!

[Tri Girl]

Since I know the race you are doing (I'm doing it, too), I will answer your questions specifically for this race.


1. What do I do with the T-1 bag? Do I check it in when I check my bike in (the night before) or do I bring it with me the morning of? I guess in that bag will be items I need for the bike, and after the ride (?) so do I leave the T-1 bag there when I leave for the bike part? What about the wetsuit?

I know I set up a little transition area with a mat or towel to mark my spot, is this where I keep my T-1 bag?

At Redman, you only need the T1 bag if you are going into the changing tent to get changed after the swim. Most likely you will be biking in what you're swimming in. If so- then you will just put everything at your bike in your transition spot. If you don't need to change- you don't need the T1 bag- you will just put everything in your transition spot. Your bike MUST be checked the night before the race, so you will be able to set up your little area the night before. If you are using a T1 bag (again, most half people won't) you'll need to turn it in the night before.


2. People mention belts for the numbers to be pinned on, since I'm not running I won't need one, right? How will I get the number on my jersey tho?
At Redman, you don't need to wear the number on your body for the bike. Your bike will have a number and your helmet will, too. You will need to have the number as you come across the finish line so they can call your name (but if you don't care about that- you don't have to wear one). If you would like a race belt, I can loan you one to toss on after you get off the bike and head to the red carpet to finish.

3. I plan to have a bottle of Perputeum (sp?) but don't want to mix it before swim because once it gets warm it's history. Should I take the time to add a packet to one of my bottles before I leave T-1 or do it later on the course?
I would mix your perpetum before you leave your house and put it in a little tiny cooler in your transition spot. Put ice packs in there to keep it cold so when you exit the swim you can reach in your cooler (it will have to be a small one) and pull out your bottles. You can wait until the first aid station on MacArthur, but the water will not be cold so you might just want to mix it beforehand and keep it cool.

4. What about Special Needs bags, do I need one and what special stuff do I put in them? What do I do with it? Do I turn it in somewhere?
At Redman, you will not use a special needs bag. Those are only for the full iron distance athletes. You will not have to worry about that.

5. What else should I know that I don't?
you will rack your bike the day before so you can get a feel for where you will enter transition from the swim and go to your bike and how you will leave transition and head out to the bike course. I would practice coming in from the swim, running to your spot, run out to the mount/dismount line and come back. At Redman, you will need to run in and out on certain sides, so know that beforehand (there will be maps at the race site, they might be online, and you can ask any volunteer in transition the night before).
Don't bring everything to set up in transition the night before. Just bring your bike. In the morning you will get bodymarked as you go into transition and then you can have everything that you need to set up in your spot. Transition spots are TINY (about the width of a kitchen towel and as long as your bike) so make sure you set everything up the morning of the race in your little corridor. There are about 500 people doing the half and another 300 doing the full so it will be crowded- but you will have space. I can show you what to do sometime when we swim at the lake if you'd like.

And you will not need a T2 bag because you won't be heading out to the run. Again, the transition bags are only if you need to enter the changing tent to change. Usually that's for full-distance athletes only.

[SLash]

Thanks very much to both of you for your help, I really appreciate it!

TriGirl, I'm fortunate you saw my post, thanks very much for all the Redman specific info, you just reduced my anxiety level - which has been building gradually ever since the calendar changed to September.

What I'm about to say will sound incredibly stupid, but as I was out riding today, I took notice of when I had gone 1.2 miles on this long flat stretch of road and looked back for perspective... I couldn't believe how far it looked! On a bike it's nothing but to swim it I honestly can't fathom that I can swim that far. I've done it in a pool but so what. That moment today was a huge dose of reality.

Obviously I know how far a mile is, but until I saw it as swim distance not biking or driving distance it just seemed like a number. A doable number. I believe I will manage to swim it but I seriously can't wrap my brain around the "how" or picture it... which makes it harder to "know" that I can do it... know what I mean? All I can say is thank goodness I didn't sign up for the Full AB!

It's been a long time since I've challenged myself like this - physically but also with taking on something new that is completely unknown to me. It's good to stretch the comfort zone... kind of wish I had started with a sprint distance - but that's not the way I do things - for better or worse.

Thanks again for your help Tri and Caddy.

Susan

[Tri Girl]

That doesn't sound stupid at all! You know- I've never sat and thought about how long 2.4 miles is on the road. That's like swimming from to Covell to almost Hafer Park in Edmond. WOW! That seems like a loooong way. Great- now I'M freaked out about it!

You're going to do GREAT!!! Really- it will be just fine. There's only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. There's only one way to swim 1.2 miles- one stroke at a time. You're going to do so well! I mean, just the idea that "hey- I'm swimming in Hefner" is pretty cool. Or the thought "hey- I'm doing a half Ironman". That's a pretty great feeling. And sure- a sprint might have been the way to go, but you're going at it full-force. I like the way you operate!

Any other questions- just fire away!!

[SLash]

That doesn't sound stupid at all! You know- I've never sat and thought about how long 2.4 miles is on the road. That's like swimming from to Covell to almost Hafer Park in Edmond. WOW! That seems like a loooong way. Great- now I'M freaked out about it!

Glad I could help!

[SLash]

Any other questions- just fire away!!

A few more questions I'm afraid...

Will I be able to have someone show me on Friday where I go after racking my bike to get to the finish line? I've looked at the map and can't tell.

Will I just leave my wetsuit in my little transition spot? Is it best to stuff it in a bag so it doesn't get in the way? Can I have a bag with a change of clothes for after race in "my t-spot" or would it be best for Hubs to keep it?

Can I keep my little saddle trunk on my bike for gels and stuff?

So I cross the finish line and then go back to transition and get my bike and stuff or do I have to wait?

Should I get a clip on aero bar? Don't have one, have never ridden with one but could get enough rides in between now and 24th to get used to it..

Think I will get a race belt, I might be doing more of these things...

Thanks!!

[Tri Girl]

Will I be able to have someone show me on Friday where I go after racking my bike to get to the finish line? I've looked at the map and can't tell.
yes! Just ask someone in a volunteer shirt (if there are any) or ask someone who looks like they're in charge. I will be out there that morning for the practice swim, so I can show you. If not that morning, when you rack your bike later that afternoon/evening, ask someone then.

Will I just leave my wetsuit in my little transition spot? Is it best to stuff it in a bag so it doesn't get in the way? Can I have a bag with a change of clothes for after race in "my t-spot" or would it be best for Hubs to keep it?I just throw my wetsuit down in my transition area (fold it up and toss it down). No need to be worried about it disappearing- they never do at this race.
For the after-outfit: I would have your hubs have it waiting on you at the end. You'll be finishing before the majority of the half people so you may have to wait some time before they open transition up and let you back in to get to your things. Lots of half people want into transition after they finish and usually they let them come in, provided they are on the lookout for other athletes and staying out of racer's way.

Can I keep my little saddle trunk on my bike for gels and stuff?
absolutely!

So I cross the finish line and then go back to transition and get my bike and stuff or do I have to wait?
Like I said, you may have to wait a little bit for transition to open again, but it will open once the majority of the people start finishing the half. You will not be running, so you will be finishing earlier than a lot of people. Because of traffic flow coming into transition, they will hold off letting people back in immediately, but will let them once the traffic has tapered off a bit. I would have the hubs have your clothes handy to change in since you'll (more than likely) be done before they start letting people back into transition.

Should I get a clip on aero bar? Don't have one, have never ridden with one but could get enough rides in between now and 24th to get used to it..
you could... but you are a great biker without it. I think you'll be fine without it. There is a learning curve with aero bars (you'll have to change your saddle position, adjust the bars, get used to the handling, etc). This close out, I would not put bars on your bike. That's my opinion, tho. I don't know that 2 weeks would give you the time to really get used to it. Might be more stressful IMO. Stick with what you know at this point. Now in the future for your next event...

Think I will get a race belt, I might be doing more of these things...
hee hee- I knew this would happen. They sell race belts at any running store.

[SLash]

Thanks very much, Tanya!!! Great info and very helpful!

[tangentgirl]

Hey Slash, I'm doing an aquabike in a couple of weeks too. Woohoo!

You were musing about just how far a 1.2 mile swim is. I found this handy link that has conversions of pool lengths to miles, with an eye on multisport race differences:

http://www.trinewbies.com/tno_swim/t...ance_chart.asp

[SLash]

Hey thanks Tangent Girl, that will come in handy. Good luck on your aquabike, mine is now in 12 days...

I did something yesterday that put my wondering about how far 1.2 mile swim is into better perspective... I did an open water swim race of 1 mile! It was a small event, swimming only, and only 67 swimmers at that. A nice event, in a calm and clear (for Oklahoma) lake - just what the doctor ordered. I swam it in 44:09 which I was happy with because I finished!

If you're interested I just did a blog post on it here:
http://www.loveofbikes.com/?p=1771

Best of luck with your aquabike race and thanks for the link.