(Dumb ?) Transition Question

[HillSlugger]

During transition, do people plant their butts on the ground to put on socks/change shoes/tie shoes/etc or do they bring something to sit on?

[KSH]

Uuuhhh... not dumb!

You see a variety of things. Rarely do you see anyone bring something to sit on. Just not enough room.

A lot of people do not sit on the ground to put on socks/shoes... they do it standing up. It saves time. Those are also people who probably have speed laces on their shoes and run without socks.

As for me, I stand up in T1, since I just dry/clean off my feet with a small hand towel and then I pop on my cycling shoes sans socks.

For T2, I typically end up with my butt on the ground while I put on socks and shoes.

Yes, my transition times are horribly long!

[KnottedYet]

Betcha mine are longer!! (hee hee, competitive to the end! )

I bring a hand-towel, dry myself off somewhat, put my bike shorts on over my compression shorts, then sit on the hand towel while I put on my shoes and socks. Generally by the time I get to transition, the ground is soppy muddy and chewed up by all the racers who actually know how to swim.

I chat with the relay team members who are done with their leg, I have a couple Clif bloks, take a drink of Clif electrolyte, sign autographs for my adoring fans... (only one of those is a lie)

[roadie gal]

I sit on my towel that marks my little transition territory. I use a smaller towel to wipe my feet and put on my socks (just can't do the sockless thing) and shoes. If I tried to do it standing up I'd pitch over. I can just see myself wiping out the rack of bikes... Nope, I sit my uncoordinated butt on the ground.

[Running Mommy]

Depends on the race..
For short races I go without socks. But my feet are only good for about 3 miles running without socks before I get blisters. I also body glide my feet before the race to help with the friction.
At my last race I put on socks for some reason?? I guess I wasn't thinking?? But I did it standing up and kind of hopping around. I also use Yankz on my running shoes so that makes things a bit quicker.
I've cut out a lot of steps over the years, and now my T times are pretty fast. One thing I still do tho is wear cycling gloves. My husband tells me it takes too long, but I just can't ride without them. It's like riding without your helmet. Too strange! And my hands get all sweaty and slip around the bars. So I do take that little bit of time to put them on.
I also have triathlon sidi's, so they go on and off in a jiffy.

[tangentgirl]

I try to look cool and do stuff standing up but end up more or less losing my balance and sitting my butt down on the ground to successfully complete my shoe changing. Then I wipe off the grass or gravel and take off.

One day, I'll be one of those cool triathletes who can jump out of my shoes with a flying dismount and leave them clipped into the bike pedals. I'll look super-tough running barefoot with my bike, and I'll slip into my running shoes effortlessly to complete my 30-second transition. Not today, tho.

I like the cycling gloves, too, Running Mommy!

[kelownagirl]

When I went to a duathlon last weekend, I spent most of the time watching what people did in transition. Granted they were not coming off swimming so I'm sure a tri transition is different, but it certainly was interesting. I did not see one person sit down to put on their shoes and many, if not all, had quick tie-shoe things on their runners and velcro closures for their bike shoes. A number of the younger men had their bike shoes already clipped into their bike and they ran with stocking feet to the bike portion, jumped on and started riding. I guess they must have reached down and tightened the velcro on the ride. Weird. Looked too tricky to me. But anyway, the point is, they all did up their bike and running shoes while standing up.

[silver]

I've only done one, so this may not be universally applicable.

I carried my gear to the transistion area in a 5 gallon bucket. then spread out a towel to mark my transistion spot sorted out my stuff and turned the bucket over to be my seat. I sat to clean my feet, I need socks, so put on socks and bike shoes. Also sat on my bucket to change to my running shoes.

I do agree on no cycling gloves. I'll do that next time. Still don't think I'll be ready for no socks, shoes already on pedals.

I do have velcro cycling shoes and use squeeze toggles for my running shoe laces.

[rocknrollgirl]

Butt on the ground....worked for me.

[crazycanuck]

Whilst wandering around transition at the 1/2 IM a few weeks ago (As a T.O. trying to keep an eye out for folks who'd undone thier helmet or trying to sneak an ipod on..) I noticed only a couple of folks who actually sat on the ground & got themselves ready.

Most of the folks I saw pretty much knew their strategy through transition & didn't waste any time.

I am always in awe watching guys like Jason Shortis, Peter Robertson (robbo) & the other top folks zoom through transition. I've had to wipe the drool off my face after watching them.

It's cool being on the "inside" of transition watching people but knowing ya might have to yell "STOP" to a poor person who's undone thier helmet or something silly.. Fun fun fun..

c

[MINIskirt]

I planted my butt on the ground last weekend. It never even occured to me to do otherwise!

[HillSlugger]

I keep reading about using a towel to stake out your space and laying everything out on it. What size towel are we talking?

[KnottedYet]

There isn't always space to put out a towel. (no space in mine) So you might want to check on that.

I've seen people use 5 gal buckets to hold their stuff so they don't have to root through a duffel bag.
(I just used a duffel bag)

[roadie gal]

I use a small, OLD bath towel. It's just right for my stuff and my butt.

Sometimes space is pretty tight, but there always seems to be enough for the towel. I also bring a hand towel to wipe off my feet after the swim. I always seem to collect grass or sand coming out of the water.

[Wahine]

I use the next size up from a hand towel - don't know what that size is called.

Stand for T1 and butt on ground for T2 typically.