Bike Shoes?????

[KSH]

If you are comfortable on your bike with running shoes on... and that is how you have trained, DO NOT change it up at the last minute. Train like you race, race like you train.

Learning how to ride with clipless pedals/cycling shoes will probably add more stress and money... that it will be worth to you. I say this because you said that you won't be doing this that much.

This past weekend, I observed a duathlon, and many of the competitors wore their running shoes on/off the bike... no cycling shoes. They still did a great job and didn't come in last.

I would also ask you how much you are cycling, outside of competition. I love my cycling shoes... but then again I ride 30-100 miles a week. When you ride that much, you want clipless pedals. If you don't ride that much, then why bother?

Do your first sprint without them. If you *feel* like you need them... then you can upgrade later. For now, don't worry about all the details... just go out there and have fun... and race like you train.

[Nanci]

Like KSH says, it's probably not worth getting cycling shoes for two tri's a year, but if you love cycling and are on your bike several days a week, then cycling shoes/clipless pedals are _so_ nice. I would _never_ go back to not having them.

I think you have enough time, between now and Mother's Day, though, to get used to clipless pedals if you wanted to.

OTOH, you could do the first tri and ride your bike in your running shoes and have one less little thing to stress about in transition for your first time.

Still, I know it would stress me _more_ to try to ride in running shoes rather than worrying about one extra shoe change.

PS, you may get addicted!!!

Nanci

[JoyfullySo]

Me? Get addicted?? Naaahhhh!! I am perfectly balanced and never obesessively pursue anything! I just have the latest issue of Triathlete and am mentally recording times of the top IronMan finishers for a hobby. (Did I mention that it came with an event guide for the rest of 2006?)

Thank you for the insight... I have decided that if I can get some shoes at a bargain price, it's a done deal.Otherwise, it's my trusty Adidas for this first race.

Hope your day is a blast!!!