T1 help

[psycofish]

I am going to try to do a barefoot mount on bike to clipless pedals. Any hints on the set up? Do you just mount and pull on the shoe. any way to keep shoes upright when you are doing this. (Come on batman I know you have the answers)

[H2OChick]

Hmmm, somebody said something about rubber bands once. Try a search of the Tri forum with those search terms.

Kay, nevermind. I did it for you...
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=40743&highlight=rubber+bands
and also
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=105117&highlight=rubber+bands
look at the last post in that thread...

Buena suerte!

[psycofish]

thanks waterwonder...not only some good thoughts but you did the work too...you rock... I did my first 3 sprints and now stepping up to Olympic. H2Ochick Have you committed to a bigger one yet? If not what are you waiting for...
If someone does the rubberband thing post some pics I tried it but it doesn't seem like I did it right

[racergirl]

Troubleshoot this at home until you are bored stiff, unless of course you want to be me making an ass out of myself (brightroom captured a fabulous series of me biffing this last march)

w/ rubber bands (recommended)
right shoe forward, rubber band to front derailleur (it'll just break off)
left shoe back, runner band to skewer

w/o rubber bands
left shoe forward (so you can run freely on the side w/o the chain ring)
i've had trouble with the shoes flopping around this way

for the velcro straps:
this is a little difficult to explain without pics but here goes: take the end (rough) and attach it to the outermost part of the soft part. if my explanation doesn't make sense, just attach the straps in such a way as to permit enough space for you to slide your foot in w/o fiddling with velcro. it you test it out on your own a couple of times you'll see what i mean because it really sucks to open the velcro while moving with your damn foot in the air

my coach published an article on this in triathlete at little while ago, complete with photo demo. i believe he called it the flying squirrel (sounds funny until you see pics)

[bandregg]

The best advice I've been given for just getting the shoes on is to line the openning with body glide so that your wet feet slide ride in instead of getting stuck.

[H2OChick]

thanks waterwonder...not only some good thoughts but you did the work too...you rock... I did my first 3 sprints and now stepping up to Olympic. H2Ochick Have you committed to a bigger one yet? If not what are you waiting for...
If someone does the rubberband thing post some pics I tried it but it doesn't seem like I did it right

Well... committed isn't the right term. I'm "planning" on doing one October 9th (Bonnelli Park in LA) but I haven't yet signed up. My husband is interviewing for a job that's out of state, and October might end up being a chaotic month if he gets the offer he wants and we *gasp* move! So I'm kind of training for it... but not yet committed. How's that for a nice, weasel-ish answer? ;)

[psycofish]

Ok had the race Sunday and tried the shoes attached thing. First racergirl had it right as far as the hook up goes. Everything look good rubberbands set Velcro left open ready to go... Here I go exiting the water (1000 meter swim) a good 2 minute run from the beach hit T1 put # belt on, helmet on, sun glasses on and now my barefoot dash for the exit... Make to the end no problems wow what time I have saved... Go to mount right foot on top of shoe push down rubberband breaks go to put the left foot down the shoe flipped upside down and clunk...the toe stop the bike on the pavement I lose my forward momentum, try to flip it with left foot flip it spins all the way around and clunk hit the ground again now I am at a complete stop with both feet on the ground both pedals upside-down... I use my hand to turn shoes rightside up and off I go again.. now I have to get my feet in the shoes... Did fine there but going slow so I don't flip my she again. Now I am off for the 27 mile ride... I am sure glad I saved the 20 seconds by not having to put on shoes...

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

lol, ya, better then my first time doing this in a race. When I dismounted, I was standing on the one shoe to jump off at the dismount line, and my shoe unclipped, and I fell like 30 feet from the transition......

I have never done the rubber band thing, I just always have my left shoe back, and parallel ot the ground. As I am joggin out to the mount line, I jump on the bike, and flip over the left shoe, and bend down to hold th eshoe upright and slip my foot in. then do the same for the right(i usually pedal for a while before I do this to get my speed going).

I will try to post up picks on how I do this this weekend(first time I have acces to my race bike). Oh and sorry for not responding earlier, I have been training alot latley, and the internet at work was pooched for a good week.

[SpeedyTSO]

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Thought this was an interesting post: Triathletes: Perfecting Your Transition to the Bike (http://www.sportvelo.com/tips/triathlon_transition.htm)