Triathlon - Transition Nightmare

What would you have done?
I arrived at the race check in the moment they opened to claim the choice spot in the transition area. I was able to get the end spot. I racked my bike, set up my area and did a few runs through the area to familliarize myself with the position of my bike. I headed off to the swim start feeling confident that in my oxygen deprived state i knew where my bike was.
After the swim i ran into transition and could not find my bike :eek: Someone who showed up after i headed to the start line had moved my bike over and placed their bike in the end position, not only that but they moved my gear to the other side of my bike which completely threw me off.
I was pissed but could not let it affect my race.

My first Half IM and I was fairly undertrained. Pulled up into the transition area and there were people around on either side. I braked to a stop, but because my ankles were so tired, I couldn't snap out of my pedal and I fell sideways (lucky thing they had thrown a bunch of carpet on the ground right where I fell). A little kid yelled, "Hey mister - you fell on your butt!" A few people started to laugh. That was really embarrassing.

At another race, I was coming out of the water and about to enter T1 when some girl (another racer) was running back towards the water. I had no idea why she was going the wrong way but we ended up colliding and my elbow hit her breast - she yelled "OWWWW!". In my confusion, I asked if she was alright and reached out and grabbed her breast (I wasn't being a pervert - it's just an instinctual reaction I had because I bumped into her so hard). She let out the loudest SCREAM and I jumped back in fright at what I had just done. Some spectator who was witnessing the whole thing shouted to me, "Go! Go! Go!" so I took off into the transition area. I still don't know who she was or why she was running back into the water.

Sorry to hear about that. I think for the most part people don't do those type of things. I would have been pissed too, and would have had to try pretty hard not to let it get to me. I have witnessed people be real jerks either about their territory or making their own territory. Everyone is there to race and have fun. They need to realize no one is going to the olympics, just try to let it go. I think Sprocket Man trumped you in transition disasters, and is a brave man for sharing them.

people are really disrespectful, if someone touched my bike without my permission, i would be po'ed.

idk man, if it was a sprint or somethin i wasnt totally into for competition i might have waited around for a word that that chump... certainly not cool touchin some1 elses property like that... that is pretty unfortunate but way to be mature about it, dispite your confusion i think u handled it the right way... best of luck in ur next race!

What would you have done?
I arrived at the race check in the moment they opened to claim the choice spot in the transition area. I was able to get the end spot. I racked my bike, set up my area and did a few runs through the area to familliarize myself with the position of my bike. I headed off to the swim start feeling confident that in my oxygen deprived state i knew where my bike was.
After the swim i ran into transition and could not find my bike :eek: Someone who showed up after i headed to the start line had moved my bike over and placed their bike in the end position, not only that but they moved my gear to the other side of my bike which completely threw me off.
I was pissed but could not let it affect my race.

Could you imagine if that was the Ford Ironman? I'm not sure how I would have reacted but I could imagine it might of had something to do with his head and a windshield. :mad: ;)
What race was it by the way?

My first Half IM and I was fairly undertrained. Pulled up into the transition area and there were people around on either side. I braked to a stop, but because my ankles were so tired, I couldn't snap out of my pedal and I fell sideways (lucky thing they had thrown a bunch of carpet on the ground right where I fell). A little kid yelled, "Hey mister - you fell on your butt!" A few people started to laugh. That was really embarrassing.

At another race, I was coming out of the water and about to enter T1 when some girl (another racer) was running back towards the water. I had no idea why she was going the wrong way but we ended up colliding and my elbow hit her breast - she yelled "OWWWW!". In my confusion, I asked if she was alright and reached out and grabbed her breast (I wasn't being a pervert - it's just an instinctual reaction I had because I bumped into her so hard). She let out the loudest SCREAM and I jumped back in fright at what I had just done. Some spectator who was witnessing the whole thing shouted to me, "Go! Go! Go!" so I took off into the transition area. I still don't know who she was or why she was running back into the water.

LOL! That oughta make him feel better. I mean, I think you won the trophy for worst transitions ever! :D

What race was it by the way?
It was the Spring Training Triathlon in Coconut Creek FL

i lost time once when the bike racked next to mine fell down...repeatedly...as i was about to jet out of T1. it didn't have a saddlebag or anything to hook over the rail, and after trying to took the seat nose over the other way and still failing, i stopped juggling two bikes, re-racked mine, turned this other bike completely around and racked it using the brifters before getting the heck out of there.

i tried to explain this at the end of the race when said neighbor providentially showed up, and they were like "you knocked my bike over?"

make sure your bike is racked securely or i might just let it lie there next time. sheesh.

at least i haven't grabbed any dudes inappropriately :) though i can't vouch for stray kicks in the water.

My first Half IM and I was fairly undertrained. Pulled up into the transition area and there were people around on either side. I braked to a stop, but because my ankles were so tired, I couldn't snap out of my pedal and I fell sideways (lucky thing they had thrown a bunch of carpet on the ground right where I fell). A little kid yelled, "Hey mister - you fell on your butt!" A few people started to laugh. That was really embarrassing.

At another race, I was coming out of the water and about to enter T1 when some girl (another racer) was running back towards the water. I had no idea why she was going the wrong way but we ended up colliding and my elbow hit her breast - she yelled "OWWWW!". In my confusion, I asked if she was alright and reached out and grabbed her breast (I wasn't being a pervert - it's just an instinctual reaction I had because I bumped into her so hard). She let out the loudest SCREAM and I jumped back in fright at what I had just done. Some spectator who was witnessing the whole thing shouted to me, "Go! Go! Go!" so I took off into the transition area. I still don't know who she was or why she was running back into the water.
I know is wasn't funny for you but reading that gave me a good laugh

I wasn't at that race, but I hear about this crap happening all the time down here. Maybe it's a SoFla thing? I dunno.

Next time, tie the person's running shoes together really tight while you're in T1 or let the air out of their tires if the bike's still racked.

"I was pissed but could not let it affect my race."

Seriously, though, you made the right move. Afterwards, I would have hung out and chewed the guy out or talked to the RD about it. It's nothing worth getting into any kind of physical confrontation over, but it certainly has to stop.

Are you doing Trilogy?

Agreed - not worth creating a major incident, but I definitely would have tried to talk to the guy post-race; 'hey man, you really shouldn't be moving other guys' stuff around in transition' or words to that effect. IF he cops a major 'tude, then he's an arsehole, and life's too short to try and fix their behavior.

Jim

You did the right thing.

But, had it been me, I would have probably tested the "two wrongs don't make a right" theory by giving both of my shifters a push in whichever way they were'nt currently pushed. Much quicker than tying shoes together of letting the air out of tires.

Steve

I would have knocked his bike over and left it... :D

Are you doing Trilogy?
Yes I am. You doing the singer island tri/du this weekend?

Probably thrown his bike across the transition area. :D

Take the bike that was in your spot and move it to another place as you are looking for your bike.

That sucks man. I've never had that done, but I can image that I'd be pissed off too.

What would you have done?
After the swim i ran into transition and could not find my bike :eek: Someone who showed up after i headed to the start line had moved my bike over and placed their bike in the end position, not only that but they moved my gear to the other side of my bike which completely threw me off.
I was pissed but could not let it affect my race.

I would've deflated his tires and thrown his pump away in the grass.
Or, if I'd had had some glue, pour it on the inside of his helmet.
Maye pee in his bike bottle?
Just being evil.... :-)

Nah, too much effort to go to West Palm. Good luck, though.

Hopefully there are no jackasses in transition...