Triathlon - Aw, do I have to put a rear brake on my bike?

I'm doing the Louisiana Triathlon this Saturday, April 19th. I've done two less official tris before. I'd like to use my main bike, a 1972 Gitane, set up as a fg/ss. I've read USAT rules and they say that each wheel must have a brake. I also have a coaster brake wheel that I'm considering as a last resort if they dont allow me to go the fg/ss route. Its a Sachs Duomatic two-speed kickback coaster brake hub laced to a Mavic OP so it's a lot of fun but not quite as efficient as a fixed gear or singlespeed would be. I'm in contact with the race officials and USAT to see if I can get my bike waived as a "special" case since I obviously wont be in contention for the overall race. Anyone gotten such approval?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/hatfiwil/SAQFlXHztLI/AAAAAAAAAU4/2v6xDqLYFok/s400/Picture%20008.jpg

I also have a beautiful 1972 Masi with Campy NR components that I could ride but I'm not as comfortable on it as the Gitane and I'd be very nervous about getting it scratched up. Do bikes get scratched up in transition areas?

I guess this isn't so much a question thread as it is an "I tell you my story and see what the responses are" thread.

I'm hoping to do the same thing for a race next weekend... It's not USAT sanctioned but it is a popular event that i'm only planning on finishing rather than placing. :lol: (i also happen to be in one of the most competitive age groups, 25-29 males, so i really have no chance of placing) :)

I'm bringing 2 bikes just in case. (not really for the brake issue but more for a "what if there's wind?" issue)

:D

Holy crap, a fixed gear. You should be able to do whatever you like, man.

Bump.

Did a triathlon yesterday on the fixed gear. Nobody cared. :D I did get afew "holy crap, you're crazy..." and "that's just adding more pain to the torture..." comments. :lol:

14 miles in just under 43 minutes. Overall average speed was about 19.6mph, majority of the course i was averaging 21-23mph (one section i had to slow down too about 17-18mph).

I ended up using my 1972 Masi. They did check the brakes. I did 18.6 miles in a bit over 50 minutes for a 21.9 mph avg. I did poorly in my swim and T1 so I passed a bunch of guys on tricked out tri bikes during the bike section but no one mentioned if they noticed that my bike was older than they were. After the race one guy I had been riding near came over and we commiserated about riding road bikes surrounded by tri-geeks. He had a new Giant TCR, 2 or 1 I think. It worked out alright cause I won my age group, 20-24. Overall, a fun race.


Bump.

Did a triathlon yesterday on the fixed gear. Nobody cared. :D I did get afew "holy crap, you're crazy..." and "that's just adding more pain to the torture..." comments. :lol:

14 miles in just under 43 minutes. Overall average speed was about 19.6mph, majority of the course i was averaging 21-23mph (one section i had to slow down too about 17-18mph).