[TXChick]

I love watching the triathlons that air on television. I'm a new runner (right about 7 months) and I don't know how all this works. So here are my questions:

1) When you get out of the water and run to get on your bike, where are your dry clothes?
2) Where do you change?
3) Do you change from cycling to running clothes/shoes? And if so, where do you change?
3) Does your overall time include the time you used to change clothes?

I'd also be interested in hearing how any of you got started competing. Were you a cyclist first? Or a runner or swimmer first? Which is your favorite part? How much did your bike cost? Do you just need a road bike to compete in a triathlon?

Okay, that's all I can think of at the moment. :p

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[TXChick]

One more thing. I assume you're wearing a chip...so where is it when you are swimming?

[Psydotek]

1 - Dry clothes? What's that? :D Most people just wear their shorts/top under their wetsuit, or if you don't have a wetsuit, they just swim in their shorts/top. Changing takes too long and you'll dry off on the bike. Some people put on afew extra layers depending on the temperature (if it's a cold day, i'll throw on a dry long sleeve Under Armour shirt and some knee warmers). Everything stay's next to your bike in the transition area.

2 - If you do so feel compelled to change (or add afew layers), everything will (or should be) next to your bike in the transition area.

3a - If you use clipless pedals, yep, you swap into your running shoes when you come back from the bike leg.

3b - Your total time does include how much time you spent in the transition area.

And for your last question, the timing chip is usually attached to a neoprene strap which goes around your ankle. It's waterproof so yes, you wear it while swimming. :)

I started because me and a friend just decided to randomly one evening. I was nothing at first. :lol: Cycling is my favorite part, every race i'm always thinking to myself "please just let me get to my bike..." :D Any bike will be fine for your first race. Really. :) I spent ~$800 for my first bike only because i didn't have any bike at all to begin with (other than an old 1980s BMX bike sitting in the garage).

[az_cyclist]

Generally speaking you dont change clothes during the event. I wore tri shorts for the swim, and the same shorts for the bike and run. I wore the same jersey for the bike and run. Women wore their swimsuits and put on bike or tri shorts over them, or wore tri suits for the entire event. I have not seen an area to change clothes.

You change shoes in the transition area next to your bike. Yes you change from cycling to running shoes, and the transition time is included in your overall time.

I entered my first tri at age 55. My second is coming up June 7. I was a cyclist first.

[chrisuletz]

1. I wear tri top and shorts for the entire race, no changing, unless I have to remove the wetsuit. The tri shorts have padding for the bike, but smaller so you can also run with it.
2. If however you want to change, transition area is the only spot.
3. You change from bike shoes to running shoes in transition.
4. Yes, and you'll also get a split time for the transition time.

I was basically a runner before... Swimming is my worst, so I had to learn that. I did my first sprint tri on a hybrid bike, then got a road bike with aero bars.

[Seamus]

Same as the others, tri shorts and top under the wetsuit. My wife wears a one-piece trisuit under hers.

T1 - off with the wetsuit, on with the bike shoes, sunglasses and helmet (don't forget to buckle the helmet before leaving T1). Advanced triathletes leave the shoes attached to the pedals, and run through T1 barefoot to the mount point. I am not that advanced. ;)

T2 - off with the helmet and bike shoes, on with the running shoes and number belt.

So no 'changing' other than peeling the wetsuit off. You will be damp for most of the rest of the race, but unless it's chilly out (like Oxnard in March last year), you should be warm enough. I started doing triathlons a couple years ago at age 39. Was a cyclist primarily, but have always been comfortable in the water. Running is my worst event, as a Clyde with creaky knees, so I try to make up as much time as possible during the bike leg.

Warning, it's addicting.:D

Jim

[caloso]

I love watching the triathlons that air on television. I'm a new runner (right about 7 months) and I don't know how all this works. So here are my questions:

1) When you get out of the water and run to get on your bike, where are your dry clothes?
2) Where do you change?
3) Do you change from cycling to running clothes/shoes? And if so, where do you change?
3) Does your overall time include the time you used to change clothes?

I'd also be interested in hearing how any of you got started competing. Were you a cyclist first? Or a runner or swimmer first? Which is your favorite part? How much did your bike cost? Do you just need a road bike to compete in a triathlon?

Okay, that's all I can think of at the moment. :p

1) No dry clothes. I wear trishorts and a singlet like all the rest of the posters, but back in the day folks wore Speedos all the way through the race. Luckily, no photos of me from that era have survived.

2) Cycling shoes next to the bike in T1, switch shoes and headgear at T2.

3) On the timing, some of the fancier races I"ve done would have timing pads at the entrance and exits so you could get a time for your transitions too.

As far as my start, I did my first tri in 1987. I signed up because I'd heard through the rumor mill that my ex-GF was training for a triathlon and I figured if she could do it, I could too. I really wasn't a cyclist, runner, or swimmer. I was an ex-baseball player; I'd played all through HS and American Legion and I had some feelers from some D-2 programs but I'd had my heart set on going to Cal. I wasn't able to walk on and I was looking for something athletic to do.

My bike is my road bike, with clip on aero bars. You don't need a road bike, but you'll want one. I've seen people on full-suspension MTBs and commute bikes with racks and blinkies. I actually did my most recent tri on my fixed gear bike.

[cjbruin]

Assuming you're not doing full IM distance, all of the above is spot on. I put on dry clothes in T1 at IMAZ because I figured that a few extra minutes weren't going to make or break my 15 hour race :)

I did my first triathlon in 1983. Bud Light used to put on a series that they called "sprints" but they were closer to what we now call Olympic length. I was 15 and I did it for fun. I actually used my old beach cruiser for the ride...something similar to this one except that I had "pegs" on the front so "the chicks" would have some place to put their feet when they were riding on my handlebars. Those were the days...

http://www.bunchobikes.com/kmskrusr.JPG

I didn't do another tri until 2004...and that's a whole 'nother saga. If you're interested, you can check out the Ironman Arizona Race Report thread.

[cjbruin]

...like Oxnard in March last year

Are you talking about Strawberry Fields? I did that race in 2006 and 2007. 2006 the swim was crazy but I enjoyed it. 2007 they had to scrap the swim. I decided to stop driving to Oxnard for that race.

[caloso]

You know, back in the day, a lot of male triathletes used to wear their Speedos through the whole race. Made for some chafing. So I'm told. ;)

[TXChick]

Advanced triathletes leave the shoes attached to the pedals, and run through T1 barefoot to the mount point. I am not that advanced. ;)

Oh yes, I've seen people running barefoot like that and wondered where they were going and how they ended up with their shoes on later.


You know, back in the day, a lot of male triathletes used to wear their Speedos through the whole race.

:eek:

There is a triathlon around here that I think is 2-10-2 or something like that. I don't think I could do a triathlon because I hate swimming.

I love these stories, though! (And thank you for answering my questions!)

[az_cyclist]

You know, back in the day, a lot of male triathletes used to wear their Speedos through the whole race. Made for some chafing. So I'm told. ;)

Both men and women changed clothes in the transition area then, too. Of course this is against the USA Triathlon rules now.

[kosherdave]

Looks like the technical questions have been answered.
I was a long time runner both short/long distances before I got into duathlons (run/bike/run --no swim) but as I did a few of those, I kind of fell into a triathlon. Now I can't imagine doing a dualthon unless there was no tri option (some races have a du and a tri going on at the same time and you can enter into either one, depending on your desire to swim or not swim).
Anyway, if you're even remotely interested, I'd say make the leap and enter a local race. Chances are in your favor of having a great time and discovering your new hobby!

[tissuedigester]

I finished my first (sprint: 700m swim, 13mile bike, 5k run) tri last year, and am signed up to do two more later this year. I was kind of a runner until my knees started giving me problems, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to do some cross training. I was a sad sight at my first swim class since I was 10 - I couldn't even swim one length of the pool (~25 yards) without having to stop and gasp for breath. Now the open water swimming is my favorite part because it's so novel :) But I like all three legs.

I saw a lot of people on mountain bikes during the tri. You should get a road or tri bike if you're concerned about time, but if you're just there to have fun, you can ride whatever you want.

[tri dude jack]

hi txchc

i have just finished my first 1/2 ironman had all the questions you had about changes @ the tri events usually you just lay all your gear on the ground next to your bike the time saver for all transitions is to buy a transittion suit this enables u to do t1 & t2 w/out gear changes the timing chip is given to u @ the event and is usually placed on your ankle so as u cross the timing mats and or lights your time is recorded yes all time is part of your overall time including tansitions wish you all the best on your new adventure hope you get hooked as i did it has become a lifestyle now not just something different to do





tri dude jack:)