Transitions are an important part of any triathlon, and how well you prepare for them and practice going from swimming to biking to running can help you cut minutes from your overall time. Follow these simple steps to set up an efficient transition area:
Find your transition area by race number
You may be assigned a spot or you may be free to choose an open spot.
Rack your bike.
Set up your bike with filled water bottles in the cages and a nutrition bar or gel pack taped to the handlebars.
Pump your tires to the correct air pressure, if you haven't already.
Lay down a towel next to your bike and set your cycling shoes at the bottom of the towel, closest to you, and your running shoes at the top of the towel.
Open the shoes as wide as possible to make it easy to slide your feet in. Place your socks, if you'll be wearing them, on top of your cycling shoes.
Set your helmet on the handlebars of your bike, with the chin strap open and pulled to the outsides of your helmet.
Place your sunglasses with the arms straddling the saddle, in a way similar to how they go on your head, so they won't fall off if someone bumps your bike.
You can also place them in your helmet so you can take them out first and put them on before you strap on your helmet.
If you'll be wearing gloves, open the glove for your right hand and slide that onto the end of the handlebar on the right side of your bike; put the glove for your left hand on the left handlebar.
Be sure the gloves are as far up on the handlebars as they can go so they won't fall off if your bike is bumped.
Secure your race number to your race belt if you'll be using one, and place it across the top tube of your bike or on top of your cycling shoes.
You can also use the safety pins in your race packet to pin your race number to the back of the shirt you'll wear while riding or running or ask someone to pin the number onto the back of your tri suit. Don't pin your number to your wetsuit.
If you'll be pulling on a shirt after your swim, place it on your saddle or across your top tube.
Go over your transition area visually.
Imagine coming back to the stall after your swim. Lay your eyes or your hands on every piece of equipment you'll need in the order in which you'll use it. Do the same for when you return from cycling and need to get ready to run.
