Managing Your Transition Area
The transition phase of the triathlon is often referred to as the fourth sport, one to be practiced just as you do swimming, biking, and running. In the triathlon, you have to make two transitions — from swimming to cycling, followed by cycling to running.
Veterans know that saving a few seconds in the transition can make a huge difference in how they finish in the standings, so they try to make sure that all changes go smoothly.
If you are a first-timer, those few seconds won't matter much, but you will feel better about the experience if you have a sense that you are doing things correctly. If you followed the suggestions from Chapter 14 and practiced your transitions, you'll feel even more confident. It's a good thing if you don't feel as though you are bumbling around as you make the changes.
Organize
Once you find a spot in the bike rack, it's time to lay out everything you will need for your transition in the order that you will need each item. If you brought all your stuff in a bag, put it to the side.
Your helmet might be the most important piece of equipment in the safety-conscious triathlon. Hang your helmet on the handlebars of your bicycle and buckle it with the chinstrap tight before you move the bike. To do otherwise can result in disqualification before you even start riding.
Put your towel near your bicycle and spread it out, then put your bike shoes and socks close to the edge. If you are putting on bike shorts, make sure you have easy access to them, too. If it's a bright day and you need sunglasses, put your eyewear in your helmet, which should be hanging on the bike handlebars.
When you return to the bike rack after your ride, you will be changing into your running gear, essentially your running shoes and the belt with your number on it. You must remember the number, so place the belt on the towel with your shoes where you won't overlook it in the heat of the battle.
If the day is particularly warm and you feel you might need extra fluid, you can carry a water bottle, but it's not recommended. You don't want to hand carry it during your race, and adding another belt to hold the water bottle would be cumbersome. A better plan for a hot day is to carry two bottles of fluid on your bicycle and hydrate as well as possible while you ride. There will be plenty of aid stations on the run course.
If you were listening to music on an iPod or similar device to relax while you waited, put it out of the way in your gear bag. Nothing with earphones is allowed in a triathlon.
