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Discussion: Transition area recognition
Subject: Transition area recognition By: Shelly R. Written on: 2006-06-05 17:26:39 Message: Sorry to post two in a row... I was just wondering if anyone marks their transition area spot in any way to be able to recognize it. I was at a seminar a couple of weeks ago and they said that some people put a balloon at their spot for easy access, but this tri for geared towards beginners and I was wondering if it was a standard practice. I definitely don't want to show up for my first race in a few weeks with a balloon in hand and be the only one or if it's frowned upon. An ideas to make it more recognizable?
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Glen N. Written on: 2006-06-05 17:44:30 Message: dont do the ballon thing. About 100 other will have one and then some could take yours and put it on there bike. Just place your bike and walk the entry to it a few times so when you run in it's second nature to you and you will head right ot the bike.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Jael A. Written on: 2006-06-05 17:44:50 Message: Shelly, I was told to pick a VERY BRIGHT COLORED towel and put it on the floor right underneath my bike with all my things layed out. This makes it just a little bit easier if all the bikes look alike...just direct your eyes to the floor and look for your colorful towel! Sorry...that is all the exciting best practice I have.... What I do also, is once I am set up after checking in my bike; I literally go back to where the swim exit and into tansition and count the rows I have to go to from the entrance of the Transition to know exactly where I will be having to run to.... Hope it helps... :-) Jael
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Andrew S. Written on: 2006-06-05 17:54:16 Message: I like Jael's towel thing...I've not tried that. I've always tried to get near the end of the rack, or with my buddies whose bikes I also recognize. Other than that. Count the rows A.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Jeff M. Written on: 2006-06-05 18:46:49 Message: I have found that a combo of what Jael and Andrew tried works great for me. I know how I like things set up for a quick transition so it makes it easy. I try to get there as early as possible to get a "end spot" on the rack. I like to place my helmet on top of my bars so I stick my sunglasses into some of the vents with the "god awful bug eyed orange" (my wife's comments) reflective lenses pointing towards the direction I'll be running from. Just find something that works for you and stick with it. Plan it out the day or so before and then walk through the swim to bike route a couple of times once you get there. Jeff
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Jonathan B. Written on: 2006-06-05 19:36:41 Message: What about a Spongebob balloon or something like that??
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Sarah W. Written on: 2006-06-06 00:29:00 Message: I do the bright towel, end of rack, (get there early for a good spot on rack) and then walk it from the swim exit at least 2 times.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Jay T. Written on: 2006-06-06 00:47:21 Message: my first duathlon i lost my bike and it hurt my transition severely. This last weekend at my adventure race, I just ran to it a couple times before the race and it worked out great. I'll try the bright towel thing. I think a balloon, although practical, is kinda corny if you ask me. But hey, who cares about style. I think to make the race more interesting, the officials should move all the bikes around while everyone is swimming. May give slow swimmers like me an advantage. haha.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Ronald F. Written on: 2006-06-06 00:56:02 Message: Shelly, I have used a balloon a couple of times and it was helpfull, but all the other things, bright towels and especially going through the motions of running from the swim entrance to your rack and from the bike finish to your rack. are more important. All of the bikes move during the race so the transition area looks different each time you enter so you really need to have a feel for where you are going. Counting racks or having a landmark can help. In small races it is not all that difficult but when there are over 1,000 bikes it is easy to get confused. I heard that at the Danskin race here in the Denver area there were so many balloons that they were nearly useless but that is not the norm. Ron
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Stacey U. Written on: 2006-06-06 17:17:14 Message: Count the racks, look for a landmark (at St. Anthony's my rack was near the only lamppost in transition), and then practice it. Run from the swim into transition and try it, then try it again on race morning. I lost track of my bike on my very first race (too busy setting up, never thought to check where I was)....eventually it was easy to find becuase it was the only one left! Lesson learned. Stacey
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Jennifer L. Written on: 2006-06-06 21:48:58 Message: If the bikes are racked on a surface on which chalk works, put a huge smiley face (or any other kind of identifiable design) where your rack is. It will help your whole rack, but who cares? It works when you can't see your towel or if you got to the race a bit late. Also funny story about your stuff being moved while swimming. I took a tri class last semester and we were doing indoor bricks from pool to spin bike to indoor track (repeat). While we were swimming, my teacher put all our shoes into a garbage can. We all got out of the pool and couldn't find them anywhere. Once we discovered the bucket, someone in my group poured it out so we could all rush for our shoes. The other group didn't have such genius; they all fought trying to pull the shoes out of the can. Hilarious.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Carie M. Written on: 2006-06-07 12:07:15 Message: I used Blue painter tape on the stem of my bike and wrote the word "GO" on the front -- the blue tape made my bike stand out a little better and having that little word in front of me helped me push harder up those hills. I carried the roll of tape with me so I could mark my row, but I didn't have time. Next time I'll probably do the same, but I'm thinking about getting one or two of those orange surveyer flags, worth a try...
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Tim O. Written on: 2006-06-07 13:38:37 Message: I use the count the rack method as well as a land mark if possible. The bright towel idea is a good suggestion as well. At one tri I had a pro throw his bike gear down on top of my running shoes and it took me a while to find it even though I knew I was at the right rack. I lost a minute in the transition looking around then I finally picked his bike up and wala there were my running shoes under his bike.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Marty D. Written on: 2006-06-07 14:07:46 Message: I picked up a bright orange towel and rag at Wal-Mart to mark my transition point for Saturday. You should have seen the look that the check-out girl gave me when I paid for it. She was probably thinking, "Pal, I hate to see what color your bathroom is." MartyD
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Rob D. Written on: 2006-06-07 14:26:36 Message: I try to look for landmarks that help me find my bike such as trees or count how many bike racks away from the swim. Or if you are a slow swimmer like me your bike is close to the last one left. If security is not too tight my wife stands by my bike. But many many times I have lost my bike I am not too good at this transition thing but I like the towel Idea I have some ugly fire orange towels I could use.
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Dana C. Written on: 2006-06-07 15:37:51 Message: WOW.....I didn't really think about the transistion for my duathlon. I know it's only going to be 600 women, but I am going to steal the towel idea. THANK YOU! NEXT QUESTION: Going from running to biking to running....should I just wear my biking shorts under my running shorts? Thank you from a NEWBIE!
Subject: RE: Transition area recognition By: Jael A. Written on: 2006-06-07 16:47:09 Message: Dana, don't change, or make your life complicated with the running shorts versus biking shorts. Just wear tri shorts (they have enough cution for the biking and are comfortable enough to run in them-you can also swim in them). Jael
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