- The transitions in a triathlon a source of light
the fourth discipline, which is funny
because we spend a lot of time swimming,
cycling, and running, but not so much on that bit
that connects them all together.
Now, if you speak to anyone that's actually done
a triathlon or duathlon before,
they'll probably tell you just how unusual
and perhaps how uncomfortable it feels going
from one discipline to the next,
so it's really important you know exactly what you're doing.
So today I'm going to be running through how
to do a T2 for beginners going from the bike to the run.
(eletronic spinning)
- For today, I'm going to strip things right back
to Basics with T2, so I'm going to run through it
some of the rules, the equipment we need,
how the transition area actually works,
and also, how we actually do a T2,
but first of all, let's run through a few of the rules.
(eletronic music)
- Right, so the first rule and the first step to T2
is the Dismount line, now, we have to dismount
a bike before the Dismount line,
not on it, not after, we have to dismount
before it, now we continue beyond that
and we make our way to the transition area,
but once we do this, try to refrain
from taking your helmet off or even just unfastening it
to try and save yourself some time.
If you do do that and someone spots you,
you are at risk of getting a penalty
or worse, getting disqualified, but now I'm talking about
our transition area, every event will have
a designated transition area, now that does vary
between events and how that trips up transition area
actually works, it's racking also can vary
but one rule that does remain for all events is
that you have an area, and you are respectful of
other athletes in terms of where you put your bike
and all your kit, now the bikes racked, now
is the point that we can remove our helmet
and again, you can place that on your bike
or on the floor with your bike nice and closely.
Also talking about equipment.
Now this also does vary from events as
to how much you can put in your area,
but a general rule of thumb, I just say try not
to bring your kitchen sink.
Some events do allow you to bring a small bag and place
that up beside your bike for your pre
and post-race equipment.
Another and final rule is no nudity.
(eletronic music)
- Right, well let's actually take a closer look
at the equipment and it's worth mentioning at
this point that for some of those larger events,
like I'm an and challenge, that will actually require you
to pack your equipment into bags, that you collect
as you come through both T1 and T2,
but for your smaller and local events,
it's quite standard just leave your equipment
by your bike as I have right here.
So let's take a closer look at those equipment choices
and coming into T2, you're actually wearing a lot
of your most complicated kit choices,
so it's actually a case of just depositing that and
then grabbing your running shoes and tearing away,
so all I have here in T2 is my running shoes.
You can of course leave some socks, that's optional,
you can have some change of kit there,
you also have some food, some nutrition,
just to top up those energy levels.
You will also notice, I've got a towel here
which can be quite a nice touch just
to wipe your feet off through T2.
It's also quite a nice way of identifying
your transition area when you come into T2.
(eletronic music)
- Right, well, let's quickly run through some
of the setup before we get on to show you how
to do it, so as I've explained already, I've got
my running shoes out beside my bike,
but I'm making sure they're not stuck out into
the path of other races, other competitors or,
in the way of my bike when I'm needing to rack it.
As we're setting up pre-race, this is
an ideal opportunity to scout out the transition area,
check out where you going to be biking in,
where you're going to be needing to run out and so on.
It's also a really good opportunity to make a mental note
of which rack your bike is in, then when you're running
through with your bike or even coming out of the swim,
you can quickly and easily count
the racks and find your bike.
You can also use landmarks and,
or perhaps even an event Banner
that's in line with your bike.
Well now that's all the admin done.
Let's move on to the fun bit and show you how to do it.
(eletronic music)
- But as mentioned already today, I'm focusing
this towards beginners, so I'm going
to run through a T2 step by step.
Now, with this being a relatively new sport
to you or even perhaps brand-new,
the most important factor is that we make it around safely.
It doesn't necessarily mean slowly because
if we do this transition well, it can still be quite swift.
So, we're going to approach the line
as you would for a stop junction
or a set of traffic lights, robots, or stop lights,
whatever you like to call them.
So I'm going to start slowing down in advance of the line,
it's often worth checking this approach out
prior to the race so that it doesn't take you by surprise.
If you are using clipless pedals, then you may want
to start on clipping from one side in advance,
then come to a stop just before the line,
and I would recommend doing this ammeter
just to be on the safe side, and place one foot down
on the floor to balance yourself.
Then simply take your other leg off
and over the saddle, so you can walk or even run away
with your bike, okay, this may all sound quite basic
and it is but it works well and it's safe.
It's better to nail each set well,
rather than being totally out of control from the start.
Right now, we're off the bike and it's case
of making our way to the transition area.
How we do that is entirely up to you,
so we can hold the bike by the handlebars here
that works perfectly fine, another option is
to hold the bike by the saddle here.
And in this position you have just
a little bit more control of the bike,
also eliminates the risk of maybe hitting your ankles
or feet on the pedals, but it is another skill and maybe
just need to build up to that time
as you come a little bit more confident.
Now as a case of making our way to the transition area,
and trying to get there as quickly as possible.
So, hopefully when we were setting up her bike
before the Race you took a mental note of how to get there.
So is the case of figuring that out, working out
which track your bike needs to be put in
and getting over there, but do you remember not
to touch or unclip your helmet as you do so.
So how we actually rack our bike does vary between events.
A lot of events we use a rail system, which will hang
a bike from the saddle or even the handlebars.
Some other events, we use a system where we put
our front or rear wheel into and kind of wedge it in,
a little like I have today, now hopefully,
you've actually found the right transition area
and don't worry if you haven't because you're not
the first and you certainly won't be the last.
Next check is to make sure that your bike is secure
and safe is not about to topple over,
and now we can move on to taking some of our bike,
it's also going to take my helmet off
and then my bike shoes, I'm going to leave them
beside my bike out of the way of other competitors
and now put my running shoes on, now you may have noticed
that I have elastic laces on my running shoes,
so go over running shoes nice and quickly there.
But this is entirely optional, you can of course
just use standard laces and tie them up through transition,
but elastic laces are nice and quick
and perhaps you might want to build up
to using these with time, you can of course put socks on
in transition, I already had mine on the bike
and just kept them on for the run, you can put
other kits on, get your nutrition as you go out.
Another thing to talk about is numbers or number belt.
So, some races do require that you wear a number on
the back for the bike and then on the front for the run.
So if you're using a number belt, now's the time
to spin it around to the front as you run out,
but don't worry if you do forget because people will often
give you a little nudge, a reminder
as you're running out of transition.
Well, then if you are a beginner to Triathlon
and that is everything that you need to know
about T2 and to make it through it safely
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