Triathlon Transition Setup

The key to a great transition is simplicity. Transitions should be quick, simple and intuitive. Your transition area should be organized and tidy and your routine should become completely automatic.

For the swim to bike transition (T1) you need:

• Helmet, • Bike shoes (elastics) • Sunglasses

For the bike to run transition (T2) you need:

• Run shoes • Socks (optional) • Race belt/number • Hat or visor (optional) • Nutrition (optional)

Determining how to set up your transition starts with visualizing how you will move from the swim, to the bike and, finally, on to the run. The order in which you will put items on helps direct where you need to place them.

If you have other items you want while you are cycling or running, plan when you are going to put them on. For instance, you may choose to wear gloves on the bike, so they need to be part of your T1 equipment. Will you put them on when you are rolling on the bike? That means they should be stuck to your bars. Perhaps you plan to put them on after your helmet? In that case, they need to be somewhere beside your bike. Visualize your transition with all of the items you

plan to use and practice the routine you are imagining.

There are races with a “clean transition” policy. These rules do not allow anything on, or beside, your bike in transition, so everything for T1 and T2 is placed in a bag that is handed to you as you run into transition. At these races it is critical to have an established routine. Your routine manages the disorder of the items in the bag. By following your routine of putting on your helmet first, putting on shoes and then your glasses, you aren’t making decisions. Using your established transition protocol prevents any second-guessing as to whether you have everything, which causes confusion and wastes time.