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Newsletters>
Faster Transitions
January 17, 2008
Faster Transitions
Transitions: The act of moving from one discipline to the
next during a triathlon.
There are two transitions in a triathlon; the first being
the transition from swim to bike, or T1, and the second
being the transition from bike to run, or T2. One of the
easiest ways to improve your overall race time is to reduce
the time spent in T1 and T2.
One of the best ways to improve transition times is to
choose a race suit that can be worn from the swim through
to the bike. This will alleviate time wasted due to
changing clothing between disciplines. Most of the racing
suits available on the market today are constructed of
quick drying fabrics so you don't have to towel off before
you jump on your bike. The cycling pad (also known as a
chamois) in race suits is generally made of thinner fabrics
than a typical cycling short so that you don't have to deal
with the extra bulk of a thicker pad while trying to run
(not a pleasant experience!).
When choosing a race suit, it is essential that the suit
conforms to your body so that you can minimize resistance
in the water and air and maximize the quick drying effects
on the bike. For those who shudder at the thought of
wearing "skin tight" clothing, choosing a suit with bold
color blocking (panels of color) on the top and dark colors
(navy or black) on the bottom are very helpful in
flattering the figure. There are several styles of race
suits to chose from, all of which can be used for any
distance triathlon, however, some styles are better suited
to specific triathlon race distances. The available styles
include:
*
The Tri One Piece, which is a specialized swimsuit
equipped with a tri cycling pad. This type of suit is made
specifically for women and is good for shorter distances.
*
The Tri Bikini, which is a specialized bikini-style
swimsuit equipped with a tri cycling pad. This type of suit
is made specifically for women and is good for shorter
distances.
*
The Classic Race Suit, which is a one piece suit made
up of a sleeveless top and tri cycling shorts. Some of the
women's styles will also have a bra shelf built in. This
type of suit is good for all distances, however, for longer
races (1/2 ironman or full ironman) where washroom breaks
become inevitable, a one piece suit may present added
challenges.
*
The Classic Two Piece Race Suit, which is comprised
of a Tri Jersey and a Tri Cycle Short. This is by far the
most popular style as it is good for all distances, it
alleviates any concerns regarding washroom breaks for
longer races, and it provides style flexibility as you can
mix and match your tops and bottoms.
Whatever you choose to wear make sure you are comfortable.
If you chose to wear a race suit a key accessory will be a
race belt. A race belt allows you to quickly attach your
race number after peeling off your wetsuit. This is very
efficient as long as you have your number pre-pinned to
your race belt in the correct position (you should position
the number on the belt prior to the race start). Various
styles of race belts are also available ranging from simple
pin-less belts (snaps are used to attach your race number
in place of safety pins), to belts with accessories such as
pockets or places to attach sport gels or containers for
electrolyte tablets.
Andrea Score
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