Assistance in Tri's??
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RV posted 39 weeks ago.
No outside assistance. Otherwise it can be a DQ.
The race may offer a SAG for some technical issues - but you need to handle flats etc. yourself.
RV
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kylie posted 39 weeks ago.
It depends on the race. Most say no outside assistence, and some also say you can't even get help from other racers. Some have SAG that will help with anything, but you have to wait for them.
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Anton posted 39 weeks ago.
That's the beauty of tri's...it's all you. No one to bail you out. Outside assistance is cheating, hence the DQ.
Tubulars. SO much faster that clinchers...I've been riding and racing on them for 28 years...no mess changing during a race....the mess is in prepping the rim and tire when you glue it the first time.
However...go with what you know and what you're comfortable with.
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brittda posted 39 weeks ago.
Depends on the race. at IMC this year the SAG wagon was helping people change tires. I however , certainly would not sit around to wait for them to show up. Better to know how to do it yourself. What would you do if you got a flat on a long ride somewhere? Unlike Anton though, I usually carry 2 inner tubes and have an extra in my special needs bag . I would agree though its all in what you know and are comfortable with.
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Anton posted 39 weeks ago.
Sag...I talked with a guy after IMLP this year...he waited 1:30 for the SAG to get help with a Mechanical he couldn't fix...Man! I'd go nuts, and I'm pretty laid back!
I make sure I'm sporting new rubber at the beginning of the season. Carry a spare and for IM's..one in the special needs.
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wayphun posted 39 weeks ago.
I noticed in the Florida 70.3 and MiamiMan that the bike mechanics was driving around helping people out on the side of the road. Whether they got DQ or not I have no clue but just an observation. It is my understanding there there should be no outside help.
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PJT posted 39 weeks ago.
From the USAT Rulebook:
3.4 Race Conduct
***
d. Unauthorized Assistance. No participant shall accept from any person (other than a race official) physical assistance in any form, including food, drink, equipment, support, pacing, a replacement bicycle or bicycle parts, unless an express exception has been granted and approved, in writing, by USA Triathlon. The receipt of information regarding the progress, split times, or location of other competitors on the race course shall not be considered the acceptance of unauthorized assistance. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.
As stated above, some races have official SAG/technical help who can assist you in a repair. Some do not. If you read the rule narrowly, it also seems to rule out help from other racers, though I think that gets interpreted with a lot of leeway (e.g., if you give a stranger who is cramping a salt tablet, he probably won't get DQ'd and neither would you, but if you pace another member of your tri club on the run, one or both of you just might.)
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Kiwi posted 39 weeks ago.
Don't mean to go off topic, but why does everyone think changing a tubular is so hard? As long as your spare is stretched and you have a glue-free spot on your rim, you can change them in a matter of seconds.
Anyway.
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SpeedDemon07 posted 39 weeks ago.
brittda wrote:
Depends on the race. at IMC this year the SAG wagon was helping people change tires. I however , certainly would not sit around to wait for them to show up. Better to know how to do it yourself. What would you do if you got a flat on a long ride somewhere? Unlike Anton though, I usually carry 2 inner tubes and have an extra in my special needs bag . I would agree though its all in what you know and are comfortable with.
Thanks for the input. I DO know how to change my tire...haha, that wasn't my question. I DONT know how to change a tubular because I have never rode them. I just heard they were a mess, I don't know from experience. I'll look into it and hopefully I will learn how to change a tubular so I can experience the great ride like everyone else.
This topic started because I am getting the sub-9 disk and the company I am getting them from only has tubular. I was hesitant to buy it because I've always rode clinchers. I appreciate the input though!
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kylie posted 39 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
That's the beauty of tri's...it's all you. No one to bail you out. Outside assistance is cheating, hence the DQ.
Tubulars. SO much faster that clinchers...I've been riding and racing on them for 28 years...no mess changing during a race....the mess is in prepping the rim and tire when you glue it the first time.
However...go with what you know and what you're comfortable with.
Dunno if I agree on the tubulars over clinchers point, but that's one of those classic tri debates :) Personally I feel that it doesn't much matter since there are now some clinchers that are soooo close to tubulars but that much easier for me to change, and I wouldn't have to worry about them being loose after a change. But that is probably another whole thread ;)
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I work at a bike shop with a bunch on roadies and mountain people. I am the only triathlete there, and so they asked me if you’re allowed to have assistance in change wheels or tires during a race? I didn’t have a clue so I want to throw it out there to you all to find out.
Are you allowed to have an aide car or person on the course in case you get a flat (say you’re riding tubular)? Or do you have to change it yourself?
This discussion was brought about when my co-workers and I were discussing whether I should tubular or clinchers. I told them I would probably go with clinchers because changing a tubular can be messy if you don't know what you’re doing. Thats when they said it wouldn't matter if I had an aide car to just throw me another wheel. I have never had a flat in a race or asked this question, so I just didn't know. So, can you or are you all by your lonesome?