Quantcast

race belt

olivestri's picture
Posts
130
Member
677 days
started by olivestri on January 29, 2008

Hey All,

I've seen a few things about the need for a "race belt." Not the kind that holds yur energy drinks (I'm only doing a sprint), but the kind that holds yur race number.

Is that a necessity? Even though I'm gonna be wet, I'll probably be putting a tri top on in T1 with the number already pinned to it.

Are race belts primarily for those folks who don't want to put a shirt on in T1, i.e. the are already wearing a trisuit.

Gosh - so much tri lingo for a newbie post, hope y'all can follow.

driggins's picture
Posts
213
Member
2048 days
driggins posted 1 year ago.

race belts are ideal. most on here probably swear by them. just clip it around your waist before you get on your bike in T1. no safety pins to snag you, no holes in your gear, etc.

FlashRedGLS1.8T's picture
Posts
179
Member
933 days
FlashRedGLS1.8T posted 1 year ago.

I did my races last year without a race belt and I'm getting one this year.

olivestri's picture
Posts
130
Member
677 days
olivestri posted 1 year ago.

So... where does one buy a race belt? Think my local bike store that sells tri stuff has them?

olivestri's picture
Posts
130
Member
677 days
olivestri posted 1 year ago.

I thought I saw something about tri's starting to require the wearing of shirts. Maybe that is just for the bike portion?

thanks all for yur help.

UFTriGator's picture
Posts
1210
Member
1340 days
UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.

driggins wrote:
race belts are ideal. most on here probably swear by them. just clip it around your waist before you get on your bike in T1. no safety pins to snag you, no holes in your gear, etc.

You mean T2 before you run? You're only required to wear the number across the finish line...there's no need to leave it flapping around on the bike. To the OP...changing clothes during a race is a huge waste of time. Plenty of people just race barechested. Race belt are only a few dollars, so there's no reason not to get one.
olivestri wrote:
So... where does one buy a race belt? Think my local bike store that sells tri stuff has them?

probably. if not, here's one for $6:
http://www.tri-sports.com/racenumberbelt.html
just don't put the number on like they did in the picture...lol!
olivestri wrote:
I thought I saw something about tri's starting to require the wearing of shirts.

As far as I know, that's only an ITU rule, not USAT.

______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.

Iron Dan's picture
Posts
652
Member
920 days
Iron Dan posted 1 year ago.

I agree with Gator, just put your number on in T2. Having a race belt makes it nice to not have the number flapping around on the bike. You can even snap your number on while you are on your run.

catwood's picture
Posts
897
Member
1843 days
catwood posted 1 year ago.

Race belts are cheap, but before I got one, I used a shoe lace for 2 years.... Just string it through the holes in the number and tie little knots, then tie it in a bow around yourself while you are running.

kkocan's picture
Posts
408
Member
1250 days
kkocan posted 1 year ago.

Putting on a tight fitting tri top while out of breath from swimming and while you are soaking wet is not going to be easy. I've never tried it, but I've seen people attempt it and it doesn't always turn out too well.

A race belt is like $5-10 from trisports or any of the other online sellers. I put my number on mine and stuff it in my helmet if it is required on the bike. Put it on and turn it around so the number is in the back or just wait until the run.

Or you could be a cheapo and use the shoe lace. ;)

Or you could do like I did the night before my first race and go all over looking for something that would work and end up buying a 2" wide heavy duty utility belt from the Home Depot designed to hold your tool pouches. But I don't recommend that as it will actually bend most safety pins before you can push them through!

Another trick I've heard is to cut the elastic out of a pair of mens underwear and use that.

________________________________________________

FlashRedGLS1.8T's picture
Posts
179
Member
933 days
FlashRedGLS1.8T posted 1 year ago.

catwood wrote:
Race belts are cheap, but before I got one, I used a shoe lace for 2 years.... Just string it through the holes in the number and tie little knots, then tie it in a bow around yourself while you are running.

Hot darn! That's a good idea.

tsilcyc's picture
Posts
872
Member
1239 days
tsilcyc posted 1 year ago.

I am clumsy when it comes to bib numbers. I have been known to rip the holes which leaves the bib dangling around. So my trick is to use the paper fasteners that look like little white paper lifesavers to reinforce the holes. I think you only need two, I use four because I'm an idiot.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Log: http://www.felog.net/users/teamsln/query_log.aspx
Check out my Blog: http://www.felog.net/feblog/

beads1985's picture
Posts
5783
Member
2081 days
beads1985 posted 1 year ago.

I use my race belt for running events and triathlons. Most tri stores online will have them.

I have mine on from start to finish.

I strap my race belt and number on before I put my wetsuit on. When I take off my wetsuit it is already on and I don't have to worry about forgetting it or it falling off my bike helmet in transition or any other thing you can think of

'Nothing to it, but to do it!'

driggins's picture
Posts
213
Member
2048 days
driggins posted 1 year ago.

UFTriGator wrote:
driggins wrote:
race belts are ideal. most on here probably swear by them. just clip it around your waist before you get on your bike in T1. no safety pins to snag you, no holes in your gear, etc.

You mean T2 before you run? You're only required to wear the number across the finish line...there's no need to leave it flapping around on the bike.

no, i meant T1. some races require you have numbers on the bike. and the flapping in the wind is no factor even if they aren't required.

kylie's picture
Posts
5318
Member
2000 days
kylie posted 1 year ago.

beads1985 wrote:
I use my race belt for running events and triathlons. Most tri stores online will have them.

I have mine on from start to finish.

I strap my race belt and number on before I put my wetsuit on. When I take off my wetsuit it is already on and I don't have to worry about forgetting it or it falling off my bike helmet in transition or any other thing you can think of

Second what Bead's said. Nice and easy. And if a no wetsuit swim you can have the race belt with your helmet (and swim in what you are going to wear - top included) or even wear the belt and tuck the number into your shorts. Just try it out first and see what works for you.

And yes, check the race's rules before you decide not to wear a number on the bike, or a shirt in any part. A particular race can set those for itself -- and not all are USAT certified and so don't follow those rules.

Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV

TriSooner's picture
Posts
2255
Member
702 days
TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

I'd find one that hold Gu. They come in handy when you go up in distance and they aren't just for tris. I use them in marathons too.

stewarba's picture
Posts
491
Member
861 days
stewarba posted 1 year ago.

I got my race belt free with a pair of yanks that I ordered online. I was so juiced about it that I forgot to put it it on in the race and didn't realize it till the last quarter mile! :-(

Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!

Sully800's picture
Posts
444
Member
794 days
Sully800 posted 1 year ago.

Check around for other elastic type straps you might already own. I was going to pony up and buy a race belt (of course its no huge expense...) and then I discovered a strap I had from an old mp3 player. It is wider than a normal race belt and has two separate sections of velcro, but it worked like a charm and saved me $10.

The elastic band from a pair of underwear is a creative suggestion. If you are handy, just attach snaps or a button or something so that you can clasp it shut....then its almost exactly like a real race belt!

stewarba's picture
Posts
491
Member
861 days
stewarba posted 1 year ago.

Your not going to fool anyone with an underwear strap with snaps on it! But that could be a new trendy thing - Fruit of the Loom for the men and Victoria's Secret for the ladies?!?

Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!

usasportstrain's picture
Posts
71
Member
1161 days
usasportstrain posted 1 year ago.

They're not expensive and pretty much any tri shop should have several from which to choose. Trisport would definitely have them available.

http://www.usasportstraining.com - Triathlon Training Gear, DVDs, Books

olivestri's picture
Posts
130
Member
677 days
olivestri posted 1 year ago.

funny what we'll do to save 10 bucks...

brittda's picture
Posts
2373
Member
1761 days
brittda posted 1 year ago.

olivestri wrote:
funny what we'll do to save 10 bucks...

Yes, that is only 2 lattes, or lunch.