Tri Etiquette
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Tribro posted 3 years ago.
Good idea hipfan. Just to let you know, I'll be posting the full set of USAT rules next week, that first article was just a primer and seemed to be the most common of questions. As well, starting in February one of the officials will be starting a column here where he'll pick one rule and go into a deeper explaination of it, this wil be monthly and he's also open to any questions.
On swimming. It's not my best discipline and since I'm not concerned about a podium spot, only improving my own performance, I usually let the pack go ahead at the start and start my own watch 10 seconds later then I head out, if I pass people along the way if feels great and usually I can avoid the washing machine.
325
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1693 days
jeslol posted 3 years ago.
Swim etiquette-
Pool swims (usually these are time trial type start or they are not the first leg so that people are spread out) - Stay to the right! If you're going to pass...think of it like cycling, move to the left and make your move quickly. If you pull out and can't execute the pass, don't hang out on the left, pull back in behind who you were trying to pass. If you're going to stop on the wall, stay as far to the right as possible. Some of us like to flip turn.
Open water swims - just don't intentially grab others body parts. If you are a timid swimmer, take tribro's advice.
287
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1442 days
Great Greyhound posted 3 years ago.
I took an 'Open Water Swim' Class at the local YMCA, run by several Triathlon guys. They put 9-10 people in the same lane of the pool, to get evryone used to the chop, and coming in contact with others while swimming. The keep to the right rule was used.
I never could get over the feeling of someone brushing my legs while swimming... I kept waiting for a bunch of tentacles to wrap around my calf and drag me under.... Sorry, that's always been one of my biggest fears.
For now, I'll stick with Duos.
Darrell "Legs 'n Lungs" Lenkner
in West Chester, Oh.
Check here for Images of us.
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cedriclburden posted 3 years ago.
On your 1st triathlon just go out and enjoy yourself. Of course in the water there is no triathlon etiqette, no one is going to stop swimming to say excuse me. What I do is wait about 10 seconds and then start my swim leg, I don't worry about the time becasue swimming is my weakest leg and I'm just trying to survive and have energy to get to the bike that pass people on the run.
If you participate in a USAT sanctioned race please read the rules because you can get penilties and get thrown off the course. Hope this helps!
Cedric L. Burden
a.k.a C-Murder
Nothing is impossible for the person who does not have to do it.
--Author Unknown--
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catwood posted 3 years ago.
It depends on your ability on the swim... It is a good idea to line up on the beach fastest people in front and slowest in back to avoid swimming over people or getting swum over as much as possible. Since the swim is my strongest leg and I have always been top 10 out of the water (I've only done a buch of local tri's... so i haven't encountered many serious triathletes) I start in front and swim the first 50-100 yards very quickly to get away from the thrashing before settling.
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Carl Sohn posted 3 years ago.
I am a rookie as well and have followed these types of discussion in myriad fora. The best way I have heard it explained is, "in your first few events you should be a p[articipant and not a competitor, if you are leary about the swim allow the rabbits to get ahead and go at yur own pace. This can be siad for the other sections as well." Good advice, I think; and it seems to echo what everybody else in this thread is saying .
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1613 days
ibgenaro posted 3 years ago.
I've only done one tri, but I've competed in many beach competitions.
What I like to do is while people are warming up in the ocean, I see which direction the current is flowing, just watch where people start and where they end up(don't move and pick a person or two). Once I know which direction the current is flowing, I stand off to the side, away from everyone. Once the race starts, I just swim straight and the current will push me in the direction of the buoys. This way I avoid being pushed to far inside of the buoys and having to comeback and swim more(hope this makes sense). I don't line up in front of the buoy... it works for me.
I just read the article on the rules of Triathlon, which was good but it all seemed to be foccused on the bike leg. I don't do my first tri for about 4 months, but is there anything else that I should be foccusing myself to do or not to do. I know I'm a little nervous about swimming with a bunch of other people as when I go to the pool there is usually no more than 3 other people and we all use our own lane.
This can become a thread for you to vent out your biggest frustrations as well if you want.