Duathlon Debate
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jsk85 posted 12 weeks ago.
Wow...this could go either way. Obviously, you'll be faster on the bike, but with a race that short transition times will definately come into play if you're looking to be competitive with the upper end of the field.
I have done 1 du of exactly this distance and used my bike shoes...I was able to transition into them in and out of them in about 40s each (total T1 and T2 times). I don't know if I could quantify how much faster I rode b/c of it, but I'd imagine that not changing shoes would at least cut my transition times in half since all you'd have is grabbing the bike and putting it back basically (along with putting on/removing helmet). Assuming this is correct...over 10 miles, 40s equates to about about .5mph (depending on your riding speed, I assumed 20mph as a reference point)
So, the question is...can you ride .5mph faster with your clip-in over cages? Also, I'm sure with practice you could cut down these transition times and make the difference smaller. If you guys are near the same speed...make it an experiment, each one do it 1 way and see which works better. I hope someone can give you a response based more on experience, GL.
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CadenceGuy posted 12 weeks ago.
Im by all means not the end all expert but in my experiences....Your father may save a few seconds in T1/T2 by not having to switch his shoes in and out, but Ill venture to say that if you have two cyclists with the exact same conditioning and equipment the one with the cycling shoes is going to win every time. Cycling shoes are designed to transfer optimal power through your engine to your bike, no wasted effort. You may lose a few seconds, to your father, changing shoes but you will have a more 'efficient' ride which will save your legs for the run, and your bike split will be faster so the couple seconds you lose in the TA youll more then make up by using the right equipment. Just my $.02
- If it was faster to leave your running shoes on then wouldnt the pros do it?
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TriSooner posted 12 weeks ago.
That's a good debate. On a 10 mile bike, if you average 20mph you'd cover the course in :30. If you used clipless pedals, how much more efficient could you be? 1%? 5?% 10%? If you were 5% more efficient with clipless pedals you would shave off 1:30. But then you have to change shoes. Can you change shoes in less than 90 seconds? Probably so. So I think in a sprint du, clipless pedals get you to T1 faster than will cages, while cages get you out of T1 faster than will clipless pedals. I think the getting to part is more important.
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jsk85 posted 12 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
So I think in a sprint du, clipless pedals get you to T2 faster than will cages, while cages get you out of T1 faster than will clipless pedals.
Fixed it for you...I also didn't consider the effect (if any) on the following run. However, assuming the slower speed of cages takes into account that both rides are done at the same effort level (which is basically impossible to tell with 2 different riders), the last run leg wouldn't be effected.
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miner06 posted 12 weeks ago.
I'm going to have to agree with CadenceGuy. The clipless pedals would be much more efficient. The time that you would lose in changing shoes, could easily be made up through more efficient spinning and I would think that the stiff soles of the cycling shoes would leave you with better feet for the second half of the run. This summer I upgraded my cycling shoes to ones with a stiffer sole and I have noticed a tremendous difference in how my feet feel after riding.
I would test out both in training beforehand and see what would feel more confortable for you.
Just my $0.02
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
- Arthur C. Clarke
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charlie6460 posted 12 weeks ago.
caeagle16 wrote:
So my father and I are doing a duathlon this coming Sunday. It is a 2 mi run, 10 mi bike, 2 mi run, with the entire course being rather flat.
Is this the Music City Du Run Run?
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azmojo804 posted 12 weeks ago.
I know that personally, if I have to ride my bike with my running shoes on (which I lace tightly), I cut off circulation much faster to my feet on the bike. Using my clipless pedals, I don't lose the circulation. And, I know I go a bit faster with the clipless...so, my decision would be easy.
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Anton posted 12 weeks ago.
I used to do du's a lot and will again next year...(Really, I just don't dig swimming.) Anyway...On flat courses (FLAT is the operative word here) I use pyro pedals...a platform pedal that supports the whole running show...a glorified version of TOE CLIPS. ("cage" pedals is a new term) With them, I'm in and out of both T's in 30 seconds. Using toe clips is much faster that using bike shoes in a du, however...add a few hills and forget it. You lose to much in the power transfer. Running shoes and toe clips just don't cut it on the slopes.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
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caeagle16 posted 12 weeks ago.
charlie6460 wrote:
caeagle16 wrote:So my father and I are doing a duathlon this coming Sunday. It is a 2 mi run, 10 mi bike, 2 mi run, with the entire course being rather flat.
Is this the Music City Du Run Run?
Yes, it is the Music City Du Run Run... are you racing?
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Leroy Bonkers posted 12 weeks ago.
I'm thinking that if the bike is only 10 miles you're going to want to push it pretty hard. That's a lot easier with the stiff sole of bike shoes.
I vote for clipless pedals
So my father and I are doing a duathlon this coming Sunday. It is a 2 mi run, 10 mi bike, 2 mi run, with the entire course being rather flat. The debate centers around this issue: He believes the time saved by not wearing bike shoes, using cage pedals, and thus saving time in transition, would be greater or negate the amount of time gained by wearing clips on the bike. I think that wearing clips on the bike will give me a enough of a time advantage that it would be worth it.
Y'alls thoughts? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!