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need a reality check - please

olivestri's picture
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started by olivestri on August 19, 2008

hey trifuelers - can you all give me a reality check on how common it is to have to deliever your bike to T1 the day before the race. this is a new requirement for a race (maybe 2000 people - nations triathlon, washinton dc) i am signed up for, and i'm trying to figure out how much to push the issue with the race directors. i guess the biggest problem is that i planned on resting the day before the race - as opposed to spending 4 hours in the car delievering my bike.

do you all think if i show up race day with my bike (as i suspect hundreds of other people will do) that they would turn me (us) away?

should i just get over it and fall in line?

thanks

Tri_it_out's picture
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Tri_it_out posted 1 year ago.

I think this really sucks. It can really throw a stick in your spokes(pun intended). I'd say push pretty hard, I'm sure there are dozens of other people that hadn't planned on spending the night in DC just so they can rack their bikes the night before. Also, they'd better have 24 hr security watching those bikes if they really do want racking the night before. I'd say get in touch with the race director and bring up all these points and maybe he'll/she'll make an exception or scrap the idea all together. Good luck to all the trifuelers doing this race, hopefully it goes well and doesn't screw up your plans with this whole fiasco.

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

With a race of that size (2,000), yes it is very common to have day-before check in. So yes, get over it and say night night to your bike bike. And I bet if you show up day of race they will turn you away. Also, they won't do race-day check in either, so you'll have to pick up bibs etc. the day before. Turning in the bike the day before, along with turning in your T1 and T2 bags, makes race day morning so easy! You won't want to go back to race-day check in.

If they sprung this on you after you registered, I'd understand. But you should have read the schedule of events before signing up.

olivestri's picture
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olivestri posted 1 year ago.

so - i'm guessing i should bring a bike lock too?

cayman's picture
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cayman posted 1 year ago.

No need for a bike lock the area will be well secured with race personnel on site all night.

go 'gate 2006's picture
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go 'gate 2006 posted 1 year ago.

Usually the bikes are racked in a secure area with overnight security. So I wouldn't worry about a bike lock. With all the bikes there worth thousands each, the race director wouldn't take a chance of having any stolen.

While racking the night before isn't common for smaller races, big ones such as this commonly have bike check and rack the day before.

That being said, at Eagleman this year, I did notice people driving up with bikes the morning of, and they were not turned away at race-day. If you just email the directors and ask for permission, citing a reason why you can't rack the night before, you should be alright.

- AT

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

olivestri wrote:
so - i'm guessing i should bring a bike lock too?
You can, but you'd be the only one who would lock it up. And besides, what would you lock it up to? They will have you put it on the rack the night before and at best you could lock the front wheel over the rack, or maybe the frame. If you will sleep better the night before, then fine, but really I have no doubt they will have a fenced-in area with security. It will be fine.

It sounds like you have never checked in a bike the day before. You need to crash course day-before logisitcs. For ideas, here's what I have on the bike when I drop it off for IM:

  1. Bento Box
  2. Bike number (sticker) on bike
  3. Clif bars in Bento Box
  4. Sunglasses in Bento Box
  5. (2) Gu flasks (full) in Bento Box
  6. Meds/Supplements in Bento Box
  7. Tire levers in tool bag
  8. Mini bike tool in tool bag
  9. CO2 chuck affixed to Aqua Rack
  10. CO2 on chuck
  11. Spare tubes (2) in tool bag
  12. Plastic bags over bikeseat/bars (may be provided by race)
  13. Bike in small gear
  14. Bike shoes clipped in
  15. Bike shoes open and rubber-banded from heel tab to crank arm
  16. Tires inflated
  17. Infinit/Gatorade/Water (opened) in Aqua Rack
  18. Helmet

Then, the day of race, you only need your wetsuit and goggles (assuming you also had to drop off T1 and T2 the day before). Awesome. Make the sherpa obsolete.

fpugsley's picture
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fpugsley posted 1 year ago.

olivestri wrote:
so - i'm guessing i should bring a bike lock too?

Bikes DO get stolen out of transition, but its usually after the race is over. And you have to think, is YOUR bike the one a thief would choose over the other 1,999 bikes?

I have a friend who is always worried about her bike, and I have to remind her that if someone wanted to steal something, the would be better off stealing a front wheel that is worth 3x what her bike is worth.

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triNick posted 1 year ago.

Get use to it for big races, that's the norm for Ironman and some but not all 70.3 races. Non-WTC races of those distances do it as well based on the number of participants. Have never seen that for an Olympic distance race.

Think of it as a convenience on race day. Would you really want to wait in line to get into T1 with your bike with 1999 other races while cutting through the crowd of spectators?

Things to think about. If you have an aerobar water bottle, you can leave that on, just fill it the day of the race. A good idea is to bring a plastic bag to cover it up. A used swim cap is a good idea to have if you want to protect your bike saddle while leaving the bike out over night just in case it rains or from the dew. I have seen people wrap their bikes in garbage bag to protect them from the elements. Just make sure to bring duct tape to secure it.

Also so, even though there is security you might want to remove any expensive removable items such as a garmin or a bike computer display if it's removable. You never know...

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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.

Any M-Dot event does this. I have done the NYC tri the last 5 or 6 years and they have well over 2000 competitors. They require you to rack you bike in transition the day before. They have security and they are insured if your bike is stolen.
If you try and bring your bike the day of you are turned away.
If you want to try and get an exception you should contact the RD, and expect your request to be turned down.

'Nothing to it, but to do it!'

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jhudalla posted 1 year ago.

TriSooner wrote:

  1. Bento Box
  2. Bike number (sticker) on bike
  3. Clif bars in Bento Box
  4. Sunglasses in Bento Box
  5. (2) Gu flasks (full) in Bento Box
  6. Meds/Supplements in Bento Box

How big is your bento box? Jebus! Wait... are you the guy w/ the basket on the front of his bike? :)~

Weary is the path that does not challenge.

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Carlos Mx posted 1 year ago.

Most races I've been to require you to rack your bicycle the day before. Large races(over 1000 competitors) usually do so. It is safe and I've never heard of anyone losing anything. In any case, it is better that you cover your bicycle with a garbage bag and remove your bike computer. You can set up your transition in the morning.

olivestri's picture
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olivestri posted 1 year ago.

yeah - i guess i was attempting to do this olympic on the sly - as though it were a sprint in my backyard.

all right - lets GEAR UP!

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gmccormi posted 1 year ago.

I've worked the transition at NYC for two years now and we'd actually allow "morning of" bike drop offs. Not a ton, but if you get a hold of the race coordnators, tell them you've got a good reason. The Transition areas usually end up closed completely 30 min before the 1st wave goes. So don't be late.

For a race like the nations that may be more concerned with the fact your missing the manditory safety meeting then when your bike got dropped off.

Carlos Mx's picture
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Carlos Mx posted 1 year ago.

jhudalla wrote:
TriSooner wrote:

  1. Bento Box
  2. Bike number (sticker) on bike
  3. Clif bars in Bento Box
  4. Sunglasses in Bento Box
  5. (2) Gu flasks (full) in Bento Box
  6. Meds/Supplements in Bento Box

How big is your bento box? Jebus! Wait... are you the guy w/ the basket on the front of his bike? :)~

LOL, No... it is the guy with the U-haul Bento trailer

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

Carlos Mx wrote:

How big is your bento box? Jebus! Wait... are you the guy w/ the basket on the front of his bike?

Fine, jersey pockets too. But I do cram it in there. I get hungry :(

gmccormi wrote:
more concerned with the fact your missing the manditory safety meeting

Meh, mandatory-shmandatory. "Wave start, wear your swim cap, wear you helmet with chinstraps too, note the mount and dismount line, don't draft, course is open to traffic, sag wagons sweep, cut off time, hydrate hydrate hydrate, no outside assistance or pacing, be nice to volunteers, awards ceremony (but no beer) after the race, blah blah blah." Got it, thanks.

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PrinceofClydes posted 1 year ago.

Welcome to the big time, olivestri.

At IMC, check-in is two days before the gun. 10am-4pm Friday.

Bikes in by 3:45pm on Saturday.

PoC

""Your ass looks fantastic. Are the kids in bed yet???"
- TonisTri. 10/2009

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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.

TriSooner wrote:

Meh, mandatory-shmandatory. "Wave start, wear your swim cap, wear you helmet with chinstraps too, note the mount and dismount line, don't draft, course is open to traffic, sag wagons sweep, cut off time, hydrate hydrate hydrate, no outside assistance or pacing, be nice to volunteers, awards ceremony (but no beer) after the race, blah blah blah." Got it, thanks.

Usually that's the deal. But I got a real kick out of two fast age-groupers at USAT long course regionals who were bitching out the race officials after the course because they took a wrong turn. Guess what? At the mandatory pre-race briefing they just happened to mention that because a bridge had gone out, they had to change the course from the map at the last minute. There were arrows painted on the pavement, but these guys must've missed them. Must've missed that mandatory briefing too. It never hurts to go...

Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/

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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.

Ironmom wrote:
TriSooner wrote:

Meh, mandatory-shmandatory. "Wave start, wear your swim cap, wear you helmet with chinstraps too, note the mount and dismount line, don't draft, course is open to traffic, sag wagons sweep, cut off time, hydrate hydrate hydrate, no outside assistance or pacing, be nice to volunteers, awards ceremony (but no beer) after the race, blah blah blah." Got it, thanks.

Usually that's the deal. But I got a real kick out of two fast age-groupers at USAT long course regionals who were bitching out the race officials after the course because they took a wrong turn. Guess what? At the mandatory pre-race briefing they just happened to mention that because a bridge had gone out, they had to change the course from the map at the last minute. There were arrows painted on the pavement, but these guys must've missed them. Must've missed that mandatory briefing too. It never hurts to go...


It is a bit of a hassle sometimes but I doesn't hurt. They have to cover themselves for insurance. I have learned of course changes and last year they had Dave Scott as a guest speaker and I got to chat with him, which was really cool.
Some people have the attitude they don't need to attend because they have heard it all before. Maybe they don't but maybe they do.
I would rather hear it again than miss something important.

'Nothing to it, but to do it!'

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trigirltina2 posted 1 year ago.

olivestri wrote:
yeah - i guess i was attempting to do this olympic on the sly - as though it were a sprint in my backyard.

all right - lets GEAR UP!

You will be fine. The next time it is not such a shock.

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Leroy Bonkers posted 1 year ago.

Be sure to wait till race morning to pump up your tires. I've seen people show up race morning and have to change a tire because their over filled tire blew up when the weather changed.

olivestri's picture
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olivestri posted 1 year ago.

BTW - after a couple rejections, i was informed by the race folks that i can bring my bike the day of - i just have to be there REALLY early. well - early for me.

so lets here it again for this race organizer's magnamity! yeah

i'd like to think it was my persuasive disposition, but i think after a couple days they were hearing it from so many people about this last minute rule change that they had to allow an alternative.