Etiquette at a Triathlon?
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PJT posted 2 years ago.
On the swim, seed yourself by ability (i.e., start towards the back). Trust me, if you're worried at all about it you don't want to add to the worry by getting swum over.
As for the bike, first place to look would be the rulebook for your tri. If you can't find a rulebook, ask the race director. He/she should be delivering a pre-race talk to go over this stuff, as it's pretty basic and very important from a safety perspective. Under USAT rules (which I suspect do not apply to races in Ireland), you generally ride as far to the right of the road as possible, pass on the left, and cannot draft. If someone does drift out left and isn't going at a pace to pass people, it's pretty common to give them an "on your left" to let them know a pass is coming. All this may be reversed in Ireland b/c you guys drive on the left.
For enegy gels, the rule is no littering (it's a penalty in USAT races) Wear a jersey with a pocket or stick the wrapper in the waistband of your shorts and then leave them with your stuff in transition after the ride.
Good luck.
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christri25 posted 2 years ago.
Etiquette at a Triathlon : I suggest not setting up a camp site in the transition area ... the only things you need are your bike shoes, run shoes and a helmet. Stuff all the extras in your shoes ( GU's, sunglasses etc .... ). Thats my pet peeve. Racers taking up too much room ! ( yeah IM races are different... camping there is fine !)
Chris
``It's not as if I'm going to sit around and be a fat slob,''
Lance Armstrong 2005
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Jstyle posted 2 years ago.
Really I have done 5 Tri's and I didn't know the GU part. I have always thrown mine somewhere around the aid stations...
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bouli posted 2 years ago.
Jstyle;51134 wrote:
Really I have done 5 Tri's and I didn't know the GU part. I have always thrown mine somewhere around the aid stations...
I would've done the same. It's things like these that i never thought about before, and with my first race coming up i can't stop thinking about all of the little things like this.
At least we've somewhere we can ask and not feel stupid!
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-- T.S. Eliot
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PJT posted 2 years ago.
Around the aid stations might be different, but some Olys don't have aid stations.
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Riverbrady posted 2 years ago.
If there's a designated trash area, then around the aid stations is legal.
That said, it makes more work for the volunteers, and becomes littering if someone doesn't grab all the little pieces. I just stick my empties in a different pocket and toss them in the trash/leave them by my bag as I'm running through transition.
"Care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible."
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tracto posted 2 years ago.
I did the dublin city tri last, the liffey is a real joy:D
Dont worry about anything too much, theres 10 wave starts based on estimated swim times so you should be in a group your own standard. If you over estimated your swim time as most people do just start at the back, its no fun have people swimming over you.
On the bike some of the course is pretty narrow. Generally try to keep to the left unless passing. You shouldnt have to warn people but try to anticipate what the person ahead is doing (i.e if they are approaching someone slow they'll probably swing out to overtake as well). And try to take a quick look over your shoulder before you move to the right in case someone is over taking you. Also try not too draft (stay riding up behind someone), the organisers are really clamping down on it this year.
There'll be loads of beginners there this year so dont worry and just enjoy it!!!
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bouli posted 2 years ago.
nice one tracto. Yeah, a lot of people ask me where the swim is and when i say the liffey the jaw drops and they ask if i'm getting a tetnis before!:D
You should spot me easily: I'm the last outta the water; last in on the bike; and last overall! oh, and i'm cycling a frankenstein Specialized Hardrock with odd looking aerobars!:cool:
Can't wait to do it though, and hopefully the weather'll improve for it.
thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated.
bouli
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-- T.S. Eliot
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christri25 posted 2 years ago.
trash ~ i stuff empty gu packs under the legs on my tri shorts ... that does not work wearing a red thong though.
Chris
``It's not as if I'm going to sit around and be a fat slob,''
Lance Armstrong 2005
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beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
I think checking out this site is a great first step to get some info.
Check out the race website for documentation.
They will usually spell out the rules for you.
Get there early and take a look how everybody else is set up too.
Dude, don't worry about the swim.
I have swam in the Hudson river in New York several times,
and I survived to write about it.!!:D
Nothing to it, but to do it
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kicker posted 2 years ago.
I just finished IMUK and the way it is done in UK, is as follows:
On the bike, you'll be passing people on the right. (You crazy Irish and the wrong side of the street) You'll want to notify them by shouting "RIGHT" as you approach. Since you are a poor swimmer, you'll likely be passing quite a few people on the bike. Just be prepared. Good Luck.
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hakadoru posted 2 years ago.
I was in the Mountain Man in Flagstaff in July and saw a woman on the run chuck a water bottle onto the shoulder where I watched it bounce down the hill into the weeds. Jeez...how friggin' hard is it to carry an empty water bottle two more miles?
I'm all for carrying your garbage with you in the sprint and Olympic distances. Makes less work for the volunteers once the race is over and we're home powernapping while they're still out on the course collecting our garbage.
hak
The Outdoor Journey: Exploring the multisport life through the crucible of endurance
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RV posted 2 years ago.
Ya litter on the race course is troublesome. Big reason why many communities don't want events going through their town. IMNA makes a big point to curtail racers from littering. I switched this year to putting my gel in a flask. It is way too easy to toss a gel packet rather than putting the sticky thing into a pocket somewhere.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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kicker posted 2 years ago.
Escape from Alcatraz this year didn't allow gels on the course because of problems in the past.
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Iron Man posted 2 years ago.
christri25;51165 wrote:
trash ~ i stuff empty gu packs under the legs on my tri shorts ... that does not work wearing a red thong though.
tell me more about this red thong.....do you have pics? Just jokes.
most important thing is to have fun. Most of the guys can spot the beginners so just let them go around they usuall give suppport as they go by. if in doubt ASK
Speed Kills. Strength Punishes
Hi guys,
so my first triathlon is on in two weeks time. It's an oly. I'm feeling quite nervous about just finishing let alone anything else, so i was just wondering about "the done thing" at triathlons:
The swim is my first worry: it's my weakest part by far, and i'm expecting quite a slow time, so i was just wondering how i should enter the water, when, and what part of the pack to be in. Should i just stick to the back and the side and let everybody go ahead of me, or just go in where ever and let people swim over/around me if they're faster?
The bike course is three laps in a park in Dublin City. I'm a decent cyclist, and it's usually me passing people when i'm cycling through town, but most aren't triathletes, so it will be me being passed this time: so is there a certain side that everyone sticks to? or is it just a case of seeing what happens and where people ride on th road on the day? And if i'm passing someone, do i let them know i'm coming by on a certain side or anything? Also, what about energy gels? after taking one, do you put the wrapper in your pocket or just drop it on the course? ( i wouldn't want anyone skidding on it, but the shorts i'll be racing with don't have pockets!) Flat tires? do you just go where ever you can to change a tire, or is there a certain side people go to?
I'm used to running in races, so i know how they go, and i'm pretty used to the decorum there.
The last thing i want to do is cause an accident on the cycle, or slow someone down etc... in the swim.
Any advice is more than welcome.
Bouli
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-- T.S. Eliot