Transitions for HIM, clothing and such

This is what I do.....

Tri suit, either one piece or two under the wetsuit.  Strip the suit, get to your bike put on the helmet and go......

All my "doo dads/nutrition" is in my bento box or taped to the frame.  Fluids are in the "behind the seat" water bottle holders.  I have a small race tool bag hanging beneath the seat.  Not sure what else you would need to bring.  Aero won't be affected significantly because the bento box or nutrition taped to the frame is shielded by the stem.

The end....

Look at the pros, they have everything behind their seat.  It may actually be LESS aerodynamic to have things in your jersey if you are in earo position.  Air is supposed to flow over your back and junk may mess that up....  Just a thougt.

My tool kit includes a basic bike multi tool - Small and lightweight.  Tire levers, A CO2 pump, 1 spare tube, 1 quick patch kit (they look like bandaids for your tube).  1 extra CO2 for a Oly, or maybe 2 if I'm doing an HIM.

I'm banking that if I get a flat, I will quickly change the tube.  If I get TWO flats, I'm pretty much out of the race anyway, so I  take the time to fix the leak.  Plus there are support vehicles every so often that could help.  If I get three, I would consider a DNF and catch a lift back to the finish - which would be sad.....

I don't wear socks with bike shoes.  I do, however, put socks on during T2.  I tried running a mile without socks as an experiment - no good.  So now, I rolled my socks up and pull them on at T2.

 As for the rest, Tri-shorts and top under the wetsuit.  Remove the wetsuit at T1.  I use a gel flask which I grab at T1 and put in my shirt pocket.  They make holsters for your bike but I haven't gotten one yet.  My repair kit stays on my bike behind my saddle.

Unless you are doing a HIM that doesn't have a large number of aid stations, you should be fine carrying only one or maybe two bottles.  For a HIM, I would have an aerobottle in front and maybe a bottle behind the seat.  IMO, there is no reason to load up the bike with four or five bottles when you have on course support.

Shane

X2.  I have EVERYTHING on the bike.  Book up, drop/tear off weat suit, put helmet on (I have it speared on my straw of my aero bottle), run, jump on bike.  Put on shoes while riding, no socks.  I carry one extra watter bottle.  The extra water bottle is handy so that when my aero bottle gets empty enough, I squeeze the extra bottle into it.  Then when I see the bottle exchange, chuck the old bottle right before the station, and grab the new one.  I find that part really fun. 

My sunglasses are jammed in my areo bottle.  I have tubular tires for racing and carry one spare for HIM but olys I skip the spare.  Flat on oly = dnf.

I've been thinking hard about the xlab mount behind the seat.  I have 2 bike bags that fit under the seat, one medium one large.  I need the large for my HIM for the tube and crap.  Anyone have the xlab mount?

< --- look at my pic, that's how I race. I wear the suit under the wetsuit/skinsuit. As for tubes/CO2, pipe, etc I have a very small bag under the seat just for races that fits all.  I only use the drink on the course so I don't have to worry about that and I carry two gel flasks I put one on my jersey at T1 and I grab the other one at T2,

To have faster Transitions you need to practice. After and OWS practice T1 before your ride and after a long ride practice T2 before your transition run

I assume it was quite awkward removing your tri suit as well and led to a very uncomfortable 56 mile bike, but whatever floats your boat

 "assume it was quite awkward removing your tri suit as well and led to a very uncomfortable 56 mile bike, but whatever floats your boat "

Touché!  I meant to say that I removed my WETSUIT.  It would have been a very uncomfortable 90kms riding around in the buff ...