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Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes
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 2009-06-27 8:20 PM |
New user  2 |  Subject: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoesHi All, I am looking to shave off some time off of my transitions. This morning, I tried to clip in my bike shoes during setup and then trying a running start to jump on the bike and clip in from that point. The issue that I encountered is that the weight of my bike shoes makes them flip over hanging towards the ground and my bike frame is so small (I'm 5'4'') that the shoes hit the ground when I attempt to pedal around. So this clearly will not work. I have seen pros to do this type of transition all of the time and of course, the men are usually much taller than me so their shoes wouldn't drag even when flipped upside down. But I also know women do it and they are not all taller than me. Once I jump on, I can get one foot on top of the shoe to prevent that one from pedal. But I'll need to take a pedal stroke then to keep my momentum and then the other one would hit hte ground. So I am thinking maybe it has something to do with my clip-ons. I have SPD. If I got another type, would it keep the shoes on top? Any other thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Next race is July 11. |
| 2009-06-27 8:25 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Veteran 301  Smithfield, VA | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes There is a video on here somewhere where a guy shows how he attaches rubber bands from the back of his shoe to the bike so that they remain in the correct position. Once you start pedaling, the rubber band breaks, and you're off. I'm sure someone with better posting skills than me can attach the link. |
| 2009-06-27 9:04 PM in reply to: #2247736 |
| 19 | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes mandsberry - 2009-06-27 8:25 PM There is a video on here somewhere where a guy shows how he attaches rubber bands from the back of his shoe to the bike so that they remain in the correct position. Once you start pedaling, the rubber band breaks, and you're off. I'm sure someone with better posting skills than me can attach the link. Wow I need to see this. Sounds kinda funny but I guess if it works then why not. |
| 2009-06-27 9:35 PM in reply to: #2247786 |
Cycling Guru 15134  Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes You'll save maybe 5 seconds in transition and lose that or more in your bike split trying to put them on. Just put your shoes on in transition unless you are worried about mud and gunk in your cleats on really crappy transition locations. Really not a fan of it as I see zero benefit. But I do come out of the shoes before dismounting. |
| 2009-06-27 10:38 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
| Modesto, California | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes |
| 2009-06-27 10:53 PM in reply to: #2247822 |
Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes i'm going to disagree with rick on this, *if* done well, it can save you a bit of time and put you further down the road, that said it takes some serious practice to do well and fast, and have it be safe. put some rubber bands through the loops on the back of the shoes and attatch to your bike, this will keep them off the ground. get FULLY up to speed before trying to put a foot in, get one in, pedal a bit more, than get the other. realize though that this is only going to save you a few sec, and unless you are vying for a sprint top placing its prob not worth the risk. |
| 2009-06-28 10:46 AM in reply to: #2247730 |
Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes Your put your feet on top of the shoes to keep the shoes from dragging. You pedal like this until you get up some speed. Then you reach back with one hand and grab the loop at the back of the shoe while slipping the foot into the shoe. A few more pedal strokes and fasten the strap. Repeat for the other foot. If you don't have a loop on the back of your shoes then you have road shoes, not tri shoes. With road shoes you would likely be better off not using this method. I mount my bike for every ride this way, and I dismount leaving the shoes on the bike as well. Doing this all the time makes it very easy. BTW, I learned this from one of the pro racers in our tri club. He is lightning fast at it and last weekend took the overall in a race because his transitions were faster than the next guy. That's right, he won the race due to his transitions. |
| 2009-06-28 12:42 PM in reply to: #2247822 |
Veteran 393 The Beautiful San Fernando Valley in Sunny L.A. | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes Daremo - 2009-06-27 7:35 PM You'll save maybe 5 seconds in transition and lose that or more in your bike split trying to put them on. Just put your shoes on in transition unless you are worried about mud and gunk in your cleats on really crappy transition locations. I have to disagree. During my last triathlon I watched the wave before me come out of T1. Part of it was grass but they had to come off the grass onto a sidewalk, then off the curb and onto a parking lot before they could mount their bikes. I saw slow people slip-sliding all over the place and they almost all stopped to mount their bikes. They lost way more than five seconds in their shoes but nobody passed me while I got in my shoes on the bike. Like everything on the bike, you learn by doing. Go to an empty parking lot, bring some (cut) rubber bands, and practice, practice, practice. |
| 2009-06-28 1:12 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes Go look at my times ........ no one has ever accused me of being slow. Again, the time you "gain" by not putting on your shoes in transition I will easily make up by being able to get up to speed and aero right away as opposed to having to reach down and put the shoes on while on the bike. I've done both, I'm also very proficient at both. IN MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE putting the shoes on in transition is faster overall. It is not that I don't do it because I am slow at it or inexperienced and in smaller races I am fighting for the podium - so one would think that I would do it - I still don't. It is far from that. Edited by Daremo 2009-06-28 1:14 PM |
| 2009-06-28 1:20 PM in reply to: #2248378 |
Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes this is a tough one and I kinda agree with rick and newbz at the same time. IMO, however, the time gained by having your shoes clipped in is not worth the risk of potential time lost. you need to nail it, be perfect. if you dont get your feet in and shoes strapped perfectly, any time gained will be lost. we're talking a time savings of maybe 10-20 seconds if you nail it and probably more than twice that lost (best case) if you have trouble getting your shoes strapped in and a DNF if you fall off your bike while trying to strap in and get hurt, damage bike (worst case). its just not necessary for fast transition times. now, feet out of shoes coming into T2--absolutely.... I should say I have thought about doing this and have posted asking similar questions as how to do it. 4th OA T1 time at last triathlon put that idea on hold. Edited by cusetri 2009-06-28 1:22 PM |
| 2009-06-28 1:22 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Extreme Veteran 1942 In front of computer when typing this. | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes Based on my VAST experience (haha- 3 triathlons!) you have to be really good at it for it to help you. I agree with Rick- what you gain in transition you are likely to lose by messing around on the bike getting your shoes on unless you are REALLY good at it. Do whichever you prefer but IMO there are more potential downsides than upsides to this. |
| 2009-06-28 1:30 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes It all comes down to personal experience and preference. I prefer leaving the shoes on the bike, my experience shows I have passed up rivals in transition who put their shoes on at the rack, never to see them again, and I will continue to do it this way. I also don't like having my cleats chewed up by running on them through longish transitions on blacktop or concrete. Rick's experience is difference, so is his preference. I'm not going to tell you that you have to do it my way. I'd say try it yourself and decide. But only after you've practiced. A lot. |
| 2009-06-28 2:03 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Master 2210 Columbus, OhioCoaching member | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes I am 5'3" with 650c wheels (cranks very low to the ground) and I can do it. You can too! Once you get your first foot on top of the shoe and you throw your leg over, your other shoe will be up, so you'll have time to get your foot situated on top of shoe #2 before you have to pedal like that. I think I understand what you are saying. here's what I do - I have shoe #1 in the 2 o'clock position when I jump on it and swing my leg over. The power from this single half-pedal-stroke is enough to get me going forward long enough to swing over and get my other foot on top of shoe #2. I do not use rubber bands. |
| 2009-06-28 2:10 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Champion 11989 Philly 'burbs | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes I use a single rubber band on the left shoe to keep it upright but can do it without. My shoes rarely leave the bike once the spring weather arrives. I do take them off when the bike is on the car rack, like when driving to a race. I'd imagine if I forgot to check which was the left shoe and which was the right shoe when I clipped them on the bike in transition I might be up for a surprise at the mount line. Not that did that. Today. |
| 2009-06-28 2:14 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Master 2210 Columbus, OhioCoaching member | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes Here's a pic of how mine look when I get on. Although I do have to stop for a second to do this....  Edited by ahohl 2009-06-28 2:17 PM |
| 2009-06-28 2:55 PM in reply to: #2248467 |
Champion 11989 Philly 'burbs | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes ahohl - 2009-06-28 3:14 PM Here's a pic of how mine look when I get on. Although I do have to stop for a second to do this.... Could you post a bigger picture?  |
| 2009-06-28 5:56 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Master 2210 Columbus, OhioCoaching member | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes sorry - I hosted it in Photobucket, saw it was too big, went back and resized it and posted a new link, but it didn't get smaller. Sometimes it takes a day. Not sure why. |
| 2009-06-28 6:42 PM in reply to: #2247730 |
Veteran 262 Sarasota, Florida | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes I got so used to leaving them on the bike coming into the garage, that I just leave em there heading out, and I'm good enough where I can go straight and not fall off. Also, my speedplays do tend to get gunked up, especially in sandy areas. I realize that I'm slow enough on the bike that beating someone in transition isn't gonna help me at all on the course! But, if I get my cleats clogged with dirt from running through T1 I'll be a lot slower when I have to stop, dismount, and unclog each cleat, then get started again. It's more of a race against my own times than anyone else's at that point. |
| 2009-06-28 7:23 PM in reply to: #2248378 |
| New Haven, CT | Subject: RE: Coming out of T1 with clipped in bike shoes Daremo - 2009-06-28 2:12 PM Go look at my times ........ no one has ever accused me of being slow. Again, the time you "gain" by not putting on your shoes in transition I will easily make up by being able to get up to speed and aero right away as opposed to having to reach down and put the shoes on while on the bike. I've done both, I'm also very proficient at both. IN MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE putting the shoes on in transition is faster overall. It is not that I don't do it because I am slow at it or inexperienced and in smaller races I am fighting for the podium - so one would think that I would do it - I still don't. It is far from that. And here I was going to spend my vacation learning to put shoes on on the bike. Tried it today for the first time and I was thinking boy is this a pain. Thanks for saving me some aggrevation |
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