--FLYING MOUNT!!!-- (Page 2)

I've not actually tried running in my cycling shoes much, but I had considered this.  I've only experimented with leaving the shoes on the bike on dismounting, and it went okay a couple times, but having the three strap shoes makes it a little more of a pain.  I experimented with getting my feet into the shoes while on my trainer once and it just seemed to take forever.

You would not be the first to do so!!!

I tape my CX practices all the time, helps with working on things.  Maybe that is why i dont even think about running in bike shoes, i do it all year long, then again i do use Crank Bros for all my bikes, so it is not like i am running in Speedplays or Look cleats, it does make a difference.

I've found this to be the easiest mount by far. I watch so many people try to hop over and land on the seat, or come to a complete stop and lose time.

Put the bike into the appropriate gear (use a nice big one if there's no hill). Set up your shoe with rubber bands (I go from the back of the shoe to the bottle mount, but use whatever works). I do the right side too, only so it doesn't wave around while running with the bike. Practice it a few times and you'll be set. I keep my feet out of the shoes until I'm up to speed and well away from the transition area.

To dismount, I do the same. Take my feet out of the shoes nice and early. As you approach the dismount, flip the right leg over to the left side, coast right up to the line and hop off in a run. As I jump off, I kick the pedal forward a little to get the cranks parallel to the ground so there is less worry about a shoe flipping off of the pedal.

Take a day or two to practice these transitions, and you'll save yourself valuable time and a lot or wear-and-tear on the family jewels! Besides, it looks cool.

At my race this past weekend, one guy raced to the mount line carrying his shoes. I ran past him, but I assume he got to the line, somehow put his shoes on right there, then started riding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRJmMGE-fU4

I gotta admit that scares the shite out of me.  I'm sure I'd rupture a jewel.

Along the lines of Fastyellow's advice, if you've ever (correctly) mounted a horse bareback, that's a good start. The aim is to roll over the bike so that you just land on the saddle, not come down on it with a thump.

I'm still in the process of becoming convinced that I should pre-clip in my shoes. I use SDP mtb shoes that I can run in - my transitions are quick enough that they are the least of my priorities, and since about half of my early season races are in slop, I can clip in easily when other guys with fouled cleats can't.

I "thought" the same thing but wanted to try mounting my shoes on the bike just to make sure.  Did it for the 1st time at this Sundays race.........going forward I will keep doing it - it is faster, period!  Granted depending on the transisition area setup and distances it may not be by a lot, but any seconds saved especially in shorter races - I'll take.  Especially considering at Sundays race I finished 9th overall and 10th place was only 18 seconds behind.  My T1 time was 53 seconds (7th overall) and T2 was 29 seconds (16th overall).

Really it's pretty simple - I only practiced it twice the day prior to the race.  key thing is to remain calm and know mentally what you are to do.  I rubberbanded my shoes to the bike.  Make SURE you practice that the rubber bands actually break.  The bands I was using would not break so I ended up having to put a small nick in them to make sure they would break whhen stretched.  Flying mount doesn't have to be a flying cyclocross type mount.  I've race cyclocross for many years and have no problem doing "Flyying" mounts - not necessary on a tri bike.  I just did a skip step type mount to avoid any issues - worked find.  Quick up to speed and set my feet in the shoes which takes about 10 seconds max (wearing tri specific shoes is almost a must when doing this).  I think if you are wearinf regular cycling shoes, gettting your feet in one handed could be a lot more difficult.  Dismount is just in reverse.

Michael

Are they "exchanging machines" because of technical issues???

I think you guys are doing it all wrong if your shoe is hitting the ground.  You do know that when you take your feet out of the shoes to dismount, you are placing your feet On Top of the shoe.  You are standing ontop of your now empty shoes, this way when the crank arm is all the way down, your shoe will not hit the pavement.

Michael