"Lead Leg Syndrome"

My guess is that it has less to do with strength (which the ankle weights would correct) and more to do with the different types of motion you are asking those muscles to do with little pause between the two. 

 Just a thought.

 Peace,

Brian 

I echo everything that has been said about ankle weights.  My understanding is that much of the lead leg feeling is mental.  It is getting you mind to change the function of your legs from riding to running. 

Regarding your tri:  everyone is different.  I have never tapered before a sprint.  but then again, my recovery time is minimal (see my last race).  If you are usually sore after a ride or run...then no don't train before the race.  Do something small to warm up your legs and spend the time stretching.  You want to be fresh for the race. 

This problem of "lead leg" syndrome, which you speak of has been experienced by most  triathletes.  A tri-bike will go a long way to reducing this problem greatly.  However, if you do not have a tri bike there are a few things that one can do to reduce this:

• do bricks at least once a week to get used to the transition form cycling to running,
• in the last few hundred meters of the bike course, sit a bit farther up on your saddle, and
• spin in a lower gear.

I always feel like my legs are dead comng off the bike and I'm running slow, but in reality I'm going faster then I think.  I've clocked a few very fast first km's coming off the bike thinking that I was going slow.  Do a lot of bricks and get comfortable with how you feel coming off the bike.  If your legs ever feel 100% I would take that to mean you didn't push hard enough on the bike.

I should say though I've only done 6 tri's, but i am one of the obsesive types that reads everything tri related in sight.