Wetsuit/Transition Bags/Boxes - Page 2 - Triathlon

Doozer.

pirate

14/06/2012 at 07:06

I have a tyr transition rucksack it's not cheap but has enough space for everything including a separate compartment for wetsuits! Has been battered about for 5 years and still going strong

Boxes are a royal pain in the arse!

I find it best to keep transition as simple as possible. As meface says!

Small towel with run shoes/bike shoes (if not attached to bike) on. Socks if needed in shoes or on top. Hat/visor. Sunnies in helmet on handlebars, I wear number under wetsuit so no faffing there! Same rules apply for sprint to ironman! Apart from having to bag items in larger races, but that's still pretty simple

Holly_Golightly pirate

pirate

14/06/2012 at 07:17

Ooh, m.eface has just reminded me I need (ok want) to get a clear rain jacket in case it's proper pissing it down at Outlaw, because I want my piratey colours to still be visible. Must add that to my list of things to do today!

My transitions are very simple, and I'm on the bag rather than box side. Apart from anything else, who wants to try to balance a box on your bars to wheel back to your car/hotel/tent when you've finished an event?

fat buddha

14/06/2012 at 09:17

Holly - anything that covers the foot isn't allowed so compression socks are out - calfguards are fine as they are fully covered by the wetsuit

cougie

pirate

14/06/2012 at 09:29

How long have I been doing IM and I've not got a transition bag. I just use the plastic drawstring bags they give you at registration. And a big blue Tesco bag for my wetsuit swims. Perfect.

G.G.

14/06/2012 at 11:26

FB, maybe you can explain this rule that's been puzzling me, why can't you wear anything on your feet? I can understand obviously fins etc but how can a neoprene sock or similar provide an advantage?
It interests me as that's my main fear of open water, I cut my foot very badly in the sea many years ago and now get quite stressed when I can't see what I'm walking on. And before anyone says anything, I'm talking about getting into and out of the water, won't be a problem when I'm swimming. Although the swimming itself may be an issue

Was hoping to be able to wear something on my feet but guess that's not going to happen.

fat buddha

14/06/2012 at 11:51

Hi GG

This is taken from the rulebook:

9.1 Competitors shall use no aids other than a cap, goggles, nose clip and costume, which may be a wetsuit, for open water swims.

9.2 A wetsuit may consist of up to three separate parts. The wearing of wetsuit leggings only, gloves and/or socks is not permitted. The maximum permitted thickness of material is 5mm. This maximum thickness also applies to any overlap of material/s.

It's believed that wearing socks and/or gloves confer an advantage in the water as they can give extra propulsion as they effectively increase the surface areas of the feet and hands. Now you could argue that modern wetsuits confer propulsion advantages with catch panels etc, but as they aren't (as yet) banned they are allowed.

What you can do is to have some footwear handy for when you get out of the swim and to run to T1 in. What you can't do is have someone hand them to you - that's outside assistance. In many tris where the exit from swim to T1 is rough the RD's will often advise you to make sure you have footwear available for this. But I'd always check with the RD or BTF Official to get clarification at the event as some may, others may not - it's discretionary.

Edited: 14/06/2012 at 11:53

G.G.

14/06/2012 at 13:10

Thanks for explaining that FB. I was wondering about wearing a cheap pair of flip flops to the water and back. Will see if the race I'm doing will allow it. It's the walking into the water bit that really bothers me but guess I'll just have to HTFU and get on with it!

fat buddha

14/06/2012 at 13:19

I live next to the sea and the beach is shingle - I have yet to get used to walking barefoot on it!! as you say - just HTFU and get on with it....

which race are you doing out of interest??

G.G.

14/06/2012 at 13:37

Maldon sprint Tri in July. Only learned to swim front crawl this year, haven't got a wetsuit yet and haven't swum in any open water yet!

G.G.

14/06/2012 at 13:38

I'm not panicking at all!!

Jeepyj

14/06/2012 at 18:09

Be sure to get some open water swims in before race day. I had an experience 2 weeks ag with a first timer in the lake and she freaked out. We got her out 2 more times before race day and she was fine on race day. There were several that turned back they coukdn't handle the open water and found it to cold. If you are a new swimmer like I was last year getting open water swims is so important.

G.G.

14/06/2012 at 21:16

Thanks Jeepy, I am definitely planning on a couple of OW swims before the race. My swimming teacher has offered to take me for my first which should be a very good introduction to it. We're just trying to coordinate tide times and availability, not easy to find a time slot! Once I've done that I'm going to hopefully get to a couple of my Tri clubs swim sessions.

Holly_Golightly pirate

pirate

14/06/2012 at 21:23

Aside from the shite course, and the smell of sewage on the way back into shore, one of my main memories of Nice IM swim was being hit in the face by what seemed like millions of flip flops that people had used to get into the swim, and discarded on the shore.

Prince Siegfried

14/06/2012 at 21:40

With the mention of sewage I thought you were going to say turds there Holly!

Running Postie pirate

pirate

16/06/2012 at 15:47

I have one of those nice transition bags, I could have done with it today, but the bl##dy kids have borrowed it for scout camp this weekend! I had to make do with a tesco bag.

We'd love you to add a comment! Please login or take half a minute to register as a free member