Conquering the T1

The T1 has been labeled as a chaotic mess. For newbies it can be very challenging maneuvering through the labyrinth of bikes. You can practice all you want but the best way to get better at them is by doing more triathlons and learning some tips along the way. Every triathlete is different so some of these tips will work for some and not others.

Organization is key- The night before I would start packing your triathlon back with your equipment. What is so great about triathlon bags is that some of them are labeled so it is easier to find what you need. Also, a triathlon bag will be a different bright color on the inside to help find things fast. Organizing the night before makes race morning not as hectic.

Racking your bike- Make sure when racking your bike, you know where your bike is. This creates less confusion coming out of the water. When racking your bike make sure it is facing the right way that is easy to get to. The key part to racking your bike is making sure the bike is secured on the rack before leaving. If your bike is not racked properly other bikes could be knocked over and that could create a major problem.

Stocked on hydration and nutrition – Make sure that your water bottles or hydration system is filled up before your race starts. I know this is common sense, but the morning of race day is insanity busy. Make sure you have your nutrition in an easy to grab spot.

Bike inspection – Make sure everything on your bike is working as in breaks, tires are pumped up, aerobars are securely on. The last thing you want to do is figure out during transition that you need to pump the tires up. If you have tri cycling shoes that clip on to the peddles you want to make sure that they are ready to go so you can just slip them on while on the bike.