Triathletes Travel Guide

Transition can look scary and daunting to newcomers as well as the more experienced! But a little thought put into the preperation can save you valuable time and stop any panicking when you can't find your gear.

Most triathletes spend the bulk of their training time focused on the three events: swimming, cycling, and running. But the transition between each event also requires training. Each triathlon has two transitions: a swim-to-bike and a bike-to-run. Although they seem simple a poor transition can add precious time and waste energy during a race. A good transition can improve your position and spirits while a bad one can leave you struggling to make up lost time.

In a transition, the more you have to do, the more time it takes and the more that can go wrong. During the swim-to-bike transition, the fastest athletes may only put on a helmet and grab their bike to run out. Wear a one-piece racing suit to avoid clothing changes if possible. Some racers leave their shoes attached to the pedals and they put them on while riding. A trick they use is to rubber band the heel loops of the cycling shoes to the bike so that they are right side up. Sunglasses can be looped over the handlebars and put on down the road. Food and drink are already attached to the bike so you can fuel on the road as well.

Practice transition changes so that you won't get flustered on race day. This can include getting out of your wetsuit if you will be wearing one, changing clothes and running off the bike. It is a good idea to do a few 'brick' sessions (swim to bike, bike to run or both!) beforehand. Your legs will feel like jelly when you get off the bike and try to run! It need only be a short run after a bike session just to introduce you to this new sensation.

On race day, you should arrive with enough time to survey the transition area before the race and actually do your run-ups and exits so you know exactly where to go. Lay out your gear and do a test run to make sure everything is where you need it and ready to go. Make sure you can find your bike and know your path in and out. This pre-race check is also a good time to do a mental rehearsal as well. Visualizing your transition will help you deal with any challenges that are not a part of your practiced walk-through. As you do more and more events, you will find what works best for you, but these tips will help you develop transitions that are efficient so you can save your energy for biking and running.

We have a £2 off the RRP member's only deal with the maker of this brilliant product, the Tri Towel to assist you in transition:-

Design inspiration - 20 years of triathlon experience. Too many races using a scrappy little towel from the back of the airing cupboard...

Colour scheme inspiration - exploiting the colour reversal in a woven design:

• Light and dark blues evoke a pool swim on one side of the towel / open water swim on the other 
• Black and yellow for cycling in town and country
• Black and green for road or off-road running
• Orange and purple for the colours in front of your eyes on finishing a triathlon!