I watched the video at registration last night, and for the first time I learned that AG’rs are not allowed to have their shoes clipped into their pedals in transition (professionals will be allowed to leave them clipped in). I assume this is a result of the crashes and near crashes caused by people who were trying to get their feet into their shoes as they were pedaling down the road after the mount line. It wasn’t clear to me if this applied to T1 only or if it applied to T2 as well.
I didn’t see this rule anywhere in the written materials. Does a RD have the discretion to impose such a rule by virtue of the fact that he or she is the RD? My guess is that an RD does, but I am curious as to the authority to do so.
my understanding is that the RD has pretty much blanket authority to make decisions as long as they don’t directly conflict with any rules set forth by the race’s sanctioning body.
Yup, we gets to make the rules. At my races we do not allow any shoes in the pedals outbound on the bike and remove any shoes on pedals while folks are swimming just to make the point clear. Folks coming off of the bike to the run however can do what ever they want with thier shoes.
Sorry to hi-jack but do we need to wear the number on the bike and run??
You know, I get that question all the freaking time. Why would someone NOT wear their number? I dont get it. Buy a race belt, affix your number and go race…not that hard.
I understand why they instituted this rule, but it still sucks. I used the shoes on the pedals method for hundreds of races over the past 15+ years without a problem. Its unfortunate that those people trying to do this without practicing it and thereby endangering themselves and those around them have made this rule necessary. For years I never took my shoes off of my pedals, every ride started with having to put on the shoes while moving.
Cali has a very long narrow transition which means a LONG run in bike shoes. Not only will this mean slower, more uncomfortable transitions, but there will likely be more falls and collisions in transition from people trying to run in cleats on wet/slippery concrete or carpet while trying to dodge others in transition that are moving faster or slower than they are.
I have a built up cleat so running at any speed is not a posssibility. I would just run my shoes to the end, put them on, and then hop on. Prolly faster anyway then running in your shoes since it is hard to get that “moving jump” onto the bike with shoes on anyway.
I understand why it is done and it is pretty sneaky to take them off during the swim
Mike,
The problem is that you are in the rare category of people who know how to mount their bike with pedals clipped in. The vast majority of age groupers not only lose time but also put themselves, other athletes, and volunteers in danger. The rule is really necessary for the overall safety of the race. This is based on my 10 years of volunteering at Oceanside and many other Ironmans.
This is just another case of someone with a little authority trying to legislate intelligent and/or responsible behavior. This never works–look at speed limit laws, or cell phones–but people constantly feel the need to do it. The real issue is that people think they need to dismount exactly on the line which means that in a really busy race there are times when there is a row of people in front of you. A few years ago I started sprinting past all those folks and mounting at speed about 30-50 yards down the road. Since then, I’ve had not problems avoiding people in transition.
I also understand why they did it, but I don’t like it either. I keep my shoes in my pedals all the time; as a result, I practice getting my feet into and out of my shoes while they are clipped into the pedals a lot. For CA 70.3, to avoid all the people who aren’t that adept at getting their feet into their shoes, I simply ride with my feet on top of my shoes until I pass the first turn; at that point, the bike traffic has thinned out a bit and it’s easy to get the feet in. Oh well, at least there’s a lot of carpet in transition so my cleats won’t get too thrashed.
Yup, we gets to make the rules. At my races we do not allow any shoes in the pedals outbound on the bike and remove any shoes on pedals while folks are swimming just to make the point clear. Folks coming off of the bike to the run however can do what ever they want with thier shoes.
So if it is not in the rules. When do you announce this? Hopefully before everyone heads over to the swim start for the prerace meeting?
Just curious
Sorry to hi-jack but do we need to wear the number on the bike and run??
You know, I get that question all the freaking time. Why would someone NOT wear their number? I dont get it. Buy a race belt, affix your number and go race…not that hard.
I think they were (probably) asking if they need to wear the number on the bike AND the run. Sometimes you’re only required to wear the paper number on the run since you have bike/helmet/body numbers during the bike.
Doesn’t always starting with the shoes on the pedals mean that you get snow and rain on your socks? I’ll do it in races but I hate starting a ride with cold feet. I really wish Spring would get here.
If it’s unsafe, best to ban everyone from this. By allowing the pros to do it we’re implying that they can handle it, while AGs can’t. Pros are faster, but not more coordinated (and if I’m an ex-pro, did I suddenly get clumsier?); make the rules the same for everyone.
PS: How long 'til they ban the riding into T2 standing on one pedal?
Two races I have done have actually banned running in transition. We were actually expected to walk to the Run Out, and then start running.
