If I pull out of my shoes early and ride with my feet on top then run barefoot through T2 how badly will my shoes bang around?
They don’t bang. One will undoubtedly flip over and scrape the asphalt like sandpaper.
you may want to tighten up the release spring on your pedals so you don’t lose one on the way to the dismount line and have to go back and get it. I would practice this at least once in a parking lot or on your street so you know you can get in and out without tipping over.
depends on your luck. Some days they will bang the whole way in, other days they won’t touch at all. You may scrape them up a bit but it’s in the sake of speed so who cares. the suggestion about tightening the release tension is a good one.
Keep in mind that the type of pedal system you use factors in too. I’ve seen a lot more people who use Speedplays lose shoes than with other brands. I think it has to do with the easy float and having the shoes wobble around enough to release.
Other than that, as long as your release tension is set on the higher half/third of the range AND your cleats that are in relatively good shape you should be fine.
-Darrell
In a short race the shoes might bang around if you’re running. In IM I have problem with the shoes because I’m so f*%&ed that I walk to the change tent. Bugger.
I use a size 48 so mine bounce all over the place. Never did any real damage to my shoes though. I just got new shoes for the first time in 6 years. didn’t really need them but I got a sweet deal and they were better shoes.
Hey, any of you guys use the “kick the bike out in front of you and catch the saddle” T2 dismount method or am I the only one? I’ve always thought I would see more of it but I never have.
Hey, any of you guys use the “kick the bike out in front of you and catch the saddle” T2 dismount method or am I the only one? I’ve always thought I would see more of it but I never have.
I swing my right leg over to the left side of the bike, thread it between the frame and my left leg (still standing on the shoe), bring it up in front of the left leg, and hit the ground running. Once I’ve got both feet on the ground I release the bars and grab the bike by the seat, as it handles better one-handed that way.
I’ve had a shoe pop off once when practicing, but never in a race (touch wood). I think the pedal system helps a lot (Keywins), as well as practicing until it’s a smooth motion. I almost never get shoe drag either - somehow the cranks end up parallell to the ground, and my small shoes don’t even get close to touching.
If only I could get my shoes on as smoothly… 
What I do (only racing short, OD and shorter):
I take the shoes off about 200 meters from the “jump-off” line and then ride with the feets on top of the shoes… Then jump of catch the saddle and if it’s hot and more than 50 meters to my bickrack I also catches my waterbottle and throw the water on top of my head to cool off a bit…!
I never had problems with my shoes, only ones coming out of T1 when the sole got stuck in the front end, damn I lost the lead, never coming back;) After that time I always glue the sole to the shoe.!
ones coming out of T1 when the sole got stuck in the front end, damn I lost the lead,
That happened to me too, on my last sprint race really annoying.
Shouldn’t be too bad. If they do bang round (to do with how your foot is removed from the top of the shoe, they will settle. If you worry about it lift the back wheel of the bike off the ground once you dismount and this should sort it.