there is no rule regarding body marking being required at all. i don’t even mess with it at races anymore.
You should at least bring a marker to races and mark yourself up. Having those numbers is helpful to the race organizers, especially for backup timing and announcing. I know this first hand working at local triathlons.
why would one do that if one doesn’t have to ? i can’t think of ANY reason i’d bring a marker to mark myself !!!
a race marking is usually on upper arm, or on the calf, so not very visible. by the time racers finish, there is quite often not much left of body markings, so i don’t think i’d agree there is much value as far as timing and announcing. about the only value i see is that with numbers on calf muscles one can be aware of other their own AGers for competitive juices to get flowing, but that’s about it.
so i don’t think i’d agree there is much value as far as timing and announcing
I announced last weekend for a 160ish person sprint triathlon, and I used the body marking for probably 3-4 out of every 10 finishers, as their race bib wasn’t always visible. The backup timers also use it in the same way when you cross the finish. Also exiting the swim, volunteers often use those numbers to count you as being “out of the water” (as a safety backup to the mat- which sometimes doesn’t beep).
It might not be cool, or 100% necessary in this day and age (with chip timing) to get body marked, but I’d argue that it has a very good purpose still.
Interesting… I’ve not heard that one, wonder if it is really the case?
A specific ref that works some races I’ve done this year is telling athletes they have to their races number on the back of their hands if they wear long sleeved suits.
That would be a new for me as well… if its really a new “rule”.
I just did the NYC tri and we had to have our number, tri tatt nonetheless, on our left hands. It’s just a safety thing, no big deal. I’d rather a little extra black on me to be identified, in case of god only knows what.
I was at a local sprint race a week ago that was sanctioned by USAT. Small race, one official there in the black and white striped shirt with official USAT emblem and ball cap on. The official stated to the RD that there is a new USAT rule to be implemented very soon stating that bike shoes are NO longer allowed to be attached to the pedals on the bike in T1. The official says this is no longer a call to be made by the RD, but will be a hard and fast rule set by USAT now moving forward.
Has anyone heard or read of this impending new rule???
If true, this would be ridiculous over-reach by USAT, and would basically be saying, “we think all you amateur triathletes are such ass-hats that you are incapable of effectively racing the same way as the elite athletes.” It would be condescending and another reason for me not to race. I have improved my podium place in many, many races via fast transitions. It’s a part of the skill of the sport and to take that away from athletes who chose to hone their skills by practicing flying mounts and dismounts would be a sad reflection of the state of the sport.
Why not? It’s safer/faster running barefoot and carrying your bike shoes than running in bike shoes. Go to the side of the mount line so you are out of the way, put your bike shoes on, step across the line and mount your bike.
Why not? It’s safer/faster running barefoot and carrying your bike shoes than running in bike shoes. Go to the side of the mount line so you are out of the way, put your bike shoes on, step across the line and mount your bike.
You are never going to convince me that having multiple people stopped near the mount line trying to put on shoes while also trying to hold their bikes is safer than running in bike shoes. I’ve done 70+ triathlons and I’ve never had a problem running in my bike shoes. I use the speedplay zero pedal/cleat system. Maybe pedal/cleat choice is the problem for those that can’t run safely in their bike shoes.
Also, speedplays are the best because Macca won Kona in 2010 using them.
Why not? It’s safer/faster running barefoot and carrying your bike shoes than running in bike shoes. Go to the side of the mount line so you are out of the way, put your bike shoes on, step across the line and mount your bike.
I agree running in bare feet is faster than running in bike shoes. Safer too.
But if everyone did what you are suggesting, the mount line would be a shirt show. You would have to rest your bike against something at the mount line while you put your bike shoes on, so you would have a bunch of bikes leaning against the rail. If there was no room on the rail, some might try to hold their bike in one hand while putting their shoes on with the other. Bikes would fall over and get in the way of other athletes… So no, that’s not a good idea for everyone to do that. There is no harm in a few athletes doing it though.
Everyone should do what works best for them, as long as they don’t hinder other athletes. I have seen far more athletes causing problems at the mount line trying to quickly mount their bikes while wearing bike shoes than I have athletes doing a flying mount, so no-one should argue that it’s unsafe for athletes to have their shoes pre-clipped to their pedals and leave them on as they enter T2. Indeed, a flying dismount is WAY safer than keeping your bike shoes on when entering T2.
Or you carry your shoes and put them on just before the mount line. Faster and safer than running with bike shoes on.
Huh? So you’re going to stop at the bike mount line to put your shoes on?
That’s what I do at all IM races with long transitions and you’re not allowed to have shoes clipped in. Works pretty well. So well, that depending on the logistics I do it at other races too e.g. bike that starts with a steep uphill.
Well if it is a cluster fuck at the mount line, then swim faster :-). Seriously, how difficult is it to be out of the way? Also, what is so hard about leaning your bike against your side well you bend over to put bike shoes on?
Nothing is hard about doing it if only a few people are doing it. Like I said, do what works for you. But if USAT sanctioned a rule that said you cannot clip your shoes in, then you would have tons of athletes doing this. And presumably, per the new (theoretical) rule, you would have to cross the mount line first, then put your shoes on, and then mount. So there would be a big concentration of bikes leaning against the fence just after the mount line. If you have ever done a large race you would know this would be a cluster…
And thanks, yes, I’m normally in the lead pack out of the water.
Well if it is a cluster fuck at the mount line, then swim faster :-). Seriously, how difficult is it to be out of the way? Also, what is so hard about leaning your bike against your side well you bend over to put bike shoes on?
good link thanks. but let’s simplify for those among us without the time or inclination to click on. no rule about pedals in transition. don’t see anything in board meeting minutes either. good work by the op for starting the rumor of the day. ironman does not allow it but it’s not a usat rule.
there is this regarding numbers and where body marking enters the fray.
f. Race Numbers. Participants shall plainly display their race numbers at all times, and shall maintain the race number in an unaltered, unobstructed and readable state at the start and finish gates, in the transition areas, and on the course. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.
when your bib number is ‘lost’ or not worn during the swim and bike? body marking satisfies the requirement.
Maybe the problem isn’t in T1 or the rules. The problem is the shoes. We are trying to run over varied surfaces with shoes designed by cyclists. These shoes/cleats were never intended to be walked in much less run. Their design focus is almost completely cycling efficiency.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a revolutionary idea to fix this. Ideas??
Whatever. There is no way in hell I am clopping through transition in bike shoes worrying about breaking a cleat/ankle. If this rule is implemented I am carrying my bike shoes with me to the mount line.
good link thanks. but let’s simplify for those among us without the time or inclination to click on. no rule about pedals in transition. don’t see anything in board meeting minutes either. good work by the op for starting the rumor of the day. ironman does not allow it but it’s not a usat rule.
there is this regarding numbers and where body marking enters the fray.
f. Race Numbers. Participants shall plainly display their race numbers at all times, and shall maintain the race number in an unaltered, unobstructed and readable state at the start and finish gates, in the transition areas, and on the course. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.
when your bib number is ‘lost’ or not worn during the swim and bike? body marking satisfies the requirement.
So does your bib number written on your swim cap…and your race numbers on your bike.
I’m not trying to tell you to not get body marked. I’m just telling you that I don’t.
I’ve seen tons of athletes do this. and it’s ok, if there’s a wide shoulder and people move off to the side, the problem is that most don’t. I’m firmly in the camp that a practiced flying mount is the safest mount there is (with an appropriate start-up gearing, I was shocked walking the tzone while officiating a few weeks ago at the number of people at the small end of their casette, in the big ring, where within 100m of the mount line you’re climbing…)…
I’m all for rules to make things safer, but i think this rule would actually do the opposite, and result in even worse congestion at the mount line (which is bad enough at most races). Instead this rule is needlessly legislating out skill from racing, because a few boneheads don’t practice their flying mounts and learned that they should practice Darwin award honorable mention style… I’ve seen just more people eat it running in cycling shoes to the mount dismount, or not fully pulling over after the mount line to sit down and do up their shoes and clip passers by.
One of the most dangerous mount issues I saw was a new official at a race with a no passing zone about 80m from the mount (small pedestrian bridge) telling people at the mount line that they couldn’t pass (a situation of the new official, being nervous and not confirming the actual rule before the event)… she was yelling at me, and there were two people sitting off to the side putting their shoes on… I gave her the WTF look, and then ran full speed 5m passed the line and did my flying mount (my wife got a picture of that exact moment where I was sprinting by shoulder’s shrugged with the full WTF look), once I hit the no pass zone, I did not pass anyone and took advantage of the stretch to do up my shoes (which was actually harder, because I was going slower than normal behind someone)… And while not all events were, the race I was in was a National Championship event… Fortunately she didn’t try to DQ me.
I hope this speculation is just an overzealous official, mixing up rumors that they have heard…