There is a current thread on the pro’s and con’s of mounting shoes on pedals or not.
That made me think of the other risk/reward choices out there, which could be called the Julie Moss conundrum. As I understand it, she took a calculated risk in skipping an aid station (maybe more) in order to save time. In stead she bonked, got passed, came in second. (note: If I am wrong on Julie Moss making the choice to skip aid stations, apologies to a great athlete)
One risk/reward choice I am making is choosing alu rims on my new set of wheels rather than carbon. They weigh more but I would rather hit a pot hole going downhill with alu rims than carbon.
“As I understand it, she took a calculated risk in skipping an aid station (maybe more) in order to save time. In stead she bonked, got passed, came in second. (note: If I am wrong on Julie Moss making the choice to skip aid stations, apologies to a great athlete)”
I’m not sure how calculated her choice was. I think she was feeling good (or going dopey already) and just ran past it. OTOH, her former hubby ran past an aid station in '89 and that was where he gapped Dave Scott for the win.
“One risk/reward choice I am making is choosing alu rims on my new set of wheels rather than carbon. They weigh more but I would rather hit a pot hole going downhill with alu rims than carbon.”
I use aluminum rims and tire liners for safety and convenience (it’s really great to only flat once every four years!!) during training, but on race day I’m on the lightest wheels I can afford. I make it a point never to hit potholes…
I also make it a point not to hit pot holes, unfortunately they don’t always agree with my choice. You may have better eyesight, but going down hill at 40 plus, with patches of shade on the road, they get me no matter what.
As for her hubby making the opposite choice and winning, that is why it is a conundrum, there is no right or wrong, just choices.
“I also make it a point not to hit pot holes, unfortunately they don’t always agree with my choice. You may have better eyesight, but going down hill at 40 plus, with patches of shade on the road, they get me no matter what.”
That comment was meant to be ironic. I’m visually impaired and my friends never let me lead a paceline because I find potholes that nobody else can find.
“One risk/reward choice I am making is choosing alu rims on my new set of wheels rather than carbon. They weigh more but I would rather hit a pot hole going downhill with alu rims than carbon.”
OK, but what is the difference in time between the wheelsets?
Anyone I have ever seen with their shoes on their bikes, I have passed them coming out of T1. Either they really suck ass at it, or it doesn’t save any time.
I’ve tried that a few times, and it’s never worked well. First time, have shoes on bike. Lose something like 8 places trying to get the straps back through the loops… Then get going and the bolt on the Softride beam lets go (breaks). Okay.
Next time I just slip the shoes on and go, so as to tighten them on the fly. Well, as I swing my leg over the bike, the right shoe goes “on the fly” to the other side of the road… Fortunately I was able to repass every one that day.
Hmmm, Hunter Kemper, Cam Widoff and others were in the last race I did and they used this technique. I’m guessing you don’t pass these guys. I didn’t see it, but I’m also guessing that many of the AG winners also use the shoes mounted technique. You must be another anonymous triathlon god like Tri-3.
I am not sure what kind of Carbon wheels you have been riding but I ride Planet X Carbon wheels and they are absolute tanks! Needless to say I don’t hit potholes on purpose but sometimes it does happen and when it has the wheels handled it with no questions asked.
I would suggest going with Carbon, do your research, and at the end of the day you will be much better off riding carbon than alu in my opinion.
" Anyone I have ever seen with their shoes on their bikes, I have passed them coming out of T1"
You must be another anonymous triathlon god who is always on the podium even though you can’t seem to master a very easy to learn skill. Now, I’m rarely on the podium, but it isn’t because of my transitions and I’ve yet to be passed in transition while using this technique.
“Anyone I have ever seen with their shoes on their bikes, I have passed them coming out of T1”
Lots of wiggle room there. If you’re MOP/BOP, then the guys who are coming out of the water around the same time as you probably aren’t exemplary in any of the disciplines, including or perhaps especially transitions. I’m guessing you’re not FOP, because the FOP guys pretty much all go with shoes already clipped in and are pretty good at it. The secret is to practice, practice, practice and then practice some more. And btw, thanks for the reminder, because I’ve done several long course races where I wear socks and so the whole fast transition thing is moot. I’m doing an Oly in early August and if I plan to smoke H2O Dave, I’d better go practice my transitions.
In the Oly and shorter races that I’ve done in the past few years NO ONE in my AG has gotten through transitions as fast as I have. I’ve been beaten through T-1 by as much as 2 seconds because I’m a mediocre runner, but I got it back in T-2, which is where it gets awesome. You pull your feet out of your shoes with a few hundred yards to go, stand on one pedal and swing your other leg around and behind like dismounting a horse, and then jump off at around 10 mph (making sure to loudly announce “make a hole,” or some such admonititon to the guys who clip out, stop, put a foot down, climb off the bike and then try to stumble through transition in cleated shoes) and run like a scalded cat to your rack where you grab your thoroughly baby-powdered shoes with the elastic laces, yank them on and try to remember to leave your helmet as you exit T-2 in 25 seconds or less…
The time saving may actually come from not wrestling with socks, that many people do when they are new to triathlon and have to abandon once they start putting their shoes on on the bike.
That said, I wear socks and run in my shoes. And race tris in road shoes. I am sure someone is going to say that I could make up 1/2 an hour and reduce lactate build up by leaving my shoes clipped in.
Anyone I have ever seen with their shoes on their bikes, I have passed them coming out of T1. Either they really suck ass at it, or it doesn’t save any time.
Those are the people that come out with you after you wasted your time putting on your shoes while stopped at the rack. The people that got to the rack with you, and know what they’re doing, are already gone.
I posted about this right after Oceanside in March at the 70.3 race. On this rare occasion, I was a spectator and stood right there watching the T1 exit. The pro’s know what they’re doing and it was fun to watch. As for AG’rs, maybe 1-2% of those knew how to do this without weaving, going very slow or crashing (yea, saw about a dozen of those).
Unless you are one of the few first people out of the water and you plan to still be near the front at the finish line…give up the 10 seconds and put your shoes on first and save the rest of us from having to continually weave and dodge as you fall all over yourself.
The pro’s know what they’re doing and it was fun to watch. As for AG’rs, maybe 1-2% of those knew how to do this without weaving, going very slow or crashing (yea, saw about a dozen of those).
True. But this happens because people don’t practice. I’ve conducted my fair share of transition clinics in the last years, and most people pick it up easily after being taught what to do.