imcda or other venues…does it happen…should i leave my sunglasses just sitting there…or?? just curious
Hmmm. Well, if you are concerned I might not chance it. The sport has grown a lot.
Last week when I was returning from Phoenix to Sao Paulo ( Brasil ) somebody stolen my sunglasses when I was sleeping in the airplane… ( detail I was wearing the sunglasses… )
I think this can happen in any situation… the fix is YOU TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR STUFF…
Someone took my bike helmet at the TBF tri for real race.
Was not happy!!
Dave
Just sitting where? Your gear should be in a bag, that is normally hung on a rack. I don’t know where you would “just leave it” anyway.
I have heard of equipment lost in the transition area during races. Theft or just misplaced, who knows.
After Lake Placid in '99. After showering and eating I went to get my bicycle in street clothes. Lifted it over the snow fence and walked away. Nobody said a word. Then I went to get my friends bicycle. I had her number in my pocket and this bicycle was clearly not my size. I walked out the front gate. Again, nobody said a word. Want a new bicycle? If you've got the stones, they're there for the taking at most races.
Ironman transition areas are not like regular sprint/olympic or even HIM transition areas. There really isn’t anywhere that you could just leave your shades sitting out, unless you were to just leave them hanging on your bike as you leave T2. Despite some security, don’t think for a second that your bike or gear is 100% safe. I had a client that had his bike stolen fron the transition at IM-FL 2 years ago. IMNA’s response, hope your insurance covered that because we don’t.
Why take the risk? I’m sure there will be securities watching the bikes but small things can always go in a pocket or so. Just leave the essencial stuff.
After Lake Placid in '99. After showering and eating I went to get my bicycle in street clothes. Lifted it over the snow fence and walked away. Nobody said a word. Then I went to get my friends bicycle. I had her number in my pocket and this bicycle was clearly not my size. I walked out the front gate. Again, nobody said a word. Want a new bicycle? If you’ve got the stones, they’re there for the taking at most races.
I believe that '99 was the first year of that race and security procedures have improved since then. I doubt very much you could get away with a bike as easily today regardless of your stones. I was at IMAZ this year and security was pretty good. There is now a claim check ticket system. When I picked up my friend’s bike they asked to see my ID and wrote down my DL#.
Gary Mc
Remember I said "at most races". I'm not singling out IMNA. I think they do a great job. I think security is very lax at most events. I also think that most of us are honest, don't need or have room in the garage for another bicycle, and think the the embarrassment of getting caught stealing isn't worth it. But not everyone is.
I can only think of two races that check; Columbia and the Monmouth County Run-bike-Run in Long Branch, NJ. Those little old ladies in Long Branch won't let anything out to the transition area without matching numbers. At Eagleman every year, I lift the bicycles over the fence and put them in the truck. Nobody says a word.
There wasn’t any transition security at Eagleman this year. When I walked out with my bike and gear, there was no security to be seen. I think security should be in place until the race officially closes. Several years ago at Eagleman, a friend at his wet suit, helmet and shoes stolen. This year I over heard a lady had her wetsuit stolen. For the money we’re paying, we shouldn’t have to worry about our gear being stolen. Besides security, Eagleman is a great race.
It happend at a Duathlon I was at about 3 years ago. It was a real layed back race with no transition security to speak of.
DAve in VA
Plain sight is welcoming theft for anything that is so portable. Put them in your helmet and place your race number/belt over them so they are not visible. When you come out of the water, stuff your racebelt in your shoes, don the shades and win the race.
Gave this subject a lot of thought this year. So did a training buddy who just got a new Felt this year. Why not cable and lock the bike after the bike leg? Started doing it this year at Olympic races. Only adds a few seconds if you are smooth. Great piece of mind, particularly after the race when people start moving things out of transistion. I ride a '99 QR Kilo with a Carbonaero fork and a Renn disk and a H3. This bike is pretty much irreplaceable because they just don’t make 650s anymore in size 57 with 78 degree geometry. I do not want to lose this bike! My next race is the full Vineman. It will be locked. They do a reasonable job on security, but you never know. After all, I am planning on running a 4 hour split. Plenty of time for it to dissappear, and also after the race while I am recovering.
Conrad
Funny you brought up this point of locking bikes up at transition. I will start doing this in the next month. Just bought a Blade and cost me my left @#$% to get it. Not bothered what people think in transition with me locking it up. Would cry if it got stolen and not about to drop that amount of cash on a bike anytime soon.
Got a solid lock that I will put through the frame and keep key attached to something streamline and light that I can fit in the pocket of my DeSoto shorts. May take additional 15 secs overall , but not going to affect my placing anyway.
Same thing happened to me last year at tri for fun! Probably should not have race with it, but whoever stole (or took it by accident?) it got a cracked helmet.
This post really worries me. I have never had anything stolen, and never actually thought about it. I mean it’s one thing to have your bike stolen from the car, but to have stuff piched out of transition? maybe I’m just too naive.
As an aside, a frined of mine who did Kona last year had all her stuff pinched, under the most amazing circumstances. She was driving to the airport to drop off the rental car, and had everything in the car. On the way there she thought she would stop for a quick swim. After changing into her bikini, she took the keys and a towel. When she came bakc, 15mins later, the car was gone, with everything in it, passport and all.
So she was left standing around in a bikini and no shoes, totally screwed over. Thankfully there was a consulate office that assited her home…four days later!
The worst part was that she is a pro athlete, and the bike she rode was ‘loaned’ to her for the year by the sponsor. She then had to pay for it immediately, as it was stolen, and wait for the insurance to reimburse her, not the company. Try finding that money in a hurry if you are a pro athlete just coming home from kona. She chose to discontinue her association with the bike maker.
DW WESTON
As she should have , what’s the bike company’s panic ! Once it’s stolen , they need the cash immediately ???
Please publish the brand of these empathetic pricks !
I won’t, not because they shouldn’t be outed, but because it didn’t happen to me. It it did you’d know about it. Suffice it to say, they are a reasonable sized international company, but the decision was made by the local distributor, who provided the product. I am not sure if she was sponsored by the company or the distributor, so I don’t wish to blame the actual manufacturer as they may not be to blame.
The ‘payback’ clause exised in her contract with them, but they just chose to enforce it prior to the insurance payout, and as you may know insurance payouts may take time, especially when they involve police reports etc.
In the end, she had to pay for a bike that was stolen, but was unable to earn a living in the meantime as her bike went missing, and owning a bike was part of how she made her living. She was picked up by another bike brand shortly after, however, when her plight became known around the traps.
I don’t buy anything from the original company, nor will I.
People leave stuff behind and then they think they got ripped off.
In fact, hang out after any triathlon event and you will be amazed at how many persons leave their gear behind. I rarely hang out but every year there are 1-2 races where I go to the awards, etc. and then pick up my bike and gear after just about everyone else has left. The following is a list of stuff that I’ve seen left behind: wetsuit, helmets, goggles, glasses, running shoes, tools, etc - you get the picture.