Looking to do my first Xterra race this year and want to know what you use as your footwear for both the run and bike? Do you start with shoes on the MTB or put them on and then get clipped on when you get on the bike?
Also do you use shoes that only have velcro or do you use the buckle ones and just practice getting in and out of them quickly?
Do you use regular running shoes or do you have trail shoes that you quick lace?
Thanks
Also if you want to comment on if I had the chance to pick up a Trek Superfly 100 or Trek HT Superfly or Niner Air 9 Carbon HT what you would recommend?
For cycling, you can and should use whatever shoes you have. But if you want the fastest shoes and don’t mind buying new ones I will suggest that a pair with 2 velcro straps is the fastest. For Xterra you really need to just put them on in T1. It allows you to get the sticks and pine needles off your feet. And you can run in the MTB shoes to the mount line just fine. It takes a certain course profile to even make shoes on the bike worthwhile. If you are right in to the terrain, then you won’t have the time needed to reach down and slip your feet in before the bike handling gets crazy.
The end of the course is similar in that you may or may not have a place where you can free up a hand and get your feet out properly, but you might, so scope out the area leading in to T2 and see if you will have enough time to get your hands off the bars to deal with shoes. If not, it’s not much of a slow-down because you can run fine with them on.
Running shoes. Can depend on the course. I did fine for a few years just using racing flats. Most of the courses I ran were decent enough for footing with the flats on. But there will be courses and/or trail conditions that would make that a losing idea. I now race in a dedicated trail shoe, the Adidas Adizero XT. They have a far superior outsole for muddy, loamy conditions. If it’s dry, then flats are just as good.
As for laces…well, many Xterra run courses are fairly extreme in the running sense and your toes can be very badly hurt if your foot moves around in the shoe. Many experienced Xterra triathletes steer away from elastic laces because they just can’t hold your foot well without being so tight they either won’t go on, or your feet fall asleep.
I use Xtenex laces and they work perfectly for both racing and training on extremely rough Xterra-type terrain. Another approach is to use a non-elastic lace with a lace-lock. You pull them tight and slide down the lace lock and you got in fast, but with non-stretch laces.
I use my normal MTB shoes, clicker and all. I’d be pretty stoked on some of the new Trivent Terra shoes but not for $300. I have trail running shoes, because it’s trail running.
Out of those I’d be all over that A9C, but my choice would be a Highball. Alas, I’ll be on my TRc (poor me until budget affords a snazzy new race bike.
Can't imagine it being faster to have shoes clipped to bike, given that you have terrain considerations right out of transition. I do have a pair that just has velcro closures that I use for off-road multisport. Using pretty minimalist shoes, but you have to watch your foot strike pretty closely, and also standard laces with lace-locks.
Why would you pick the Niner over the other two? I like it because I can build it up how I want but I keep going back and forth on if I would like to get a FS for more trail riding, but then I think I do alright hanging with buddies on FS rigs with my HT Stumpy right now.
I was thinking the the same thing as far as the difficulty of getting in and out on the bike based on terrain, also it makes sense that the T1 won’t be complete free from rocks or other debris that might make it even worse while riding.
One more question, do you wear socks on the bike and run? Do your feet do okay in standard MTB shoes with no socks?
I had never thought about the varying terrain making your foot move more and how that would be bad with laces that stretch too much. I also use the Xtenex on my road shoes and like them so may try them on the trails to see how my feet do as well as look at just getting a locking mechanism for regular laces.
For bike shoes, I love the Boa closure system as I can pop the shoes on, hop on the bike & go, then crank them tight as I’m rolling. I used the Pearl Izumer Vipers for a while until Specialized came out with the s-works boa on their MTB shoes. For running shoes it depends on your comfort level. Spikeless XC flats like the Brooks Mach or Saucony Shay are awesome for trails since they’re light and have relatively stiff soles. If you need some cushioning, I’d recommend a light trail shoe like the the NB mt101 or the Adidas Adizero XT, pop elastic laces on and you’re set.
Of the below bike choices I’d pick the Niner, although its not the lightest or most comfortable carbon hardtail you can get. The S-works 29er hardtail is a dream in comparison, a pound lighter frame and loads more damp in the rear end.
Why would you pick the Niner over the other two? I like it because I can build it up how I want but I keep going back and forth on if I would like to get a FS for more trail riding, but then I think I do alright hanging with buddies on FS rigs with my HT Stumpy right now.
Because I’m just really “meh” on Trek MTBs, while the niner gets me a bit more hot an bothered.
I raced Xterra pro a few years, after a decent career in ITU. I ALWAYS has put my shoes on the bike for draft-legal racing, so started Xterra’s doing the same thing. It was really not worth it, and after learning my lesson a few times, I just put the shoes on in T1. It was very tough for me to do, as someone who had practiced stupidly-fast transitions for years, but I think it’s the right way to go. Maybe if you had a one or two strap shoe. But with a ratchet shoe, definitely put them on before you start. Also can someone depend on the bike course. But odds are you’re never going to have a smooth road at the beginning, even if it’s downhill. It’s just not worth crashing over.
So use the shoes you have.
I was always fine in my regular racing flats with elastic laces. So few Xterras are really very technical on the run that they warrant a different shoe. Although I feel this way about trail running in general. Unless you’re doing a race where you know you will be running a few creek crossings, I don’t think you need to bother with another shoe.
It’s tough, because the technology is not completely there (at least at a decent price) for Xterra equipment, as it is still a relatively smaller niche of triathlon.
I was thinking the the same thing as far as the difficulty of getting in and out on the bike based on terrain, also it makes sense that the T1 won’t be complete free from rocks or other debris that might make it even worse while riding.
One more question, do you wear socks on the bike and run? Do your feet do okay in standard MTB shoes with no socks?
I had never thought about the varying terrain making your foot move more and how that would be bad with laces that stretch too much. I also use the Xtenex on my road shoes and like them so may try them on the trails to see how my feet do as well as look at just getting a locking mechanism for regular laces.
Socks…
If it’s dry I can and might run sockless. It’s never a problem for me to mtn bike without socks. Running without socks has been a problem. I once raced a horrible muddy race with socks on the bike, then at T2 the shoes came off and the socks were so caked with mud I just pulled them off to put clean feet in my running shoes. Those clean feet didn’t stay that way and sand worked its way in the shoes while running and I stained those shoes red! gobs of blood by the time I’d finished.
If it’s dry and if it’s NOT sand, sockless can work. But since you are just starting I feel pretty good about recommending you start Xterra using the socks and then as you gain experience you can decide if you want to do without them.
I completely missed your question about bikes. Of those 3 you mention, they are ALL good options. However, I will tell you that I just made a down payment on a Superfly 100. A full suspension bike will be faster than a hardtail on probably every Xterra course you are likely to find. I’m sure you keep up with your friends on your hardtail just fine, but you’d be even faster with the rear suspension.
All good questions and you’ve had some high quality answers. I’ll try to add to it…
It really depends on the course. Some XTERRAs and other MTB Tris have a flat, smooth, sometimes even paved intro and if there’s time you can put feet in shoes on the bike. Clearly a velcro shoe is easier to deal with for that then a ratchet/buckle. I use a DMT 3 strap shoe and dremeled a hole in the heel for a rubber band. I’ve only used that set up in two mtb tris where the course allowed it. I almost never put socks on for the bike and you shouldn’t to but be sure to test in training.
As for the run - XTERRA seems to secretly pride itself on making crazy hard run courses. For those you may benefit from socks but as note before elastic laces can be a bummer on super steep down hill sections and using a standard lace with a barrel lock can be better.
Lastly, I’ve raced XTERRA and all sorts of mtb races and mtb tris on a 26" hard tail and moved to a Fisher/Trek Superfly 29ner hart tail last year. It’s been a brilliant bike. Moving from a 26er or a 29er is 99% improvement (the 1% is in super tight 180+ degree switch back singletrack turns but even that can be learned and dealt with).
I raced Xterra pro a few years, after a decent career in ITU. I ALWAYS has put my shoes on the bike for draft-legal racing, so started Xterra’s doing the same thing. It was really not worth it, and after learning my lesson a few times, I just put the shoes on in T1. It was very tough for me to do, as someone who had practiced stupidly-fast transitions for years, but I think it’s the right way to go. Maybe if you had a one or two strap shoe. But with a ratchet shoe, definitely put them on before you start. Also can someone depend on the bike course. But odds are you’re never going to have a smooth road at the beginning, even if it’s downhill. It’s just not worth crashing over.
So use the shoes you have.
Thx for posting your take on the shoes being clipped in. I’ve wondered what tri-guys who always left T1 that way would do in XTerra.
You pretty much said what I would have said and hit all of the points
With that, last season I used a fairly inexpensive Specialized shoe on the bike for the beginning of the year then moved to the Sidi Terra for the last few races cuz they were cooler. I tried going without socks but liked riding with them better.
On the run I normally trained in a pair of trail shoes, Mizuno Ascend, and raced every race except Nationals on my Saucony Fastwitch. Always wore socks on the run.
until budget affords a snazzy new race bike.