Yes, I am too old and I make a problem from nothing, but I would share two (non related?) situations happened in last year:
Personal experience:
last year, Ironman Lanzarote July 2021. I left Transition Zone around 1 hour before swim, all was OK. I left my cycling shoes in my bike with two elastics bands (as always), and my hydration (BTA, frame and BTS bottle, including Xlab Pouch tool bag).
during T1, as I finished the swim leg, I arrived in my bike and… surprise: my BTS was broken and NO elastics bands in my shoes, no in the floor around the bike (not broken, they disapeared, both).
I was shocked. I got some tools from the bag, and look for someone to keep my BTS/Tool Bag.
Experience from a first hand athlete (he works in my company):
last weekend, Ironman Cascais October 2022. I left the transition zone, also all was ok (he is very perfecionist with tire pressures).
as i arrived to his bike in T1, front wheel was in the floor (no pressure), the obus was fully opened. Someone blown out the air from his tire.
I don’t know if you have similar experiences, if it is sabotage or stupid people doing stupid things… if they were isolated experiences, or if it is something to worry about.
I’ve heard it happen only once. It was at a US race, I think IM Wisconsin. Some lady let the air out of one or two people’s tire, but was busted. I’d say this is one of those things that happens, but is super rare, and there nothing you can do about it. So not worth the energy worrying about.
If I came back to my BTS broken, I’d assume someone broke it by accident while unracking or passing by, not that it was intentional.
I’ve heard it happen only once. It was at a US race, I think IM Wisconsin. Some lady let the air out of one or two people’s tire, but was busted. I’d say this is one of those things that happens, but is super rare, and there nothing you can do about it. So not worth the energy worrying about.
If I came back to my BTS broken, I’d assume someone broke it by accident while unracking or passing by, not that it was intentional.
Second case, yes, he is a sub9h / top5.
My case, no, i am a 10-11 ish. I assumed that someone stole my elastic bands and the bike fall (no elastic bands rests in the área)… but, now… i have a doubt
The “worst-case-scenario” section of my brain has always been worried about things like that, but so far I’ve been fortunate enough to not experience or see it. In any group of people, there are going to be those select few who do dumb/careless things, or immoral/illegal things. And a triathlon race is a big group of people, so it’s not that surprising that those things happen sometimes.
But, as was said above, it’s pretty rare, and there’s nothing really you can do about it once you leave transition. So it’s a situation where you have to set everything up the way you want it, then tell that part of your brain to shut up, since you don’t need that extra stress about something you can’t control.
If the elastic broke while you were gone (it’s warm, too stretched, or old rubber), it could shoot itself in any direction.
two rubber bands, it never happened to me, that it brokes without staying in the cycling shoe, so… I don’t think that both broke without remaining any rest in the shoes, in the bike or in the floor. It was very strange. And that this happened at same time as the BTS was broken… it means (for me) that someone forgot his rubber bands and took mine, with my bike fallen in the process and broken the BTS.
No other logical option for me (yes, even sabotage (i.e. not broke but take my rubber bands and BTS at same time sounds weird).
Sabotage doesn’t seem feasible. It’s a 140.6-mile race. How much time is your opponent really going to lose because of no elastics?
Theft doesn’t seem feasible either, for the same reason. The risk of getting busted is bigger (need to remove the elastics without damaging them) and the benefit still dubious.
Sabotage doesn’t seem feasible. It’s a 140.6-mile race. How much time is your opponent really going to lose because of no elastics?
Theft doesn’t seem feasible either, for the same reason. The risk of getting busted is bigger (need to remove the elastics without damaging them) and the benefit still dubious.
it doesn’t seem feasible
it doesn’t seem reasonable
but the fact is that I left my bike in perfect situation (even with picture in social media :P) before I left Transition Zone, and when I arrived back from the swim leg no rubber bands and BTS broken in the floor (not said but I had the BTS cage without bottle, it was an empty spare for taking hydration in first aid station).
It was so weird, that I needed some minutes to react.
Perhaps someone needed to send some paperwork via fax at the local Staples and grabbed your rubber bands to secure the documents en route? Lol…
Honestly, it’s weird as hell, but it’s not something I’d worry about. Rando sabotage in T1 doesn’t even make sense. It could happen, but generally people have things to do and it wouldn’t be practical even if there was an advantage to be gained.
I’d chalk it up to a Wtf and move on. No need to create added anxiety with future pre race prep.
How were the bans attached? Tied on? Or just looped around something? If not tied, they could have easily come detached if someone bumped/moved your bike. As for the BTS cage, how was it broken? I’d be really concerned about that as it would take some serious force to break a bottle cage.
How were the bans attached? Tied on? Or just looped around something? If not tied, they could have easily come detached if someone bumped/moved your bike. As for the BTS cage, how was it broken? I’d be really concerned about that as it would take some serious force to break a bottle cage.
I never make a knot with the rubber bands, I make a loop with the shoes and then attach it to the front derailleur and the wheel quick release, and I had never an issue. Nor two in same day. The rubber band broke and remains attached in the shoe. Normally.
It this happens to one shoe it maybe possible, two shoes?
About the BTS: it was a XLAB system with one bottle cage and aero pouch. It may be broken easily if the bike fall, it is not the best system. In fact I have come back to the strong TACX system.
How were the bans attached? Tied on? Or just looped around something? If not tied, they could have easily come detached if someone bumped/moved your bike. As for the BTS cage, how was it broken? I’d be really concerned about that as it would take some serious force to break a bottle cage.
I never make a knot with the rubber bands, I make a loop with the shoes and then attach it to the front derailleur and the wheel quick release, and I had never an issue. Nor two in same day. The rubber band broke and remains attached in the shoe. Normally.
It this happens to one shoe it maybe possible, two shoes?
About the BTS: it was a XLAB system with one bottle cage and aero pouch. It may be broken easily if the bike fall, it is not the best system. In fact I have come back to the strong TACX system.
Then I think it is 100% possible that someone helped themselves to your rubber bands
I think you are right the BTS was broken while they were taking the rubber bands
I watched someone attempt to move my bike to another rack because they wanted the space lol
In the future I would tie the bands to the front derailleur and/or shoe.
There was a big story at Syracuse 70.3 in 2017 When a competitive AG woman was caught red handed deflated a rival’s tire. The victim’s husband caught it on film. Yes, it does happen.
I had my bike computer stolen at the Chattanooga 70.3 WC. Similar to this weekend’s event, they had staggered AG starts, so many AGers were left to move freely through transition while others were in the water. The thief knew well that all the bikes in my AG were unattended during that window. When I got to T1, it was gone. This was more theft than sabotage, but it shows how lawless transition can be.
Look how much cheating exists with drafting, doping, etc. No doubt there are a few extreme bad actors that would sabotage someone else’s race for the coveted podium or KQ.
There was a big story at Syracuse 70.3 in 2017 When a competitive AG woman was caught red handed deflated a rival’s tire. The victim’s husband caught it on film. Yes, it does happen.
I had my bike computer stolen at the Chattanooga 70.3 WC. Similar to this weekend’s event, they had staggered AG starts, so many AGers were left to move freely through transition while others were in the water. The thief knew well that all the bikes in my AG were unattended during that window. When I got to T1, it was gone. This was more theft than sabotage, but it shows how lawless transition can be.
Look how much cheating exists with drafting, doping, etc. No doubt there are a few extreme bad actors that would sabotage someone else’s race for the coveted podium or KQ.
I remember that story with the woman in Syracuse. I raced Syracuse in 2018 so it was fresh on my mind since I think the woman who deflated her rival’s tire was in my AG or the one below me. I’m sure sabotage is an outlier, but I was really bummed and upset when this story came out. The victim could have been hurt badly or worse. I’m actually surprised criminal charges weren’t filed or something like that.
Could IM invest in security cameras around transition? I know it’s an added cost, but I would certainly pay a bit extra to make sure our bikes/gear were safe from bad actors and thieves. It’s probably unlikely but if enough of us request/demand better security around transition, maybe someone will listen in WTC. When I did IM Whistler they had security guards watching transition at night to protect the bikes from black bears (I’m not joking). Maybe have a few security guards watching transition up to the time everyone is in the swim.
Is it possible someone grabbed your bike by accident? Maybe ran to the line to mount and realized they had the wrong bike. Bands would have broken when they went to mount the bike and the obviously lost at the mount line area. Broken BTA is them trying to rack the bike back from the wrong side and ramming the BTA cage against the rack itself. Just an idea.
Not many, but some triathletes are assholes, thieves and cheaters. I’ve seen enough. Saw someone’s transition bag full of expensive gears and everything was stolen at Austin 70.3, someone’s tire was slashed at Galveston 70.3, my brand new goggles were stolen at a local race, wetsuits, helmets, bike computer, you name it… People steal in almost every single race. I’ve seen so many cases and that’s why I pick up my stuff as soon as the race is over and hide valuable things under the towel and whatnot. I’m also one of those few people who leave the transition at the last minute. I also watch what other people do and make sure they don’t do stupid shit to other people’s stuff. People trained hard and spend a lot of money to do the race and it’s absolutely not fair to sabotage or steal things. It’s just not fair.
Is it possible someone grabbed your bike by accident? Maybe ran to the line to mount and realized they had the wrong bike. Bands would have broken when they went to mount the bike and the obviously lost at the mount line area. Broken BTA is them trying to rack the bike back from the wrong side and ramming the BTA cage against the rack itself. Just an idea.
When both my husband and I did IMLP in 2017 one of my husband’s transition bags was missing when we picked up our gear after our races. We went back later that night and found my husband’s bag on the right place/hook. Someone must have grabbed the wrong bag and returned and found their own bag after realizing the mistake. So I’m sure inadvertent mistakes do happen in transition.
This whole sabotage thread does make me sad and bummed. Since the pandemic I’ve become very disengaged with society and the general public (moved to a rural off-grid log home in the middle of the woods and hardly leave our property except to train). I’m trying to get back to racing like I did before the pandemic. This kind of thread makes me want to just stay home. But I’m going to press on…Going to races is the only time I don’t strongly dislike people in general.
Not many, but some triathletes are assholes, thieves and cheaters. I’ve seen enough. Saw someone’s transition bag full of expensive gears and everything was stolen at Austin 70.3, someone’s tire was slashed at Galveston 70.3, my brand new goggles were stolen at a local race, wetsuits, helmets, bike computer, you name it… People steal in almost every single race. I’ve seen so many cases and that’s why I pick up my stuff as soon as the race is over and hide valuable things under the towel and whatnot. I’m also one of those few people who leave the transition at the last minute. I also watch what other people do and make sure they don’t do stupid shit to other people’s stuff. People trained hard and spend a lot of money to do the race and it’s absolutely not fair to sabotage or steal things. It’s just not fair.
Yikes! I did Galveston 70.3 in 2019. I was actually worried that storm blew away my gear and destroyed my bike. I had never even thought of sabotage. We need better security in transition. Whether it’s security cameras, security guards or both.
Things happen and bad people exist, but “never attribute to malice that which can be attributed to stupidity”. OTOH, I’d never leave a bike computer on the bike pre-race.