Transition From The Swim To Bike Faster | Top 5 T1 Tips

What is your best time saving tip for T1? Let us know in the comments below 👇

Insightful, Thank you!

Had my second triathlon a few days ago. Did my T1, everything nice and fast, then when trying to mount the bike, my chain fell out and got stuck in the frame. Naturally I fell right ont my knee. Tried to fix it, mounted again, got stuck again, fell on the other side. Someone from the crew then helped me to fix the chain as good as possible, but the rear derailleur was stuck in a low gear. Still did the rest of the Tri (at 150 rpm or so..) after the ~10min T1, smeared with blood and grease. Moral of the story, shit happens sometimes and check your chain after placing the bike in the transition zone. Mine worked fine before, but a rubber band from a previous wave got stuck in my chain messing it up.

What is the weight capacity

Baby powder inside the clipped shoe to dry the feet before the run. Running with the saddle is also quite fast for those who didnt know.

Anyone have tips for how to deal with a watch from swim to bike? Can be a faff taking off, then putting back on after wetsuit comes off

Wouldn’t baby oil ruin the neoprene?

Simply great! Thx!

Wear your goggles for the bike too

Ask for help do you snap the elastic? Or let it snap as you pedal?

"slow is smooth, and smooth is fast"

Good tips thank u

Merci beaucoup 🤗

I have adhesive backed velcro (the rough side) on my road bikes top tube ( black on black frame) I stick a piece of velcro on a gel or a flask and it stays put.

Do you have to wear a wet suit or can you just wear a tri suit? Please respond !!!

If I would know this informion, make it less more than 3min... Thanks alot!

Some wetsuits may not like petroleum based lube. Solid tips.

that Bowden guy just won ironman dubai..2019

Nobody say if they remove or not the watch from wrist to avoid losing time or damage the swimsuit.

What do you do with your bike computer during the swim portion of the race? Do you turn it on when you get into T1? Do you hit start in the morning before T1 closes and you start the swim, then when pulling into T1 after the swim reset the computer and hit start as you exit T1? What do you recommend?

great video!

For wetsuit removal off the feet, baby oil works well but can be messy. Better sequence is after your suit is on. Easiest & non-messy option that lasts well even in seawater is Spray & Cook but opt for the olive oil type. AFTER putting wetsuit on, spray ankles & top of feet and lastly the non-watch wrist & top of both hands. It literally takes a few seconds. Then cap the aerosol can and pop it back in your bag.

Elastics are the best

T2 is easy but t1 takes ages to perfect

do you still wear socks on the bike?

You guys should do a "My first Triathlon series" including training, kit and technique vids

Should you wear socks in T2 for the run leg?

This video was great I really needed it

Where to put the sunglass? I saw that the pros are firstly putting them on the helmet, while cycling the putting them over the straps, and before the running under the straps. Is ot right?

How come the GCN boys get the comfy living room whereas you & the GMBN boys get the garage and the shed?

Can you do a test video to quantify how effective these tips are? Eg how much time do you save by rubber banding shoes vs running in bike shoes and stopping to mount? Would be both informative and funny.

Thanks for the tips, the elastic on the shoes was new for me

# Ask GTN: Why do triathletes attach their shoes to the pedal? I watched them and could not find a reason; on the contrary, I think it’s time wasting pedaling with the feet on the shoe and then try to put your feet into them while biking, instead of pedaling full throttle with the shoes mounted in the transition.

Since I tend to be in the top 15% in terms of T1 time, one tip for the bottom 85%: just hurry. That's right. Moving your body quickly helps, and it's no joke that people sometimes act as if they weren't racing.

No socks on the bike? :(

Really good tips

Best solution for the wetsuit is to cut the legs short at a diagonal so there is a big gap. Just cut as far up as possible where there is still a taped seam. A diagonal cut makes a bigger hole. And lots of baby oil.

Can u do a video on goe to use the elastics

Im having a hard time doing flying mount on t1. Pros and some age groupers doing it make it looks so easy. can give us the best way techniques how to ace it. More wattag gtn!

When I used elastics (rubber bands) for the first time the bands never broke off and just kept stretching. I had to remove them with my hands. Any tips..?

Can you do a T2 video please

I agree with some other commenters that it would be great to have a bike mount tutorial, perhaps with different options/skill progression/tips/things to avoid. As for time saving, do a few transition entrance/exit run throughs before the race so you know exactly where your bike is and where you're going.

I didn't use elastics on a flying mount once. I then ran into a traffic cone and it took about a half mile to get my shoes on. True story.

What about biking barefoot to save time?

In my first triathlon I did an awesome flying mount, sprinted away and then had to stop again, because my shoes were switched.

I've found cutting a very thin elastic and then tie it tight so it snaps works well. For gels I use an elastic band and attach gels to my water bottle like in cycling races.

Can you guys highlight some the tech the para-athletes use to overcome their handicaps? I really want to know some of the cool hacks they might be using.

Putting your helmet up might save some time if it's still there when you get to T1. It looks like the elites have more area then most of us age groupers and I've found my helmet a couple of bikes over with my sunglasses on the ground when I get to T1 because people are grabbing bikes as fast as they can and racks move. I leave my helmet on the ground now so that it's consistently where I left it.