Triathlon is a big, messy affair. Swimming, biking, running, transitions, porta-potties, people running in all directions, family yelling encouragement—and you’re trying to have your fastest day ever while everyone else is trying to do the same. We’re on the clock, and we’re even recording our transition times. It all counts.

Yes, even the little 'ol transition. How do we make transitions better, faster? It all comes down to preparation. So how do you set up at the rack for a quick move from swim to bike, and bike to run? What will help you find your spot at the race, and what do you actually need there—and not need there? We’re here to walk you through it.

Sure, some of the bigger races like Ironman events don’t have a transition area setup at your racked bike, instead having you pack all your gear into separate bike transition and run transition bags. But for the many, many races around the world—your local sprint or Olympic-distance race, for example—setting up your bike and run gear on the ground next to your bike is part of the process. We’ll explore how to exit the water, find your bike, and swiftly transition from swim to bike, then bike to run, with minimal chaos.

Keep it Simple

On its face, triathlon is really quite simple: swim, put on your bike shoes and helmet, go for a bike ride, then put on your run shoes and run hat or visor, and go for a run.

So why, oh why, are we seeing people coming into pre-race transition with… chairs? Water-filled bins to rinse feet? Do we really need all this? Short answer: no.

Remember, this is a race, and while some triathletes may want to take their time and be comfortable, we must remember to be considerate of the limited space in transition. Leave the creature comforts like a chair and rinse bins (which really don’t belong within a race venue) at home. Those things may make sense at the lake in practice, but not on race day, and not in a tight transition area.

So, to the point of this blog: how should I set up a transition area? Again, let’s keep it simple.

 

Visible Towel

When we come out of the water, it’s chaos; you’ve just dashed out of the water and are running (sometimes gingerly across a rocky parking lot or cold, wet grass) to your bike in the rack, already thinking about peeling off your Quintana Roo wetsuit and getting on your bike. But… where’s your bike? Oh no…where is it?!?!

We’ve seen pros run right past their bike, only to have to double back—and that’s in a single-row pro pen. Magnify the confusion by ten when your own Quintana Roo bike is amid a sea of hundreds of other bikes in the age-group general population, buried along rows and rows.

Coming out of the water and headed to transition, think clearly and single-mindedly about two things:

First, find and memorize the row your bike is in. Identify this pre-race, counting down from the transition area entrance—down row one, row two, row three, on the right, halfway down on the left. Before the race, with your bike racked, walk out, walk to the transition exit, then walk back to your bike to count those racks. Then, walk down the aisle to your bike, making note of how far down it is.

But the visible cue of your bike’s spot should be your towel. There are always a ton of different towels down, usually white bath towels or multi-colored pool towels. But make your towel stand out. Lay down a towel that you can visually target—a bright hunter orange, or a vivid red. Mickey Mouse, a favorite sponsor—your towel, instantly recognizable by you. Once you’re running down your aisle, look not for your bike, but for your towel. It’ll be an easier thing to spot in the craziness.

Some will bring a Mylar balloon to hang on the rack behind their bike, but be aware: some races prohibit balloons in the transition area. Again, too much stuff, especially things that can pop and get twisted up in someone else’s bike gears. Stick with the simplest visual cue: a bright, distinctive towel.

 

Towel Gear Layout

On your towel will be your gear for the remaining two disciplines: the bike and run. Since the bike is your first discipline, place your bike shoes and helmet toward the front.

Bike Gear

You can hang your helmet by the strap from the aerobars (and keep sunglasses tucked inside), but we recommend not trying to balance it between the aerobars. Invariably, someone will bump into your bike, and your helmet will get knocked to the ground—or worse, kicked down the aisle. Want to experience frustration? Get to your bike, ready to go, but unable to find your helmet.

Bike shoes should be opened for quick, easy access. If you prefer to put socks on during the bike, have them pre-rolled down; pulling on socks with wet feet can be a bit of a struggle, so rolling them down to nearly the toebox, then rolling them back up your feet is a swift way to get them on. This is something easy to practice pre-race so you can execute swiftly on race day.

Depending on the race’s rules, you may have to put your race bib on during the bike. Have this ready on either a snap-on run belt or a pre-tied elastic band. Simply step into the belt (instead of fumbling with snaps with potentially cold fingers). With your shoes on, sunglasses on, and helmet on (and your nutrition and fluids already on the bike), it’s time to do that tap dance out of T1 to the mount line—ready to ride!

 

Run Gear

Behind your bike shoes and helmet in a tidy row will be your run gear. To one side of the towel: your run shoes (with socks pre-rolled down for quick, easy access), also either unlaced or with elastic laces for easy entry. Feel free to add a bit of baby powder to the inside of the shoes. To the other side: your run hat, with a few gels inside that you plan to take with you, and maybe a separate pair of running sunglasses.

As always, if it rains, your bright transition towel may get soaked, so take all these elements and place them into separate “bike” and “run” plastic bags (with the bag mouth open slightly toward you) to ensure they stay dry for quick, easy access in the heat of the race.

 

There it is: your guide to a speedy transition. Now, who’s ready to race—and race through T1 and T2 with their fastest transition times ever?