What is a transition area?

One of the first things I had to learn when doing triathlons was what a transition area was. It was confusing to me as to what you did with all your stuff. I later learned that it's a science and that triathletes take this step very seriously! Think of the transition area as a locker room for all your crap stuff.

You may also see transitions referred to as T1 or T2. T1 is the "from swim to bike" time-frame. T2 is "from bike to run" time-frame.

Below is the way I always lay out my transition area. Everyone has their own ways and by no means am I saying you should do it this way, it's just what has worked for me.

When you first arrive to your transition area (it is just a horizontal bar) you will need to hang your bike on the bar by the seat or by the handlebars. My first triathlon I was expecting bike racks like the ones you stick your front wheels into. Clearly, not the case.

-Take a towel and lay it down on the ground directly underneath your bike. You get very little space in large triathlons so make room because if you don’t- you will find your stuff later totally rearranged by someone who thinks they need to squeeze in next to you and feel you are taking up way too much room!
-Place your running shoes at the very top of the towel, closet to your bike.
-Lay your race belt (a must have) and your visor or hat on top of your shoes.
-Lay your bike shoes just in front of your running shoes and place a sock (if you wear them) in each shoe. I even go so far as to stretch out my socks to make them easier to put on with wet feet.
-Next I take my helmet and balance it on my handlebars on my bike. -I place my sunglasses inside my helmet so I wont forget to put them on.
-Then I take the half of the towel that isn't being used and I just roll it up or fold it over your stuff. I use this section of the towel to wipe off my sandy/dirty feet after coming out of the water.
-The order that you just placed all your stuff in, is the order you will put it all on. So if you are standing above it- you would start with the bike shoes and work your way back, ending with your running shoes/gear. -I always carry an extra set of goggles and an extra swim cap.
- Lastly I have a full water bottle and either a gel or banana close by.

So if you are looking at this photo below you can see the order in which I will put these items on.