Making it Through Transition #1 - Swim to Bike

In any triathlon, your transitions will make or break your times. Also, the transitions are the most chaotic and confusing parts of the race. Knowing what to do and making sure you have everything down is critical. Follow these simple steps to make your swim to bike transition smooth. It's also a good idea to practice these steps after your open swim practices... -First, walk or jog up the beach/grass/pavement and over the time carpet and begin to unzip your wet suit. -If the ground is very rocky you should immediately look for your slip-on shoes for your jog up to the transition. If you can't find them, don't waste time and head up to the transition barefoot. -If you can't get your wetsuit off because you can't reach the strap, feel free to ask a spectator or an official to lend a hand. -Look for the brightly colored item that you tied onto your bike. -Take off your goggles and cap and place them on your towel. -If you're running anything shorter than an Iron Man, do not go into a restroom to change or put on underwear - just put your gear on over your suit. If you were in an Iron Man, you'd go into a changing facility. -Put on your t-shirt/tank top with your bib number on it, OR you can forego the shirt and use just your bike shorts with your number on it. -Rinse off your feet in the bucket. -Put on your socks and clip-in cycling shoes or running sneakers. -Put on your helmet. -Put on your sunglasses. -Make sure that your water bottle is full and on your bike. -Walk/Jog your bike to the bike starting point. -Most importantly, DO NOT ride your bike in the transition area or you will be disqualified.