Dotting the T's

Most Triathlons are composed of 5 timing segments. The main 3 are swim, bike, & run. There are typically a T1 & T2 split sandwiched between the 3 sports. The shorter your triathlon the more important your T1 & T2 (transition) times are!

If your goal is to do well then you need to consider ways to improve your transition times. This is the time it takes you to 'transition' from one sport to the next. The less you have to do in transition, the quicker you can get out and onto your bike or run segment. If you're competitive, your competition will likely be trying to do the same thing in transition - so hurry out.

The key is to not leave a whole lot to do.

-Before a race, I'll put my Bib # on (using a bib belt) underneath my wetsuit. This will save time especially if it's a cold morning.
-Not wearing sunglasses during your bike, or get a helmet that has the screen shield magnetically attached where you can slide it on while you're riding away, is another example of how to shave time off of your T1 or T2 splits.
-Learning how to mount your bike with your shoes already connected to your pedals (this means you'll be running barefoot), then sliding your feet into your shoes after you get free of traffic. You will want to make sure you get up to speed before attempting to get into your shoes while riding because you'll be coasting and if you're not going fast enough, you could easily tip over or lose your balance.
-If you are competitive and doing a short triathlon, you definitely don't want to wear socks because of how 'long' it takes to put them on, and that could easily add 10-30 seconds to your transition time.
-The same rule applies for a hat in a short race - just don't wear one!

A good reminder is: The shorter the race, the less you need! Being competitive isn't as much about being comfortable as it is being quick. In fact, if you're quick then chances are you are comfortable with being uncomfortable.

If you're doing half to full Ironman's then your T1 & T2 times are less of a factor due to the length of each leg, so you can be less rushed in those. You will have to experiment on your own to determine what transition strategy works best for you, then practice it!

I used to ride on a low traffic bike path and practice taking my feet out of my shoes then putting them back in, over and over. It's important to be confident in your transition skills, knowing you can control how quickly you get in and out of transition.

Practice your routine!

Good luck.