CCS wrote:Much as I hate to admit it, I think Jack was let down by having too many shoes
You are right. Jon.e had some of the fastest transition times in the whole field. His T2 was fourth fastest, with a 21, 29, and 30 seconds. However, the 21 was a relay, so doesn't count. The people with the 29 and 30 second times were doing the run in 16:56, and 18:14, and there was a good bit of running - say 100m from gate to gate. They would have been a lot faster. I would have captured the excellence on camera if it had been working
. Most of T1 was swamped by the uphill 200m (felt like 400m) run from the pool.
jon.e has this secret weapon that I've never seen before. Together with the crafty trick of just dumping the bike at the first available slot, makes for a huge difference. As there is so much running through transition involved in this course, it is ideal.
The use of trainers probably cost about 0.02 seconds on the bike, but gained 2-3 minutes in transition. The statement "tell me you weren't using trainers [on the bike]" creates a sonic boom of ignorance.
However, my transitions times weren't that bad: T2: 356/618 - so not far off the middle of the field. T1: (where I lost the minute: 311/618 - mainly because I ran (relatively) quickly), it's rather than jon.e's are just brilliant. Knowing the course, choosing the right approach, choosing the right kit. Simple is also good - Jon.e had less opportunity to make mistakes, because he had few parameters.
jon.e: 1 change of shoes at the start of the run
Me: 2 changes of shoes + barefoot run.
Others: 3 changes of shoes
Jon.e: Use of pockets in tri suit for stashing goggles and belt.
me: No pockets in the club tri suit that I have. This is possibly an issue.
others: I took a photo of one guy wearing speedos and carrying a kit bag running through transition (from pool to bike). Spotted a pannier rack or two - but no one was actually using panniers.
jon.e: Special pedal adaptors for trainers. These are basically big metal things that look more like that boot attachments on skins - full coverage of all trainer to provide a whole-foot rigid platform analogous to the rigid sole on a bike shoe. The trainer is slotted into this, and locked in. So it becomes like a bike shoe but with a very padded insert. However... if I was to use by extremely minimal racing flats...
jh: Put SPD pedals on the bike, as the runs are long and across a muddy field. Very cyclocross. I would have carried the bike, but not sure if it was allowed (suspect it probably isn't). Need to check that. There's probably a good minute of running with the bike (even with jon.e's sling it technique).
Basically, jon.e had NOTHING in transition except bike+helmet.
I had a one or two pairs of shoes, goggles, number belt and a water bottle. Still fairly minimal - no box, no towel, no picnic, no bag.