CYCLE SHOES OR NOT FOR SPRINT??
candikaine
Posts: 9
in General Chat
hi, i;m doing my first sprint soon and wondered wether or not i should wear my cycle shoes or will it slow me down too much when changing into running shoes for the run? Should i just cycle in my running shoes for faster transition as running is my weakest point.
Also any advice on the advantages of wearing cycle shoes or are they more for the elite athletes? Thanks, any comments welcome
Also any advice on the advantages of wearing cycle shoes or are they more for the elite athletes? Thanks, any comments welcome
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Do the cycle shoes you refer to have cleats or are they just ones you slip on
Last year I did two sprint triathlons, my bike did not have cleats just half straps for my feet
I wore a slip on cycle shoe and changed to running shoes in T2 in the first sprint, in the second sprint I decided just to wear running shoes on the bike and went through T2 in a breeze. Didnt feel it had any adverse effect on my bike time and it certainly reduced T2 time. So my opinion for a sprint triathlon is wear your running shoes.
However this year I intend doing olympic distance and will switch to cleated cycle shoes as most of the cyclist I talk to say it makes a difference. As the distance to cycle is greater I would expect the advantage of wearing cleats will be more noticeable.
I would be interested in what more experienced triathletes think.
One word of advice though if you do decide to wear your running shoes on the bike it may pay to adjust your seat height slightly as the sole is much thicker on a running shoe and will increase your leg length, I developed knee pain when i first started using running shoes on my bike.
It's just a matter of practice makes perfect with transition speed. And it's funny practising in groups when others (and yourself) muck it up!
Also it takes me maybe - 20 secs to put my cycle shoes on (Might test that theory). Not ok if i was competing at world standard but good enough for 1st tri i think. Anyways that is my opinion. Whatever feels good to you...
Both recommend the wearing of proper cycle shoes with cleats as the time saving on the bike out weighs extended T time even in the sprint format.
I'll be testing the theory at Blenheim.
iT WILL TAKE TIME TO GET USED TO AS I FOUND OUT.
Start to ride with your feet on top of the shoe then once you are moving one at a tome put your feet in, straps accros and your away. Then do the opposite juat before T2.
good luck . tour
plus.. as the others have said you can clip your shoes in so T1 should be quicker, provided you dont do a me and fall over!
I am definately gonna do my 1st tri sprint in the cycle shoes and just keep practicing the transistion between changing into running shoes.