Many of these are legitimate “unwritten rules” that can impact the safety of yourself and others around you, others are “common courtesy” things, such as thanking race volunteers for their work, and a few of them are really just there if you’re still trying to fool yourself into thinking you have to “look cool” while doing triathlon. For example, “don’t train in your race kit” is advice to help preserve your race kit for races. But if you’ve got kit that’s a bit past its prime, absolutely train in your race kit if it makes you feel better while training. Normal people might question the decision, but other triathletes will absolutely respect you for it. It’s also a good way to spark conversation with other like-minded individuals you encounter.
In sprint triathlons, sunnies definitely belong under the straps! In T1, they are stored in your helmet, so you put them on first, in T2 you remove the helmet but leave the sunnies on. Other way round saves maybe 0.0001 watts and coolness, but may lose seconds in tranistion.
So what you're saying is... put a playing card in the spokes of my bike so that it's extra loud and a distraction to others, thus giving me the competitive edge? Great tip
Could you please elaborate why I should buy separate cycling clothes when I can ride in my older trisuits? It's not like I am going into the pool in trisuit. And why I should buy shirts for running if I am getting finisher t-shirts from tri and running events? We are already buying too much stuff (that we need or don't need), for me these sound more like rules of over consumption which I cannot logically justify.
@@carljonestri that's what I thought as well but then they should not mix them with rules that truly make sense.This video is bringing more confusion than clarity and I don't think this is GTN intention.
Haha -- great video! I'm guilty of breaking a few of these (ahhemm, "look at me I did a triathlon"). Also, the quick swimmers at GTN might not know about the "pre-swim hangout", but for those of us entering the water late I'd add an unwritten rule: make some friends and calm some nerves in the pre-race wait to get in the water.
Wear your goggles under your swim cap. At my last HIM I caught a heel to the eye and it flipped my goggle. I rolled on my back, reset my goggle and regained my bearings before continuing. It would have been heartbreaking to lose my goggles.
All good points except the aero helmet on solo training rides in a hot climate. Getting used to the additional heat load and pouring water through vents is important for acclimation. Having lived, trained, and raced in Hawaii for 5 years, I noticed a big difference between a road helmet and an aero helmet as to perceived heat on my head.
There has been a lot of discussion over how long you should keep your race stickers on your bike and on your helmet. I pitch my helmet sticker as soon as I get home. The head tube sticker can stay until the next race. The seat tube sticker can stay through the first group ride back from the race.
Growing up, I downhill skied a lot with my parents, and my mom always had us keep our ski tags on our jackets until the next ski season. I think it was part nostalgia, remembering a good ski season, and part like signaling to others where we’d been skiing, a quiet humblebrag 😂. As an adult, I remove the tags immediately when I get home, though, once I’ve located my scissors. I know I’m a super cool person😂, no need to humblebrag or get recognition from others. Tri stickers seem like the same thing, ,like, “See my stickers? PLEASE ask me about my race!!”
I think the point they were making is that tri-suits aren't particularly flattering, therefore don't go for your easy run through the centre of your local town in a tri-suit! I train in my tri-suit for brick sessions but in remote rural areas.
A huge unwritten rule is to NEVER touch others peoples bike or gear in the transition area. Also, be as clean, neat, and compact to make room for others.
I definitely fall into the trap of talking too much about my trail running - racing or not - but it is an entirely different story when it comes to triathlon. In Denmark, triathlon = Ironman, and when you sheepishly say, I train on shorter distances, you have lost all hope of getting anyone interested.
Don’t wear aero helmet unless racing? Um no. Just no. You should train the same way you race… in aero helmet and in aero bars in the aero position. You guys got it wrong. Also, you should train in tri suit too. Y’all are proving garbage tips
@@marcuswills6569 no I’m talking about general everyday training. I use my tri suit to train in bc the suit is designed to be trained in and I want my body totally use to it. There is no better clothing option to train in when cycling and doing brick runs… in the video they say not to do it bc it looks lame and people may make fun of you but i have never seen this happen at all. And even if it did that is not a legitimate reason not to train in the same kit you will race in. I advise everyone to train AT ALL TIMES in the same gear they will race in. That includes riding with a disk wheel and training the exact same nutrition too…
LOL. I will not admit to any of these transgressions. By the way, my last race I PB'd on Bike and run....Sorry. Bottom line is be kind, it goes a long way to having fun.
Answer this for me. Assuming you want to keep your sunglasses on for the run, why would you keep them over the helmet straps?? That would require you to take off sunglasses, then take off helmet, then put on sunglasses on again. Isn't it easier to just take off your helmet and be done with that? Who TF cares if the glasses are under, why is that a thing anyway, it's so ridiculous. Especially when your last advice is to chill out, but your sunglasses advice is just "end of discussion".
I’ll add one, if you’re not in contention for any awards, don’t sprint past someone at the finish line or in the finish shoot. Let them enjoy their moment and then enjoy yours.
Nah, a race is a race. If people are put off by that, that's their problem. Part of what pushes me to do my best is tracking people down during the run.
Haha, I always have a little chuckle to myself when people (including me!) have been giving it a moderate to hard effort for 1+hrs and then sprint to gain 2secs!
@@marcuswills6569 it's not the +2seconds you gain, but the potential 1-2 spots in the rankings. Also if you have the energy left 200 meters before the finish, why not let it all out? It only means you paced well and didn't crumble in the middle of the race.
Can you think of any other unwritten rules? 🤷
Make a hand gesture if you’re pulling over or slowing down on the bike or run (eg for an aid station, to take a walk break)
I train in old trisuit all the time unapologetically. I do ocean swim peal off the wetsuit and get straight into the brick run. Will keep doing it.
Many of these are legitimate “unwritten rules” that can impact the safety of yourself and others around you, others are “common courtesy” things, such as thanking race volunteers for their work, and a few of them are really just there if you’re still trying to fool yourself into thinking you have to “look cool” while doing triathlon.
For example, “don’t train in your race kit” is advice to help preserve your race kit for races. But if you’ve got kit that’s a bit past its prime, absolutely train in your race kit if it makes you feel better while training. Normal people might question the decision, but other triathletes will absolutely respect you for it. It’s also a good way to spark conversation with other like-minded individuals you encounter.
In sprint triathlons, sunnies definitely belong under the straps! In T1, they are stored in your helmet, so you put them on first, in T2 you remove the helmet but leave the sunnies on. Other way round saves maybe 0.0001 watts and coolness, but may lose seconds in tranistion.
Even on Olympic where seconds still count. Unless you're running without sunglasses.
Great point! Does snobby-ness slow triathlon down? 👀
Basically, be nice! Especially to the volunteers, they are awesome
So what you're saying is... put a playing card in the spokes of my bike so that it's extra loud and a distraction to others, thus giving me the competitive edge? Great tip
Underrated comment
Could you please elaborate why I should buy separate cycling clothes when I can ride in my older trisuits? It's not like I am going into the pool in trisuit. And why I should buy shirts for running if I am getting finisher t-shirts from tri and running events? We are already buying too much stuff (that we need or don't need), for me these sound more like rules of over consumption which I cannot logically justify.
Some of these rules are just a bit of 'tongue in cheek' fun. Wear whatever you like, you do you, it's not hurting anyone else
@@carljonestri that's what I thought as well but then they should not mix them with rules that truly make sense.This video is bringing more confusion than clarity and I don't think this is GTN intention.
Haha -- great video! I'm guilty of breaking a few of these (ahhemm, "look at me I did a triathlon"). Also, the quick swimmers at GTN might not know about the "pre-swim hangout", but for those of us entering the water late I'd add an unwritten rule: make some friends and calm some nerves in the pre-race wait to get in the water.
Wear your goggles under your swim cap. At my last HIM I caught a heel to the eye and it flipped my goggle. I rolled on my back, reset my goggle and regained my bearings before continuing. It would have been heartbreaking to lose my goggles.
Uf! That experience could be the reason many wear two swim caps. Goggles on top of the first - and then a second to secure the goggles.
All good points except the aero helmet on solo training rides in a hot climate. Getting used to the additional heat load and pouring water through vents is important for acclimation. Having lived, trained, and raced in Hawaii for 5 years, I noticed a big difference between a road helmet and an aero helmet as to perceived heat on my head.
Volunteers are the best part of triathlon
There has been a lot of discussion over how long you should keep your race stickers on your bike and on your helmet. I pitch my helmet sticker as soon as I get home. The head tube sticker can stay until the next race. The seat tube sticker can stay through the first group ride back from the race.
I put the stickers on my garage door when done it is covered
Growing up, I downhill skied a lot with my parents, and my mom always had us keep our ski tags on our jackets until the next ski season. I think it was part nostalgia, remembering a good ski season, and part like signaling to others where we’d been skiing, a quiet humblebrag 😂. As an adult, I remove the tags immediately when I get home, though, once I’ve located my scissors. I know I’m a super cool person😂, no need to humblebrag or get recognition from others. Tri stickers seem like the same thing, ,like, “See my stickers? PLEASE ask me about my race!!”
Ha. I did that midweek Cirencester race in July. Super course!
I’ll add: those with the most stuff in transition are quite unlikely to not be out front (similar to their “chill out” rule)
Ok. I am guilty. I did train in my trisuit twice to try it out. :D I AM SORRY. Just a runner transferring into triathlon. :)
Why no training in a tri suit?
I think the point they were making is that tri-suits aren't particularly flattering, therefore don't go for your easy run through the centre of your local town in a tri-suit! I train in my tri-suit for brick sessions but in remote rural areas.
haha straight on point!
Maybe it's just me, but the fact that the brake levers of Heathers bike are not symmetrical gets to my OCD. :-) Really like the video!
Sun glasses over straps? How does that work out when you’re transitioning and you drop your glasses?
A huge unwritten rule is to NEVER touch others peoples bike or gear in the transition area. Also, be as clean, neat, and compact to make room for others.
Love GTN ❤
I’ll add one. Don’t wear your trisuit when check-in is one or two days before the race.
Pure gold
I want to hear the unspoken elephant in the room: where do pros pee, especially the ones contending for podium where every second counts?
I think deep down, you know the answer to your own question
I train in my trisuit. I don't remove number stickers. That's it for me.
I definitely fall into the trap of talking too much about my trail running - racing or not - but it is an entirely different story when it comes to triathlon. In Denmark, triathlon = Ironman, and when you sheepishly say, I train on shorter distances, you have lost all hope of getting anyone interested.
Wtf is this comment at 1:50?
Don’t wear aero helmet unless racing? Um no. Just no. You should train the same way you race… in aero helmet and in aero bars in the aero position. You guys got it wrong. Also, you should train in tri suit too. Y’all are proving garbage tips
I think the point they are making is for general training, what you talking about above is specific race simulation training, so both are correct.
@@marcuswills6569 no I’m talking about general everyday training. I use my tri suit to train in bc the suit is designed to be trained in and I want my body totally use to it. There is no better clothing option to train in when cycling and doing brick runs… in the video they say not to do it bc it looks lame and people may make fun of you but i have never seen this happen at all. And even if it did that is not a legitimate reason not to train in the same kit you will race in. I advise everyone to train AT ALL TIMES in the same gear they will race in. That includes riding with a disk wheel and training the exact same nutrition too…
or just don't care, let people look how they want to look, and be kind if they don't know pool etiquette. hot or not is out.
LOL. I will not admit to any of these transgressions. By the way, my last race I PB'd on Bike and run....Sorry. Bottom line is be kind, it goes a long way to having fun.
Answer this for me. Assuming you want to keep your sunglasses on for the run, why would you keep them over the helmet straps?? That would require you to take off sunglasses, then take off helmet, then put on sunglasses on again. Isn't it easier to just take off your helmet and be done with that? Who TF cares if the glasses are under, why is that a thing anyway, it's so ridiculous. Especially when your last advice is to chill out, but your sunglasses advice is just "end of discussion".
The most important one is Heather's rule to wear sunglasses over the helmet straps!
I’ll add one, if you’re not in contention for any awards, don’t sprint past someone at the finish line or in the finish shoot. Let them enjoy their moment and then enjoy yours.
lol that a weird one . my moment is me able to sprint after a crazy hard day and knowing i still have some leg ...
might be going for a PB
Nah, a race is a race. If people are put off by that, that's their problem. Part of what pushes me to do my best is tracking people down during the run.
Haha, I always have a little chuckle to myself when people (including me!) have been giving it a moderate to hard effort for 1+hrs and then sprint to gain 2secs!
@@marcuswills6569 it's not the +2seconds you gain, but the potential 1-2 spots in the rankings. Also if you have the energy left 200 meters before the finish, why not let it all out? It only means you paced well and didn't crumble in the middle of the race.