Ever found yourself launching into your run with your bike helmet still on?  Or wondering why you see water spots through your goggles as you pedal furiously?  Perhaps you may want to spend a little more time perfecting your transitions between portions of the triathlon.  With experience, you are sure to discover that a practiced transition routine can shave valuable minutes off your race time and keep you a bit saner throughout the race.  Here are some tips we feel will help you discover the best way to make an easy transition between your swims, runs, and rides:

1. Make Every Second Count

The beauty of the triathlon is that less is more and winners understand emphasis should be placed on one’s abilities and how well you manage your time and equipment.  Always ask yourself, what can I do on the move?  For example, we suggest you master the quick sprint from the water to your bike while slipping off your wetsuit.  Some riders even keep their shoes attached to their pedals!

1. Choose the Right Equipment

Wearing a one-piece racing suit may help those of us that always seem to struggle with the wardrobe change between the swim and the ride portion of the race.  Saving time could be as simple as slipping your socks on before fully drying your feet.  What about those tricky laces slowing you down?  Invest in some shoes with zip tie laces; it’s an inexpensive tool that we guarantee will save you some time.   Loop your shades around your handlebars so you can put them on after you take off on your bike.  Same goes for food and liquids.  They should be attached to your bike already so fuel up while you’re on the go!

1. Always Be Prepared!

We like to think that triathletes are naturally a group of people that understand the importance of preparation considering the devotion and commitment we must give to our sport to be successful. However, we all have days in which everything seems out of place.  It’s important triathletes allow adequate time to make sure equipment is in a familiar place with each article in a sensible place.   It’s easy to get flustered when you’re hurrying so this step is crucial.  You don’t want to find yourself frantically looking for something when you could be on the trail, so be sure you know where your gear is and be familiar with the track.  Take advantage of test-runs!

We hope this helps and remember like all other aspects of training: practice, practice, practice!   The next time you see a fellow racer with their helmet on backwards, please share the knowledge.  Don’t forget to visit us for Tuesdays with 3Sports!  We will be getting in some good runs every Tuesday at 6:15pm.  Check out our Events on Facebook for more details.

Happy Trails!

What is éRide?

éRide is Cervélo’s nationwide test ride program. We travel with a Cervélo demo fleet to selected dealers throughout the United States and Canada from April through September 2010.

éRide will be hitting the Richmond region and stopping by our new location on Tuesday, April 20th.  Please come join the fun and take a test ride on some killer bikes!  Our new location: 6241 River Road

The éRide truck is carrying a strong fleet in 2010 with a full size run each of: R3-SL, S3, RS, and P3 models. All bikes are equipped with SRAM Red components, ZIPP wheels, and TestTeam equipment partner products. Cervélo eRide is a great opportunity to ride the same bikes as Cervélo TestTeam and the ride of your life.

How to participate

Register for a test ride:

Find a location below that is convenient for you and hit “register” for this event.

Why register?

Registering online will let us know to expect you at the event, and generates the required waiver. Please note that completing the registration will not guarantee that the particular Cervélo bike model will be available exactly when you arrive as all rides are on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Can I test more than one bike?

Of course! You can decide what to test ride by what is available when you arrive, and try all the demo models if you wish.

What should I bring?

Your completed waiver, an ID, and a credit card are required to test ride. You should also bring your helmet, shoes, and pedals. We will have a limited number of helmets, shoes, and pedals if you do not own any, or forget them.

Is there any cost to test ride?

No, the demo ride is free. However, we do hold on to your ID and credit card as our insurance you will return the bike. All riders must sign a waiver granting Cervélo SA the right to charge their credit card for any damage incurred during their participation in éRide.