How do Triathlon Shoes Work with the Water and Bike Transition?
If you have ever watched someone compete in a triathlon, chances are you were fascinated at how quickly the competitors moved from one phase to the next. The key to making good time or even winning a triathlon has to do with transition. In other words, an athlete needs to get out of the water and wetsuit quickly, slip on triathlon shoes, snap into the bike’s pedals, and then move to the running phase.
Every second of a triathlon counts, which is why manufacturers have created some very innovative triathlon shoes to improve performance. Unfortunately, many top competitors have lost a triathlon because of long or difficult transitions. Keep in mind that most of the top triathlons have huge money prizes. These people are competing for hundreds of thousands of dollars so choosing the right equipment such as the right triathlon shoes is imperative.
One of the more popular features of triathlon shoes sold in today’s market is the Velcro strap. Just as that used on a child’s shoe, the single or double strap is secured to the foot within a matter of seconds. Interestingly, most triathlon shoes are made so as the rider coasts to conserve energy, he or she can simply slip the foot out of the shoe, which also gives the foot a break. Since triathlon shoes are snapped securely into the pedals, there is no fear of losing the shoe along the way.
Additionally, moving from the biking phase to the running phase needs to be smooth and quick. With triathlon shoes still snapped into the bike’s pedals, the athlete simply runs barefoot to the next set of shoes and onto the final leg of the race. This saves the person a tremendous amount of time, keeping momentum going.
