Triathlon: entering my first Relay Race

andy69

hi all,
Hope you can help me. I'm taking part in a Relay Triathlon this weekend as a favour for some friends that were stuck for a Cyclist.

After the swimmer eventually emerges from the water, I'll take over, but I know from Bike Racing and Time-Trials, that starting a race 'cold' is a not at all a good idea.
Normally, I'd have a fairly intensive warm-up (shorter the race, longer the warm-up), and then fire off from the startline.

As I understand it with a Tri, all the bikes will be held in a 'compound' and we won't be allowed in until after we've done the handover from the swimmers.
That's fine...as I planned to bring my spare bike with me and warm up on the Turbo (in the car park or whatever) as soon as the swimmers start heading towards the water.

However, when I check the Rules website, I see this....

"...member to complete one discipline before handing over to the next team member in a designated area adjacent to transition..."

So, to my question (finally!) to anyone that might have done a relay before....
Does this mean the cyclists are going to be kept in an area while the simmers are doing their thing, and basically we just have to sit and wait for them in the pen to come over and do the handover?
(i.e. I won't be able to warm up in the carpark or whatever because I have to stay in the designated area)?
Or...as the swimmers get close, can I just then pop into that area, all nice-n-warmed up, and do the handover?

hope you can help!
andy

woody1

yes it does mean that
generally in a penned off area somewhere around the middle of transition area.. and you cant move til the swimmer gets to you and gives you the chip ..then you leg it to your bike..
so yeah you will be standing and waiting whilst the swimmer does their thing.. but so will the competition ..

andy69

ah, I see. fair enough so. saves me hauling the 2nd bike and the turbo trainer down with me anyway I suppose!

thanks for your help!
andy