Triathletes: do you race w/ a Garmin?

[Susie]

I always do when I run, but I haven't done any tri's since I've had one.  What do you do?

I have a 405, which I wouldn't want to swim with.  Do I want to:

- put it on my bike handlebar (which I usually do for rides) and leave it there, don't need it on the run.*
- put it on my bike, transfer to wrist in T2.
- put it on my wrist in T1 and leave it there.
- go without.

??

*That's what I did last year when I was doing aquabikes, but with no run, it was not a hard decision.

I am a little worried about 13.1 when I'm tired and hurting, w/ no ipod, and no Garmin.  My security blankets!

(Also, can you tell I'm in detail freak out mode?)

[keweenawlove]

Yesterday I put it on my wrist in T1 and left it there. The speedometer battery on my bike died and I haven't replaced it yet so I was able to watch my mile splits on the bike. I just reset it in the last mile of the bike so it was ready to restart for the run.

How's the battery life on yours? I have a 305 and I'm not sure mine would have the battery life to make it through a half Ironman. I turned mine on before we had to get out of the transition zone before the start so I wouldn't have to wait for the satellites to load.

[Susie]

Hmm, good point. I don't know how long the battery will go. I've only used it continuously from 100% until it died once, and it was over a year ago. I just checked, and it died 7:33:54 into a hike on that time. If the battery still lasts about long, it would be fine. Ideally, bike + run will take me about 6 hours, although it could be 6.5 or so. (I have no place to ride that is as flat as the course so I'm kind of guessing!)

My Cateye is not currently working either (reason unknown) so it would be good to have some idea of my mile splits.

[coconutbug]

I have the 310XT and just wear it the whole time. If I were you, I'd put it on my wrist in T1 and leave it there; I don't know much about the 405 - is there a multisport function?

[kams]

I have the 310xt so I wear it on my wrist the whole time. So, my vote would be to put it on your wrist in t1.

I like it facing inwards so I can see it clearly in aero.

[keweenawlove]

I'd probably put it on in T1 and turn it on then because I'd be paranoid about it dying when I really wanted it in the run. You might lose your first mile split on the bike but you'll have plenty more. I had mine set to lap every mile but I'm not sure if I would have gotten annoyed if I had 52 beeps ahead of me instead of 25

[Susie]

No, no multisport function on the 405.

Hmm, I have not tried inwards facing. I don't have aerobars, but I wonder if that would be easier to see.

[Susie]

Jun 10, 2013 15:00:55 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I'd probably put it on in T1 and turn it on then because I'd be paranoid about it dying when I really wanted it in the run. You might lose your first mile split on the bike but you'll have plenty more. I had mine set to lap every mile but I'm not sure if I would have gotten annoyed if I had 52 beeps ahead of me instead of 25

lol.  It has not bothered me beeping every mile on my 40, 50, 55, 60 mile rides, so I'm sure it'd be alright. 

Fair enough about the first mile.  I just want a running idea of how I'm doing on the bike.  Pacing is hard for me when I'm tired, so yeah, more important in the run.

I can already tell I'm gonna have a wicked Garmin tan by the end of the day.  To add to my cycling glove tan that I'm already rocking. 

[trigal]

I never had a Garmin until this season, but I don't think I'm going to use one for my longer distances. For those, I go by feel (and my bike computer). I may use it for short stuff though.

Sometimes it's best not to get caught up in the numbers when racing.

[shorewife]

I have the 405 too. I only used it on the run portion because I have a bike computer and I also didn't want to fiddle with trying to change sports in the middle of a race. I think there are quick-release mounts for your bike if you do want to use it for the bike and run.

[katandkevin]

I would put it on in t1. My bike computer stopped working during my half and it was nice to know what my speed was from my watch.

[joenali]

Jun 10, 2013 16:30:15 GMT -5 trigal said:

I never had a Garmin until this season, but I don't think I'm going to use one for my longer distances. For those, I go by feel (and my bike computer). I may use it for short stuff though.

Sometimes it's best not to get caught up in the numbers when racing.

This! Especially knowing you are going to be out there for quite awhile. It doesn't feel great mentally when you look at your numbers and it seems slow, even though you feel good, go based on feel. Does that make sense??

[trigal]

Jun 10, 2013 18:29:35 GMT -5 joenali said:

Jun 10, 2013 16:30:15 GMT -5 trigal said:

I never had a Garmin until this season, but I don't think I'm going to use one for my longer distances. For those, I go by feel (and my bike computer). I may use it for short stuff though.

Sometimes it's best not to get caught up in the numbers when racing.

This! Especially knowing you are going to be out there for quite awhile. It doesn't feel great mentally when you look at your numbers and it seems slow, even though you feel good, go based on feel. Does that make sense??

And if its windy, then your bike speed will be/could be slower and that is frustrating to see, even though its happening to everyone.