Feet in or out: Exploring the Swim to Bike Transition in Junior Elite Triathletes

This study examined the effect of prior maximal intensity swimming on subsequent cycling performance and compared cycling with feet in shoes (IN) versus feet out of shoes (OUT) during the swim to bike transition in junior elite triathletes.

Ten (3 females, 7 males) junior elite triathletes (mean [SD]; 19 [2] y; 172 [7] cm; 65 [6] kg) completed 3 trials separated by 7 days: a control cycling trial (CONT; no swim) and 2 experimental trials consisting of 750-m maximal intensity swim, followed by a 100-kJ maximal cycle effort (∼4 km equivalent) performed on a stationary cycle ergometer under IN and OUT conditions. Swimming was conducted in an outdoor pool with cycling performed in an adjacent laboratory 5 m from the pool. Transition time was defined as the time from swim completion to cycling commencement. Performance was determined by the time taken to complete transition and fixed cycle work.

Transition time was slower for IN (55.7 [6.1] s) than OUT (44.7 [5.7] s; P = .0001, d = 1.56). Cycle time was faster in CONT (289.2 [59.8] s) than IN (347.8 [78.6] s; d = 0.84) and OUT (376.9 [104.9] s; P = .0001, d = 1.03), with IN faster than OUT (P = .041). Combined transition and cycle times did not differ between conditions (P = .173, d = 0.23).

Prior maximal intensity swimming impaired subsequent cycling performance. Although cycling with feet out of the shoes reduced transition time, it compromised cycling performance, resulting in no overall advantage in combined transition and cycle time. However, faster transitions may provide a tactical benefit in draft-legal events where early bike positioning is important.