T1 is the transition from the swim to the bike leg — it involves exiting the water, removing a wetsuit (if worn), and mounting the bike. T2 is the transition from bike to run — racking the bike, removing the helmet and changing into running shoes. Transition times count toward your total race time, so fast transitions are a genuine performance gain. Elite triathletes can complete both transitions in under 2 minutes combined; beginners often spend 5-15 minutes.
Key points
- T1 = swim to bike (wetsuit removal, helmet on)
- T2 = bike to run (rack bike, swap shoes)
- Counts toward total race time
- Practice transitions — they’re free speed
Try the tool
Put this into practice with our free calculator.
Open the Triathlon Transition Time Calculator →