I notice some other triathletes talk about how they buy this and that to assist in their triathlon training and racing. It sounds as if they’ll spend hundreds of dollars without even thinking twice.
Personally, I try to buy as little as possible. How much money do you spend? Tell me at Triathlon Forums.
I use a single wrist-watch to time all my triathlon training. I bought it a few months back for less than $50. It’s a Timex Ironman. The colors are yellow and black. Needless to say, it’s water resistant, meaning I can swim with it. I can set it to have up to 9 interval times, so I can do sets of up to 9 different interval times. (For example, if I wanted to run for 3 minutes, walk for 1, and jog for 2, I can set it so that it will beep after 3 minutes, then again after one more minutes, and then again after another two.)
Having this watch has helped my triathlon training. If you don’t have a good sports watch, I highly recommend getting one.
Low Jeremy writes about what he says you must know about triathlon suits:
Triathlon suits are normally wet suits. Nonetheless, they are matters of personal choice. Anyone can choose their suits according to their best judgements and no one can restrict them from doing so. But whatever freedom is given to the racers, they still must choose what is ideal to them.
Being the type of suit that provides most of the advantages in using the principle of cold and heat absorption, wet suits seem to rank top among all choices.
But not all wet suits are alike. There are those that were specifically designed for SCUBA diving, surfing and those that are perfect for triathlon races.
From the suit’s simplest form, they have undoubtedly morphed into varying classifications that optimize the use of wet and cold system.
Basic physics tell us that heat transfers from a hot object towards a colder one. This law is so simple that you can bet it and argue otherwise ’til your wit’s end. No triathlon suit can prevent the exchange of cold and heat. After all, that is not the work they were intended to do. However, many are so entirely engineered to make as much delay of the heat transfer as physical science would allow.
It is critical for a triathlon swimmer to preserve as much heat as his suit will allow because delay (even by a second or two) can create a large discrepancy between you and the racer running before and after you.
The loss of heat in water are dependent on several variables including the total mass of the person’s body, a person’s physical exertion, the materials used in creating the triathlon suit and the temperature of the surrounding water itself.
The ideal triathlon suit, or any wet suit for that matter, is one that is made of three layers. The outer protective layer, the insulation layer and the wicking layer.
The outer protective layer is obviously the one that coats the whole of the suit. The more popular material used for this is the neoprene. This works well yet very delicate that simple scratches may actually cause the suit to get serious damages.
The insulation layer, on the other hand, appears in many varieties. The most usual choices include wooly bear, open-cell foam, type-B marine thinsulate, and radiant barriers.
The wicking material acts as the absorber of skin’s moisture thus keeping the racers’ skin dry. When the body is wet, it looses much heat than normal. The wicking layer of the skin prevents this from occurring.
This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Triathlons, please visit http://triathlon.articlekeep.com
Mike Herman writes about men’s triathlon clothing:
In the world of triathlons, men triathlon clothing may be the difference between doing well and winning the race.
In these days of high tech fabrics and unique methods of clothing construction, what you wear has never been more important.
If you are competing in worn, torn clothing, consider revamping your wardrobe and your racing attitude by choosing the latest kinds of clothing.
The rise of technology advanced clothing is perfect for anyone who wants to gain a leg up on their competition and enjoy newfound success in the sport of triathlons.
Perfect For Land Or Sea
Since triathlons take place both on land and in water, it makes perfect sense that mens triathlon clothing should accommodate both environments.
Today’s latest pieces of triathlon clothing take its cue from the amphibians that occupy both types of living.
Instead of having to change outfits between each stage of the race or suffer through bulky, heavy, inappropriate clothing that can chafe, aggravate, and hamper your movements, these technologically advanced pieces of clothing are custom made for triathletes by triathletes.
Type Of Clothing
When it comes to the typical triathlete’s apparel , there are many options in the specific types of clothing available.
Typically though, there are two main options: wear a two piece uniform of shorts and a shirt or wear a sleek one piece outfit.
The difference between these two types of clothing is vast, and the preference is strictly a personal one.
If you are wondering what type of triathlon outfit would be best for your specific style and needs, you are strongly urged to try both types.
Some individuals find the one piece suits a dream, since they fit your body like a second skin.
Other athletes stand by the tradition of wear separates during their racing and stick to the basics.
Triathlon shorts are available in two main styles: trunks and form-fitting shorts reminiscent of traditional bicycling shorts.
Both types of these shorts are custom made for running, swimming, and riding in a triathlon.
The trunk style of triathlon shorts are made in a similar style of swimming trunks, but featured a padded crotch region to make riding your bicycle more comfortable.
Similarly, form-fitting shorts are made with less padding which, unlike bicycle shorts, are more comfortable for running and swimming.
Both of these types of shorts are made from technologically advanced fabrics that are capable of drying quickly and weigh next to nothing.
The Water
When the water temperature is incredibly cold for those early morning or late season triathlons, look no further than wet suits.
Although typical wetsuits are bulky, thick, and cumbersome, the triathlon wetsuits are sleek and lightweight.
These wetsuits were first engineered in the mid-1980s by triathlete Dan Empfield.
Fed up with the old fashioned wetsuits suitable for scuba diving but not triathlons, Empfield created a suit that was lightweight and allowed considerable mobility, but was still warm for those chilly waters.
Unlike other wetsuits, the texture of the construction fabric is slick, which allows the athlete to slide through the water with the greatest of ease.
For this reason, triathlon wet suits should not be used for any other sporting event, especially surfing, since the material is fragile and the fabric can easily tear when it comes in contact with sandy surfaces.
Finally, Empfield’s wet suits were made to be donned and taken off quickly and easily, which allows you to save precious minutes during the transition periods between each stage of the race.
Just like your regular clothes , wearing the right outfit to a triathlon can greatly affect your performance. For this reason, take special care when purchasing the outfits for your favored sporting event.
What You Need Is At Gear4Triathlons.com . Find The Best Triathlon Gear That You Need To Bring Your Workouts and Races To The Next Level.
Ray Fauteux writes about choosing bike equipment for your first ironman triathlon:
Without a doubt the bike-equipment you choose can greatly influence the outcome of your first Ironman Triathlon.
However, don’t believe for a moment that the more expensive the bike, the easier and faster your bike split will be. The most important factor–and one that is often overlooked–is having the bike you choose sized just for you. Most bike outlets will supply this service. I just can’t stress how important this is. A proper fit means you will be getting full use of the proper muscle groups and will have a smooth, circular pedal stroke. Most importantly, it can make for a much more comfortable transition into the run.
Also, when you consider it, there’s not much point in spending thousands of dollars more for a bike because it is a pound or two lighter when you’re going to be packing five pounds of water and food on it for the race. For your first Ironman I would suggest a good reliable mid-priced bike. You can always upgrade if you choose to continue on with the sport in the following years.
Here’s something to think about. In 1984, on a brutally hot and windy day during the Kona Ironman, there were two cyclists under the 5 hour mark. Dave Scott was 5:11 and went on to run a 2:53 marathon and ultimately won the race. My point is, pretty well any mid-range priced bike you buy will be 10 times better than what these guys raced on that day. Think about it. Aerobars would have been HUGE that day. There was no such thing. Everyone had the old toe clips. The bikes were MUCH heavier. The tires were nowhere near as good as we can get now. There is just no comparison.
Ultimately your training and overall preparation—your athletic ability, and your courage are equally important ingredients to a successful Ironman bike ride.
Its about more than just the bike.
PROFILE BARS- I don’t believe they’ve invented an Ironman race yet that has no wind. Profile bars are a “must” to reduce wind resistance and conserve your energy for the upcoming marathon. If possible, try and have your shift levers mounted at the very front of your profile bars where your hands meet. That way you’re not sitting up or reaching down to shift gears. I have something called “swift shifters.” They are just perfect for the Ironman bike leg.
CYCLE COMPUTER-Some bike computers have way too many functions. All you need is cadence, speed, and an odometer to tell how far you’ve gone. That way you’re not forever pushing buttons to find the proper setting.
CLIPLESS PEDALS AND SHOES TO FIT-These were just a great invention. They are so easy to get in and out of and allow for a much smoother and more economical pedal stroke than the old clips we started out with. Its VERY important to have the tension set just right. You want to be able to get into them easily, yet not have your foot snap out at the worst possible time.(Like climbing a hill for instance). If you ski, its sort of the same idea as ski bindings. Just keep experimenting with it until you have to give your ankle a fairly quick, sharp twist for your shoe to come away from the pedal. That way you know its not set to loose. Also, make sure the bike has forward momentum when twisting out of the pedal. If you are almost stopped you could fall right over.
BOTTLE CAGES-Personally, I carry 4 water bottles. One inside the handlebars with a flexible plastic straw so I can drink without removing the bottle, one in the standard position on the frame, and a two bottle cage behind the seat. The water bottle on the frame and the two behind the seat were for my replacement drink…Gatorade etc. The bottle with the plastic straw was water. It has a top that snaps open, but stays attached and at aid stations I can just refill it with water if needed. When I wanted a replacement drink, I would take it from the bottle on the bike frame. When it was empty I would switch it with a full bottle from behind the seat. If I thought I would need more than three bottles of my replacement drink, I would leave one or two at the special needs station.
***If what you normally use for a replacement drink is being supplied on the race course, then you can do away with the two bottles behind your seat and just keep changing the bottle on the bike frame at the aid stations. Most of the time it was garorade or something else I didn’t use and I would just bring my own.
HELMET-You can’t race without one, so just find one that is comfortable, fits you well, and meets all safety standards. Remember, if its too loose, it will fall over your eyes when you lean forward into the profile position and that will drive you crazy. Also make sure it can be done up and undone easily.
SUNGLASSES-This is one piece of bike-equipment you MUST have for your Ironman training and racing. And I don’t really care if they cost $2.99 or $299. Just make sure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Say you’re going downhill at 40 mph. And the bee coming towards you is travelling 25 mph. when he hits your unprotected eye. That could be REALLY, REALLY SERIOUS!! Always wear sunglasses and a helmet. Sun or not!! I found that yellow tinted sunglasses are excellent for overcast days.
I can think of at least 8 or 10 times over the years that something has hit my sunglasses hard enough to do lots of damage if I my eyes were unprotected.
Hopefully these few tips will help you in your bike equipment choices.
About the Author: My name is Ray and I’ve been an endurance athlete for over 25 years. I’ve competed in over 30 marathons, 2 - 50 mile races, 14 Ironman triathlons and countless shorter races. I’ve created a website called “Ironstruck.” The main purpose is to provide training and racing tips for the beginner triathlete and novice Ironman. Come for a visit at triathlon-ironman-myfirstironman-ironstruck.com. Also, “Ironstruck” the book, has been published online and can be viewed at www.lulu.com/content/543252. It is available in paperback or download and may well be the most valuable Ironman Triathlon guide you might ever purchase.
Low Jeremy wrote an article about the special features of a triathlon bike:
One of the most common question, a triathlon beginner would ask is: “What is the difference between a triathlon bike and a road bike?”
This is a very important question to ask since the two might appear the same. But deeper evaluation would reveal that there is something special about triathlon bike that could not be seen on a regular road bike.
But before enumerating these, you must remember that using triathlon bike is not limited to triathlon events. Even on solo ride, triathlon bike works best.
Triathlon bike provides an easy transition from swim to bike and from bike to run. And this is perhaps the most special thing about triathlon bike. Remember that transition from discipline to another is still part of the race and therefore must be done smoothly. Since bike comes after the swim and before the run, the bike used should be designed in a way that the triathlete can easily mount and dismount.
Among all 3 events, the longest part of the race is bike and therefore, the bike to be used must be designed in a way that it can provide comfort to the rider. Triathlon bike is designed in this way. Also, the triathlon bike design is very efficient in giving the aerodynamics that provides speed. The elbow rest are designed to be low so that the rider maximizes his or her every kick. The Garside Study in 2001 disclosed that triathletes who use triathlon bike run faster that those who use the regular road bike on the same covered distance.
From bike to run, the triathete should have enough energy to finish the race. Since triathlon bike is designed to be efficient and comfortable, the rider saves a lot of energy that is important to finish the race. To be particular, riding a triathlon bike provides less cramp on the lower back muscle due to its geometrical construction. It is important to note that a road bike can cause your muscle to tighten that might effect your transition especially on the first two kilometers of the run. This would give you enough difficulty to keep you from effectively maximizing the time.
To simply put it, the triathlon bike would give you the speed you need not only on the bike but also on the run.
These advantages provide you with the much needed energy and comfort during the race.
About the Author: For more info from Low Jeremy on Triathlon, please visit triathlon.articlekeep.com.
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The town closed the public pool for this week for Christmas vacation, so I only just preformed my home exercises. It works out well, because I got sick after Christmas. I started feeling better today, though.
Anyway, soon I need to get triathlon shorts. Low Jeremy wrote the following article about triathlon shorts:
Your Standards in Choosing Your Triathlon Shorts
Everyone has his unique anatomy. And that, my friend must be the foremost consideration in choosing you triathlon shorts.
You can of course choose to base your choice of shorts on the quality of the material, the price or the over-all construction. But it is good to remember that there is no rule of thumb that will help determine the type that you will wear on the race day. After all, gears and equipments are your personal preferences.
Triathlon shorts are quite hard to recommend due to our unique anatomical structures. This means that measurements of the crotch, butts and lengths vary largely depending on the persons using them. In shopping for your own, it would be best to try on as much types and models as you can to secure that your last choice will fit you comfortably. It will always be miss or hit and you have to pray for your luck.
We cannot provide you the exact answers but allow us to help by presenting several factors that will help lead you towards better choices.
Price You get what you pay for, this rule generally applies to almost all items that we see in the market. Better toss a few more dollars on a triathlon shorts that will help add to your performance than sacrifice to ill-fated shorts. Cheaper triathlon shorts are more likely to be substandard items. Cheap shorts cant provide you durability either because for most conditions, manufacturers cut through quality to give way to quantity of production.
Panels The more panels the shorts have the higher the quality the manufacturer incorporated in the product. Additional panels won’t damage the product, as many people believe. Actually they create more strength.
Liner Any self-respecting triathlon shorts manufacturers know that apart from the shorts itself, the liner plays the major role. Don’t go for those that are made from plastic compartments, thick paddings or gel inserts.
Leg length Fashion dictates the length of triathlon shorts. And as we have seen, the length has been yo-yoing around that no one can actually tell what’s best and what’s not. It is after all, a personal choice between short shorts or not-so-short shorts.
Waist length While we have been discussing how unstandardized triathlon shorts can be, the waist length marks as an exception. To be able to provide enough comfort during cycling, the waist length must be cut high back. And the front side must be cut low so bending is easier.
In most cases, snuggers prove to be of greatest value since they keep in place no matter how rigid the legwork or the waters may be.
About The Author: For more information from Low Jeremy about triathlons, please visit triathlon.articlekeep.com.
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I went swimming this morning, and Dan did swim with me. Right now I only need to train to get in shape, because I don’t plan to do my first triathlon for a little while. However, eventually I have to get triathlon gear. I just read the following article by Mike Herman about triathlon gear:
A triathlon is an athletic event that tests the athlete’s endurance in three separate sports - swimming, cycling and running.
Athletes participating in a triathlon are required to complete all the three, starting with the swimming, then the cycling and last, but not least, the running, in the shortest possible time.
The triathlon requires the athletes to have optimal fitness levels in order to just complete the race, let alone to actually compete and place well.
Apart from physical fitness, athletes are also need to use the right kind of triathlon gear that helps them in staying even with if not getting ahead of the other athletes.
Athletes who want to succeed in a triathlon, not just finish, but actually compete, need to invest in the best triathlon gear available in the market.
However, selecting the best triathlon gear is not always an easy task due to the number of brands available. Most companies that manufacture triathlon gear claim that their products are the best, which often adds to the confusion.
Looking Beyond Brands Of Triathlon Gear
In order to select the best triathlon gear, athletes need to look beyond brands and companies and invest in those products that suit their specific requirements.
The athletes may have more or less the same physical build but triathlon gear requirements often vary, depending on personal preferences and specifications of the athlete.
Swimming gear:
Equipment required for the swimming event of a triathlon includes goggles, a swimming suit and a wetsuit.
Although these may not seem essential to an amateur, successful professional athletes reveal that investing in the right equipment for swimming is as important as the gear both in cycling and running.
It makes a difference when it comes finishing and REALLY makes a difference if “winning” the triathlon is your plan.
Athletes opt for swimming gear that is scientifically designed to pose the least resistance to water and that includes the technology involved in todays wetsuits.
Cycling gear:
In triathlons, and biathlons, the cycling leg requires an athlete to invest in a good bicycle, a helmet, clothing and cycling shoes, aero-bars, seat and peddles.
While selecting cycling gear, athletes need to make sure that these offer the least resistance to air. This will help in gaining those crucial seconds over their competitors.
There are specially designed bikes, but the key to being a good cyclist is NOT only about having a good, expensive bike, IT IS about working out, training, and being on the bike.
Running gear:
The running gear used in a triathlon includes running shoes and appropriate clothing.
Getting in the right running gear is necessary because athletes have to cover a distance that requires proper shoes.
If not, the athletes may have to deal with blisters, sores and even muscle sprains.
Especially with running shoes, but also with swimming and cycling appearal and equippment, workout with the gear a number of times before racing with them. Never race with something that you are not used to training with.
All of this will provide you with a comfort level that ensures a well-earned race, or even a victory.
About The Author: Learn more about the best triathlon gear and triathlon racing and click on over to Mike Herman’s site Gear4Triathlons.com.
What do you think?