January 17th, 2010 — Biking, Clothes and Gear, Swim Bike Run
You are really going to want to choose a bicycle that fits your body perfectly, comfortable, and also fits your budget. You can buy an extremely expensive bike, but if it does not fit your frame, then it is completely worthless when it comes to meeting your bicycling needs.
The final issue that you are going to want to consider when it comes to bikes is whether you want a bike that has a classic road geometry to it, or to choose one that is more specifically triathlon oriented or forward oriented in nature. The difference that plays an important role in this decision is where your center of gravity is going to end up being in relation to the bottom bracket on your bike.
A road frame bicycle is going to put it further back. On the other hand, the standard triathlon frame is going to move you forward instead. The justification for this is that being more forward is going to make it simpler for you to get into the right position for aero bar, as well as saving some of the power from your legs so that the run, which comes after the bicycling portion of the race, is not as overwhelming and arduous as it would have been if you would have had to pedal harder or with more power.
Generally speaking, if you are more flexible, then you are going to want to go for a position that is more relaxed in nature. This is where you are going to be able to generate the biggest amount of power. If on the other hand you are older and more stiff, especially in your glutes, then you might want to be considering the forward option that the triathlon geometry bike is going to provide. This is because this is where someone with less flexibility is going to be capable of generating the biggest amount of power. Some bicycles will allow you to opt for both, and this is going to allow you to test drive different positions until you have figured out which one is going to work out for you the best over a period of time.
The biggest and most important investment that you can ever make when it comes to bicycling gear is to have a good set of wheels. Make sure that you are relying upon your bike expert to guide you through the right wheel options based on your weight, your frame size and the conditions of the race. Make sure that you are choosing aero rims and a minimum number of spokes. Do not sacrifice the integrity of your wheels for the sake of speed. Choose the right wheels for your bike, the right bike for your body, and you will do just find in the end.
Photo Credits: kisocci
Originally posted 2009-09-18 03:20:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Triathlon Terms part 2 Here is a brief glossary of terms used in triathlon training and triathlon racing. Bonk - This describes a situation where you suddenly begin to lose energy and a level of fatigue sets in. This is typically caused by depleted glycogen stores within the liver and the muscles, and it......
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January 14th, 2010 — Biking, Clothes and Gear, Swim Bike Run
The biggest step in figuring out what type of bike you should ride in for your triathlon is to determine what kind of money you have in your budget for the right bike. This is going to be absolutely the biggest factor in helping you to determine which bike is best going to meet your needs. Knowing that you are going to spend $1,000 or less, $2,000 or less, or anything you have to spend is going to narrow your options down considerably and very quickly, giving you a much more manageable pool of bikes to choose from so that you can make the right decision.
Once you have figured out the budget end of things, the main issue at hand is going to be to find the right fit and the right comfort of your ride. The most popular today is going to be carbon fiber when it comes to providing you with comfort of ride as well as solid power delivery between the foot and the pedals and right onto the wheels. You will find that aluminum is going to be slightly stiffer, and in theory this is going to offer a much more responsive feel when it comes to pedaling as well as handling, but there is a downside: There is less shock absorbing power coming from the frame when you are on a rough road, and there are plenty of rough roads involved in triathlon bicycling.
Steel is generally perceived to be the original standby, but steel is most often heavier than carbon fiber, aluminum and titanium. Still, with steel you will generally be looking at a much more palatable price. If you are going to attempt a much longer race, then you should be thinking about shock absorbing capabilities. If you only plan on doing short jaunts, then you might actually want to consider the tighter feel that aluminum and steel afford you. Even at its very worst, aluminum is more than capable of being an excellent bicycle material, so don’t discount it.
Next you are going to want to consider the fit, as this is really the most vitally important aspect of choosing your bike. The bike that you choose absolutely has to be able to fit your body. Some frames come like running shorts, in small size, medium size and large size, but these are extremely limited selections and they are not going to fit people that are long and lean or that have long and lean legs. At this point, it truly becomes a matter of choosing and relying on the right bicycle specialist to help you find a frame size and shape that is going to give you the characteristics that you need to meet your triathlon goals while not surpassing your budget.
Photo credits: KevinSaunders
Originally posted 2009-09-15 03:16:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 27th, 2009 — Clothes and Gear, Swim Bike Run, Triathlon Tips
… Continued from Attain Victory with the Right Triathlon Gear pt 1:
The seat tubes have steeper angles and they allow for more of the leg muscles to be contributing to the pedaling force. Since more body muscles are being engaged, there is less strain being placed on each individual muscle, which gives you a much greater balance of the energy reserves when you transition from biking into running.
Sadly, there are also triathlon athletes that are not using these specific bikes, and they are putting themselves at an enormous disadvantage as a result. This is because most if not all of their pedaling power is coming from only a few of the muscles in their legs, and this is resulting in a much quicker loss of their vital energies. When you are an athlete, it is easy for you to see that science is capable of being a friend to you. In order for you to pick out the best of the best when it comes to triathlon gear, you need to be able to set your mind on a budget that is going to allow you to be competitive in not one but all three of the legs of this race. You should not, then, only be spending your money on a top of the line triathlon designed bike only to fail in the other aspects of the competition for example.
Sure, it may do you well to have a top of the line bike for the triathlon portion of the race, but a cheaper and better rounded bicycle may achieve the same. Who cares if your bike isn’t as sexy as a Ferrari, what you really need for it to do is get you through the race, getting the job done and keeping you in good shape along the way.
By budgeting a little less for your triathlon bicycle, you can spend more money on your shoes, your wet suit and any other items that you need for the entirety of this three leg race. You are going to need good goggles and a good wet suit if you want to do well in the swimming portion of the race and you are going to need good running shoes and comfortable running clothes if you want to run well. As a general rule, you should be investing in all of these things, rather than scrimping in one part of your gear and spending too much in another. It is definitely going to be a good idea for you to save up to make sure that you buy the right gear, because having the right gear can really make or break your ability to succeed in any triathlon competition. If you want to improve your training and improve your actual competition as a result, then choose the right gear and invest in the right things right off the bat.
Photo Credits: Diamondduste
Originally posted 2009-08-28 03:37:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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