February 7th, 2012 — Clothes and Gear, Swim Bike Run, Triathlon Tips
Most people who are facing the concept of their first triathlon are wondering what type of gear and equipment will best suit them. Depending on your skill level, your budget and what equipment you currently own, your needs for the right gear will certainly be difficult. Assuming that budget is a concern and you are dealing with a relatively short triathlon rather than an ironman competition, here are some considerations that you need to keep in mind:
Swimming –
You are definitely going to want to have a good pair of goggles, so do not be afraid to drop $20 or $30 dollars here. You do not want to go cheap when it comes to a nice pair of goggles, because these really go a long way. Visit a real sports store and buy a pair of rubber sealed goggles. As far as swimming attire goes, you can go the wetsuit route, or you can choose a triathlon in a climate that allows you to dress more casually. If you do decide to go the route of the wetsuit, then you are going to need to learn how to get in and out of the wetsuit quickly in order to perform well during the competition. If you own biking shorts that have a pad built in, then you may be able to swim in them, negating the need to purchase a separate swimsuit. Girls may aim to wear a one or two piece with a T-back, making sure to choose something that is light and comfortable.
Biking -
A bike can certainly blow a budget, so don’t worry about getting a good bike until after a few races. Right now, just worry about using whatever bike you can borrow, or already have stored in your garage. Road bikes, ten speed bikes and mountain bikes are all acceptable in these types of races. Make sure at the very least, however, that you have cage pedals. Biking helmets are also a complete must because you cannot participate without one. Padded bike shorts or a soft, gel pad seat are also vital so address these issues sooner rather than later.
Running -
Do not skimp when it comes to good shoes. Spend a little money here and it will certainly pay off in the end. Make sure that your shoes are being fitted properly. As far as running wear goes, make sure that you are choosing something comfortable, light and airy in order to best survive your run. Many people throw lightweight running clothes over the attire they wear for biking and swimming, and this makes the transition from one sport to the next much more fluid. You may want to consider this, but ultimately it is up to you what you choose.
There is also a lot of fun gear that you can buy to customize your experience during each triathlon race. Just don’t go too overboard at first until you know what you really need.
Photo Credits: envisionpublicidad
Originally posted 2009-06-14 12:26:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 31st, 2012 — Biking, Clothes and Gear, Running, Swim Bike Run, Triathlon Tips
It is obviously quite important for you to have a really good pair of shoes that you can run in when you are going through the closing stage of a triathlon – But equally important is making sure that you have a solid pair of triathlon shoes that is also going to get you through the bicycle leg of the competition as well, otherwise you may end up doing more harm than good before ever realizing it.
Fundamentally, cycling shoes for a triathlon are like regular cycling shoes however they have been modified in some way. The corresponding rules are going to apply with a single difference, in that it is really truly and seriously fundamental for you to be able to get in and out of your shoes as quickly as humanly possible. This is not a factor for any traditional types of bicycle shoes and so many top cyclists accidentally opt for shoes that are hard for them to remove such as shoes that have hard plastic soles for example.
The most crucial thing that you should be looking for when it comes to choosing any type of cycling shoe, whether you are participating in typical road races or in a triathlon race, is a sole that is solid. This is going to make sure that there is not any dampening, as dampening is capable of leading to an overall loss of power. A sole that is made out of carbon is perfect, but this tends to be a deluxe type of option that not everyone can opt for unfortunately. If your budget is not going to permit that you purchase carbon shoes for your triathlon race, then you are going to want to choose a conventional style plastic sole shoe instead.
You are also going to want to have a shoe that is slightly tight, but not overly tight in the heel and in the toes, as well as a shoe that offers an overall snug feel for your entire foot in general. There shouldn’t ever be any wiggle room to speak of in your shoe because this is going to leave you with a loss of power and a movement of the foot that is less efficient, not to mention the eventuality of a blister, and who wants one of those?
You are probably already going to have spent a lot of money on your triathlon gear including your bike and your helmet and your clothing. If you want your shoes to look just as nice, believe me, we understand. Still, make sure that you are choosing the right shoe more than just the most attractive one for the best possible results on race day or even simply while you are training in preparation for race day.
Photo Credits: richardmasoner
Originally posted 2009-10-06 03:17:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 14th, 2012 — 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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January 10th, 2012 — 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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