The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
Boothy, you'll be fine in the swim with your background and a bit of training. Having the technique from younger years and the fitness that your 5k shows, I would say that a 20 minute wet suited 1500 should be possible for you after a few months training. And you'll soon get used to the physical mass starts, sprint the first 200 and you pretty much lose the slower swimmers who are the ones who try to get a tow off you by holding your legs.
Just shows how popular triathlon is becoming, I've lost count the number of times people ask how my swimming is going, I mention I'm running a lot now and they say 'you'll have to start doing triathlon then'. I'd just rather concentrate on running and getting that better, they've not seen me on a bike and I don't think my bank balance can handle it! Maybe give an aquathlon a go next year though...
Just shows how popular triathlon is becoming, I've lost count the number of times people ask how my swimming is going, I mention I'm running a lot now and they say 'you'll have to start doing triathlon then'. I'd just rather concentrate on running and getting that better, they've not seen me on a bike and I don't think my bank balance can handle it! Maybe give an aquathlon a go next year though...
el stovey said:
You really should do an olympic distance triathlon okgo, you sound like you'd be amazing. 
Just surprised. There's quite a few women I ride with that can break the hour. Granted no run after but they're women. Been looking at the power files for kona, interesting stuff. Highway Star said:
Boothy, you'll be fine in the swim with your background and a bit of training. Having the technique from younger years and the fitness that your 5k shows, I would say that a 20 minute wet suited 1500 should be possible for you after a few months training. And you'll soon get used to the physical mass starts, sprint the first 200 and you pretty much lose the slower swimmers who are the ones who try to get a tow off you by holding your legs.
Just shows how popular triathlon is becoming, I've lost count the number of times people ask how my swimming is going, I mention I'm running a lot now and they say 'you'll have to start doing triathlon then'. I'd just rather concentrate on running and getting that better, they've not seen me on a bike and I don't think my bank balance can handle it! Maybe give an aquathlon a go next year though...
I haven't really looked in to it properly but your bank balance comment concerns me Just shows how popular triathlon is becoming, I've lost count the number of times people ask how my swimming is going, I mention I'm running a lot now and they say 'you'll have to start doing triathlon then'. I'd just rather concentrate on running and getting that better, they've not seen me on a bike and I don't think my bank balance can handle it! Maybe give an aquathlon a go next year though...
Obviously a good bike isn't cheap, nor is a good wetsuit, but after that where is the other cost?
okgo said:
A question to the seasoned folk -
What is the most important discipline in a tri in your opinions, and why?
From my (limited) experience it's the run and that's confirmed by a lot of what I've read.What is the most important discipline in a tri in your opinions, and why?
The swim is too short, in the grand scale of things, to be the key. If you stay near the front you'll be fine. If you're not first you can make it back in the bike or the run.
The bike establishes you and your position but it's in the run where you win it in my opinion, especially if it's your strongest discipline.
boothy1987 said:
I haven't really looked in to it properly but your bank balance comment concerns me
Obviously a good bike isn't cheap, nor is a good wetsuit, but after that where is the other cost?
I did my first one recently and it surprised me too, summary below:Obviously a good bike isn't cheap, nor is a good wetsuit, but after that where is the other cost?
Ex-hire wetsuit £50
Tri shorts £35
Race belt £5
Energy gels - £14
Tri-bars £30 from eBay
Couple of Swimming lessons £24
Open water induction session and a practise session £35
Pool membership £30/month
London tri entry £100ish
So taking a couple of months of pool membership about £350.
I've just entered Marshman Std and Bala Olympic distance for next year, which were £110 between them, and barring any breakages am only planning to getting a tri suit so the costs do come down. The swimming and training costs will obv still be there.
okgo said:
1 hour for 25 miles is elite territory in tri...???
About 52-56 minutes seems to be the time for the top guys on the 40k bike leg. Remember though, it might be well and good being able to match that, but if you've given it your all on the bike, how much would you have left for the 10k run after?! It's all about balancing it and not going out balls out on the bike!okgo said:
A question to the seasoned folk -
What is the most important discipline in a tri in your opinions, and why?
Run. If you can't run, the last leg is "Welcome to World o' Pain". What is the most important discipline in a tri in your opinions, and why?
Then swim. If you can't swim, the first leg is "Welcome to World o' Suffocation".
Then bike. Any fule can ride bike.
All that said, there's a difference between completing a tri and racing a tri, just as there is a difference between completing a sportive and bike racing.
boothy1987 said:
I haven't really looked in to it properly but your bank balance comment concerns me
Obviously a good bike isn't cheap, nor is a good wetsuit, but after that where is the other cost?
It can stack up quite quickly! I think it's the reason that there probably aren't more people doing Triathlon. Since the beggining of this year i have spent (on Tritahlon related things);Obviously a good bike isn't cheap, nor is a good wetsuit, but after that where is the other cost?
Bike: £650
Tri Bars: £40
Bike bits (pump, puncture kit, bottle cages etc) £60
Garmin Tri Watch: £230
Bike Shoes: £80
Helmet: £40
Wetsuit: £220
Tri Suit: £120
Goggles: £20
Race Entries: £200
Training Clothes: £200
Lake Sessions: £100
Swimming Lessons: £60
Tri Club Membership: £50
Running Shoes: £110
So that's over £2100 this season!!
I could have probably got away with a bit less than that by buying cheaper gear, but that gives an idea how much it costs to buy all the essential kit. Also, to carry on with off season training, i've just bought a mountain bike, a turbo trainer and some off road trail shoes at a cost of £720! Turning into a stupidly expensive hobby!
Granted, i won't need to buy anywhere near as much next season as i have all the gear now, but there are always new shiny things catching your eye once you get into it!
Greg66 said:
okgo said:
A question to the seasoned folk -
What is the most important discipline in a tri in your opinions, and why?
Run. If you can't run, the last leg is "Welcome to World o' Pain". What is the most important discipline in a tri in your opinions, and why?
Then swim. If you can't swim, the first leg is "Welcome to World o' Suffocation".
Then bike. Any fule can ride bike.
All that said, there's a difference between completing a tri and racing a tri, just as there is a difference between completing a sportive and bike racing.
I'd say the run is the most important discipline in a draft legal race, as the front guys all come into T2 together, aso it's the run that seperates them. Compeltely different ball game in a draft legal race though!
Although saying all that, it's no good just being good at the bike and then really weak on the run. But that's the whole fun of training and getting better over all 3 disciplines and exactly why i do it!
nick s said:
Granted, i won't need to buy anywhere near as much next season as i have all the gear now, but there are always new shiny things catching your eye once you get into it!
No you won't need any of it but here's what might happen.January
New trail shoes, better running jacket/tights/base layers. (in the sale of course)
Summer
Better bike, better wheels, better tyres, new running shoes, race shoes, tri specific bike shoes, stuff with the word aero in front of it. more race fees. overseas events?
Winter
Overseas race entry, winter duathlons, new cycle gear, warmer bib tights, more base layers, warmer gloves, upgrades to your old bike (which is now your winter training bike)
el stovey said:
No you won't need any of it but here's what might happen.
January
New trail shoes, better running jacket/tights/base layers. (in the sale of course)
Summer
Better bike, better wheels, better tyres, new running shoes, race shoes, tri specific bike shoes, stuff with the word aero in front of it. more race fees. overseas events?
Winter
Overseas race entry, winter duathlons, new cycle gear, warmer bib tights, more base layers, warmer gloves, upgrades to your old bike (which is now your winter training bike)
haha, this made me laugh! Because i'm already upgrading my bike at Xmas, and have made my mind up about the Tri specific bike shoes aswell next season! Definitely getting some of those.January
New trail shoes, better running jacket/tights/base layers. (in the sale of course)
Summer
Better bike, better wheels, better tyres, new running shoes, race shoes, tri specific bike shoes, stuff with the word aero in front of it. more race fees. overseas events?
Winter
Overseas race entry, winter duathlons, new cycle gear, warmer bib tights, more base layers, warmer gloves, upgrades to your old bike (which is now your winter training bike)
And yes, planning an overseas event and already entered some winter duathlons!
all of that was spot on!!
okgo said:
Cheers for replies, all makes sense.
Certainly not a cheap sport, but then again I'm sure none of them are individually either. I dread to think how much money I've spent on cycling since January. I'd imagine its well over £5000.
Someone put a post up on weightweenies very recently: go to a tri, and stop counting the $5000 bikes when you get to 200. Go to a bike race, count the entrants and see whether you get to 100. Certainly not a cheap sport, but then again I'm sure none of them are individually either. I dread to think how much money I've spent on cycling since January. I'd imagine its well over £5000.
Triathletes *love* their gear.
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