[Closed] Tell me about triathlons...

Get a Tri-Suit. Basically an all in one suitable for warm water swimming that also has a bit of padding for the bike but not too much that you can't run comfortably.

IME, some people waste an inordinate amount of time in transition.

Brick sessions. Transitioning from a bike to running feels weird. Practice it. A lot.

there's nothing funnier than watching runnerists jump, sodden, and with bambi-on-ice legs, on to their bike, look down to see they left it in small sprocket and mash the chain across the cassette/chainwheel, ripping the mech off and collapse on the floor in a pile of gibber just at the exit of transition. It makes watching Mrs S* compete bearable.

* GB Age Group triathlonist.

Get a Tri-Suit. Basically an all in one suitable for warm water swimming that also has a bit of padding for the bike but not too much that you can’t run comfortably.

This, but dont go mad on your first event.

IME, some people waste an inordinate amount of time in transition.

Its the 4th discipline innit. At the very least it's worth coming up with a plan for how to layout your kit to get to it all in the right order. Also, depending on the length of the cycle it might make sense just to ride in your running shoes to avoid a second shoe swap.

I assume I just use my own bike set up as I prefer?

Should be fine, but be wary of drafting rules (likely no drafting allowed). You may also have to be very careful not to touch your bike until your helmet is on.

equally theres nothing funnier than watching the cyclist whos just barrelled past you as your spinning down getting your legs ready to run coming into transition get off his bike - start running(their feet going in horizontal circles no less) and go into a cramp spasm and fall to the floor just outside transition.

They're good fun and very, very friendly in my experience. You can take it as seriously or not as you wish.

A tri-suit is great, but many won't have them. My first one I swam in cycling shorts and threw on a top at transition, though admittedly once I bought a tri-suit it was much better. I used old road shoes with velcro closure which sped that up, elastic laces are also good in your running shoes.

Accept you'll be smashed in the swim, natural swimmers are wonderful to watch and will put serious time into you in the pool. Thankfully, everyone has a weak skill so you may well catch them!

Brick sessions as above are good too, weird, but good to do.

Some beginners triathlons are not timed for the transition from swim to bike. So you could dry off and get changed properly if you want.

Accept you’ll be smashed in the swim, natural swimmers are wonderful to watch and will put serious time into you in the pool. Thankfully, everyone has a weak skill so you may well catch them!

Yeah that is pretty much what I expect to happen - I am happy running (I am running the GNR again in 2020 so will have plenty of running miles completed by early August anyway) and of course the cycling bit should be straight-forward for me.

If you're just looking to complete then there is no need to get anything special. A tri suit will save you some time in transition rather than change from nut-huggers to bike kit, and then from bike kit to running shorts, but if you're looking more at just finishing then why not change into something more comfortable.
Transition is a weird place where time moves at a different pace to the rest of the world, once the adrenaline is buzzing after getting out of the swim you'll find putting socks on is so long winded and has somehow cost you 5 minutes.
Beware - they end up being addictive and you discover muscle aches you never knew existed.

What distance is it? Novice or Sprint i assume?

What distance is it? Novice or Sprint i assume?

Sprint

https://www.uktriathlon.co.uk/events/york-triathlon

In that case be prepared to go off too hard in the swim..... then go off too hard in the cycle trying to make up for it 😀

At grass-roots tri's I've seen both ends of the spectrum in transition; those who dash in and out, pausing only to grab their helmet and shoes, and those who fully dry off and get changed under their towel. Where you fit on that spectrum is entirely down to you and what you hope to achieve. It's a good idea to think about how you'll lay out your kit so it's most readily accessible for each transition.

Bike-wise, a normal road bike will be fine, but it's worth getting a set of clip-on tri-bars to be extra aero. Again, I've seen both ends of the spectrum, from full aero framed £x,000 TT machines, to £50 from Tesco MTBs.

If you're not a fish-like swimmer, don't knock yourself out on the swim, I find it better to back off a little on that and have more oomph left for the bike and run which suit me more. My first tri I was dead after the swim and spoilt my ride cos I wasted the first 5mins trying to get my breath back! (EDIT: What mashr said 😀 )

I'd just start off with some tri-shorts rather than a full suit (DHB ones from Wiggle are fine). Cheaper, and you can add on a top if you like the sport. Just pop a cycle top or t-shirt on in T1.

For a sprint, I wouldn't bother with socks, though I think it's worth a couple of seconds to dry off your feet before the bike. There's also a reason why many triathletes use elastic laces in heir running shoes. I forgot how to tie shoelaces in my first tri - lesson learned.

Good luck - it's a nice friendly sport.

I’d just start off with some tri-shorts rather than a full suit (DHB ones from Wiggle are fine). Cheaper, and you can add on a top if you like the sport. Just pop a cycle top or t-shirt on in T1.

Why do you have to pop a top on - can't you just bare chest the whole thing like a warrior? A lot more aero for the bike than a T-shirt flapping around.

Go and watch a few local tris through the summer, just to see how it all works.

The chop in a pool swim can be alarming if you aren't ready for it.

Get used to riding and running without socks. Or time yourself putting socks on as soon as you get out of the shower. The get used to riding and running without socks.

Tri suit is good but not essential, but again try pulling a jersey on when you are wet.

Get a race belt. It's a belt that you fasten your number to. Number needs to be on the back for the bike and front for the run. Just spin the belt round in transition.

PS its addictive.

There’s a noticeable distance from the pool to the transition and then to the cycle circuit at York.
Running in bare feet for 100-200 metres on a rabbit holed grass bank, then say 100m run pushing a bike in whatever shoes you’re cycling in.
You have been warned.

Yeah, tri-shorts would be the cheapest option for a first event.
Maybe buy some elastic laces as well.

If you want to be a proper triathlete you will need to take great pleasure in spending £££ on kit.

You will need:
TT bike
Tri-suit
Tri specific shoes with velcro fastening which you pre-attach to the bike (I think they also do some trick with an elastic band)
A race belt
etc
etc

In my limited experience, you will find that there are a lot of people doing it for fun, there will be plenty of breast stroke swimmers and a few mountain bikes.

Mick

No nudity in transition...

Why do you have to pop a top on – can’t you just bare chest the whole thing like a warrior? A lot more aero for the bike than a T-shirt flapping around.

It's a thought 🙂
But sadly against the rules

Get a race belt. It’s a belt that you fasten your number to. Number needs to be on the back for the bike and front for the run. Just spin the belt round in transition.

Forgot about this - ask a triathlete, they'll likely have a spare. Often given away at races.

I take a hole punch to races - much easier than trying to spear a hole with a pencil

They are addictive, even though I've not done one for a couple of years, am injured, it's £60, and I live in London - just seeing this thread has me almost signing up

I did a couple of sprint tri's last year and have signed on for another couple this year, and a 1/4 iron man (which is pretty much the same as an Olympic tri distance ish...).

First one, Skipton, I did in tri shorts and faffed around trying to get socks on and tie laces in transition. I also took a towel to the pool and tried to dry off on the run, didn't really work....

second one, Holmfirth, I had a Decathlon tri suit, i didn't bother with socks and had elasticated laces. Much quicker transitions.

Both were done on my Planet X London Road and using velcro only strap xc spd shoes. This year I have a new road bike and am aiming to improve my running and swimming. They're great fun, especially if you'r doing them with a few mates.

Edit: Race belt is essential, the ones I have done have pre holed the numbers so easy to fit on the belt. Mine cost a few quid from Tredz. They also have little elasticated bits to hold a couple of gels.

Think the Decathlon tri suits are on sale at the moment as well.

You will need:
TT bike
Tri-suit
Tri specific shoes with velcro fastening which you pre-attach to the bike (I think they also do some trick with an elastic band)
A race belt
etc
etc

Don't forget expensive wetsuit for when you get addicted and decide to try an aquathon or just want to try an open water event.

And you'll need a posh transition bag to put it all in

Also remember to add time for analysing the results against competitors, finding that number who over took you in the last 100m and speculating on where you'd finished if you were only 1 minute here or there faster.

They're great fun, get your name down then worry about the other stuff 🙂

And you’ll need a posh transition bag to put it all in

Thats going on my birthday list....

They're ideal if you enjoy faff, which triathlon is replete with.

They're also ideal if you enjoy collecting gear, now you have three sports to collect for.

For everyone else, there's time trials / park runs / etc.

🙂

i have done a few in my time -i bought a number belt this year - and even then thats only because ill be doing long distance stuff where ill want to change my layers through out.

its far from essential.

All the ones ive done have been fine with the number on the back for both if you dont have a belt - and ive been happy to leave it there as properly pinned it flaps around less than if its on a belt.

Backpack (although proper triathlete would never choose the budget option):

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BAPXTB/planet-x-transition-backpack

On a serious note, for a swimming coach I would look at Total Immersion or Swim Smooth.

British Triathlon seem to have adopted Swim Smooth.

No nudity in transition…

A friend was fined a minute for infraction of this rule at our local tri, (though still made podium as a Tri newbie. The bugger). I was going to say something similar happened to me a fair way back in the field (5th >50 the two times I did it). When I dropped the towel the woman marshalling transition almost had a stroke. But she wasn't quite quick enough.

I managed to pick up a cheapo trisuit off amazon for the first one I did. If you are a size small then I may even have something for you if you want. I echo everything everyone else has said. Dont worry too much about loads of kit on your first one but if you enjoy them then you amass a fair few extra things!

They are a lot of fun and very inclusive, you really get all sorts doing them which is great!

Also new to the sport here, just entered the Ben Nevis Braveheart IM70.3 in September. Anyone got any experience of this or indeed any 70.3?

its not an IM 70.3 - and thats a good thing. It shares only the distance. - youd know it was an IM because your wallet would be entirely empty.

Learn to run down hill.. its not the climb that will have you its the descent.

I've done quite a few, from Olympic to IM distance... All bar one in Spain, but the rules are international so there shouldn't be any major differences. And the first thing to bear in mind are the rules, there are a few they're very strict about:

1. You'll need some kind of ID to get your race bib (and possibly to drop your bike off). This is to stop people pinching your bike.

2. While you're in the transition area and touching the bike you should have your helmet on and fastened. This generally includes even when you're dropping the bike off. (Before the race the judges will moan at you, during the race you could easily get DQd).

3. Somewhere in the transition area you'll have a place to leave your bike kit (helmet, shoes, sunnies) and running kit. It'll probably just be a washing basket under your bike, but it could be a plastic bag or two hanging up in a separate area near the bike paddock. It'll be very obvious when you get there. You're not allowed to leave anything (other than the bike) out of the bags/basket. The easiest thing to wear is a tri suit, but failing that some tri shorts are fine for swimming, and you can just put on a top when you finish the swim. As mentioned public nudity is generally not allowed (at least in events shorter than IM distance).

4. There's a get on/get off line at the exit and entry of the transition area, you can only be on your bike outside the transition area.

5. Drafting - depending on the race you may or may not be allowed to draft (wheelsuck) on the bike. If it's allowed your bike can have tri bars; if not only normal road or mtb bike handlbars are allowed. If it's a no drafting event you have to stay at least 12m behind the rider ahead of you, and if you're overtaken you have to drop back to 12m once they're past. Judges will be riding around the circuit on mopeds checking, if they decide you're drafting you'll get a warning / told to stop for 5min in the penalty box.

6. You need to be wearing your bib number on the run, and facing forward. It used to be obligatory on the bike too but they changed the rules. A tri belt is a great idea as you can just clip it on before the run and it won't be bothering you on the bike.

There are loads of other rules, but they're the ones I found important / weird when starting.

Not an expert in any way, but did a couple of Bike/Sup/Runs (paddle-board instead of swimming and MTB instead of road bike) which were good fun.
However first one I did, didn't realise the transitions were timed and strolled about, changed my top (cause it was raining so wanted a fresh one for the road) ate a banana, got myself sorted for the next stage etc.
Then saw the results and realised if I'd taken as long in transition as everyone else I'd have finished Top 5!!

Accept you’ll be smashed in the swim, natural swimmers are wonderful to watch and will put serious time into you in the pool. Thankfully, everyone has a weak skill so you may well catch them!

Very true, but swimming doesn't account for a third of the time spent doing the triathlon. It seems to be more a way of spreading the field out initially. I would guess from the few I've done (and a proper triathlete may correct me on this) that the swim/bike/run split is something like 20/45/35 maybe?

But if it's just your first one then just enjoy it, don't go mad buying kit, think of the swim simply as a way of limiting your losses............and smash them on the bike!!!

And finally – any recommendations for swimming lessons in Harrogate? (I can swim but my technique is shocking – my 10 yr olds are much quicker than me) 🙂

I'll ask, I know someone who did classes for this a few years back, they were based at Granby* if I recall.

*It's still called Granby despite the sign.

Did a few (three figures) over 23 years. I really enjoyed the early years when I took the mudguards off my work bike to race on. It seemed like an adventure, and perhaps was. Starting the swim at Embrunman in the dark with just a flashing light to follow, riding through a hail storm and seeing a guy have his bike swept away in the torrent, getting a shock in the water in a thunderstorm, X-C skiing on a piste cut into the the downhill course at Les Menuires, racing at minus a lot celcius on another WC Winter triathlon, swimming in the Adour (and not getting ill), getting cheered on by enthusiastic Spanish crowds.

Over the years it got more and more professional, and it was obvious more and more people were on the sauce (and a lot more than were testing positive). I found a new enthusiasm when I got to 40 and again at 50 but called it a day at 55. I found it hard to relate to the new hipster recruits; some are utter dicks in the pool so I gave up swimming in club sessions and as it's the swim sessions that hold triathlon clubs together I just drifted away.

IF the sport was what it is today when I first started I think I'd have taken one look and said "not for me". That said, if you can find a cool club and don't take it too seriously there's no doubt still fun to be had.

I’ll ask, I know someone who did classes for this a few years back, they were based at Granby* if I recall.

Granby didn't have a pool did it? (It's been demolished and replaced with Harrogate High). I thought the only schools with pools are Harrogate Ladies College and Ashville?

But thank you - any recommendation you can give would be good 🙂

Granby didn’t have a pool did it?

It did, though given the reputation of the students I imagine it was used for drowning kittens as often as swimming.

https://swimming.org/poolfinder/search?page=2&per_page=3&location=Harrogate&latitude=53.99212&longitude=-1.541812&filter%5Bopen%5D=true

Still there by the looks.

It did, though given the reputation of the students I imagine it was used for drowning kittens as often as swimming.

I had no idea! Weird though as I have been all over the district with my two sporty 10 yr olds doing all sorts of competitions, classes, courses etc and have never come across it.

This all sound like a really good way to spoil a good ride, run or swim by introducing a load of faff and gear bullshit into all of them?

This all sound like a really good way to spoil a good ride, run or swim by introducing a load of faff and gear bullshit into all of them?

You've never ridden with other people before have you?

You’ve never ridden with other people before have you?

He said he wasn't into triathlons.

So chances are he has ridden with other people and probably even outsjde-outside of races

Sorry, trying to be funny, I was suggesting

introducing a load of faff and gear bullshit into all of them?

Sounds very much like a group mtb ride.