new to triathlon?
Not Sure where to start? Check out these "8 Questions About Multisport" Published by USA Triathlon.
- DO I REALLY NEED A TRIATHLON BIKE FOR TRIATHLONS?
Many new competitors start out on a road bike. You
can ride on a mountain bike if you choose. It certainly
wouldn’t hurt to invest in a road bike or triathlon bike if you
plan to be in the sport for a while. If you plan to purchase a
bike, a proper fit goes a long way toward making sure you’re
comfortable on the bike and can go as fast as possible. Be sure
to get a professional bike fitting at your local bike shop
- WHAT DO PEOPLE USE RUBBER BANDS FOR IN
TRANSITION?
Many athletes notice when elites put rubber bands on
their bike pedals. These rubber bands hold the athletes’ bike
shoes upright on the pedals until the athlete puts his/her feet
in the shoes and starts pedaling, which snaps the rubber bands.
This saves the athlete from fumbling around with getting the
bike shoes upright on the pedals and ultimately, saves precious
time in the fast-paced world of elite transition zones. - I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE SWIM. WHAT CAN I DO TO
MAKE IT THROUGH?
Ask most beginner triathletes which discipline they’re
most concerned about, and they’ll tell you the same thing,
“the swim.” The best way to make it through the swim is to be
prepared. If you train in a pool, be sure to hit the open water
for at least a couple training sessions. Join a group swim or
bring a friend. Practice sighting, wetsuit stripping, swimming
at race pace and swimming with a swim cap on because you’ll
have to wear one for races. In the pool, you can simulate open
water by practicing turns without using the wall or touching
the bottom - WHAT’S THE BEST THING TO EAT BEFORE MY RACE?
This varies from person to person, but the one
reverberating piece of advice is that you should never
try something new on race day (this also includes trying brand
new shoes or other gear for the first time). Just because you
picked up a hyped new energy bar at the expo does not mean
you should try it for the first time on race day. Experiment in
training to see what types of food work best for your body. Eat
and drink those tried and true foods and beverages on race
day. - WILL I BE DISQUALIFIED IF I USE FINS, A SNORKEL, GRAB
ONTO THE SIDE OF A KAYAK, ETC.?
The answers to these questions and more, can be found
in the USA Triathlon Competitive Rules on our website at
www.usatriathlon.org/resources/about-events/rules. Be sure
to familiarize yourself with the rules, which will explain that
no, fins are not allowed; yes, a snorkel is allowed; and yes,
grabbing onto the side of a kayak is allowed as long as it does
not make forward progress. - WHAT’S THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT I NEED
TO DO A TRIATHLON?
Swimwear, bike, helmet and shoes are all you must have
to do a triathlon. Many people use additional gear to enhance
speed (clipless pedals and tri shoes) or add comfort (wetsuit for
those chilly swims) to their triathlon experience. - ARE WETSUITS REALLY THAT BIG OF AN ADVANTAGE?
In addition to making cold open-water swims more
bearable, wetsuits add buoyancy, which allows you to
swim faster. You’ll often hear strong swimmers lament wetsuitlegal swims because it decreases their advantage over weaker
swimmers. - WHAT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE IN TRANSITION?
In addition to your essential gear, you may want to have
a water bottle and a towel to clean off your feet after
the swim. You can use this same water bottle for pre-race
hydration instead of drinking from your bike bottle. For the
ladies, a spare hair tie is essential unless you want your long
hair in your way the entire race. Many hair ties break during
the rush of pulling the swim cap off while approaching T1.
Spare items, including socks, goggles and gels never hurt. Some
folks even bring electrical tape for last-minute fixes, including
taping a gel to their handlebars. Don’t forget the BodyGlide!
For More helpful tips, check out the website beginners section HERE
