Triathlons and Equipment Required

Triathlon is an equipment-intensive sport. To compete, you need to have gear for swimming, biking, and running (which adds up to a carload), and there are many added extras that are nice to have during training. Although the fitness and strength of a rider are the biggest determining factors in performance, equipment is a key area where improvements can be made. Obviously, you will go faster with less energy on a 19-pound, titanium, triathlon filly than a 40- pound, discount-store steed. A fast bike will make any rider, regardless of his or her level, faster. Energy-wise, equipment improvements are free speed. Dollar-wise, however, they can be very costly.

On average, the power produced to pedal a bike along a flat road is spent as 60% rider drag, 12% rolling resistance, 8% wheel drag, 8% frame drag, 8% bike/rider inertia, 0.5% wheel inertia, and 3.5% miscellaneous forces. While the area in which you can achieve the biggest performance gains is rider drag, every little bit helps.

HELMETS

Helmet companies have produced a lot of nice data demonstrating that helmets do not make your head heat up and that a helmet is more aerodynamic than your bare head. The bottom line, however, is safety- helmets save lives. Everybody, has a story about a crash that has ended with a helmet split In two. So get a good helmet and wear it every minute you are on the bike. Be sure that your helmet has been approved for cycling by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and that it fits properly.

A helmet does not work if it rolls off your head during a crash. Cycling helmets are designed to be crushed (rather than your skull) on impact, and once they are crushed you need to replace them. Frequently check the condition of your helmet; a new one is vastly cheaper than a trip to the emergency room.

THE BIKE

There is a dizzying array of bikes available, made from different materials, built with different geometries, and optimized for different purposes. To determine the type of bike that is best for you, consider the primary event in which you will compete. Short course or long course? On road or off road? You want the fastest machine to handle the job you are giving it. Weight, handling ability, aerodynamics, and comfort will all factor into your decision. In shorter events, weight and aerodynamics are most important, and a degree of comfort can be sacrificed for speed. In longer events such as the ironman, comfort becomes paramount to continued optimal performance over long periods of time. The slower speeds and rougher terrain of off-road events make agility; handling ease, and the weight of the bike more important than aerodynamics.

When looking for a new bike, you have a lot of choices. The best way to find the bike that fits your needs, abilities, and body type is to contact a qualified bike fit professional. A bike fit expert will measure you and help you research the best bikes that are both in your price range and suit your needs.