Posted: March 7, 2006

Multisport by Lance Watson: Triathlon Basics - The Essential Gear You Need

By Lance Watson - www.LifeSport.ca.

Triathlon can be a very expensive sport when you get caught up in all the fun gadgets and fancy bikes. There are a myriad of new cool products on the market, from the latest goggles, wetsuits and bikes to gizmos that monitor everything from heart rate to the power in one leg! Remember the three basic sports of triathlon, and start with the equipment that gets the job done. Everything else is icing on the cake!

New research and ever changing technology is constantly putting new products on the market and although many of them may make training a bit more interesting many of them are not essential. The equipment you own doesn’t need to be made of the lightest, strongest, newest, space age materials for it to work well (though you may want it anyway!). You don’t have to spend thousands on a bike and its components to do a triathlon, or for you to perform well on it. The most important thing is that your equipment is in good working condition, and fits you properly. Add the basic equipment to your own hard training and you have the foundation of a good season.

Here is a list of the basic training and racing items you will need in order to succeed in triathlon.

Swimming:
• goggles - find a pair that fit your eye sockets well and allows you good vision. Not everyone's eyes are shaped the same so find a pair that work for you. There are foam and rubber seals, adjustable nose pieces and different size lenses. While doing open water swimming you need to see well, so choose goggles that allow you to see where you are going.
• swim cap – after one season, you will have plenty as they are given to you at registration, but you may have to buy your first one! Silicon caps will last longer and keep their shape, so the higher price may be worth it in the end..
• swim suit - go for the polyester blended training suits because they last forever
• wetsuit - if you have a cold open water swim as part of your races, the wetsuit will be one of your major purchases, but the payback is huge. Being warm, buoyant and comfortable in the swim is important. Fit and flexibility are key things to look for, so like your bike, get your wetsuit from a shop that offers advice.

* you can find each of the following items at most pools so you don't need to purchase them: pull buoy, kick board, paddles.

Biking:
• helmet – should be safety certified and should fit your head snugly before being strapped. It should not move around when you ride. Look for good venting to allow for a cool head in hot weather.
• bike – Buy the best bike you can afford, but your bike needs to fit you: if it feels good then you'll be more likely to spend time training on it and as a result your performances will. With your bike, you will need tools, a small pump and spare tubes for changing flat tires.
• water bottle cages - buy two because one is not enough for a ride over an hour and a half
• water bottles – as with the swim caps, you can usually find bottles for free from races, bike shops and expos.
• bike shorts/tights with padding - nothing is more annoying than a numb crotch, go for the best padding you can buy!
• bike gloves - to save your hands in case you fall and also to cushion your hands on longer rides
• climate specific clothing - depending on your climate, these will help keep you warm from the wind, and rain we all encounter by being on a bike all year long.
• bike computer - with speed, distance, cadence and if you wish, heart rate

*depending on the climate you live in you may wish to purchase a wind trainer for riding indoors.

Running:
• running shoes - write the date on the bottom of the insole so you know how long you have been wearing them and can learn when to replace them. This will help avoid injuries
• socks - with a polyester blend to keep your feet dry
• hat - to protect your face from the sun on a hot sunny day, or the rain off your face on a rainy day
• shorts or tights – look for styles that do not bind or chafe
• light weight long sleeve and short sleeve polyester blended shirt - these will keep moisture away from your body, helping to regulate temperature
• sport bra top – for women. Wide shoulder straps and chest band make for a comfortable fit.
• watch - digital watches are most commonly used because they give accurate time to the hundredth of the second and can hold your lap/split times

Remember that being active and being involved in sport is all about getting out there and doing it. Don't worry about having the latest equipment; people who spend too much time checking out the "latest and the greatest" end up finding out that time spent looking into new gear would have been better spent training. Start with the basics and then get out there and enjoy the sport using your own engine.

Thanks to Suzanne Weckend for her contribution to this piece.

Over the past 20 years, Lance Watson has coached a number of Ironman and Olympic Games Champions.
Beginner and experienced triathletes can contact him at LifeSport Coaching (coach@LifeSport.ca) or visit LifeSport.ca.

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Posted with permission from LifeSport.ca.

© Copyright 2006 Lance Watson Professional Coaching Inc.