Triathlon fixed

Does anyone know whether you're allowed to do the cycle leg of a triathlon on a fixed gear bike?

Yes I do. You are not.

This has been covered.
No. Yes. Depends.

If its BTA sanctioned ( which the London Tri is and most others ) then then you can't used a fixed.

Triathlon? We know nothing of triathlon, we are cyclists...

Triathlon? We know nothing of triathlon, we are cyclists...

Triathlon = you swim to the bike, cycle for a bit, then run off to the finish line

definitely not allowed.
And you can't just stick brakes on your fixed gear either. The rules state that the bike must have two hand brakes and two freewheels

rubbish. i'm definitely not doing it then.

Thanks everyone – I''ll go with multiple gears'n'brakes then. I'm doing the St Albans Trathlon again in June and the cycle route is very flat (also green and pleasant, but enuff of that), so I was thinking a fix would be good for that race. Ne'er mind.

Perhaps there is room in the events calendar for a fixed gear tri... you would have to swim one arm and hop on one leg too, though.

definitely not allowed.
And you can't just stick brakes on your fixed gear either. The rules state that the bike must have two hand brakes and two freewheels

Two freewheels? Wow, that IS extreme.

Where is the second one?

Actually, with two freewheels and two chains and two chainrings you could make a fixed drivetrain.

DO IT.

I was upset by this ruling too. Cant see the problem with riding it fixed. Unless maybe there are too many dangerous idiots who don't know what they are doing.

The tri people are getting their own back, due to being disgruntled about the 'no sleeveless cropped tops and high-cut swimming trunks rule' in British Cycling / Cycling Time Trials races.

what is the reason behind the fixed gear ban, just out of interest?

what is the reason behind the fixed gear ban, just out of interest?

I guess its to do with the fact that most of triathletes I see in Richmond Park can't even ride a geared bike properly ( weaving around as the wind blows their carbon disc wheels off the road, front wheel twitching as they try and hold onto their aero bars) , to let them ride fixed would be sucidal.

maybe there are too many dangerous idiots who don't know what they are doing.

Sounds like most triathlons - jack of all trades, master of none...

most triathlete's i've seen are gash swimmers too. come to think of it, most swimmers i see are see are gash swimmers.

running is my nemesis. i get cramp and and a metallic taste in my mouth just thinking about it. the other two bits i'm (relatively) alright at. so i fancied doing a triathlon this year (thinking my slightly unconventional stengths might help me get away to a decent start) but was put off by the need to hit up people for sponsorship again, the expense of wetsuits and running gear and now know i can't compete fixed, fuck it. i think i'll just stick to riding to the pool and getting wound up by the macho splashies there. someone needs to explain to the hairy shouldred sock-fuckers holding up everyone else in fast lane that more splashing does not = more speed.

oh, and that i've come right up behind you because i'm swimming faster than you so you need to LET ME PASS!

sorry.

ranted a bit there.

the jack of all trades thing isn't exactly true. Most triathletes I know are good at one sport, but not quite good enough, and reasonable at the other two, so think 'hey i know I'll do a triathlon!'
Most i have met seem to come from running/ swimming backgrounds

I myself took to it from a swimming background after being a good swimmer and then suffering a bad injury and never being competetive afterwards, and still to this day the majority of my training is running, because I'm totally the wrong build for it + find it evil in the extreme. Riding my fixed bike sorted out any problems with the cycling leg.

[quote=eyebrows;175522]the jack of all trades thing isn't exactly true.
quote]

I know - it's called hyperbole - a rhetorical figure which produces a vivid impression by extravagant and obvious exaggeration... ;)

I know....

Anyway as a thread hijack, who here is doing the London Tri?
it'd be cool to actually know someone who is !

the jack of all trades thing isn't exactly true. Most triathletes I know are good at one sport, but not quite good enough, and reasonable at the other two, so think 'hey i know I'll do a triathlon!'
Most seem to come from running/ swimming backgrounds.

I myself took to it from a swimming background after being a good swimmer and then suffering a bad injury and never being competetive afterwards, and still to this day the majority of my training is running, because I'm totally the wrong build for it + find it evil in the extreme. Riding my fixed bike sorted out any problems with the cycling leg.

I'm crap at all three, but it's fun

It's odd that you say that "most seem to come from running/swimming backgrounds". That doesn't make sense as the cycle is 50% of the race, the run 30% and swim 20%. Would be better to come from a cycling background. No?

I split my weekly exercise into those percentages:
5 x commutes by bike (actually 10 sessions, but who cares, it's cycling, it's good)
3 x runs
2 x swims
That seems to work for me

I know that would make sense right?

I should have put- most I have met....
Anyhow according to most people the toughest part is the swim- though the least time spent.
It definately is intense.

I guess its to do with the fact that most of triathletes I see in Richmond Park can't even ride a geared bike properly ( weaving around as the wind blows their carbon disc wheels off the road, front wheel twitching as they try and hold onto their aero bars) , to let them ride fixed would be sucidal.

Yep like I said

maybe there are too many dangerous idiots who don't know what they are doing.

The reason I wanted to have a go was because I reckon I would be pretty handy at both the cycling and the swimming legs. This time last year I was swimming a mile a day in my lunch hour in under half an hour as rehabilitation for my dislocated shoulder. Although not having run for about 7 years, I remember that I used to get terrible pains in my shins ( shin splints ? ) and hips afterwards. Still I reckon I am good for a straight 9-10 miles with no training providing I have good trainers or whatever.

I must get that road bike sorted

Would be better to come from a cycling background. No?

Well, most people with a cycling background don't feel as much need to diversify from the sport that they love.
Let's face it, cycling is a damn sight more interesting than ploughing up and down a chlorine-filled pool or repeatedly pounding your joints on tarmac. ;)

@dooks - why don't you just stick a freewheel on your hub, and a back brake (if you've got a drilled bridge)? I doubt SS is banned, and at least you get the 1-gear mentality.