Tri / Triathlon / Triathlons - do they float your boat?

Booom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yq3lMhpBcM

Cycle that way everyday they have changed the road layout so they go in front of Buckingham Palace and then follow it round and left into Birdcage walk. The usual sharp right hander from the Mall into Birdcage is a nice corner on a hot summers day but can be a bit scary in the winter :)

Nice just went and had a look. We are second and fourth

I like that you wandered out, had a nosey, then fucked off back indoors!

Raced last weekend - 4th on the bike (3rd, if you include the fact that 1st is obviously cheating by going too fast).

My run, on the other had, was way down in 70th.

And ze swim? I couldn't get into that wetsuit btw- my shoulders are too fat.

33rd in ze swim - turned out to be shorter than 1,500 though.

Overall time was 2:25, which I'm happy with.

My wetsuit is still available for trying.

That would be cool- would you like to drop it off when you pick up the kitten for your Vet-date?

I may have to decline the kitten loan. Not sure it would go down too well.

This w/e for the wetsuit? Will email.

I don't suppose anyone else is doing Helvellyn? I haven't done a serious bike session in a year or a serious swim session in two and hadn't considered the fact that I was going to spend the last 3 months working abroad. I suspect it might be a little bit hard.

I've also been drafted in as a ringer for the national club relay championships...

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Any obvious tips please guys!!??

my new weapon of choice for the ride is a new 2012 Giant Defy which i'm very happy with,

this is the one were doing - the olympic distance one of course

http://www.uktriathlon.co.uk/south_coast/

:)

If you are a strong swimmer, get to the front of your wave on the sea front, you run into the sea from the waters edge, you dont want to be swimming round or over people. If you arent very confident, start at the back or the side and take your time, remember sight points and the course.

Running back up the beach from the swim can be a painful, the beach is stoney and the carpet is a touch rubbish, so be prepared for a bit of hobbling.

Remember where you are in transition, a bright towel can help you spot your place in a large area with a lot of other similar looking equipment. Think about where you are going from when you unrack your bike. Dont panic, take your time.

Take it easy on the bike course, the turns are tight, keep an eye out for anyone undertaking you, or approaching the cone too quick. One of the turns is also the join point from Transition so be careful of others approaching the cycle course.

The run is simple and usually plenty of people to shout you on, use the first lap to get into your stride, and find your running legs and press on from there. Enjoy.

half tear your gels and tape them to the top tube. don't forget to drink. Lay your stuffout in chronological order and facing the way you approach your bike.
Helmet on first before you touch anything!

thanks guys im going to print this off, really sound advice there thanks :)

Any obvious tips please guys!!??

my new weapon of choice for the ride is a new 2012 Giant Defy which i'm very happy with,

this is the one were doing - the olympic distance one of course

http://www.uktriathlon.co.uk/south_coast/

:)

Excellent tips by Jamie.

One other. Unless you are on for a medal, slow down and spin out on the bike approach to transition.

This will make your legs feel less like lead when you get the running shoes on. You then have the fun of watching the people who overtook you in the final 1/2 mile, cramp up, and stagger along like broken pensioners.

Don't use your legs much in the swim, save them for the bike and run. But do start kicking just before the end of the swim to get the blood flow going in them, this prevents leg wobble on your way to transition.

Speaking of which- I want to enter three Olympic distance triathlons next year, preferably spaced out a bit so that I can (hopefully) see an improvement from one to the next.

Would you have any recco's?

My targets for next year are to complete a triathlon in 2:30, beat you up that hill in Norway, and get my FTP to 340.
Get your name down for some of the local club sprint distances too - they're a lot more value for money than the big ticket events, and are good for getting started.

Events-wise, I've not started looking for next year just yet - I'll be browsing here, some of the triathlon magazines, and base the whole calendar around a long course event of two.

Need a tri suit and wetsuit, any recommendations/ super deals out there?

I got an email from Sigma Sport saying they had 25% off wetties. If you're in no rush, for both wetties and trisuits, they should be selling off this season's stock cheap in the next few months.

For Olys, I've never done one, but did Midnight Man last night, run by the guys who do The Bridge Triathlon in Dartford. A lot of clubmates do the Bridge and say good things about it, and if last night's anything to go by, it'll be well organised and a nice fast course - decent lake, quiet roads etc.

Just been directed to Triathlon Memes... some quite funny, including one featuring someone I know from back in Cov:

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Human Race Bananaman Triathalon @ Eton Dorney

So I somehow said yes to doing the cycle leg in a relay team for this event. The cycle leg is only 31.8klm so I'm not worried about distance but... Looking at the course the path is quite narrow and I'm guessing it's going to be crowded with people of all different abilities and speeds. Has anyone done an event like this and what should I expect?
Should also note I'm not taking it massively seriously but don't want to let the team mates down by being unprepared. I was going to do it fixed but figured I should use the BMC since it is the faster* bike

*faster - in theory

You won't be allowed to ride fixed.

Take a flip-flop hub with SS on one side, then flip it.

Really? No skidz allowed?
Guess thats finally decided, BMC it is. Guess I'd better sort out the rear mech then.

I read that there's no drafting allowed either and you're meant to keep a 7mtr gap. Isn't that going to be hard to judge if it's crowded?

I turned up to Midnight Man fixed, the first thing the marshalls did was come beetling up to me and tell me riding fixed was illegal and I had to flip it. It's their race, their rules, their insurance costs etc. Not worth a DQ for.