What are some of the things you can do to help make the race and all the training miles a more enjoyable experience?

John Cobb talks about basic equipment: the bike, your helmet, clothing, shoes and pedals.

 John Cobb

Triathlon participation is growing at a huge rate, every weekend racers young and old get together to challenge the clock and challenge themselves. One of the things that has made the sport of Triathlon so appealing to so many, is the fact that even though you may have the occasional sprint against your buddies, you are mainly racing the clock and it's still the clock you are trying to beat.

So what are some of the things you can do to help make the race and all the training miles a more enjoyable experience?

In this discussion we are going to talk about basic equipment: the bike, your helmet, clothing, shoes and pedals.

 The Bike:

You have to have a bike, preferably a road bike or Triathlon specific bike. These can be purchased new from around $800.00 to $8000.00 and higher. An Aluminum, carbon fiber or Titainium frame will be part of it depending on the price range, carbon fiber and Titainium have very good shock absorbing ride qualities. The price for a carbon fiber frame has really come down in the last few years and would really be the best choice for the dollar, around $1400.00 and up will get you on carbon. There are several bike specific things to consider, the seat being something that you will notice early on. There are many styles of seats on the market, there is no one "magic" seat that is the best for everybody. Setting the seat level or being slightly up in the front, is best if you are having numbness or soreness then it's often very helpful to rotate the nose of the seat to the right or left slightly to relieve pressure. Nose down will not solve crotch issues but will create neck and shoulder problems; right or left rotation is the key.

 Most new bikes do not come with pedals as strange as that seems. There are many styles of clip in pedals to choose from and you need to use them, not the traditional flat pedals. You will need special shoes to work with the pedals and shoes run from $65.00 and up while the pedals are $55.00 and up. You can not race without a helmet and you should never even ride without a helmet. Wear a helmet, pick out a cool color, whether it's a $30.00 helmet or a $200.00 helmet, they all have to pass the same safety test. Some have more holes than others but regardless find a helmet you like and wear it.

 Clothing:

• Firstly, cotton T-Shirts are bad, do not use these. They hold sweat, they don't breathe and they flap in the wind.
• Secondly, get some of those tight lycra cycling shorts that have a pad in the bottom for your crotch. You do not wear underwear with these, strictly commando, it prevents chaffing and blistering. Making a little investment in good clothing can pay big dividends in your racing and training.