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| Equipment Choices for Beginners |
What works for elite triathletes isn’t necessarily the fastest option for a first-timer or beginner – often you may even go slower if you pick a piece of equipment that was designed to go extremely fast.
Before choosing your gear, you need to consider that it is very likely you will be racing 50% longer (or even more) than the champion of that event. For you, aerodynamics and performance are not priorities. Especially for the longer races, you want something that gives you confidence and comfort so you can go through the day without any surprises and enjoy the race.
Some typical triathlon equipment is often misused. The most common ones - which can have a big impact on your racing and training performances - are:
Handlebars
Time-trial aerobars look much faster than a road bar/ clip-on combination and they might test faster in the wind tunnel too. But wind tunnels don’t test handling skills which are typically not great for most beginner triathletes. Without proper handling skills, areobars don’t provide the grip and confidence that road bars do. Another reason to favor road bars with clip-ons is that STI brakes are usually better (and safer) than aerobar brake levers. For the unskilled rider having the shifter and brakes at the same place is helpful since you don’t have to ride one-handed to shift gears.
Tires
There is an endless debate about which type of tires are faster: clinchers or tubulars. I won’t go into details as they do not matter for a beginner athlete. The most important issue to consider is what you would do if you got a flat tire during a key race. For the very beginner athlete I would strongly recommend clincher racing wheels. You know how to change them if you get a flat - and if you don’t, you can always practice it multiple times with your training wheels. Changing a tubular tire requires some serious strength in your hands and fingers – if you lack that strength a new and unstretched tubular tire could mean real trouble.
Helmet
Do you really go faster with an aero helmet? They were designed in the wind tunnel for professional cyclists doing time trials. Those athletes race no longer than one hour at a time, ride at 30mph (48kph), rarely look down or to the sides, don’t swim before cycling and won’t need to run afterwards. Although aero helmets look fast, there are only a few combinations of types of races and triathletes for which their use will improve a finish time.
Nutrition
If it takes you more than 13 hours to complete an Ironman and more than 6 hours to do a 70.3 event, your heart rate won’t be as high as a professional triathlete’s doing 8h30 and faster than 4 hours respectively. You will be able to eat more real food and process it. You will be out there for longer, so you don’t want to be feeling hungry for hours - and chewing fruit or a sandwich won’t slow you down at all.
Uniforms
A world champion might do a full Ironman using the same kit as these athletes just can not afford an extra minute on each transition to put on a proper cycling outfit. But most age groupers may want to wear the same clothing they train in during their long races. That means spending a couple extra minutes in transition to change from your swimsuit to your biking kit and later into your running gear.
Racing Wheels
Disc wheels do look great and they sound even better! It is really tempting to buy a set of a disc for the back with a deep rim wheel for the front but most beginners will be better off with a lighter wheel that is more stable and does not make you lose your balance in crosswinds.
Frameset
And finally the sexiest part of your bike. I’m sorry to disappoint you but if you have the top-of-the line equipment and are new to the sport, it is very likely that you could be faster on something cheaper. Top-of-the-line bikes are made with geometries that are meant to be ridden very aggressively and fast. Someone who does a 4h30 Ironman bike split needs the most aero equipment available, while a beginner taking 7 to 8 hours is not pushing the same pressure of air. Once again it is far more important to be comfortable on your bike than aero.
Vinnie Santana, Coach SE Asia - Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.ironguides.net
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