Triathlon Gear & Triathlon Wetsuit Shopping Guide
Triathlon Gear Raceday Checklist
In response to the beginner triathlete's broad
question (we do get some variation of this question almost daily), "What will I
need to compete in my first triathlon?", we recommend taking the simplistic view
and breaking down the triathlon into the 3 disciplines of swim, bike and run.
Under each discipline, the beginner triathlete will require items to compete,
and some items may be optional. Below, we have broken down the race into the
disciplines of swim, bike and run as well as a separate section for transition.
Triathlon Transition Gear
-
Transition bag - bag specifically designed to store and organize all of your triathlon gear before and after the race
- Towel or transition mat - this is
optional, but having a towel or transition mat can be invaluable as an aid
to prepare your belongings in an organized manner as opposed to having your
running shoes, race number belts,
water bottles, cycling helmets,
etc. lying in the grass which can make it more difficult during the
transition from swim to bike and bike to run.
- Extra water bottle or tupperware with
water to rinse off sand or dirt off feet when transitioning from swim to
bike.
-
Bicycle
Pump - if you need some extra air in your tires, it will come
in handy. If not, you will at least be a good Samaritan and help a fellow
triathlete in need.
Swim Gear
- Swimming Goggles
- make sure to bring your favorite swimming goggles to the race. A
triathlete's worst nightmare begins upon realizing that his or her goggles
are sitting on the kitchen sink with the defogger. It is no fun swimming the
swim portion of your race with no goggles and burning eyes.
-
Swim cap
- triathletes are given a colored race cap by the race directors during
packet pick-up. Do not forget your cap!! Some races will not allow you to
swim without your colored cap.
-
Triathlon Wetsuit - for a wetsuit legal
race.
-
Neoprene skull cap - for cold waters, a
neoprene skull cap can make it tolerable to place your head in the water.
- Bodyglide - if using a wetsuit (and even
if not using a wetsuit), Bodyglide will be instrumental in preventing
chafing.
- Timing chip strap and timing chip - you
have trained long and hard for your triathlon. To ensure that your results
show up in the newspaper or on-line, do not forget to wear your timing chip.
It is a terrible feeling for a triathlete to be well into the swim before
realizing that he or she forgot the timing chip and race results will not be
official.
Bike
- Cycling shoes - believe it or not,
legendary stories do exist of triathletes forgetting their triathlon cycling
shoes on the day of the race. Lucky for the elites, they are still talented
enough to ride with running shoes. For the everyday triathlete, make your
life easier and remember your shoes.
- Bike - no explanation needed. Make sure to
affix race number to your bike (usually around
seatpost or on top tube). Also, have your bike tuned up in
the days leading to the race and ride it after the tune up to make sure
everything is functioning properly.
- Helmet - see above. Also, remember to
affix the race number given by the race directors during packet pick up to
your helmet.
- Water bottles - don't forget your water
bottles along with your sports drink of choice.
-
Nutrition - for longer races, make sure to fill your hydration bag
(i.e. bento box) with gels or your supplement of choice.
-
Sunglasses - these are optional, but if you do use them,
vented sunglasses are recommended. Vented sunglasses promote better air flow
and minimize the chance of the lenses becoming foggy. Glasses that are not
vented do tend to fog up.
-
Socks - optional. Many triathletes go sockless on the bike
and on the run, but if you prefer socks, make sure to use a pair that has
done well for you in the past.
-
Bike
gloves - optional. Again, many triathletes go without gloves
on the day of the race, but if you prefer gloves, bring a pair that you have
used before.
-
Functioning cyclometer - remember to
re-set before the race to ensure accurate mileage and time reading during
the race.
- Spare tubes, CO2 canisters, CO2 adapters -
hopefully you will not need them, but if you do happen to get a flat tire on
race day, at least you will be prepared.
Run
- Race number belt with number
-
Visor or cap - for sun protection on a
sunny race day
- Running shoes - if you wear
orthotics, make sure that you have orthotics in your race day
shoes. It is not a good feeling to transition from bike to run and realize
that your reliable orthotics are sitting comfortable in your shoes that you
ran in the previous day.
- Running socks - optional. Many triathletes
run sockless.
-
Hydration belt - optional. For longer 1/2 Ironman and Ironman
races, a hydration belt is ideal to carry fluids, gels, salt tablets, etc.,
but in shorter sprint and olympic distance races, most triathletes can
manage with nutrition supplied by the aid stations.
____________________________________________________________________
Sleeveless and Fullsleeve Wetsuits
Selecting a sleeveless
triathlon wetsuit (also know as a longjohn) or a
full-sleeve triathlon wetsuit will depend on a couple of
factors.
Arguments for opting for a sleeveless wetsuit
would be:
- The
swimmer feels more flexibility in the shoulder area.
Many swimmers feel restricted in full-sleeve wetsuits in
the shoulder area. Sleeveless wetsuits will alleviate
this feeling of restriction.
- Training and racing swims are in warm
waters. Sleeveless wetsuits can minimize any feelings of overheating.
- For swimmers with short arms in proportion
to their legs, the sleeves on a full-sleeve wetsuit may be too long resulting
in excess space in the arms of the wetsuit. Consequently, the possibility of
water pooling into the arms is more likely. If water does pool into the arms,
any ballooning of water inside the arms can make it difficult to have a smooth
stroke. For swimmers fitting this description, a sleeveless triathlon wetsuit
can remedy this problem.
- Sleeveless wetsuits will be easier to take
off when transitioning from the swim to bike.
Arguments for opting
for a full-sleeve triathlon wetsuit would be:
- For swimmers who do
not have feelings of restriction in the shoulder area,
most top brand wetsuits are very technologically
advanced and do a great job of making the neoprene
thinner in the shoulder/underarm/latissimus dorsi area
to aid with flexibility.
- Training and racing
swims are in colder waters. Full-sleeve wetsuits will
keep the body warmer in cold waters.
- Having full sleeves
will result in less drag and a more hydrodynamic feel
In summary, a
sleeveless wetsuit makes sense for the triathlete who is
racing and training in warmer waters and who needs more
flexibility in the shoulder area due to feelings of
restriction when using a full-sleeve wetsuit. Also, a
sleeveless wetsuit may be the answer for the swimmer who
has shorter arms and can not find a full-sleeve wetsuit
with short sleeves. On the contrary, a full-sleeve
wetsuit is ideal for the triathlete who races and trains
in predominantly colder waters and has no issues with
flexibility. The final decision on whether to opt for a
sleeveless or full-sleeve wetsuit is vital to the
triathlete who continually strives for improvement.
Making the right choice is critical and will improve the
triathlete's chance of starting off the triathlon on a
positive note.