A Beginner's Gear Guide to TriathlonsSo you've decided to tackle your first triathlon. Congratulations! You're embarking on a rewarding, challenging, wonderful experience! With motivation, a little training and the right gear, you'll soon be crossing the finish line to the cheers of your family and friends-and with a great sense of accomplishment.
You may be wondering just how much equipment it's going to take to get you across that finish line. When you're just starting out, there's no need to break the bank. Following is a list of basic gear that will allow you to train for and complete a triathlon. You'll also find some optional but "nice-to-have" items:
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The Swim
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Swimsuit—A snug-fitting suit that will reduce drag in the water. This can be a standard swimsuit or you can get a tri suit with bike-type shorts and form-fitting top that can be worn throughout the entire race. This applies to both men and women.
Goggles—Any, as long as they fit well and allow you to see.
Swim Cap—Usually provided by the race, but you'll likely want one for training, too.
Wetsuit—Optional unless you train or race in cold water. A wetsuit helps keep you warm and buoyant, thus preserving some of your energy for the rest of the race.
Lubricant—Optional. Lubricants such as Bodyglide® help with wetsuit removal and prevent chafing from clothing. (Petroleum-based products such as Vaseline can degrade wetsuit material and are therefore not recommended for that purpose.)
Anti-Fog Solution or Spray—Optional but works wonders to keep your goggles from fogging up, especially in cold water.
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The Bike
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Bike—A road bike's lighter frame and narrower tires will be faster than a mountain bike, but lots of first-timers use whatever kind of bike they have and do just fine.
Shoes—These can be your running shoes used with toe clips on your pedals or rigid biking shoes with cleats that attach to the pedals. The stiffer soled bike shoes deliver more power to your pedal stroke and can prevent your feet from going numb as you ride.
Helmet—Any approved bike helmet that fits.
Sunglasses—Protect your eyes from glare and grit on the road.
Bike Gloves—For shorter (sprint-distance) races you can omit these to save time. Your hands probably won't feel the difference. Nice to have on longer rides.
Shirt—This can be your swimsuit or the top you wore in the swim; some like to have a dry shirt on in cooler conditions.
Bike Shorts—Optional. You may want to wear a tri suit with a thin pad for the whole race.
Socks—Optional. Avoid cotton which will cause blisters.
Water Bottles—One or two, depending on the distance and the temperature.
Bike Pump—Attach to your bike frame.
Spare Tube/Patch Kit—Keep in a small under-seat bag. This will help you finish the race if you get a flat. Nothing's more frustrating than standing on the sidelines during a race with no way to fix your tire! You'll also need to know
How to Fix a Flat.
Bike Computer—Optional, but nice to have to keep track of your distance, time and speed.
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The Run
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Running Shoes—Add
speed lacesto save time!
Socks—Unless you have leather-tough feet, you'll most likely want socks for the run to prevent blisters.
Sun Hat—To shade your face.
Race Belt—Optional. Lets you attach your race number quickly after the bike leg.
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Transitions
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Towel—To wipe your feet off after running from the swim to your bike.
Gels, Bars or Sports Drink—Keep handy for the bike ride and the run.
Sunscreen—Apply before the bike or run.
Day Pack or Duffel Bag—To carry all your gear to the race and keep things organized.
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Other Gear That's Nice to Have
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Sports Watch—Optional. This doesn't have to be expensive and can help you with training and pacing.
Heart Rate Monitor—Optional. Helps keep you within your target heart-rate zone for effective training. |
