Q: I don’t have a bike, can I still race?
A: No bike? No problem. You can borrow one from a friend or even rent one from a bike shop. A mountain bike or hybrid are perfectly acceptable, as long as they are road legal. Just made sure that you purchase yourself a good helmet!
Q: I don’t know how to swim, what do I do?
A: Don’t worry! Many people come to the sport of triathlon with a running background and no swim experience. Take a few lessons at your local YMCA, or pool (many coaches will advertise on the boards at the gym). If lessons are too expensive, ask the lifeguard at your local pool to watch your stroke and give you a few tips (they’ll welcome the chance!). Once you’ve had a few lessons and feel like you’re getting a feel for the technique, it’s just a matter of putting in some hours in the water to build endurance for your race.
Q: I’m scared of open water, are there any races that have pool swims?
A: Yes! The Navy Tridents have a race at the beginning of June that features a pool swim, so that you can get your feet wet in the sport, so to speak.
Q: Should I buy a wetsuit? What kind of wetsuit should I buy?
A: Whether or not to buy a wetsuit is a personal decision. If you are not sure you may want to check local bike/run/tri shops in the area to see if they have one you can rent. For many if the races in Nova Scotia, a wetsuit will make the swim a little more comfortable. Triathlon wetsuits generally range from about $100 to over $400 depending on the type and quality. There are several types of triathlon wetsuits on the market, so shop around. Also check out your local tri club classifieds and see what’s available.
Q: What is drafting?
A: The ITU defines drafting as: The technique of riding in a pack during the cycling event. They define draft zone as: An imaginary area approximately three bicycle lengths long and six feet wide surrounding each competitor during the bike segment. Basically drafting is a method to increase your speed or decrease your effort by lowering your wind resistance.
Q: Should I use 650c or 700c wheels?
A: Both wheel sizes have advantages and disadvantages. 650c wheels accelerate and climb faster, but they also decelerate faster. 700c wheels are more comfortable and are more readily available if you need a tube on the road. The only people who should be really concerned about wheels sizes are particularly short or tall people. 650c wheels work much better with shorter people, especially on triathlon bikes where the geometry prevents the use of 700c wheels on smaller bikes. Tall riders should stick to 700c wheels.
Q: Where can I find information on bike maintenance?br> A: Many of the bike shops will offer maintenance courses ranging from beginner (how to change a flat) to advanced (overhauling your bike). Give them a call and see what they have to offer.
Q: What are all of those weird terms you use, like brick, T1, and splits?
A: Here’s a brief glossary of terms:
Aerobars: a handlebar extension enabling the rider to use a more aerodynamic position
Bonk: running out of energy during a race a.k.a. hitting the wall
Buoy: a float used to mark the swim course
Blocking: riding in the passing lane
Brick: any workout in which you pile on sport onto the other as a continuous workout (eg. Bike/run)
Mass start: a triathlon start where all of the competitors start at the same time instead of in waves
Roadie: a cyclist that does not to triathlons and hates triathletes
Split : the time taken to complete an individual leg of a triathlon
Transition: the period/area between legs of a triathlon where participants change equipment/clothing for the next leg
T1: the swim to bike transition
T2: the bike to run transition
Wave: a group of triathletes starting together as opposed to a mass start