reality is that many of the country's top athletes - including Alistair Brownlee, the reigning ITU World Champion - spend the majority of their off-season slugging it out through rain, sleet and snow right here in the UK. And if they can do it, so can you
carry a drinks bottle and repair kit. Jonathan Brownlee, 2009 European Junior Triathlon Champion, says this is also important when you train. For longer training rides he recommends taking an energy drink, which he also uses when racing, though
