Riding all day nearly always exposes your weakest link, which for most riders is the core. "The core area - your abs, lower back, obliques, hips and glutes - helps transfer power to the pedals, as well as stabilise the rider on the bike," says US

but also contains a little protein and fat, such as yoghurt and muesli, or an energy bar.Most people won't need to eat during a lunchtime ride because it's so short, but if you consume some fast-acting calories 20 minutes before your ride, in the form of a

Q. I've been drafted in a race. How do I deal with this?A. Drafting on the bike leg is an occasional unwanted occurrence in triathlon in which another athlete sits directly behind you during the bike leg, thereby reducing their air resistance, which

triathletes, but before you join the bunch, here are a few skills to master. Pedal smoothlyFirst things first: you need to learn to ride steady on your own. Many beginners use too low a cadence, so the bike surges forward with every pedal stroke - this can

-handling skills is to remove the bike chain when they reach the top of a mountain-bike loop. "Without a chain, you have no choice but to learn how to use your body weight and momentum to control the bike," he says. In a triathlon, those new skills will conserve

to Train, at www.coachcarl.comREFINE YOUR MOTOR SKILLS...For the swim you practise pulls and kicks. For the run you do strides and form drills. But for the bike, practising specific skills is rare, and that's a mistake, says Cantrell, who suggests

of cyclists between 2000 and 2008. It might not always seem appealing first thing in the morning, but cycling to and from work can form a convenient part of your triathlon training because it's simply part of your day.But take care out there. The most recent

-weight bearing nature of cycling, recovery is very quick, making time trials an excellent form of regular high-intensity training for triathletes.Q&AQ During the bike section of a triathlon my right foot went numb and I couldn't feel it again until almost the end

combination of hand signals and voice to indicate hazards."Going the distanceIf you're planning a long run or bike ride, David Tilbury-Davis, a Level III triathlon coach, recommends that you carry a mobile phone in a waterpoof bag - it won't be much use

position, highlighting the fact that there is no correct position that suits everyone. As Smart says, "Reducing drag is not all about being as low as possible at the front. It is a combination of the your frontal area and also the shape you form on the bike