vulnerable spot for high curbs, tight parking spaces and menacing drivers; on some models, multiple bikes can rattle against each other; rear bumper access can be restricted.Try this: Tow Ball 4 Bike Rack, £110.50, www.pendle-bike.co.uk.3. Rack Type: Boot

that focusing on cycling can provide the biggest improvement in your race times.Although a triathlon involves three sports, the greatest proportion of time during a race is spent on the bike section. During a sprint- or Olympic-distance race you may spend around

Packing your bike so you can take it abroad and then unpacking it at the other end are two of the biggest headaches in triathlon. The last thing you'll feel like doing after a long journey is rebuilding your bike. But all the work you've put

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

in undulating races. I can't afford a new aerodynamic bikeReducing drag needn't mean reducing your bank balance. Remember that your body meets the most air resistance, not your bike. Even something as simple as wearing tight-fitting clothing

and body position compared with riding on a standard racing bike without aero bars. Nine minutes! You would probably need to invest in new equipment and spend some time developing your riding position, but still, nine minutes!I compete in hilly triathlons

There's no need to suffer from adrenaline withdrawal when the  triathlon season draws to a close. There are loads of cycle sportives around at this time of year to tempt you to go long and stay strong on the bike. Sportives are the cycling version

-bars.Triathletes took note of Lemond's extraordinary average speed of 54.5kph on that final stage and were soon running, cycling and swimming to their local bike shop to buy a pair of aero-bars. The use of these new bars became so common in triathlon that they even