. To work out a chain's size on your own, line up the jaws of a pair of calipers over the centre of the ends of a chain pin. Five- or six-speed bikes need a chain with a diameter of 7.5 to 8mm; seven- and eight-speed bikes need a chain with a diameter of 7
this could be disastrous when combined with the stresses and strains the day may bring. Tri bike shoes are a lot easier to use than you might think and using clipless pedals (though initially challenging) soon becomes second nature. Your first triathlon
.I pulled off my shorts and took a peek: the skin was red and raw. Chafed. I had done long rides before; I'd completed a different, more difficult century; I had ridden 40K perched on my saddle in wet shorts during many triathlons. But never had I felt
from £200-£5000 on a road bike, although something in the £400-£800 range will give you a good entry point into lightweight road-racing bikes. You don't necessarily have to buy a road bike (although if you are planning to race in a triathlon
. "If you're just starting out in triathlons, a few hundred pounds will get you a basic road bike to take you through your first races," says Cook. "As you improve you can then think about keeping your first bike as a dedicated training bike - and buy a
Sombrio Forensic gloves, £26These super-thin gloves are a great all-rounder and they're perfect for the transition from autumn to winter. They might be aimed at mountain-bike riders but they're great for triathletes, too. The tough, hardwearing
.Be kindIf the bike leg of your triathlon is a lapped course where you can walk back to transition if something goes wrong, you can be tough with your bike but the best way to finish is to be a bit more gentle. "I don't want to break something and throw
.Most events fall into one of three racing distances (see below), though some fixtures also offer a super-sprint (shorter than sprint) or middle-distance (between Olympic and Ironman) option. Triathlon Race DistancesSprint750m swim, 20K bike ride, 5K run
Cycling really can improve your running. Researchers at the University of Toledo in the United States asked 10 regular runners to add three bike sessions to their existing schedules. After six weeks, the scientists found that the runners' perceived
-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
