. Hire a bike (or bring your own), enjoy the challenge of staying upright on two wheels, then head to the excellent café for some well-earned refreshments. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face, especially when you race faster at your next triathlon
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
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
triathlete. He has been involved in sport since school. He began with track running but moved on to bikes and now races on the XTERRA off-road triathlon circuit in Europe. In 2008 he qualified for the XTERRA World Championships. He did his first triathlon
To ride in a time trial you need a roadworthy bike. Helmets are recommended and some races insist on them. Prepare to be impressed by lots of professional-looking cyclists, but don't be overawed - they were beginners once.Develop a smooth, circular
. Trainers are designed to offer a degree of shock absorption but bike shoes are stiff, to maximise your power transfer to the cranks. Efficient racingYou have to ask if, as a newcomer, the inefficiency of wearing trainers on the bike for more than an hour
or try a local bike shop. Just make sure you have the time to sort out the problem; do not leave it until just before the race.Think about the time and money you invest when you travel a long distance for a triathlon: entry fees, travel costs
.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
're hopping on your bike to prepare for a triathlon or just to diversify your training, you can expect to become a better runner as a result.To reap all the benefits of cycling, however, you first need a bike. Will that old clunky machine in the back
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
