'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

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

Q. What exactly is the difference between a triathlon bike and a road bike?A. There are several visible and important differences between a purpose-built tri bike and a road bike. These differences allow a triathlete to function in the most

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

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

in your quads.The bike leg is the longest and most strategic part of any triathlon, so it’s crucial to make the most of it. Your bike training should always include a long ride at a slower pace and lower heart rate (just like running, they’re usually done

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

outside pedal down (right turn, left foot down) with pressure on that foot. To initiate the turn, lean the bike – not your body – into the turn (right turn, lean bike right). The action is similar to downhill skiing: the lower body angles into the turn

-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