New to triathlon or taking on new challenges in the off-season? Find out how your other sporting loves can impact on your triathlon progress.
Garry Slater raced 125cc, 400cc and 600cc bikes from 1990 to 2005. He competed as a ‘privateer’ in his spare time. After being part of the MV40 team which came fourth at last year’s National Tri Relays, he now concentrates on duathlon.
Benefits: To race motorbikes you need guts more than anything else, confidence at speed and good handling skills. This set me up very well for the triathlon bike leg. It gave me an eye for the racing line (I chuckle to see the lines some cyclists take) and my speed is good on descents.
Baggage: I’m lucky to have walked away without any! Most of my motorcycling friends had their legs pinned and walked with limps - they certainly couldn’t run, so I was fortunate to go for as long as I did with only a broken collar bone.
Biggest difference: Motorcycling is far more dangerous than triathlon. Ironically, though, I suffered the worst accident of my sporting career while out cycling earlier this year. I ended up in a ditch with a bad shoulder injury and a punctured lung and had to be rushed to hospital. I’m now recovering and certainly won’t be afraid to get back on the bike - that’s another thing motorbikes taught me.
Verdict: Helpful - without a doubt.
Picture credit: Cavan Images/ Getty Images
I was a squash player who turned to Triathlon for fitness, now its Triathlon that's my main sport and only play squash in the winter months, the extra fitness and stamina has made me a better squash player even though I have a 6 month break each year!!
