When I raced the Sprint Triathlon, I was able to do it in a pair of swim trunks, a tank top, and running shoes. I rode an old mountain bike with road tires. With some vaseline, I was able to make it work.
The Olympic Distance is different. With the distances, you have to start to feel comfortable in the events. Some people can probably do this in swim trunks also...but My body was struggling pretty bad in certain areas...I figured that I should get more comfortable gear for the longer distances before more damage occurs.
I didn't just go out and buy this stuff all in one day. It actually took about 10 months to accumulate. I paid attention to Craigslist, Ebay, local Tri shops, and put together what I could When I could. I would never want to put myself in debt over a sport...I waited to buy things until I could afford them.
I am feeling ready for an Olympic triathlon.
This is all of the gear that I have purchased over the last year to get ready for it, and how much money I spent on it. I compiled this so that people have an idea of what gear can be purchased for if they are looking for triathlon gear on a budget.
Edited to add:
This is all of the gear that I used in the Ocean Shores Big Weekend Olympic Triathlon. You can see a report and pictures of what this gear looks like here:
http://triathlontrainingupdates-shaun.blogspot.com/2011/07/ocean-shores-big-weekend-my-olympic.html
Clothing:
Descente C6 Tri Shorts: $30 at 2010 gear closeout sale at Speedy Reedy Multisport in Seattle. Gratefully, there aren't too many people who wear "Small"...so these were on the shelf. I found out about the sale from a post on Facebook.
Descente C6 sleeveless Tri Shirt: $49 from Sierra Trading Post. This is generally $100...But a quick Google search brought it up. Most reviews said that when they received theirs, it was 1 - 1.5 sizes too small. (See reviews here...) I took the reviews to heart. When I expand my chest to it's full size, it measures 38". My Usual T-shirt size is a medium. I went on a limb and ordered a Large based on the comments. I was really nervous for the 5 days I waited for it. I tried it on and Bingo...It fit perfectly...I even have to unzip in in order to get my chest fully expanded. Kind of crazy.
The shorts have a small pocket on the back for a gel. The shirt has 2 larger pockets on the back. This outfit will allow me to carry a gel and 2 powerbars on the bike, and a second gel for the run.
Swimming:
Goggles: $15 - Sports Authority
Nineteen Pipeline Sleeveless Wetsuit (Unused rental equipment from 2010) at Speedy Reedy Multisport in Seattle $25...yeah...you read that right...I wasn't planning on buying a wetsuit, and if I did, I would get one with sleeves (as I live in Washington)...but for the price it was impossible to pass up. I felt really guilty when the $300 price tag fell off of it when I was trying it on...
...You can really tell that the model is not a swimmer...
Bike:
Scott Speedster S50: $400 from Craigslist. It was used for a bicycle touring company here in Seattle. Everybody either wanted to ride mountain bikes or commuters...It had very little use so the owner sold it. They didn't have one in my size...just too small or too large. The frame that was too small had me feeling very cramped. I opted for the size too large one because I was able to make it work by dropping the seat down and lowering the headset. It feels comfortable, although it is still to big for me...However, for the price, it works for now.
My next bike will probably be more appropriately sized...but unfortunately, that usually comes with a higher price tag. I am not ready to dump $1k on a bike yet...that is a HUGE commitment.
Riding Shoes:
update: I purchased these on 6/5/2011. They were on a clearance rack at the Issaquah REI for about 2 months for $50...
Clipless Pedals:
When getting started with Clipless pedals, there is a double-whammy of purchase. You need the pedals, and you need the shoes. I purchased the shoes first. I rode around in toe clips with riding shoes on. It may have looked a little silly...but I didn't see any reason in buying clipless pedals first, and having them sit in the garage until I got the shoes. I ordered these pedals off of ebay for $45.
They are mountain biking pedals, however they were the only pedals that were under $50 that look like they belong on my bike. I think they look great on my bike and they work great too. When you first buy clipless pedals, make sure you take some time to practice clipping/unclipping in a safe area. It is not an inherent response to correctly un-clip and you can fall over pretty easy when first learning. Lean against a pole next to some grass until clipping/unclipping becomes second nature. Once you feel comfortable, go ahead and take off.
Aerobars:
I found a pair of aerobars on craigslist for $25. The person who owned them complained about the portion that you hold onto not being long enough. (The bars don't extend up into your hand). After taking them home, I inspected them. Underneath the elbow rests, there are riser blocks that you can remove. I removed the blocks and they work great.
It is important to note that I didn't buy these specifically to gain .5mph on my ride. I got them because I found it more comfortable to rest my elbows on my handlebars on long rides. Trust me when I say that I am not depending on aerobars to win a race...but man does it make the ride more comfortable....
Spare Tire Kit:
I have a spare tube and tube removers taped to the frame behind the seat, just above the rear brake caliper. I have the Air pump mounted to the vertical tube. I wasn't going to buy a bag to put this stuff in, when I can just mount it to the bike.
For Hydration:
I have 2 water bottles. I am thinking of modifying one of them with a 1/4" hose up to the aerobars. This way I don't need to reach down for a bottle to drink, and I don't need to spend $75 on special hydration systems. Just $3.00 on hose from home depot and some hot glue.
Pedals:
I am still using cage pedals. I am considering clipless pedals, however for the price it costs to get going clipless, I am wondering if the performance is worth the money. I will hold off until next year to make this decision.
Running:
Adidas running shoes $70.00
Training Aid:
My best friend...my Garmin 305. This was a birthday present. It cost $120.
It has helped me tremendously. Aside from mapping my routes and seeing my speed, time, and distance... the most valuable tool is the heart rate monitor. I now know what my body's responses are (hot face, sweating, heavy breathing) when I go to a heart rate of 168. I know how long I can stay up there, and I know the effects of being up there. I have been able to watch for things when I go up hills, and maintain a pace. This has been the most important training aid I have used, and you can see the effect of it in the training section of my blog. It has been my running partner and my trainer, and I get all sorts of great data from it.
I have recently began really hard speed intervals for running. I have a post about that...but again, I am really happy with the Garmin 305.
After I bought the shoes and the bike and shorts, I started to see a color trend going on. I guess at this point, I am sort of committed to a color scheme....
All together, I have spent about $780. The race costs $75. This is a pretty pricey hobby...
The Olympic Distance is different. With the distances, you have to start to feel comfortable in the events. Some people can probably do this in swim trunks also...but My body was struggling pretty bad in certain areas...I figured that I should get more comfortable gear for the longer distances before more damage occurs.
I didn't just go out and buy this stuff all in one day. It actually took about 10 months to accumulate. I paid attention to Craigslist, Ebay, local Tri shops, and put together what I could When I could. I would never want to put myself in debt over a sport...I waited to buy things until I could afford them.
I am feeling ready for an Olympic triathlon.
This is all of the gear that I have purchased over the last year to get ready for it, and how much money I spent on it. I compiled this so that people have an idea of what gear can be purchased for if they are looking for triathlon gear on a budget.
Edited to add:
This is all of the gear that I used in the Ocean Shores Big Weekend Olympic Triathlon. You can see a report and pictures of what this gear looks like here:
http://triathlontrainingupdates-shaun.blogspot.com/2011/07/ocean-shores-big-weekend-my-olympic.html
Clothing:
Descente C6 Tri Shorts: $30 at 2010 gear closeout sale at Speedy Reedy Multisport in Seattle. Gratefully, there aren't too many people who wear "Small"...so these were on the shelf. I found out about the sale from a post on Facebook.
Descente C6 sleeveless Tri Shirt: $49 from Sierra Trading Post. This is generally $100...But a quick Google search brought it up. Most reviews said that when they received theirs, it was 1 - 1.5 sizes too small. (See reviews here...) I took the reviews to heart. When I expand my chest to it's full size, it measures 38". My Usual T-shirt size is a medium. I went on a limb and ordered a Large based on the comments. I was really nervous for the 5 days I waited for it. I tried it on and Bingo...It fit perfectly...I even have to unzip in in order to get my chest fully expanded. Kind of crazy.
The shorts have a small pocket on the back for a gel. The shirt has 2 larger pockets on the back. This outfit will allow me to carry a gel and 2 powerbars on the bike, and a second gel for the run.
Swimming:
Goggles: $15 - Sports Authority
Nineteen Pipeline Sleeveless Wetsuit (Unused rental equipment from 2010) at Speedy Reedy Multisport in Seattle $25...yeah...you read that right...I wasn't planning on buying a wetsuit, and if I did, I would get one with sleeves (as I live in Washington)...but for the price it was impossible to pass up. I felt really guilty when the $300 price tag fell off of it when I was trying it on...
Bike:
Scott Speedster S50: $400 from Craigslist. It was used for a bicycle touring company here in Seattle. Everybody either wanted to ride mountain bikes or commuters...It had very little use so the owner sold it. They didn't have one in my size...just too small or too large. The frame that was too small had me feeling very cramped. I opted for the size too large one because I was able to make it work by dropping the seat down and lowering the headset. It feels comfortable, although it is still to big for me...However, for the price, it works for now.
Riding Shoes:
update: I purchased these on 6/5/2011. They were on a clearance rack at the Issaquah REI for about 2 months for $50...
Clipless Pedals:
When getting started with Clipless pedals, there is a double-whammy of purchase. You need the pedals, and you need the shoes. I purchased the shoes first. I rode around in toe clips with riding shoes on. It may have looked a little silly...but I didn't see any reason in buying clipless pedals first, and having them sit in the garage until I got the shoes. I ordered these pedals off of ebay for $45.
Aerobars:
I found a pair of aerobars on craigslist for $25. The person who owned them complained about the portion that you hold onto not being long enough. (The bars don't extend up into your hand). After taking them home, I inspected them. Underneath the elbow rests, there are riser blocks that you can remove. I removed the blocks and they work great.
It is important to note that I didn't buy these specifically to gain .5mph on my ride. I got them because I found it more comfortable to rest my elbows on my handlebars on long rides. Trust me when I say that I am not depending on aerobars to win a race...but man does it make the ride more comfortable....
Spare Tire Kit:
I have a spare tube and tube removers taped to the frame behind the seat, just above the rear brake caliper. I have the Air pump mounted to the vertical tube. I wasn't going to buy a bag to put this stuff in, when I can just mount it to the bike.
For Hydration:
I have 2 water bottles. I am thinking of modifying one of them with a 1/4" hose up to the aerobars. This way I don't need to reach down for a bottle to drink, and I don't need to spend $75 on special hydration systems. Just $3.00 on hose from home depot and some hot glue.
Pedals:
I am still using cage pedals. I am considering clipless pedals, however for the price it costs to get going clipless, I am wondering if the performance is worth the money. I will hold off until next year to make this decision.
Running:
Adidas running shoes $70.00
Training Aid:
My best friend...my Garmin 305. This was a birthday present. It cost $120.
I have recently began really hard speed intervals for running. I have a post about that...but again, I am really happy with the Garmin 305.
After I bought the shoes and the bike and shorts, I started to see a color trend going on. I guess at this point, I am sort of committed to a color scheme....
All together, I have spent about $780. The race costs $75. This is a pretty pricey hobby...
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.
ReplyDeleteCompression socks
Majority of these same triathletes neglect to consider post-race triathlon gear needs.
ReplyDeleteFemale Cycling Knicks