Triathlon equipment
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The special needs of triathlon competitions - three-stage races including swimming, cycling, and running in the same event - have led to the development of a whole range of specialized clothing and equipment.
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[edit] Triathlon clothing
In the early days of triathlon, transition areas often included tents where the athletes changed clothes between stages. However, since transition time is included in an athlete's total time, triathletes quickly started trying to gain an advantage on their competitors by wearing the same clothing in two or more events. This inevitably led to the development of specialized clothing which could be used for all three disciplines yet still be comfortable enough for each.
[edit] Triathlon shorts
Triathlon shorts come in two varieties. Trunks, which resemble swim trunks or jogging shorts but which contain a padded liner for comfort on the bicycle, or form-fitting (spandex or lycra) shorts which resemble typical cycling shorts. In both cases, the padding in the crotch area is thinner than that in cycling shorts, trading off some comfort on the bike for increased comfort on the run and reduced water absorbance. Of the two types, the latter is seen more frequently because of the increased drag a loose short provides during the swim and cycling stages.
[edit] Triathlon suits
Triathlon suits are available in one- or two-piece varieties for both men and women, and generally consist of a form fitting triathlon short and a sleeveless top resembling a singlet or cycling jersey. They are made out of fabrics which do not hold much water and which dry quickly to reduce the weight the athlete is carrying while running or cycling. They are tight-fitting both to reduce drag and to allow them to be worn under a wetsuit, and have no sleeves to improve comfort while swimming.
[edit] Triathlon-specific swim equipment
Because most triathlon swim stages are conducted in open waters (lakes or oceans) which are often cold, many early races allowed wetsuits. However, typical wetsuits manufactured for snorkeling or water skiing are not optimal for triathlon, because the sleeves generally restrict the range of motion too much for comfortable stroking during the swim. Modern triathlon wetsuits were invented by Dan Empfield in 1987 and are customized to the needs triathletes, and generally incorporate the following features:
- thinner and/or more pliable rubber near the shoulders, sleeveless versions are also available
- long zippers and sometimes wrist/ankle zippers to facilitate quick removal during transition
In addition, tri wetsuits have a very smooth, but often fragile, surface. This slick surface helps to reduce water friction and allow a faster swim, but it would be totally destroyed by contact with a sandy surfboard.
Rules vary by event, but typically wetsuits are allowed only if the water temperature is below a specified threshold on the day of the event (e.g. 78 °F.). Any athlete has the option of wearing another style of swimsuit allowed by the rules at any temperature.
[edit] Triathlon-specific cycling equipment
[edit] Triathlon bicycles
Triathlon bicycles are a variant of road-racing bicycles, designed primarily to optimize aerodynamics. Since in most triathlons, cyclists do not draft as in many other forms of road racing, triathletes can gain a significant advantage by riding a bicycle which reduces wind resistance. The most obvious feature of a triathlon bicycle is the, commonly known as aero-bars (see below).
In addition, many components of a triathlon bicycle are designed with an aerodynamic profile: frame tubes have an oval or teardrop (instead of circular) cross-section; handlebars may be flat instead of round; wheels may have fewer spokes, or even be carbon fiber tri-spokes or discs rather than conventional spoked wheels.
Also, tri bikes generally have a very "aggressive" geometry, meaning steep (close to vertical) tube angles and a low neck and handlebars relative to the saddle. This position helps to improve aerodynamics by lowering the cyclist's torso and creating a smaller overall "wind profile". In addition, many triathletes feel cycling in this position helps preserve the muscles used in running by emphasizing pedaling with non-running muscle groups.
The concept of a tri specific bicycle was pioneered by Ralph Ray and Dan Empfield in the late 80s. In 1989 Empfield designed the Quintana Roo Superform, a triathlon specific bicycle "built from the aerobars back" which provided an aerodynamic advantage as well as more power when in the "aero" position. Empfield's bike had 650c wheels and an 80 degree seat angle which was unique to the period. Many professional triathletes were skeptical of the "steep" design at first but when Ray Browning rode it at Ironman New Zealand shattering the bike and overall course records and left the bike leg with a 30 minute lead over rival Scott Tinley, the concepts were here to stay.
Tri bikes are generally very similar to time trial bicycles used in time trial races.
Some extreme forms of triathlon bicycles alter the shape and geometry of the frame to such a degree that they do not even resemble bicycles to the casual eye.
[edit] Aerobars
Aerobars, also called tri-bars, are handlebars designed to reduce the cyclist's wind profile. They were originally designed for use in triathlons, but have since expanded into other forms of cycling, such as time trials and some events in track cycling.
Instead of the familiar curved "drop bars" of road bicycles, aerobars have a smaller pair of "horns" reaching out to the sides, and a pair of bars stretching straight forward from the neck of the bicycle. Padded cups in the middle of the bars support the athlete's elbows and/or forearms while the hands are stretched forward to hold the center bars. This position keeps the rider's elbows in close to the body and lowers his or her torso compared to the usual upright position.
The side horns mount the brakes; the rider will hold these instead of the center bars when braking or maneuvering is required.
[edit] Triathlon shoes
Triathlon shoes are similar to other forms of cycling shoe used in racing, with automatic binding cleats (clipless) that snap the cyclist's feet to the pedals. However, many competitive triathletes choose to leave their shoes clipped onto the pedals for the entire duration of the race in order to save time during transitions. This means the athlete is jumping onto the bicycle with wet, bare feet after the swim, and will pedal up to a reasonable speed, with his or her feet sitting on top of the shoes, before pausing to slip the feet inside the shoes and fasten them. Likewise, the athlete will pull his or her feet out of the shoes while coasting up to the bike-run transition area and run barefoot into the transition corral rather than attempt to run on the awkward metal cycling cleats. As a result, tri shoes are often optimized for this approach: they may be padded to allow comfortable use without socks, have holes to allow water from the swim to drain easily, and have only one or two velcro straps for ease of fastening rather than the three straps, laces, or ratcheting buckles found on road racing shoes.
[edit] Hydration systems
As with everything else, triathletes often strive to make their water bottles as aerodynamic as possible, and often to reduce the need to reach for a water bottle - which may interrupt pedalling and slow the racer down. Triathletes have tried placing water bottles in unusual locations, such as in a bracket behind the saddle, on the theory that the bottles are shielded from the wind by the body. However, a recent wind-tunnel study by Triathlete Magazine discovered that this approach is actually counterproductive because it interrupts the laminar flow of air down the athlete's curved back. A 2003 windtunnel study by Dan Empfield found that the best configuration was a single water bottle on the bike's downtube (it smoothed airflow to the seat tube and rear wheel). This caused less drag than having no waterbottle at all. The most drag was 2 water bottles; one on the down tube and one on the seat tube.
A number of products have been created to satisfy triathlete's demands for aerodynamic hydration systems. Example include the Aerodrink system by Profile Design, an aero bottle that hangs from the handlebars with a straw so the athlete can drink without using his hands; and the Neverreach system, a teardrop-shaped reservoir mounted behind the seat with a tube running up to the handlebars.
[edit] Wheels
A vast array of low-weight and/or aerodynamic wheels exist for racing bicycles. Some (such as wheels with an aerodynamic ring, flat spokes, and fewer spokes than the traditional 32) are legal for use in most cycling events, while others such as carbon-fiber tri-spokes (wheels with only three large, rigid spokes) generally are only legal in triathlons and time-trials. Sometimes solid discs are used as well, though in outdoor settings these are generally not used on the front wheel because they are difficult to handle in crosswinds.
Some triathlon bikes use 650c wheels (a nominal diameter of 65 centimeters) rather than the conventional 700c wheels used on nearly all road bikes. The smaller wheels weigh less, have a smaller cross-sectional area (reducing wind resistance), and reduce the overall wind resistance of the bicycle by bringing the frame and cyclist closer to the ground. A potential drawback is that the smaller diameter means a higher curvature at the tire's surface, which increases rolling resistance, or friction with the ground. Which effect is more prominent depends on the cyclist and the windiness and steepness of the course.
[edit] Other components
Many triathletes can be quite fixated (some would say "obsessed") with improving the aerodynamics and lowering the weight of their bicycles. As a result, the triathlon industry has developed a whole host of components which improve one characteristic or the other of the bicycle. Examples include chain rings and cogs which have no holes or gaps (increasing aerodynamics a minuscule amount at the cost of a few grams of weight), brake and shifter cables which run inside the bicycle frame, and components of all sorts made from carbon fiber composite rather than steel or aluminum, in order to save weight.
[edit] Triathlon-specific running equipment
[edit] Elastic shoelaces
Triathletes often lace their shoes with elastic shoelaces. This allows them to pre-set the tension of the laces but then to pull on the shoes without stopping to tie the laces. This saves a few seconds of time during the bike-to-run transition.
[edit] External links
- TriFuel - A resource for all things triathlon.
- XTri.com - Triathlon tech articles, training tips and equipment reviews
- IronStruck - A site built with the beginner triathlete/novice ironman in mind.
- Triathlon Equipment Buyer's Guide - An non-biased explanation of the features and benefits of triathlon equipment.
