Chit Chat
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Signed up for one in July. Olympic Distance: 1.5k swim, 40k biking, 10k run. At the moment I am on my own, but think I have one workmate almost already committed.
SWIM: This is the tricky one. Although, if there was a gun to my head, I am sure I could do the distance tomorrow, I would like to not have to spend big chunks doing a lazy back stroke. It is a sea swim. I did a bit of swimming about 8 years ago and was doing 4k in 100 mins in the pool, equates to 37:30 for 1500m. I am fitter now and like to think I could get that down to 30mins for a 1.5k pool swim. My bro in law is a proper swimmer and I might have to ask for some coaching, or at least tips, tight bastard will probably want me to pay him. Unlike biking and running, swimming is a real technique thing and You don’t want to be going 10 or 20 % slower than you could have gone with the same effort simply because you had an error of technique that could have been rectified by a simple coaching tip. Haven’t ever proper swum in the sea, with a wetsuit and sh1t. Will aim for sub 35 mins.
BIKE: I don't like biking. I don’t even have a bike, so hope to buy one in the next week or so, perhaps a Boardman from Halfords. In comparison to my fellow competitors I suspect this will be my worst discipline. I can get about a grand’s worth of bike for only £50/month out of my salary for a year thanks to the bike to work tax free scheme. Then I will have to get on it and get a change of mentality from my old gentle 8k pedal to work frame of mind to 40k, pushing yourself to the limit for well over an hour frame of mind. Will aim for sub 1:30.
RUN: Am doing Brighton mara in April, aiming for sub 4:00, but secretly expecting 3:45. Could probably do sub 45 now, by July would like to be able to do 42 mins on fresh legs. Shalln’t be greedy though, on the day after a swim and a bike I. Will aim for sub 50 mins.
TRANSITIONS: Add in 5 minutes for transitions will hope for sub 3 hours for my first triathlon.
SWIM: This is the tricky one. Although, if there was a gun to my head, I am sure I could do the distance tomorrow, I would like to not have to spend big chunks doing a lazy back stroke. It is a sea swim. I did a bit of swimming about 8 years ago and was doing 4k in 100 mins in the pool, equates to 37:30 for 1500m. I am fitter now and like to think I could get that down to 30mins for a 1.5k pool swim. My bro in law is a proper swimmer and I might have to ask for some coaching, or at least tips, tight bastard will probably want me to pay him. Unlike biking and running, swimming is a real technique thing and You don’t want to be going 10 or 20 % slower than you could have gone with the same effort simply because you had an error of technique that could have been rectified by a simple coaching tip. Haven’t ever proper swum in the sea, with a wetsuit and sh1t. Will aim for sub 35 mins.
BIKE: I don't like biking. I don’t even have a bike, so hope to buy one in the next week or so, perhaps a Boardman from Halfords. In comparison to my fellow competitors I suspect this will be my worst discipline. I can get about a grand’s worth of bike for only £50/month out of my salary for a year thanks to the bike to work tax free scheme. Then I will have to get on it and get a change of mentality from my old gentle 8k pedal to work frame of mind to 40k, pushing yourself to the limit for well over an hour frame of mind. Will aim for sub 1:30.
RUN: Am doing Brighton mara in April, aiming for sub 4:00, but secretly expecting 3:45. Could probably do sub 45 now, by July would like to be able to do 42 mins on fresh legs. Shalln’t be greedy though, on the day after a swim and a bike I. Will aim for sub 50 mins.
TRANSITIONS: Add in 5 minutes for transitions will hope for sub 3 hours for my first triathlon.
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Can't help with the running and swimming Rob but I do a lot of biking, if you're buying a bike solely for TT/triathlon then you're actually in a quite goo place, you don't need a jack of all trades. Pound for pound, Planet-X are about as good as you can get. Avoid Halfords, even though the Boardmans are pretty good.
This: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSPRIV3/planet-x-stealth-sram-rival-22-time-trial-bike ... will be ideal, and last you a good while if triathlon's going to be an ongoing thing. You can add all sorts of upgrades later but you could stick some pedals on that now and properly compete. |
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Yes, a goo place.
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PS, 40k in 1:30 won't be difficult.
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Do me own version which includes betting drinking & curry.............
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I'd sign up for that mange.
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The bike, put simply, starts at the south coast, goes 20k due north and then comes back. Over the South Downs. But I have been reliably informed it is largely in a valley, so not proper torture like Ditchling Beacon or Devil's ****. There are a few climbs I believe. However. Just looked at last year. I hope you are right re: 1:30 being easy. I was looking at last year's race and there were more than a handful that took over 1:30, some of which then did sub 50mins for 10k run, so were not proper jokers.
Triathlons seem to be slightly more elitist. I came in the top 10% of Hove Park run on Saturday. Generally come in the top quarter of most "proper" running races I enter. Looking at last year's results for this triathlon I don't have a cat in hell's chance of making the top half, which would require 2:35. |
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Ah yes, hills, fair enough, 1:30 maybe about right then. That's the bike to do it on though, light and aerodynamic.
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Rob_ dylan, I am impressed
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Mange
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Makybe_Diva
Rob_ dylan, I am impressed Impressed? I got shattered just reading it. |
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Me too
Good luck, btw, Rob  |
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Thank you MD.
tbf I think a sub 4 marathon (if I do it) is a far greater acheivement than a sub 3 triathlon (if I do it). The acheivement of a marathon is doing a marathon, regardless of time (to a point). A triathlon is actually quite doable by most people, so a decent time is paramount. |
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Ken:
I realise all this bike stuff has been done before, but.... There are boardmans as low as £300 on halfords website. And a carrera 250 (from 660). Your recommendation is a grand. Will I be doing further triathlons? 60/40 as a guess. Will I be biking 10ish miles a day round trip to work daily? I like to think so. Given this breaking news would you still recommend the one grand bike? Genuine question though it does sound a little arsey. |
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Do you get paid for all this effort?
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In fact, backtracking a tad, I hope to do a 3 hour/20 mile run on Sunday. If someone gave me a choice I would rather do the 3 hour triathlon. Reckon the pain would be less.
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In that case Rob then no, it'll be no good for commuting on, normally I'd always say pay as much as you can afford, especially if you're doing the bike to work scheme, the more you pay the more you save. In any event, only go for a bike with Shimano gears (SRAM have been really unreliable for me, and they wear out about 3 times as fast as Shimano), and if you can afford 105 or Ultegra then get those instead of Tiagra or Sora.
That said, if it's your weakest discipline then maybe just accept it, get any old clunker that'll get you over the line and make it up on the run. |
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Thanks Ken. I have, now, a week to mull it all over.
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Okay Rob the Triathlon Doctor is in.
It's your first one. Enjoy it. My advice would be to decide how you want to do it. If it's for fun then borrow a bike and make sure you pace yourself. Whatever training you manage to get in follow the 80/90/100 formula and you'll be okay. 80% of your maximum effort in the swim, 90% for the bike and then whatever you have left for the run. If you want your best time then get the biggest bang for your buck without breaking the bank. At the cheaper end the best thing you can do is get a modestly priced bike and buy some clip on aero bars and practice cycling with those on somewhere quiet. You'll pick up how to ride with them in a few weeks and get 1-2 miles an hour faster in the race itself. As good a deal as there is on the market I'd say is if you go to a website called Triuk. You can get a very decent bike there along with a swim specific wetsuit, a triathon suit and accompanying equipment for a little over £650. I have a planetx bike as Ken suggested and for a grand you can't do much better but that deal I suggested with all the other stuff is a brilliant deal. Giant, the Triuk bike, make very good bikes and they have quite a relaxed geometry which helps for beginners. You definitely will also benefit in a open water swim with a wetsuit and trisuit in transition especially as you are doing an Olympic distance and you'll swim far quicker with a wetsuit than the time you'll lose getting it off in transition. That wetsuit they sell especially helps beginners because it helps raise your legs which will naturally fall low in the water and you'll drag them behind you until you get better as a swimmer. You'll be minutes faster in a wetsuit and warmer. There's a lot of other tips you can pick up but one thing I'd definitely practice is what are known as Brick sets. The transition between bike and running will be really hard and for the first mile or so your legs won't feel like your own. Doing Brick sessions will definitely help with that (google them). For swimming I'd go to a site called swimsmooth where you can get lots of free tips on improving your swimming. Happy to answer any further questions. Good luck. |
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thanks eternal.
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What race you planning Rob?
Swimming - if you could join a triathlon club they will give you some tips / coaching on swimming, also worth having a few practice swims in open water.....you will need a wetsuit. Bike - definitely get some Tri bars to go on whatever bike you choose...will improve your time 4-5 mins minimum over 40k Run - practice brick sessions (bike --) Run) but also in the race give yourself an medium paced 1st KM to allow your legs to recover from the bike before going for it on the run I've done quite a few Duathlons / Triathlons upto 70.3 (Half Ironman) distance so feel free to message me direct if you have any other questions. |
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Throw a few tips in, Agree with the wetsuit advice re leg flotation, aim to get a suit that is thinner under the arms as it will tired your arms quicker because of the resistance of the suit. Also practice with a few swims in the sea as it is better to be the more familiar with it than in the pool. You will also get used to the cold water (face and chest) as you will experience hyperventilating if you don’t. On the race day get in early and acclimatise, it will also get the water in suit warmed up you will feel the benefit. Lastly save some energy for the Run. I Did triathlon for 14 years at a national level and loved every second off it. oh almost forgot, beware the jelly fish but if your mid pack (drafting) you will be fine as the leaders will clear the way.
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Dr Crippen
Date Joined: 16 Apr 02 Add contact | Send message 02 Feb 15 12:47 Joined: 16 Apr 02 | Topic/replies: 17,869 | Blogger: Dr Crippen's blog Do you get paid for all this effort? The reward is in the effort spent and the time wasted  |
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My twopenneth for what its worth Id really put some time/effort in on the bike especially if you havent ridden for a while.
Just because you are fit/decent runner doesnt naturally translate across to the bike. My daughters ex fancied himself as a runner(and he was decent) and beat me(I dont do running I cycle) nearly 15 mins in a 10 k match up following week he was full of it and fancied his chances on the bike and it was the total reverse. If you are using tri bars get em fitted and use them as much as poss. Power into climbs and drags to give you the momentum then ease off until coming close to the top then power over and down if you blow a gasket just b4 the top of a climb you can lose a significant amount of time by not having the momentum/power for the downhill. Also I would do core/back strengthening excercises as these will help you to transmit the power down in an aero position. Get a video and watch Wiggo in a time trial superb . doesnt move his upper body whatsoever including head once you start thrashing around head and shoulders any extra power you may generate will be lost in poor aerodynamics but will also deplete your energy reserves . Goo luck |
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I've done em before and they are far easier and enjoyable than long distance runs. For your first one I would just advise getting round the swim. Swimming in open water is unlike swimming in a pool, cos you generally can't see. On the plus side, your wet suit should give you additional buoyancy you don't usually get in a pool.
If you are relatively fit is quite good fun. |
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Thanks all for advice. Will hope to get a bike sorted by the end of the week.
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Had my first swim apart from water slides at center parcs in three years tonight. 25m pool, 60 laps = 1500m in 35:49. First 800m in 20:03, (2:30/100m) then the final 700m in 15:46 (2:15/100m). Well Happy with that once i got my rhythm going, slower first half as was stopping and getting used to goggles and stuff. Could knock 2 or 3 minutes off that within weeks. A sea swim would be tricky mind as not sure how you go about emptying goggles without having the end of a pool to hold on to. Regards the bike, I am thinking I might wait until April and then buy one and just have three hard months training on it, see what I can muster. By which time I should be close to 42mins/10k run and 30mins/1.5k pool swim.
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Ken/everyone: you can still use a TT bike for biking to work and stuff right. I have no interest in any off road nonsense. So what is difference between a TT bike and a normal road bike?
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Not a massive amount really Rob. It's set up for you to properly cycle aero rather than to clip on aero bars and do it half ass. The geometry of the bike means that your hip angle opens and should be more comfortable in the aero position and should be able to partially preserve your legs for the run section. You're into marginal gain territory here but if you intend to do triathlons in the future rather than a one off and you cycle predominently over easy to navigate courses then a tri bike should make you that little bit quicker on the bike and run.
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A TT bike as in a Time Trial bike for Individual racing against the clock. They usually have a downward slope top tube and a more down facing attitude to the road more focused aerodynamics to shave seconds off the clock usually with disc wheels. Kind of specific for time trails. A road bike is more Tour De France group riding style with more relaxed geometry usually riders shelter more from the wind unless they go off the front on a loner. It’s been mentioned you can get a Triathlon specific bike that has easier geometry as in the seat tube (more forward) and with adjustable Tri bars would be better than a TT bike imo. Should save your legs a little for the run. It’s really about the expense and if you intend doing more as to how much you want to outlay. The more I got into it the more I spent on improving my gear. Look forward to hearing about your first practice Sea swim. Dunno if you have been checking you swim technique in the pool as you can watch your hands through the entry, catch and pull phase. As said on here in the sea you can’t see two inches into the water. Leaky goggles in salt water could be problematic.
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Leaky goggles in salt water could be problematic
Especially when wearing contacts. I just dont know what it is with goggles and me, they always let water in. It is a serious problem, yes. Yes I am thinking of a road bike now. Perhaps a boardman. Carbon is the lightest I guess which will be a grand,unless anyone knows better. Can go to two brighton tri club swimmin sessions without paying full membership to see how I like it so I might do that the next two mondays and then if I like it fork out the annual membership fee. In the summer they do sea swims which will be useful. Sure my swimming style could be fine tuned, if I learned tumble turns then surely that is gonna take big chunks out of that 1.5km time. 59 turns required this evening, every second saved is a minute off the overall time. Breathing off different arms just seems virtually impossible, i breath on every other stroke on the left... I am right handed. Thanks again for advice both. |
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Good luck, I'm sh!t at swimming so would be a no no for me. Have noticed there are duathlons around...run...bike...run, so that might be an option. Training for longer distances now, and after a log time off injured, managed a 21:44 parkrun last weekend, which is getting back to where I want to be. Meant to be running the Chiltern Cross Country race tomorrow, but foot playing up, so not sure what to do.
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Tough to advise on wither to run carrying an injury. Had a wee look what kind of surface you will be running on (Flat grassland course), although it’s cold tonight should still be soft underfoot, which is nice in the winter to prevent impact injuries for the summer. Do you wear spikes? if so they are not very forgiving.
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No, not spikes for me, just trail shoes, which are quire grippy, and as you say it is a prettyy flat course. Still in two minds. parkrun first though.
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1.5k swim in 35:49 Friday
Parkrun in 21:25 Saturday 20 miles in 2:57 Sunday My 19 year old work mate who can do 5k in 18:45 has just told me he did his first swim in 2 years over the weekend.... 1k in 40 minutes. Either he has to improve or I am gonna have such a big lead after the swim the bike and run won't even matter. |
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Stay well clear of Halfords unless you know what you're talking about because they don't.
Ribble ChainReaction Planet-X worth a look. |
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and Evans of course.
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1.5k swim in 35:49 Friday
Parkrun in 21:25 Saturday 20 miles in 2:57 Sunday Bit of work to do on the cycling Rob. 20 miles in 2:57 is about 7mph and you're aiming to do 40k (24.5 miles) in 1:30 which is about 16mph. Incidentally the current record for a UK 25 mile time trial is now 45:43. |
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Dont know if you are on the wind up bix, but that twenty miler was running not biking.
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In that case it looks like the trophy will be yours!
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