Table of contents for 01-2016 in 220 Triathlon

With 26 years behind us, you might be tempted to think that when it comes to triathlon, here at 220 we’ve seen it all, done it all and put it all on the front cover... Well, if the reaction around the office to this month’s Xterra-themed cover is anything to go by, I hope we’ve proved that’s not the case! Yep, this month’s issue is something a little different, as we take a closer look at the off-road side of the sport – prompted in part, by the letters and emails we’ve had from you, the readers, asking for more content. With mountain biking on the increase in the UK and adventure racing and trail running becoming more popular, it can only be a matter of time before cross-triathlon starts…

WINTER BALLBUSTER Greenleaf and Moult take the titles at Human Race du classic BRITISH TRI AWARDS Paratriathlete Lauren Steadman among the winners at 2015 awards ISLAND HOUSE INVITATIONAL TRI Javier Gomez and Gwen Jorgensen take the wins in the Bahamas TRI IN SENEGAL West African nation hosts its first-ever triathlon in Dakar with 75 entrants FESTIVAL OF ENDURANCE Castle Tri Series launch multi-race event at Hever in July BRIT RIO SELECTION Brownlees, Non Stanford and Vicky Holland bag Olympic team slots ARMSTRONG RETURN Could Lance be back racing tri by 2016? COST OF SPORT Sport England research shows high costs are putting would-be stars off sport IRONMAN MELBOURNE Aussie long-distance race officially KO’d after Formula 1 date clash ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ Organisers IMG push entry fee up by $300 for…

Every issue of 220 is also available on subscription in digital format for iPad, GooglePlay, Kindle Fire and Zinio. As well as the superb content you would receive in the print version, the digital edition (iPad only) will also include videos, image galleries and interviews. To subscribe, head to www.buysubscriptions.com and search for ‘220 Triathlon’. Click on the iPad App option which will take you through to purchase your subscription; set up your username and password during the checkout; download the free 220 Triathlon Magazine iPad App from the App Store; and log in to the App under ‘Subscribed elsewhere?’ using your subscription details. Bingo! 220 WEBSITE Catch all the latest multisport news, training advice and gear reviews, chat on the forum, enter monthly myTri challenges, find a race near…

LEARN THE SKILLS Unlike fitness, which disappears after three weeks on the couch, bike skills are something that, once ingrained, stay with you forever. No matter how good a rider is, I teach the very basic MTB skills in a paved parking lot. We don’t leave the safety of the flat paved surface, until the rider has mastered the basic principals of stopping, cornering, bunny hopping, dropping off a curb, etc. [Celebrated MTB technique instructor] Lee McCormack taught me this when I already had a handful of rainbow jerseys [from single-discipline MTB events]. Despite being an accomplished rider, I was shocked to realise that I never fully understood how a bike turns and why and how we properly move our body weight on the bike to gain free speed. So…

SEA CHANGE With Apple on board, the fitness tracker industry is expanding at a huge rate. We analyse the capabilities before assessing the tri-worthiness… According to experts, the fitness tracker industry is set to almost triple in size in five years. In 2014 it was valued at $2 billion; by 2019 it’s expect to soar to $5.9 billion. No wonder Apple has got in on the act: its smartwatch is loaded with enough exercise metrics to lever you off the sofa and into your run shoes (while bolstering Apple’s $200 billion cash reserve). The Apple Watch not only taps into an already blossoming sector, it signals a shift away from the fitness bands that first emerged in 2012 with Nike’s FuelBand to wearables more akin to traditional watches. This sea…

HOW WE TEST We test more tri-specific gear than any other mag. 220’s team of expert independent testers puts each product through its paces in real-life training and racing situations. They report back honestly, rating the product on performance and value. HOW WE RATE We rate out of 100%. The higher the score, the better the product 91% + BUY IMMEDIATELY 81–90% VERY IMPRESSIVE 71–80% GOOD 61–70% WORTH A PUNT 51–60% AVERAGE 0–50% POOR OUR AWARDS Quality performance matched by superb value for money The outstanding piece of kit in grouptests Unrivalled performance regardless of price THE TEST TEAM JAMES WITTS is the former editor of 220 Triathlon JACK SEXTY is 220 Triathlon’s staff writer and a sub-2hr Olympic age-grouper MIKE ANDERSON is a keen cyclist and dep ed at…

FRAME AND FORKS Sizes 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm Frame AL6061 double-butted alloy, internal cabling, tapered head tube, Endurance Race geometry Fork Endurance blend carbon fork with tapered alloy steerer TRANSMISSION Chainset Shimano Tiagra 4700 50/34 Bottom bracket Shimano Tiagra 4700 Cassette SRAM PG 1030 11-32t Chain KMC X10 Shifters Shimano Tiagra 4700 Derailleurs Shimano Tiagra 4700 WHEELS Front RSP AC2.0 Rear RSP AC2.0 Front tyre Schwalbe Lugano Rear tyre Kenda Kontender 700 x 26c COMPONENTS Stem RSP alloy headset Bars RSP alloy shallow drop Headset FSA Saddle Raleigh R1 Seatpost RSP 27.2mm alloy Brakes Shimano Tiagra 4700 DIMENSIONS 1 Head angle 73° 2 Seat angle 74° 3 Top tube 54.5cm 4 Seat tube 54cm 5 Standover 77cm 6 Chainstay 40.5cm 7 Bottom bracket 27.5cm 8 Wheelbase 99.2cm 9…

COOK IN BULK Cook equal amounts of basmati rice, quinoa, pearl barley and pearl spelt in a rice cooker. Ideal for slow-release carbs. SUPPLEMENT Busy people find benefit in taking an omega supplement. Three brands to consider: Healthspan Elite, PAS or OTE. EAT OILY FISH Salmon and mackerel are good choices and easy to prepare if you’re short on time. Eat them with seeds such as flax or chia. ADD PROTEIN It’s important to include good quality protein at every meal. A pot of natural yoghurt is an easy breakfast addition. GO LOW GI If you’re short on time, eating low-GI food will keep you full. Sweet potatoes, for example, are better than normal spuds.…

Can I use clip-on aerobars in draft-legal age-group races? GABRIEL JOHNS, EMAIL According to the newly published ITU rules, age-groupers cannot use clip-on bars, and bikes must have traditional drop bars. Your bars have to be plugged, and wheels also have to have at least 12 spokes. As of yet, nothing has been said on whether lapped athletes will be pulled from the course as in elite ITU events, but early draft-legal races have permitted lapped athletes to continue racing. Is it wise to use my tri shoes for training rides? BEN GOODING ,EMAIL There’s no reason why not. However, tri shoes are also built with transitions in mind so you will sacrifice some comfort. They’re also very well vented and won’t keep your feet warm in winter, while road…

I’ve been finishing off my season in the Bahamas now for the last few years with a low-key Olympic-distance race, which, as you can imagine, is a tough gig! This year, however, it really was a tough gig, with a new format and venue… The Island House Invitation Triathlon, new for 2015, was one of my toughest races of the year. I don’t think my heart rate’s gone that high, for that long, since my old ITU days. We had three races in three days with a field of Olympic medallists, world championship medallists and a smattering of the current best ITU and Ironman athletes on the planet. The event was held on Highbourne Cay in the Bahamas (check it out), a private island in paradise with a few small…

£199.00 WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM Neil Young, Slash and Keef Richards are just a handful of guitar heroes to have strapped-on a Gibson. Why are we telling you this? Because the musical pioneers have now moved into the sports performance market with their health-focussed Trainer headphones. Designed in collaboration with Usain Bolt, the wireless Bluetooth-enabled headphones switch between an active mode and a lifestyle mode at the touch of a button to improve fit, and also boast a SafeSound function for nocturnal running.…

OUTLAW HALF One Step Beyond have announced that they’ll be adding a new Outlaw Half in 2016. Joining Holme Pierrepont’s existing Outlaw and Outlaw Half will be a new middle-distance race (1.9km swim/90km bike/21.1km run) on 3 July 2016. Holkham Hall in North Norfolk will be the venue, with info at www.onestepbeyond.org.uk. ARTHUR GILBERT RIP Arthur Gilbert, the world’s oldest triathlete and all-round inspiration, has passed away aged 94. Arthur took up triathlon at the age of 68 and was appointed an MBE for his charitable fundraising in 2008. An active member of the Burnham-on-Sea Academy, Arthur’s last tri came in 2013 at the age of 92. Our thoughts are with Arthur’s family and many friends. ALTIUM CORRECTION In our Altium i10 Gear Focus review in issue 319, we stated…

While Gwen Jorgensen’s one-woman crusade to win USA triathlon’s first Olympic gold medal might mean opinion waivers by next summer, for now, in the States, the words triathlon and Ironman are interchangeable. The big ticket lure of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles on the bike and that marathon shuffle is the spur to enter the sport, and dutifully, as we have with fast-food and foreign policy, the UK is following suit. To many, an ‘Ironman’ is increasingly both a first triathlon and only about the M-Dot. Weymouth is the latest event to carry the branding following Staffordshire last year and Tenby in 2011, supplementing the already established races at Bolton and Wimbleball. There are alternatives of course, but as we see with successful adventure races like Tough Mudder and…

AquaTerra (soon to become Xterra) is a go, with Jimmy Riccitello and Michellie Jones taking the debut titles America’s famously hardcore triathlete Mike Pigg wins the men’s event Xterra goes global with its first international races in England, Japan and Canada South African star Conrad Stoltz takes his first of four Xterra world champ titles French off-roader Nico Lebrun trips and breaks his arm, but still crosses the line as world champ Versatile Brit racer Julie Dibens wins her second of three Xterra world titles Spanish road star Eneko Llanos makes it a hat-trick of world champ wins on the island Scottish athlete Lesley Paterson returns the women’s title to British hands Javier Gomez joins ITU stars Hamish Carter and Michellie Jones as an off-road superstar Spain’s Ruben Ruzafa wins…

THE SWIM 1 In order to increase your ability to sight in the Xterra swim leg, practise sighting in the pool. Look up two to three times and try to keep a streamlined position by not dropping your hips and legs. 2 Always bring two pairs of goggles with you; a clear set and a dark set. I use the clear set of goggles for rainy or cloudy days, and the dark set for bright and sunny days. Practise with both pairs of goggles during your pool sessions so you’re equally comfortable with both pairs. 3 Once the gun goes off, take your time getting into the water. There’s no reason to battle the chaos. It’s totally fine to swim 10-20m off to the side to avoid the washing machine…

In August 2013, Australia’s Mirinda Carfrae took delivery of her new triathlon bike – the Felt IA. Owner Jim Felt had asked Carfrae to test their new superbike earlier in the year, only to be rebuffed by the Aussie as it accommodated 700c wheels only rather than Carfrae’s 650c of choice. Carfrae eventually relented, underwent tests in the wind tunnel and Felt proclaimed that she’d save 12:30mins by switching from her existing DA to the IA. Convinced of its merits, Carfrae rode it at October 2013’s Ironman World Championships… and covered the 180km bike leg nearly 14mins faster than in 2012 to secure the second of her three Kona titles in a new course record of 8:52:14. Further IA endorsement came more recently when it propelled Daniela Ryf to 2015…

TYR PHOENIX SPLICE £34.99 www.tyrswimwear.co.uk For us, the Phoenix Splice jammers from TYR are the most aesthetically pleasing on test, and on numerous swims they provided the comfort and performance to match. They’re well priced for a jammer, and are made with TYR’s ‘Durafast’ fabric that’s comfortable in the water yet hard wearing. TYR claim the jammers are chlorine-proof and can sustain approximately 300hrs of use in the water, and while our test period wasn’t quite extended enough to prove this claim, they did survive a fortnight’s worth of swimming and a handful of washes with no loss of elasticity or colour. The drawstring offers plenty of adjustment and sits comfortably without digging into your midriff. TYR claim the Phoenix jammers offer a ‘compressive fit’, yet looking at…

WILL THIS TEST go down in 220folklore as the beginning of the end for the humble chest strap? Wrist-based HR watches are on the rise with four models tested including the debut from Garmin. Though not featured here, Polar has also joined the party with the A360 fitness tracker. Training by heart rate is a proven way to maximise training gains, so it’s clear that dispensing with the chest strap is an easy sell to the consumer. But accuracy doesn’t yet match its older sibling’s. That might not matter to the health-and-fitness market; for triathletes, that’s not good enough. For now, for most triathletes, chest strap remains the preferred model, though the Epson is the winner in this new category. WHILE MANY WERE looking to simplify their tools for monitoring…

The multi-disciplinary nature of tri means that pacing is possibly more important to peak performance than in any other sport. A significant body of evidence indicates that pacing is a learned process, and that a variety of factors – including conscious decisions, prior experience and race-pace training – contribute to a personal pacing template that optimises performance. Or so you thought. Kevin Thompson of Canberra University and his team investigated whether deception could prompt performance gains and even change pacing strategy. “We had 14 trained cyclists ride at their maximum on an indoor 4km time trial [TT],” explains Thompson. “We did this three times to get a baseline figure for power output.” Thompson then introduced a screen showing an avatar of the subject cycling in real time with a partner…

After spending the summer racing and competing it’s time to sit back and reflect on what you’ve achieved over the past season. Maybe it didn’t go entirely to plan, or you didn’t get to tick off all the goals on your list. Alternatively, you may have already pre-qualified for events and be raring to go for 2016. Either way, the off-season is valuable and shouldn’t be overlooked. First, I think it’s important to enjoy some well-deserved time off. I don’t need to tell you that triathlon is hard, both mentally and physically – it’s a sport that demands many hours of dedicated training. So when it comes to the off-season, don’t let guilt get the better of you. It’s okay to have a break from full-on training and to reduce…

Duathlon season was in full swing in late October and November, though unseasonably warm temperatures ensured less frozen fingers than in previous years. At the Jekyll and Hyde Duathlon, Andy Greenleaf clocked 1:09:48 to win comfortably, while Lucie Custance won the women’s event in 1:18:15. At the Edinburgh Duathlon festival, Drew Sharkey and Laura Kent were the winners of the non-drafting race in 54:01 and 1:00:10 respectively, and in the draft-legal race Andrew Woodroofe and Shannon Botham were victorious in 53:40 and 1:01:44. The third weekend in November presented extremely windy conditions countrywide, leading to the postponement or shortening of some races. The Rockingham Duathlon was one of them, with race director Jason Randall explaining he was forced to drop the bike section and offer 5km or 10km runs instead:…

MEET GARY THORNTON AGE 31 PROFESSION Lighting designer BEST DISCIPLINE Bike WORST DISCIPLINE Swim WHY I RACED The challenge. To be able to say I’d completed one of the UK’s toughest duathlons! Having previously run a marathon and completed a few cycling sportives and my first duathlon, in 2014, which I absolutely loved, the long-established Ballbuster seemed the next logical challenge! Training for it involved mixing up my cycling commute with lunchtime runs and the odd brick session at weekends. But my overall aim time-wise was to finish inside 3:45hrs. I did just one run in the week before the race, which, I decided, along with my commute, would keep my legs ticking over. But my main focus was to make sure I took it easy in the build-up. The…

As the name suggests, expect to get very muddy and messy at the third and final event in Human Race’s popular off-road series. Taking place on Army military training ground, the Mudman duathlon, “won’t trouble your PB collection but is guaranteed to give you an adrenalin-fuelled ride,” claim the organisers. Providing more detailed advice is 2015 winner, Callum Hughes… 1 NUTRITION I always like to have a hearty meal the night before, something like a casserole or bangers and mash. I go for porridge with honey on race morning and try to arrive early to enjoy a coffee on site with a banana or energy bar about 1.5hrs before the start. 2 KIT Dress in your race wear underneath your casuals, so there’s no chance of nudity at the race…

SCIENTIFIC COACHING & SRM-UK With over 25 years of coaching experience, Dr Auriel Forrester of Scientific Coaching is a leading expert in cycle and triathlon coaching, specialising in power-based training and racing. All levels of triathlon and cycle coaching catered for: with or without a Powermeter! Online coaching specialists. Christmas gift vouchers available! 01953 711176 www.scientific-coaching.com COACH JENKS TRIATHLON COACHING Coach Jenks creates personalised triathlon, marathon and Ironman programmes designed for time-strapped athletes. Really maximise your available training time with programmes designed to meet your individual goals based on lifestyle, strengths and performance limiters. 07888 820253 www.coachjenks.com NAD+ Our philosophy is that we are 110% committed, the rest is up to you. NAD+ offers bespoke cycle and multisport coaching and training programmes which are aimed at all levels of athlete…

What is a typical training day like for you? STEVEN HANLY, VIA EMAIL Each day is a bit different to the one before, but each week follows a similar routine. We swim at 7am most weekday mornings, with biking and running sessions later in the day. If I can find time for a nap, then I will have one. At times when I’m not training I try to keep my feet up and eat! An easy day might include 2.5-3hrs of training but a big day can be around 6.5-7hrs. If Gwen Jorgensen shows her current form or better in Rio, will you be able to beat her? LUCY GRIFFITHS, VIA EMAIL She will certainly be very tough to beat, but if I believed it was game over then I’d…

One of the most challenging talks I’ve given @TeenageCancer #FYSOT this morning. Absolutely honoured to have been invited. @lucygoss VIA TWITTER Great beginners guide for women in @220Triathlon this month, and perfect timing for me as doing a triathlon is my big fat goal for 2016. @Fattymustrun VIA TWITTER Nice ride around the Surrey hills this morning. Well they call them ‘hills’ down here!! Haha @jonny_brownlee VIA TWITTER We’ve lost an amazing person that I had the privilege to call a friend. So many memories. Thoughts are with [fiancée] Andrea [Hewitt] & his family. RIP Laurent. @Jgomeznoya Javier Gomez leads an outpouring of condolences as the tri world mourns the untimely death of former French ITU pro, Laurent Vidal. More on p29. I got swore at more today lapping age-groupers…

LESLEY PATERSON Nationality Scottish Age 35 Xterra world titles 2 Tough gal credentials Scot-born, San Diego-based Paterson began 2015 in recovery from Lymes Disease. Starting the season with “the lowest fitness I’ve ever had,” Paterson soon broke her shoulder while racing. This led to her competing at (and winning) Xterra Costa Rica using just one arm. Paterson then broke her left wrist and right hand after a bike crash, resulting in surgery and learning “how to brush my teeth and wipe my own arse with no hands!” Just 11 days after surgery, Paterson won the June Lake Triathlon in Mammoth and a further week later, came third overall at an 100km MTB World Cup qualifier race in Tahoe. Paterson’s top Xterra tip “Off-road triathlon is all about strength endurance. Add…

AVIEMORE TRIATHLON  DATE 7 AUGUST 2016 DISTANCES 1.5km swim/18km MTB/9km trail run or 750m swim/12km bike/6km run Based around Loch Morlich and Glenmore Forest in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, this Durty event also plays host to the 2016 Scottish Cross Triathlon Champs. www.aviemoretriathlon.com SANDWELL OPEN WATER CROSS TRI  DATE TBC August 2016 DISTANCES Super sprint, sprint and Olympic Set in Sandwell Valley near West Bromwich, this features an open-water lake swim, followed by a gentle off-road bike and undulating trail run. www.oldbury-stc.co.uk XTERRA ENGLAND  DATE 27-28 August 2016 (TBC) DISTANCES 1.5km swim/30km MTB/11km trail run; or 750m swim/15km bike/5.5km run Championship and sprint distances are on offer at Xterra’s sole British outing, located in the beautiful Vachery Estate in Surrey, and complete with camping and outdoor cinema.…

Long before the ‘triathlon bike’ was even a thing, triathletes rode whatever bikes came to hand for the bike leg, dusting off regular drop-bar road racers like this sharp-looking Raleigh. So history suggests this model should do the trick for tri. But history is for books, while bikes are for riding… Visually, the Criterium Sport’s 6061 double-butted alloy frame and straight-bladed Endurance carbon fork with alloy steerer cut a dash, in a grown-up, Ford Mondeo sort of way. Oversized, hydroformed main tubes are neatly welded and dressed in non-offensive metallic silver paint. Lifting the bike reveals that it’s a bit tail-heavy, though acceptable in terms of overall weight. A full 2015 Shimano Tiagra transmission provides slicker shifting than the Shimano Claris group (found on the £475 base Criterium model). We…

RESEARCH 220’s former editor James Witts is now a freelance writer for a plethora of cycling titles, and is on the cusp of releasing his first book, The Science of the Tour de France. SWIM John Wood is an award-winning tri coach of 10 years and a former international swimmer. He’s also competed in triathlon in all distances up to Ironman. BIKE Freelance writer Nik Cook is an experienced multisporter who has run the Marathon des Sables, won the 2010 6633 Arctic Ultra and competed for Team GB in duathlon. RUN Spencer Smith is a three-time world triathlon champion, who won half of all the races he ever competed in and now heads up S2 Coaching in Tampa, Florida. NUTRITION Nigel Mitchell was nutritional support for Team Sky in 2012-2013,…

We don’t want to come across all ‘bah humbug’ but the whole festive season, which seems to get more protracted every year, can be really frustrating for endurance athletes. You’ve just got into your winter training and found some consistency when along comes Santa to “ho, ho, ho” you back to square one. The office parties and other social engagements add to fatigue and eat into your valuable training time. You do get days off work, which you could use to log some serious mileage, but instead you’re expected to go shopping, cook turkey and be sociable with friends and family. Then you’ve got the deluge of food and drink – no matter how strong your resolve, not succumbing would be a genuinely Herculean feat. There are three keys to…

NAME VINCE BUTLER AGE 46 HEIGHT 6FT 1IN WEIGHT 82KG PROFESSION LARGE GOODS VEHICLE DRIVER ABOUT I started tri in 2009, weighing 14 stone! Since then I’ve done a couple of 70.3s and a few Ironmans. My goal now is to achieve a sub-11hr Ironman. In the past I’ve relied on convenience foods, but I’m home most nights now which makes it easier to control my meals. I’ve lost 5kg in about eight weeks and am trying to get leaner without losing muscle. This month’s report is a really interesting one. Vince works shifts and is trying to juggle a busy workload alongside caring for his daughter Billie. He’s also working hard to maximise his training and battle the lorry driver Ginsters-and-Yorkies stereotype! Vince has a regular meal pattern and…

MEET OUR EXPERTS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Involved in triathlon for 25 years, qualified remedial massage and anatomy specialist Kevin James works as a sports therapist with both age-groupers and elites, including the GB Triathlon Team. A qualified physio since 2002, Emma Deakin has been head physiotherapist and medical lead for British Triathlon since 2009. She specialises in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and sport. Andy Bullock is a two-time 220 Coach of the Year, a former BTF Coach of the Year, head coach to the South West Regional Academy and lead talent and development coach with the GB paratri talent squad. An experienced triathlon coach, Rob Stewart is also a competitive multisporter and ultra-runner. He has experience racing and coaching every race distance from sprint tris to ultra running and Ironman.…

MEET MARC JONES AGE 39 PROFESSION Engineer BEST DISCIPLINE Bike WORST DISCIPLINE Swim (but I work the hardest on it) WHY I RACED End-of-season trip with Rhondda Triathlon Club! I might be fairly new to triathlon, but I’m definitely mad for it! In just two years in the sport I’ve completed two Ironman races, plus loads of smaller events. I’ve decided to travel to Turkey for the inaugural Ironman 70.3 along with seven other athletes from the Rhondda Triathlon Club (and a support crew of friends and family). The thought of an end-of-season tour, racing in the warm sea on fast, flat, hot roads followed by a few days spent relaxing by the pool, seemed too good an opportunity to miss. We arrive on the Tuesday in what I can…

EUROPEAN CHAMPS QUALIFIER WORLD CHAMPS QUALIFIER BRITISH AGE-GROUP CHAMPS RACE TRIATHLON ENGLAND NATIONAL CHAMPS RACE OULTON PARK DUATHLON When 6 March 2016 Where Oulton Park, Cheshire Distances Various Course Fast and flat run and bike course Race highlights The sprint-distance duathlon is a 2016 ITU Worlds qualifying event and will therefore be draft legal Contact xtramileevents.com OUTLAW HALF When 29 May 2016 Where National Watersports Centre, Nottingham Distances 1.9km swim/90kmbike/21km run Course Lake swim, fast, rolling bike, multi-lap run Race highlights Ideal venue for spectators to cheer you on Contact www.onestepbeyond.org.uk JANUARY 10 Mince Pie’s Revenge Duathlon (3.2km run/16km bike/1.6km run). Stratford, London.www.entrycentral.com 16 The Dirty Devil Duathlon (5km run/20km bike/5km run). Bovington, Dorset.www.bustinskin.com 17 Thanet MTB Duathlon (4km run/12km bike/7km run). Minnis Bay, Kent.www.thanetroadrunners.org.uk Bowhill Winter Duathlon…

AERO ROAD HELMETS Aero road helmets are a relatively new category but, as with all lids, finding a good fit – in terms of both comfort and security – is paramount. Next, consider ventilation, weight, price and design. TRI SADDLES Concentrate on comfort when shopping for your next seat. Also make sure you check flexibility, weight and your inner-thigh clearance. WETSUITS Build quality, comfort, flexibility and insulation – the four key factors when choosing your neoprene. Spend more and the quality for each tends to increase. ROAD RUN SHOES Where possible, go to a run shop so the staff can analyse your gait and running style. Also pay attention to cushioning, especially for off-season miles. TRI BIKES The key here is fit and comfort. Remember: the least aerodynamic thing on…

A cyclist’s joke I heard recently goes like this: Q – How do you know if someone is a triathlete? A – They tell you. While this may not have you shattering your ribcage with giggles it’s a fair cop because, whether via the medium of t-shirt, tattoo, Facebook status or ‘humble-brag’ (‘I didn’t go flat out in today’s parkrun because I’ve got an Olympic tri tomorrow’), you and I are not backward in coming forward to let people know that we are multisport gods. But we’re not alone. I’d argue that sporty types the world over like you to know about their athletic abilities. Why else would runners wear t-shirts declaring they’ve got up early 50 times to jog round a park or that they’ve slithered about in a…