Is this the first triathlon you are taking part in? Do you know the required equipment for this event? A triathlon is a sporting event which takes part in three stages – a swim, a bike race and a short run. An athlete taking part in this event referred to as a tri-athlete therefore has to be good in all three for him/her to be competitive, but the equipment used by the individual athletes play a big role in the outcome of most events regardless of that athlete’s fitness level. Good equipment can be a tie breaker in a triathlon where all the competitors are on the same skill level.
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However before you purchase any triathlon gear you first have to determine whether you intend to take part in the events competitively or just for leisure. Most of the triathlon equipment that you see being sold in shops is meant for competitive tri-athletes and is priced to match. It is very rare for one to take part in a triathlon just for fun anyway. Let’s look at each stage of a triathlon and the equipment required.
The Swim
This part of the race is considered to be the hardest since it takes part in a medium that we are not naturally adapted for. The possibility of drowning also makes it the most hazardous stage. The stage requires a pool through which tri-athletes have to swim. Most pools are about 25 meters long. The tri-athletes need a pair of goggles a good triathlon wetsuit, hand paddles to increase resistance, a pull buoy and a kickboard from which to launch into the water. It is also important to have special shorts for triathlons that are thinly padded to allow you comfort when you get out of the pool and onto the bike
The Bike Race
For the noncompetitive triathlon just about any bike can be used. It would however be better if you used a bike that will suit the surface and the distance to be covered. As such a trainer’s bike would work fine. For hilly terrain using a good mountain bike will be the ideal option.
However for competitive action careful thought must go into selecting the bike. A light bike would be perfect. Those bikes are made from the carbon fiber composites and cost considerably more but the decision to use one could win you a triathlon. These special bikes are also designed to increase your bodies aerodynamic hence making it possible to move faster.
The Road Race
When you intend to take part in a competitive triathlon it is vital to acquire quality running shoes from the shop for this stage. Don’t for one moment harbor the delusion that those cheap shoes you will get from the running store will help you win a triathlon. Tri-athletes have to train very hard hence the need for triathlon gear of the highest quality. Choosing the inappropriate triathlon gear such as the shoes can easily result in injuries and the development of pains in your joints.
Apart from the above there are other important triathlon gear such as heart rate monitors and water bottles among others which are vital to the successful conclusion of a triathlon.
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