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Post by Susan K on Mar 23, 2005 8:10:35 GMT -5
OK - new to this stuff.
What gear/clothing is essential and what is "fluff"? I can't even figure out some of the things in the zillions of catalogs I've started receiving. I look at the pictures and descriptions and mummur. "What do I do with THAT?"
There is a neat chapter in the book Erin recommended (Slow Fat Triathlete) about gear/clothing but if anyone has the guide to “what to wear, what to own” it’d be helpful. I am just not a lycra-type woman…and I love my hybrid bike with its cushy seat.
Thanks
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Post by suziharman on Mar 23, 2005 8:55:23 GMT -5
My suggestions:
I am a minimalist at heart.....
Go to Fleet Feet and make sure you have good running shoes. Also invest in a few good pairs of running socks (try thick or thin and see what you like best - I like thick for winter and thin for summer).
You need shorts, sport bras, tshirts, bike shorts (if you feel you need them on your cushy seat), swimsuit, wetsuit (and body glide), swimcap (bright for the lake), goggles (tinted for outside), helmet, sunglasses, watch. The best kind of fabric is something that feels good to you AND wicks the sweat away from your skin. Cotton gets wet and heavy. I am not a big fan of lycra either - as a wearer or a viewer - BUT, it is more comfortable. I love Under Armour's stuff (because I must protect this house).
For racing - look for a tri suit - either 1 or 2 pieces with padding in the shorts that you can wear through all events.
Please let me know if you have any other specific questions and I will try to help!
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Post by JenCollister on Mar 23, 2005 9:26:19 GMT -5
If you compete in warmer water towards the end of the summer, a wetsuit isn't absolutely necessary although it does help with buoyancy. Also, if the trisuit doesn't feel comfortable for you (i.e., too much exposed skin), you can throw a bike top and running shorts over your bathing suit when you go through the first transition from swim to bike. If you are doing a sprint distance, you won't need the padded protection bike or tri shorts offer and you won't need to change again later. I think Suzi's suggestions are right on the mark. Cotton is bad - it adds extra weight and doesn't allow the heat to vent.  Coolmax is your friend during a race or training.  |
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Post by Monica Leibacher on Apr 5, 2005 9:07:36 GMT -5
I think the biggest advantage to me has been a good (better) road bike. It automatically took 15 minutes off my time.
And good running shoes are a must. I agree! I rotate pairs so I am not running in the same pair every day.
I often have envied those in full body wetsuits on a chilly morning, all of us standing in the lake before the race, but I have never purchased one myself. I have trained with someone who wears a wetsuit and I can swim just as fast without one - point being, as far as time, it didn't make her any faster than me - warmer perhaps!
Also open up the goggles in the store (carefully , so you can put them back neatly) and test the suction on your eye. Not all of them are the same. Lenses are different shapes and you will find that some don't fit your eye socket as comfortably. One day I stood in Dicks and carefully unlatched the goggles packages one my one and pressed them to my eye to experiment. I probably looked nutty, but I have been very happy with that style of goggles. Cheaper, or expensive, is not always better.
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Coolmax is your friend during a race or training. 