Details article

[kenb321]

I don't think of myself as one of these people in this article. but I just made reservations in CA near an aquatic center.


www.details.com/culture-trends/critical-eye/201003/triathlon-the-new-status-symbol

[robreddy]

this is the best line of the article..........


Even as it has gone soft—with no shortage of girl thingy races that, for instance, substitute 15 pool laps for multi-mile open-ocean crossings—the triathlon has somehow held on to much of its cred.

I'm about to start my 28th year in the sport - and all i see at most races are hundreds of those HUGE marshmellow guys from ghost busters - man where is a humongous camp fire, 100 lb brick of chocolate and 40ft square gram cracker when you really need one

;-0

r

[Brandon]

Thanks for posting! I was wondering why your post began with a caveat..until I read the article! ;D

I have to say the notion that one of the allures of the sport is the bling factor is a interesting statement. While it might be true for some I think it is a deterrent for others. I think one of the challenges for the sport to grow is how to balance appealing to those 'golfer turned triathlete' types without losing the purists.

Heck, I currently own 3 bicycles and I don't think their combined cost equaled what the author says you need to spend on a bike to 'compete.' Does someone want to write an article about the joy of passing top end carbon on an aluminum bike? There is some allure in that if you ask me (but I don't subscribe to Details).....

[benmiralia]

I know what he means when he talks about the original participants in triathlon. There were no real set distances and no matter where you went the same people won every race. No food after the race. Every race was in some field or park and guys raced on schwinns with fenders.

[MattCollister]

Is triathlon much different than golf?

Mostly white people with questionable fashion sense, who wake up way too early on a Sunday morning to show off how much they've overspent on sports equipment.

[Nathan]

I prefer this line ...

"Now he admits to scoffing a bit at the "one-and-done kind of guy—the corporate bigwig who tries to talk the talk, and has all the high-end gear, but has no idea what he's doing."

Not that there is anything wrong with only doing one triathlon as an accomplishment and then quietly riding off into the sunset.

But the ones that do one big race (say back in 2006 or 2007) and then repeatedly try to market their finish for a quick buck, that is annoying.

FYI - I used to ride a steel bike but have too given in to the carbon ride (allbeit for $2,200). Most frivolous purchase I ever made.

[Aussie Rob]

Personally, i don't like that triathlon carries a mystique for two reasons...

1) it makes people go "oh, i could never do that".....rubbish of course you can. Participation isn't difficult, and finishing isn't all that hard.

2) It makes other people go "Yep, i do that; I'm pretty awesome"...with the end of that quote being something i see more in general attitude than them actually saying it.

If everyone realised how easy it is to get out and get involved in the sport, then people wouldn't be too impressed to be afraid to participate....and the blowhards the sport attracts who i dont like will move on to something else.